Brian Sewell - Humiliation during National Service (37/90)

[@nicholascosta2679]

I didn’t find Basic Training in the RAF in 1953 too strenuous nor did I see any real bullying. It certainly quickened my reflexes, made me feel stronger and much more capable in the physical sense. My overseas posting to Kenya and staying in that country for 2 1/2 years was most enjoyable. I realized it was a great opportunity to see other parts of the world particularly the three East African Territories. After demobilization, I returned there and directly out of the RAF obtained a Managerial Position and developed skills which enabled me to work overseas for the rest of my career and to retire comfortable in Thailand. As far as I was concerned National Service was a God send.

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

As someone who served in the Army in the early 1950s,I was told that the RAF was far easier and certainly people tried to get into it. We had a very hard time in the first 16 weeks and one poor chap killed himself.

[@Stanly-Stud]

The RAF is a holiday camp compared to the Army 😂

[@lameduck3630]

His writing in the Evening Standard was superb - he couldn't give a fuck what any of you thought of him - he led an interesting life.

[@highdownmartin]

And I was surprised when he started writing about Cars in the ES He knew loads about them and had owned an an example of pretty much everything. A man of many talents who actually wasn’t born with a plum in his mouth. I wonder where his accent was ,at aldershot station sept52?

[@ShevillMathers]

Best time (signed on for 5-years) I had in the RAF Medical Branch, first tour was a magic posting to RAF Hospital Wegberg in Germany 1956-Operating Theatre staff also mobile field operating theatre. Fantastic training and a great opportunity to travel far and wide at the RAF’s expense. Made a man out of a boy. Basic training was the same for us all, no perks for the upper class boys-all in it together, It was Not as bad as many make it out to be. After finishing University study/training, took up a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of establishing a first Clinical School in Hobart Tasmania Australia. The RAF and Leeds University gave me all I needed to take up such a challenge in a new country, never looked back for even one second.

[@ronholfly]

Looking back at all those memories, especially the square bashing at RAF Bridgnorth opened my eyes to life and made me realize what a sheltered life I had been leading after leaving school. The RAF gave me a short sharp shock in discipline and mommies little darling suddenly found himself naked in line with complete strangers, all of us looking at each other sorting out men from boys. Embarrassment went out of the dictionary that day and we all went through six weeks of everything being done in quick time, and I mean everything. At the passing out parade six weeks later our parents didn't recognise us. Modern youth have no idea of discipline, consequently the world is now full of Mandy pansy males who have no real idea about real life.

[@trevdestroyer8209]

I would rather die than go through that

[@ronholfly]

@@trevdestroyer8209 Don't worry you don't have to do it now, but it did sort the men from the boys.

[@joanhooper453]

The idea of basic training was to bond the men together so that in times of conflict they would act as one

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

“Mr lah-di-dah Gunner Graham!”

[@anthonyeaton5153]

I was climbing into a back of a truck when I was eleven as a Boy Scout.

[@davidoneill9244]

The idea was that you would immediately obey orders without question. It was called discipline!!

[@henryjames5663]

Spoken to in an uncivilised manner, and treated as criminals

[@angloaust1575]

The kray twins didnt get on with the System

[@LoudaroundLincoln]

@ian Campbell nah. I doubt military service would of sorte dthe krays out. Probably would of made them worse. Teaching them marksmanship principles, unarmed combat, basic infantry tactics, explosives. Can you imagine the likes of those 2 in Germany or Malaya? Would of been a string of dead civilians left in their wake.

[@angloaust1575]

Yet harry Robert's excelled doing national service even commended by his officers Then went back to crime resulting in death of three police officers Something the krays never did!

[@rosemary5531]

I'd have liked to have heard more about his NS experiences. He's an interesting man with a mind of his own. Love to hear what he thinks about the current ''trans'' and ''identifies as'' goons¬! He'd have a thing or two to say about it all!

[@briggsahoy1]

Typical experience for many NaTional Servicemen, the Army wouldn’t get away with it these days.!

[@achitophel5852]

More's the pity. Take a look at the UK now and think what 2 years National Service would do to the woke, namby-pamby, entitled lot who've been raised to expect everything and respect nothing.

[@neveradullmoment4463]

They don't like it up em.

[@mikesaunders4775]

I think he did !

[@theofarmmanager267]

Oh dear. In a previous generation, all of the humiliation and bullying was exactly what his class did to the rest of us.

[@altaylor3988]

Poor Boy ... Being brought down to Earth ... At least it was the same for him and others

[@gazzas123]

No they were just bullies. The corporals and sergeants were arseholes

[@robertstorey7476]

i worked with someone who years before had had a breakdown because he couldn't cope with national service training. It was designed to break your will so you'd do what you were told without thinking. He never properly recovered and did menial jobs for the rest of his life. Thank god we don't have it now I can't think of anything less suited to the modern world.

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

We had a poor chap who killed himself during our 16 weeks basic training,in the Royal Engineers in 1952. It was hard and just too much for some people.

[@edwinturner1149]

thank goodness I missed it

[@nimrod2525]

That treatment everyone went through. In one ear and out the other. No problem it was only for a few weeks.

[@dannybartlett4225]

Just reminds of the shock off being pulled out of your safety of home work liveing in the bubble. To being trained to kill and to be good at it some people just can't adjust there mind to it imagine ww3 with china and a national draft would be a lot of people crying saying i cant cope your bullying me no there teaching you how to stay alive simple as that

[@newellaorbana]

You are a natural slave.

[@alainrousselot7940]

Is all that necessary? I don't think so

[@dannybartlett4225]

Yes it is necessary we are training you to fight in a war not dance and kiss each other lol its what lifes like outside the bubble lol

[@dlloyd5048]

How come his daddy didn’t buy him a commission my lot came from the Glasgow gorbals he would not have liked them they were tougher than the corporals

[@nigelsheppard625]

Because it was National Service and not a career in the Army.

[@angloaust1575]

The tale of the vicars son who when confronting the sergeant said My father said look for the good in man Well you wont find any good in me replies the sergeant!

[@OldManRunning-dj7qi]

I can hear victimhood alive and kicking in his little narrative. Thank goodness the majority got stuck in and got on with it. “banged my shins” ffs.

[@trevdestroyer8209]

I would rather get a shot in the head than go through that hell

[@trevdestroyer8209]

Thank God conscription was abolished nobody should be forced to go through this without their consent

[@peterisaacs1344]

Suck it up princess,we all had to take it and it's not personal

[@newellaorbana]

You are a natural slave.

[@dayton2vx]

I've seen this bloke in a show could bad LADS army

[@Extra_050]

I saw that too, many moons ago. It makes sense, because they did that with army conditions 1950s style and he did his National Service in the '50s.

[@bobrail733]

Just because the sergeant in basic training accused you of not knowing your father ,?😂😂😂😂

[@bridgetown45]

I recall a Sgt-Major who was similarly accused. He stapled his birth certificate on the Company's notice board.😄

[@cyrilhanson9774]

Did n s in Cyprus 1956 rasc famagusta

[@dougstevens4726]

4 mile point sand soccer pitch

[@jackmundo4043]

Please, give me a break. Probably denied him his tea break too.

[@newellaorbana]

You are a natural slave.

[@brianbailey9257]

He was upset cos his mummy could not be there to look after him

[@ghughesarch]

less of a mummy's boy than you

[@rogueriderhood1862]

More likely his nanny!

[@somyod2u]

Not long before he died, Brian Sewell found out that the man he always thought of as his father, in fact, wasn't . It seems that his mother was, what is now referred to as a ' free spirit '. His real father was Peter Warlock ( Philip Heseltine ) the composer of a popular ( popular with lovers of music, that is ) piece of music known as ' The Capriol Suite ". It can be heard here on YT.

[@turnitback]

Prat.

[@newellaorbana]

You are a natural slave.

[@martinclarke3028]

Ponce suppose he missed his mom

[@lameduck3630]

Do I detect you're a repressed homosexual?

[@martinclarke3028]

ducks na no sausage jockey

[@gerrysmith7031]

Probably more resilient than yourself has ever been

[@newellaorbana]

You are a natural slave.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Many ‘hard case’ was reduced to tears.

[@MrDavey2010]

Where did he get such a ridiculous accent from? Can’t be real.

[@Shcreamingreen]

Good breeding. You may not be acquaintanced with it, hence the word "ridiculous".

[@MrDavey2010]

@@Shcreamingreen Explain the connection twixt the two, pray.

[@fordpopular8792]

Couldn't stand the man