The barrack room we lived in was on the top floor of the building and our windows looked out onto an area known as 'north rear'. We were about 80/90 feet above the ground and one of the 'capers' we used to get up to was to get one of the junior class and stow him into a kitbag. The kitbag was then attached to a drum rope which was several yards long and then the kitbag, was levered out of the window, and with three or four of us holding the rope, the kitbag was then lowered as far as possible outside. Of course, it was not a steady lowering, and if the rope had slipped at anytime, the result could have been serious, if not fatal. One of the most serious crimes in the service is to interfere with another person's mail.

There was one occasion when, on returning to barracks after being ashore, one of the class discovered that cakes, which had been sent to him in a parcel from home, were missing. After a search, crumbs were discovered in the bedding of someone in the room. The culprit was then manhandled into a kitbag, and lowered out of the window of the barrack room. Hanging some 40/50 feet above the ground he was left there for a few hours, and only returned to the room when it was time for the duty NCO to check the room before 'Lights Out'. There were no further problems with anyone's mail.

All Boy Buglers had to attend Church on Sundays and this meant getting dressed in our best uniform, being inspected by the Duty NCO and then being marched across the parade ground to the 'Clock Tower' just inside the main gate, where the church was situated. The organ in the church was activated by means of bellows. These were usually worked by a Boy Bugler who was required to 'pump' a handle continually whilst the organ was required. Sometimes there would be a lapse at the beginning of a hymn as the 'organ pumper' would be otherwise engaged carving his initials on the woodwork. There were carvings going back for many years and I expect they still exist to this day. It wasn't very long before we realized that if one was 'confirmed', church consisted of a very short service early on a Sunday morning, instead of an hour. So, the confirmation classes were always full with Boy Buglers, once they had discovered that 'early church' was best. After being 'confirmed' I was given a New Testament which I still have, but I must admit, it isn't used much nowadays.

Oh Yes! The Bugle Major whilst I was under training was a man called Baker. A very short and quiet person and the things I remember about him was, that he was never to be seen when we were at practice and I can't even remember ever hearing him play a bugle or picking up a pair of drumsticks. I presume he could play both but I guess I will never know. Another thing I remember was he had a very bad habit of giving one of us an enamel mug and a pound note and sending off downstairs to the NAAFI for a mug of tea. In those days a mug of tea cost one penny, [at 240 pence to the pound] Even a Boy Bugler didn't have the nerve to ask for a pennyworth of tea and give a pound note so the Bugle Major usually had a mug of tea paid for by a Boy Bugler. However, it was said that by the time the Bugle Major actually received his tea there was sometimes an added ingredient. [spitttt!] and other unmentionables. As time went by, the message got around, and even the Musicians who lived in barracks would not ask Boy Buglers to go to the NAAFI for mugs of tea.

As you can see by the photo, the motto of the Royal Marines is

PER MARE PER TERRAM

Translated this is, BY SEA BY LAND. In addition to this, to some members of the Buglers Branch it was also known as, PER MARE PER TERRAM PER ASBESTOS.


Blow you Jack! I'm fireproof!