Schooldays of Malcolm Archbald SMITH
[Ref. S.1]
Field days
Camp
Shooting
Field gun
Band
Worksop College
Worksop College
Combined Cadet Force
Schooldays of Malcolm Archbald SMITH
[Ref. S.1]
Camp
Shooting
Field gun
Band
Worksop College
Worksop College
Combined Cadet Force
It was obligatory to participate in the college Combined Cadet Force. All cadets were issued with uniform and the officers were teachers who held their rank from army service days. The CCF was principally an army section but there was also an RAF section.
Parade was held every Monday afternoon in lieu of games, and normally started with an inspection which was not a happy time for Malcolm. For some reason he could never turn himself out smartly and freely described himself as looking like a sack of potatoes. Those who did not pass inspection had to present themselves the following day during morning break to be re-inspected and would be conspicuous on Tuesday morning as they would be wearing their uniform. Malcolm had the ignomy of being in this situation when he was a school prefect and was probably the only such person to whom this happened. His inability to not turn out smartly meant that he did not get promoted much and thus was the lowest ranking school prefect, though this did not trouble him too much.
Activities would comprise marching drill and weapons training and also combat training and shooting. There were proficiency examinations to be taken known as Certificate A parts 1 and 2 and Malcolm achieved 1st place in the Order of Merit for his Certificate A part 2 as recorded in this cutting from The Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop Times of December 1957. There would be a Passing Out parade at the end of term for successful candidates. During most terms there would be a Field Day when the entire contingent would be bused to an outside location to conduct an exercise, usually under the supervision of regular forces. There also was an annual Tactical Cup for an inter-house competition. A formal inspection and march past took place every year on Headmasters Speech Day.
Each year, those cadets that wished could attend camp at a military establishment at the end of the summer term. In 1955 it was held at Gandale in Yorkshire and Malcolm attended. The following year it was in Scotland and Malcolm particularly enjoyed that.
During sessions at the indoor rifle range it was found that Malcolm was a good shot which led to his achieving marksman status and being appointed a member of the school shooting team. Being in that team had the advantages of keeping him away from general parades and also entitled him to trips away for matches against other teams.
Another means of avoiding general parades and training cropped up when a 25 pounder field gun was delivered to the school. Malcolm volunteered and was accepted to man the gun. A place in the band was a further means of solace.
The weather was very hot on the day of the Annual Inspection. There was a long wait standing in the open sun awaiting the Air Chief Marshall to take the salute. Malcolm started to feel that he was going to pass out. He was swaying and had just lost vision when the order to march was given. He set off but veered off course and heard a voice of his nearby comrade say "look where you are going". He managed to keep more or less in place and quickly came round in time to complete the march past.
A final piece of good news to Malcolm was when the end of National Service was announced by the government late in 1957.