Epsom Army Cadets

A Memory of Epsom.

We were part of the 3rd Cadet Batallion of the East Surrey Regiment. Our base was the wooden huts erected behind Snows cycle shop in East Street after a German bomb obliterated the infants school that was there.
The Officer in charge was Captain Estell who had a beautiful daughter, cannot remember her name, sadly. We had a terrific band, in which I played the Cornet and very occasionally the side drum.
The other people who ran the show were Lt. Greene and Sgt/mjr Mac Mc Cartney. Lt. Green married Miss Estell. I went into Boys Service of the RAF aged 16 in 1952 and I didn't go back for a few years. When I did they had moved to the other side of Epsom, to West St, which goes left just before going under the railway bridge going towards West Hill.
We used to very often have Band Practice in the Drill Hall in Ewell and, as it was a big hall we were able to practice our countermarching as well. I remember one year myself and Brian Nash were asked to play at the church just near the springs in Ewell. Brian and I stood high up on some sort of balcony overlooking the congregation from the rear. When a chap down in the congregation waved his hanky Brian started a soft continuous roll on his small side drum and I played The Last Post on my cornet. I was very moving. The band, followed by all our Cadets would March to the Cenataph at the graveyard up Ashley Road on the Sunday nearest Armistice Day, along with all the other bands of the various organisations. We sometimes went on weekends to regular army camps and to use the firing ranges at Ash in Surrey. We went on 2 weeks camping and exercises at Fingring Hoe Nr Colchester. and had great times. We learned how to strip down a Bren Gun, shoot a .303 rifle and we used to practice at a .22 indoor range in Ewell. Poor Patrick Brook didn't pay attention to safety instructions and when he banged the butt of a loaded .22 rifle he was holding by the muzzle, it went off, through his hand and into the ceiling. I went on a PTI course at Pirbright camp and we went on many manoeuvres including through the night which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
There was a chap named Alex Combly (maybe without the 'b') who looked after the radio equipment plus transporting things and a few of the boys in his van which was really his removals van - he lived in Worcester Park where he and his dad ran a funtiture /removals business.
Some names, as far as I can recall, who were in the Army Cadets with me were:- Peter, Johnny and Alan Welling, Patrick Brook, Wilfred Skelton, Ronnie King and my older brother Ronnie, and so many others whose names escape me.
We also had parties and the odd dance in the main hall which were very popular. Plus, the hall was where we did unarmed combat training and gym/box work on rough hard coir matting.
If anyone can add to this, correct it or just comment, I will be grateful. Thank you.

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