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102nd Entry Memorial Window Commemoration 20th September 2000

The 102nd Entry was born around 19th September 1962, when some 186 unlikely looking lads from all parts of the UK, and indeed the world, met at Wendover railway station to be collected by bus for the journey to Halton.

Most entries celebrate an anniversary of some sort during their time at Halton. In our case, 102 training weeks after joining, in a plot which possibly has never been publicly admitted, a group planned to do their bit to clean up the centre of London and entertain its people. First they needed a good supply of soap – Teepol was the strongest known available in liquid form so the entire Buckinghamshire stock, some 50 gallons was acquired legitimately and discretely. Conversations at the ironmongers went along the lines of:

“Do you sell Teepol”?

“Yes sir. How much do you require”?

“How much have you got”?

“Maybe a gallon or two.”

“We’ll take the lot”.

Luckily no-one thought we were panic buying this vital ingredient or that it should be rationed. Next there was the question of how to distribute the soap around the capital. This was achieved by the expedient of diluting the liquid soap with water – in Trafalgar Square at night. Being March, the fountains were switched off at night, so the effect of their efforts was not immediate. The police took a passing interest but were far more concerned with less-savoury looking characters in the vicinity. The group retreated discreetly, returning to their beds, their absence having been undetected.

A day or two later they were rewarded by the national news headline in no lesser a newspaper than The Sun, “The Day that Nelson got Soap in his Eye” accompanied by a half page photo of foaming clouds drifting among the monuments, tall buildings and double-decker buses in the city, spreading the suds far and wide. Success-so far.

The system had been braced for the traditional entry stunt. Indeed the 102nd had been warned that any prank attributable to them would lead to cancellation of the forthcoming Easter leave. So mum was the word. Until now, that is, when the Entry Window provides a lasting tribute to the spirit of the entry.

The entry also had the honour to line the route and march for the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. After much practice around the parade square and down The Hill, learning how to faint safely with a fixed bayonet, on the day the 102nd Entry was escorted into London by the police in the company of other entries to pay a fitting tribute to the leader who motivated the country during its darkest hours. Although the 102nd was not alone in this honour, the Entry was proud to be a part of such an important ceremony and it is appropriate to take this opportunity to express that sense of pride.

In sum, the 102nd Entry Window provides a fitting reminder of the 102’s participation in an historic event, and captures the Entry spirit. That spirit has unified Trenchard’s Brats throughout the life of the Service; it is a spirit which endures beyond the time in uniform. Long may it continue

Henry Hall