Non-Combatant Corps

[msr]

Dear All,

I've just finished reading 'Danger UXB' by MJ Jappy, about the bomb disposal done during WW2. I was most surprised to read about the NCC, who (p.92) provided over 350 volunteers to the Royal Engineers to work on bomb disposal. I had always assumed that conscientious objectors were given to the RAMC.

I was wondering whether there would be a role for an NCC(V)?

Something along the lines of volunteers for UK deployment only, probably specialising in certain areas such as bomb disposal, IT, medical services etc.

This would also provide a place in the army for those unwilling (because of personal beliefs or family pressure) to serve on operations, especially in Muslim countries.

msr

 

[polar]

Something along the lines of volunteers for UK deployment only, probably specialising in certain areas such as bomb disposal, IT, medical services etc.

Don't they exist already? Isn't FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) some sort of a comms/civilian liason organisation.

 

[woody]

No NO NO . Already enough voluntary organisations available for people to join who cant hack it in an armed force .No such thing as front line anymore so who defends these fools who havent got the bottle to fight or
arent prepare to spill muslim blood (bet they fine about christian but thats another rant )
It was bad enough with medics using the geneva convention to pick and chose which jobs they do cant do stag but top cover in warrior oh i can do that . .
Why would anyone who wants non combatent status want to join an organisation which is a dedicated to warfare ? It would be diffrent in a fight for national survival which wwII was . But even with overstretch
as it is I cant see anyone having a bunch of soldiers who cant fight
or wont fight dumped into there organisation an admin night mare
and bad for morale as they get to get out of guard and escort duties
sounds like new labour rubbish like letting disabled people in the armed forces

 

[msr]

Woody,

From p.93:

'There were a lot of misconceptions and trouble from time to time. The exceptions among the Pioneer Corps were the people who had volunteered - old soldiers who had a string of medals. They would say to the others who were trying to badger us, 'Don't forget. [The conscientious objectors] did what they wanted to do. You waited for conscription.' Corporal Baker was one in particular who was always saying that when these silly arguments came up as to what cowards we were.'

msr

 

[dui-lai]

It was bad enough with medics using the geneva convention to pick and chose which jobs they do cant do stag but top cover in warrior oh i can do that .

Woody,
if Medics want to do top cover, slap them with a shovel. As a Medic it grates me that some of my Corps want to do these things that jepardise their status under the Geneva convention. Doing stag, a no-no. Doing top cover, a no-no!

 

[CombatBooBah]

so moving at a snails pace with full cemo isn't a disability

 

[Filbert Fox]

As a Medic it grates me that some of my Corps want to do these things that jepardise their status under the Geneva convention. Doing stag, a no-no. Doing top cover, a no-no!

but nailing copious numbers of QAs, a yes yes (this role is only open to the tech trades )

 

[woody]

still cant see the point of employing soldiers who wont fight .waste of rations .Conscentioues Objectors should be sterilised so their genes dont pollute future generations just a big name for a coward .

 

[colonelmustard]

Coming from EOD, I must say I love being lumped in with the conscientious objectors and non-combatants. Remind me again whose RSM got the George Medal the other week...

 

[msr]

Col M,

(p.97) 'Wren [a member of the NCC] says: 'If they saw your NCC badge and someone asked what it was, I would say, "Non-Combatant Corps." You know what they are thinking, so I would say I was a coward, straightaway! Then sometimes they would see the bomb flash here and they wouldn't know what to make of it at all. I would just leave it'

msr

 

[woody]

So a few conscientioues objectors might be worth letting breed .But
at the end of the day if we hadnt had a majority of men prepared to fight
we would all be speaking german .So I can still acuse them of moral cowardice unwilling to go to prison for in my view a stupid moral stand.
but still willing to be part of the armed forces which is an organisation
which kills people so by working in a non combatant role they were
freeing up a soldier who was prepared to fight .Who then was put at
a greater risk of injury by being in the front line .
Again I ask is there a great demand from conscientioues objectors to join up or a need for them ?
any way couldnt they join a non military orgnisation like the signals

 

[msr]

Again I ask is there a great demand from conscientioues objectors to join up or a need for them ?

I don't know, but wanted to float an idea.

msr

 

[woody]

well you got my opinon on it

 

[Ventress]

It was bad enough with medics using the geneva convention to pick and chose which jobs they do cant do stag but top cover in warrior oh i can do that .

As a Medic it grates me that some of my Corps want to do these things that jepardise their status under the Geneva convention.

Medics have been in a difficult situation, when the CSM of the ECH says put these Mortar rounds in your Amby, its hard to say no! Plus 9 times out of 10 the medic will find himself staging on for the Infantry (Poor misguided fools!) Unlike the 'Medic' in his nice comfy hospital...........

 

[msr]

when the CSM of the ECH says put these Mortar rounds in your Amby, its hard to say no!

Not with the Red Cross displayed I trust...

msr

 

[woody]

geneva convention very powerful but it didnt stop them getting out of pan bashing even saw a rmp having to do it as well

 

[Nehustan]

Something along the lines of volunteers for UK deployment only, probably specialising in certain areas such as bomb disposal, IT, medical services etc.

Don't they exist already? Isn't FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) some sort of a comms/civilian liason organisation.

Is this the mob 'barracked' with London Scots?

 

[polar]

Sorry, don't know.

 

[Nehustan]

I think Poppy serves with them. I passed the centre the other day and recall thinking I'd never heard of the unit...

 

[Cardinal]

I always found that my biggest dislike of being in the the AMS was that so many, prdominantly nurses, didn't want to do the "soldiering thing". Wearing green and telling war stories around the wards and hospital functions but not actually doing the things soldiers do, like getting cold wet dirty and certainly not shot at.

Medics are soldiers, that means they stag on, go out with the lads on whatever jobs they are doing be it top cover or anything else, just like the rest of the army. CMT's seem to accept this nurses do not, which would be OK but the QA's seem to be intent on taking control of the AMS and enforcing their low military standards on the rest. The Doris Mafia does not want CMT's to do any medical work either, resulting on CMT's having a somewhat questionable role.

Perhaps we should be a bit more like the American Medical services, their nurses nurse, medics are employed as medics not painters, decorators and brew makers! they also have a whole host of support eliments for top cover, aeromedical evacuation, protection duties and military training etc rather like the REME RS branch.

Back on the subject of the thread non combatant labour units were employed in bomb disposal work even as far back as the Great War and deployed to France in clearing mines, UXB's and other hazards. They also delt with the UXB's from Zeplin raids on London, the South and East coast towns.

Cardinal