My War - Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 Initial training wing {ITW}

After four weeks at ACRC we were put on a train to Stratford on Avon to start our training. We were accommodated in a former hotel with four stories and five of us Bernard, Don, Dug, Taffy and myself were in one room on the second floor.
Naturally we became pals. The flight was divided into four squads and appart from the classes such as navigation, airmenship, morse code, meteorology etc we had a good deal of squad drill at first and we had to get used to marching at 180 paces a minute with arms swinging to level with our shoulders. One morning a week a coach was laid on to take us to Leamington Spa for swimming training. An afternoon each week was taken up with a cross-country run, but three of us were not too enthusiastic about long distance running so we put on a sweater under our pt vests and secreted a few cigarettes in it. As soon as we knew the route they were taking we raced ahead until we were out of sight of the rest of the runners. Then we nipped round a corner into a lane and found three or four land girls working in a field who were pleased to see us and shared their flasks of tea with us. We would sit and chat with them until it was time to return to the billets. The PTI never noticed our absence. A great deal of clay pidgin shooting was also included as it was considered good practise for learning how to judge the amount of deflection needed to hit a moving target. One day they decided to give us some fire drill. First of all we were given instruction on how to wrap our legs round a three inch diameter rope, which meant that our legs could support our weight. Then sent upstairs to the fourth floor where we found the other end of the rope dangling through the landing window and we were required to launch ourselves onto the rope and climb down. That was the fire drill. It was a bit nerve racking sitting on the window sill in that second before taking hold of the rope but once on the rope it was easy.
One weekend my girl friend [as she was then] came to stay in a B&B. We had been practising all week to march at 120 paces a minute in preparation for a joint church parade with the army. She followed us to the church and afterwards was following as we marched away. When we came to a side road we turned into it and changed to our normal pace and by the time she got to the corner we had vanished. I think that weekend may have been the time when she accepted my proposal of marriage.
Towards the end of the three month course one day when we went to the baths we had to jump off the top diving board and swim to an overturned life raft which we had to over and climb into it. Another day they held a swimming gala and each squad had to compete against the others. I entered for the 100 yards breast stroke race and came second. I was the only one in my squad that got any points. There were also end of course exams. After that we were all promoted to LAC (Leading Aircraftman) and our pay was increased from three shillings and six pence to seven shillings and three pence per day. Then we went on indefinite leave.

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