Page 18 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 57

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

National Service Recollections of Lance

Corporal Robert Jackson – 1957 to 1959

The Army Catering Corps Association of which I am a life member asked for “I have just had it done” the Sergeant
memories of National Service to be placed in the new museum being built at replied, “not this way soldier”, the barber
Worth Down opening in 2021, the words below nearly are as I sent them, and starting at the sideboards took the clip-
they will be part of the museum archive. Since then, I have expanded some parts pers straight up and onto the top of the
which form this little book, please enjoy reading about what is now history. head, working his way round, there was
soon a pile of hair on the floor and none
Quiz – How does the publicity for the
on the head of the lad. On seeing his
first James Bond film connect to my
reflection in the offered mirror, he burst
service days? – Answer to follow:
out crying. “Stop that Jessie” shouted the
My National Service Sergeant “you’re in the army now” – the
(Ed. This is the extract Robert send to The poor lad was called that name for all our
RLC Museum, followed by a more detailed training. That was frightening enough
version of Robert Jackson’s National for us all, but the last lad sat down also
Service for the magazine) sported a superb ‘Tony Curtis’ with large
Leaving school at 15 in 1951 without bushy eyebrows – when he left the seat
taking any exams, I became an appren- with not a hair on his head, the two lads
ticed butcher at Rawdon Co-operative. hugged each other and cried together.
Meat was rationed, in short supply and I learned later they had been friends
price controlled. A list with the official since childhood and both proud of their
prices must be displayed, the only price hair. We as a group resented the very
I can remember is “Undercut steak was short back and sides but all considered
Corporal Robert Jackson, 1958
2 shillings and sixpence [12½ new pence] ourselves lucky not to be looked on as
a Pound”, which is the succulent basis bald-headed freaks.
With my butchering knowledge the
for Beef Wellington, along with truffle A useful product sold in the camp
‘choice of the Army Catering Corps was
and crisp/puff pastry. The recipe for sau- shop was ‘Luton Straw Hat Dye’,
OK by me. Basic training in Aldershot
sages was simple, 50% of any meat off developed I was told, “to dye straw in
was agony. The “Tony Curtis haircut” -
cuts etc and 50% bread rusk, water and a Victorian days”, which painted on to
“get outside with your rifles” – Blanco,
little seasoning, if a few doubtful toma- leather gave an instant gloss that covered
polish, ironing, drill, shouted at –
toes could be added, mould cut off, they my lousy efforts to bull up my boots.
t’was hell.
became “Special Tomato Recipe”, no These as issued were not smooth leather,
Posted to Catterick, great memories.
need to list the contents or the preserv- but lumpy and pocked marked natural
In mess tin cooking – “Pug”, first dish I
ative. Smoking anywhere in any shop leather which was smoothed by firmly
ever attempted, a 10-foot double bluff
was not regulated including behind the rubbing a heated spoon handle over the
oven in “field cooking” – I learned to cook.
counter or serving customers. Started surface, pressing hard repeatedly. What
Posted to the Royal Lincolnshire
night/day school at Leeds College of a waste of time.
Regiment H.Q. Lincoln, then H.Q.
Commerce for the Institute of Meat’s
Bestwood Lodge, Nottingham, demobbed Catterick
three-year course for their Craftsman’s
on 7th March 1959 from Woodborough
certificate which I passed, coming top I was posted to Jaffa Lines at Catterick
Hall, with skills for a lifetime.
of class every year. Deferment, then I Garrison in North Yorkshire for B3
started their two-year Diploma course. J. Robert Jackson L/Cpl cooking training. Two new, 3 storied
23390479 B3, B2, Officers Mess B2, & Drills 1.
Meat became unrationed, we started blocks, 8 men to a room with a shower/
buying animals at Otley cattle market – toilet section for each floor, at least now
and slaughtering using old pre-war back in Yorkshire and maybe able to get
equipment, the slaughterhouse was part Aldershot home, which I did most weekends. At
of the coal yard, no doors between yards, Basic training at Aldershot was a series of the beginning I was camp runner in the
the pre-war chains and lifting block etc shocks, the first big one was the haircut. office, one soldier questioned the word
were rusty as was the captive bolt pistol Marched into a large dingy room, seated “pug” mentioned in a report and was
we used, it all had to be checked and on chairs set in rows. First lad, his hair immediately sent back into the training
cleaned. The Government decided I fashioned into the ‘Tony Curtis’ style, stream, losing a cushy permanent staff
could not continue my studies for a sec- long side boards, swept back to meet in job. He had never completed the course
ond year despite being top student again the neck at the back, and a quiff brought and did not know that when soil was dug
and I was ‘called up’ on 9th March 1957. forward over the forehead, which was out of the ground, mixed with water [to
No one wanted to leave home and the style echoing the film star Tony make mud actually] this, when used in
join up; a whole new world was forced Curtis, asked if he wanted a bit off the the field to cement and build walls etc for
upon us. top, “Yes” said the Sergeant. The lad said, cooking gear and ovens, it became “pug”.
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