Thursday, February 23, 2012
 |
||
Site Design by Offgrid Web Design Webmaster: rod@rmpt.co.uk
|
| ONCE A PTI... SAM SMITH | 15-11-2011 |
Once a PTI… by Sam SmithI was born on St Patrick’s day1940 in India, my father was an officer attached to the Indian Army and I wanted to be close to mum and dad. Dad died in India 1945 and we were repatriated to the UK. After going through several schools, I ended up finishing school at the Belfast Technical Collage and started an apprenticeship in the linen trade. At 16 I fudged my age and joined the Territorial Army in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). At 18 I decided that factory work was not for me and joined the Royal Marines in 1958, being put with 693 Squad. Passing for duty, I then went to 45 Commando in Malta for my first posting and then later to Aden. Upon return to the UK I went on a JNCO’s course, passed and somehow ended up being sent to Deal to do a PT2 course! I joined 12 other hopefuls and started training. Our staff instructor was Tug Wilson and we were tutored by many other PT legends such as Mick Rutherford (boxing), Jock Joyce, (fencing), Doc Halliday (athletics) and Ted Paddon (cricket). After the PT2 course (from which 6 of us survived!) I took my first squad through and then went on a SNCO’s course and managed to pass that! I then went back to Deal as a member of staff and taking another squad. Although I had been reasonable at most sports in general at school, I was never really interested in developing any of the skills. The PT course changed all that and I found that I enjoyed most of the activities. Although perhaps I was not very good at gymnastics in general, especially ground work, I was able to do OK on the rest of the apparatus. Vaulting was my best, and all from 3 paces! I had no problem with 2 long boxes end on end - remember them? Then there was Judo, where I somehow got the name of ‘The Blob’ for holds in groundwork! Also, in fencing, basketball, water polo and swimming I did quite well at unit and corps levels. All this time I was only acting corporal and so when posted to 42 Commando, I went as a Marine and joined L company in Singapore in late 1962. A few weeks after being there we wer ... read more |
|
| FENCING IN THE CORPS - TERRY HARRISON MBE | 14-11-2011 |
FENCING IN THE ROYAL MARINES: TERRY HARRISON MBEI grew up in the small village of Gaddesby, which is situated in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside. The youngest of 6 brothers, I followed my elder brother Michael into the Royal Marines on 23rd January, 1962. It almost broke my mother’s heart seeing the last her sons choosing a Military career and although that day was a tearful occasion, it proved to be a life-changing experience! It was to be the first time that I came into contact with C/Sgt Buck Stuart, our squad PTI. He was to be my mentor and 10 months on, I was to be awarded the King's Badge of 775 Squad. With a tour of Singapore behind me, I was accepted for PT 2 qualifying course in spring, 1964. I remember the great SPTI Bill Sykes, our course instructor, and colleague, Mick Euridge, who not only came out top student but went on to much greater things! I also remember the Great-Britain shot putter Geordie Watts whose commitment to his sport was a real inspiration to many! With a second tour of Singapore behind me, I was then selected for a PT1 course under SPTI Jock Stark, a strict but very funny guy! It was during the course that I was to come into contact with my future fencing mentor, Martin Joyce, often watching his and admiring his great fencing skills. On one such occasion, I saw Martin and the great Bob Anderson (then National Coach) fence each other. Such was the skill and dexterity that I was greatly inspired to take up the sport. Little did I know then that it would lead me into a career of travel and that I would meet many fascinating people! My first fencing course was alongside Billy Neilson. Billy took the coaching route, whilst I concentrated on competition. I spent some time at the Army school of PT under the Army’s Bob Gilder, winner of many Inter-service titles. I was later sent to the Royal Naval College at Greenwich as PT instructor to the College, also giving me the opportunity to train with the country’s top fencers in the London Sallies. At Saul Paul, still today regarded as the premier fencing c ... read more |
|
| ANDY KEELING - SOME HAPPY PT BRANCH MEMORIES! | 01-09-2011 |
ANDY KEELING - SOME HAPPY PT BRANCH MEMORIES! During YO training (1961-63) I and my Batch had the good fortune to receive the undivided attention of a number of remarkable people in and around the Lympstone gym – the names Maker, Joyce, Alexander, and Cunningham spring to mind. After Training I went to 42 where my first Company Sergeant Major was Pat Maxwell – Humphrey Lingane and Ken Cunningham were both in my Troop. I had been scarred for life! Lts. Jonathan Thomson, Mike Wells-Cole and Andy Keeling formed up at the RN School of PT, Pitt Street in September 1966 for our 6–month course to turn us miraculously into Royal Marines PT & SOs! Mike and I had just returned from a year in 45 in Aden, and Jonathan from 40 in Singapore and Borneo. The first 3 months was to be with the RN, and the second 3 months at the RM PT School, Deal. Mike and I were volunteers; Jonathan was not. The RM PTIs at Pitt Street were Sgts. Tug Wilson, Dave Muller-Cooper and Vic Harris. They took a particular pride in ensuring that we got the full benefit from every period of the day, and that we took it in turns to suffer extreme humiliation! It was difficult to get the better of Mike because he was not only very fit and agile but he had also learned gymnastics at school. Jonathan and I were easy meat for the “gymnastics-biff-of-the-day” award, for not only were we complete novices, we were also seriously inept. His apparent lack of bodily coordination and my ridiculously stiff back made us a couple of total no-hopers! Both of us lost all sense of direction once our heads were below our knees – not the ideal situation when you are invited to do a headstand, handstand, handspring or a dreaded front somersault, let alone several of those things in a row! And even the suggestion of a back somersault was conducive to a ghostly pallor and the cold sweats. Nevertheless we suffered endless hours floundering around on the floor, the parallel bars, the high bar and even the rings – all to absolutely no avail at all! However, Jonathan could do hundreds of sit-u ... read more |
|