A NEW heritage centre dedicated to the thousands of young soldiers who passed through the Army Apprentices’ College in Beachley, has opened.

The centre has been set up and opened by the Beachley Old Boys’ Association (BOBA).

A spokesman for the association said: “The college closed in 1994 and until now has not been able to share their history with anyone outside of the AAC family.

“With this centre ,everyone, young and old, former apprentices and their families through the generations are welcome to come and see stories, photos, artefacts and check through the records from 1924 up to the last group that passed off in 1994. At any one time, there were around 800 to 1,000 on camp.

“These boys were fed, watered, and cared for by a very well selected band of senior soldiers from all arms of the army.

“The basis of the training was designed to build team work, responsibility, leadership and a desire to complete any task without question to the best of their ability.

“The college has over the years provided skills to many local community projects as well as a good deal to the economy within the area, not to mention the many boys who married local girls.

“While the emphasis was on trade training and military training, education and physical strength and stamina were seen as equally important in order for the boys to be soldiers first and to be fully qualified in all aspects required to become the leaders that the army depended on.

“Many of the boys rose through the ranks and were awarded Queen’s commissions, eventually becoming high ranking officers with often responsibility for complete regiments and beyond, as well as very intense responsibility for control of many major building projects, often in remote and dangerous places.

“There have already been several visitors who have discovered things about their grandfathers and fathers they knew nothing about.

“It is surprising what is on view, something for everybody.”

To visit the museum, you can drop by on a Wednesday or a Saturday between 11am and 3pm.

If you wish to visit outside these times you can contact BOBA via Facebook, Messenger or e-mail aacheritage [email protected] and arrange for someone to be available wherever possible.

The centre is located just inside the Beachley Gate, the one with the arch above, on the right and parking is available.