REME Instrument Tech&Mech Trade 1954 - 2000

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REME Instrument Trade

A record of Instrument Technicians / Mechanics and Artificers who served in

the Corps of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers spanning the years 1951

to 2000.

Draft 27 March 2015

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This document has been compiled by Dave Knowles, who served as an Instrument Technician /

Artificer between 1977 and 1999. The information and photographs within have been provided by

numerous fellow tradesmen over a number of years. I neither claim, nor stipulate any copyright to

this material and view it very much as open source to all fellow tradesmen, and their families, who

served in the REME Instrument Trade over the years. The work is simply an attempt to record all of

us in one place and provide a meaningful memento which can be passed on to families and friends

alike.

The information covers the period 1951 to 2000, which is effectively the year in which the REME Instrument trade passed into history as the trade was merged, along with a number of other REME trades, into the REME Electronics trade group.

The work has relied on input from many fellow tradesmen and is by no means complete. It

summaries almost three years of information gathering. There is every chance a revision or two will

be created, to reflect further information as it becomes available.

Any additional information, photographs; amendments; or indeed suggestions or enquiries can be

sent to : [email protected].

Dave Knowles

Melbourne, Australia

March 2015
mailto:[email protected]

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Contents :

Course photographs and names 1951

Consolidated list of apprentice & ...

Consolidated list of Instrument Technicians who went on to

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On the following pages are all photographs which have been contributed by fellow tradesmen, detailing courses attended, attendees and when the course dispersed.

holder has been inserted. Photographs are presented in chronological order, not by course type.

You will see there are many gaps. Due to changes in course scheduling and student availability, it was not always the case that courses ran with sequential numbering.

Sometimes a course number was dropped as two intended courses were amalgamated into one. Sometimes an original course did not finish, due to too many failures and

ut 44/1 did. So a missing course from the list can be explained by:

1. The course did run, but it simply has not been identified. No information has been found regarding the course or attendees.

2. The course did not run, or did not complete. In the case of apprentice courses, there were normally three intakes per year e.g. 61a, 61b, 61c. It was not

always the case though that Instrument Technicians were loaded onto each intake. So it is possible some missing intakes simply did not have an

Instrument Technician loading.

Notes on apprentice training.

ransferred to REME from? Prior to this training was

probably conducted at Woolwich. The earliest report found to date of anyone attending apprentice training at Arborfield is Bob Spill

Length of training for apprentices was 3 years.

It is believed that in 1959 a decision was made to transfer the training of apprentice instruments technicians to Carlisle. Courses which were mid training relocated to

Carlisle. It is believed 56c may have been the last apprentice instrument course to pass out of Arborfield.

Training at Carlisle lasted until 1966, when the decision was made to discontinue apprentice instrument tech training. Courses which were mid training (64A, B & C) were

relocated to Bordon and finished their training there. It is very likely that the last apprentice instrument tech course to pass out of Carlisle was 63c, although to date there

has been no records found of this course.

Apprentice training for Instrument Technicians was reintroduced in ? Conducted at Princess Marina College, Arborfield. Length of training was almost three years, which

comprised of two years at PMC Arborfield, followed by eight months equipment training at Bordon. The first course to pass out after training was XX in XX

lders) in chronological order

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54B Apprentice Instrument Mechanics Arborfield 1957

Rear : Clive Soord, Jim Ashworth, Tony Lyne, Don May, John Richards, Derek Palmer, Bill Cleaton.

Front: Jock Greves, Spike Riley, Clive Swatton, Robin Tomsett. (Photo taken by Terry Bunyard who was also on the course)

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60b was the first apprentice course to pass out of Carlisle, after the training had moved there from Arborfield.

Norman McClaren, Alan Wilton, Bernard Fuller, Dennis Lunn, Derek Grater, Chris Nurse, Dave Walker

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61b Apprentice Instrument Tech Carlisle finished 1964

George Kirkpatrick, ? Stewart, Phil Williams (DNC)

Peter Winter, ? Iheme, Andy Hamil, Mick Zambra

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61c Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1964

Words from Bernie Baker

(There were three intakes each year A, B & C. I

believe that there were six on our course although

my memory seems to think that we were joined by an

A/T from 61B who had been back squaded (Alan

Thornton). I think that that we were the first to

start and finish at Carlisle and that we were also

the first to be posted as (L/Cpl) Technicians. Dave

Sanderson, Bernie Baker, Geoff Cashmore - Thorley,

Mick Barker, Chalky White, Freddy Mills . As for

instructors, Head of Section was ASM Bob Pringle

and I believe that Gus Gorse, of Bordon fame, also

did a stint

64b Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1967 (at Bordon)

Ben Bentham, Blackie Blackwell, Chris Compton, Eric Culshaw, Mugsy

Murgatroyd, John Gridley, Tony Little, Jan Skuratko

64c Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1967 (at Bordon)

Dave Alexander, Dave Burrell, Mick Burrows, Roger Cross, Steve Hammond,

John Preston, Bob Stone, Steve Portman

62c Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1965

Howard Emerson, Ray Gatward, Bob Reid, Gig Dawson, Dave Nickerson, Dave King, ? Mcphereson, Graham Paddy

63c Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1966(at Bordon)

Simon Purton, Bob Blake, Chris Pollard, Ian Johnston, Mike Franks, Dave Atkins

64a Apprentice Inst Techs Carlisle - finished 1967 (at Bordon)

Pete Douglas, Colin Bazen, Bob Barkas, Pete Hoskins, Johnny Hove

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33 Artificer Instruments Bordon - Sep 1966 to Nov 1967

Rear :Brian Gisborne, Barry Williams, Dave Hall, Sgt Kordjonie (Ghana), Mahmoud Sihaden (Jordan), Sgt Oladmadji (Nigeria), John Smith, Sgt Peprah (Ghana), John Lee

Front : Charlie McGill, Mr Vern Wood, Capt ?, Mr Green, WO2 (AQMS) Tozer, Harry Gostling

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35 Artificer Instruments Bordon approx Nov 1968

Rear : ? Robinson, ? Van Rensberg, Abdul Rasip - overseas student, ? Pike, Wilf Hurst

Front : Mr Green, Lt Col Smith, Maj Nicholson

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02 Basic Instruments finished 1968

Neil McCole, George Edmondson


Deryk Washer, Barry Frangleton, Maurice Smith, Dave Ward, Heinz Bonzio, Dave Heap


Ian Richardson, Brian England, Gordon Rose

06 or 07 Basic Instruments finished 1970

Dave Barker, John Beresford

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36 Artificer Instruments pre course photo 1969

Rear : Pete Curphy, Peter (Taff) Williams), Bernie (Taff) Fuller, Bernie Baker, Al Kitchin, Dave Jackson Front : Bill Ewen, Dave Bellis, Tony Bricknell, CSM Norman Bloodworth, Pete Tiley, John Taylor

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36 Artificer Instruments finished 1970

Rear : Pete Tiley, Dave Bellis, Pete (Taff) Williams, Dave Jackson, Pete Curphy, Alwyn Kitchin, Bernie (Taff) Fuller

Front : Bill Ewan, Mr Green, Lt Col Bagnall Oakey, Capt Penfold, Bernie (Spud) Baker, John Taylor

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09 Basic Instruments finished 197?

Stuart Vallelly

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Rear : Ray Dixon, Dave Stow, Tony Turner, Pete Hatherly (bench fitting instructor), Tony Ash, Andy Smith, Ralph Small, Eris Scargill

Front : Tony Derry, Tom Fisher, Wally Green, Ian Dall, Brian Devlin.

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Chris Jackson, Brian Barry, Bob Fairclough, Steve Jepson, Barry Knowles, ?

Philip ? (Sierra Leone), Alec Peacock

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37 Artificer Instruments finished Nov 1971

Rear : Phil Harris, Ray Gatward, Pete Mullen, Dennis Lunn, ? Ridley

Front : Ron Thompson, Mr Green, Lt Col Hockley, Capt Benfield, Mohamed Momani (Jordanian Armed Forces)

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12a Basic Instruments finished 1972

Rear : John Russell, Dave Krane, Roy Sudron

Front : Dave Blackham, Steve Jepson, Taff Sharland

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38 Artificer Instruments finished approx Nov 1972

Rear: ? Phillips, Mick Zambra, Geoff Cashmore-

Front : Mr Green, Maj Soar, ? Ashworth, Lt Col Cornish, ? Harrison

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39 Artificer Instruments finished approx Nov 1973

Rear: George Kirkpatrick, John (Jock) Davie, Bob Alleway, Mike Spaul, Tex Houston

Front: Capt Benfield, Mr Green, Dave Goff, Lt Col Cornish, Mick Stevens, Maj Trevors

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19 Basic Instruments finished approx. 1974

Rear: George Mahoney, Dave Willows, Ged Williams, Tony Slinn, Steve Perry Front: Mr Green, John Wyke, Lt Col Spurring, Steve Newman, Major Morrison

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41 Artificer Instruments finished Sep 1974

Rear: Graham Paddy, Dave Alexander, Colin Bazen, Howard Emerson, Chris Compton, Peter Winter, Bob Reid, Hank Hallam

Front: Mr Green, Maj Trevors, Mike Jeffrey, Lt Col Cornish, Ian Robinson, Maj Morrison, Ivor Webber

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Rear: Dick Pickering, Clive Henry, Kev Loft, John Steer, Ian Robertson, Roger Hodgkinson

Front: Kev Leggat, John Paul Silvestor Samboma (Sierra Leone), Mr Green, Dale Loynton, Lt Col ?, Trev Poffley, Jim Hewitt

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43 Artificer Instruments finished approx Sep 1975

Rear: Duggie Bagshaw, Roger Cross, Andy Hamill

Front: Mr Gough, Dave Hardy, Lt Col Morrison, Tony Bentham, Maj Jessup

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21a Basic Instruments finished 1976

Tony Taylor, Dave Tideswell, Pete Claydon, Bob Burgess, Roger Coombs, George Leonard, Tim Leeming, Nick Span, Nick Everett, George Eastham

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Rear: Dave Wilkie, Peter Yates, Larry Haskell, Al Tomkins, Al Sample, Rodney De Pauw, Al Cook

Front : Nick White, Roger Dawkins, Maj Morrison, Alan Trussler, Mr Green (missing from photo Jerry Blears)

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Rear: Chris Pollard, Bob Littlewood, Mick Burrows, Tony Little

Front: Maj Jessup, ? Ralph, Lt Col Morrison, Bob (Chalky) White, John Kerr

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24 Basic Instruments finished 1976 or 1977

Greg Davies, Dave Flood

25 Basic Instruments finished 1976 or 1977

Ken Sanders-Fox, Les Blackford

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Rear: Duncan Hart, Neil (Snag) McCole, Mr Green, Barry Knowles, Gordon Rose

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28 or 29 Basic Instruments finished 1978

Dick Snape, Mick Leighton, Ian Shaw, Lee Hollingshead, Pete Deacon

47a Artificer Instruments finished 1977

Tony Bowman, Dave Ward

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Rear: Dave Gray, Neil Malcolm, Mike Dagger, Mike Carty.

Front: Geoff Warner, Les Henderson, Col Chenoweth, Mr Green, Mick Ayers (Kiwi)

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Rear: Jeff Mullins, Brian Jones, Derek Dobson, Dave (Knocker) Knowles

Front: John Carr, Mr McClaren, Lt Col?, Rab Erskine, Graham Johns (missing from photo Keith Dexter & Scouse Quinn)

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Rear: Ian Johnston, Steve Hammond

Front: Steve Portman, Lt Col Morrison, Mr Green, Eric Scargill (missing from photo is Ian Dall who finished separately to the rest)

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Adam Brown, Kev Wright, Gary Attew, Bob Whyte, Keith Dickson, Ron Ford, ? Benson (DNC)

? Basic Instruments finished 1980

Chris Richter, Ralph Sheridan, Baz Jenkinson. Mick Higginson (retrading from VM), Jim Redfern, Boggy Marsh. Paul Tickle


Dave Stiff


Mike Chadwick, Mark Knights, Mick Harvey, ?Keith Miller, ? Miller


Mike Chadwick, Mark Knights, Mick Harvey, ?Keith Miller, ? Miller


Les Payne, Paul Griffin , Paddy Hall


Steve Coulson, Andy Hay, Gary Thomas, Brian Marshall, John Black, Paul Gladstone, Chris Lawson, Paddy Graham, Colin Needham

42 Basic Instruments finished Oct 1981

Mark Surey, Spike Yeoman, Nige Shannon, Steve Brough, Dave Cousins, Michael Dugmore, Roy Foster

53 Artificer Instruments finished May 1981

Bob Bankier, Roger Dawkins, Danny Green, Lee Hollingshead, Stuart Vallelly

43 Basic Instruments finished ?? 1981

Mike Smith, Taff Davies, Nigel Godbolt

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44 Basic Instruments finished Jan 1982

Rear: Russ (Mack) Mackay, Derrick Hatton, Mick Turner, Rob Buckley

Front: Bob Chappell, Dave Hill, Nigel Alderson

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57 Artificer Instruments finished Feb 1982

Rear: Dave Burton, Dave Barker

Front: John Russell, Lt Comd Mitchell, Deryk Washer

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44/1 Basic Instruments finished 1982

Tony Hopwood, John Barrow, Nick Green, Alastair Micklejohn, ? McKeating

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Rear: unknown, Colin Sparrow, Chris Williams

Front: Paul Fenwick, Lt Col ?, Mr Green

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59 Artificer Instruments finished Feb 1983

(Note this is pre finish photo, but all candidates qualified as Artificers)

Rear: Keith Emerson, Steve Jepson

Front: Richard Pickering, Steve Bradley, Ally McDonald

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50/1 Basic Instruments finished May 1983

Nigel Mullins, Graham Perkin

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Rear: Paul Arnott, Colin Leech, Steve Roberts

Front: Dave Foster, Sgt (Fergie) Ferguson, Geordie Lawless

REME Instrument Tech&Mech Trade 1954 - 2000

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Transcript of REME Instrument Tech&Mech Trade 1954 - 2000