National Service demob proceedures

brum wrote:

We had a Jewish bloke in our battery in Paderborn.

We were parading for work one Saturday morning, amid much disgruntled mumbling, under our A I Sigs when Jewish chappie pipes up and says "'ere sarge, I shouldn't be on this parade, I ain't spose'd to work on the Sabbaf !"
To which George Thompson replies "Right, ye can parade in the morning and work on yer 'kin own !"
The matter never arose again.

(Yes, Shelldrake, you knew him !).

I remember George Thompson. the truculent Gunner's name escapes me, think he was discharged SNLR around '72. I believe that his Father was a Sqn Ldr or some such in the RAF?

burgess720 wrote:

Cliffo wrote:

Returned to Borden Depot late August 1954 from Duisburg  via the Hook  - most of the guys
I'd done my trade training with in Aldershot 2 years previously seemed to be on the train on the way back from Bad Oyenhausen -  pen pushers all!!
Spent about a week in the depot bullshitting and then  went home with all our kit . All div etc flashes had to be removed before we left BAOR. Some were transferred to the TA reserve and others to the Army Emergency Reserve - I think it depended on the proximity of your home to a TA drill hall. I was called for two weeks AER camp in Crowborough, Sussex, the following February.  Two years to the day after being demobbed, I was recalled for Suez on 4 sept 1956 and got back late February 57
Arrived at the depot late one night, collected some pay the following morning and left by midday still with all my kit.  Gave my BDs and greatcoat to the milkman, kept my bush hats, shirts and socks for fellwalking and chucked the rest in the bin.

Many different experiences with demob; depending on regiment etc; those going on to reserve kept almost all kit, as I did ,  then kept it after that; my bd top lasted about 40 years [without flashes] gardenig

Talking of kit; do they still issue mess tins with k/f/s, and "housewife" pull through for rifle etc
What about the old Army form numbers 252, G1098, paybook etc etc; maybe some clever bugger has changed all that just to confuse old soldier

Nearly Christmas, in the army if you could not get home is was a boring time
Cheers  Tony

Not forgetting the ubiquitous AFG 1033.

Back in the 80s,on a train in Germany , onto the train at a forgotten station came a whole crowd of young German lads . They were wearing normal Civvy type clothes but they all had hats.
These hats were covered in a collection of badges,feathers and even a few plastic aircraft models.
I was told at the time that these were probably National Service lads who had finished their time.
Does anyone know any more about this?

brum wrote:

We were parading for work one Saturday morning, amid much
disgruntled mumbling................

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'Ere !    Just noticed this Brum, an implication that it wasn't normal to work on Saturday mornings !  What were you in, the RAF ?  ........ We were told, and believed, that the brave lads in blue had a day off after a  guard duty.  And we  worked Saturdays ( I think !), a day often reserved for Tp Cdr's or BC's inspections. Then, when a top up of jabs was on the cards, Saturday mornings were just a parade at the MI Room so that the following 24 hours grace from normal activity, if it were needed, was on Sunday, an official day off.

Saturday mornings in Boys Service was RSMs Drill Parade, afternoons was for sport, on posting to a Regular unit, Saturday mornings was RSMs Gun Drill - this continued until around 1971(ish).

Chemist wrote:

Back in the 80s,on a train in Germany , onto the train at a forgotten station came a whole crowd of young German lads . They were wearing normal Civvy type clothes but they all had hats.
These hats were covered in a collection of badges,feathers and even a few plastic aircraft models.
I was told at the time that these were probably National Service lads who had finished their time.
Does anyone know any more about this?

I remember it well, we had a Bundeswehr Signals Unit sharing our accommodation in Mansergh Bks, Gutersloh.   Every few months, normally on a Fri afternoon, several members of the unit, hats decorated, would stagger out of camp, free men.   I think that the hats were decorated to signify a "Rites of passage" transition.

I was National Serviceman and signed on for another 1yr. That made me a regular. I was in Hohne Barracks in BOAR.For being demob had to go to Bovington Camp.Spent 4 Days there and the last night on guard.Came of guard .Handed all the Kit in and changed to civvies and went home from there January 1958.Next 7 yrs on reserve

Welcome William,

Here is a Map of Hohne Bks.

Not sure you will remember it?  Maybe some add on buildings?

Alan.