It would be interesting to hear from former members of the British Frontier service and read about some of their experiences on the former GDR border and so on.

From what I've read and been told, they played a huge role in settling border disputes and generally keeping things as peaceful as possible with a common sense attitude (as opposed to the odd BGS hot-head who wanted to start a punch-up) due to their military experience as senior NCOs and WOs as well as their linguistic abilities and local knowledge.

Any takers?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Frontier_Service

Yes, they've done a good job on that site. They mention David Spears' book "The Ugly Frontier" as a reference. It's been out of print for a million years now, but if you find it in a used book store somewhere, it makes a very interesting and informative read.

My only dealing with them was at Dusseldorf Airport when they came on the bus and stamped "Cancelled" on the status of forces page in my wife's passport - the one that got dependents into the MLS and NAAFI - before we boarded our RCAF Yukon for an interminable trip to Trenton, Ontario. (Interminable due to the mother and father of all hangovers. See earlier post re: party at the gasthof in Wickede the previous night).

As like you I was suffering one good hangover. But I don't remember seeing the BFS stamping any passports. That was in Dec 68. Those Yukon's were one special way of traveling. They had just changed the ruling about having to wear uniform, so it was a comfortable trip that way. I think after that I only wore the old woollen battle dress one more time.

Maybe your eyes weren't quite open yet, or they changed the procedure after June '65. I guess we should mention that the Yukon was a Canadian version of the Bristol Britannia. Were the seats still facing aft when you came back?

That's an interesting Link, I never had any dealings with them though

Good site Gallahad. I remember in 67 having to deal with them for buying a new Fiat. For some reason you got papers from them in Bonn, drove to the Dutch border in to Holland remove the German plates, took the brown paper off the Canadian plates, drove back into Germany and it was all legal. Don' t know what the reason was, but I do remember thinking how there uniforms closely resembled navy togs.

It was the clearing of the German purchase tax the cars were exported and re-imported with an import licence for sometime now vehicles supplied from within Germany are cleared of tax with an abwicklunsgchein with the NAAFI as the procurement agency US and Canadian forces had their own agencies the "British Frontier Service" does exist today in a different form "Customs and Immigration" and import and export licenses for BFG private vehicles are supplied by them and they act as the link between the military and German authorities and veterans living in Germany get authority to shop in the NAAFI from them hope this helps

Hardrations

You are correct, when the BFS organisation was set up as part of the Control Commision Germany their first Commander was a former Naval Officer, naturally he adapted the appropriate RN uniforms for BFS use

I recall an article in the 90s in Soldier Magazine and seeing one of the ay JHQ RheinD.

On Border Patrol the BFS guy told us of a couple of incidents in which he was involved.
An East German work team was renewing the demarcation poles along the River Elbe. The East German Border at that point was at the edge of the water on the far side of the river. The BFS man said he would not allow the East Germans to step a few feet into West Germany to facilitate the erection of these poles. They had to stand in the water, with the BFS guy almost straddling the pole, while swinging the sledge between his legs.

I applied to join the BFS on my run up to demob in 86, I got a very nice letter telling me that they weren't recruiting at the moment but would keep my application on file. Do you think I should send them a reminder

train guard to berlin goods train 5 rounds per man had stand off with rusky saved by train whistle they had k47s

Steve, would you or someone else be so kind as to confirm that UK veterans living in Germany are allowed to shop in the NAAFI (if they can find one !)