Vindi Boy Reflects

[Doc Vernon]

A‘VINDI’ BOY REFLECTS.

Grandad came across an advert,
In a daily publication,
Abd thought i might be interested,
To join a seafaring ‘occupation’.
The ad, called for Catering and Deck lads,
To train at the ‘Vindi’ , Sharpness,
The maximum age being sixteen years,
For a course, of ten weeks duress.
I enquired, and was duly accepted,
Taking the train down South,
This far away, i had never been,
My heart, was in my mouth.
An Officer in the guard hut,
Found me a place to sleep,
Then took away my money,
Saying.......”living here is cheap”.
The grub it was atrocious,
And conditions, very ‘trying’,
Some boys....’jumped the fence at night,
Going home ioMummy.....crying.
The ablutions block was freezing,
Once inside you had to smash,
The ice from around the cold water tap,
In order to have awash.
Showers and baths, were non-existent,
Heating a far away dream,
Once home it was sheer luxury,
Wallowing in rich suds and steam.
‘Vindicatrix’ was a Scots built barque,
A ‘three master’, named ‘Arranmore’,
Once a German ‘prize-of-war,
Returned , and converted, to her native shore.
Our Instrudtors were a serious lot.
True stalwarts of renown,
Preaching long about morality,
While bagging-off, in the town.
Cocoa was the evening drink,
It truly tasted rank,
Cunningly laced wirh bromide,
So you could’nt have a .....’Jodrell Bank’
The school nurse was a frosty cow,
Be it cuts, or sprains, or chlls,
Her instant cure was handed out,
A dozen codeine pills.
Caught, running along the pontoon bridge,
I was hauled....’before the mast’,
Where Captain Duguid, then appeared,
To give me a real good ‘blast!!!
Four days ‘Jankers’, was my ‘fine’,
Did’nt like it much at all,
Peeling spuds, and scrubbing pots,
Black lead the Assembly Hall.
The Vindi’s life-boats, were clinker built,
Radial davits, swung them out,
Her grab-lines,they were rotten,
And rope ‘falls’, were in doubt.
The Srvern bridge, had seven spans,
Each one, denotes a week,
When every one was counted off,
You swaggered, and gave cheek.
Learning the ‘Boatswains Manual’,
By ‘Green Horns, such as us,
Was like, tryung to teach a monkey,
To drive a London bus.
In honesty, i think the main desire,
Was to teach us.....self-reliance,
And sort out all the, ‘Mummy’s Pets’,
By harsh, yet cunning science.
They ‘Square Bashed’ us, for over a week,
“You’re going to see the Queen”,
But when we got to Bristol,
She was’nt to be seen.
Seven weeks went past, the last exam,
And i proudly wore my ‘hook’,
I was a trainee Boatswains Mate, ?
By reading from a book!!!
The next three weeks was maintenance.
Mostly spent by the bogie-stove fire,
Repairing broken bunk springs,
With pliers, and some wire.
My Instructor Mr Agate, came to me,
And said......”You’re lucky Jock,
The coal barge arrives tomorrow,
But your train leaves at ten o’clock”.
I csually strolled, out through the gate,
Trying hatd, to hide my glee,
Thimking of all those coal black heads,
Thank Christ, it was’nt me.
Walking through familiar Streets,
In blue serge battle-dress,
My tunic, it felt lumpy,
My trousers cried......please press.
M.N. insignia stitched on my shoulders,
Silver school badge, on my hat,
I must confess, i really felt,
A big, prize fxxxxn’ twat.
Of course, this happened years ago,
Sixty eight, to be exact,
I had to dredge diary, and memory,
To extricate, each fact.
But , thinking back, I’m glad i went,
Though the course, some times was uncouth.
I went away, a naive young lad,
Amd came back, a self-confident youth.
Joined ‘Vindi’....27-2-56 till 4-5-56 ( R652896 )



By Permission of J. Morrison. Thank You

[Chris Gundry]

Yes I remember my days in the Vindi and I was one of the unlucky ones who had to get the coal aboard from the barge, a very black and dusty day,!!
Chris Gundry R730309 11/7/60 to 10/9/60.