On the evening of the 11th of September 1979 I was driven from Newcastle train station to Albermarle Barracks not far from Ouston near Newcastle upon Tyne to start my time in the British Army. Memorable times, some good, some bad but very few if any repeatable. This was the official troop photograph of Whitespear troop. I was away on the ranges at the time while catching up on training after recovering from an injury. A good bunch of lads on the whole.
It was back in the time of DMS boots & putees, the SLR & SMG and when everyone knew from which direction the enemy was going to come from. The whole of 1 (BR) Corps had to be ready for 'the Third World War' before we knocked off every day and we'd then go to the bar and get as 'unready' as we could in the time allowed. That's 4 Armoured Divisions at full readiness all the time, by 1990 it took the whole of the British army to get one Armoured Division ready for the Gulf war... and that took weeks. So much for 'Options for Change', which was of course known by the troops as 'Ethnic Cleansing'. My first posting after my trade training was to 22 Signal Regiment in Germany. Still young and keen as can be seen here during a squadron battle camp on the ranges at Haltern near Münster, showing off my prowess with the 9mm SMG. In the background you can see Steve "Fat Albert" Farmer, fellow idiot and drinking partner, doing his thing.
Everyone comes out of the woodwork when there's a camera about. This is Bravo Troop, 4 Squadron, 22 Signal Regiment. Way back in 1982. In the line up (as far as I can remember) is back row from L-R - ?, Arthur Weston, Bruno Brown, Derek or Clive??, Mick Stout, Dave Tindall?, Kev Laverick?, Ross Dempsey?, Chris Hunt, Myself, Dave Bartlett, ?, Mick Watson, Andy Brown. In front, the troop OC and Sgt Mick Rutter. My apologies for the incomplete list but I've never been good at names. You can see what's become of the barracks here.
I spent a couple of years serving in a 'Rear Link Detachment' attached to 47 FD Regt RA. I have to say I had a great time working with the 'Planks'. The time was mostly spent out on exercise with HQ 11 Armoured Brigade, which the regiment supported, or out on the ranges with the guns on 'Firing Camp'. We, as a Rear Link Detachment, crewed an AFV432 TAC Command Post which was the CO's forward HQ, and as the driver/radio operator, I seemed to spend hours driving around with my head stuck out of the drivers hatch in all weathers. As you can see from one of the very rare pictures of that time, wrapping up warm was your only form of 'heating'.
Even when on duty in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, there's always time for a cup of tea. In fact most of my tour was spent waiting around... or should that be most of my Army career was spent waiting around for something to happen or somebody more important than me to turn up (And that was normally everyone else). Anyone wondering about the 'nose up' attitude of the 'Pig' just had to take a look in the back, any comments about me being the counterweight is of course complete rubbish.
Well for my sins I too had to spend my time at a Div Signals Regiment. I had the 'pleasure' of doing time with HQ 4th Armourd Division and surprise, surprise waiting around again! Sat in my 1 Tonne Landrover Rebro on Sennelager Ranges. Looks like the NAAFI wagon had just been as that can account for the silly grin on 'Ditch' Dalton's face. If you wanted to get rid of the grin? Just ask him why he was called 'Ditch'!
| In my time in the Royal Signals : - | ||
| Basic Training | JSW, 11 Signal Regiment | Ouston, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Trade Training | 8 Signal Regiment | Catterick, North Yorkshire |
| Radio Relay | 22 Signal Regiment | Lippstadt, Germany |
| Rear Link Detachment | 524 RLD, 47 Fd Regt RA | Gütersloh, Germany |
| Radio Rebroadcast & Liaison | 4 Armd Div & Signal Regiment | Herford, Germany |
| EOD Operator | 321 EOD Coy RAOC | Londonderry, Northern Ireland |
| Radio Rebroadcast & Liaison | 4 Armd Div & Signal Regiment | Herford Germany |
I Really have to admit that there were far more good times than bad and 99% of all the people I met whilst serving in the army were really 'Top' blokes and were good to work with and even better to party with. But there has to be a point when you have to call it a day. In November 1987, together with BFBS (Big Fat Brummie Stuart) who was a Sergeant in my Troop in Herford and who's discharge date was the same as mine, I travelled up to Helles Bks in Catterick and handed in my ID Card never to wear another uniform again.... or so I thought!