School of Tank Technology

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by dbf, Jul 3, 2009.

  1. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    Hi Paul. I did NS in REME. Aug 1950 to July 52. After Basic at Blandford and Honiton, did 11 months at 10 Command Wksps Mill Hill. Then posted to STT. Train to Longcross Halt, the station for STT and FVDE Chobham. Only did 2 weeks there, then they moved STT to Bovington. Probably around August or Sept 1951.
    I think your photo may be from Chobham between 1948 to 50. The reasons ? I can see only two men who were at Bovington when I was. We had no civilians at Bovington, but there were many at Chobham. The background to your photo looks like a Tank Shed. There were lots, close by, at Chobham, but there were none near us at Bovington. The closest would be the sheds that now form part of the Tank Museum, and they would have been too far away to assemble our group.
    Back in those days, those sheds contained many foreign armoured vehicles. I saw the latest, secret Russian JS3 tank there. I asked one of the lads how they had procured it. "Don't ask" he replied.
    The officers on the photo were mainly instructors. We used to get groups of about a dozen officers attend a several week, or perhaps 3 month course. These officers came from mainly RAC Regiments, but sometimes from non RAC outfits. The courses dealt with Armoured vehicle equipment, tactics, history, etc. The two who appear on both photos, are the RSM first man on left, bottom row, in both photos, and a Hussars [?] Sergeant immediately behind the one armed CO on your photo, and he is second right second row on my photo, but is then a Corporal. He was born in India to Civil Servants out there, joined the British Army out there, and came to England, not by choice, when India became independent. He used to pour curry on all his food at the cookhouse. Said that English food was tasteless.
    The officer, second left on front row, was Inns of Court Regt. The only person I came across from that Regiment. I am back row, fourth from left. We had two Draughtsmen Mechanical A1's. Myself and Dave Tooms. He is 8th from left, back row. I can't remember the names of any of the others, except the last officer on the right had a double barrelled name, something - smith. I got in trouble with him. If STT moved to another location in Bovington after I left, your photo may be from that period. There were Tank Sheds in various parts of the camp, but the STT seemed to be in a good area for it's function when I was there, and I can't see why they would relocate it. Happy to answer anything I can. Ken Brooks.
     
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  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Ken, absolutely fascinating and I thank you for adding that detail.

    I should really email it to Bovington to see what they think of it.

    Loved your story about the JS3.
     
  3. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    If you think that anyone at Bovi would be interested Paul, please forward it to them.
    Incidentally, the JS3 had desert colouring, so I assume that it might have been purchased from some Arab ally of the Soviets at that time. Even today, a few thousand dollars can buy almost anything in the Bazaars.
    That tank may still be there, in the Tank Museum. Perhaps now they will tell you how they obtained it. They wouldn't tell me in 1951.
     
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Not sure any JS3s remain in the UK now, sadly.
    There was one in the Budge collection for a while,
    The Budge Collection
    and the AFV register has one listed 'in storage' near Coventry, plus there's a picture of it sat in a field in the Shadock's lists, but the info seems scant.

    Sorry, back to the STT - I think I'd better start a new thread.
     
  5. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    Correct - I couldn't find any in UK. Who knows where the one I saw at Bovi went to ? There's at least one in USA at the Proving Grounds, but they are moving all that to Fort Lee eventually. That spherical turret was an eye opener.
     
  6. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Reme Lad-
    I was recalled for the Korea thing into the Inns of Court Regt - and had a very nice welcoming letter from the C.O. - nice I thought - must be good outfit - THEN the Medical which showed up an old wound - which might have been pensionable so i was rejected - then a real nasty letter from the same C.O. for not keeping myself fit to join his mob......I let it go as I could have ended in the Glasshouse - but when my reserve status was completed i would have loved to have met him !

    Cheers
     
  7. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    Hi Tom. Visited Surret BC years ago. If you had passed the medical, you might have been at Bovi the same time as me. From what I heard, you were lucky to miss Korea.
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    RemeLad

    I do believe you are right that I was lucky to miss Korea - I was pleased to miss the Inns of Court also as it was not a fighting unit at that time - more of an Officers training mob - you missed the best of BC then by going to Surrey !
    Cheers
     
  9. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    The Inns of Court is the Lawyers area near the High Court in London. Originally, most, or perhaps all, of the officers were lawyers, and their clerks were the grunts. I think it was a Cavalry Regiment way back.
     
  10. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    RemeLad


    The "Inns of Court" as a lawyers Assembly goes way back in History before St.Thomas More's time - when he was also a lawyer- and as a cavalry regiment from founding days until 1922 when they were converted to Armoured - much to their disgust- as they would get their hands dirty !

    Cheers
     
  11. REME Lad

    REME Lad Junior Member

    In 1951 - 52 when I was at Bovi, they still had stables of horses, so that the "Donkey Wallopers" officers could still practice cavalry horsemanship. I guess.
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Via FindmyPast:

    Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 13 August 1943
    Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 13 August 1943.png

    Surrey Advertiser 22 July 1944; 139076 Private Edward Jarvis, RASC
    Surrey Advertiser 22 July 1944.png

    Birmingham Daily Post 11 May 1945

    Birmingham Daily Post 11 May 1945.png

    Dundee Courier
    22 April 1949
    Screen Shot 2017-11-22 at 04.02.33.png
     
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