HISTORY OF RAOC BOYS' SERVICE

The word “Boys’”, conjures up all sorts of images, in Military terms, the word “Boy”, seems to mean a fourteen or fifteen year old lad? Equally, a man, it seems to refer to a seventeen and a half to eighteen year old, the age of enlistment into man service.

There is evidence available to show, that The RAOC Enlisted Boy’s Section (Part of 1 Training Battalion RAOC), commenced with about 40 Boys’ at Parsons Barracks in Aldershot in the mid 1925, shortly afterwards it moved from Aldershot, to the Ordnance Depot at Hilsea in Portsmouth, which was the RAOC Depot and Training Establishment. it grew in size between1935-1938. In 1938, just before commencement of the Second World War, the RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wing moved from Hilsea, back to Parsons Barracks in Aldershot.

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Intake No, on the 1^st of May 1934 which was located at the Ordnance Depot, HILSEA BARRACKS, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding Officer: Col Ormond RAOC

Adjutant: Capt Viner RAOC                                                                                                              

Officer In Charge Boys’ Capt Mockler RAOC

WO 1 RSM  “Wiggy” Bennett MM (ex Grenadier Guards) 

Sergeant In Charge of Boys’ Sgt Fletton (also Band Sergeant)        

The oldest recorded living Ex Boy, is Ex Boy Cpl 7587028 John Porter, who joined at the same time as Ex Boy soldier Boy 7587510 E. D. STRATFORD, Edward (better known as “Ginger minor”) was the elder brother of Eric Stratford, who had enlisted (a year latter in May 1935) at Ordnance Depot HILSEA, at which time was the RAOC DEPOT & TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT, they were taken on as Apprentice Armourers. The Armourer boys’, were all housed in J block a two storey block, comprising eight rooms each holding 18 (including 16 boys and one boy L/Cpl and one man L/Cpl or Cpl).  J1, 2, 3, and 4 were at one end and J5, 6, 7 and 8 were at the other.

My 1936, group photo shows 117 boys, 3 Royal Marines and 2 Egyptians, all training to be Armourers carried out by 12 civilian instructors, who are also included in the photograph.            

The R.A.O.C. continued the training of Armourers until the formation of the R.E.M.E., in late 1942, when they were all automatically transferred to the new Regiment on 1.10.42. 

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wartime Intake No, on the 1^st of May 1935 which was located at the Ordnance Depot, HILSEA BARRACKS, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding Officer: Col Ormond RAOC

Adjutant: Capt Viner RAOC

Officer in Charge Boys’ Capt Mockler RAOC later Capt Poole RAOC

WO 1 RSM “Wiggy” Bennett MM (Formerly Grenadier Guards).  Later to be replaced by WO1 RSM Thomas (Formerly RSM Welsh Guards).

Sergeant In Charge of Boys’ Sgt Fletton (also Band Sergeant), Sgt Ollier. 

Drum Major Vick, Cpl Gillett, L/Cpl Hollingsworth.

PT WO 2   Walker, L/Cpl Chapman, L/Cpl Dodd.

Schoolmaster  WO 1 who’s Name is not at hand now, but we called him 'Parchment' which seemed to fit his role and demeanor.

Regimental Police (The Bain of our lives known by us as the OGPU after the hated and feared secret police in Stalin's Russia which was very much in the news pre-war)

Ex Boy soldiers are Boy 7587531 J. W. REYNOLDS, E. STRATFORD and C. HOYLE, they all enlisted at Ordnance Depot HILSEA, which, at the time was the RAOC DEPOT & TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT. They were taken on as Apprentice Armourers. Thee Armourer boys’, were all housed in J block, a two storey block comprising eight rooms each holding 18 (including 16 boys and one boy L/Cpl and one man L/Cpl or Cpl). J1, 2, 3, and 4 were at one end and J5, 6, 7 and 8 were at the other. Eric Stratford, with most of his contemporaries were located in J6, ground floor, one end, Joe Reynolds was in J1, ground floor, the other end. 

Other Boy Soldiers were: AMBURY H. (Bert) 75875XX, BROWN S. (Acker) 7587514, CALDWELL E. C. (Ted) 7587515, CARTER G. (George) 75875XX, DUNK B. (Dinah) 7587516, GIFKINS P. (Peter) 75875XX, GRAINGER-PHILIPS P. 758745X, HARRISON W. (Bill) 75875XX, HEBDEN I. (Ikey) 75875XX, HOBBS J. (Jack) 7587520, HOLDEN T. (Tom/Spit) 75875XX, HOLMES W. (Bill) 758753X, JAMES I. (Ivor/Ianto) 7587512, JAMES O.  (Owen/Jimmy) 7587513, JEANS H. (Harry/Hawk) 7587521, KEMPSHALL P. (Percy) 7587522, LANE J. (Joe/Porky) 75875O9, LUCAS J, (Jacky/Titch) 7587453, MARSH W. (Bill) 7587508, POPE W. (Bill) 7587507, REEVES D. (Dai) 7587507, REYNOLDS J. W. (Joe) 7587531, & SALISBURY  7587505. 

 Clement Hoyle has written a book entitled "Schoolboy to Soldier 1935-1945”, ISDN No. 1-84394-178-3. That provides a picture of the life of a Boy Soldier during the period 1935-1939.

It is not known precisely, when “Boys’ service commenced, but we are lucky enough to be able to report, that we have four of the very earliest “RAOC Enlisted Boys’”, as members of our Association. John Porter from May 1934 and Joseph W Reynolds, Eric Stratford and Clem Hoyle, joined up a year later at the Ordnance Depot Hilsea in Portsmouth, on the 1^st of May 1935, welcome Gentlemen. 

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Intake No, on the 3rd February 1937 which was located at the Ordnance Depot, HILSEA BARRACKS, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding Officer: Col Ormond RAOC

Adjutant: Capt Viner RAOC

Officer in Charge Boys’ Capt Poole RAOC

WO 1 RSM Thomas (Formerly RSM Welsh Guards).                                                                                                         

Ex Boy was 7588882 O.J.T. (Owen) Bennett. Owen enlisted at HILSEA DEPOT & TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT on 3rd. February1937. The following year in 1938, Enlisted Boys’ moved up to Parsons Barracks ALDERSHOT. Owen recalls being referred to as a “BADGY”, this was a Boy Soldier being trained as a Storemen (but most Boys’ happened to be trained as clerks) and they were also trained at the same time as Buglers? Other Boy Soldiers were: F.E. Anfield, R.E.S. Pearce, M. Pearce, D.H. Cook, D. Ives, Jarvis, Knell, Bancroft, S.G. Chapman, and T.R Chapman.

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Intake No , around May 1938, which, by this time had moved to Aldershot and was located at Parson’s BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding Officer: Col Ormond RAOC

Adjutant: Capt Viner RAOC

Officer in Charge Boys’ Capt Poole RAOC

WO 1 Thomas (Formerly RSM Welsh Guards).                                                                                                          

The reason for this move was due to the fact that the Ordnance Depot Hilsea had been loaned to the Americans for the duration of the World War II. In the same year new Boy Ranks were formed, one Boy RSM, two Boy Sergeants and two Boy Corporals.

Other Boy Soldiers were:

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wartime Intake No 1, in the March 1942 – 1943 which was located at PARSONS BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding officer Captain N. Hackett RAEC
Second in Command
WO1 Sallabank RAEC

On or around March 1942 the1st Wartime Intake into the RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wing, commenced in the form of Boy Leslie Quick and Boy Samuel Sly. William (Bill Allen Muncey.   Other Boy Soldiers were: Boy 10596411 James Searle, together with Boy Derek Waterworth, K J (Taffy) Williams, Len Claughton, Ben Cooper, Sidney Hunwick, D J Griffiths, Jams W MacLachlan, Brian Mason, Aubrey Coultard, G A (Paddy) O’Brian, John (Titch) Rollins, Bill Roberts, Boy L/Cpl John Waldren, Peter D Wood, Donald Walker.

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wartime Intake No 2, on the 29th March 1943 – 1945 which was located at PARSONS BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE.

Commanding officer Captain N. Hackett RAEC
Second in Command
WO1 Sallabank RAOC

On the 29th of March 1942 the 2^nd Wartime intake into the RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wing, commenced with namely Boy 10596411 James Searle, together with Boy Derek Waterworth, K J (Taffy) Williams, Len Claughton, Ben Cooper, Sidney Hunwick, D J Griffiths, Jams W MacLachlan, Brian Mason, Aubrey Coultard, G A (Paddy) O’Brian, John (Titch) Rollins, Bill Roberts, Boy L/Cpl John Waldren, Peter D Wood, Donald Walker.

 Hilsea Depot was handed back to the British in 1945, when it once more, became the RAOC 1 Depot and Training Establishment.

RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wartime Intake No 7th on the 6th June1944 – 1946 which was located at PARSONS BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE

Commanding Officer Captain H A Dunham RAOC.
Second in Command RAOC
Sgt’s S G Letton, F Saunders, S Issacs & Cpl G C Crane.

On the 6th of June 1944 the 7th intake into the RAOC Enlisted Boys’ Wing , commenced with namely 10596494 Leslie H Nicholass, together with Boy L/Cpl A Hill, R McClosky, Boy’s C E Picker, E W Waters, J L W Gregan, G A Gebbles, W L Johnston, K Randall, J R Scott, F W Wood, N Priestly, F H Barton, M Healey. all who all joined at Parsons Barracks Aldershot. They all passed out into man service in 1946.

RAOC Boy’s Training School 1946 – 1950 which was located at
PARSONS BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE

Commanding Officer Captain J E HALL RAOC.
Second in Command RAOC

In November 1949 Victor Dawson joined the RAOC Boys’ Wing which at the time was based at Willems Barracks, Aldershot, located opposite “Salamandca and Babjos Barracks” in Aldershot which had formed part of 1 Training Battalion RAOC. The boy’s training wing, consisted of between 35 – 50 boys’. They all underwent training as RAOC Technical Clerks. On the 31st July1950 RAOC Boy’s Training Wing moved down to the south coast to “Haslar Barracks” in Gosport, Hampshire.

The former Haslar Barracks is currently being used as Asylum Seekers, detention centre for Refugees. It’s run by H M Prison Service. A far cry from those halcyon early days in “Haslar Barracks” in Gosport.

Shortly after the move to Haslar Barracks, in September1950 the commanding officer rank changed to Major and under the new command of Major R A J Wiggins, RAOC. The unit was renamed “RAOC Boys’ Training Wing”. By 1953, the school grown in numbers to such an extent, that additional accommodation was sought to accommodate the over spill of the Senior Boys’. This was found just up the road from Haslar in Lee on Solent, at Fort Gomer, (which at that time had been recently vacated by the 7th Royal Tank Regiment). The conditions were appalling? The Palmerston Forts were designed as part of a defence system, build to protect and defend Portsmouth Harbour in 1850’s; they were built just prior to the Napoleonic wars.

It had been used throughout the intervening years by various Military Regiments including:
1st Battalion 4th Regiment of Foot 24th March 1874
56th Regiment Royal Artillery June 1879.
40th Regiment of Foot. 1889.
1st Company Volunteer Battalion Hampshire Regiment 11th Jan 1900 – 11th Feb 1900
2nd Gloucestershire Regiment 1910.
3rd Field Training Regiment 1939.
7th Royal Tank Regiment 1950.

Fort Gomer, Gosport was considered fit for continued use. It was a brick built structure, consisting 73 large gun emplacements with accommodation for 300 men. It was surrounded by a tidal moat which smelt disgusting at low tide, clearly, because the untreated foul sewage that used to run into and around the moat, before moving out to sea. It attracted a number of unwelcome visitors, which clearly upset a number of the boys’ at the time. Typically, the Army issued the boy’s with rat traps, as an answer to the problem. The problem, however, didn’t stop there, when a rat was caught in a trap, the other rats attacked and eat the trapped victim.

The Fort was sold at Auction for £169,000.00 and demolished in 1964. It is currently used as part of a main road system but the majority of the land that the Fort has been filled in, covered in soil and is used as playing fields for the adjoining Bay House School. (Formerly, Gosport Grammar School).

February 1950 – March 1953
RAOC BOY’S TRAINING SCHOOL was located at
HASLAR & FORT GOMER, HAMPSHIRE

Commanding Officer Major R A J WIGGINS OBE RAOC up till November 1952.
From November 1952 Boy’s Training was under the command of Major F L COOK RAOC

April 1953 – January 1954
RAOC BOY’S TRAINING SCHOOL which was located at
HASLAR & FORT GOMER, HAMPSHIRE

Commanding Officer: Major F L COOK RAOC
Adjutant: Capt T W GREEN RAOC
Training Officer: CAPT J JOHNSON RAOC
RSM WO1 KELLY, RSM WO1 McCauley
CSM WO II MULLALLY

February 1954 – September 1956
JUNIOR LEADERS BATTALION RAOC which was located at
NORTH FRITH BARRACKS, BLACKDOWN SURREY
RAOC BOYS’ SCHOOL (a wing of 1 TRAINING BATTALION RAOC)

In February 1954, under the direction of the new Commanding Officer Major W R ECCLES, RAOC the Boy’s moved from both Haslar and Lee on Solent in Gosport to their new Barracks in North Frith Barracks in Blackdown, Hampshire. They were known as the “RAOC Boy’s School”, a wing of 1 Regular Training Battalion RAOC. In the autumn of 1954, the Boy’s School were renamed “Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC”, and remained as such for the following seventeen years.

Major ECCLES RAOC left in November 1956 and Major C K KEMP REME took over

August 1954 – September 1956
JUNIOR LEADERS BATTALION RAOC which was located at
NORTH FRITH BARRACKS BLACKDOWN SURREY

Commanding Officer Major G H UNDERWOOD MC RAOC
Adjutant
Training Officer Major KEMP REME took over as C O and Major R C A HAWORTH RAOC took over as company commander.
RSM WO I PAGA

February 1955 – August 1957
JUNIOR LEADERS BATTALION RAOC which was located at
NORTH FRITH BARRACKS, BLACKDOWN, SURREY.

Commanding Officers for this period were Major C K KEMP REME Dec 1956 till May 1957, when Major P D AMETO. RAOC who took over, then Major W R ECCLES RAOC from 1956
Second in Command
Adjutant
Training Officer
RSM WO I F HALL, T A McCANN

In November1955, part of the REME boy’s joined up with the RAOC and became responsible for training REME boy entrants. Tope House was formed for the REME boys’. The unit was known as the “Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC/REME”, under the direction of the Commanding Officer Major P D AMATO RAOC.

In 1957 the Battalion Commanding Officer post was raised to the new rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The first appointment to this new position was Lt Col John W HARLEY – PETERS RAOC Commanding Officer of the “Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC”.

August 1957 - December 1960
JUNIOR LEADERS BATTALION RAOC which was based at
North Frith Barracks Blackdown.

On Friday, February the 13th 1960, the Junior Leaders moved across the road from North Frith Barracks into Dettingen Barracks at Blackdown, in Surrey post code GU16 6SR.

Commanding Officer: Lt Col J W HARLEY – PETERS RAOC
Adjutant
Training Officer
RSM T A McCANN

1961 – 1964.
JUNIOR LEADERS BATTALION RAOC
Were based at Dettingen Barracks, Blackdown.

RSM WOI (Paddy) McCANN, & WOI Maurice C E GOSLING
SQMS E (Robie) ROBINSON

September 1963 – July 1966
Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC

Commanding Officer Lt Col D de W WALLER RAOC
Second in Command
Adjutant Capt McDonald RAOC
Training Officer
RSM WOI G Kenny MAULE
SQMS E (Robo) ROBINSON
QMSgt ALLEN

September1963 – July 1966
Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC

During
Commanding Officer Lt Col. D Brock RAOC
Second in Command Major D Castle TD RAOC
Adjutant Capt AC Futrell RAOC
Training Officer Capt
RSM WOI MCE Gosling RA

September 1968 – December 1970
Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC

Commanding Officer Lt Col RAOC
Second in Command Major
Adjutant Capt
Training Officer Capt
RSM WOII ROBINSON

September 1969 – December 1971
Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC / RAOC Apprentice College

Commanding Officer Lt Col M MATHEWS RAOC
Second in Command Major T F PEARSON RAOC
Adjutant Capt T H BOLLEN RAOC
Training Officer Capt R T ARLISS RAOC
RSM WOI M E WOOD

September 19 – December 1971
RAOC APPRENTICE COLLEGE

Saw the change over to RAOC Apprentice College, the Commanding Officer, Lt Col M MATHEWS RAOC, was in command from 1969 till 1971.

Permanent staff, at that time was;
Major
Captains
Lieutenant’s Keith WELLHAN, WHITE RAOC,
WO 1 RSM Brian DORNING, WO II CSM

The Boys remained at Dettingen Barracks, Blackdown, until their final disbandment in 1985. The only change that occurred during that time was a name change, from Junior Leaders Battalion RAOC to “Army Apprentice College RAOC”, this occurred in 1970 and it remained as such under the Commanding Officer Lt Col M L C JIGGENS until it’s final closure on the 31st December1985.

Thereafter, it amalgamated with the RASC and moved to COLERNE near Bath in Wiltshire where it was re-badged “Junior Leaders Regiment RAOC”. The unit continued in that format from 1985 until its final closure in 1992.

September 1983 – December 1985
RAOC Apprentice College
December 1985 saw the closure of Dettingen Barracks.

Commanding Officer Lt Col M L C JIGGENS B Sc RAOC
Second in Command Major R H FAREY RAOC
Adjutant Capt W O COLE RAOC
Training Officer Major J J BROWN RAOC
RSM WOI S BRIERLY MBE
Chief Clerk WOI SSM D GOSLING BEM

For more information on the structure of Boys’ service, pleases see the History of Boys’ Service.

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SUA TELA TONANTI