Bull Billets Bedtime
Much of an Apprentice’s time, in the early months, was spent in the billet. This was due to the inordinate amount of “bull” that was required, not only on his personal and Service items, but also on the billet itself and its surrounds. The lads became familiar with alien objects such as ‘bumpers’ and orange polish for the floors, Blanco, metal polish and irons ( & brown paper) for uniforms, washing powder etc. And they soon discovered the magic cleaning properties of spit. Some started their time in a wooden hut but, in time, all were billeted in a purpose-built block like the one below. Entries had their own blocks and senior entries used to stage raids on the junior entry blocks, destroying all the hard work that had gone into ‘bull nights’.
Standard attire for an evening in the billet was service-issue pyjamas, service-issue underpants (known as shreddies) or a towel wrapped round the waist. For a change, you could “mix & match” various items of uniform with the afore mentioned clothing.
Young Apprentices eagerly awaiting their turn on the bumper
Apart from bulling, there was major emphasis on personal hygeine and house keeping. The first thing you had to do was learn how to make a bed pack out of your sheets and blankets, organise your lockers and bed space to a predefined layout and present the whole lot for inspection EVERY DAY.
Bull, Billets, Mucking About
The intense hard labour often affected the sanity of apprentices, sometimes resulting in delusions of grandeur!
Now, which hat shall I wear……..
Freedom of Weston Super Mare — Parade 1963
….and time for some quiet meditation……
A selection of photos appears on this page. To see all photos in this category, go to the photo gallery.
Billets Photographs
Bull Night in the billet
10 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
More Billet Photographs
Bull Night in the billet – messing about
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Ready for Bull Night in the billet
10 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Ready for Bull Night in the billet
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Dai Rees trying on one of the caps from his vast collection
1 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Bored apprentices messing about with a mock coffin
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Another mad evening
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
The hole's still There!
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
It's a n'ole
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Having a lark!
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Ready for a day's learning
10 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Ron decides to take the hat recommendation seriously
7 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Norman Butcher, with guitar and friends
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Do you think anyone will notice our escape plan?
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
More bored apprentices messing about with a locker
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
…..Mick decides otherwise
5 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Billet window seat
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Is he with you?
6 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Clean sheets
2 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Having a rest on Bull Night in the billet
4 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Still Can't Sing!!
3 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Outside F Block
7 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Who's got the hat?
6 men identified · hover a name to find him in the photograph
Additional Billet Snapshots
Larger Group Photos (names listed, not individually marked)
A few more billet moments live on only as captions — no surviving photograph was found to go with these names:
What's it like to be normal? — Jim White, Dai Rees
Relaxing in the bike shed — Dave Shepley, Snowy White, Bob Machin, Norman Butcher
Billet poser — Alan Reynolds, Chris Waller
Woody, Monty and Mike outside the block — Mike Chard, Howard (Monty) Montague, Woody Woodward