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CCF Autumn Camps and Events

October Camp – Third Form Induction 

On October 10th, the Third Form and their respective NCOs disembarked from school at 5pm. After a coach journey lasting an hour and a half, we arrived at St Martins Camp in Folkestone. We unloaded our kit from the coaches and formed up for registration, where we were allocated our huts and led to them. There we unpacked and changed into our uniform for a quick inspection carried out by our NCOs. After this we prepared our beds and turned in for the night.

  The next morning were we awoken at 6:30am, chaos ensued as we rushed to pack away our sleeping bags, change into our uniform and go to breakfast. Most were relatively hungry and so we managed to do this in a somewhat efficient manner. After breakfast we headed back to our huts to prepare for morning inspection. The NCOs had embedded into our minds that the inspection was something to fear, yet this was only partly true as we were let off for some of our mistakes as it was our first camp. After inspection we then marched to the location where we were to do our map and compass training. Our first couple of tests were fairly easy and almost all of us passed them first time. After this we left and returned to our own hut for training on the safety and shooting of the number 8 rifle which originally met the majority of us with some confusion, however after more practice we were able to grasp all the basic skills and were confident of the test ahead. After this we had lunch and our break which we spent shining our boots and relaxing in our huts.

 Later we marched to a large field in which we were to take the second part of our map and compass tests. There were two tests here, in the first we had to find north with only a map and our surroundings for reference. In the second test, we were given a list of bearings and distances which we had to follow, the idea being that we would hopefully finish in the correct location. Having completed our map and compass course, we went into the ‘number 8’ rifle test full of confidence and most of us walked away with good marks. After this came the ‘trim trail’, a scaled-down assault course which we all enjoyed completing. With the work for the day done, we retired to our huts and changed in preparation for the movie which we had been promised. We then marched to a hut in which a projector and seating had been installed. Once finished, most of us headed for the naffy and vending machines before returning to our huts for the night.

  Having had a good night’s sleep and good weather on our side, we found ourselves in high spirits the next morning. We donned our olive trousers and burgundy jumpers and headed for breakfast. We then hurried back to our huts in order to pack. Once packed we walked over to where the coaches would arrive and left our bags there, we then returned to our huts in order to help clean up. Half an hour or so later, we left the huts spotless and embarked on the coach ride back to CLS.

 Overall, the camp was very successful in introducing the third form to military life and getting them started on their basic proficiency course. Enormous credit must be given to all of the NCOs, officers and instructors for the smooth-running of the camp and for making it happen.

Mackenzie Grenfell

CCF RN Section aboard the HMS Illustrious 

 

This year, the CCF’s Naval section started off with a bang, with a trip such as this only several weeks in. The boys travelled by coach to our frequent haunt, the HMS Bristol, a type 82 class destroyer now permanently moored in Portsmouth, in the evening after school. Following a short briefing, sadly lacking the ship’s traditionally hilarious safety video, most of the section were eased into their evening aboard the ship, arguing over who was to have the top bunk as well as begging for change for a packet of fruit pastels from the ever-unreliable vending machine close to the entrance. The new third form recruits, on the other hand, were not quite so lucky. They were taken outside of the ship that evening to be taught to march, as this was their first camp. Due to the cold, the drill was quite brief, and the cadets themselves demonstrated an admirable grasp of the manoeuvres for first-timers, perhaps encouraged by the cold, the wind, and the thought of the heated ship they would be returning to. The return was therefore a triumphant one and one full of relief. I know the non-commissioned officers wanted to get out of the cold just as much as the cadets did, and on our return, our beds seemed very much welcoming come lights out at 10 o’clock.

The next morning, we rose bright and early at 6 o’clock, got dressed and marched down to breakfast at the on-land services complex, the HMS Excellent. Following a breakfast that was, as it always has been, truly excellent, we returned to the jetty, from where we took a boat across the bay to the HMS Illustrious. The Illustrious itself is an Invincible-class aircraft carrier, as well as being our Navy’s flagship. It is therefore very unusual for it to hold an open day of sorts such as this, and so we as a section were delighted to be invited along. The ship itself is enormous, and once we had entered, we were divided into four groups, each of which was taken round the ship to be shown the sights, including the bridge, in which the captain’s chair, donated by Rolls Royce, was located. It was indeed a very nice chair, and the crew were clearly very proud of it. We were also shown the rooms in which the ship’s radar and navigation equipment were kept, and the central area where the day-to-day running of the ship was taken care of impressed upon us just how much of a floating city this ship had the potential to be when loaded with crew of just over 1000.

After our tour, we returned to the hangar, our designated meeting place, where we were all delighted to see that tea, coffee and squash had been laid on for us, along with various cakes. Queuing up like the true gentlemen we are in the CCF, we quickly realised that such conduct was not likely to earn us our share of the goodies, so we nabbed what we could before retreating to a safe distance to eat and drink. We were then given some time to peruse the stands that had been set up by the crew, as well as being shown a demonstration of the ship’s fire fighting procedure, and the types of equipment involved. Among the stands were the ever popular mini-gun, through the sites of which the cadets were encouraged to look, as well as a real rocket following an unfortunate encounter with the ship’s Goalkeeper defensive system. There were also stands containing the full range of survival gear a pilot is equipped with upon flying a plane from the Illustrious, and various forms and encouraging leaflets urging us to seek out a career in the Navy or the Marines.

Once we had all finished our tea and cake and browsed to our heart’s content, we were taken up to the flight deck on the lift designed to take aircraft from the hangar, where the main event began in earnest. As we looked on, a pair of Hawk jets flew right over the ship in a variety of impressive manoeuvres, with one jet even turning on its side and flying between the bridge and the radar array. After the Hawks, we were introduced to a Hercules transport plane, which made a show of parachuting supplies into the water, which would have been picked up by the crew, as well as a Lynx gunship, which hovered and swayed all over the place.

After a thoroughly enjoyable day, we returned to the Bristol, from where we hurriedly marched to dinner, packed away and returned home by coach, a little later than expected but certainly with the sense of a day well spent.

  

Royal Navy November Camp 

Having arrived at Portsmouth with only one wrong turning and half-hour delay we boarded HMS Bristol, the ship we stay on every November located at the naval base: HMS Excellent on Whale Island. The inevitable safety video followed much to the chagrin of the senior NCOs each of whom have seen the same video at least three times. The inter-watch sports activities were next on the agenda consisting of a four-way tug-of-war and various races such as dragging the lightest cadet of each team on exercise mats – the section has two teams or ‘watches’ which compete during the course of each year in sports, sailing and other activities. After this the tired cadets quickly bedded down for the night because they knew what was coming the following morning; the wake up call, also known as the ‘Call to Hands’ at 0630.

The following morning after the wholesome military breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausages and cholesterol, the cadets were split into three groups. The fifth year cadets were taken to the nearby establishment of HMS Collingwood where they spent the morning learning about electronics. The thirds and fourths on the other hand were taken to RFA Fort Victoria – a massive support tanker crewed by the courageous men and women of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. We all met up again at Action Stations – a Science Museum-esque building with a Royal Naval theme. There the cadets learned about weapon systems, ship capabilities and what the inside of a Merlin helicopter looks like. The building also boasts a climbing wall where I and Cox’n Oliver Keers and two of my fellow junior sixth NCOs raced as a testimony to our manhood. That night there was the inter-watch football competition with sterling work from red watch who, I can safely say, walked away victorious.

On Saturday the lucky third form cadets travelled to Cowes on the Isle of Wight on two Fast Motor Launches aptly named Blue and Black Swan where they feasted on fish and chips. That isn’t to say the fourth and fifth formers missed out, as they were given a tour around a submarine that had fought and participated in spying missions in the Falklands war. The guide gave an in-depth and interesting tour as he had actually been a submariner during the fighting. To match the lunch of the third form, the fourths and fifths were able to visit a crêperie before they were bundled onto HMS Victory – Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship. There they learned about the crew’s quarters, the punishments that unruly members of the crew had to suffer and the surgical items that where used at the time and on Nelson himself to extricate the stray French bullet that mortally wounded him.

Sunday morning consisted of packing and cleaning up after an enjoyable weekend before piling back onto the coach to return to London. Well done everyone for making the weekend so enjoyable.

LS Alistair Faiers

Army Section Camp to Crowborough November 

After a brief lunch on Thursday, we gathered our kit and embarked on a two-hour journey to Crowborough. For some, such as myself, the journey was swift with the company of my friends, and for others, it seemed never ending. However, by the time we arrived, it was already dark with a light drizzle, and once we got off our coaches and gathered our kit, we were allocated to our huts were we would be accommodated until Sunday morning. It was roughly 5pm by the time we arrived, and the early dinner at 5:30pm surprised some of us. After dinner, we got dressed and made our way to the cinema, where Lt. Col. Woodhams gave us a shooting and safety brief on the shotgun we were to shoot the next day. Following that, we split up into three groups, in which we would remain throughout our training at the camp. We then brushed up on our drill with the Cadet GP Rifle. Once we finished, most of us were completely exhausted, and slept like logs.

We woke up to an early start the next day, roughly at 6:30am, and after getting dressed and brushing our teeth, we started cleaning our huts for the part of the day we all dreaded, hut inspection. We then made our way to breakfast at 7:30am, and immediately after, we made our finishing touches to our huts, uniforms and boots. Following the inspection, which in some cases were good and others not so good, the group I was in marched down to the clay pigeon range to fire the shotgun. It was exciting and great fun, and for the 4th Form Infantry and Signals Section, it was our first time shooting the shotgun. We then moved on to the 30m Cadet GP Rifle Range, which saw the whole of Inf/Sigs pass, and two cadets scoring above 71 out of 75 to acquire a Marksman badge. We then ate our lunch and went through a small practical session on ambush drills, and managed to fit in another shoot with the shotgun. As dinner drew nearer, so did the dark. We returned to the cinema, where we watched a couple of videos on ambush and reconnaissance in preparation for the main ambush we were to perform the next day. As soon as it finished and we were released from the cinema, everybody raced for the NAAFI to find a good spot in the giant queue to buy crisps and chocolates. Before we knew it, lights out drew close, and we made our way back to our huts. After lights out at 10:30pm, one finds it a touch difficult to sleep with all your friends around you, as there is always something to talk about.

The usual waking-up time of 6:30am triggered the regular routine of the morning on Saturday of cleaning huts and preparing uniforms. However, the morning saw Inf/Sigs ironing and cleaning their uniform for the formal drill parade after breakfast. Once we munched through breakfast and went through hut inspection, we marched down to the drill square, where we marched for what seemed to be a long time, until finally the CO dismissed us. We made our way to a nearby field in camp where we practiced our ambush. After lunch, we strapped on our webbing, put on cam cream, and set off to a training area roughly 10 minutes away from camp. We arrived and got into an All Round Defence (ARD) formation. Whilst in the formation and waiting for the group ahead to get to their ambush site, some of us gathered nearby vegetation and stuck it in our webbing and headgear. We finally got the order to move from our Section Commander, Sgt. Ben Nachoom, and after a couple more ARDs, we reached our ambush site. I was part of the left cut-off group and was one of two searchers who would search the enemy. After an eager wait for the enemy, he finally arrived, but was no match for our superior ambush group. Once the order was given to search the enemy's body, a Corporal and I moved up. Luckily, he didn't say ‘grenade', and we re-grouped back at the final RV with the rest of our ambush group. We then made our way to the end of the course and returned to camp, where we cleaned the Cadet GP Rifles we had fired, and removed our cam cream. As always, the cam cream was extremely difficult to take off, but somehow we all managed it. After doing so, we went to the cinema for a third and final time, where we watched the excellent police comedy ‘Hot Fuzz' with Simon Pegg. Once the film finished, it was NAAFI time and we spent more money on sweets. Our final lights-out saw us go to sleep in a matter of seconds, and get some rest for the long journey the next day.

Sunday morning saw us packing and preparing out huts for handover. However, things ran smoothly, and the proud CLS CCF contingent left on time without problems, regardless of most of us being exhausted from the camp. The journey was quick for most people as they fell asleep, but others, including myself, stayed awake and took in the beautiful countryside.

A massive thank you goes towards Lt. Col. Woodhams, Major Woodhams, and WO1 Gregory who organised the excellent camp, and the rest of the Adult Instructors who gave up their weekends to accompany us. I am sure that I speak for all of the CCF in saying that it was yet another fantastic camp which will remain in our memories.

By LCpl Stefan Korac 4H