Boy Entrant

By Brian Carlin
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Paperback, 420 pages
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Boy Entrant
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“You're in the Air Force now!” Screamed the corporal drill instructor, and with those chilling words what had begun as a boyish adventure suddenly became a very serious, grownup type of situation. But, there was no turning back - certainly not after accepting the Queen's shilling - even if you were only 15 years old. The author takes us on the absorbing true story of his induction and passage through the rigorous months of military training as a Royal Air Force Boy Entrant that would mould and shape him and his fellow 15 and 16-year old “brats” into valuable service members, whose destiny was to become the future NCO's and “backbone” of the 1950s Royal Air Force.
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Oct. 15, 2009 By Mickie Collins
""Boy Entrant" by Brian Carlin "
As a rule, any book failing to grab my interest in the first 3 pages, is rarely, if ever persevered with. "Boy Entrant" however, suceeded from the very first paragraph, smoothly immersing me not only into Brian's world, but also into into my own past, as this book will most surely do just as skillfully for any Ex RAF Boy Entrant, and probably anyone who has ever been subject to Service Life.

At 403 pages, the well presented Book is not only excellent value for money in any currency, it is an in depth, extrememly interest filled insight into the life of a R.A.F. Boy Entrant from his first Boyhood realisation that schooldays were soon to end and... More > thoughts of what great changes life would bring thereafter.

The smallest, details of long forgotten incidents, in our formative years are so ably rekindled in vivid detail to the minds eye, so expertly described, and made all the more pleasurable with the rosy tint of the passage of time. Often I found myself laughing, not just at Brian's very picturesque decriptions, but suddenly realising they were identical to my own memories too!

Always reluctant, though forced by dint of life's daily demands, to put this book down, I was ever eager to return to it, with almost a sense of reverent compulsion.

Regardless of Entry, Trade or Training School, this book is one that every Ex Boy Entrant has wished at one time or another to be able to write himself. Brian has admirably and expertly acomplished this, for the majority of us who never will.

"Boy Entrant" is not just Brians' story, it is the story of all of US and is an invaluable documentary, not only about We who "Trained to Serve", but something that we will want our Children and Grandchildren, to read, so that they may come to understand something of the qualities imbued in us in those formative years and have made each of us what we are, explaining the pride in our voice when we say: "I was a Boy Entrant".

Mickie Collins ex 33rd/34th Entries
aka "The Chequered Band Cartoonist"


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Oct. 2, 2006 By Liesa Jewess
"Vivid Imagery" The author describes the events with such vivid imagery, you feel like you were right there with him. A most interesting and easy read.
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Nov. 19, 2006 By tjpamatt
"Boy Entrant"
I found the book refreshingly honest, which these days

with all the hype of modern day living was good to

feel. I think you have written in a style which I am

envious. I found your style

both engaging and thought provoking while not being

patronizing.



As you reflect, decisions at an early age have massive

implications. For you to make that jump out of your

'known world' to an unknown clearly was difficult, but

with the way you explained your life at that time I

can understand why.



Military life as you detailed is what I expected but

would have been hard for me! I`m too much of a non

conformist - if... More > someone insists that they want some

thing one way I am afraid my first thought is why ?

The second - does it make sense?. I think based on

your experiences I would have spent 95 % of my time

doing fatigues and in the guard house !



What was also interesting was an insight into what my

mum and dad had to go through as part of their

military service. My dad was in the Navy during the

war and the initial training at Portsmouth from what

bits he has told sound similar to your ordeal.



So all in all an interesting, enjoyable, detailed and

reflecting read which is a great achievement. Well

done!



Trevor Matthews

Yorkshire , UK

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Jun. 2, 2006 By balblair
"Boy Entrant" Being an ex Royal Air Force Boy Entrant,I read Brian Carlins book "Boy Entrant" The Recollection of a Royal Air Force "bRAT" and thought it extremely well written.It really brought back many memories, good , bad, and ugly.I will mention though mainly good, and the book was a wonderfull read and very dostalgic.

Douglas Mcgregor Grant
Ex 46th Entry R.A.F Cosford
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Jun. 4, 2006 By Keith Thorne
"Boy Entrant" I have just spent two days being a fifteen year old again. The memories are remarkable. While I trained at Cosford and notice a couple of differences between the schools, the basics were exactly the same, and that feeling on passout has to be experienced to know the joy. Thanks Brian.

Keith Thorne. 37 Teleg, Cosford, 1959-1960.
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Product Details

ISBN 978-1-4116-9433-0
Copyright Standard Copyright License
Publisher Brian Carlin
Published April 15, 2011
Language English
Pages 420
 
Binding Perfect-bound Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Dimensions (inches) 6.0 wide × 9.0 tall