The Hemming Belt

As a parting gift from the army, Major Hemming Royal Army Service Corps presented 'The Hemming Belt Trophy' to the RASC in 1956. The Hemming belt is an Amateur Boxing award and it is 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.

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.

Between 1993 and 2000, the Hemming Belt had not been presented to any RLC boxer until the early 2000 after it was found locked away in a 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 Regimental Corps Boxing History.

The Hemming Belt is a leather belt with a 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.

6 Trg Bn started inter troop boxing with some good boxers and it was decided to start up a new 6 Trg Bn boxing team and enter the inter Unit Boxing Champion Ships.

By Feb 1963 I arrived at 6 Trg Bn RCT 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 boxers from 10 Regiment was then awarded it every year with the exception of 1982 and 1992.A total of 18 years in all is a tremendous achievement.

Ted Dublin, Zak Rene, Steve Johnson, Micky Gannon (later awarded the MBE) and Neil McCallum (later awarded the MBE) all held the Hemming Belt trophy

Steve Johnson was awarded the trophy a record five times, Neil McCallum and myself four times

Since 1993 the trophy had not been presented, however I do believe the RLC changed the criteria for the Hemming Belt and now it is presented to the best novice boxer serving with the RLC so will include REME, and other attached units. Recently female RLC boxers were included and one female was awarded the trophy.

(see list below)

This is a 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

1960-Dvr Mallon 6 Trg Bn

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