When I joined the army ......

**John Turner** · 12-05-2007, 23:27

Originally Posted by stubexpc@yahoo.co.uk

I know John,I go back a bit further than you,

I meant Barry and I go back some way together.

**Barry69** · 13-05-2007, 15:08

JT as you say we go back along way, so yes a ribbing I can take, who is this other geezer no diamond I can tell you, but aye lets get this thread back on track mate

Bye

69

**BennytheBall** · 14-05-2007, 09:00

Barry
What about a certain RSM (No names mentioned) whilst called out on "Spearhead" to Belfast on a Herc (C130) from Lyneham we were up in the air when the RSM stood on the ramp counting the "heads" on the plane. The Load Master asked him what he was doing, he replied a "Head Check" Sir, in which the Load Master said but RSM we are 21000Ft, the RSM replied " You can't trust these B------s, they'll get anywhere".

**woods52** · 15-05-2007, 22:43

Originally Posted by richie264

Dai I remember the blanco room we called it the polishing room, because we had to scrape the Blanco off & polish it instead.(Jan 1975).
My 1st Cpl was Royal Welch," Williams", but he transfered to the RRW in 75 (must have been put off by the standard of the recruits !) short dark haired guy he was, minds just gone blank on his last 2, Crocker was the CSM of my Jnr Soldier Coy.

CSM Crocker still lives around the corner from my old ma , his nephew Andrew was shot & killed on tour in Belfast nov 76

**John Turner** · 15-05-2007, 23:27

I couldn't swim when I joined the Army!

I remember my 6'12" instructor (IJLB Oswestry - I was 15) giving it "Well - you'll be white water canoeing in a month's time if you can swim or not!"

They put a float in the front of my trunks and one in the back too, then took out the front one, then made the back one smaller, then put an inflatable armband in instead, then let more and more air out of it, then removed it and I was away.

My kids benefitted from my parents' mistakes - I taught each of them to swim by the time they were 3 or 4 in the same way - the youngest was in the olympic pool in Berlin.

I'd plonk a dirty great snorkel mask on them - get them to be OK with their heads underwater by playing games, blowing bubbles and making silly faces (I had a head start there!) at each other underwater and they were off without really realising it.

My eldest was a fantastic swimmer, he joined the Gatow Dolphins in Berlin and his coaches said that it would be a shame if he didn't keep it all up - reckoned he could represent the country some day.

He could do two lengths of an olympic-sized pool underwater.

Where was I?

**rob jones 60** · 22-05-2007, 16:06

was looking under the sink this morning an came across the ash try i was issued in junior soldiers . Even though Ive given up for four years now ,don't think i could part with it .In this non smoking land we live in now do the lads and lasses still have an ash try issued to them ?

frank · 24-05-2007, 19:13

When i first moved into Married Quarters, i came home late one night and asked my wife to get out of bed and make me a sandwich. After eating it i said to her , That was great, what was it. Crab paste, she snapped back. Well it was beautiful i said, where did you get it? Tescos? No she said, Boots the Chemist.

**chow** · 10-01-2009, 14:44

when i joined the depot September 72, we got £2 a week, but fags were only 10p for ten,so the money went quite far.
One of the best Sargent's i had was..sgt Danny donoven..(RIP)he always had time for us..

Thanks for leaving this thread open bob/al and the team.....

**jeffdj** · 10-01-2009, 16:26

i remember my first week in the Bn day guard in lemgo front gate button for the barrier by the window as everyone does leaning against the wall around the corner came mouse cooper i didnt know him from adam all he said to me was are you comfortable by there my reply was not bad mate it wasnt nice but at least it got me off the gate for a couple of hours and proved i could count to 23 at least i knew who he was after that