RECRUITS’ BEST BOOKS
Best books were ruled line books given to recruits during basic training. Before the days of duplicating machines and photocopiers recruits had to make written notes in their best book from information given by their instructors or to keep their attention in lessons. On completion of training these books were inspected by an instructor. Shown below are Best Books from World War One, World War Two and the 1960’s.
No. P/12342 Cpl. W C Ashbridge
MMP
The World War One Book has the following headings:- Modes of Arrest, Guard Room Procedure, Statements of Evidence, Discipline, Verbal Orders, Marking of Government Property, Defence of the Realm Regulations, Army Forms, Traffic Control, Lights Vehicles Order, How to Groom Your Horse.
THE BEST BOOK AND HOW TO GROOM YOUR HORSE
Grooming By System.
(1). Pick your horses feet out NF. CF. NH. OH. wash and dry feet, white heels, sweep or flush out your stall so that horse does not pick up muck in his feet again.
(2) Begin grooming your horse on the nearside, behind the head collar. Groom him right down near-side, take his legs inside and out on your way.
(3) Change round to off-side and carry on as in (2).
(4) Turn your horse round in the stall and then do his head and ears beginning at the poll (between and behind ears) and working downwards.
(5) With your sponge, sponge out (1) eyes, (2) nose, ((3) dock, (4) sheath in that order.
(6) Take your stable rubber (cloth) slightly damp it and run the horse over again.
(7) (a) A HORSE CANNOT BE GROOMED IN TEN MINUTES. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES IS THE VERY LEAST TIME TO TAKE.
(b) Inspect your horses at each stable time. The most likely place to find dirt and dust are:- Under the throat, Under chest between fore-legs, girth, belly, croup, inside hock joint.
If a man leaves a horse dirty in any way, he should be made to groom him again. REMEMBER the care of a horse comes first, then the saddlery, and lastly the man..
G A V Painton, Captain
Royal Sussex Regiment,
Attached Military Police.
The above information was found in the Best Book (each soldier under training had a lined book in which he made notes given by his instructors) of Cpl. W Ashbridge who transferred to MMP from the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. He served at Home in the 68 Welsh Division in Eastern Command. He commenced his course of instruction at Aldershot 7/7/1917 and 23/2/1919 discharged to Class Z Reserve.
Best books were used during World War I and World War II during training and were certainly in use in the late 1960’s.
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T/242462 L/Cpl J Crosby on left 109 Pro Coy CMP
This World War Two best book has the following headings: police duties, powers of an OC, how to make an application (leave etc.), application for pay, organization of the army, the pistol, flags and unit signs, equipment of a div or corps pro coy, police duties, provost organisation, the work of provost, powers of an MP, staff officers at div. HQ, evidence definition, notebook AB 466, close arrest, police report, general duties of a MP, occurrence report, speed limits, marking of vehicles, traffic accident reports, reconnaissance report., prisoners of war, map reading.
Best book stationery office book 135 dated 1942.
Handwritten page from L/Cpl Crosby’s best book
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23939203 L/Cpl B L Morris, RMP
This post war Best Book has the following chapters:- roles & tasks of RMP, special branches of RMP - MP, dog section, SIB, vulnerable points, TC wing, para provost. soldier and his liabilities, ID documents, powers of arrest, use of force. use of truncheons, drunkenness, obstruction, duty room books, patrols. AB 466 police Notebook, traffic accident box, classification of offences, guard room procedure, definition of arrest, ID parades, absentees & deserters, long term absence, absentees, surrender to RMP, surrender to civil police, powers of search, static and mobile speed check, district court martial, statement of evidence, occurrence reports, powers of arrest under civil law, traffic accidents, recce for car park duties, escorts, judges rules, vehicle flags,, law, participants in crime, laws of evidence, the perfect witness, larceny and similar offences, searching, assault, army act 1955, notes on taking statements.
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Best book hardback 2 ring binder with loose sheets
Sketch plan for a traffic accident.
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