JULY 23 1955  I finally finished my National Service on 23 July 1955.  This was a great relief, but looking back I realise I met some good Christian friends, including a retired Brigadier and his wife who lived in Shinfield near Arborfield.  They used to hold Bible studies at their home - these were for either officers or 'other ranks' - there was no distinction.  So the experience wasn't all bad, and I did learn to iron a shirt - which has come in useful in recent years! I got a letter from Personnel at Marconi saying that I was being offered my old job back at Marconi Research Great Baddow, at the magnificent salary of £610.00 per annum! not a bad offer at the time, as my starting salary two years previously had been £500.00.  So I dutifully reported back for duty the next Monday! 

I was living at 19 Warleywood Crescent with my parents and sister during this time,

 I then moved to Arborfield in Berkshire, to Hazebrouck Barracks, initially at No. 3 Battalion, but then to No. 5 Battalion to do the Leading Artificer Sergeant (LAS) 6 Course (Control Equipment) which lasted for about six months, and ended with a six weeks Regimental Course at Bordon Hants, at the end of which I got my Sergeant's stripes.  Then I was posted in to No.5 Battalion as a lecturer on Servos.

 Following my two weeks' basic training (square bashing!) at Blandford, I transferred to Honiton in Devon, to take the Officer Training Course. This was a pretty tough course, and by September 1953, I had been deemed not to be suitable Officer material!

Here I am at No.1 Training Battalion R.E.M.E. at Blandford in July 1953, with Corporal Hyde. He made sure we were smart enough to be part of the British Army, and that our marching abilities were up to the appropriate standard!
 

 23 JULY 1953  I travelled by train to No.1 Training Battalion. Blandford, Dorset, to sign on for 2 years National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).  My Dad came up to Waterloo Station and wished me goodbye, with the advice 'Keep the Flag flying.'  I knew what he meant! I had completed a 5 year apprenticeship with Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co on my 21st birthday, and had deferment from National Service due to the work I was doing.  But there was no guarantee the deferment would continue indefinitely, so I chose to join up!  I had joined SASRA, the Soldiers and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association, so I was assured of Christian friends, and sure enough I was met by a Christian as I went to the stores to collect my uniform!