haymon
13-05-2008, 16:10
Just a thought from someone who, having spent many years in 'civy street', made a nostalgic visit to Berlin recently and to Montgomery Barracks in particular. How many bandsmen have made a similar trip and found that the Camp has changed very little? Now, after 52 years, I find that the X34 bus, from Bahnhof Zoo takes passangers to the gates with the same stone pillars. The village has hardly changed - just built up what were empty woods.
I could say much more, but there may be no one listening! So I am just checking to see if there are any bandsmen out there who were with me at the time and have a tale or two to tell. But just one question. Who were the two mates who were with me on a particular Saturday night when we got drunk in Charlottenberg - near the NAAFI Club - missed the last tram to Spandau (and the curfew) and walked all the way back to Kladow and the camp. How did we get back in? Having dived into a ditch to avoid the the border patrol, we ran to the front perimiter fence, climbed it 'effortlessly' and sought refuge in our beds - fearfull that the redcaps would burst in at any moment. But, if anyone did see us, they never mentioned it!
Hopefully, replies will flow.
Ivor (Haydn) Brown
I could say much more, but there may be no one listening! So I am just checking to see if there are any bandsmen out there who were with me at the time and have a tale or two to tell. But just one question. Who were the two mates who were with me on a particular Saturday night when we got drunk in Charlottenberg - near the NAAFI Club - missed the last tram to Spandau (and the curfew) and walked all the way back to Kladow and the camp. How did we get back in? Having dived into a ditch to avoid the the border patrol, we ran to the front perimiter fence, climbed it 'effortlessly' and sought refuge in our beds - fearfull that the redcaps would burst in at any moment. But, if anyone did see us, they never mentioned it!
Hopefully, replies will flow.
Ivor (Haydn) Brown