This photo shows one of our regular site contributors, J.Norman Kidd, whilst he was a Private in No4 Squad, A Company, DLI Army Cadets. 
This photo shows one of our regular site contributors, J.Norman Kidd, whilst he was a Private in No4 Squad, A Company, DLI Army Cadets.
My company of the DLI Army Cadets was based at William Newton School, Junction Rd Norton. All square bashing would take place on the playground at the back of the school. The Army Cadet Band would march up Junction Road with Drums and Bugles full bore. With there very smart Drum Major in the lead with his mace. I can still see and hear them in my mind today.
Sgt McNally was my ploon Sgt and taught me so well I would sometimes be allowed to drill the squad and march them off. About turn- Check one two three!, Yes it is still there today. Happy days at a time of great uncertainty. My Dad Joe Kidd did his second spell for his country I don’t know what he would think of life today!
J.Norman Kidd.
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We must have been in the Cadets at the same time Norman I have my 90th in February coming up. John McNally was not my squad Sergeant it was one of the Marly Twins who later became CSM. John left to go in the army and the next time I saw him was at Brancepeth, he was my first Guard Commander when I joined, he was waiting to leave the army after service in Ireland, he was also at ICI when I went there after leaving the army. My Wife and I got to know his wife a lovely Lady and John drove my wife to hospital when I had an operation, a very nice chap indeed.
We trained hard expecting to be in the war as it was expected to last a long time when Japan attacked in Asia. It served me well as with Cert “A” parts one and two I was put in charge of my Squad at Brancepeth mostly young NS men. I finally made it to WO1 and it was those fives years in the Cadets that gave me the edge.
As we left the gates of William Newton School on Church Parade Sundays the last order was “right, bags of swank, quick march” we wanted to impress the girls.
Frank.
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Harry Groom had a brother called Alan who played football for Primrose Hill.
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Could Harry Groom be the brother of Avril Groom? Avril was a member of Yarm Road Club.
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Yes I was in the C company 8th Battalion D.L.I.Cadets, Harry. I remember when we used to do boxing in the Bath Lane drill hall, with the Army wagons parked to form the ring. The gentleman who was the commanding officer was called Mason. I remember the camp at Bellerby,
near Leyburn with the open air boxing ring in the middle of the camp. Also when they issued us with rifles & weatherproof capes then took us in Army wagons miles onto the moors & dropped us off in torrential rain. They told us to find our way back & on the way back we came under fire several times from so called enemy. It was also good when we watched the Churchchill tanks on manoeuvres.
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I was a member of this company in the early 50s. As was Len Nicholson, a regular contributer to this site. If I remember correctly Len’s dad visited a weekend camp we attended, reviewed our troop and inspected our kit layout, which I won! I’ve felt guilty ever since as I’d made such a mess of my kit layout that our troop sergeant tidied up!Happy days.
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There was a DLI Army Cadets Company in Church Road on the corner of Bath Lane opposite the Half Moon pub.
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