A very happy chance meeting

[Grandad]

I am sure that I have mentioned the fact that in my teenage years I was a member of the local Sea Cadet Corps. I don't have any photos of that time and the only memento is the silver pin tray from a Commonwealth Training Course in 1952.

Now that Mrs G is no longer able to drive, I take her on the Thursday weekly shop to the supermarket. We both have a trolley and I get all the heavy stuff, milk, liquid refreshment etc and then wait for her in the car. As I exited the store I met a very old friend and his wife who I have not seen for a very long time. He said that he had something that would be of interest to me, a photo of the whole unit when we were both Sea Cadets. I gave him my card and he emailed the picture to me this afternoon.

In 1952 I was a Petty Officer but in the picture I am still a Leading Seaman so I guess the picture dates from 1950 or '51 when I was about 16.

How a picture like this brings back instant memories, names began to emerge in my mind as I looked along the rows and recognised many of the faces. I know too well that many have already died. You know I like a challenge and my new one is to put a name to every face. I shall start by posting the picture on the local Facebook groups. Here is the picture.



I am at the left end of the seated Officer row. My brother is third from right of the front row. My friend is third right of those standing. And many more that I know and many that I don't.

Just a chance meeting has given me something else to occupy some of my time and hopefully make a framed picture with everyone named for the local corps TS Courageous, that still flourishes and has recently moved into brand new premises built on land on the river donated by the council.

[Horus]

What a lucky turn up for you Grandad and something that will keep you occupied for a while I really hope you reach your goal and name all the people in your photograph, which by the way is very clear

[LovelyLadyLux]

Way cool result of a chance meeting!

You definitely look like your brother OR your brother definitely looks like you.

What all things were you doing as a Sea Cadet back then?

[Kiya]

Its just great to have & look back on these old photos ........many memories

[Grandad]

What all things were you doing as a Sea Cadet back then?

LLL, soon after the end of the war various youth organisations re-opened. These included Youth Clubs, Scouts, Boys Brigade and Cadets (both army and navy). I first joined the Sea Scouts at 11 but after a year I fibbed about my age to get into the cadets (normal admission 13). I remained in the cadets until at 18 you were expected to leave. I continued as a civilian instructor until at 21 I joined, no not the navy but, the RAF as a National Serviceman.

Returning to your question, I believe that organisations like the cadets are character building for young people but sadly electronic gadgetry is more appealing than a disciplined part time pursuit these days. having said that, the Canterbury unit TS Courageous is still active and has recently moved into new premises as mentioned earlier. The core unit training is seamanship and all that that embraces.

During my time between 12 and 18 I had many experiences denied to kids who chose to just hang about in the street. Here is a short list of some of those experiences.

We went to summer camp for two weeks each year at a Royal Navy ship or shore establishment.
I first flew in an aircraft (a De Haviland Rapide from RNAS Yeovilton) around 1950
I went to sea on exercises in the channel in a submarine.
Spent time on a Royal Naval cruiser to get my Petty Officer rating.
Was given a tour of the American battleship USS Missouri and also the British carrier HMS Indefatigable.
I was chosen as one of the representatives from the UK at a Commonwealth Cadet Course.
I did two trips to Hamburg on a merchant ship at age 16 when Hamburg still showed the scars of war and all security and police carried weapons (that was a bit scary when we did not see weapons on the street at home)
I got accosted by prostitutes in Hamburg and me still a virgin.
I spent a day at sea, during filming, in 1952 on HMS Coreopsis that was HMS Compass Rose in the film The Cruel Sea.
We had a band, I was a drummer then drum major, and appeared in Parades and Carnivals; we had a field gun and limber and did the field gun routine at fetes......the list goes on and on and I would not have missed the experience of being a sea cadet even though I joined the RAF; but my cadet experience put me in a good position for early promotion in the RAF.....

[Horus]

Nothing like a miss-spent youth eh Grandad

[LovelyLadyLux]

@Grandad - sounds fascinating and what strikes me as most important is that you did lots of this with your peers. Early on you were informally formally socialized in a real positive way that came with activities that required thinking, understanding, behaviors (learned/orchestrated/informal) and skill development. Definitely wish we had that going for us now.

As a matter of fact I've often thought that bringing in compulsory 2 year military training for both male & female (without the compulsion to go to war if one opts out during this time) would not be amiss. Would definitely open eyes to the bigger wider world and grow everybody up real fast. IF there was a Cadet field that if joined and followed would allow one to miss the 2 yrs would be a good idea too - but - if you do take a Cadet program it should also give the opportunity to continue on in this career field.

I find that so many youth and young people of today have never had to actually DO anything. This leaves them real happy to just loaf around and makes accepting welfare and handouts easy. They learn to demand their "rights" without any feeling they need to contribute something to get something. Many I believe are very naïve to the way the world works. No world perspective at all. No comprehension beyond filling immediate needs that are usually silly wants and must haves.

[Horus]

Many people of our generation would agree with you that either a stint in the military or in some sort of youth organisation is a great moral builder and sadly lacking with a lot of today’s young people.

[LovelyLadyLux]

So many young people today are totally directionless. They just seem to be floating about with no real appreciation for how the world is working. I really believe we, as a society, are not doing them any favours by letting them remain aimless while they learn to live on welfare and handouts. There are so many who really do not seem to know any other way and once the pattern establishes it becomes close to impossible to break. Talk about how we do NOT create self esteem and confidence!! Here - take this hand out and live.............

[Grandad]

Looking through my album for a pic that I think is there somewhere I came across this from our visit to Duxford Air Show last year. I mentioned above that as a Sea Cadet I first flew in an aircraft. This was it, or one like it. Seats about 8 or 10 and you start leaning back in canvas seats until the tail comes up as you accelerate along the runway. Brilliant

[Horus]

Looks like something made on 'Blue Peter'

[Grandad]

[LovelyLadyLux]

"Canvas seats" you say? "Lean back" you say? OOOOOOOO nooooo not too sure I'd be parking my derriere in a plane like that!

[Grandad]

"Canvas seats" you say? "Lean back" you say? OOOOOOOO nooooo not too sure I'd be parking my derriere in a plane like that!

Military standard LLL, but I still clearly remember the tail lifting and very exciting for a young lad. We didn't have things like the theme parks that we have today to get our adrenaline rushes so this was a bit special.

[Horus]

During the Turkish invasion of Cyprus I flew all the way back to the UK sitting on a canvass jump seat in a Hercules transporter, bloody uncomfortable to say the least:stp

[Grandad]

we had a field gun and limber and did the field gun routine at fetes........

I mentioned this earlier and by chance, when I asked my brother if he had any old family photos, he sent these among others from our cadet days. This was when we retrieved our field gun and limber and pulled it the 7 miles from Whitstable to our HQ.



Much of our equipment was kept in store through the war years including our drum and bugle instruments. When we retrieved the instruments the Drum Majors mace could not be found. My dad came to the rescue and created a temporary replacement with a broom handle topped with a polished copper cistern float and some braid wrapped around the handle. Did the job and looked good.

We did eventually find our mace and this is a church parade in the city around 1951. I am the drummer, front row left, and eventually became Drum Major.

[Horus]

Great bit of nostalgia Grandad, it ties in quite well with what I was saying in another post regarding 'The relief of Ladysmith' and the navy dismantling and carrying their naval guns over miles of rough terrain in Africa to assist in the relief and how it led to the competitions held later in the military tattoo's when they did the same with similar field guns to the ones in your picture.

Me personally I always wanted to play one of those great big drums they have strapped on their chest and go out carol singing at Christmas

I can see myself now, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, Siiiii-lent night, Holy night, BOOM BOOM!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Great pieces of family history Grandad. Quite interesting.

[Jayway]

WOW , WHAT AN EXCELLENT YOUTH TIME you had, Grandad. Great concentration on the drummers face, must have been difficult not to go bonk at the wrong time . . for sure I could not have done it ! You should have called me, I would have lent you a pony to pull that gun . .

[Grandad]

WOW , WHAT AN EXCELLENT YOUTH TIME you had, Grandad, must have been difficult not to go bonk at the wrong time .

Better than spending all your time on ipads though Jay......and the girls went for a boy in uniform....but not much bonking