Form 543 - No. 2 R.C. Cardington

[Larry]

Spike,

Your Grandfather did the same training at Cardington, as my late father in law who also became a Ground Gunner before getting 'transferred' to the RAF Regiment once in came in to being on 1st February 1942.

I can confirm that 2 R.C. was No.2 Recruit Centre but I cannot recall exactly how long the training was but I seem to remember it was not very long and only a matter of 2-3 months. Training was the usual recruit stuff, getting shouted at, marching, saluting, bulling boots, room inspections and having your kit emptied over the floor by an NCO who was red faced with rage over some minor indiscretion, such as not having the stripe in a blanket lined up with the others in the bed pack! As everyone agreed it was just the kind of thing they needed to prepare them to fight the enemy!

General Duties was, as the name suggests, was a bit of a dogs body type job, and one without an official trade like rigger, armourer or engine fitter. Strangely at one time pilots were also GDs as they were not tradesmen either!

If your grandfather was a Ground Gunner it was possible to be sent to a Sqn as my father in law was posted to 103 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, in mid 1941 and helped defend the Station from air attack.

GDGS was Ground Defence Gunnery School and I know that 1 GDGS was in IOM but I'm not sure how many there were and where others may have been located.