192 Survey Training Battery, RA, Larkhill
I was transferred to 192 Survey Battery RA, at the School of Artillery, Larkhill, Wiltshire, on 14th January 1952. The course covered intense classwork with practical experience of surveying and map reading on a bleak Salisbury Plain in mid-winter. We accurately fixed our positions using quality German manufactured theodolites and Ordnance Survey Maps. We may have had the use of survey with sound ranging and flash spotting explained to us in the classroom, but there were no practical exercises to follow up. Trigonometry and precise fieldwork featured strongly throughout. (It was during this time that King George VI died and Queen Elizabeth II became our sovereign. However we retained the king’s crown cap badge for the duration of our service).
The 3 month course ended when on 26th April I passed the trade test to gain Survey RA Group A Class III trade qualification. I believe that all members of the course passed. We were issued with the valued capital S encircled with a laurel wreath badge, which was quickly sewn on the right arm of the tunic before the traditional end of course photograph was taken.
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