Drill was omnipotent

“In 1957, having had a medical examination for national service,” writes Donald Abbott of Invergowrie, “I received my instructions to report for basic training at Buller Barracks, Devizes, in Wiltshire, the training camp of the Royal Army Pay Corps.

“In accordance with the government requirement to travel by the cheapest route, I went from Dundee Tay Bridge to Edinburgh Waverley station, took a walk along Princes Street to Edinburgh Caledonian, where a train for Birmingham was boarded. Changing stations in Birmingham, the next stop was Bristol, and from there a train was boarded for Devizes.

“At the station we were piled on to army trucks, taken to Buller Barracks and allocated bed spaces in a hut known as a spider. We had to parcel up our civilian clothing for posting home, having been issued with military dress and equipment including Lee-Enfield rifles.

“As well as 10 weeks of military drill and educational lectures, we were taken on exercises and to the rifle range where we had training in the Sten gun, as well as using the Patchet submachine gun courtesy of the Wiltshire Regiment.

“Gymnastics formed an important part of our training, and daily drill was omnipotent. The wage paid to national servicemen was nothing short of a pittance, but free time was available at both the Naffi and the YM where food prices were partially subsidised.

“Our training NCOs were most professional and instilled in us a strong military discipline. The 10 weeks soon passed and after our passing-out parade we had a celebratory day in Bristol which included attending a football match and enjoying a few drinks.”