British Army Cadet Force

[Graham Ritchie]

I always enjoyed my time with them during my school years. The regular army guys were great never in your face and always helpful, this I found was a very interesting video of what a US Marine thinks about it, as just lately on the old town Facebook I was in touch with someone I went to school with and the ACF regarding the .22 local rifle range. It must be as we all get older that our long term memory gets better our short term not so much.

Anyway nice to watch this video and see what this US Marine thinks of it, also nice to think that the ACF is still very popular in the UK.

Me long ago

As the ACF stands now.

[Graham Ritchie]

Well times have certainly changed regarding uniforms, a big plus these days is seeing that girls are getting into it, wish it was like that back in my time. Its funny to look back at some of this stuff, it might seem a million years ago but still remember how to pull a Bren Gun apart lying down. My big problem was being left handed and firing from my left shoulder, with the 7.62mm SLR the army range instructor was concerned with the empty cases coming out and hitting me, but there was no way I could use my right shoulder. That's the thing about being left handed none of this stuff was made for left handers, it might be different now but back then all bolt action rifles, the bolt was on the right side, drat having to twist it to get to the bolt, not a good idea having to move around between shots. Anyway those summer camps, this lady talks about in the below video really were something. I remember once we all got into army trucks and paid "Holy Island" a visit, what a amazing place so we really did get around, wish I had a camera back then.

The present day uniform of the Argyll and Southern Highlanders cadet force.

The Bren Gun back then it used .303 ammunition I think later converted to 7.62mm, looking at the below photo its amazing how it all comes back even after almost 60 years

Even to this day I still remember the kick Lee Enfield .303 gave you, and could knock your shoulder out if you didn't hold it right. One thing I am glad to see these days is ear protection, apart from using the SLR, we were never given any for the .303 on the range, ear protection would have been a good idea, I guess it was just never thought about back then.

The dreaded SLR for left handers, keep close to that butt as the empties fly out

Right back to films

[Ken Finch]

Graham, what you have written about the Bren gun and the Lee Enfield rifle does bring back memories. I was one of the generation that had to endure National Service and my hearing loss has been attributed to practice on firing ranges particularly when they were covered with corrugated iron roofs. A platoon of 16 all firing at the same time was no fun at all. Those who had been in the cadets, like the rest of us had quite a rude awakening when confronted with the real army routine training and particularly when on active service. We also had the Sten gun in those days. It was known as the tuppeny apoth Woolworths job. It used a magazine of 9mm snub nosed bullets, a range of 25 yards and very unpredictable because the safety catch was a cotter pin on a short chain which could quite easily come loose. During the war many were produced at the Triang factory at Margate!