Artificer (Tiffy) training begins! Finally left the comforts of home and in late 1962 I finally joined the Royal Navy as an Artificer apprentice stationed on the south west coast of the UK. Artificers were “affectionately” known as a Tiffy or Tiffies by the other parts of the Royal Navy
As mentioned previously the initial period of training was supposed to be one year but myself and 3 others from our entry of 150 only had to do 9 months because of our academic prowess. Most unexpected in my case.
“September 1961
Accelerator scheme introduced. Suitably qualified and bright apprentices are now able to complete their training in only two terms of accelerated training instead of the usual three.”
Initial training consisted mainly of cleaning everything that was static. Early morning drills. Lots of exercise, all designed to instill discipline and to make us part of a team. A couple of the new recruits had already gone by the end of the first month, basically homesick. If I remember we had the option to leave before the end of the first 3 months. After that we were committed to 12 years service from the age of 18.
Our uniform was blues belts and gaiters for the first few months.
You may be able to see nametags on the left side of the chest. When I joined we had to sew our surnames on all our clothes in red cotton, that was a real pain. My only consolation was that the name I had changed to by deed poll was somewhat shorter than my birth name!
When cooler we wore blue jumpers.
The rest of the training was to determine our practical skills, metal work, electronics etc. The most successful of the trainees had their pick of which branch of the Royal Navy they wanted to serve in from EA (Electrical Artificer) ERA (Engine Room Artificer) etc and the elite that everyone wanted to enter was the Fleet Air Arm as AA (Aircraft Artificers) specialising in airframes and engines. That is what I applied for and was selected. We were now to get the uniforms we had been dreaming of, with gold buttons!
We were all looking forward to the passing out parade and to moving on to our new bases. However, just prior to to the passing out parade basic training was completed by 3 days of self sufficiency in the highest mountains in the west of England, that went by reasonably well although I injured my leg abseiling down a cliff face and on return to the “ship I had to spend a week in sick bay for the injuries to recover. I badgered the doctor to let me out for the passing out parade as my mother and half sister had travelled down to see me. Despite his reservations the doctor reluctantly allowed me to attend my passing out parade.
A week in bed and then standing for long periods do not go well together. I was the star of the passing out parade, passing out, apparently at attention breaking my nose and blacking both eyes. So it was back to the sick bay for running repairs before I was allowed to join my mother and half sister at their hotel before returning home for 3 weeks leave at the guest house.
After the leave I was to join another concrete ship (Naval air station) for phase two of my training.
