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,