Information contributed by his son, Ron YOUNGMAN ex-RAF

2549043 Apprentice Tradesman F.R. YOUNGMAN served his Army Apprenticeship at Arborfield, entering with intake 44A. His time there was disrupted when Arborfield became a temporary base used in the preparations for the D-Day landings.

Historical note: The 'dispersal' took place at the time when the Invasion Forces were assembling for the Normandy landings; the School was evacuated and Arborfield became a concentration area for troops. Beginning on 17^th April 1944 Colonel White's command was dispersed in detachments to Aldershot, Ashton-under-Lyne, Ashford (Kent), Bury (Twocross), Chilwell, Donnington, Greenford, Gopsall Hall (near Nuneaton), Old Dalby, Sevenoaks and Woolwich. The Aldershot detachment of 115 Apprentices continued their trade training at 13 Command Workshops. Only 67 returned to Arborfield. Of the remainder, 29 had already passed their trade tests and were awaiting postings.

(Ref: "History of the Army Technical Foundation College" by Captain (retired) D.B. Richards. The full text can be read on the Arborfield Old Boys Association Website)

Fred Passed Out of AAS in February 1947 and was posted in the first instance to Blackdown, Hampshire.

From Blackdown he was posted to 1 Central Workshops REME in Middlesex. He was later posted overseas and spent a fair amount of time at Tobruk, Port Said and Suez. The period that really sticks in his mind is when he was with a Vehicle Inspection Team at Tel-el-Kabir. His vivid recollection that he had a dreadful time there because the nature of his duties for some reason made the VIT personnel disliked immensely by the other troops. I think he still has nightmares about that period of his Service.

Post-WWII postings

circa 1957 - Feb 1959: Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland.

Mar 1959 - Dec 1960: Houndstone Camp, Yoevil.

Dec 1960 - Jan 1962: Pembroke Dock.

Jan 1962 - Jul 1963: Hamm, BAOR.

Sep 1963 - Mar 1966: Gillman Barracks, Singapore.

Jun 1966 - Aug 1968: 23 Tank Transporter Squadron, Sennelager, BAOR.

Aug 1968 - Mar 1980: SEME, Bordon, Hampshire.

Period of Regular Service: 22 years with the colours.

Rank on discharge: WOII (AQMS)

Names Remembered

RSM McNALLY (son of RSM McNALLY, Scots Guards, of AAS Arborfield)

ISHERWOOD, from AAS Arborfield

Lesley HOI Sang, who went on to take a commission

Anthony DAW

'Digger' BANE, an Australian, who was shot at and wounded in Egypt. During his convalescence he took up embroidery, which later won prizes at the Welsh Eisteddfod.

Retirement

Fred now lives at Belvedere in Kent, just outside S.E. London. He can be contacted by old mates in the first instance through his son Ron who lives in Bayswater North, Victoria, Australia.