The Fighting Tenth
Boxing in the RASC /RCT and holders of the Hemming Belt
The Hemming belt is an Amateur Boxing award presented to the most outstanding boxer in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Then following the "McLeod Report" in July 1965 much of the RASC was incorporated into a new Corps called the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT). The Hemming Belt continued to be presented but now to the most outstanding boxer in the RCT. The presentation of the award was made during the RASC/RCT Corps week.
Recruits from Blenheim Barracks Aldershot were posted to 15 Training Battalion RASC to complete their trade training. Some recruits were very good boxers Major Hemming a keen boxer himself wanted to utilise the skill of these young men and the boxing team was formed late in 1955.
The team had 25 Boxers, 1st string and 2nd string some of the boxers were 2 years National Servicemen, the others regulars on 3 or more year engagement. Lcpl Alf McGinnes passed out after his basic training and was preparing for a posting to Korea.
During his second week of Embarkation leave Alf was informed to report back to Blandford Camp as he was selected as 1st string Light /Welter weight (9stone 7lbs to 10 stone).
Alf a good organiser assisted in coaching and getting the boxers fit. During his first season 1955/06 produced a championship team that won the Army Team Boxing Championship a wonderful achievement. The Battalion continued it’s boxing having contests with civilian boxing clubs all over Britain, North Wales, Isle of Wight. A lot of shows were also against different Regiments, such as the Kings Own, REME, RAOC, Etc , Etc.
Major Hemming the boxing officer produced a trophy for the best boxer in the battalion. Alf knew all the 15 Trn Bn boxers Pte Jack Harper later promoted to Cpl was from Fleetwood Blackpool, Albert Hardy from Doncaster Dvr Foot and L/Cpl Elderfield Alf rated these boxers highly.
Alf now in his 70 born 24/09/36 remembers a team boxer Kenny Lynch who was a top singer with a number one hit in the charts (On the Roof) he also did a lot of TV shows
Alf started Boxing in the year of 1947 at the age of 11yrs and finished in the year of 1962, He boxed for Mayflower ABC, 15 Battalion RASC, and the Army. Following his discharge from the army he left the Amateur ranks and trained Professional Boxers
In 1993 The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed by an amalgamation of the RCT, RAOC, RPC, ACC and Postal and Courier elements of the RE and the Royal Corps of Transport ceased to exist.
The Hemming Belt has not been presented to any RLC boxer. I wonder why? Does history cease to exist because a number of Corps join together. I don’t think so, surely the RLC should not have stopped this traditional event for whatever reason. I am very concerned that a trophy like the Hemming Belt should be locked away in some cupboard. It’s a shame because there have been some great individual boxers who have missed out on having themselves included in a bit of Boxing History. I would love to see this trophy re-emerge again and continue to be presented to outstanding boxers within the RLC.
As a parting gift, Major Hemming presented this trophy to the RASC in 1956. It is a leather belt with gold and silver badge attached and smaller silver nameplates around the side. It is a very impressive award encased in a wooden, glass topped trophy box.
The first presentation of the trophy was to Pte Harper 15 Training Battalion (Trg Bn) RASC Blandford, Dorset in 1956. Boxers from 15 Trg Bn RASC were holders of the trophy for the following 3 years, 1957, 58 and 59. Blandford was the place to be if you were a boxer in the Corps in those days.
Later 15 Trg Bn RASC disbanded and many elements moved to 6 Trg Bn RASC in Yeovil. Driver (Dvr) Mallon was awarded the trophy in 1960. Then there was a lull in Regular RASC boxing, I am not sure but it probably was due to National Service ending. The Hemming Belt was still competed for but now the Territorial Army (TA) managed to get into the act.
1961 the trophy went to Dvr Warrick a top amateur in the TA. I remember Warrick; he was good, I think he turned professional later that year. 1962/1963 no boxer was awarded the trophy. In 1964 another TA boxer held the trophy Dvr McHugh.
During 1962 Colonel (Bill) Grierson MM took over command of 6 Trg Bn and was keen on sport. He didn’t like to see the trainee soldiers going down to the local pub the "Chippies" (Carpenters Arms) with the Woman’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) girls and getting drunk. He wanted to utilise the soldiers’ time better. So Physical Training (PT) was the order of the day. At around 1600 to 2000 hrs each day everyone, trainees and permanent staff officers and Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) attended sporting sessions. Non sports people did the basic PT and then had to attend one of the special classes that was being introduced. For example car repairs model making, typing and a host of other activities. Inter troop boxing, assault race, cross county race, potted sports and gymnastics were the big show of the week that was held on the Saturday morning. The inter troop boxing came up with some good boxers and it was decided to start up a new 6 Trg Bn boxing team. By Feb 1963 I arrived for my Driver Training. I was quickly drafted into the boxing team and in 1965 was awarded the Hemming belt for the first of my four times. In 1966 Wally Bruce won the trophy for his achievement of being selected to box for Scotland. The following three years 1967, 68 and 69 I was awarded the belt again.
In 1970 Cpl T Baker was awarded the trophy and I believe he was an army champion. I cannot remember this boxer at all.
I served in 63 Sqn RCT with Lieutenant Frank Collinson who was a very good boxer and officer, Frank held the trophy in 1971 and 72 and was an army light welterweight champion.
1973 was the first year that a 10 Regt RCT boxer was awarded the Hemming Belt Trophy. The Regiment then was awarded it every year with the exception of 1982 and 1992. A total of 18 years in all is a tremendous achievement. Listed below is how it all started and how 10 Regt RCT went on to win the coveted Army Boxing "King's Shield".
Whilst I was serving in 63 Para Sqn RCT 1971 there was a buzz on the grape vine that 10 Regt RCT was setting up a major unit boxing team. They were going to take on the big guys for the BAOR unit boxing title and once they won that title they were then going for the Army Inter Team Boxing award the "King's Shield." I remember thinking to myself that this was an ambitious task. When I was at 6 Trg Regt we had a very good boxing team during the middle 1960 but never won the Army Inter unit Team Championship; we were always pipped at the post. Not that the likes of the Para's, Green Jackets, and the Kings Regt were any better than us boxing wise, but they seemed to out think our management team. The major units had the experience and they knew how best to match their boxers against ours. Winning this type of tournament required management tact and skill. There were eleven bouts to be contested, the winning team would be the team with the most wins. The opposition would find out all the strengths and weaknesses of a team and used their best permutation to win the most bouts. I remember, when boxing a "Team championship" match, meeting a complete novice who probably had never boxed before the tournament started. The opposition was not prepared to put their best boxers against me if they thought there was a chance of losing. Of course this type of thing is illegal now and to the extreme, however, it did happen. That was in the 1960’s, now much stricter controls have been put in place and a novice boxer would be matched with one of equal ability. (I think. There are some wicked folk still about).
Although I thought their aim was too ambitious, 10 Regt RCT proved that they were the strongest boxing unit from the middle 1972 through the rest of the 70’s all through the 80’s and 90’s. They reached the finals of the Major Unit Team Boxing Championships on five consecutive occasions. They were the Major Unit Team Boxing Champions for three consecutive years, lost on the fourth occasion to the Green Jackets, then, regained the championship from the Green Jackets on the fifth occasion to win the King’s Trophy four times. In fact 1977 was the last time 10 Regt RCT were allowed to compete for the Team Championships. The reason given was because of the Regiment’s commitment to Northern Ireland. I think however, there was a lot of jealousy from the major units. They refused to enter the championships whilst 10 Regt entered a team. This was the start of the demise of the "Team Championship." With no 10 Regt there was the ridiculous situation of the 1 Queens with no opposition winning the trophy three consecutive times. Following them the 1 Kings re-emerged winning three consecutive times without a fight because there were no major units entering for the competition. This did not stop 10 Regt, who entered the Individual Championships and dominated the army’s representative teams. They produced army boxing champions, Combined Services Champions and ABA champions. They also produced England and Commonwealth Games representatives.
I am pleased to say that eventually I was posted to 10 Regt and watched them on the day they won the Army Team trophy for the first time in 1973 and I helped them win it again in 1974. Although to be honest I was a bit worried about 10 Regt. In the late sixties and before boxing started 10 Regt was always looked upon as being a punishment posting.
It all started late 1970 Lt. Colonel R E L Jenkins (now Brigadier retired) was the Commanding Officer of 10 Regt RCT. It was his intention that the Regiment should have a reputation as a strong contender in some sporting activity to enhance unit pride. As he stated at the time "Even if it was only Tiddlywinks!" The Regiment had been strong in soccer players but this was now in decline. He looked at his assets; Gary Fuller, Dave Flynn, one or two other boxers and a keen adjutant (Alistair Adams). He decided to use Gary Fuller on Boxing and enlisted Peter Blunt to help acquire boxers. Brigadier Peter Blunt MBE, GM and FCIT (now Major General retired) at the time he was a Corps Commander RCT, 1 British Corps. They were both determined to enter 10 Regt RCT into the Major Units Boxing Championships. They surely could not have known at the time but their thoughts and ideas were going to be the foundation of a successful Regimental boxing team for the next twenty years.
10 Regt RCT could not have achieved any of this without their Commanding Officers supporting and providing the expertise, firstly to initially set up the infrastructure and then to continue supporting boxing for the following decades.
Gary Fuller was a Staff Sergeant Instructor (SSI) and his job was the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) for the Regiment. He had a good boxing pedigree and was a very good organiser and coach as his record shows. Gary had a wonderful sporting career. He was an Army Boxing Champion, Imperial Services Champion, ABA finalist, represented the Army and Great Britain at boxing and Basketball and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1974.
Gary Fuller never did win the Hemming Belt, that's because he was Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) I am sure he would have had the Hemming Belt presented to him a number of times if he had been a RCT Corps man. Although not a RCT Corps man Gary was 10 Regt through and through.
Unfortunately most of the boxers he had in the Regiment at that time were not much better than novices. They were very keen boxers but if pitched against the likes of the Kings Regt would be hammered 11 bouts to nil. What was needed was a strategic plan of action, Gary put this to Lt Col Jenkins and between them they agreed on the best way forward to get a team together to match the likes of all the big major units, however, this would take time.
His first task was to get this bunch of novice boxers to a standard that could win the BAOR Trophy and he had the blessing from Lt Col Jenkins and CC RCT 1 BR Corps. During that first season 10 Regt were beaten in the finals of the BAOR by the Green Jackets a laudable result but not good enough. Something had to be done to improve the boxing team.
Gary knew this was going to be a very difficult task, he was aware there were some very good boxers still around, but they were all in different units. The policy in the Corps was that one unit could not approach another unit and ask for a soldier to be posted to them for whatever reason. This was called poaching and it was really frowned upon. However, in the background there was some wheeling and dealing to get these boxers into 10 Regt, all legal of course and top class boxers started to arrive in 10 Regt.
I said Gary was a good organizer, within nine months just about all the Corp’s best boxers from the various units in England and Germany were skipping to the sounds of jungle music in the fully equipped boxing gymnasium. Gary now had a promising team. Through his contacts, who acted as scouts in the various depot Regiments, there was help to identify potential boxers and get the word out that 10 Regt was the place to be. Gary set up training schedules for every individual boxer, skill levels were recorded to see how we could best match the opposing teams. Photographs and dossiers on the opposing boxers’ history were collected. His strategy was to match our best against their best, first of all we needed to be fitter than them and he made sure we kept to the correct type of diet. To say he was a disciplinarian is a little harsh because if you did not put in the effort yourself you would find yourself out of the team. The boxing team worked very hard and Gary worked very hard at the management of us. Gary had an open door policy with the CO and although many did not realise it he also had an open door policy with the CC and he used it many times when the administration needed sorting out.
Lt. Col Lee took over from Lt. Col Jenkins; the foundations were now in place and Lt.Col Lee, a very keen sportsman himself, carried on and took 10 Regt to the top, their best years being 1972 to 1977. (Lt. Col Lee and Gary Fuller are in the 10 Regt Reunion photograph; the two stood at the back of the picture on the right of the back row.)
BAOR champions 1972,73,74,75 76 and 77 Army Inter Units Team Champions 1973,74,75 and 77
From 1972 10 Regt RCT became the big boxing unit. They dominated boxing right up to 1992, Ted Dublin, Zak Rene, Steve Johnson, Micky Gannon (later MBE) and Neil McCallum (later MBE) all held the Hemming Belt trophy Steve Johnson was awarded the trophy a record five times, Neil McCallum and myself four times (see list). Since 1993 the trophy has not been presented
Inter Unit Team championship boxing was a great sport, boxers worked together supporting each other. They trained hard and dedicated themselves to the task in hand, which was to win the tournament as a team for the Regiment. There were all sorts of characters in the team, everyone was treated the same and they all had the same value in the team. Some boxers were of international class, some army class and some just up and coming youngsters. They all pulled together there were no Prima Donnas. Obviously there was some professional rivalry but if it got too serious we had a bank of special tasks from Fuller’s box of magic tricks. Matching some of the tasks really brought you down to earth and put your feet firmly on the ground. Many of the boxers were very good team men they gave everything to the Regiment, however, it never seemed the same when they were selected for the army. Of course it is a great honour for anyone to be selected to box for the army. I worked very hard to prove myself at army and international level and I was successful. I believe every 10 Regt boxer who boxed for the army gave the same commitment.
10 Regt had a great following, the soldiers of the Regiment gave us tremendous support cheering us and encouraging our efforts. They were part of the team and many wanted to help in any way they could. An example was when Lt. Col Lee took the whole Regiment to Berlin to support the boxers for the BAOR Team Boxing Championship. Every single supporter was a credit to the Regiment they were disciplined and proud of their boxing team and didn’t want to bring disrespect to 10 Regt. When they were posted to another army district, any good information they could get from the area they would pass on to us. On another occasion Bunny Rea who was a SSI with the Royal Signals and a very good boxer, offered to act as a Second assistant assisting Dave Flynn in the corner. I knew Dave Flynn in 6 Trg Bn in Yeovil although a keen all rounder, his main interest was coaching. During 10 Regt’s first two boxing seasons, although fairly long in the tooth he was prevailed upon to put on the gloves and fight. Dave never had the Hemming Belt presented to him, however, he had coached quite a few of the guys who did and I am sure the 10 Regt holders of the Hemming Belt trophy will agree that Dave contributed something towards them gaining the trophy. Les Gearing and Barry (Bones) Blundred were good boxers and it was natural that they should progress on to coaching, Les and Bones did a great job assisting the team. All Corps boxers’ hopes were that they should have the Hemming Belt presented to them. Some very good boxers, who were nominated, did not achieve the honour. Jimmy McMahon, was a tremendously strong boxer who had a great boxing career representing the army from the early 1960’s. Micky Hinchcliffe, a stylish middleweight, junior champion and an excellent team boxer. Bob Dyer welterweight, never took a backward step we could always rely on Bob to churn out a win. Seamus O’Callaghan and Les Lawton great stylish boxers, Vince Rollock, Brian Yemm, John Dwyer fiery Phil Lewis and Mick Hitchin just to name a few who were all very good army and 10 Regt team boxers. Over the years there has been many very good 10 Regt boxers who have not been named, if they read this I hope they do not take offence that I have not included them in the article. As a result of everyone’s efforts 10 Regiment RCT became a top-sporting Regiment in the British army.
Boxing is a seasonal sport and during the boxing season the boxers missed a lot of army duties. This deficit was made up during the close season where boxers had to carry out normal military duties including tours in Northern Ireland. In order that their army career did not suffer, advancement in military or trade skills was completed during the close season. Many of them were very good soldiers anyway and they worked hard to get on in their army careers. Dave Flynn was commissioned, Gannon, McCallum and Mason all eventually joined the APTC and became Army boxing coaches. Many of the others reached the rank of SNCO, these achievements were as a result of their hard work.
I think because we were such good friends it was inevitable that a reunion would eventually take place. It did and our very first Fighting Tenth reunion was held at a hotel in Barnsley. Due to the success of that first reunion Vince Rollock and Brian Yemm arranged another again in Barnsley. From that meeting it was agreed that there should be a reunion every two years and open to all 10 Regt who supported us. The last two reunions have been organised by Mick Gannon in Portsmouth. Hopefully our next reunion will be in 2003, Brian Yemm has agreed that he help organise the next one. (Date and place yet to be organised).
If interested contact Brian Yemm Tel work 01623 514602 home 442546, Mick Gannon or myself.
Colin Booth, A Team, Driver Training Wing, Defence School of Transport
Leconfield East Yorkshire HU17 7LX e-mail ajbooth@ajbooth.karoo.co.uk
Web Page www.ajbooth.karoo.net
This is a complete list of boxers who have held the trophy I have included some photographs and cuttings
1956-Pte Harper 15 Trg Bn RASC
1957-Dvr Hardy 15 Trg Bn RASC
1958-Dvr Foot 15 Trg Bn RASC
1959-Lcpl Elderfield 15 Trg Bn RASC Colin Booth
1960-Dvr Mallon 6 Trg Bn
1961-Dvr Warrick TA
1961-Dvr Warrick TA
1962-3 Not awarded
1964-Dvr McHugh 52(LOWLAND)COLM(TA)
1965-Lcpl C Booth 6 Trg Bn RASC
1966-Lcpl Bruce 6 Trg Regt RCT
1967-Cpl C Booth 62(Berlin)Sqn RCT
1968 -Cpl C Booth 6 Trg Regt RCT
1969 -Cpl C Booth 12 Trg Regt RCT
1970-Cpl T Baker 12 Trg Regt RCT
1971-2Lt Collinson 63 Para Sqn RCT
1972-2Lt Collinson 63 Para Sqn RCT
1973-Lcpl E Dublin 10 Regt RCT Ted Dubiln
1974-Lcpl E Dublin 10 Regt RCT
1975-Lcpl Z Rene 10 Regt RCT
1976-Lcpl S Johnson 10 Regt RCT
1977-Lcpl M Gannon 10 Regt RCT
1978-Lcpl S Johnson 10 Regt RCT
1979-Dvr R Stephens 10 Regt RCT Steve Johnson
1980-Lcpl S Johnson 10 Regt RCT
1981-Lcpl S Johnson 10 Regt RCT
1982-Jnr Dvr P Harrison Jnr Leaders RCT
1983-Lcpl S Johnson 10 Regt RCT
Neil Haddock
1984-Dvr G Misters 10 Regt RCT
1985-Dvr N Haddock 10 Regt RCT
1986-Dvr N Haddock 10 Regt RCT
1987-Dvr N McCallum 10 Regt RCT
1988-Dvr Mason 10 Regt RCT
1989-Lcpl N McCallum 10 Regt RCT Neil McCallum
1990-Cpl N McCallum 10 Regt RCT
1991-Cpl N McCallum 10 Regt RCT
1992-Lcpl C Bessey 27 Regt RCT
Dave Flynn Gary Fuller Les Gearing
Standing L/R L/cpl Alf Mc Ginnes, Drv.Tall.A., Drv Lutt.M, C.Q.M.S.Copplestone .(Asst,Trainer) L/cpl Harper Jack,. Pte Foot R,. Dvr Hughes. A.
Front Row -Pte Da Costa.D, Cpl.Pearce R, Dvr Morrison J, Col T.E.Stoneman.M.B.E.(Commanding Officer) Capt,G.Murray(Officer I/C Boxing &
Trainer) Dvr.Hardy, A. Dvr Jago.B and Dvr Foster A.
King’s Shield
Click on photograph for additional 10 Regt information
Some of the black and white images have been scanned and taken from The Waggoner Journal of the Royal Corps of Transport and the Royal Army Service Corps. I acknowledge the help in my research from Brigadier R Jenkins CBE DL, Lt Col Lee, Gary Fuller and Neil McCallum
Reunion 1999
First I997 Reunion
| Mick Gannon MBE, John Dwyer, Seamus OCallaghan, Gus Dawkins, Colin Booth, Gary Fuller BEM, Bob Dyer |
10 Regt boxing team 1974
To activate picture place the mouse over it.