Memory lane

The camp barber at Harrogate could cut at least 25 haircuts per hour and he was very polite, asking the lad how he wanted the cut to be. There was even pictures of celebratiies of the day to look at, you know Dennis Compton & Brylcream etc.

First time I went to the Regimental Barber I asked for a Tony Curtis - he shaved my head!! I said "Tony Curtis doesn't have his hair cut like that!", he said "He would do if he came here".

I asked for a page boy he told me to F*** off perv

The little German guy in the barbers at 4 Div in Herford had his name on the door "Herr Kutt", 4Gds at Iserlohn had a couple of young German girls as barbers, much easier to get the men in for a haircut i guess. Mind you a short haircut would not bother me much these days, the floor would still be quite clear!!

Very much same here Dave, in fact when I go in the Barbers eyes light up, probably thinking of how little he has to do, money for old rope lol

Misses does mine..Up and over and a quick polish.Saved me a small fortune over the years.

Yes, I must say I only get my hair cut every few months. Doesn't grow so quick. Young lady in my local hairdresser always asks ' Shall I triff your eye brows'. Wow, never had that sort of treatment when I was serving.

Daveb wrote:

The little German guy in the barbers at 4 Div in Herford had his name on the door "Herr Kutt", 4Gds at Iserlohn had a couple of young German girls as barbers, much easier to get the men in for a haircut i guess. Mind you a short haircut would not bother me much these days, the floor would still be quite clear!!

Our barber at Hereford was a star.

On severity of haircuts his philosophy was "wot's under your 'at is yorn, wot ain't is the army's !".

We used to buy packets of five Players Weights from him. Bastard used to store them next to the toilet soap.

Kept your breath nice?

I stopped smoking years ago. I went to an Acupuncturist - he stuck a load of needles in my Fags.

I stopped years ago too..The misses was going to stick an axe in my head....

Gordon. wrote:

I stopped years ago too..The misses was going to stick an axe in my head....

Ive stopped loads of times and find it realy easy. its the stayin stoped that I cant seem to do. but then again I dont crave a smoke if I aint got any it dont bother me, I have a smoke today and maybe not another for several days,

Shelldrake wrote:

First time I went to the Regimental Barber I asked for a Tony Curtis - he shaved my head!! I said "Tony Curtis doesn't have his hair cut like that!", he said "He would do if he came here".

Groan...

I was a 20 to 30 a day smoker for about twenty years and tried quitting a few times but found it impossible while in the army, an environment where drinking and smoking were positively encouraged. We had happy hours that started at lunchtime on fridays and it wasn't unusual for the happy 'hour' to turn into ten or twelve hours, during which time you would get very drunk and smoke dozens of cigarettes. It was a macho thing, the first to leave was obviously a wimp, the last few would consider themselves the stalwarts, the hero's, the real men. Regimental dinners were the same, I know tradition dies hard but peeing into a wine bottle while sitting at the table because the RSM says no one may leave the table was I think a tad extreme, as was being fined a case of port, but that's another story...

I was without doubt a party animal and loved it, but looking back I can see some were not but they had no choice. As I said earlier, the army is not the environment to be a none smoking tea drinker.

Memories, Memories!

Talking about Regiment dinners in the Sgt's mess. I remember a specific dinner when the message got round that President Kennedy had been assassinated. We were allowed to finish the dinner and got home earlier than normal.

Yes Jimsigs I remember that very well, it was on my 18th Birthday

I was sitting in a spider at Catterick swotting for a trade test.

Funny how we can remember a certain occasion like Kennedy's death. I remember being Orderly warrant Officer at 7 Sigs and rushing into the Sgt's mess to see the TV and find out what colour the moon surface was in 1969. We only had a black & white telly in our MQ

Quote :

Orderly warrant Officer at 7 Sigs

When did they start that?

Sorry Gordon,

Got carried away, Sgts/SSgts did Orderly Sgt duties at 7 Sigs but SSgts did Garrison Orderly Warrant Officers.

That would be Catterick,i take it?

Yes Gordon, Catterick Garrison.

Did my very last garrison Orderly Warrant Officer with a certain Lt mark Phillips. Met up at garrison NAAFI Club where he organised a supper for us with the manageress. He was A OK.

Wilf wrote:

I was a 20 to 30 a day smoker for about twenty years and tried quitting a few times but found it impossible while in the army, an environment where drinking and smoking were positively encouraged. We had happy hours that started at lunchtime on fridays and it wasn't unusual for the happy 'hour' to turn into ten or twelve hours, during which time you would get very drunk and smoke dozens of cigarettes. It was a macho thing, the first to leave was obviously a wimp, the last few would consider themselves the stalwarts, the hero's, the real men. Regimental dinners were the same, I know tradition dies hard but peeing into a wine bottle while sitting at the table because the RSM says no one may leave the table was I think a tad extreme, as was being fined a case of port, but that's another story...

I was without doubt a party animal and loved it, but looking back I can see some were not but they had no choice. As I said earlier, the army is not the environment to be a none smoking tea drinker.

We were allowed 200 cigarettes and 2 bottles of spirits, duty free, weekly so we used up our allowance. When I went to a dinner night I took a packet of cigarettes opened, another packet in my pocket and my wife carried a packet for me in her handbag, very rarely came home with any. If I was in a round, I would order at the Bar and, while the Barman was setting it up, I would probably have a whisky (or two). The following morning I would waken up with a thirst and go back for a Lunchtime session in the Mess - as you say it was positively encouraged. I am surprised that I am still alive!!

We used to get a tin of 50 cigarettes free each week out in Korea. They were said to be confiscated by HM Customs. Don't know whether to believe that. The ciggys themselves were a variety of sorts. The worst we ever had was Ogden's Robin. Like seaweed. Sometimes, we would buy the Canadian Sweet Caporal brand but I was hooked on US ciggys called 'Kool' (menthol)