Training

[griff029]

Hello gents.

Like many, I did my training at Crickhowell and was wondering who can remember the training platoon they were in. I was in Aden 5 in '76 in the hut nearest the road going up to the 30 metre range. What were you in??
One of the section NCOs was RWF. Cpl Lewis (3 something I think?? 32??). Don't remember if he returned to the bn later on though. Anyone know?
My section commander was a Cpl ?? (I am determined to remember this) from the D and D. Crackin bloke. Used to have two whippets that he wore out taking for runs.
My mum used to visit Abergavenny quite ofeten and kept me updated on the dwindling fortunes of the camp. Gone now I believe. Anyone know??

griff 029

[Barry69]

Myself Griff I was in Cyprus 5 in the middle block that was after two weeks in the Hut on the end towards the ranges.

Our Pl Cpl was Badge got RTU for a D&D offense he was an OK bloke Mogs 25 from the RRW took over he was a cracking bloke PC was RRW Pl Sgt was Goss from the Gloucester's his brother was the RSM in the Gloucester's, over two Cpls were both Gloucester s Mc Kennen and Big Irish Lad Brennan all good blokes.

I was there in 76.

I think the camp has still some facilities (Army Youth Team) but not sure? the quarters were sold off to civvies years back.

Happy Days

Barry

[ap1]

Glyndwr Pl(JS) 1977.

Main block nearest the cookhouse. The Platoon Commander was an RRW guy called Osbourne....Think he was med discharged.

Platoon Sgt was Phil(nipper) Reece, what a guy, Mr Cool. His brother was a Pl sgt in Training Company. Nipper reached WO1, then took an NRPS slot as RQMS(UOTC Cardiff). I believe he is now working as an overseas security contractor. We also had our own Shaun McCormack for 6 weeks, whilst Nipper was doing his drill course.

My section Cpl was Gus Hooker from the D&D's(think he got booted out on a later intake for punching the lamps out of 16yr olds), the other Cpl's were Terry Foley (Glos) a great bloke, He did 12 and left. Another popular NCO was Cpl Wilkinson RRW, big into his climbing. He got bust to LCPl on final battlecamp after being caught without his respirator on during state black....Bit of depot politics i think. Met up with Wilki in Belfast 81, wonder what he's up too now.

[Guvs]

Cwrt-y-gollen
Good days, I was there between Sept the 14th 1971 (it was a Wednesday) And some time in 1974 why I can remember the first date so well is because it was the day before pay day for the rest of the camp, and us as new sprogs got the normal visit during the night from the old boys to lend some money "till tomorrow" pay day!!! I wounder if I can sue the army now for emotional bullying in them days, why not everyone else is doing it.
During my time there I was accommodated in all 3 main accommodation blocks, and thinking back I think they changed the Education block back to accom and I spent sometime in that one as well.
They always say you remember your first platoon Sgt well I do it was Danny Donovan, what a fantastic guy might not of been the dan dare of the army type Sgt of today's army, but everyone would of followed him anywhere without him having to scream and shout orders at us, Platoon commander Lt Bob LLoyd, Cpl Jones 36(RIP) cant remember the names of the colorful PTi's we had then.
Remember the Green fields, salmons leap in the summer months, I remember the QM had 2 grate danes, would put the Sh!*%'s up you if you were my size and had to go down Depot HQ for any reason.
They were the best days of my life I think.

[Rog Ball 01]

After reading all the above, brings back memories of life in the Depot as Perm Staff and some of the guys that I knew (I was at depot 69 to 72 and again 78 to 80). I met some good blokes from all the Div Regts.

I did my training at Tonfanau, Dave Curtiss and Geoff Morton were both there, and Oscar Slater was RSM prior to Chippy Chandler of RRW. Tom Silverside was there as a Wpns Instr (he was Queens then). My Pl Comd was an RMP and Pl Sgt's were in RASC; we did not have Pl Cpl's hence why 2 there are 2 Pl Sgts.

[Rog Ball 01]

Cwrt-y-gollen
Good days, I was there between Sept the 14th 1971 (it was a Wednesday) And some time in 1974 why I can remember the first date so well is because it was the day before pay day for the rest of the camp, and us as new sprogs got the normal visit during the night from the old boys to lend some money "till tomorrow" pay day!!! I wounder if I can sue the army now for emotional bullying in them days, why not everyone else is doing it.
During my time there I was accommodated in all 3 main accommodation blocks, and thinking back I think they changed the Education block back to accom and I spent sometime in that one as well.
They always say you remember your first platoon Sgt well I do it was Danny Donovan, what a fantastic guy might not of been the dan dare of the army type Sgt of today's army, but everyone would of followed him anywhere without him having to scream and shout orders at us, Platoon
commander Lt Bob LLoyd, Cpl Jones 36(RIP) cant remember the names of the colorful PTi's we had then.
Remember the Green fields, salmons leap in the summer months, I remember the QM had 2 grate danes, would put the Sh!*%'s up you if you were my size and had to go down Depot HQ for any reason.
They were the best days of my life I think.

QM was Bob Davies ex 1 RWF MTO and Chief Clerk of 1 WELCH. Yours first RSM was John Mitchell D&D's, the OC if I remember correctly was Peter Cable Glosters.

[chow]

After reading all the above, brings back memories of life in the Depot as Perm Staff and some of the guys that I knew (I was at depot 69 to 72 and again 78 to 80). I met some good blokes from all the Div Regts.

I did my training at Tonfanau, Dave Curtiss and Geoff Morton were both there, and Oscar Slater was RSM prior to Chippy Chandler of RRW. Tom Silverside was there as a Wpns Instr (he was Queens then). My Pl Comd was an RMP and Pl Sgt's were in RASC; we did not have Pl Cpl's hence why 2 there are 2 Pl Sgts.

hey rog,now tonfanau that brings back a few memories used to have great times assing about as a youth up there,was born an lived most my life in and around tywyn befor joining the depot in sep, 72,sgt danny donovan (RIP) was there so was nick ravenhill he was a cpl then..some great times and people..

[Keith Jones 989]

Without wishing to steal the thread, anybody out there remember the Max Boyce concert which was held in the Gym at Cwrt-y-Gollen in about 1972/3?

[Rog Ball 01]

hey rog,now tonfanau that brings back a few memories used to have great times assing about as a youth up there,was born an lived most my life in and around tywyn befor joining the depot in sep, 72,sgt danny donovan was there so was nick ravenhill he was a cpl then..some great times and people..

U had good fellows as yr Pl Cpl and Pl Sgt. Knew Danny well as I was MT Cpl in Depot in 69 to 71.

Re Tonfanau was there in the winter of 62, when weather was bad - I had just come back from Singapore (leave with mum and dad), got stuck in Zurich cause weather stopped flights into Heathrow.

All this reminising is bring back good and bad memories.

[Guvs]

Without wishing to steal the thread, anybody out there remember the Max Boyce concert which was held in the Gym at Cwrt-y-Gollen in about 1972/3?

I was there during that time cant say I went to that gig though, I remember something about him being there,

[keithwill38]

I was on the regimental police at that time so i had a freebie in to see him:tongue:

[keithwill38]

But i think it was more 73/74 maybe

[rob jones 60]

I did my training in crickhowell in 81 i was in plassey plt Junior soldiers all our instructors were Dand D And the Glousters they were great instructors. there were four Royal welch men that passed out from plassey ,they were Edwards, Thomas, cuniff and myself 60.Bri Taylor was in salamanqua plt with cowpack, when we passed out we all went to B coy except for cuniff he went to deltas.training was hard but you only remember the best bits how we loved running up the sugar loaf and the white lady and pig track. i stopped out side the camp last year and looked on the parade square with pride as that was where i passed off as an infantry solider in the Royal welch fusiliers. the camp now looks like its been left to go the square is over grown with weed and grass ,the RP staff would have had a fit.The gym is still there ,( but the giant cap badges have long gone did the royal welch cap badge get back the battalion?) did some miles in there with the medicine ball and effin Richards barking in our hears he was a top PTI he used to race his wife on a horse up the sugar loaf, that was the fittest i have ever been in my life.all in all crickhowell holds so many great memories for me from the people i met , the experiences i had that have in a way shaped the way i look on life these days great times .............

[Rog Ball 01]

Didn't Max Boyce visit the Bn when thbey were in Tidowrth in early 70's and did he not give a concert in the Garrison Theatre?

[Bricoates]

I was at Crickhowell in 1964, the centre block, in Chilinwalla!! pln, junior Soldiers band I think was in the top block, the other pln was Minden, I think Carter was one of the Cpl Instructors, hated running around the square then in to the gym for more trg, I remember for punishment, having my bullied boots thrown out of the second floor window many a time, plus half my kit, the bull came off like egg shell and having to report to the guard room every half hour on saturday night with PT kit then working denims, No 2 dress etc. untill 10.00pm, it happened to most of the lads, made us respectfull, bet they would face a Court Martial today for that kind of behaviour or even a letter from Claims Direct. Cant say I loved the trg, but it was the proudest moment I can remember passing out, when we where eventually allowed in to Abergavenny our watering hole was The Vine Tree, great days.

[John Turner]

I didn't do recruit training at the depot as I had just passed out from IJLB Oswestry. Junior leaders/soldiers always used to go through the depot recruit training as well, before joining the Bn, they changed that at about the time I left IJLB and I think it was a huge mistake.

Recruit training was what, 16 weeks? Well junior leaders had just done two and a half years, so it was not deemed necessary to do 16 weeks of stuff they could do with their eyes shut.

Nor was it - but what WAS necessary was to make sure that these ex juniors joined the Bn with a lot in common with those joining with them.

Instead a lot of resentment was caused, which I can testify to.

[Rog Ball 01]

I agree John, I joined Bn direct from Juniors in 65, and it was hard going. I managed to get through things, but it would have been alot easier if I and my counterparts from juniors did some training at Depot.

[rog98]

I pass the camp regularly on my travels, and always stop to have a quick look. Its looking run down now, however i have seen squads of men running with PTI's so the camp is still used to an extent. I never did my trg at Crick but did spend a week there with Paul Davies 01 prior joining the Bn in 79. Its a shame that camps such as these, which hold some many memories, good and bad, should be left to deteriorate in the manner that they do. Both myself and Paul did our trg at Shorncliff IJLB 1978 with Chris Campble, John Riley, Ian Power, Ian Thomas 78, Snowy. Plt Commander was Lt Andy Jones and the CSM was Carter, cant remember his first name.

rog

[Rog Ball 01]

Rog

I believe that C Y G is now used as a training camp for cadets and the TA, with some regular involvement.

[griff029]

Talking of old camps being allowed to die Rog, I posted a question on the 16/5l forum last week about a camp near Tidworth. I wonder if anyone here remembers it.

Old barracks seem to be disappearing. When I was in the RWF in Lucknow bks in '76, we did some NI training at an abandoned camp at Ogbourne St George on the way to Marlborough. I tried to find it when we were there 82-86 but couldn't so I guess it had already gone by then.

Someone was clearly more on the ball than I was and put this link up.

http://www.defence-estate...mp/SI-1134-1930-P1-P6.pdf (http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/Pdfs/SouthWest/Lapsed/Chisledon%20Camp/SI-1134-1930-P1-P6.pdf)

Anyone remember it??

I have remembered the name of our DandD cpl. Cpl Clemence. Ring any bells??

griff

[Rog Ball 01]

Griff

I remember Ogbourne very well. Passed it every timer when I was living in Devizes and going to Swindon via scenic route.

I think that camp went out of existance in 70's and finished being a training camp in the 90's.

In 1954 the barracks were the home of 2 RWF on their return from Germany. The 4th Bn RWF were also at Ogbourne (annual Camp) when the 3 bn's were presented with new colours by HM Queen

[BennytheBall]

98

I was a Junior soldier at what was JIB Shorncliffe in 1969 (intake No 5), along with Andy Carnell( Intake after me), Dilwyn Thomas 15.
C-Y-G is now being used by the cadets TA and the ART (Army Recruiting Team).

I too had fond memories of C-Y-G both as being on draft there before joining the Bn in Hong Kong ( with Ray Jasper, Mike Carnell, Mal Ball, Martin Hargreaves and a few others whose names I can't recall at the moment, must be age?). Then a few years there as an instructor on the Brigade Specialist Training Team, before moving down to Maindy Barracks in Cardiff. Yes C-Y-G was a place of fond memories for all that passed through there

[britaylor49]

Great times there in 81. Rob dont forget Tony(spike)Roberts, Mark Catherall and Andy Hughes 37 were also passed out with Salamnca Pl. Dai 55s was with the band and with the drums was Rick Oshea,Led Blything plus another lad from up Anglesey way but cant remember his name and its really bugging me. Maybe Led or Rick might remember??

RWF staff i remember there was Sgt Jones 24 Sigs later 6pl sgt, Charlie Fenton and Hefin Richards both PTI, Drum Major Bostock. Also there was Mark(jamo)James and another guy who did the adventure training first name was Steve.

[led9750]

Hi Bri ,

Yes 1981 ,
My room after a couple of weeks was all RWF , Myself , Steve jones 93 { Drums mt ] Rik O,shea , Price 98 { sid } Thomas 02 { drums , Later worked in BHQ} Big Dave Curtis { sadley no longer with us .}
Our plt Sgt was Derek Adams { top Bloke }
The cpls were Kirby { Glosters } Spike Quinn {D & D } Gooch { RRW} Ted Tarrent {RWF } Dave Mason { RRW }.
D/M was the Great George Bostock.
Having a room of all Rwf was Great and we all got into the same trouble , a week in Nick together .
Frank Watkins {RRW } was the Provost SGT .
Best days of my life , all of us agreed that Derek Adams was a great Sgt , Mind you i dont think he was much older than us .
I think we all remember the suger loaf run , the one in four , Fighting on the Green feilds to sought our inter platoon problems , Getting beaten up by squaddie Bashers in Aber .
Crickhowell will always hold a space in my heart , like all those who went there at the age of 16 , scared out of our tiny minds .
but what a laugh
None of us had ever heard of a drums platoon and only after 6 weeks they informed us we were the drums Platoon , So most of us ended up as drummers by De Fault .
Will 04 { pits } was with us 4 6 weeks and went on to join the band also 1 RWF

led

[johnnye63]

I signed on 28th August 1962 and was "marched" in to the DEpot on the 10th September 1962 as a boy Drummer in the "Band School" as there was only band & drums then, latter it had a Junior soldier section, I was there when the "New" depot was opened by HM the Queen and the tin huts came down, I went for 16 weeks "man" service training in the 3rd block and then joined the Bn on the 23rd July 1965 in Germany.

[richie264]

I walked through the Depot gates on the 7th of Jan 75, I strolled into the guardroom & was quickley dispatched with a tirade of abuse from I think it was Lcpl Dunne RWF (he had star or heart tatoo's on his ears).
There were only 8 of us in the intake & were known as intake Pl.. Myself RWF, De'Lloyd RRW, Beeby WFR, Ladinde Glos?, (left) Duncan RRW (left) Oswald Ches I can't remember the others John Eglen did you join with me or were you senior??
Cpl Williams RWF was our only instructor.
WOII Crocker was CSM, There was a RWF C/sgt in the stores I forget his name, There was a Cpl Richards RRW as a PTI who pushed me like hell because of my name.
After the 1st term we joined the senior Pl, Beano Hind, Paul Butt, Chris23 were in this Pl, we did not have an easy time of it!!
Our Plsgt was Pendryn Morgan RRW exellent man, a Cpl ?(Basil) D&D, Cpl Diamond D&D?.
When we finished with juniors we moved on to Training Coy then our troubles really began. Instructors Lt Ambrook D&D, Cpl Donnelly Glos, Cpl George RRW
Calder & Dosantos were in this Pl
I thought D C H was ideal training camp, with the greenfields for basic battle skills then moving up to Llangatock for intrim & then "SENNYBRIDGE".
Anyone who trained in the Depot will have fond :nah: memories of the river, the salmons leap, the 1.4 (hill out the back of the greenfields) the confidence course the fire brake & the infamous Sugar Loaf.
I never thought that I would move from running around with telegraph poles to climbing them!
I was on fire picket the night one of the Twinehem huts went on fire I think Benny Nash was in this hut?
The Depot looks pretty run down now, it was on telly a while ago, there was one of these discovery channel SAS documentries with the usual telly "SAS CELEBS" carrying out hostage rescue drills using what was the Depot HQ block.
I remember some the married quarters were no more than portacabins, did anyone live in one of these??

[Ianto 10]

If you look on the photo posted by myself, there's a few old faces there who were the Traing Team around the time of present thread.
This will bring back some fond memories for you all?

[Keith Jones 989]

Thanks Richie264,

I was Orderly Room Sergeant in the Depot at the time the Twynham Hut burned down and yes, my wife, myself and our 4 year old son (now 38 year old son) lived in one of the portacabins for many months before being allocated 35 MSQ. Though small, those portacabins were comfortable and VERY warm. Always better to be together in a portacabin rather than having to commute to Sully, where I could have had a quarter immediately, of course! Somebody earlier mentioned QM R H Davies and his dogs. His wife was a breeder of bull mastiffs and he had two huge ones with him at Crickhowell. The first time my son saw them he ran away telling his mother the bears were coming after him! Wonderful memories of a wonderful place.

[rob jones 60]

thanks bri and led the old gray mater is going a bit you forget how many of us came throw training that year great times ....

[eglen john]

John Eglen did you join with me or were you senior??

Richie ( 64 ) I join the depot on Sept 10th 74, i thought you had joined the same day, but was sent else where for a few month's untill vacancies became available in junior soldiers.

Corperal Richards pti ( RRW ) was known as Snowy, he lived in Penarth, he also had with him, Corperal Davies 70 ( Btn boxer ) and Kim Hibbert ( RWF )

Pendrin Morgan ( RRW ) was the platoon Sargent and Johny Breslin ( RRW )was a Corperal.

Nick Ravenhill and Johny Beslin together was a night mare, i never knew a field telephone gave such a shock untill them 2 cought me.

[richie264]

John I didn't sign the dotted line/take the shilling until approx Nov74, Breslin & Nick had moved on when I got there, in 75 but I heard many a scary story.
Where does Misfit fit into this for some reason I've got him in my mind from this era??
I didn't recognise him at all at the reunion despite talking to him, with Dai Beer (sorry mate) I only knew it was him from the photo's posted later.

[Chris Sanders 98]

I was at Crickhowell in 1964, the centre block, in Chilinwalla!! pln, junior Soldiers band I think was in the top block, the other pln was Minden, I think Carter was one of the Cpl Instructors, hated running around the square then in to the gym for more trg, I remember for punishment, having my bullied boots thrown out of the second floor window many a time, plus half my kit, the bull came off like egg shell and having to report to the guard room every half hour on saturday night with PT kit then working denims, No 2 dress etc. untill 10.00pm, it happened to most of the lads, made us respectfull, bet they would face a Court Martial today for that kind of behaviour or even a letter from Claims Direct. Cant say I loved the trg, but it was the proudest moment I can remember passing out, when we where eventually allowed in to Abergavenny our watering hole was The Vine Tree, great days.

could have been in crickhowell same time june i was there

[bennyball2]

Hi I was in Korea 10 platoon 78-79,

Pl Cmdr was CSGT Snouty Roberts
Pl Sgt, Sgt Bates D&D
Pl Cpls, Von-Beck RWF, Cpl Williams (Twin) RRW, Cpl Garland, Glosters (my section Cpl),

Other Instructers:

The late Cpl Bodger Hughes, Cpl Mouse Terry (did I suffer in the gas chamber)

I think the old MTO from the battalion was the RSM, Williams ??

Arms storeman Lcpl Jimmy Barton (Crow), My first next door neighbour when arrived in Germany

As you can see from above, when they found out I was the brother of Cpl Ball 54, (Bennyball 1) My life changed dramaticaly and not for the best I can assure you.

Who can remeber that Cpl from the D&D who chopped the guardroom up with an axe.

and the Provo Sgt from the RRW who used to spy on the guard.

4 of us were badged RWF Ken Hewer, Skelly, Williams ?? and myself

Dont know where 16 weeks came from in an earlier post for recruit training ours lasted for 20 weeks

We were on the top floor of the centre block.

Cracking time though wouldent have changed it for the world.

Why was the decission made to take the training companys away from there, it has all the fscilities close to hand for training recruits???

[britaylor49]

Thanks Led

Some memorable times and names mentioned there mate. It was Sid Price from Anglesey top bloke wonder if anyone has comms with him.

Bri

[led9750]

Hi All
past Crickhowell today , so i got out the car and took a couple of pics , the camp area expect for the square and the gym is fenced off , the square is overgrown so a lot of Sgts / CSMs will be turning in there beds / graves .
It looks really sad the camp but as i stood in the middle of the square i felt a shiver down my spine and it felt good , almost like coming home . the ghosts of old lay in this camp and you can still feel the buzz of anticipation when you get on the camp , for most of us that 1st day in the army will never leave us , but i loved this place.
i posted some pics hope you all like them ,

cheers
led

[Richards 47]

Cyprus 4 Platoon 1976 with Jones 20 Porpoise {Price} etc
Plt Commander was S/Sgt Bellamy. Other Instructors were Ianto 10, Mackenna Glosters and the other I cant remember, Help me out 20.
What a great place Crick was. I think the feelings you got there Led is because it was a place where Boys became Men {Especially after a few pints in the Chevron Club:smile:} Which is still going they have a page on facebook.

[Guvs]

Thanks Richie264,

I was Orderly Room Sergeant in the Depot at the time the Twynham Hut burned down and yes, my wife, myself and our 4 year old son (now 38 year old son) lived in one of the portacabins for many months before being allocated 35 MSQ. Though small, those portacabins were comfortable and VERY warm. Always better to be together in a portacabin rather than having to commute to Sully, where I could have had a quarter immediately, of course! Somebody earlier mentioned QM R H Davies and his dogs. His wife was a breeder of bull mastiffs and he had two huge ones with him at Crickhowell. The first time my son saw them he ran away telling his mother the bears were coming after him! Wonderful memories of a wonderful place.

Hi Keith.
I'm sure them dogs the QM had were grate danes, I always said "I'm going to get one of them dogs one day" I did then I was posted there as a Cpl. in 81, Them were good days to, had to go to the guard room to collect my dog a few times after she got out of the back garden, not mine she would see a gate open about 6 houses down and off she would go over every parition fence between all the houses, you can just see it now, someone taking a drill lesson on that square, and a grate dane comes pounding across and wants to play with all the young boys, that were by now running for there lives and my dog thinking "Ho this is good they want to play chase me" not a happy drill Sgt. good days. I might be wrong about the QM's dogs they would of been bloody big bull mastitts.

[Paul Hinge]

Hi Steve
I'm trying to ring my memory as you, Dai Beer, Robin Cadwallader and others were very young lads compared to me who was nearly 15 months your senior on joining. I agree with you Danny Donavan was a brilliant bloke and Plt Sgt. There were two Cpls, Lewis36 and another guy, both RRW.The last one was at the end of his service..that's it his name was Cpl Barclay. Plt Commander was Lt Doug Shaw a famous RRW rugby player and my recollection of those days were that Cwrt-y-Gollen was still the Welsh Depot and there were no other Regt's permenant staff there. The Bandmaster was Don Price RWF another gent ended his service as Director of Music of the Royal Engineers. Sadly he's left this mortal world. Ken Fennesy RWF was the was the woodwind instructor and a Young Cpl (cornet player)who found religion later in life from the RRW was the Brass instructor (name escapes me). Those first 2 terms really saw us moulded from a ramshackle bunch to passable soldiers even if we were all under 18 and most not even 16 years old. An intake that was 58 in number to 22 of us who past off the square. I remember 4 lads left on day 2 as they had to have their haircut. Dai Beer and myself won the bulling boots competition (Ammo Boots) and got excused muster parades for 2 weeks at the end of training. Can you remember that one Dai?

Thanks for bringing back those memories

Hwyl

Paul (Buck) Hinge

[keith Jones 14]

I walked through the gates of Cwrt Y Gollen on 4th October 1974 and joined Korea 1 Platoon. The first persons i came across was Bob Bohana and Mark Ethel.
My platoon Sgt was John Webb (RRW) Ianto 10 and Mick Salaway (RWF)were the Instructors. Names within the platoon. Eifion Jones 80 (my brother) Terry Bower who got coached from joining the Gloucesters to RWF,Tony Patten, Kevin Zowitcz,Dave Tarren,Charlie Williams 41. Please update me on the others in the platoon.
My one main memory of the good old days was when Eifion my brother had this plan to trash the new intake, we all got dressed and wearing our resperator, on return we had to enter via the back window, only to find out that Eifion had locked the window and was the first back into the block and into bed. At this time the B.O.S wasnt far away and heard all the racket it was then marching orders to the Guard room. Two hours later still outside with no one admitting that they were involved. So a decision was made to take the platoon to the river at the back of camp for a beasting from a CSM who was in the Gloucesters my it was a beasting especially with the river in its full flow.
Ive got a platoon photo somewher so i will dig it out and post it on the forum.
The good old days of Cwrt-Y-Gollen

[Ianto 10]

Keith,
I remember my passing out parade, when your dear old dad 'Jackie' brought a load of lads from the 6/7 Bn RWF to see me passing out, Billy Pritchard and Jeffery Camal (hope he dont mind me calling him that) there were more but names escape me now. Good Old 'Jackie Bach'

[Pegleg]

Hi I was in Korea 10 platoon 78-79,

Pl Cmdr was CSGT Snouty Roberts
Pl Sgt, Sgt Bates D&D
Pl Cpls, Von-Beck RWF, Cpl Williams (Twin) RRW, Cpl Garland, Glosters (my section Cpl),

Other Instructers:

The late Cpl Bodger Hughes, Cpl Mouse Terry (did I suffer in the gas chamber)

I think the old MTO from the battalion was the RSM, Williams ??

Arms storeman Lcpl Jimmy Barton (Crow), My first next door neighbour when arrived in Germany

As you can see from above, when they found out I was the brother of Cpl Ball 54, (Bennyball 1) My life changed dramaticaly and not for the best I can assure you.

Who can remeber that Cpl from the D&D who chopped the guardroom up with an axe.

and the Provo Sgt from the RRW who used to spy on the guard.

4 of us were badged RWF Ken Hewer, Skelly, Williams ?? and myself

Dont know where 16 weeks came from in an earlier post for recruit training ours lasted for 20 weeks

We were on the top floor of the centre block.

Cracking time though wouldent have changed it for the world.

Why was the decission made to take the training companys away from there, it has all the fscilities close to hand for training recruits???

Hi Karl,
sure there was more than 4 of us RWF, williams 40 i think was from Ruthin, Nick Roberts 00 also from Ruthin and Jones 24 also Ruthin passed out with us ,there was also another lad from wrexham Jones 62 or 82, Von - Beck cracking Section Commander

[chow]

hey led ,seen the photos mate,its a real shame that the camp is going to the dogs,had some great times there,even going over the assault coarse at 2 am in shorts,because we were making to much noise.ha.great times never the less..

[griff029]

Led,

great stuff putting the pics up. Is that two storey building where they did education??? I seem to remember also a two storey office bit near the arms kote???
Are the main old blocks still there?? I guess the huts have gone.
It is quite amazing just how doing areas and square bashing keeps the weeds down.
I am on another forum with the 16th/5th lancers and the camp we were in 79 and 80 is a right mess even tho some civvies are using it for something.
I think Lucknow barracks Tidworth has disappeared as well.

griff 029

[Bri Brazier]

Led,

I think Lucknow barracks Tidworth has disappeared as well.

griff 029

Lucknow Bks in Tidworth has been modernised and is now the home for the 2nd Battalion.

[jones20]

hi griff

went to see Lucknow barracks in 2005 as i was in that part of the world the officers mess is still as it was but the rest had totally changed the chippy is still there

regards 20

[griff029]

http://baor-locations.com/Home.aspx

The above site is fantastic for any stuff to do with BAOR barracks. There are a few links that are pretty good as well.
There was a ten year conversion plan whereby the old barracks that were closing were converted into housing or other uses. Stornoway at Lemgo was turned into housing. It still retains much of the shape as it did when we were there but there will be a few RSMs that will be unhappy about the square disappearing.
Where in BAOR did the regt go when they returned to BAOR. When we were doing our personal weapons traing before going to Iraq in 1990, RWF were helping us out at Sennelager. Where was the regt based then?

wasshael

[john1]

We were based at Montgomery Barracks in Berlin at that time.

[bennyball2]

Hi Karl,
sure there was more than 4 of us RWF, williams 40 i think was from Ruthin, Nick Roberts 00 also from Ruthin and Jones 24 also Ruthin passed out with us ,there was also another lad from wrexham Jones 62 or 82, Von - Beck cracking Section Commander

Hi Ken hows things mate, how could I forget those names. how are you mate

[Mike Thomas]

I seem to think that the RRW corporal's name was Bolger or similar.

[nick sigallias]

I joined in 74 with eglan, misfit, beano,chris 23, john hussey(glos), scottie blair, paul butt,ken lloyd, and others, our NCOs were nick ravanhill, breslin, Sgt pen morgan, Lt Bob Lloyd,.. weeks of utter madness and brutality, mental and physical lol .. but you needed to man up quick and weeed out the mummies boys ready for the tours of NI that would happen in the very near future , have a look who joined with me .great blokes all of them.I remember the horrible PTis Snowey, kelly both RRW. and our own sweet and kind Austin davies lol

[Braz]

Snowy Richards was a star. I remember the day he rejoined the Bn in Osnabruck. We were both skint, so I borrowed DM50 off a certain WO2 who was my Boss at the time. We goes into the Cpls Mess and I orders 2 pints of Double Diamond, 25 pfenigs a pint. i PUTS A 1dm Coin in the Bandit and Drops DM200. Well Snowy and myself were off down Geordies Bar like a pair of racing snakes. Brian Kelly was a Good Egg too. Theres a few of the lads on the other site still reckon Johny Breslin was a bit of a bully. Must say I always found him to be ok. Must say them names brought back some memories. Cheers for that. Braz

[Braz]

The Provost Sgt at the time you are talking about was Frank Watkins. He was the Guy that pinched the Table Tennis Bats from the NAAFI and was using them to guide choppers in. (what a laugh). The only RRW NCO I can think of with the sort of letters your using is Jim Botwood. Is that who your thinking of?

[ap1]

I can remember Frank Watkins taking an RRW L/C from the Depot Band on HQ Coy Orders. I had just passed out and was "Duty Bitch". Frank had caught the guy nicking a catering sized bag of cornflakes from the cookhouse(it was in the boot of the car). Frank looked really smart marching into the OC's Office(Johnny Wiseman) clutching said bag of evidence....Even in the 1970's he appeared to be from a bygone era. A character, he played the part to a tee.

[steve carey]

I went to sutton coldfield recruit selection centre 3 days then down to crickcowel to start training, I went down with a lad from Aberdair name of jenkins (jinx) had a younger brother tony, When we arrived told that everybody was on leave for 2 weeks so come back then, How do I get back to liverpool I asked, Walk you limey ******* the guard commander told me ? no money or travel docs I was ****ed, But jinx asked me to come and stay at his house for the 2 weeks so I did and his parents looked after me for the 2 weeks they where great people. 2 weeks later back to the depot and from day 1 every nco tried bullying me plt corp was worst williams was his name (sep 72 korea plt) some great lads though Bob powell, Gareth Barlow (merthyr) Roger howells 01, older guy name of Les in tidworth became reg sign writer,Tallis, and many more, Weapons instucter was tonto davies john davies 34 brother what a great bloke. When I passed out a few nco,s came up to me and told me they tried to break me because they did not want no scouse limey ******* in the rgt,But well done for surviving well I did not thank them for it but got my own back over the yrs in a few bars and in the ring These men where just evil *******s who took great pleasure in making my young life hell But I was stonger than them. This was not character building in was bullying and racist ie everyday called limey scouse *******, Anyway I did have great times with the lads and those evil *******s never ground me down.

Steve scouse Carey. Happy Days.

[steve carey]

Les windsor was the fellas name I was not sure about and Billy Cartwright, Barry Griffiths 43 what a lvely lad he was a gentle giant.

[Dai 55]

Barry Griffiths 43 great man top draw

[Rog Ball 01]

Steve,

That type of behaviour would not be tolerated in todays services.

[nick sigallias]

Snowy always used to remind me of jimmy saville lol.. I think that in those days bullying by the NCOs was the norm, but it had a plus side when we joined i think something like 150 joined on the same day and within a fortnight that number had been whittled down to about half that.. we were all little boys really and in JS coy there were what seemed like men in the older intakes so there was bullying of the sprogs at all levels..John breslin proberbly was a good bloke but i dont think there was a PSI in that place who wouldnt give you a dig for the slightest reason. but we were all at it. One thing is though the likes of john jones 36, nick ravenhill , or johnny bress, wernt adverce to going in the room when it was full of lads and saying come on then youve got three mins get your own back.. and we bloody well did.. and there were no repecussions, A funny thing happend with johnny bresslin, he used to play rugby and then come to the block to shower user your towels and smellies ect. and then go to the Cpls mess ... I had this overwieght lad from the D&Ds in the next bespace to me called higbey.. now bare in mind bresslin was a lumb of a bloke too. anyway i came into the room and saw what i thought was the rather fat ugly higbey on my bed naked. so i got the fire bucket full of water and dogends ect and emptied it all over his back shouting get off my bed you fat c~#*, instead of jumping in the air as i was hoping the figure turned very slowly around ready to explode. you could have heared a pin drop in the room. it wasnt higbey it was bressiln. I made it to the greenfields and stayed there a few hours. but he caught me in the end.. anyway it made a better man of me id like to think lol.

[nick sigallias]

Frank watkins was a comic book type Provo sgt a cross between blakey on the busses and winsor davies you couldnt make it up . he lived in the sgts mess i think he was single. his favorite thing was to hide on top of the roof of the hostal and catch you with a girl in the room. and accuse you of bringing an "intruder" (his words) into the block girls from aber are a lot of things but they are not intuders i used to think when he caught me.

[nick sigallias]

DO anyone remember Big "H" harry rundal RRW in the depot. he even looked frightening.

[Braz]

Harry 'Gis u fag' Rundle. Harry finished up as a WO1 RSM. If you thought he was frightening then. You can't imagine how anyone New to the Bn must have felt when he was Provost Sgt. They must have been bricking it. Another Grat Rugby player though Big H was. Braz

[jcj]

I started training in CYG early Jan 1997, my Platoon Sgt was Jack Leahy (SWB) Platoon Comd was RWF but we saw little of him. Admin Cpl Bernie Gleed (SWB) my wpn trg NCO’s were Cpl Wally Jones 15 and Cpl Jones 99 ( both RWF) for some strange we believed that Wally and 99 were brothers. Cpl John Lemin (RWF) was our main PTI and I can honestly say I was s*** scared of him. Years later we were great friends as PSI’s with 3 (v) RRW.On one occasion when we were doing milling I was lined up with my best mate as my opponent, we were poncing about not really hurting each other when John Lemin grabbed us both by the neck and said “if you two don’t get stuck in I will take you both on”. We were so scared we battered each other to a bloody standstill. I returned to the Depot 72 – 75 as a Cpl on the SAA wing, my best mate was Ted Doutch and I was very friendly with many other RWF NCO’s Nick Ravenhill, Pete Coleman, Mac Gittins, Mike Salway, Dennis Goldsworthy, Des Williams (DCM) to name but a few. I also remember the QM with the large dogs but we had another name for him Dai S*** Halfway through my stint the Welsh Brigade depot became the POW Depot Crickhowell and we were joined by the Glos (Glooms) and D&D (Armoured Farmers).

[nick sigallias]

Carlos stephens was there at the time so was mel blake, reg turk Glos, josh george, mike mason, joe mason, sgt webb, sgt baker was provo sgt before frank watkins.. will 38, jones 36, phill arnold. and who can forget Ginge hairdresser to millions but never quite got the hang of it.

[Rog Ball 01]

Reading the latest threads is bringing back memories to me. I was MT Cpl at the Depot from Jul 69 to Jan 72, and MT Sgt from Jul 78 to Jul 80.

[steve carey]

I have read a few posts naming Von Beck,I was in Bravos in Tidworth with Beck, Did you know as a young lad he ran away from home and joined the French foreign legion and his dad was an R.A.F officer who went and got him out as he was under age, Beck himself told me this story can anybody else throw any light on this.

[ap1]

It's a true story Steve. I met Bob's father a few years ago at a function in Shrewsbury. I'm still in contact with Bob, he lives in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. He is involved in the selling of agricultural feeds. He does pop onto the forum occasionally, his username is "Observer"

[steve carey]

It was the lads who gave him the nickname Von Beck after he told us the story, He was telling us that it was full of facists who wore nazi insigna on the reverse of there lapels.