'Toy Soldiers' in training ~ The Display Team was organised and trained by the boys themselves.
Ordnance Insignia of the British Army
RAOC Boys School 'Toy Soldiers' Display Team
Described by Bob Walker (ex Toy Soldier)
The formation of a display team of Toy Soldiers was the idea of Major Wiggins
the dress was based loosely on Wellingtons Army, Red Jacket, White trousers
crossed white sash, and White belt to complete the outfit we wore a Shako and
carried a Yellow wooden rifle. The drills consisted of a variety of manoeuvres
forming lines and wheeling in Star formation culminating in the whole parade of
foot soldiers falling down in a reverse 'Mexican wave' at the firing of the
cannon. There were also drummers and “mounted Calvary” consisting of a cloth and
wooden framed “horse” inside which the Calvary man trotted. There was a “Duke”
who inspected the troops, and a parade commander, who in my time was B/SM (the
voice)George Atkinson, his very clear words of command were a feature which
everyone commented on. We performed on numerous occasions at military open days
and fetes around the area, but the climax was being invited to perform at the
Royal Tournament Earls Court in 1952. Field Marshall Montgomery saw us there was
so impressed that he invited us to perform at the El Alamein reunion for the 8th
Army at Alexandra Palace in the same year.
While surfing the net I came across http://www.britishpathe.com/
I entered RAOC (as you do) in the search box and came across one or two related pieces from the 50's. The best one being a short clip on the RAOC Boys School 'Toy Soldiers'
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/UPLOAD/RAOC1.wmv (2.2 MBs)
Gosport, Hampshire. 1953
Close-up of a sign reading "RAOC Boys Training School Sports Ground". Various shots of boys of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps Training School putting on a marching display on a field. They are dressed in uniforms of the Wellington's, and are staging this tattoo as part of a passing out parade of some of the older boys at the school. Families and officers watch the performance. Some of the boys 'ride' fake horses (strapped to their shoulders). The boys make quirky movements, as if they are toy soldiers. At the end of the display, dummy ammunition is fired from field guns and the lines of soldiers all topple over onto the ground like a pack of cards.
Prices:
Low Resolution Preview material is free of charge.
High Resolution clips for PowerPoint Presentations are £25 + VAT each.
High Resolution clips for Web Publishing are £500 + VAT each.
High Resolution (5" x 4" at 300dpi) images for private use are £25 + VAT each.
All fees are payable on-line.
Also
Rehearsals for the Royal Tournament 1952
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/UPLOAD/RAOC2.wmv (920 Kbs)
and a smaller fragmented clip:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/UPLOAD/ShortClip.wmv (175 Kbs)
'Toy Soldiers' in training ~ The Display Team was organised and trained by the
boys themselves.
On Display ~ One of the many venues..
Page from White City Tattoo Program ~ July 4th to 9th July 1955
Page from Northern Command Tattoo Program ~ 22nd July to 1st August 1955
M Comerford - October 2004