Page 179 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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ALHAJI TROOP INSPECTED BY THEIR NAMESAKE
Lt Col (Retd) S Alhaji
In 2019, when Captain (MAA) Steve Green (RAPTC) was the Master at Arms at the Army Training Centre Pirbright (ATC(P)), he asked if I would deliver my lived experience
presentation to the permanent staff of ATC(P). What Steve forgot to tell me was, the Regimental Sergeant Major’s wife, who is a professional public speaking coach, was sat in the front row. Nevertheless, I delivered my presentation which was well received, so I thought nothing more about it.
Then, in January 2021, Major Dean Owens, the Officer Commanding of Caen Squadron Pirbright, asked if I would agree to a Troop being named after me. Obviously, I said yes but I was still unaware why this incredible honour had been bestowed upon me. I later received an email from the Commanding Officer of 2nd Army Training Regiment Pirbright (Lieutenant Colonel Ross Cleland) which said “You might not remember, but we met briefly when you briefed us all so brilliantly in the Pirbright Warrant officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess in 2019 about your experiences in the British Army throughout your career. I remember thinking at the time that you would be an inspirational role model for our next generation of soldiers, and this is why we asked whether you would consider having a Troop named after you”
Once the plan was confirmed, on Thursday 1st April 2021, I had the incredible honour of watching the ALHAJI Troop march out on the parade square. I was then invited to inspect the ALHAJI Troop, deliver a speech to the whole parade and then present the ALHAJI Trophy to the best section.
Like me, the vast majority who are reading this article will have taken and or been on several parades but I have to admit, I’ve never been so proud or honoured to be stood there with Nicky by my side watching the ALHAJI Troop on parade, it was an amazing experience and is right up there in first place on my list of life’s achievements.
I now have the honour of speaking to each ALHAJI Troop at the beginning of their training. Thereafter, I will be invited to each Pass off parade and present the ALHAJI Trophy. This is indeed a worthy end to my 41 years’ service and I look forward to engaging with the ALHAJI Troop in the future.
Until the inauguration of the Inter Corps competition prior to 1978, the APTC played the Royal Signals in an annual invitation game. They played the first game at the Junior Tradesmen’s battalion, St Omer Barracks, Aldershot, where Chris Bunnett was the resident APTC instructor. Then came a triangular competition versus the Royal Signals and REME. From these acorn games, Chris, a long- term dedicated player, official and coach, conceived the idea of running an Inter Corps competition. The competition expanded with 13 teams eventually taking part, which meant the cream of the army’s basketball players were on display for selection to the army team. All representative sides are now very much better than when the H. Samuel trophy was first contested in 1978. The event is now a permanent fixture in the Army Basketball calendar and still played today. Well done, Chris!
Regrettably, an era of change introduced a triad of consultations, financial constraints, and new policy. Or in the words of Longfellow, ‘All things must change to something new to something strange.’ I am referring to the abolition of sports teaching, coaching, and officiating from the PT programmes. Even the cuts in the Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) manage resulted in many sports associations being farmed out to units; they included basketball, once the responsibility of the ASPT, which was set in concrete by Colonel TH Wand-Tetley and guaranteed an extra commission.
While serving at the ASPT, I recall the hilarious experiences with the extra mile dedicated to micturition. While undergoing my basic courses Nik Stuart had his mini car lifted onto the top of the staff room and Bill ‘Mac’ McWilliams goaded Nik to get on parade. Because he was deaf, Nik had asked Bill to tap him on the hip as a precursor for getting on parade. Bill did so as RSM Davy McBain (later Major) was in full flow of his weekend leave instructions.
CSMI Arthur Judge (later Captain) would arrive one minute before the first parade of the day to change into his work dress, only to find his boots nailed to the ceiling and his pullover knotted. Ex APTCI Denis Dent wrote a time-consuming lesson plan on the chalkboard. He left firm instructions to leave it for the next lesson, but someone turned the board over. On his return, Denis erupted into ‘Jekyll’ mode, before rewriting the lesson plan. The school staff room toilet was not a place to sit and think as a pail of water taken from the nearby fire stand interrupted the call of nature.
Other stories came from our annual conventions. At the Sennelager (BAOR) Convention in 1976, there drew rapturous mirth regarding promotions. Standing up in front of 50 influential APTC members, one aspiring but dejected Warrant Officer announced; “Sir, they have jumped me for promotion!” Admittedly, the system for promotion appeared unfair, but when a great friend of mine the late Gordon Young stood up and announced; “Sir, in my case I wasn’t jumped for promotion I was pole-vaulted!” The meeting howled with laughter.
I also recall the Berlin Convention in 1975. Big John Seibert would dress up as Snow White and choose seven of the smallest APTCIs and perform a skit by bringing this classic story to life in true pantomime style. With introducing whistling to the tune ‘Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it’s home from work we go,’ laugh upon laugh from the ‘dwarves’ added hilarity by acting like Smurfs.
There are many more stories and no doubt similar shenanigans within present-day servers, but you youngsters should share your stories with us old folk, and vent stories with young and old alike. Of course, the tales can have their embellishments, but in the words of the late Brian Stead (in which he refers to the company of others of like Mind, Body & Spirit)- “Enjoy the entertainment and reminisce about goals scored, baskets made, strokes pulled, and maidens charmed.”