Benbow Block

Cross country runs, parade training, class work, marching, the days were just so full of exercise. Eat, there was no limit to what we could have, the galley was just time consuming but as long as you threw it down you could just about eat as much as you want, not such a good idea if the running or assault course was in the afternoon however, we did have those who tried.
We started to work as a team, we marched as one body, we played as one team, we worked as one unit and whenever tea was mentioned we all looked forward to a dip in the fanny together, real teamwork! We had lived in each other’s pockets now for almost six weeks. It was strange because we were in such close confines all the time we new each others families, each others likes and dislikes, we could understand each others moods, even those who you would not normally accept as a friend became someone to whome you would give your last Rollo.
Keeping standards high was becoming more than a personal achievement, now it was more of an community cause, if one fails we all fail, Looking back, this was institutionalising, I suppose we had just about achieved what was expected of us in first phase training.

At the end of six weeks we left our hut behind, we were moved to the futuristic building that was called Benbow block, the Weegies seemed more impressed than the rest of us at the move, carpets, single beds, toilet with doors, Fluorescent lighting and a hoover instead of a brush.

Now we could use the camp laundry and soon we would be allowed out of the hallowed gates from which we had been bound by our lowly status.

Within a week we got our first kit muster, we had to look at the seaman’s manual
to find out how to do it, my dirty pile was bigger than what I had laid out on my bed for the inspection. Everything had to be folded the same size as the seamans manual including the oilskin coat. (no way).


Bedding and every thing just had to be perfect, almost everything that we had been issued with had to be on show and in it's dedicated position according to the naval bible.
The accommodation was no exception we cleaned it from top to bottom, we cleaned the windows using newspaper and vinegar. The toilets were scrubbed, there was an air of doom, who was going to let the side down would we all fail, we had to stand by our beds as the inspection commenced I had a lump in my stomach and a sphincter muscle doing half a crown threepenny bit.