TNAG-0539-FCO40-634-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 221

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Training of Junior Soldiers

9. In the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1969 (Cmnd. 3927), it

was announced that the Army was examining the arrangements for train-

ing the Junior entry. The results of this study were announced

in November 1973 and the following measures have been implemented:

a. the training of Junior Tradesmen has been transferred

to the Junior training units of individual Arms and

Corps and the Junior Tradesmen's Regiments at Rhyl

and Troon closed;

10.

b.

the training of Junior Infantrymen is now carried out

at divisional depots and all Infantry Junior Leaders

are now trained centrally at the Infantry Junior

Leaders Battalion at Shorncliffe.

As explained in Chapter V (paragraph 13, the recruitment of

Juniors, following the raising of the school leaving age, has

and other changes announced in

considerably exceeded expectations

November 1973, which would have reduced the capacity of the Junior

Training organisation, will not now take place. Consequently, for the time being, the Junior Leaders Regiment of the Royal Engineers

and the Royal Corps of Transport will remain at Dover and Taunton

respectively. It has also been necessary to transfer the training

of Junior soldier recruits of the Royal Signals to Catterick from

the Army Apprentices College at Harrogate. The camp at Oswestry is being retained for at least a further six months (from the

previously announced closure date of 1 April 1975) as a Junior

Infantry wing to cater for those Junior Infantrymen who cannot be

trained at divisional depots because of a shortage of living

accommodation.

VI-3 CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL