Jack Lemon Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 My Grandfather, John Edward Arden, was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Cheshire Regiment in August, 1917. Subsequently, he was attached to the 2nd/22nd London Regiment and dispatched to Palestine where he served until the end of hostilities. Prior to seeking a commission, he had served with the Liverpool King's Regiment, in France and, later, in Macedonia. His Officer Training was undertaken at Gaile's Camp in western Scotland. In the photo of the 'Passing Out' Group, my Grandfather is fifth from the left in the centre row. If anyone has anything to add about this training centre, or more particualrly, this photo, I would welcome any input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ander11 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Hello RobinV, I tried Google and found this http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/GailesCamp I hope this help's !!! regard Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Lemon Posted 31 October , 2011 Author Share Posted 31 October , 2011 Hello RobinV, I tried Google and found this http://www.secretsco...rets/GailesCamp I hope this help's !!! regard Ian Thanks, Ian. I already knew roughly where the camp was. The satellite photo shows faint signs of a previous 'existence' but that's about it! Regards RobinV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 31 October , 2011 Share Posted 31 October , 2011 My wife's grandfather, Herbert Webster, was R.S.M. at this camp - I'm sure your grandfather would have known him well. Some years ago, a pal from this forum (I am ashamed to say that I have forgotten who it was) very kindly sent me copies of the camp newspaper. I'll dig them out later and see if there's anything which may interest you. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 1 November , 2011 Share Posted 1 November , 2011 Right - I located my copy of 'Wind Up' (Breezy Days at Gailes) and I'm sorry to report that your grandfather does not feature in it. There are photographs of all four platoons, complete with names, but of course many 'classes' of cadets would pass through the camp and your grandfather must have been in another intake. Sorry not to have been of more use. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Lemon Posted 4 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 4 November , 2011 Right - I located my copy of 'Wind Up' (Breezy Days at Gailes) and I'm sorry to report that your grandfather does not feature in it. There are photographs of all four platoons, complete with names, but of course many 'classes' of cadets would pass through the camp and your grandfather must have been in another intake. Sorry not to have been of more use. Ian Thanks for looking - I have another couple of photos somewhere - I'll post those when I find them. I checked the original photo again and John ASrden was part of the 9th Cadet Regiment at Gaile's Camp Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Lemon Posted 4 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 4 November , 2011 The picture does not reflect our modern impressions of 'Boot Camps' with the emphasis on immaculate sleeping areas. I can easily imagine that the nearer bed, looking like a rat's nest, is my Grandfather's pit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Lemon Posted 4 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 4 November , 2011 The photo is labelled - "With F Mackais compliments - 8/10/17" I am assuming that it was taken at Gaile's Camp since I have been able to identify at least one more of the figures on the photo taken of the 'graduates.' By October 1917, my Grandfather (2nd from the right back row) was with the 2nd/22nd London Regiment in Palestine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 5 November , 2011 Share Posted 5 November , 2011 If you type 'Gailes' into the forum search engine it brings up quite a few old threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobry Posted 22 July , 2013 Share Posted 22 July , 2013 We have just purchased an ex Married Quarter in Dundonald Crescent Auchengate. This is the site of Dundonald Camp which aparently not far from Gailes Camp acording to http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/GailesCamp As an ex serviceman I was interested in this thread as I am trying to find out all I can about where I will be retiring. Any information would be greatfully recieved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobry Posted 28 July , 2013 Share Posted 28 July , 2013 Hi RobinV I have been reserching Dundonald Camp next to where Gailes Camp is. I'm not sure if this will help but I came across this from Wesse Flying Group which has quite a bit of history about it. Hope it is of some help. https://sites.google.com/site/modelaircraftflyingsitegroup/where-to-find-us/history-of-our-site Many Thanks Brymo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starshot Posted 30 March Share Posted 30 March Re the super group photograph. If that is 9 Cadet Bn at Gailes, one of the men should be a former student at Epsom College. He is John Ashby, sometimes recorded as Ashley in error. We dont have any photographs of him at school so I cant help with his identification but I know he was in 9 Cadet bn at Gailes Jan 1917-Apr 1917 and was then commissioned into the 2nd and then 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards. Elizabeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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