​Royal Artillery Recruiting Troop 

The Origin's of The RA Recruiting Troop





1961

 

No1 Display Team

 

Originally there were three Independant Teams:

 

The Central Display Team

The RA Motor Cycle Display Team

The Thunderbird Mobile Exhibition

 

The Thunderbird Mobile Exhibition was a 16 man strong team,

and had the following equipment:

 

The Display Vehicle: A Thornycroft 'Big T' Tractor, with a converted Rubery-Owen trailer to show a model of a Deployed SAGW Troop.

 

Thunderbird 1 Missile and Launcher Loader towed by a

Bedford RL3 ton truck

 

Thunderbird Launcher towed by a Bedford RL3 ton truck

 

Bofors 40/70 LAA Gun towed by a AEC Matador 10 ton truck

 

Meadows 27.5 KVA Generator towed by a Bedford RL3 ton truck

 

2 x Austin Champs

 

For a short period the Team were stationed at

Piddlehinton Camp, Dorset, and maintenance of the Missile

was carried out by English Electric in Stevenage.

 

All members of the Troop had to learn a running commentary

describing the events from the detection to the destruction of

a target. This semi-trailer housed a complete working

simulated model of the radars, height finder, TIR range detector

and launchers, the complete show lasted for 25 minutes.

 

 

 

Memories from Dave Thorpe

RA Central Display Team - The Early Years

 

I joined the Central Display Team from 16 Regiment RA in November 1961. I believe the team had been based at Woolwich for about 12 months. At this time, the Recruiting Troop was in three sections:

 

1. The RA Motor Cycle Display Team

2. The Thunderbird Team

3. The Central Display Team

 

If my memory serves me rightly, the OC was a Captain Myers,

with Lt Webster as 2IC. RSM Bob Duncan MM, was our WO1,

Staff Sgt Neville was Troop QM Sgt, and Gnr Bill Blackett

(National Service) was the Troop Clerk.

 

The Central Team members in 1962 were:

 

Wo1 Bob Duncan MM

Sgt Paddy Kellaher

L/ Bdr Mick Coulson (7 RHA)

L/Bdr Peter Carroll (4th Regt)

L/Bdr Tony Legonedec (27 or 47 Regt)

L/Bdr John Adams (Chunky) (94 Regt)

L/Bdr Bill Wilkinson (656 Flight AAC)

L/Bdr Bruce Speight (Arty) (1 RHA)

L/Bdr Maurice Makepeace (16 Regt)

L/Bdr David Thorpe (Corky) (16 Regt)

Craftsman Graham Whale (REME)

 

Following a gunnery course on the 105mm Pack Howitzer, we

travelled all over the UK to various County Shows, TA Halls, Youth

Clubs, in fact anywhere where there were young men and women who

might be interested in the RA as a career. We were based at

Woolwich, along with the rest of the Recruiting Troop. and our garages/preperation areas were in the Rotunda compound.

 

Our equipment consisted of a 105mm Pack Howitzer, a Saracen Armoured Car, a Drone Surveillance Radio Control Aircraft. Our transport consisted

of 4 x 3-ton Bedford RLs, 1 Land Rover, 1 Austin Champ,

1 4-wheeled Caravan for office use, and 1 Jeep Generator.

There were also various small items on show, including a theodolite.

The display consisted of a fabricated frame covered in canvas, showing

lots of still photographs of various Artillery activities.

We also showed films.

 

To explain the basic workings of the equipment, the troop attended

courses at Larkhill School of Artillery, and at Manorbier

School of Artillery.

 

1963 saw changes, mainly in personnel. John Adams left, later to be commissioned I believe. Bruce Speight and Tony Legonedec moved on. Replacements were Gnr Jock Elder (42 Regt), Gnr Ridley (Whistler),

Gnr "Brummy" Williams (36 Regt).Cpl Madge Kennedy and 2 Privates from the WRAC, and Tom Britten as our new Tiffy.

 

HQ also saw changes. Cpt Morgan became OC, Lt Gordon 2IC,

BSM Pat Arbour our WO, and Sgt (Jungle) Jim Taylor replaced Paddy

as our Sgt.

 

Recruiting venues in 1963 were similar to those visited in 1962.

At the end of 1963 I left the Recruiting Troop to join 12 Regiment

in Malaya.

 

Some memories of 1962/63 include:

 

A rum ration being issued to us in Manorbier, because it was so cold.

Listening to The Beatles sing " Love Me Do" at the Cavern Club.

Watching as lots of school kids milled around us on Glasgow Green,

and then proceeding to climb all over Tom Canton's Thunderbird,

stuff cinders and muck down the barrel of Dennis Thirkill's L40/70,

and do a similar thing to our 105.

 

Listening to Mick Coulson doing his impression of "The Big Bopper" singing "Chantilly Lace".

 

Pay Days - when wev were in Woolwich - always followed by a couple

of pints in the Queen Vic, with Wally and Doll (Landlord and Landlady). Mild was only 1/1d per pint (which equates to just over 5p today).

Steak, egg and chips, bread and butter and tea, in Bert's Cafe which

was 3/6d, (18p).

Down the hill to The Salutaion, The Mortar, and The Ordnance pubs.

Not forgetting to call back at Bert's for an egg banjo on the way back

to barracks.

 

 

 

The Early Years

 

The first Display was undertaken in April by 12th LAA Regiment's

KAPE Team in Northern Ireland, then moved to the Newcastle/Sunderland area. The visits usually were over a four day period, and always included

a Saturday or Sunday. If at an Agricultural or County Show, the duration would have been for a week at a time.

 

In May the complete troop traveled to Larkhill to familiarise themselves with the Weapons and Equipment they would be using, this lasted for

five days, after which the troop moved onto the School of Artillery, Manorbier where training continued for a further five days,

consisting of in and out of action drills with both Guns and Missile.

 

Following this the troop returned to Woolwich where for the next three

days they prepared the equipment in readiness for the troop's

first complete display.

 

The Troop would start touring the week before Easter, and normally returned to Barracks at the end of September to prepare for Administration Parade and Display. It was then Block Leave for the Troop.

 

This was how the Troop operated for the first three years of its existence, alwayson a temporary basis, before being brought fully into the

Regimental fold.

 

During my time with the Troop in the early 70's, the Tour of duty was for two years, but many stayed much longer than that, especially in the MCDT. Members of the Troop and the MCDT, were drawn from all of the Regiments of the Royal Artillery, specializing in there own piece of equipment, but soon becoming conversant with every aspect of

The Royal Regiment.

 

The RA Recruiting Troop was unique and will probably never be resurrected, but it forfilled a vital role during its time of activity, and

the men who served in the Troop were proud to travel the Country

and Abroad representing The Royal Artillery.

 

I am pleased to report that two of the Troop personnel, Barry Sanderson MCDT, and Ray Suddes of No1 Display, returned later to the RA Display Troop as RSM in their own right.

 

The Royal Artillery Parachute Display Team was formed in 1977, the

team was located in the RA Barracks, Woolwich as part of the

RA Display Troop.

 

The RA Display Troop is still in operation, but with much less

equipment and manpower, but sadly the MCDT disbanded in 2012.

 

My thanks to Dennis Thirkill 

for his memories of those early years.