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George Spenceley recalls his memories of training to be a farmer in Yorkshire in the 1940's and 1950's.
In 1952 I was coming up to my eighteenth birthday. I sent for information about the navy and the brochures looked promising. I fancied joining the navy to see the world and I dreamed of sailing to different parts of the globe.
I'd come home from the farm I was working on for the weekend and showed Dad the brochures and asked what he thought of my prospects? 'Whatever branch of the service you decide on it's up to you' he replied.
My brother Ron was in the navy and he'd had a number of narrow squeaks. He painted a very black picture of it and he was speaking from experience.
Two or three of the ships that he'd served on had been sunk by the Japanese and he was one of the lucky ones. So the navy was out. I didn't fancy the Airforce, the 'Bryll Cream Boys' as they were known so it would have to be the army.
A brown paper envelope came in the post O.H.M.S. (On His Majesty's Service), written across the top. 'It looks like your calling up papers' Dad said quietly. I opened the envelope and it said that I had to attend Wesley Hall in Middlesbrough for a medical examination prior to going in the forces so I left the farm and went home.
The day of my medical was a very sad day as it was the day that King George VI died. Also Middlesbrough football team was beaten four goals to one.
That day I passed A1 to become a gunner in the Army in the Royal Artillery. The following Sunday evening and on throughout the night I travelled by train to Oswestry, changing trains at Birmingham.
As the train approached the station I could see a number of army vehicles lining the roadside. Some of the drivers shouting remarks to the new recruits arriving on the train, such as 'Come on you mangy lot you are in the army now. Hey Harry come and look at this lot. What a shower of numskull's. It looks like a cattle truck'.
The train stopped and as the carriage doors opened out stepped what looked like a full train load of you men wanting to join the army although most of them having to leave home because of conscription.
As the last lad stepped down onto the station platform I could see gloom, doom and despondency on most of their faces. Suddenly a person in uniform with three stripes on his arm (a sergeant) yelled at the top off his voice 'I want all you lot formed up into three lines' then his voice went even higher he screamed NOW AT THE DOUBLE CLIMB ABOARD THE WAITING VEHICLES.
The lads, very tired after the nights journey, scrambled as best they could aboard. When the convoy with the new recruits entered the camp I could see out of the rear of the vehicle a huge parade ground, on it hundreds of soldiers marching in groups up and down the square.The NCO's in charge of each group bellowed out marching instructions.
The vehicle came to a sudden stop and we climbed out onto road. One by one our names were called out as we were placed in different squads.
From there we marched down to the quarter masters store where we drew out sheets, blankets, boots, uniforms and clothing for our stay in the army.
For the next two weeks it was marching, inoculations, more marching, working on what the army called fatigues and a constant ear bashing from the sergeants and NCO's trying to knock us in to shape.
Their favourite saying was 'One way or another, we will make you or break you. Keep your noses clean and do as you are told and everything will turn out fine. We are your mam's and dads here to take care of you' - some mam and dad!
George Spenceley, 2002
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