RASC 74 Coy 1951-52

As Remembered By Alan Wedgbury

TONY TRIM - REMEMBERED

I was interested to see a photograph of the 74 Company RASC Football Team 1952-54. I too played football for 74 Coy from 1951-52, but in June of 1952, I was posted from 74 Coy to HQ British Troops in Egypt. How the team had changed and I only recognised three people in the photograph – Captain Routledge, Sgt Page and the goalkeeper, Tony Trim – who was the goalkeeper when I played. In fact, as the Chief Clerk of 74 Coy, Tony Trim was my driver of the Company Office 15 cwt truck.

One day as we were just about to depart the company lines with a sackful of mail to be delivered to the Army Post Office in Moascar Garrison, a young soldier came to me and asked if I would take a letter for him to be posted. The mail sack had already been sealed so I kept the letter on my lap. On arrival at the post office I got out of the truck but the letter fell to the floor and I did not notice that I had dropped it. Several minutes later Tony Trim came into the post office and gave me the letter, and returned to his vehicle.

Almost immediately he came back to me and said “Hey Corporal, the RMP’s have nicked my truck!” I won’t tell you what my response was! We made our way to the end of the Mall where the RMP’s had the company lines which we strolled through without being challenged, and saw our vehicle parked right in the middle of the barrack square. The key was in the ignition so we got in and started to make our way out of the barracks. At the exit we were stopped by a very young – and officious – Lance Corporal who made me sign for the vehicle, and said that suitable charge sheets would be sent to our company.

Several days later Tony Trim and I appeared in front of our Officer Commanding and suitably charged. The O.C. was Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) R.V. Hatherley – who was perhaps one of the best officers I ever served with in my 22 years service. Tony Trim and I were both ‘Admonished’ and after a period of three months without any further charge being brought against us, the charge sheets were torn up, and our slates wiped clean.

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