Infantry Training Battalion Cap Badge This Auction is for the Cap Badge as worn by the Infantry Training Battalion, based at Plumer Barracks, Crownhill, Plymouth and Parkhall Camp, Oswestry, during the 1950's & 1960's. Also worn by Infantry Junior Leaders of the All Arms Junior Leaders Regiment, Tonfanau Camp, Nr Tywyn (was then Towyn), Merioneth, North Wales 1959-1966. These unit's trained boys from the age of 15 - 17 as future senior NCOs and Warrant Officers of the British Army. Brand new and unissued staybrite/anodised Cap badge in an all Gold finish, 38mm high, complete with it's slider and made by J.R Gaunt (London) Ltd. Guaranteed new/unissued and in mint condition. Brief Regimental History - ABOUT THE A.A.J.L.R. The All Arms Junior Leaders' Regiment was formed in 1959 and disbanded in 1966. Originally it trained boys as future senior non-commissioned officers from five arms of the army but this was later expanded to eight.
The year was split into 3 terms with a fresh intake of boys each term. The first term of each boys service was completely dedicated to turning these 15 and 16 year olds into disciplined soldiers.
From the second term the prime emphasis was on education as all senior NCO's were required to obtain the Army Certificate of Education [Class 1].
Alternate days were spent on Military Training which included Drill, Weapons Training, Driver Training, Map Reading and casually strolling over the gently rolling Brecon Beacons in wonderful Welsh weather fully equipped in thin denims, a poncho and carrying a webbing back pack.
The boys final term included specialist training according to the arm or corps he intended to serve in as a senior soldier.
Mixed in with all this there was sport, adventure training, outward bound courses and inter company competitions including the Rhyl cup.
Every boy also took part in the 'Duke of Edinburgh's Award' and to this end most evenings were spent doing a large number of hobbies. The rest of the time was spent cleaning the barracks or doing your personal kit whilst huddled round a coal burning pot-bellied stove in a futile attempt to keep warm. Oh, those were the days......... Makeup of the Regiment | | | | COLOUR | | COMPANY | | PLATOON | |
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| | R | | Basic training company. | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | A | | Balaclava | |
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| | | | Falaise | | | | | | Imphal | | | | | | Knightsbridge | | | | | | | | B | | Egypt | |
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| | | | Gallipoli | | | | | | Somme | | | | | | Ypres | | | | | | | | C | | Alamein | |
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| | | | Normandy | | | | | | Rhine | | | | | | Tunisia | | | | | | | | D | | Cambrai | |
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| | | | Dettingen | | | | | | Minden | | | | | | Waterloo |
Omdurman Troop UK Bidders - We only accept UK Cheques, UK Postal Orders or PayPal only as payment. UK Bidders, paying by UK Cheque/UK PO, please make these out to 'VFI THOMPSON' and email within 3 days to confirm UK Cheque/UK PO has been posted (our address is listed on the 'checkout' screen). Non-UK Bidders MUST use PayPal only, or contact us first via email for alternate payment arrangements, or wait for our invoice to be sent to you. Postage costs quoted in 'PAYMENT DETAILS' section are First Class UK ONLY. Details of all postage costs for both UK and non-UK locations are listed below and will be applied depending on where the postal destination of the winning bid is located - if you are not resident in the UK please wait for an emailed invoice from us via eBay unless you are happy to add the relevant postage costs yourself when sending PayPal payment. Any bids placed are done so by the potential bidder in agreement with both the description of the item and the terms of the auction and payment instructions given here. If you have any questions, please email and we will be happy to help. Please remember to confirm your address when sending your payment, and if using PayPal it will be assumed that the address listed there is correct if no other message is received. Postage details guide: UK 1st Class £1.60 Non-UK Postage: All costs listed here are for Airmail which is the only service offered. (Please note - PayPal is the only accepted form of payment for overseas Bidders). Europe is £2.00 and to the Rest of the World it will be £2.50 Please note that we will post within 3 days of payment or until UK Cheque has cleared which should be no longer than 7 days. Please do keep a lookout for our other Sale/Auction lots coming soon!!!
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 Omdurman Troop was formed in May 1959 at Tonfanau as part of the All Arms Junior Leaders Regiment. (Please note the use of Troop and not Platoon, this was in Respect of the Troop Commander being a Gunner at that time and Omdurman being also a Gunner Battle Honour, and remained with Omdurman to its untimely end).
The first boys arrived on the 11 May 1959.
At that time Recruit Company did not exist due to the Regiment being in the early throws of formation. 'A' Company had assembled a few days earlier. The troop was Commanded by a Captain Murray-Flutter, Royal Artillery. The Troop Sergeant was Dennis Elmore who was also a Gunner. The troop also had an RAEC Sergeant, a National Serviceman. The Troop was based around Block 89, a brick building.
Omdurman Troop was part of 'C' Company, Commanded by Major T.G.H. Jackson MBE Royal Signals.
Due to the expansion of the Regiment, Omdurman Troop, moved from 'C' Company to 'B' Company on the 22nd October, 1959, which was Commanded by Major L.L.S. Williams, Royal Artillery. All Officers and Senior NCO's moved with the Troop. The Troop also moved accommodation into one of the wooden 'H' blocks.
In the first term of 1960 the Troop Commander changed, Lt. J.B.H. Rowallan.
The Troop functioned as a unit within 'B' Company until its end in late October of 1960.
The Troop was disbanded mainly because of the reaction of the Junior incumbents to a Scottish Officer Lt. McClagan who became the Troop Commander on the 2nd September, 1960. This Officer was not an Officer nor Gentleman! He was a vicious, cruel and malicious person. His favourite routine was multiple 'Kit' inspections at any time of the day or night. During these he would pull a Junior Soldiers locker from the top and crash it to the floor, any damage done to kit or locker was then charged to the Junior Soldier. He would throw over beds and many other such actions. During Outward bound he would bully and tirade everyone. During Rifle Training he would strike people with their rifles. He should not have been sent to AAJLR.
This cruel mans actions resulted in 48 boys out of 52 going AWOL one night in late October, 1960. People had tried to speak out, but as with the military attitude of the era, no one listened, (Sic..No change there then) and those who did complain were marked men by this beast of a man.
Most of the Boys either surrendered or were taken into custody within 48 hours of absconding.
The authorities now had to listen and listen seriously.
Within seven days of the great escape, Omdurman Troop was disbanded and the junior soldiers were dispersed amongst the other Troops/Platoons and Company's of the Regiment.
Punishment was light for those first time AWOL Boys, habitual absentees got the full treatment though (The Guardroom could not hold them all). Later this absence was expunged from their records.
Many Omdurman Boys therefore saw service in three of the Company's within AAJLR.
And so the great denial of the existence of Omdurman Troop began. A History of the Regiment | | Date | Event | | May 1959 | First Intake. | | 29th July 1960 | First Graduation Parade. | | 10th. December 1960 | Second Graduation Parade.
106 Graduates today. | | April 1961 | Third Graduation Parade. | | 4th. August 1961 | Fourth Graduation Parade.
108 Graduates today.
Over 400 Graduates so far. | | 9th. December 1961 | Fifth Graduation Parade.
120 Graduates today.
Over 500 Graduates so far. | | April 1962 | Sixth Graduation Parade. | | 28th. July 1962 | Seventh Graduation Parade.
115 Graduates today.
Over 700 Graduates so far. | | 8th. December 1962 | Eighth Graduation Parade.
108 Graduates today.
Over 800 Graduates so far. | | 6th. April 1963 | Ninth Graduation Parade.
102 Graduates today.
Over 900 Graduates so far. | | 27th. July 1963 | Tenth Graduation Parade.
97 Graduates today.
Over 1000 Graduates so far. | | 7th. December 1963 | Eleventh Graduation Parade.
123 Graduates today.
Over 1100 Graduates so far. | | 11th. April 1964 | Twelfth Graduation Parade.
130 Graduates today.
Over 1200 Graduates so far. | | 8th. August 1964 | Thirteenth Graduation Parade.
130 Graduates today.
Over 1300 Graduates so far. | | 12th. December 1964 | Fourteenth Graduation Parade.
144 Graduates today.
Over 1400 Graduates so far. | | 10th. April 1965 | Fifteenth Graduation Parade.
137 Graduates today. | | 7th. August 1965 | Sixteenth Graduation Parade.
105 Graduates today.
1779 Graduates so far. | | September 1965 | The final intake. | | 11th. December 1965 | Seventeenth Graduation Parade.
Regiment downsized to two Companies.
130 Graduates today.
1930 Graduates so far. | | 9th April 1966 | Eighteenth Graduation Parade.
99 Graduates today.
A total of 2029 boys have graduated since the Regiment started. | | 6th August 1966 | Nineteenth Graduation Parade. (Final Graduation)
103 Graduates today.
A total of 2105 boys have graduated since the Regiment started.
Regiment disbands. |
About the Camp Location On the west coast of the County of Meirionnydd, in the parish of Llangelynin in the Rural District of Dolgellau and approximately two miles north of Towyn (Tywyn) on the mid-Wales coast of Cardigan Bay.Confused about Towyn and Tywyn? When the regiment was stationed at Tonfanau the local town was called Towyn. There is also a Towyn in North Wales so at some time after the camp closed the local council took the decision to change to the Welsh spelling of Tywyn.
Area The total area of the Camp was some 220 acres held by the Ministry of Defence. This included the Commanding Officer's residence at Cefn Camberth which measured some four acres. Pre WW2 It is claimed that the Royal Artillery were camped in the Tonfanau area during the First World War but it was not until around 1937 that a tented camp was struck followed by brick structures in 1939. WW2
The Royal Artillery used the camp to train Anti-Aircraft gunners all through the war and continued to do so afterwards. At least one American unit (413 Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion) trained there before the Normandy invasion. Post WW2 In 1948 it became the home of 55 Light Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment who stayed until they were disbanded in 1958. The following Royal Artillery units were stationed at Tonfanau camp between 1950 and 1969:
37 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, 55 Training Regiment, 63 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, 67 Training Regiment and 22 Light Air Defence Regiment. 22 Light Air Defence Regiment were there again from 1967 to 1969 (well, they were known as the Welsh Gunners!). It was also used by a number of Territorial Units for their annual camp.
In 1959 there was a need to train more boys so the camp became the base for the newly formed All Arms Junior Leaders' Regiment until it too was disbanded in 1966.
In early 1967 in marched the happy band of 22 Light Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery who must have been overjoyed with Wales after leaving Malaya. They managed to slip away to Germany in 1969 and the camp was officially closed in 1971.
But wait, in 1972 Uganda's President Idi Amin expelled the Asians from his country and as many of them had British passports it was to Britain they came. The camp was quickly refurbished and 700 of the refugee's were bedded down there by the end of the year and a further 800 were to follow. Of the 29000 Ugandan refugees 5000 ended up in the Towyn area.
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