Life at the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate

September 1953 to July 1956

A very brief résumé by Trevor ‘Bill’ Powell

I left home on Thursday 10^th September 1953, went to the Army Recruiting Office in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield and there I sold eleven years of my life to the Army in exchange for the Queen’s shilling. I then journeyed to the Army Apprentices School at Harrogate to spend the next three years learning to become a soldier and, above all, a land surveyor.

My ‘Intake’ was 53B. Capt. G.S.Seaton, O.C. R.E.Survey, called us ‘Les diaboliques’.

The memories are many and cover the whole psychological spectrum, from sheer desperation to euphoria, a love/hate relationship like the one I entwined with the Yorkshire moors, stretching off towards Ilkley and Skipton, areas where I learnt topographic and trigonometric surveying.

The initial survey class was composed of twelve likely lads, namely: * John Alcock * Peter Gould * Dennis ‘Jack’ Hawkins * George ‘Geordie’ McAllister * Lawrence ‘Bud’ Moon * Thomas Wesley ‘Wes’ Noble * John ‘Ozzie’ Powell * Trevor ‘Bill’ Powell (no relation to John) * Alan J. ‘Al’ Roberts *  John Turnbull * Brian O.J. ‘Boj’ Williams * Bryan Edwin ‘Woody’ Woodfield *

Unfortunately I have very few photos of those years (who could afford a camera, film, developing and printing?). Only the colour photos were taken by me (in 2003), so my thanks go to whoever supplied the black/white ones.

I have included some very humurous and poignant poems (not written by me) which I’m sure will bring back sweet and sour memories of those experiences, certainly not to be regretted.

What is important is simply that WE SURVIVED.

Military training and discipline

            Bed packs – Room inspections – Kit inspections

RSM Stanley Lonsborough, known as ‘Tara’ (from the Yorkshire way of saying T’RSM).

Some members of  ‘D’ Company in 1956.

‘D’ Company, winners of the Champion Company Cup, January 1956.

Trade training and (perhaps) ‘lack of discipline’

A poem The Surveyor’s Lament

Some reminders of plane-tabling days and time-off.

Photo of Intake 53B R.E. Survey Wing with Instructors, July 1956

A broad and humorous look at the life of an A/T at Harrogate

Some poems depicting the life at Harrogate as an Apprentice Tradesman

British Schools Exploring Society expedition to Newfoundland, 27 July to 15 September 1955

John Alcock and myself were lucky to go on a B.S.E.S. expedition to Newfoundland.

Here are some photos and other documents which may be of interest.

Some details about the B.S.E.S.

General map of Newfoundland 

Photos of Newfoundland  

Some photos from the survey fire march

Here is a list of our daily rations. (And you think you suffered hunger at Harrogate!)

With thanks to  Trevor "Bill" Powell for this contribution
Any comments  to
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