Unit History: Army Apprentice College Carlisle

During 1959 the fourth Army Apprentices  School, at Carlisle, was opened. The direct effect upon the three sister Schools was one of reallocation of trades. Arborfield lost Armourer, Fitter and Fitter Gun, and expanded the trades that remained. The first entry into Hadrian’s Camp, Carlisle, was in January 1960, 205 from Arborfield plus 87 new boys, joining the permanent staff of civilian instructors and officers already in situ. Arborfield received 57 new Electrician apprentices, the overall result being a drop in numbers to 700. Thus, the new Commandant, Colonel R.F. Legh, O.B.E., (late R.A.) took over a slightly depleted School. Voluntary activities were introduced during the spring term of 1960 to enable apprentices to do something of their own choice in spare leisure time. This is an astonishing thing to have to record when one thinks of the multifarious leisure activities available nowadays.