Erks on Parade: A Humorous Look at the Life of an RAF Airman in the 1950s

Wise, Graham

ISBN 10: 184683063X / ISBN 13: 9781846830631

Published by Woodfield Publishing Ltd, 2008

About this Item

Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned.

Seller Inventory # rev7116649000

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Erks on Parade: A Humorous Look at the Life of an RAF Airman in the 1950s
• Publisher: Woodfield Publishing Ltd
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184683063X
• ISBN 13: 9781846830631
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 200 grams

About this title

Synopsis

In this delightful romp through the past, Graham Wise and cartoonist Roy Yates take us on a cheeky jaunt down memory lane, painting a picture of the quintessential ‘Erk’—the regular bloke serving in the Royal Air Force during the not-so-swingin’ 1950s. Ah, the fifties! A time when every young British lad over 18 was handed a one-way ticket to two years of National Service—whether he liked it or not. Of course, some wise guys opted to go regular, signing up for a minimum three-year stint. At least that way, they got to pick which service to join and maybe even snag a decent trade. Not that it made much difference in the end; whether you were a 'regular' or a 'conscript', you were still thrown into the deep end with the harsh realities of military life. Picture this: fresh-faced boys, just out of school and straight from the comforts of home, suddenly faced with the spartan conditions of postwar training camps. Talk about a culture shock! Who could forget the sheer joy of being ‘kitted-out’ in their first uniform, or the dreaded ‘bull nights’, ‘kit inspections’, and the infamous square-bashing — all under the eagle eye of the terrifying Corporal Drill Instructors? It was like being thrust into a horror film. Once they’d survived the initiation rites of passage, it was time to move on, learn their trades, and finally get shipped off to their first posting — where they could actually put into practice all that hard-earned knowledge on active service.  Wise and Yates capture all of this with a wit and nostalgia that will have veterans from that era grinning in recognition. It’s a trip down memory lane for anyone who’s ever proudly worn the uniform, evoking a sense of camaraderie and shared experience that could only come from being there in person. An entertaining read for anyone who remembers the good old days of the RAF!