Norton Manor Group visit camp on 60th anniversary

The veterans, who met in Taunton on Saturday (October 2), had all be trained together as Junior Leaders Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), otherwise known as RASC Apprenticed Leaders (or little RASCALs).

Initially, the earliest of these recruits were being trained in what was known as the Boys’ Company RASC which became known as the Junior Leaders Battalion RASC. Their unit at that time was based in St Lucia Barracks at Bordon in Hampshire.

No longer suitable for a Battalion sized training establishment the decision was reached to relocate to Norton Manor Camp on the western outskirts of Taunton. The first of these young trainees arrived from Bordon in April 1961.

There were 37 boys who marched the126 miles from Bordon to Norton Manor Camp, which took them seven days.

When they arrived in Taunton, The Mayor of Taunton, then Councillor EJH Harnell, took the salute and honoured the Battalion by allowing the Royal Army Service Corps flag to be flown.

Once they arrived at Norton Manor Camp, the recruits then underwent training which lasted - on average - about 30 months.

The training of RASC juniors ended on July 15 1965.

The Norton Manor Group includes members having completed their Boys’ Service training in the RASC. Of approximately 1,800 youngsters who were trained at Norton Manor between 1961 and 1965, a total of 280 have since been located throughout the UK and around the world.

The gathering of veterans, known as the RASCALs return, ended with a dinner at the Holiday Inn in Taunton.

But the highlight of the 60th anniversary weekend was a visit to Norton Manor Camp, which is now the home of 40 Commando Royal Marines.

Berry’s Coaches, who featured in The Waggonette (the end of term brochure created in 1961), provided a coach - for free - to take the veterans to Norton Manor Camp.

A Norton Manor Group spokesperson said: “We are overwhelmed by Berrys generosity and the years just fell away when remembering the various trips we had all undertaken during our training at Norton Manor in the 60s.

“We are grateful too to 40 Commando RM for allowing us to revisit our ancestral training ground on this very special occasion.”

TAUNTON LADIES: Freda Hosie (nee Vile) married to Michael, Shirley Farmer (nee Blackmore) married to Peter, Linda Kilby (nee Andrews) married to Sid, and Elizabeth Poat (nee Crabb) married to Gerald. Freda, Shirley and Linda were all born at Canon Street Hospital and Elizabeth was born at Musgrove, her parents then living at Ilton.