- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 50
Posted by Eric Cozens <ericoz@sympatico.ca> on Mon, 26 Feb 2001 21:03:24 -0500
G‘Day all!
I‘m apt to ramble on a bit so, if it gets too cumbersome just ‘scroll on
down‘. I guess I have destroyed my image as a ‘lurker‘ as I keep
emerging.
Greg, I am not taking you to task but, I believe that your comments
regarding the suitability of "youngens" for military service and
pleading with Mommy etc. need addressing. I speak from experience:
I left school at the age of 14 - not a drop out, but because we didn‘t
have a school. I lived in Dover, Kent England 21 miles from France
and those schools that were not damaged were closed. Dad was away, Mum
working. At age 15 I enlisted as 2242 Pte Eric E. V. Cozens in 12
Platoon, ‘C‘ Coy, 3rd Battalion Kent Home Guard, affiliated with the
Royal East Kent Regiment The Buffs. Training was pretty arduous,
Extensive PT, Ross .300 Canadian Rifle - straight Bolt action and
positively dangerous and were withdrawn from Canadian troops. Then
issued with the SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield .303 Rifle, Gained
Marksman - Live Bombing with the 36 Mills Grenade, 2" mortar, BREN LMG
.303 a modified Czechoslovakian BRNO by Enfield, Bayonet drill with
the 18" bayonet, Squad and arms drill, unarmed combat and when we were
either being bombed or shelled cross channel worked with civil
defence. Off duty I was completing my second year apprenticeship at the
Invicta Motor Engineering Works in Canterbury, just 15 miles up the road
by ‘bus. Normal transport was a bike. Enlisted at age 17, already
fully trained in the 9th Kings Liverpool Regiment at Lytham St.Annes,
Lancashire. Transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers in may 1945 etc. etc. ad infinitum.
No I was not the only one in my age group and no, I am not masquerading
as a "Lt", despite my early start I only made it to WO1 and I am not
ashamed of that ‘though I expect with a leeetle better education or the
will to study for an engineering degree - might have been a different
story. What I am really saying is that, given the right circumstances
and sufficient incentive anyone can do anything. Thanks for letting me
hold forth
Regards to ‘the list‘ Eric Arte et Marte
--------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: To remove yourself from this list, send a message
to majordomo@CdnArmy.ca from the account you wish to
remove, with the line "unsubscribe army-list" in the
message body.
G‘Day all!
I‘m apt to ramble on a bit so, if it gets too cumbersome just ‘scroll on
down‘. I guess I have destroyed my image as a ‘lurker‘ as I keep
emerging.
Greg, I am not taking you to task but, I believe that your comments
regarding the suitability of "youngens" for military service and
pleading with Mommy etc. need addressing. I speak from experience:
I left school at the age of 14 - not a drop out, but because we didn‘t
have a school. I lived in Dover, Kent England 21 miles from France
and those schools that were not damaged were closed. Dad was away, Mum
working. At age 15 I enlisted as 2242 Pte Eric E. V. Cozens in 12
Platoon, ‘C‘ Coy, 3rd Battalion Kent Home Guard, affiliated with the
Royal East Kent Regiment The Buffs. Training was pretty arduous,
Extensive PT, Ross .300 Canadian Rifle - straight Bolt action and
positively dangerous and were withdrawn from Canadian troops. Then
issued with the SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield .303 Rifle, Gained
Marksman - Live Bombing with the 36 Mills Grenade, 2" mortar, BREN LMG
.303 a modified Czechoslovakian BRNO by Enfield, Bayonet drill with
the 18" bayonet, Squad and arms drill, unarmed combat and when we were
either being bombed or shelled cross channel worked with civil
defence. Off duty I was completing my second year apprenticeship at the
Invicta Motor Engineering Works in Canterbury, just 15 miles up the road
by ‘bus. Normal transport was a bike. Enlisted at age 17, already
fully trained in the 9th Kings Liverpool Regiment at Lytham St.Annes,
Lancashire. Transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers in may 1945 etc. etc. ad infinitum.
No I was not the only one in my age group and no, I am not masquerading
as a "Lt", despite my early start I only made it to WO1 and I am not
ashamed of that ‘though I expect with a leeetle better education or the
will to study for an engineering degree - might have been a different
story. What I am really saying is that, given the right circumstances
and sufficient incentive anyone can do anything. Thanks for letting me
hold forth
Regards to ‘the list‘ Eric Arte et Marte
--------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: To remove yourself from this list, send a message
to majordomo@CdnArmy.ca from the account you wish to
remove, with the line "unsubscribe army-list" in the
message body.