Military History > Military Figures
Kent teenagers who joined Trenchard RAF Apprentice (Brats) & Boy Entrant Schemes
Barry5X:
Hi Castle261
Born in Eastchurch in 1944 and having a father that was stationed there, I was fully aware that RAF Eastchurch existed, however it wasn’t until last week that I read the “Final Letter” of the RAFBEA (RAF Boy Entrants Association) and discovered that some Boy Entrant training was carried out there.
Surprised and to confirm this fact, I carried out further research using an internet Search Engine and came across a web site entry dated 3 Oct 2003 from 552414 Jim Stewart (also known as MOFF) who stated.
“This is MOFF I was at RAF Eastchurch in 1938 as a boy entrant training as an Armourer. Left Dec 1938 for RAF Catfoss Yorks”
https://www.militaryforums.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4570
As you stated your brother was a volunteer and not a Boy Entrant, nevertheless a Boy Entrant in 1938 would have been born between 1921 and 1923 so MOFF would be around 100 at this time!
By reference to a recent reply to Grandarog on this topic and the use of RAF Slang; Armourers were known as Plumbers.
Barry5X:
Hi Grandarog
Your reply in calling me a “Rook” was of course expected and warmly received, however I wondered if the readership of this forum fully understood the meaning of this piece of RAF Slang.
As such I carried out a search on the internet using 3 words “Rook RAF Slang”, sadly with unexpected and unacceptable results. Unexpected as the first 4 web sites accessed had no reference to Rook at all:
Glossary of WWII RAF Slang & Terminology (natureonline.com) http://natureonline.com/37/56-ap4-glossary.html
A Guide To Understanding RAF Slang And Terminology (forces.net) https://www.forces.net/military-life/fun/guide-understanding-raf-slang-and-terminology
RAF Slang and Acronyms (rafaberporth.org.uk) https://rafaberporth.org.uk/page25.html
RAF slang - Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_slang#R
……… and the 5th web site accessed had an explanation that stated that:
“Rook” was a Boy Entrant term for a new entrant.
RAF slang | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org) https://military.wikia.org/wiki/RAF_slang
As an ex RAF Apprentice, I am sure that like me you will find this inaccuracy of the term “Rook” being related solely for use by Boy Entrants, totally unacceptable and therefore needs to be corrected. I believe it is only right as it was you that started using RAF slang on this forum, that you initiate action to rectify matters.
So with due respect to a senior entry member and fellow Brat:
Sir, may I have permission to request that you “grab yourself a mug of char (or a standard NATO coffee) a wad or a dead fly pie and get it sorted.
I have the honour to remain, your obedient servant.
Ldg App Barry5X (Rook)
castle261:
Thank you Barry5X - My elder brother joined the R.A.F. - as a volunteer reserve - in 1938 - later
leaned he was an Armourer at R.A.F. Manston in 1940 - while we were in Wales.
He would have been 100 - now.
grandarog:
Hi Barry (99th Rook),
Welcome to the forum. There are at least 2 of us ,now 3 on here I was 86th Halton. :)
Barry5X:
The Royal Air Force Apprentice scheme began in 1920, having been devised by Chief of the Air Staff Hugh Trenchard and approved by Winston Churchill. Following the graduations of the Apprentice Engineering Technicians (known as Trenchards’ Brats) from No 1 School of Technical Training Halton on the 24th June 1993 and from No 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford on the 7th October 1993, the RAF Apprentice Scheme ended. It is estimated that over 40,000 passed through the RAF Apprentice scheme
The Royal Air Force Boy Entrant scheme began in 1934; a shorter training scheme in length of time which ran in parallel with the Apprentice Scheme. The Boy Entrant training was introduced in order to give boys from more disadvantaged backgrounds or with lower educational qualifications the opportunity of a Royal Air Force career. The scheme was run until the graduation of the 51st Entry in 1965. Before the scheme was suspended in 1940 due to WWII hostilities a total of 4,026 Boy Entrants had entered training, the majority who were trained at RAF Cranwell, but some went to RAF Farnborough to be trained as photographers and others to RAF Eastchurch to become Armourers. The scheme was resumed in 1947 and before it ended in 1965 an additional 30,602 boy entrants had graduated.
Combined, the Apprentice and Boy Entrant schemes trained over 75,000 tradesmen who were considered to be the “Backbone of the Royal Air Force”.
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the Royal Air Force."
There was some commonality between the two RAF schemes; joining for both was for boys between 15 and an half to 17 years of age. Lengths of engagement were the same and generally for 12 years or 9 years and 3 in the reserve (time taken from the age of 18). A brass “wheel” badge was worn by both on the upper left sleeve and the hat bands were either coloured (Yellow, Red or Blue for Apprentices) or chequered (2-coloured for Boy Entrants).
The detailed history of these schemes is to be found at the following web sites:
RAF Halton Apprentices
http://www.oldhaltonians.co.uk/
RAF Boy Entrants
https://www.rafbeainfo.org.uk/final-newsletter
Despite there being a 13 year age gap between me and my older Brother Brian, we both followed a similar path. We both went to Sheerness Tech and left to work on a farm. We (like our father before us who was stationed at RAF Eastchurch as an Admin Clerk during the war) both joined the RAF; Brian as a Boy Entrant (6th Entry) as an Instrument Fitter (General) and me as a RAF Halton Apprentice (99th Entry) as an Instrument Fitter (Navigation).
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