1924 CHEPSTOW-FIRST INTAKE

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 gun & carriage trades.

After WW1 it was difficult to recruit enough tradesmen for the Army’s needs. In response, the War Office set up a scheme to increase the formal training of all the Army’s young apprentices.

The apprentices 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 the Regular Army, ready to serve with the Colours worldwide.

The first dedicated apprentice school was the Boys’ Technical School, opened at Chepstow on 28th February 1924 (Assembled at Aldershot in 1923). In 1929, the name was changed 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 before the Nazi invaision. 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 jurisdiction.

After the end of 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. They became named and badged Army Apprentices School.

In 1947, a number of Army Apprentices started training at a new establishment at Taunton but this was closed in 1949, most transferring to Chepstow and Arborfield.

To meet the need for skilled tradesmen and technicians, a wide and varied range of trades were taught. These were initially mainly craft trades but later trades included the maintenance of highly complex modern electronic equipments including guided weapons and the aircraft of the Army Air Corps. The first female apprentices were admitted in September 1994

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 designated as 'Apprentice Tradesman' in the British Army.

The early Army Apprentice Scheme trained over 70,000 soldier-tradesmen between 19oo and 2004. The earlier 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 rebadged the majority of the apprentices with their own badge 'Army Apprentices School', later 'Army Apprentices College', rebadging them in 1966, back into the Corps control appropriate to the chosen trade. Their value to the British Army was considerable. They subsequently served as members of technical Corps such as the RA, RE, RAOC, RAMC, RAC, R Sigs, RASC, REME, ACC, RAPC, RADC, RCT, & RLC. Many went on to long term postings and attachments 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 scheme should not be confused with the present day modern Apprenticeship scheme open to all serving soldiers, achieving an NVQ and a military qualification.