Army School of Catering 1941 to 1973

It was an impressive ceremony, the service being conducted by the Reverend A V Kingston DACG Chaplain to the Forces, assisted by clergy of all denominations. Lieutenant Colonel I H Joseph, then Chairman of the Regimental Association opened the proceedings by calling upon the Reverend Kingston to offer prayer. Controller ACC, Colonel RAA Byford CBE MVO, when asked by the Chairman to perform the foundation stone laying ceremony, spoke and said:

Early in 1955 a site was selected for the building of the Army Catering Corps War Memorial Hall at the Army Catering Corps Training Centre on the high ground over-looking the playing fields. The building was specially designed in keeping with the Training Centre itself, to serve the useful purpose of providing a much needed sports pavilion and recreational hall for students at the Training Centre and for members of the Corps. It was planned that a shrine would be incorporated in the building in which would be kept the Book of Remembrance. The foundation stone of the hall was laid by Colonel Byford, Controller of the Army Catering Corps on Saturday 23 April 1955.

“Before I carry out the wish of the Army Catering Corps Regimental Association and have the honour of laying the foundation stone of the Corps War Memorial, I feel that this would be an appropriate occasion to cast our thoughts back to the 2 March 1938, when the late Sir Isidore Salmon was appointed Honorary Catering Adviser to the British Army, and inaugurated the Army Catering Service, from which emerged the Army Catering Corps on the 22 March 1941; and from its personnel who have served or serve with all arms of the service at home and overseas and in every theatre was formed the Army Catering Corps Regimental Association in December 1941. It was in January 1948 that the appeal fund for the Army Catering Corps War Memorial was launched by General Sir Humfrey Gale, the Colonel Commandant of the Corps and President of the Regimental Association and War Memorial Appeal committee, and it is worthy of note that the ready response by members of the Regimental Association and all ranks of the Army Catering Corps, aided by the untiring efforts of the Honorary Secretary of the Appeal Committee, Major Guy Bracewell-Smith has made it possible for the ACC War Memorial to be erected. Incorporated in the War Memorial will be a shrine which will be dedicated to the 769 known names of members of the Army Catering Corps who made the supreme sacrifice in World War 1939-1945, and in Korea. It is in their memory that this memorial is being erected, and it will be an inspiration to all members of the Army Catering Corps, past, present and future, to work for the cause and country which these men of the Corps so nobly gave their lives to save. In conclusion, I wish to quote two verses from the twenty fifth chapter of St Matthew's Gospel because those words will be inscribed on a plaque which will be placed on the wall of the shrine, together with the Book of Remembrance which will contain the Roll of Honour. The verses are 34 and 35. 'Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me.”

Continue to Opening Ceremony in 1956

ACC Soldiers Contribute to a War Memorial Hall of Remembrance