Bdsm A H MAXTE D, 4th Q.O.Hussars
In 1923 I was posted by the Recruiting Sergeant at Ramsgate to the Cavalry Barracks in Canterbury, and attached to the 10th PWO Hussars whilst waiting for a troopship to take me to join my Regiment, The 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, who at that time was stationed at Muttra, India, in the days of the British Raj.
I, like a number of others, was posted to ‘C’ Squadron, and the late Duke of Gloucester, Prince Henry, was my Troop Officer.
During recruit training we had to pass out on foot drill, riding school and musketry. I was also destined to study the Hotchkiss and the Vickers Machine Guns. As civilian recruits, we were marched everywhere and eventually came to the Quartermaster’s Stores, where everything in the way of military clothing and equipment was thrown at you, with the instructions to report back in two days’ time, when your Regimental Number ‘529876’ was stamped on everything.
We were next paraded for a cold shower. The shower consisted of a number of open cubicles facing each other, with a low bench, made of wood, which you sat upon to change your underclothes. The concrete floor was wet and muddy, and I happened to be at the end of the centre bench.
We had a bully of the first order amongst the recruits. He had a physique of a boxer, plus a low character to go with it. When we were dismissed at the shower room, I was the victim of his attack.
He swept my clean underclothes onto the muddy and wet concrete – apparently to make room for his own. Hastily I retrieved them but did not say anything. We had already had several other instances of this objectionable character’s antics.
It was a Regimental Order that you were not allowed out of barracks until you had passed out on foot drill and riding school.
You then reported to the Guard Commander who checked that you were neat and tidy and that your buttons and boots were highly polished. No civilian clothes were permitted in those days.
Our bully was in the habit of climbing over the high iron fencing and completely ignored the Regimental Orders.
In approximately 2 months we had all passed foot drill and riding school, and with our military clothing, which consisted of a tunic, riding breeches, puttees, shiny black boots with steel spurs and a shiny bandolier now all complete and shiny, we were allowed to attend church parade. Our bully was also on this church parade.
After we returned to Barracks, we were marched back to ‘C’ Squadron for the final dismissal outside the Squadron building.
Immediately after dismissal our bully character was seized and deposited in the horses’ drinking trough, fully clothed and then rolled in the horse manure dump. The following day whilst reading ‘C’ Squadron Orders, I noted that I had to report to the Squadron Major’s office at 1100 hours.
The following discussion took place.
“Were you on church parade yesterday? ” I replied, “Yes Sir.” “Then you saw what went on after the final dismissal of the recruits and other members of ‘C’ Squadron?” “Yes Sir,” I replied. “Well, we have a way of dealing with bully boy recruits – perhaps he will have learnt a lesson!
He has already been told by his Troop Sergeant that the Cpl IC of the shower party had reported the incident.
Oh, by the way, get your hair cut! Or you’ll be standing on it soon, laddie!”
