My uncle did two years 1935-37 at Aldershot. Discharged from the army on release. Re-enlisted 1939 on the outbreak of war. Got a sergeant's stripes. Went through Dunkirk, El Alamein, Salerno, Monte Cassino. Hit a 19 year old sub-lieutenant with a rifle butt. Lost his stripes, gaoled shortly. Won the MM at Monte Cassino. Got his stripes back. Lived to be nearly 100.

'Do you have any homosexual tendencies?' 'No, love....I mean Staff!'

Rock throwing is strictly prohibited in the Glasshouse.

i did 6 months at MCTC in 1988 ... this video is ott .. granted its harder than battalion but i found it a breath of fresh air .. i became a trustee ( blue tag ) and was allowed out to colchester city center every wenesday ( in no2 dress ) .... sgt major rice was my saviour in there and im so grateful for what he made me !

My training Sgt did a year in Colly after going AWOL to be a mercenary in the Congo. He ended up as RSM of his regiment, the Glorious Glosters and eventually was commissioned to Captain. Still alive and kicking and the man who made me.

When I was in the Officers' Training Corps at uni one of the permanent staff instructors - who, it seemed, had been in Colchester at some point - said the following. "They've realized it doesn't make a lot of sense to take a guy who's a bit of a handful and a bit hard and put him in Colchester, so that six months later he can do 500 push ups and run a marathon in three hours wearing his respirator".

8:27 - I love it. "Look at your boots".. "Berrets dirty". Great way to get them to look down to be able to see the top of the berret.

"The average perception of Colchester [...] makes him not wish to come here". Not sure if he's talking about the glasshouse or the actual town itself. Both of which are equally dire.

Paras had a season ticket to this place. Love it. 😆

It was fun. Did 6 month stint in 88. Must say it improved my fitness. The bullshit seemed harsh to begin with but def got easier as time passed. Being a 'blue job' I got to learn a lot about army life, different weapon skills that I wouldn't have been normally privy to.

Having experienced a similar situation in the U.S. Army when I was 19 years old, I have a lot of sympathy for some (NOT ALL) of the servicemen and women here. I'm in my late 30's now beginning graduate studies on mental heath and behavior. Under times of great stress as in war or even daily military life, otherwise sound minded individuals can succumb to a major psychological issue. There are many cases of manic bi-polar depression, sychzo effective disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders that preceded a drastic change in daily life. Most of the general population has a understanding of traumatic anxiety disorders due to the attention PTSD has had in the last decade. What also needs to be understood is that anxiety induced depressive and schizotic disorders can manifest immediately after or during a traumatic event. That being said, it is well known and documented that anti-social behaviors do not need a traumatic antecedent to manifest, such as stealing or assault. Those behaviors can be eliminated by pairing unpleasant consequences immediately to the offender. Other behaviors that are displayed in someone having a mental health episode are not going to be changed in this manner.

I did 3 months in here in the old nissan huts with coal fire in middle of the room. BEST 3 months of my five years in the army. I was treat like a soldier not a bloody street cleaner as I was in my regiment. Came out of there a better soldier and knowing more than my senior NCO`s.

They look super fit and on the ball to me I was in infantry 80 to 84.they look good hard working soldiers to me.

I remember taking a prisoner down to Collie with a Cpl friend. He took in the paperwork and live persons chit into the back of the guardroom whilst I carried the bags in as the prisoner came in. The guard told me to stand on the Green Spot and double time. I did what he said as he barked orders to which I obeyed. It was only when my mate came back, he told the guard that I was the Escort. When the guard told me to relax, I felt so relieved. The prisoner watching was gobsmacked until he was told to stand on that green spot. I laugh now, but I was knackered at the time.

I got 28 days in MCE ( Australian version of this ) for selling my boots in a brothel so I could get a BJ. Wasnt much fun but all things considered it was a damm fine BJ . Ahh to be young again :)

I served in The Grenadier Guards from the 80s, and Colchester would be no different than when these Guardsman done basic at the depot in Pirbright.

It is the thoughest penal system in the UK and honestly if every prison was like this the amount of re-offenders would be dramatically lowered.

It's very interesting to see men and women, Army and RAF, all different regiments and ranks, just formed up together in sections like they're nothing.

Thank you for posting this. Have been trying to find this for ages.

CCF Platoons in the US Army, and that's now fallen out of favor. Luckily, I never got hemmed up that badly to need to go to one, but I know people who did. The shirkers and bricks usually went there. Watching their daily PT sessions (usually runs or marches with fully loaded duffle bags) at Fort Campbell is a memory that has still never left me.

Sentenced to 3 months in late 1970’s (old huts) in D Wing. Had my sentence reduces and changed to ‘soldier on’ after 2 months.

I did 9 months 'soldier on' in 1987, it was a great experience, being from a Guards regiment, the bullshit was easy and I was fit as a butchers dog, the staff were good as gold as long as you showed willing, I was in stage 3 after less than two months, it was a lot less of a fuck about than being in the battalion. When I got back to the battalion I got re promoted a few months later.

Was there in '91 D wing. Remember Some of the staff on here, Shergar, staff Taylor, corkie, dust buster,Steve Davis,screaming skull, virgil, and staff Barnes. Ex RN, only did three days at DQ'S in Pompey, then about seven of us transferred to MCTC as DQ'S was closing and didn't take anyone with more than 28 days. I was sentenced to seven months, but served just over four, even managed to get ten days recon, and made it to special stage. First member of the RN to do so! Can honestly say that I quite enjoyed a lot of Colly, sorted me out, learnt a lot about the Army(different Regiment's), and the RAF. Made some good mates in there and had some great laughs.

I done 21 days there, really good, I was in a room full of paras and i think we made the glass house longest rollie of 8ft

I remember watching this when it first came out. I saw one of my recruits was serving time there. And there was I thinking he would be going nowhere.

Bamber was my platoon commander in Left Flank 1SG, a good man.

I did 112 days in the MCTC in 1970 when it was all nissan huts and barbed wire. We had to use outside ablutions in the morning breaking the ice in the sinks. I lost two stones but came out a better soldier. You was treated fairly and and as long as you jumped when told to jump it was ok.

You have the right to refuse to soldier, but that takes immense courage and attitude. You are in fact harder and stronger than any SAS soldier that ever lived if you do so. You completely block out anything that is shouted at you and stare ahead about a thousand yards and say nothing. They try every trick in the book to get you back into the fold. But I am in absolute admiration for the ones who they can not break!

0:43 I bet that Sergeant doesn't like to talk about his time at the Glasshouse either: "What was your job there?" "Ummm, I was the receptionist..."

I did 2 months at the old MCTC in 1980. Nissan huts. An old coal burner for heat. 10 man rooms. I was from a front line RAF squadron in Germany at the height of the Cold War…who do I end up with in the next bed to me….only the smartest serviceman I’ve ever met. Corporal of the Horse, Blues and Royals, the Queen’s household cavalry. Colchester was a great leveller, I put my back into it, went up to Stage Three, got out a week early, went back to my squadron in Germany and never looked back. It was a shock to my system but it wasn’t prison….it was a military corrective training facility.

It feels like Bad Lads' Army.

I worked here for 5 years, loved it in the cook house

Oh wow, I remember watching this when it first aired. My Dad was in the Army and I love all subjects to do with it, so naturally watched this with him. ALL prisons should be like this. Repeat offenders may be less common!

I've heard that a brief sentence and then "Soldier On" is more or less a pre-requsite to eventually become a Warrant Officer.

Those staff never miss a thing.

I'm in this documentary getting marched in at the start!!lol

My dad was a PO in the RN 1935-1950. He told me once they were in Portsmouth or Plymouth and they were tasked with escorting a couple of prisoners up to the military prison. They were unfortunately a few minutes late, the senior NCO at the gate refused entry as the stipulated time was a few minutes earlier !

I got awarded '28 days RTU' by my CO for an extended weekend on the piss!

Thank you for your service, every day is poppy day

Fing hell, cold shivers up the spine here, did my stint in 91, got to admit was fitter coming out of there than I was after basic

Reminds me a bit of a softer, milder version of my boarding school in Greece.

I left the army in 97 and I never heard of any female soldier getting jail time even at unit level so this is a bit of an eye opener

I did 2 years Regular Army that was enough military confinement for me .Just protect and serve others every single day on this Earth and I'll be your brother forever .

Log run - did those on the NCO's cadre - lovely bit of fun!!!

In glesga we call it a burst couch reminds me of glenochil DC

I was here in 91 most of the staff shown were there when I accepted a 9 1/2 month award lol great times looking back 👍

“Do you have any homosexual tendency? Are you presently suicidal?” 😂 Real smooth 😆

I got 9 months December 94 until June 95 it was on D wing working on the pig farm a learning stage of my life

"Do you have any homosexual tendencies..." ROFL

I got 56 days for fighting and although it was a very hard 2 months when I came out I could run my mile and a half in 7.30mins. Also the food was banging.

Does anyone know who the SGT at main reception is who inducts the new soldiers (at approx 1.22mins)? He has an impressive voice!

I was released just before filming began. A few good lads and lassies here. Ewan Black was my provost sergeant at training depot before joining MCTC. A great guy.

Should be a walk in the park for the "Para" lol

Was there in 1954 it was hell then. Looks dead easy now.

I live about 5 minutes drive away from this place and I had never heard of the place until I joined the Merchant Navy.. lol So many sailors that I served with had been to the glass house in Colchester..

Brings back memories

wow, reminds a lot of finnish army. it seems like theres many similiar traditions in the two!

These prison conditions should be applied to civilian prisoners. As mentioned by the narrator at 7:00, does the inmate population today consist of clerks/cooks as opposed to front-line troops?

Talk about sharing a jacked up soldier away it’s like a remedial boot camp lol

As an ex Guardsman . i heard that the Guardsmen got more stick on the square and with the kit.. But i knew a bloke who was in Colchester in early 80's who said the Guardsmen in there got some perks cleaning the staff boots etc especially if they were Discharges and not RTU's. When i was in.. you could do 28 days in your own Battalion Nick.. anything over that . you went to Colly..Then it changed to Colly for 28 days..

Went to the MCTC about five times in 1959 as prisoner and escort luckily I was the escort

The Scottish sergeant major in charge at the start shouting at them is the bomb. Wouldn’t mess with him.

Best drill I've ever seen...

SUS 980 Awarded 60 days, EPDR 13/01/93 ... got a double recommend in my second week. Miss those days ...

Military law is completely outdated and most soldiers do not know that they are able to be represented by a civilian lawyer and barrister. Court marshals are represented by senior officers who effectively serve the higher ranked officers and would not stand a chance against a civilian legal representation.

This telling of life among the regimented is a powerful encouragement of my life-long avoidance of anything in a uniform. Moreover I’ve been successful in remaining outside the purview of the clones of this variety and hope to continue on this path.

Do they still have the stockade, manned by one Royal Marine ?

I vaguely remember watching this. It was very interesting, although I can imagine the system won't work with everyone.

All the week I did in the glasshouse did for me was to make me wonder why I was bothering.

9:28..."prick"...hahaha

Spent my 21st birthday in their ... was amazeing ... what ALL jails should be like 2001 staff main was their. a jock... what a bloke !!!

I remember my dad working down here in the glaass house he worked in there for around 7 years and my dad said he was very strict with the SUS and he said that he wouldn't take any bullshit from any of the squaddies no matter what they say or did and he put loads of the squaddies on show parade every single day and my dad just believed in disiplin the whole time he served down there and that was way back in the 1980's.

I wonder what became of these soldiers and what they're doing now ?

Wait a minute. This is almost exactly the same as the basic training I went through when I enlisted. Did I get put in prison for enlisting?

I did 60 days in there in 1999 for filling in some chopsy crow officer, best thing I did, came out super fit and went on an nco cadre 3 months after and smashed it, got me super fit, cheers easy!

56 days in Colchester .. Got me a promotion three months after.

Shouldn't normal prisons be like this?

This is not the Glasshouse,The Glasshouse was in North Camp Aldershot,now demolished

" Do you have any homosexual tendencies? " " No Staff, but I am willing to learn!"

Im confused. Why is there a Naval uniform with Colour Sergeant chevrons on in this..i may juat be misreading the sleeve markings

Glass house is a breeze for a Rifleman ;) 140 paces per min, no problem. Try the double!

You spend more than a month there and come out as a very fit, very highly disciplined soldier, very few reoffenders, few want a second visit to the glasshouse! A civ prisoner would cry that this is against his human rights...

This must have been softened for the cameras because when I was there in 99 it was a lot harsher than what is portrayed in this programme.

Ahh my old mate Skiff' at 8 mins. 🤣 Good lad Skiff' not seen him since 89'.

I'm so lucky I was saved by an officer during work experience as a kid. He could see that I was affected in some way. That turned out to be BPD even though I think he thought it was drugs. I don't suppose it mattered. He saw that I was mentally ill and put a stop to my application that had been ongoing since 14. I just wanted to escape my abusers.... Thank fuck for that. He wasn't exactly nice about it but hey.... He saved me from an even worse life so I don't care... I'd have been slow at firs but then I think I could have shined to be honest. But I wanted it for the wrong reasons for sure....

every little lads breaking the law should be sent to colchester corrective training they would not offend again

never had the pleasure,but watch the military correction centre video on here,to see how its changed ….

I got 28 days here, I absolutely loved it loads of PT, Field craft and Shooting plus I'd just come out of doing BOST, so went from 3 hours kip a night to lights out at 2200 on at 0600 (I think it might have been 0500) all I know is a fek load of sleep more

In the US Army of the 70s and 80s, we called this Correctional Custody. It was staffed by Division MPs and no one I ever met wanted to go back. The period of their sentence was counted as Bad Time and added on to the end of their enlistment.

Poor education limits the life choice of these kids, they end up in the military as their last resort and the play things of politicians.

Are the majority of MPSC Staff from the Guards Division?

1:55 That Staff Sergeant wouldnt get away with asking that question nowerdays! LOL

this would make the us navy brig look like a holiday camp .

It is as you can see, all a reflection of the British class system. The Brit forces are officer clubs and these people are the men servents

I was in there during my younger days for around 3 months but I don't remember anything about checking those backpack brass. Anybody know if they are suppose to be polished or what?

How did I end up here? I was looking for a documentary about growing tomatoes 🍅

I did 112 days in 1993 got soldier on when I left ive never had been so fit in my life,I had a laugh to be honest

This is not much different to basic training for Infantry back in the early 80's. When was this made? Anyone? Thanks..

3:12 that looks like Colin Cahoull - The Company Sergeant Major that was in Lads Army.

Gaelle is great! So likeable. She's smart - should send her to Sandhurst.