THE COVENANTER
N.C.O.’s shouting orders . . because I was used to wearing boots, but
. ‘Swing those arms, thumbs to the front, some of the others that had been used to
shoulders back, watch your dressing, by the wearing shoes suffered badly. Foot
right’ inspection came after a march, lying on the
Arms drill with your rifle........... ground with your feet up in the air, the
‘Slope arms, present arms, shoulder sergeant inspecting each foot.
arms,for inspection, port arms, ground Foot care, was very important for an
arms, pick up arms.~ infantryman. Good tips were passed on by a
Bayonet practice, in battle order it was corporal that slept in our room. The first
about one and a half miles out on a large thing he did each morning at reveille was to
plain. At one end was the Army Glass inspect his feet, cleaning out between his
House, a detention centre. We were told toes and trimming his nails. He taught us
some grim tales about the goings on inside, foot care to make sure that your socks were
most of the inmates deserters, so’ we were darned properly and he showed how to
told to be good soldiers and not end up darn them, making sure that there were no
inside. bits of loose wool, because this was what
Spaced out in lines were rows of sacks rubbed and caused blisters, a small thing
filled with straw, some hanging on wooden but important to an infantryman. Another
racks, others on the ground. Then it was being a supply of toilet paper, because it was
’Fix bayonets’, then in lines it was ‘Charge very uncomfortable if you got a rash in that
and Shout’, stabbing each sack. The region.
sergeant shouting orders . If you were unlucky to get a rash
‘In out, on guard, shout !’ anywhere learning the hard way, if your
‘To the next sack on the ground’ equipment wasn’t tight enough, it rubbed,
‘Put your boot in to withdraw from the causing a rash. Reporting sick, the orderlies
straw sack on the ground’ ‘That’s the painted it with a blue or yellow substance.
enemy. Kill him and shout !’ . It was not uncommon to see a squaddie
‘In, out, on guard.’ going around with half his neck or half his
‘Go mad’ face painted one of these colours.
Swimming - with our towels, no trunks The six weeks of primary infantry
or shorts to the open air Garrison training were coming to an end. We had
swimming pool. Then it was all strip off in learnt first lessons of the infantry weapons -
the nude, lining around the pool, not the rifle, Bren machine gun, Sten gun, PIAT
allowed to jump in until a blast on the (Projectile Infantry Anti Tank), two inch
whistle, the non-swimmers in the shallow mortar and the Mills hand grenade.
end. There was a hell of a splash as the First lessons, aiming, and judging
thirty of us went in at once. If up the ladder distance. Mechanism mainly gas and spring
to the higher diving board, you were operated. And of course loading and
exposed over the top of the surrounding cleaning, this being drummed into our
wall, this turned out to be great fun as the heads, some thicker than others.
A.T.S. women’s quarters were next to the ‘If cleaned and cared for is capable of a
pool. If you waved with any part of your high and accurate rate of fire in order to kill
body, they waved. back with squeals of the enemy’
delight. Good job it was hot weather. About this time we went in front of a so
Route marching - started off short, then called Selection Board, filling out a form
up to fifteen miles in the first six weeks. On with what unit or regiment we would like to
the longer ones we took with us haversack serve in, or to be put in your trade as a
rations, the first of many to come. Two Butcher. The selection officer Iooking up
thick chunks of bread with ‘bunghole’ from my form said ‘Who do you think is
cheese, so called because it was supposed to going to do the fighting when you are back
make you constipated, and another thick cutting up the meat?’
jam sandwich; washed down with water Second choice, I quickly thought,
from the important, always filled water anything but foot slogging, (infantry). Most
bottle. But we always had to remember to of us had the same thoughts. I put down as
empty it and fill it with fresh, because the a Tank Gunner. When the time came for us
bottom got full up with crumbs and stale to be posted, all in anticipation of different
water. units and regiments, twenty-nine of us got
Hobnail boots and blisters on your feet - posted to the three Infantry Training
thankfully I never suffered with blisters Centres (I.T.C.) in this barracks, the
40
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