Poems about the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate
(Attributed to Terry Corbett, intake 54B, with some subsequent editing)

After Duties

The ‘Sally Ann’ was cheap for buns, and cakes and cups of coffee.
YMCA at Hildebrand was cheaper than the NAAFI.
The man from Burton’s tailors offered suits you paid like rent,
His tape was straight for Inside leg, the rest of him was bent.

Sneak out the back gate in your civvies, just your mate and you,
A bus to Ripon for the bold to get your first tattoo,
A pint or two to pick up courage, go in a dingy room,
Roll up your sleeves, it’s now too late, the needle goes ‘vroom-vroom’.

Back you go to Harrogate, a dressing on your arm,
It’s swelling up and bleeding, but you’re ‘hard’ and feigning calm,
Into Lindy’s coffee bar, a girlfriend you must seek,
“Come out with me tonight, my love, we’ll do the same next week”.

Now after two years service we were paid more cash each week,
Enough to save and even squander, the good life we could seek,
Pubs and ‘pics’ and other pleasures when we got the chance,
And ‘pulling birds’ on Saturday at Lindy’s place or Bilton dance.

Fish and chips, the last bus home, smelling of smoke and beer,
Then someone’s sick upon the floor, vomit everywhere,
Conductor quickly stops the bus, chucks ‘puker’ out the door,
Late back to camp for that poor sod means ‘Jankers’, that’s for sure.

The bus arrives and all get off, into the bushes flit,
Through the back gate, RP’s waiting, make a run for it,
Behind the gym and assault-course, you have to do it fast,
You’ve lost the RP; in your ‘spider’ you’re safe in bed at last.

With thanks to  Trevor "Bill" Powell for this contribution.