WO2 John Richardson

The photograph shows WO2 (ORWO) John Richardson with orderly room team meeting Her Majesty

(Altcar 1895)

These notes are drawn up from the drafted anecdotes handed over by John at that lunch and from points raised during conversation.

After 15 years of regular service in the Royal Army Pay Corps, John joined ‘A’ Squadron at Powell Street Wigan. Commanded at the time by Major David Claxton, much of the administration and training was conducted by Lieutenant N Fairclough. The drill hall which appeared little more than a high brick-walled building from Powell Street, had a much more interesting and impressive façade around the back away from Powell Street. The building remained in use until Wigan town road system was reorganised in the mid to late 1980s and under the command of Major John Tustin the squadron was removed at first to rattle accommodation and finally into the new custom-built Kearsley House. Still ‘A’ Sqn DLOY until 1992, Kearsley House became the home of DLOY as a squadron of RMLY until 2014 when the squadron was subordinated to QOY.

John’s expertise gained through regular service positioned him well to serve as the squadron pay clerk. However such was the demand for administrative skills on the expanding regiment that John was placed in RHQ during Camp. In fact, the quality of his service prompted the adjutant, Major Basil Gaskin, to phone John Up at home and offer him a full time sergeant’s post in RHQ (NRPS – non regular permanent staff.) John remained in RHQ progressing in rank and position to warrant officer class two as the orderly room warrant officer. In this position he was at the centre of regimental business and had a unique eye (and hand) into the workings and relationships that shaped the regiment; in particular, the bedding in of regular staff, COs, Training Majors, Adjutants and RSMs, all of whom would find the yeomanry in Lancashire a new experience! In all John served under 8 commanding officers under whom he honed his management and diplomatic skills.

In the period of rebuilding the regiment after the two years as a cadre of 6, ‘A’ Sqn was the largest of the three sabre squadrons and it was often to ‘A’ Sqn that RHQ would turn to fulfil regimental requirements. Indeed, following Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Bastick MBE RTR, Major David Claxton, commanding ‘A’ Sqn was promoted to command the regiment. A new RQMS to replace Sandy Thistlethwaite was also found from within ‘A’ Sqn as WOII (SSM) Derek Steven was moved into RHQ. So that was CO, RQMS and chief clerk all from ‘A’ Sqn to RHQ. In comparison, from my experience in ‘B’ Sqn by the time of Regimental Annual Camp in 1973, ‘B’ Sqn was fielding SHQ and effectively a strong section; actually 35 appear on the squadron photograph, one who would become Honorary Colonel and two who would become Commanding Officers.

Anecdotes

First Camp, Thetford 1971

Visit by VIP (Lt Gen from Western Command, Chester)

The General spoke to a group of Troopers waiting to fire on the ranges. One Tpr asked the General “Wot does thou do then?”

The General took it in good humour and explained his job in detail. To this the Tpr gave his considered assessment – “Thou’s got a good job, then. Thou wants to look after it.”

Second Camp, Isle of Man 1972

The previous night whilst out on the town, a corporal swallowed his tongue. Quick action by a fellow squaddie saved the corporals life. On first parade the following morning the sergeant major mentioned the incident. A voice form the ranks rang out “who saved the corporal’s life?”

The SSM responded, “why, do you want to congratulate him?”

“No” came the quick response, “I want to kill him.”

Camp at Inverness

Movement instructions issued to commanders and drivers:-

M6 – Carlisle etc etc

A9 – Inverness

On descending to Inverness you will see the sea on your right

Next roundabout take 1^st exit

You will see horses in a field, turn right by the field and you are on the road up to the barracks

These instructions worked perfectly well for all vehicles except the last one when the horses were being fed out of sight behind a trailer.

Camp at Thetford

DLOY at this time held an infantry role

One misty morning a Troop led by a senior Cpl set off onto the training area. At a key junction and in swirling mist the troop went straight on where the Cpl had veered off left. The troop arrived at the RV as planned but it was some 2 hours later when the embarrassed Cpl arrived puffing and sweating.

Girls

Women were not initially welcome for some time by elements of the DLOY, and recruitment of girls was not encouraged by all. Once enlisted, however, the enthusiasm of the new WRAC personnel had to be admired by even the most doubting as the girls proved themselves in all activities. If you saw a soldier in combat kit carrying a heavy burden, the soldier was likely to be a WRAC. The Senior NCO and “mother hen” during this period of change was Sgt “Babs” Priestley.

Camp with WRAC

A young girl, new to the camp experience and out on the training area, expressed her need to “go to the toilet.” By coincidence, a helicopter under command was about to head-off to refuel. Result – two WRAC visited RAF Station by helicopter to use the facilities and imagined for a while that this was the norm!

BFT Test at Annual Camp

The medical team, positioned by the finishing line, noticed a WRAC soldier heading towards the line was holding her chest. Fearing the worst, they sprang into action complete with stretcher. Not too bad though – just a broken bra strap; not a condition previously encountered by TA medical team.

Gibraltar 1980(?)

Manchester Airport; two RAF Hercules C130s arrived to collect the squadron. Half boarded and departed. However, the second had an engine problem and awaited spares to be flown in and fitted. This caused some delay and the order was issued to the bars in the departure area not to serve any soldier. Certain determined individuals sourced a bottle of whisky from the Duty Free Shop and ensured a peaceful sleep on the noisy 4 hour flight out to Gibraltar.

Whilst at Manchester a civilian arrived with a letter from Barrow shipyard. He was required by the Navy to “fix a submarine” currently docked in Gibraltar and was to fly out with us.

Home Service Force (HSF)

The HSF were a great bunch of guys – volunteer for anything! At camp, as far as manpower, it was like having a Defence Platoon. They did guards while the regiment was out on exercise, plus all the GD jobs. Their favourite job seemed to be ACF Camp at Warcop where they were left on their own to “get on with the job 100%.” You never knew who was there until payday.

Training Majors & Colonels

We had a number of Training Majors who thought that Chorley (RHQ) would be a grim Northern town. One asked if we had any green fields in the area and stables for his horse. Another “out of touch” Training Major asked if he had a servant (Batman) and could not understand why he was being laughed at.

New Colonels, on arriving, took some time to adjust to DLOY’s life and culture and were surprised at some of the jobs (careers) some yeomen held. Indeed, several held particularly well paid civilian positions whilst being happy to serve as Troopers in the TA. In the 1970s at the Clifton (RHQ) drill hall a well-dressed individual arriving in a sports car was assumed, by the RSM to be an officer. In actual fact he was a TA soldier who, in civilian life, was a “bin man.” Hmm RSM…

Tough Brave Yeoman – Camp IoM

Squadron HQ was camped on a secluded hill side awaiting the squadron to return from activities. A guard was made up and a sentry mounted in a gorge with trees and a stream to check the arriving troops into the camp area. As darkness fell completely the sentry was spooked by the rustling leaves and gurgling stream. He had never been in the dark in the countryside before and the sounds scared the hell out of him!

Recruits’ Camp Altcar

The RSM was instructing recruits in drill. The RSM had with him his dog and the squad was marching up and down whilst the RSM shouted out the words of command. When the RSM started to wave his pace stick the dog took flight off into the squad getting mixed up with a sea of legs all under orders to march. The resulting scene was one of complete shambles as recruits fell over one another.

DLOY were running the recruits cadre with recruits being drawn from units in the North West. The night before the passing out parade a lad from Manchester had “fallen” for a girl he had just met and was going to leave his wife. However, his wife found out and went berserk, running around the camp like a raging bull. When she approached any of the instructors they would “run for cover.” To keep wife and soldier apart the wife was offered a ride back to Wigan from where she could take the train back to Manchester; fortunately she agreed.

RHQ had a yeoman who was keen and intelligent. However, he was unlikely to pass the recruit course. SSM Kerans was in charge and to encourage the Trooper, should he pass the course SSM Kerans would show “his arse” to all on parade. Of course the Trooper did pass and Sergeant Majors being as good as their word, well the rest is history.

Loyalty – RSMs did not usually spend the full 15 days at Recruits Camp but this one did. He went missing for 3 days but no one went to search him out (“he could have fallen in the Alt” was murmured). As the feeling was that the course was better off without him the seniors would let “sleeping dogs lay.” As it happens the RSM had been ill in bed and no one had discovered him.

Final Camp

The unit’s regular Chaplain could not attend Annual Camp and a replacement was arranged. On arrival he introduced himself at RHQ and said that Trevor (our usual Chaplain) had told him that if he ever wanted a coffee the Chief Clerk would provide. The CC said “before you get your coffee, what is your religion?”

The Chaplain returned “What do you mean?”

The CC explained with the question “are you a Blue Nose (Everton) or a Red Nose (Liverpool)?”

“Oh I’m red of course” came the reply with a smile and had as much coffee as he cared to drink.