1-Leaflet-History Army Apprentice

A potted history of the first Army Apprentice scheme 1900 - 2004
1900
Up to 1923, trade apprentices (boys) were taught within Corps establishments, usually within the
AOC/RAOC Ordnance College at Woolwich. Trades taught there were armourer, wheelwright,
painter, leather-worker, plasterer, blacksmith and the gun & carriage trades.
1923
After WW1 it was difficult to recruit sufficient tradesmen for the Army’s needs. In response, the War
Office set up on September 25th 1923, the Central Training School at Aldershot to increase the formal
training of the Army’s young tradesmen. These were to be trained also as soldiers, given further
education and great opportunities for sport. On completing their apprenticeships they would
become fully trained soldier-tradesmen of Regular Army units, ready to serve worldwide.
1924
The first dedicated apprentice school was the Boys’ Technical School, opened at Chepstow on 28th
February 1924 (The first intake moving from the CTS Aldershot)). In 1929, it changed its name to
Army Technical School (Boys). This was followed in 1936 by Bramley (Closed 1939) and then Hilsea.
In 1938 Jersey opened but closed in 1940 just before the Nazi invasion. Arborfield opened in 1939.
Other apprentice training did exist, for varying periods. This included Woolwich in early years, also
at Chatham, Aldershot, Catterick and Deepcut, usually within Corps control.
1947
After WW2, apprentice training was centered around Army Technical Schools at Chepstow and
Arborfield, although a number were still trained within Corps establishments such as RAOC, RAMC,
RAPC and ACC. Harrogate opened in 1947 and Carlisle in 1960. These four locations became
named as the ‘Army Apprentices School’.
In 1947, a number of Army Apprentices started training at a fifth establishment at Taunton but this was
closed in 1949, most transferring to Chepstow and Arborfield.
To meet the need for tradesmen and technicians, a wide and varied range of trades were taught. These
were initially craft trades but later trades included the maintenance and repair of complex modern
electronic equipments including guided weapons and aircraft of the Army Air Corps. The first female
apprentices were admitted in September 1994.
2004
On Friday 13th August 2004, the last college at Arborfield closed, marking the end of over a century
of the formal Army Apprenticeship Training scheme where trainees were ranked as 'Apprentice
Tradesman’ in the British Army.
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Summary
The early Army Apprentice Scheme trained over 70,000 soldier-tradesmen between 1900 and 2004.
The early apprentices were trained within Corps establishments wearing the appropriate cap badge. In
1923 the War Office centralised the training of the majority of the craft apprentices, wearing the badge
of their Corps or the GSC badge. In 1947 the War Office re-badged the majority of the apprentices with
their own badge ‘Army Apprentices School’, later ‘Army Apprentices College’, and in 1966 re-badging
them back into Corps control appropriate to the chosen trade.
Their value to the British Army was considerable. They subsequently served in the technical Corps of
the RA, RAOC, RE, RAMC, RAC, R Sigs, RASC, REME, RAPC, ACC, RADC, RCT, & RLC.
Many went on to long term postings to every regiment and support unit of the British Army, in every
theatre of war and peace. Many went on to be commissioned as officers, a number distinguished
themselves by reaching the rank of Major General.
This Apprentice scheme should not be confused with the present day modern Apprenticeship scheme
open to all serving soldiers, achieving an NVQ and a military qualification.
Known Apprentice Training locations 1900-2004 (All badges)
Army Apprentice training was conducted at various locations including Aldershot, Arborfield,
Ashvale, Bramley, Carlisle, Catterick, Chatham, Chepstow, Church Crookham, Deepcut,
Harrogate, Hilsea, Jersey, Taunton, Woolwich and Worthy Down.
Time-line of the principle schools & colleges
Chepstow (Beachley)
1924
1929
1947
1966 - June
1994- June
Opened as the Boys' Technical School with boys joining from the Central
Training School, Aldershot.
Name changed to Army Technical School (Boys).
Name change to Army Apprentices School and new AAS badge adopted.
Name changed to Army Apprentices College and apprentices rebadged to
their future Corps - RE, RAOC and RCT.
Closure of College.
Arborfield
1939 - May
Opened as the second Army Technical School (Boys) with boys transferring
from Hilsea, Jersey, Bramley, Didcot and Chepstow, also from Catterick
in 1943. Badged RAOC followed by GSC. Those destined for REME were
rebadged after its formation in 1942.
1947 - August Name changed to Army Apprentices School and new AAS badge adopted.
1966
Name changed to Army Apprentices College and apprentices rebadged to
REME who took control of it from the War Office .
1981 -May
Name changed to Princess Marina College.
1985
REME apprentices were joined by RAMC /RADC apprentices
1994 - Sept
The first female apprentices are admitted.
1995 - Aug
Name changed back to Army Apprentices College.
1997
REME apprentices were joined by incoming R Sigs apprentices.
1998
They were joined by RE and RLC apprentices.
2000 - Sept
Name changed to Army Technical Foundation College with RE, R Sigs,
REME and RLC sub-units.
2004- Aug
Closure of College and end of the young Army Apprenticeship scheme.
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Harrogate
1947
1961
1966
1972
1996
Opened as the Army Apprentices School with AAS badge.
R Sigs trades only.
Name changed to Army Apprentices College and rebadged to R Sigs who
took control of it from the War Office.
Granted Freedom of the Borough of Harrogate.
Closure of College.
Carlisle (Hadrian)
1960
1966
1969
Opened as the Army Apprentices School with AAS badge
Name changed to Army Apprentices College and rebadged to REME
who took control of it from the War Office.
Closure of College
Please note: This time line has been culled from a number of sources and is an attempt to show a true
record. Please let the Webmaster know if there are any glaring inaccuracies.
Present day Army Apprenticeships
The Army Technical Foundation College is for the initial military training of a soldier and it provides the
foundation for any new young soldier who wishes to do a trade apprenticeship in a technical Corps of the
Army. This should not be confused with the earlier trade apprenticeship scheme associated with the
members of the sponsoring associations of this memorial project where the rank of the individual was
designated ‘Apprentice Tradesman’.
www.armyapprenticememorial.org.uk