17 Port Training Regt

This is just a holding page for this unit until I get more info.  Meanwhile please use it to add your work history if you need to, thanks

Comments

PLAYED FOR SECOND TEAM.AND A COUPLE FOR THE FIRST TEAM,REMEMBER HORSFIELD FROM BIRMINGHAM,HE WAS A PRO.
KIETH HARRISON FROM YORSHIRE GUITARIST

I arrived in Marchwood in 1961 after my basic training in Aldershot. I joined 52 squadron as a training lighterman ( I didn’t even know what one was until I arrived in Marchwood) but took to it right away, our training took us on craft like the Triest ( a steam tug ) The MFV ( a wooden x trawler) and two or three diesel tugs along with the Lighters ( barge’s which was just vessels to carry cargo which were towed by the tugs)
17 Port Regiment was made up of 51 squadron Stevedores 52 Squadron Lighterman 53 Squadron marine engineers and crane operators HQ Squadron permanent staff we also had train drivers in camp
After passing my B 3 lighterman I did my B3 stevedores course before being posted to 10 port squadron in Singapore
Whilst in Singapore we was rebadged to the Royal Corps of Transport ( about 1964/5 )

It was whilst in my lighterman training we used to help with the testing for the first types of Hover crafts by towing them out to sea away from prying eyes while they tried them out we also tested pontoons out by connecting them together in different conditions and wave conditions
Also we had the first RPL (ramp powered lighter ) it could only carry one tank or 4 Bedford RLs.