Report on 103rd Entry of Aircraft Apprentices
by Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Kyle
Reviewing Officer

Wastage
I begin with my report on the 103rd Entry.  The Entry started training in January 1963 with a strength of 179 RAF, 8 Malaysian and 2 Rhodesian Apprentices.  A few of these have fallen by the wayside throughout training, some being medically unfit and others being found unsuitable.  Our two Rhodesian Apprentices returned home at the beginning of November leaving 177 Apprentices passing-out today.

Technical Training
177 Apprentices of the Entry were presented for the final Trade Test examination; 9 qualified as substantive Corporals and, with five exceptions, the others qualified as Junior Technicians; the remaining 5 qualified as Senior Aircraftmen.   The average mark achieved - 69.9% - maintains the high standard set by previous entries.  Five Apprentices (2.8% of the Entry) gained distinguished passes; this achievement is worthy of special note because the honours were shared by all trades.

Education Training
On the education side the basic requirement for successful completion of an apprenticeship is to pass the Final Examination in educational subjects.  178 Apprentices sat this examination.  The average mark of 63% and the proportion of Class A passes (25% of the Entry) is very high; only one failed.

Those who were considered to have the ability were given an advanced course in educational subjects leading to the award of an Ordinary National Certificate in Engineering.  78 members (44% of the Entry) have qualified.

Entirely voluntarily, 86 Apprentices entered for the City & Guilds of London Institute examination and achieved a pass rate of 81%;  this is much above the National average.

Also voluntarily, 150 Apprentices took one or more subjects in the General Certificate of Education.  Two gained Advanced Level Certificates.  At Ordinary Level, out of 336 subject entries, there were 263 passes, giving an excellent pass rate of 78%.  Altogether, this Entry has achieved commendable educational results.

General Service Training
The third main part of the Halton Apprenticeship is concerned with General Service Training.  This aims at producing young men who are fit to be members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces.  It is therefore concerned with developing character, physical fitness, qualities of leadership and comradeship.  Games, drill and life in the Wings are the important features here.

At sport the Entry has done well.  During the first year of training they became the first Entry to win the Cock of the Walk Trophy for Inter-Squadron Sport in two successive terms.  To date 37 Apprentices have been awarded School Colours.   A number of Apprentices have represented Technical Training Command and ten have been members of RAF Junior teams.  In addition to the normal games such as rugby, cricket and football, members of the Entry have successfully taken part in such sport as equitation, sailing and the Devizes/Westminster Canoe Race.  In June 1965 six members of the Entry successfully completed a 60 mile trek across Dartmoor in the Ten Tors expedition.  In company with another patrol of Halton Apprentices they were the first members of the RAF ever to complete the Senior Ten Tors.

Among this record of successful endeavor the 103rd Entry have not overlooked the needs of those less fortunate than themselves.  They have subscribed generously to many appeals for charity.  Together with members of other entries they have given parcels of Christmas food and groceries to elderly people in the neighbourhood.

The standard of drill has been satisfactory and the Entry has played a full part in ceremonial occasions throughout their training.  Between February and June 1964 they provided Halton's Guard of Honour, and 125 members of the Entry have lined the route in London on four State visits.  100 members of the Entry marched in the processional party at Sir Winston Churchill's funeral.

The voluntary Apprentice Bands have been well supported by the 103rd Entry.  Thirteen belong to the brass band, 14 are members of the pipe band and 7 are members of the Corps of Trumpeters.  These bandsmen have taken part in many ceremonial functions including the Royal Tournament, the Bath Tattoo and the Lord Mayor's Show.  In the Inter-Wing Pipe Band Competition the Entry has twice provided the entire band representing 2(A) Wing and individual members have won a number of competitions.  Worthy of special mention is Cpl.App Rattray who in August this year became the first apprentice to win the Silver Pipes award on three successive occasions.

Special Service Attainments
Six Apprentices of the Entry have been selected for Cadetships - Peele, Neal and Dillon J. in the General Duties Branch, Peele and Neal as Pilots, J. Dillon as Navigator; Slawson and Starbuck in the Technical Branch and K. Dillon in the Equipment Branch.  The two Dillons are brothers.  This is the first occasion on which two brothers have been awarded cadetships on passing out from Halton.  Two other Apprentices have  been selected for training leading to commissions - Cockram in the General Duties Branch as Pilot and Forbear in the Technical Branch.

Conclusion
To conclude my report on the 103rd Entry I would like to say that they have settled down well to Service life and to training at Halton and they have made excellent contributions to all Apprentice activities.