Fort Largs Poem by Paul Warren

Fort Largs

The Colony built it for the Russian Crimea war
Fort Largs protected the Port River roads and shore
So the Australian army was based there for 100 years
Through two world wars and it helped allay our fears

In 1961 it was handed over to the South Australia Police
As a Police Academy for a cadet training showpiece
So what was it like to be a police cadet
By the sea at Fort Largs where our needs were met

We were young people who just left school
16 to 18 years old was the rule
I remember being taken to the Academy
By my father on the way to work on a Thursday 8.00am early

So here I am standing with suitcase in hand
At the Academy Drill hall when I heard my first command
A squads of cadets came marching past
In khaki uniform in threes disciplined to the last
An order made above the rest
Stop talking - double time at a pace their best

Then an instructor appeared and we lined up
A khaki uniform and getting used to orders quite abrupt
I did some time as a reserve cadet
Gardening or other fatigues not ended yet
The course commenced and we were sorted out
Into dormitories together with some clowning about

Their were days in the classroom learning the law
And procedures as police until we knew the score
With exams every week and three monthly to pass
With timed runs and push-ups to the last
The daily dozen the last thing on Friday afternoon
Then weekend leave that always ended too soon

We were used to the regime of week days staying in
With leave nights on Wednesdays and weekends
On Wednesday's and Sunday nights leave in by midnight
Toby Haines and Danny Dolan would ensure our time was right
For the malefactors they were confined to barracks then
No leave nights for a time until their punishment ends

We lived in dormitories from day one
With separate rooms and a common room was done
In the mornings there was Fred Knight on the loud-speaker
With wakey wakey hands off snakey our greeter
And a parade outside in the dark
With fatigues in the dormitory with inspection to start

We had a mess parade to have our meals
With senior courses in first was the deal
Ma Politt ruled the meal with an iron hand
As we lined up to be dished out as food on demand
With mystery balls and Friday fish and chips
The selection of meals were not at all rich

There were graduation parades every three month time
With three year courses ending the grind in line
And there was always a course starting too
We all knew what it took to get through

So I ask in the end would you do it again
We all say yes knowing we made it in the end
But some names are imprinted to stay
Ron Daniels the sergeant is the fittest man and Ernie Kirk had his mate Sticky McCane holding sway
With instructors such as Harcus, Loveday, Gee, Cameron, Gruber, Brehendt, Woite and Thompson
There was Hore, Janic, Cooling, Oakley, Peake and Willoughby to name some
With Tennent, Jennings, Taylor, Jack Walsh, Ramm, Walker, Peter Walsh, Smith, Clarke and Pridham
Each one has a memory as part of the plan
But it was Eric Meldrum's Academy at the start
With O/Cs Claire Bottroff, John Lockhead, Peter Stretton, Geoff Edwards, John Minagall, and Lindsay Saul all playing their part.

© Paul Warren Poetry