大象传媒

This story is contributed by Bill Spry and added to the site with his permission.

I joined the T.A in 1932 at the suggestion of my uncle, Lionel Simpson, who was already a member. After an interview at the H.Q in Park St. Drill Hall, I was given a sealed envelope to take to a doctor鈥檚 house in Cathedral R.C Cardiff for my medical examination.
The door was answered by a maid, she took the envelope and told me to return the next day. I did so and she gave me a sealed envelope back which I handed in to the H.Q office. I was told that I had passed the medical!
I had to add a year on to my age to join, (I was fifteen) and for my first year was rated as 鈥淏oy Spry鈥�. I also gave my name as 鈥淲illiam James鈥� Spry which I thought was correct, whereas it is actually 鈥淛ames William鈥� Spry. Any eventual discharge papers included these particulars and caused me quite a few problems.
My first camp 1932, was in Monmouth under canvas, very wet, very miserable, ablution and toilets in the open air. We slept in bell tents my place was under the flap so that anyone entering or leaving had to step over me.
In the Mess tent eight men were assigned per table. Food was supplied in one big dish for each table. The senior men then divided the food onto plates. Guess who got the smallest portion and the stringiest piece of meat! In spite of this I got the prize for the 鈥渂est recruit鈥�. Incidentally, my pay as a 鈥渂oy鈥� was eight pence per day.
The following year 1933, the annual camp was in Penally, near Tenby, in huts and fine weather. Each man was issued with three heavy blankets, (no sheets). Each morning these had to be folded neatly and laid out with the rest of the kit in the proscribed manner.
Returning to my hut one morning I saw with dismay that one of my blankets was missing, stolen. I reported this to my sergeant. He said 鈥淣o problem, go and take someone elses鈥�. I said that I couldn鈥檛 do that. He replied 鈥淭hat鈥檚 an order, do it鈥�.

Waiting until the hut was empty I took the blanket from another bed and put it on mine. Returning to the hut later that day I was pleased to see that the bed I had robbed was back to three blankets!
I attended camp each year until 1939. In 1933 I was rated signalman, pay 3/6d f.d. In 1934, I was promoted to lance corporal, 1935 Corporal, 1936 lance sergeant, pay T/6d f.d.
Our uniform included bandolier, breeches and spurs (very smart). This was because until 1931 horses had been used to pull the cable wagons and the army had not got around to changing our uniforms.
I was called up for War service on 2nd of September 1939.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.