BAOR Christmas!

'fraid I can't recall his name, brum.
He was RASC as I was LAD att to 66 Coy RASC during my time in BAOR.

Brrowe
When were you with 66 Coy LAD? I was in 112 Coy LAD 59 - 62 and if my memory serves me both Coys were part of 7 Armd Div Column RASC. I have memories of travelling to sporting fixtures against 66 Coy.
Bob

That officer is the spit of Keanu Reeves.

Now you mention it . . yes, I think he actually IS spitting !

Well spotted, Teabag old chap !

I thought it was Lord Lucan !!!

He looks like a "Bloody good bloke".

BobG!
I was LAD att to 66 COY RASC from '57-June '59.
I seem to remember that we went to a sporting event in Dortmund in,I think, '59.
I have a few photos taken that I took then, which I'll sort out.
I didn't take part as I was due for imminent demob.
There's been a bit of talk re good or otherwise experiences in BAOR!
I think it all boils down to the reason one joins up in the first place.
I my case, I had had such an unsettled upringing (10 schools in 11 years owing to my parents being constantly on the move) that when the time came to register for National Service I decided that enough was enough so I signed on for 22 years.
Unfortunately my self esteem had by then, taken such a bashing that I couldn't settle so opted to leave after my first 3 years were up, I decision I bitterly regretted years later.
All in all, I look back on my short period in the army as one of the best periods in my life.
For 3 years I was in control (so to speak) for the first time.
It taught me independence and enabled me to bring up a family in a stable envirenment and not subject my kids to a shattered education, and the possibility of making lasting friendships etc.

LOL, Lord Lucan gets my vote.

Shelldrake wrote:

He looks like a "Bloody good bloke".

Yeah, I can just imagine him ordering Slackbladder to take his men over the top !

Talking of which, I'm off to the Christmas market this weekend. A few slivovitz and some bratties and pommes.

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/frankfurtmarket

Hi jim,
I envy you.
Leicester has a small German Christmas market too, but not a patch on your's. Ours is over in a few days, still, I've bought my Stollen, DAB, Mulled Wine and Leb Kuchen etc.
Might try to get to Brum (my family hails from there, Sheldon and Bordesly Green.)

jim wrote:

Talking of which, I'm off to the Christmas market this weekend. A few slivovitz and some bratties and pommes.

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/frankfurtmarket

Four and a half quid for a brattie. £1.89 for six at Lidl.

brrowe wrote:

Hi jim,
I envy you.
Leicester has a small German Christmas market too, but not a patch on your's. Ours is over in a few days, still, I've bought my Stollen, DAB, Mulled Wine and Leb Kuchen etc.
Might try to get to Brum (my family hails from there, Sheldon and Bordesly Green.)

If you do, PM me and I'll send you my mobile number, we might be able to meet up for a beer and brattie.

I know teabag, but they don't taste the same as done on the Market, I'm not complaining, they're not bad and I eat them a lot, but somehow at the german Market they are more "Authentic"

probably bought in Lidl mine.

Continuing with a festive theme, someone mentioned Officers bringing round the nosh.
Our REME CO, Cpt Frazer always ensured that all his lads received a visit from him on Christmas morning, bringing with him two or three bottles of the hard stuff from his Officers Mess account.
The attached photo was taken at Maresfield Bks, Herford in '57.
Happy days!

Comments re the young officer 'bringing the scoff' were interesting as the first thing that went through my mind as I looked at the pic was something along the lines of 'why is it young officers look like officers and the squaddies, who'd be the same age give or take, don't?" I mean, there's no mistaking him for anything but a young officer!

The moustache is certainly part of that (block it out and he looks liked he'd be 12!) but there's something else too....can't quite put my finger on it.

I found that in the Canadian army too....by and large one could easily pick out officers vs enlisted vs SNCOs, even if everyone was in civvies....again, not sure what it was (well, in the case of SNCO types it'd be age!! LOL).

I think you are right Stephen

You can always tell an officer, but not very much and they dont listen anyway

It`s all in the grooming..So i`m told

Talking about 'tache's When I arrived at 20 Bde I was told by nthe Super Clerk, Cdr Jones to remove mine. They were only allowed on LCPL and above he told me. Anyone else come across that?

I had quite a respectable "tash" just before I left the army, looks pretty good in the photos. I was hoping to grow an "Old Bill" but never persevered.

In earlier times, in Colchester, I grew one, only to be told by Tara to get it off. "Filthy things Sir" he said. "Oh I quite agree RSM" said the CO. Off it came.

jim wrote:

Talking about 'tache's When I arrived at 20 Bde I was told by nthe Super Clerk, Cdr Jones to remove mine. They were only allowed on LCPL and above he told me. Anyone else come across that?

Yes, my Missus!!

What rank were you then Brum?

LOL Sheldrake.

Nope, had a 'tache as a private, acting LCpl, Local Cpl and Major disorder.... LOL

Oh well, maybe Josh Jones just didn't like 'tache's

jim wrote:

What rank were you then Brum?

LOL Sheldrake.

Best described as "Precarious Lance - Jack" I think !