I see
him later that he changed his name to Land because he liked my name for being
so short. He was next to me in line like pay parade all the time (K and L). Sort of a theme there too Lake and Land. He was Estonian and said he was being groomed to go back some day as Prime Minister or some such if there was ever a chance to kick out the Russians. Some others were Estonian same idea.
Several of us got the measles and had to go up to the new RCEME hospital.
A doctor there decided it was not measles but a new disease he would
be famous for discovering. He called it "Blizzard's Disease" after the first
cadet that caught it. Some guys might remember having Blizzard's
Disease.
The sexy Mil Studs Secretary was infamous for an affair with one of our
naval officer's on staff. I liked his wife though. She visited us in
hospital and instead of grapes or whatever, she said, "Here's some
skin books!" and passed them around.
I heard about a still in one of the attics where some guys were making
booze but wasn't in on that so can't confirm. I seem to remember it
involved potatoes as an ingredient (?)
Pretty sure it was JJ Clarke in the photo of G Flight who won the
Final boxing match against me. We were both still swinging at the end
but he must have had redder gloves than I did so he won. That was my
second fight. There were only a few in our weight class(light ? under
125lbs anyway) so first fight for me was the Semis. I won that and the guy
kept saying "Don't hit me" and tried to keep away from being hit.
Can't remember his name but he was Army. I just hit him more and everyone was booing this guy for being so cowardly in the ring. I thought after that
they would kick him out of the Army immediately, since that was
supposedly what the boxing was for--to reveal that sort of thing --but nothing happened! Good thing I can't remember who he was now I guess. Oh well.
That boxing was just awful for the heavy weights though, where they
hurt each other with each blow. It was just disgusting when two good friends
were forced to box each other and they got all bloody. For us
lightweights it was different as we couldn't hurt each other at all.
Just had to keep swinging for three rounds despite getting so tired
you could hardly lift your arms never mind land a good blow.
I screwed up the Big Game!!! This was a couple months into First Year in
October. I knew nothing about football, but I was grabbed to be a
"stick-man" at the big Queens-RMC match. The other guy who was
grabbed would know what to do though, surely. He said, "I was hoping you knew what to do." We were told to "follow the Line of Scrimmage" We said,
"What's that?" but he was gone.
So we stretched out the chain between the sticks and sort of kept up
with things for a while and then all of a sudden play stopped and we
were being stared at by all the players and the ref told us to come out "for a measurement." All we knew was that when you don't have a clue try to
look like you know what you are doing.
So we formed up shoulder to shoulder with our two sticks and doubled
smartly out to where the ball was and came to a halt. I put my stick
by the ball and he ran out the chain and plunked his stick down and we came
to Attention. There was a kind of quiet. I was terrified, but stayed
at Attention and waited for it all to land on me.
Then a guy came up to us and led us off the field very politely and we
were changed around in jobs. (Amazing! ) A new stick-man was found
who knew the game and I was handed a strange pole with a triangular
box on top with numbers on it. I was now a "downs-man" he said. After every play, I was to rotate this thing so the next number showed forward. I have no idea if I got the numbers right, at least nobody said anything.
Early in our first days we all marched up to see Fort Henry. With
some tourists also gathered around, our guide showed us where they
kept the money.
He said, "This is the first safe ever used in a bank in
So we all started to snicker and some tourist ladies giggled. Then
the guide said, "It is made of steel and has leather straps." We were
now helpless laughing, so we all got marched out of there back to RMC
before we could cause any more trouble
Also during those first weeks we would be formed up and for no reason some
would get nose bleeds. Weird. The drill instructor guy came up to me
and said, "Stop bleeding!"
One of the army sergeants drilled us while wearing his kilt. He had
funny sayings such as if your feet were not far enough apart, "A team
of blue jays couldn't get through there in full harness!"
After "passing off the square" I used to go to a barber in town. He
had been in the German Navy in the war and said he was in a destroyer
in
she had already sailed.
I wish I could remember the RMC food items' names. One was Texas Tommies I think.
Reflection on the Old Brigade new entrants by a first year cadet
I do remember when those old farts visited us in the Stone Frigate in the
fall of 1959. ( I was age 17 my entire time at RMC) We had to line the
parade ground and they marched past with a band from the RCR's leading
them. The tuba player let a blast from it right into my face as they
went by and it was mostly booze fumes! Yuck.
Those guys were ancient and some had been drinking (oh no!) I suppose
they had joined in 1909, gads. I cannot believe we are now in their
position. Please say it isn't so!