Rowallan Division
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Rowallan Division was a Royal Navy training course based at HMS Raleigh between 1980 and 1981. It assisted the Royal Navy in grooming failed candidates from the Admiralty Interview Board who lacked the appropriate leadership qualities and personal robustness to qualify for Midshipman training at BRNC Dartmouth. A rather severe 12 week character building and development course was used to attempt to rectify this lack.[1]
Background
Lord Rowallan was a member of the rich Polson Family who had strong links with the Baden Powel Family. They resided just south of Glasgow at Rowallan.
His grandfathers and fathers interest in the great outdoors generated an interest in outbound activities. Before the war he was involved in Scouting and the setting up of a Juvenile delinquent/criminal rehabilitation centre based on outbound activities.
He served during the First World War and despite a leg injury, connived to serve in WW2. He established and was part of a company which formed part of the British Expeditionary force, evacuated from Dunkirk in May-June 1940. It was realised soon after that in order to win the war Britain needed a larger quantity of capable officers, as the failure rate on officer selection was high around 65%, and a large invasion force was going to be required.
Lord Rowallan was charged with setting something up based on the success of his rehabilitation courses. This resulted in the establishment of the Highland Fieldcraft Training Centre (HFTC), at Feshie Bridge, Cairngorms, in the Highland and Island area of Scotland.
Post war in 1977 the Army's Regular Commissions Board was again suffering a high failure rate (70%+) at Officer Selection and Training, and during research rediscovered the HFTC success and established a Rowallan Company at RMA Sandhurst.
In the late 1970s the Royal Navy, finding itself in a similar position, used the course at RMA Sandhurst as a model for Rowallan Divsion at HMS Raleigh. It was adapted to be more suitable for Royal Navy candidates by the senior staff selected to run it.
Directing Staff
Because large elements of the course were undertaken "in the field" some staff were drawn from the Royal Marines.
Senior Staff List:
- Major Rick Wiliams MBE RM - Officer Commanding
- Lieutenant Commander John Lippiett MBE RN - Training Officer
- Warrant Officer Class 2 David Langley - Divisional Sergeant Major
- Chief Petty Officer Attenborough - Stores & Supplies
- Petty Officer (PT) Michael "Nick" Carter - Instructor
- Sergeant Colin Grice - Instructor
- Sergeant Paul Pitcher - Instructor
Other members of staff included two Royal Marines who's duties included driving and safety, a Royal Navy chef to cook for staff in the field and a WRNS Leading Writer who assisted with administration. An Instructor Officer was sometimes attached to the Division.
The unofficial emblem of the Division was the head of a highland stag.
Course Structure
Students on the course were given the nominal rank of Cadet and were paid the equivalent of a new entry junior sailor.
The course schedule was not given to Cadets who were effectively on 30 minutes notice to move at all times. Generally the Division spent alternating weeks either in the field or at HMS Raleigh.
When at Raleigh there was generally 2 or 3 sessions of Physical Training per day along with Practical Leadership Tasks. Also training that would later be used in the field such as map reading, navigation, first aid, basic RT procedures and survival skills. The Physical Training included gym work, obstacle courses and speed marches (often with loaded bergens). Log runs where teams of cadets raced each other while each team carried a telegraph pole sized log were frequent events.
The Division conducted many, mostly week long, exercises in the field and used Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons (including the Pen y Fan horseshoe). These exercises progressed though increasing levels of physical and mental difficulty. Where conditions warranted some cadets were issued with Clansman radios, those not receiving one were given sealed ammunition boxes filled with gravel to simulate the extra weight. In early exercises Cadets slept in tents and ate standard 24 hour ration packs. In later exercises cadets had to make improvised shelters and were supplied with live rations in the form of hens and rabbits which had to be killed and prepared by hand. Frequently crash moves of camps would be initiated by the directing staff usually in the dark of night.
List of Courses
| Course Number | Cadets Commencing | Cadets Completing | Success Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 10 | 83% | 1 |
| 2 | 24 | 14 | 58% | |
| 3 | 18 | 16 | 88% | 2 |
Notes:
1 Course uniquely included two Royal Marines Cadets who both successfully completed Rowallan Division and went on to CTCRM Lympstone.
2 Course included Cadet Gary Pettitt who went on to attain the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy and Cadet Pete Williams who became a Commander.
Course Closure
The course was disbanded in 1981 due to costs.
A reunion was held in 2015 in the form of a Mess Dinner at HMS Raleigh.
References
- ^ "Navy News - Reporting from the Fleet". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
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