SIX WEEKS TRAINING ON THE VINDICATRIX (By Mike Hall)

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Originally Posted by Captain Kong

When I was there in 1952 I got 15 shillings a week Dole money, I had worked for 18 months before going, in engineering, coal mine and cotton mill so I was entitled to Dole money.
They kept 10 shillings a week to pay for all my gear and I had 5 shillings spending money.
Brian

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#####it was the only time i ever got out for nowt ....remember queuing at on side .....getting some money then queuing at the other side to give most of it back ...then buying a wagon wheel or a kit cat .......cappy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain Kong

When I was there in 1952 I got 15 shillings a week Dole money, I had worked for 18 months before going, in engineering, coal mine and cotton mill so I was entitled to Dole money.
They kept 10 shillings a week to pay for all my gear and I had 5 shillings spending money.
Brian

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HI Brian.
I was on the same rate, I was given about five quid when I left.
Cheers Des

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Hi All.
This is the original advice, sent to me by Robin Hurst who was there the same time.

Attachment 21172

Do not recall getting any money paid to me whilst bthere, but I do well recall the accomodation, the huts. I was lucky mine was a five star one. On a clear night I could see them through a hole in the roof directly above my bunk.

That was Cappys peep hole. A five star is a pentagon a Jewish symbol. That's probably why you were paid no money John. They had to repair the hole. Cappy refused on the grounds that he thought his Miss Moneypenny may have been unfaithful to him and was keeping his eye open. Sorry must have been extremely Jewish. A pentagon is a six star, so must have been very upper class. Cheers JWS

During June 57 my first meal was "Seapie " which I fondly remembering turning my nose up !!!! followed by don,t you want that "newboy " and it was gone and devoured ...a lesson well learned..good times though just the same never did anybody any harm and also helped you mix with lads from all points of the compass .........IMHO

I joined the Vindi in September 1953. Do you remember the wooden cabin that was used for practise compass and steering located on the lower deck? We were deck scrubbing one day and had to move the unit but it was connected to the deckhead by an electric flex and old bayonet connector, my hands were wet when I attempted to disconnect and I received a shock that sent me unconcious with my hand still glued to the socket, fortunately when my body fell it pulled the fixed connection from the deckhead and broke the circuit so I survived but still have the scars today 66 years later.

Michael

i was at the vindi in 1954 for 12 weeks i ended up as sports boy looking after the sports hall good little number.i think the worst punishment they could give you then was an extra week on your course.happy times.

Hi Mike
I have just read your article and would like to thank, I am just writing my life story and doing some research re my time on the Vindi 1956 your article gave me so much information which I could not recall before, details about kit and times etc brilliant, Hope you don't mind I even pinch a few of your quotes. I wish you well and a Happy New Year.
Maurice Heather

Looking back at those wonderful days one wonders how we got through it all.
The starving in Biafra got better food than we did, the accommodation was not unlike that of some prisons I think.
If such conditions were around today the owner would be in serious trouble, possibly inside for harmful activities to younger persons.
Wonder how females would have managed had they been allowed there?

But for all that just about every one of us would do it all over again.