THE GOLDONIAN
2nd COY. 1st "C" BATTALION.
 HERTFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.
 COMPANY NOTES

In the inter-company swimming sports, held on the 24th June, we came second this year and first in the senior competitions. Our boys took part in the inter-pre-services swimming and did very well, especially Cadets Furnise and Peek. The A.T.C. won the senior events and the A.C.F. the junior events. Well done, 2 Coy.

We went to the R.E. Bridging camp at Wouldham, Kent, for our annual Battalion camp on the 3rd August. This was a small, self-contained camp but very good for training and recreational facilities. The weather wasn't too good and our all night exercise had to be cancelled, but we did manage to get in some useful and instructive training. Training in building bivouacs and fire lighting was given, practice in obstacle crossing and in river crossing with assault boats under the instruction of the Royal Engineers.

Off duty visits to Chatham, Rochester and to the radar station were laid on. Guard mounting and drill competitions were held. The food was good and in spite of the poor weather it proved to be a very enjoyable camp.

Since our return we have settled down to our winter programme of training and, thanks to the continued co-operation of the Army Kinema Corporation, we are able to show on the last Friday of each month documentary and training films. The last of the week­end camps at Walkern has been held for this year but we shall have the Saturday .22 shoots on our open range as often as possible. In the "A" certificate examinations L/Cpls S. Cann, Bassett, Furnise and Borrill passed their Part I on the 13th July.

After the end of term reorganisation, eight cadets were lost to situations and apprenticeships and ten new boys were enrolled. which makes our present strength at sixty-six all ranks; this keeps our average strength throughout the training year of seventy all ranks.

At the School Exhibition of work and spare time activities, held on Thursday, 2nd October, to Sunday, 5th October, the Company were well represented with a fine display showing the work of the Cadets in sport and training, and the Corps of Drums.

At the Battalion football trials eleven of our boys were selected for the senior and junior teams to play for the Battalion; this is very pleasing and I know that the boys will give of their  best.

We shall be entering a number of Cadets for the A.C.F. boxing and will be the hosts for the County tournaments on the 22nd November, and for the Area Championships. I wish the boxers all success and hope that they will do as well as the lads that entered last year.

A Civil Defence exercise was held at the School on the 19th October, and the Cadets, together with a number of boys from the School, acted as casualties. This is the second exercise at the School, the first held on the 5th May was carried out in torrential rain but all boys cheerfully did the jobs allotted to them.

We shall be thirteen years old on 4th December, and shall celebrate with a parade and supper on Friday, 5th December, as that is our parade evening. Eight hundred and twelve boys have served in the Company to date and we have had many successes in training and sport to look back on, not forgetting the Corps of Drums, who have become well known all over the County. We have not been without difficulties and trials that arise in maintaining a good Company for so long a period, but looking back over the years I know that we have been able to give lads interest and something to take a pride in. I get many letters from old members of the Company saying how glad they were to have served with us and of how the Cadet training has helped them in the services and in their jobs in civilian life.

May I close by wishing all past and present members of the School a very happy Christmas.

A. P. CULVER, Captain, O.I.C

From Company notes The Goldonian Winter 1958