大象传媒

The day arrived for me to report to Hardwick Hall to be trained as a parachutist, this involved being transported from Nelson Barracks in a pick-up truck with full kit including kit-bag to Thorpe station having been previously issued with a travel Warrant, destination Chesterfield in Derbyshire, as we were leaving the barracks I spotted a soldier in full battle-order entering, who I recognised as being one who had volunteered at the same time as I did, on having a quick conversation I learned he had been on the same course that I was about to embark on, but had been R.T.Ud (Returned to unit) as not suitable, to say I was apprehensive would be an understatement. The journey was uneventful and my next recollection was being the only person alighting at a deserted station. There suddenly appeared from the station buildings a very well built sergeant wearing a red beret, who in a very loud voice, demanded 鈥淪oldier, are you for Para training Depot?鈥� On my affirmation he marched towards me, taking from me the kit-bag I was struggling with, and with one swing had it over his shoulder, saying 鈥淔ollow me,鈥� marched through the station buildings outside to the yard, where a Q.L truck was parked with several soldiers already aboard. Greetings all round were exchanged and I discovered my companions were mostly Scots. Most of who later became very good friends.
After a short journey we arrived at Hardwick Hall, a stately building set in an extensive park. Going through reception, being documented etc. we were shown to what for the next few weeks were to be our living quarters, some in Nissen huts, the rest including yours truly would you believe, in Bell Tents, six to a tent, sleeping heads outwards feet to the centre, rifles secured around the centre post.
Next morning, we were introduced to the N.C.O, who was to be our instructor. Sgt Ross, who we later discovered was a family member of ROSSAIRES CIRCUS. Forming us into three ranks, he proceeded with the order, 鈥漇quad will move to the right in threes, right turn鈥� upon which order squad did turn right, then a certain Cpl Nicks, who was right marker, stepped off at a very fast rate, being brought to a halt by a stentorian yell of 鈥淲HOA鈥� from a startled Sgt Ross who, realised that here was a problem, proceeded to find out how varied was his squad, discovered that he had members of Light infantry, Infantry, Artillery, Horse guards etc., proceeded to ascertain various procedures and speeds of marching of this motley crowd. It transpired, that Cpl Nicks came from the Durham Light Infantry, who were accustomed, on the order 鈥淢ove to the right in threes, right turn鈥�, would duly comply by turning to the right and stepping off at the rate of 160 paces to the minute. Sgt Ross decreed in future, on the command 鈥淩ight Turn鈥�, we would in fact turn to the right, and await the order 鈥淏y the right, quick march鈥�, before stepping off at a more leisurely pace of 120 to the minute, which turned out to be a bit of a joke, as we later discovered, because any movement around the camp would be performed at the double. This became a way of life, even in leisure time proceeding to the NAAFI, or in the evening to the camp cinema, would be performed at the double.
Hardwick Hall, being situated on a slope in a large parkland area leant itself towards toughening training, there being three ornamental lakes which were connected by underground overflow culverts which formed part of an assault course, commencing with a 20 ft high obstacle constructed with wooden scaffold poles lashed together forming 4 ft squares, that had to be scaled, then dropping into the first of the lakes, being assailed at all times with thunder flashes hurled by enthusiastic and sadistic instructors, and while actually crossing the lake, being subjected to slabs of guncotton being detonated all around ,and shouts from our tormentors 鈥淕et a move on!鈥�. On reaching the far side one encountered the first culvert approx. 2 ft square, and about twenty feet long, through which we had to crawl, it was very claustrophobic , made worse by having your face close to the heels of the bloke in front of you, at the end there was a drop of about 4ft directly into the next lake taking a miracle contortion to contrive somehow to keep your rifle dry .Once again whilst crossing lake number two subjected to the same torment, this time however exiting by way of clambering up the bank running down the slope, bypassing the third lake, over an area criss-crossed with tripwires to an 10ft wall which had to be overcome, this being accomplished section by section, the first man arriving at the wall, leaning back to the wall , cupping his hands in front of himself thus forming a stepping stone, i.e. the rest of the section climbing by means of hands, shoulders, and over, the stepping stone then being pulled up by means of his rifle, continuing downhill to an area I can best describe as a slurry pit ,to facilitate crossing this, there were four inch rails perched on top of posts clear of the mud requiring confidence and a keen sense of balance to run over, otherwise wading through and being faced with a big scrub-up .Clearing this, continuing on , trip-wires and other obstacles on the way, such as a 9ft ditch which had to be jumped, and just to make sure that we put in the required effort, coils of barbed wire were spread all over the bottom, moving on, two 10ft walls about 15ft apart had to be crossed by means of two cables, shoulder width apart stretched between them to be crawled over, again using one man as a stepping stone to reach top of first wall. Having navigated this obstacle, running on to encounter what was known as triple Danart, an obstruction which consisted of three large coils of barbed wire, one placed on top of two, to be crossed, with the first man of the section (taskman) literally throwing himself onto the obstacle holding his rifle in two hands across in front of his face for protection, this to allow the rest of the section to pass over, the last man over was to peel the taskman from the obstacle, sometimes being very painful. Carrying on we would arrive at the far side of the lake which had to be crossed using two cables about 4ft apart, one above the other stretched over the lake, resulting in a few soakings. Continuing on, back up the slope to encounter a wire mesh fence to negotiate, then being immediately faced with a drop of about 30ft, to be descended by means of abseiling to what turned out to be the target end of a fifty yard rifle range ,across which we had to crawl whist live M.G fire was directed on fixed lines overhead, then double to the firing point, where the armourer was waiting to make sure your rifle barrel was clear by application of a clearing rod and pull-through. Then, being issued with five rounds to be fired from the prone position at the now exposed targets, bearing in mind that this whole operation had been carried out in the fastest possible time, it was surprising that any of us could even hit the flipping target. Next, double back to cleaning area to get off the worst of the accumulated mud and slush before collecting some dry clothing and proceeding to the ablutions hut for a shower, then taking your denims to the drying room, then back to wash out the rest of your clothing.

Hardly any weapon training, was given, as every trainee was expected to be a fully trained soldier, the emphasis being on physical fitness in excess, I should point out, that in the usual run of proceedings, a 鈥渄ry run鈥� of this assault course in Denims with no weapons was executed before tackling it in battle-order, during the period that I was there, an organisation called the Housewives League, were making noises because they had heard that we, 鈥淎irborne鈥� were receiving better than normal rations, as a result they were invited to send a deputation to observe training, and the course that I was on, having already completed Denim and battle-order runs were 鈥渋nvited鈥� to complete another battle-order run for their benefit, this apparently satisfied them, for nothing more was heard. Another torture was a forced march of about 10 miles in battle-order which, if my memory serves, was to be completed in around 1 hour, this march took place in and around the various villages surrounding the camp, the instructors also in full battle-order trying their best to get the squad round complete, if anyone fell by the wayside he would be picked up later, and, after a r茅sum茅 of his performance and a Medical, if declared fit would be given a second chance in a couple of days, this time the instructor would go round with him or them but riding a bicycle, to fail this meant the dreaded R.T.U.(Returned to Unit). Whilst on this march, the instructors were constantly subjected to abuse and harassment from housewives en-route because of some of the army language which was directed towards us to gee us up in order to successfully complete the march, which we all wanted to do, helping each other out by some of the fittest carrying at times two rifles, at other times getting someone who was feeling the worse for wear into the middle rank and literally pulling him along by means of a pull-through attached to the two men in the outer ranks hooked through the D clips on the front of his equipment, 鈥渁ll for one, one for all.鈥�
Just before re-entering the camp we were halted in order to compose ourselves and for the instructors to check timing, didn鈥檛 want to set a precedent by being too fast. The platoon was then formed up, brought to attention and marched, rifles at the slope, into camp to be inspected by the camp commander, then to our billets, boots and socks off for foot inspection. The training here lasted about 2 weeks, then it was off to Ringway.

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