RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA L I A I SON L ETTER – 2024 – 2025 E D I T I ON C ANNON BALL S UP PLEMENT 140 money running short he applied to join the army. His South African commission was not acknowledged so he had to undertake recruit training again and was accepted into the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, in October. He graduated in March 1952 with a short service commission but because he was the senior and best cadet of his course he was invited to convert to a full time commission. Much to his disappointment, this meant that he had to stay in the UK for interviews and administration while most of his class were dispatched to units around the globe. So his first posting was to the Boys Battery (later Regiment), Royal Artillery, in Wales, 1952- 1954. The battery educated and trained prospective NCOs for the artillery. It turned out to be a very rewarding posting, a good introduction to British society, and towards the end of it he met his lifelong partner, Sally Alderson. They had only a short time together before he was posted as a troop commander to 119 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, 36 HAA Regiment in Malta, 1954-1955. His marriage proposal was accepted before he departed, and he returned to England in October 1954 to be married in Sally’s hometown, Itchenor, Sussex, on 2 October 1954. Thereafter, she accompanied him back to Malta. As well as training for the defence of Malta in the midst of the Cold War the Regiment also undertook extensive training in Libya that still hosted a large British contingent. Due to a serious back injury he spent a year attached to the RA Depot Field Wing, Woolwich, 1955-1956 in rehabilitation. Wedding Day – Marriage to Sally Alderson in Itchenor, Sussex on 2 October 1954.