Firestorm Tom - 1. FST Chapter 1

This time round, we settled into our North Yorkshire home a lot quicker than last time, us kids had a bedroom each, which was great, but for the first few weeks, Simeon snuck into my room and climbed into bed next to me, which I didn’t really mind, since this was a new environment for him. With it being the third week for school at Catterick, it was decided by Mum and Dad that I start right away and try and catch up as quick as I can, and with me nearly being 15 years old, I was enrolled into year 10 at the nearest private school.

For the next five years, Dad works long hard hours at the Infantry Training School, and Mum kept busy looking after the house and the family. A few months before I graduated from high school, at the age of 18, I was pleased when an official letter arrived, informing me, that my application to enter Sandhurst Military Academy had been accepted, and both of my parents were very proud of me for achieving this.

I knew that it was going to be very tough work at the academy, but I was ready for it, with the 44-week long course being the main training, with university studies included in this time and following afterwards, and I would be starting the RMAS Commissioning course in January next year, which gave me five months to prepare for entering the academy. When I graduated from school, the whole family attended, with my six-year old brother and five-year old sister running amuck during the whole ceremony, which was embarrassing.

It was more embarrassing when my dad, who was in dress uniform, stood up from his seat in the audience and shouted in full voice – “Simeon and Belinda Benning, halt, about face and return to your seat this instant”, and my brother and sister did as dad ordered, with some of the audience chuckling at what just took place, while I tried to hide behind my classmates.

“Thank-you Warrant Officer Benning, may we continue?” the school headmaster said, and Dad just smiled and sat down. Much to my surprise, I was named Dux of the School, and I won the Mathematics and Literature Prizes. After the graduation ceremony, Mum and Dad took the family to a restaurant to celebrate me finishing school. With dad still having 18 months left on his contract, I asked him what he had planned once he has finished, as I would be just starting my career in the Royal Army in the UK.

“Well son, I have some interesting news for you all, regarding that, once my five-year contract ends, I will be taking up a new position within the Army, 250 miles to the south of here, just 32 miles west-south-west of London, in the town of Farnborough” Dad replied with a big smile. “Hey wait a minute, that is near the RMAS – Royal Military Academy Sandhurst” I said, “That is right, not far from the University of Surrey, I have been offered a two-year contract as a Training Instructor at the RMAS, starting twelve months after you have completed your training, Tom” Dad replied.

“Phew, that is good to hear” I replied with a big cheeky smile, and Mum laughed at this comment. When we returned home after an enjoyable meal, Simeon and Belinda were sent to their bedrooms for an hour of time out, because of them misbehaving during the graduation ceremony, and I relaxed in the lounge reading a book, while it was quiet.

Over the next five months, I made sure that I kept in top physical condition, visiting a gym, four days a week, and going for a two-mile run every morning and one-mile in the afternoon. When the day come for me to start my training at Sandhurst, I was nervous, but I knew that I had done my best to be prepared for it all, and although the first twelve weeks were brutal, I managed to get through it very easily, because I had kept fit.

Near the end of the 12th week of training, I was a little surprised to be summoned to the Commandants office, and I hoped that I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was equally surprised when I saw my dad standing chatting to the commandant, as I entered the office. “Cadet Benning, you have been given a half day of special leave, to be with your family, please go and change into your full-dress uniform, and report to your father at the front gate in twenty minutes” the Commandant said to me.

“Sir yes sir” I replied, and I looked at my father who smiled and nodded his head, before I marched out of the office, then dashed back to my quarters to have a quick shower and change, before arriving at the front gate, where my father was waiting for me, who was also in full dress uniform, which made me suspicious.

“Ok, Dad, spill it, what is going on?” I said to him as I arrived, and Dad just laughed out loud, “You will just have to wait and see, Mum and the kids are meeting us in London” Dad replied to me, and I stopped dead, “London?” I asked, and Dad chuckled as he continued to walk. Dad was driving an army car, from the base where he works, which made me even more suspicious, that we were on our way to some sort of special event.

We picked up Mum and the kids from London Zoo, before we continued on. “No way” I said as we turned to enter the western gates of Buckingham Palace, and stopped at the gates. “Warrant Officer Benning and Family for 2pm appointment”, Dad said to the guard, as he showed his Army ID card, “Very good sir, they are expecting you” the guard said before opening the gates for us to enter.

“Ok Mum and Dad, what is going on?” I asked as we drove through the gates, “Didn’t dad tell you? We are here to watch your dad receive the OBE from the Queen” Mum replied with a smile, “Holy cow” I replied, and my brother and sister chuckled at my comment, and started imitating a cow.

Once we entered the palace, greeted by some man with some official title that I didn’t catch, as I was too busy looking at the spectacular surroundings, and firmly holding onto my brother and sister’s hands, to make sure they didn’t get up to any mischief, and we were lead up some stairs and along a long corridor, till we came to a set of double doors. The man knocked and entered, and we waited a few moments till he came back, and said we could enter.

We entered a huge lounge room, that was as big as our home in Nedlands, where the Queen was seated, chatting to two other men, who I soon realised were the Queen’s grandson, plus Brigadier Murdoch from Australia, and they all stood up as we approached. “Ma’am, and Sir, may I introduce Warrant Officer Mitchell Benning, his wife Angela, and their children, Thomas, Simeon and Belinda” the Brigadier said making the introductions.

Dad and I snapped to attention and bowed, while mum curtsied, I clung onto my sibling’s hands as they tried to escape, to have a look around, but I held on tight. Once the introductions were over, and dad stepped forward, I bent down and whispered to Simeon and Belinda, “Behave you two, do not move and don’t make a sound, or there will be no ice-cream afterwards” I said to them sternly, and they nodded their heads in understanding, and I saw mum smile at me.

At that moment, there was another knock on the door and it opened, where Colonel James Harding and Warrant Officer Mike Owens from Campbell Barracks, Perth, and Major Phillips from ITS Catterick, North Yorkshire, entered the room. Stopped, snapped to attention and bowed, before the Brigadier introduced them to the Queen and Prince.

“Warrant Officer Benning, I have been aware of your talents and skills for some time, and when I was informed that you were to be award an OBE when you returned home to Australia, I insisted that I perform the duty, instead of your Governor General. After some discussions with your GG over the phone, we have come to an agreement that the OBE is not sufficient for what you have achieved.

The jobs you have done to save people’s lives and property in a wild bush fire a few years ago, and the dedication you give to training new recruits at the Infantry Training School at Catterick, North Yorkshire, it is therefore my privilege to bestow on you, the Military division of the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire” the Queen announced, and Dad knelt down on one knew before the Queen, where Dad was officially knighted and handed his award.

I think we were all in shock, I know I was, as was mum, but when I looked over to the Brigadier he was all smiles, as Dad stood up, took a step back and bowed, then stepped forward to shake the Queen’s hand softly, followed by the Prince, “Now please join us in some afternoon tea” the Queen said as she picked up a small bell and rang it.

Finding some chairs well away from the rest, I lead my siblings to them, and told them to sit there, and I sat close by, as a steward arrived with a cup of tea and two small drinks for my brother and sister, which they said thank-you for. As the steward left, I looked up to see the Prince approach us, so I stood up, while still keeping a close eye on Simeon and Belinda. “Sir, how is your family” I said as the Prince arrived, “All very well, thanks for asking, so I see from your uniform, you are a Sandhurst cadet” the Prince replied with a smile.

“Yes sir, I have almost completed my twelfth week, only interrupted by this surprise family excursion, I had no idea where we were going, when my dad picked me up from the college, and he wouldn’t tell me where we were going till after we picked up Mum and the kids from the zoo, and turned into the drive of the palace” I replied, which made the Prince laugh. “Yes, Dads can be a bit annoying with things like that” the Prince replied.

I smiled and nodded my head in agreement, “I noticed that your mum is a lot older than your dad, so I presume you are your mum’s first child?” the Prince asked, “Yes Sir, Dad literally stumbled across us on a hiking trail known as the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. Mum was injured, and he came to the rescue, and we have been with him ever since, he is my hero in a lot of ways” I replied with a small tear appearing in my eyes, which I quickly wiped away.

Mum appeared and after giving the Prince a small bow, she instructed the kids to take her hand, and they would go and find a bathroom, and a steward lead them out of the room. As I watched them, I hadn’t noticed a person approaching me, and when I realised it was the Queen, I snapped to attention and bowed, “Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you” I said with a nervous voice, “Thankyou Cadet Benning, I hope to see you later in the year when I am at the graduation ceremony” she replied with a smile, “I look forward to it Ma’am” I replied with a small smile, as I bowed again as she left the room.

“Good luck with your training Thomas” the Prince said to me, and I shook his hand and bowed, as he too left the room. I walked over to dad, and he showed me the medal that indicated that he was now a Knight, “So, Sir dad, what do we do now?” I asked with a cheeky grin, and Dad gave a little laugh.

“Well, when Lady Mum and the kids return, we will leave this enormous place, and I will drive you back to the academy, so you can return to your training” Dad replied and I groaned, which made Dad, the Colonel and Brigadier laugh. It was nearly 1700 hours when dad dropped me off at the college, and I went to the Commandant’s office to report my return.

“So young Benning, how was your visit to Buck House?” the Commandant asked me when I entered his office, “You knew sir?” I said surprised, and he laughed softly. “Yes, your father told me, before you arrived earlier, did you enjoy it?’ the Commandant asked me. “It was ok thanks sir” I replied politely.