28 (BR) Signal Regt

Hi Ritter, as you can see from my avatar I'm a member of the ANAVET's so I'm very familiar with the CD. Our unit president did 32 years with the RCAF, he has the CD with additional bar for long service.
I'm a 1951 era Regular as you can see from my profile and was in BAOR at the time of the Queens' Coronation, no medal of course had to have don 5 years to qualify. Same with Korea, I can understand the British Korean Medal not being issued after the Armistice, but it was OK for us to get the UN (Korean) Medal for being there.
There's all kinds of chatter about a NS medal etc and I personally think that the whole medal structure needs reviewing. Cold War (BAOR) medal is one of the few I would support after all it was classified in the 50's as an Active Service posting as was Korea in 1954/55.
I think its got a lot to do with MONEY, can you imagine the cost of producing the many thousands of medals to cover BAOR alone over the years, it would be mind boggling. I'm quite happy with the two that I have. And as an after thought our Gov Gen's CD is the civilian version I believe.

Len (Ciphers)

[quote="ciphers"]There's all kinds of chatter about a NS medal etc and I personally think that the whole medal structure needs reviewing. Cold War (BAOR) medal is one of the few I would support after all it was classified in the 50's as an Active Service posting as was Korea in 1954/55.

In the cold light of day I don't really think there's a need for a BAOR/Cold War Medal.

Having said that, during my 12 years in BAOR we had the Cuban Missile Crisis and that time, after Kennedy's assassination, when we were considering going in to Brown Trousers Order, not to mention the Berlin Wall bit.

Somewhere along the line BAOR acquired the same status as a UK (cushy) posting.

There are medals available for private purchase, which cover all the important moments in 20th century history, of course.
Among many, I qualify for there's the First in the NAAFI Queue at Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl (1959) Star,(previously mentioned).
Not to mention the Almost Deployed To Take On The Mods And Rockers at Clacton (1965) Cross.
Let us not forget the Award in Recognition of Being Spoken To In a Disrespectful Way by Belfast Scrubbers Medal.

We used to scoff at the Yanks for having a chest full of medals for doing practically toss-all, (who remembers Elvis having a medal, for being Rather A Good Rifle Shot ?).

Do we REALLY need medals for everything we've done ? To much polishing for Remembrance Day, in
my opinion !

Well said Brum..

Bob,

Not being disrespectful and all that but your medal of yours looks the same shape as our old three penny piece.

Whilst talking about Cannuks, I remember coming home from Naples when on the way home to UK from Cyprus 1957(the bike broke down) and cadging a lift on a RCAF plane called The North Star. We landed at RAF Langar neat Nottingham.


Jimsigs1
GSM (Cyprus), United Nations Medal (Korea) & LS & GC, +First Aid Medal, Small Bore Shooting Medal, Veterans Medal (they sent me two), Triumph Owners Club Medal, - Shall I wear this lot at the GJM next year ?

ciphers, brum, jimsigs1 et al,
I don't want to belabor this medal thread but I feel compelled to add another medal to the mix.
I'm not sure why I was whining about not getting that Coronation Medal as I suddenly remembered that I already had one and I'm fairly confident in saying that there is not another soul in any of these forums who has it. I'm referring to the Coronation Medal which I received in 1937 on the occasion of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. I remember the investiture like it happened yesterday at my Public School, SS No 8 Woolwich Township, Waterloo County, ON. A local dignitary presented the Coronation medals to all of the students in my grade four class. As the students stepped forward the medals which had red, white, and blue ribbons were pinned on our chests; we then marched around the perimeter of our class room lustily singing,''God Save the King" . As well, our teacher in a fit of patriotism, dramatically snapped down the roller map of the world on the front blackboard which displayed an ocean of red from east to west and announced in a stentorian voice,'' children, the sun never sets on the British Empire". LOL, Amen
Bob

You should have kept that quiet ritter..All the bling merchants will want that one now, No doubt someone has started an E petition already.

Hi Bob,

Well done for having something unique. We had an old Sgt at AAS Harrogate who not only had the Coronation Medal 1937 but the Silver Jubiliee Medal 1935. Some of you Harrogate old timers might remember him - Sgt Buller Blades.

Jimsigs1

I Posted to 28 (BR) Sig Regt from 16 Sigs Bradbury Barracks after completing Class 3 Trade Training as Comcen Op way back in 1964. A 'wet behind the ears' 19 eyars old, and Old Timers at 16 Sigs told me that 28 Sigs was a 'Pinishment Posting'. Now what was it that I had done.....

I was with 'Bravo Troop' 2 Squadron Franscica Barracks. OC Troop was Capt M.O. N. Bird. Oh those days of misspent youth in the NAAFI Bar get pee'd, then later in Corporals Bar after being promoted to Lance Jack.

I was there when the CO was Lt Col Pagan.... remember his 'Pagan Jokes'??????

The Tara RSM was WO1 Spence....

Welcome Uncle..

Think most postings in BAOR were classed as punishment at that time.

A number of techs from my Harrogate intake were posted to 28 .Some must still have been around in 64..Tim Palmer, Brian Thompson,Andy Neilson,Mick Parsons,Terry Morris,Did you know any of them? I got 7 Sigs.and that was punishment

Oh BTW...Nice picture of Brum you have there....

Welcome Unclevanya, how's Elena? Didn't recognise Brum with a beard.

[quote="Shelldrake"]Welcome Unclevanya, how's Elena?

Watch it Shelldrake, your education's showing !

It was my finishing school in Peterhead , dont'cha know.

Hmm. Wonder how many of the Old Timers from the 1960s from 28 Sigs and 16 Sigs are still around??

Although I don't look like my 'Avatar' photie, I wouldn't like to strip off and appear nuddy in the Big Bruvvas House on TV.... I might make a few folks sick, or get arrested like the Naked Walker who is arrested every now and again and put back in jail. ......

Hmm, I do have a few spare tyres... and am a tad grey and wrinkly nowadays.

I used to look at some of the Old Regimental Pissheids at 28 Sigs and think that they were a bunch of loosers.... wow, by the time I finished my time at 11 Sigs, Helles Lines at Catterick... I was one of the Regimental Piis piss heids there. (See confession is good for the soul!!!

Ended up on the RP staff as am RP Cpl..... what a shame.... anyway I am a reformed character now.... don't smoke, drink or chase wimmin.... they can run faste rthan me now.......

An upright, sober law abiding citizen of Blighty for more than 20 years now...... even ended up working for the County Constabulary in Essex for quite a few years in IT. Am retired now, and am a Silver Surfer.... a tad Victor Meldrew etc...

But hey, life is good and it is what you make of it. Being a boring Auld fart ain't as bad it is said to be....... I can shake my walking stick, fart and belch in the Supermarket checkout queue.... and people think that its just another Grumbly old Pensioner from 'sunnyside Old Peoples Retirment Home' complaining about the Yoof of today......

I was a Yoof once many moons ago.... scarey..!!

Unclevaya
My sentimenets although 11 years older, fart more, hair white/silver and not bad at 13st 2Lbs. Still ride my old Triumph but at midnight when there is no traffic around.
Jimsigs1

Whilst stationed at 28 (BR) Regiment, I had 2 very good 6 month detachments...

First one was to Cuprus as part of the UN Forces at Nicosia Airport during the Spring and Summer of 1966. A good posting, lots of sun, sand and Keo Beer and cheap keo Brandy to get pee'd on......what a laod of old rotgut that was. The Oc Sigs Troop was a Major Cl**ke... a bit of a martinet... and my namesake....!!

The second detachment was to Tongeren (Tongres) in Belgium living in Belgie Barracks in the town, and working across the border in the Caves jsut outside Mastricht near the Eban Emal Canal. Met some very interesting people in the Signals there. Just as well I could remember some of my French from my shool days...

One person, a full coporal was called Lemmy Lomas. I was posted out to Bahrain, HMS Juffair about the same time as he was. Several otthers at Tongeren as well. Quite a number of folks from One and Two squadrons from 28 Sigs were posted out to Bahrien around the same time as I was (1968). So long ago, cannot teally remember their names.

In Tongeren, the Lads used to nearly lived in 'Maddys Bar' just across the road from the barracks. I remember on of our lads, a Lance Jack who was dating Maddy's daughte, Jenine. cannot remember if he eventually married her - the daughter that is.

It was at Maddy Bar that I was introduced to Stella Beer.... many a drunken night on this, then trying to catch the bus to work, badly hung over..... those were the days. Days . of 'Stella and Rosie'.... Hmm

From Bahrien I was posted to 223 Sigs (Radio) at Winchester.... another good posting. Lots of Pubs in Winchester to hang around..... then I was sent to NI on a tour. That was not so nice.... B*gger, I had to earn me pay as a soldier.....

Then it was a posting to Kolsas, Olso, Norway... another supberb posting for 3 years......

I sometimes dream about thsoe far off day of misspent yoof...... I really wante dto join the RAF and do the same job, but wear a blue uniform instead of kahki.... but it was the hurry of yoof that I ended up in the army and he Royal Signals.....

Ah... 'Tis late o'clock again.... time for me Meds, cocao and bed... or Nurse Olga and Matron will pin me down... and give me a Prune Juice and Castor Oil enema....... lolololo

Ah, finally had a clear out of some old clothes. Found an Army Kitbag full of kit, boots, combat suit, skivvies etc all far too small. Ah, the boots, they were the high ankled boots that replaced the old DMS type. I was issued these when I 'signed on' the reserves back in the 1990s for a bit of extra cash, the Bounty of One hundred Pounds per years (the buggers took £25-00 off in tax).

Anyhoo.... I eventually chucked out the old Army kitbag into the local Wheelie Bins..... been gathering dust in the flat for yaars. I don't think that MoD or the QM Stores at Colchester Garrison want it back, nor the Monkeys or MoD Plod will be around for 'disposing of WD property in an inappropriate manner'.....

Hmm, I'm sure that I signed an MoD form 1157 way back in the 1990s when originally given this....

Well they will have to take it off my at my last Pay Parade..... and that was way back in June 1977. I though I had a Respirator & 'John Lenon' glasses as well, but I think I gave it away as a 'Gimp Mask' to some geezer at work years ago when he was painting his house.......

Ah well, those memories. I would like to do a trip ofer to Krefeld one day and have a look see at what is left of Bradbury Barracks (16 Sigs) and Fransisca Barraks (28 Sigs), but alas, it probably won't happen...... need to renew my passport at some stage...

Hmm, I still could never fathom those kraut toilets with the 'little platform' at the front of the bog instead of a good old traditional Brit bog......

I SAY !
The Scaleys are taking over again.
I suppose The Usual Suspects are watching the dam' Beach Volleyball, bloody perverts !
Haarumpf !

No doubt Brum, no doubt! And if Uncle Vanyas' reminiscences are anything to go by, they have probably retained their Coats, Rain for just that purpose!

'Maddies Cafe' in Tongeren (tongres). Hmm, I still remember it like it was yesterday, and this was way back in the 1965 or 1966. The 'lock ins' and stumbling out around 5 am to catch the bus to work at the 'Caves' in Mastricht over the borderHolland.

'Maddies' was a 'Home from Home'. Certainly I used to eat there. As has been mentioned, the canteen/cookhosue in the Belgie Barracks was pretty awful, but I don't think that I remember this too clearly. The hours and money spent in Maddies must have been tremendous. Maddies msut have made a fortune out of us Brits and Canadian soldiers who were stationed in Tongren Barracks. After the detachment was closed down, Maddies takings must have taken a dive. I was introduced to Stella Beer here, and as I remember, there used to be around 5 different qualities of Stella Beer - ranging from cheapo - to expensive and very tasty (and strong).

I can remember the Detachment Clerk came over one day with a typewritter and was typing up the Unit Orders in Maddies. it was a strange time indeed. The OC Detachment was a Major Leatherhead so I remember. The Detachment Senior Nco was a SSg t Tutin so I believe. All along time ago. I used to make forays into the cafes and pubs in Tongeren with a couple of the lads who were 'A' Troop, One Squadron at 28 Sigs. a Geezer called Johnny and a Cookie Isherwood).

Ah, the memories - would I have done it all over again - not sure. I was trying to join the RAF before I signed up for the army. the RAF had stopped recruiting for a while in 1963. I also tried for the Royal Navy, but I was a tad too short sighted, and one of my uncles was the Chief Petty Officer Drill/Gunnery Instructor at HMS Raleigh where I would have gone if I had signed up for the RN. I was living in Cornwall at the time.

At least my career as a 'Bleep' set me up for my work life after leaving in 1977. I spent the next 20 or so eyars working in IT as a Computer Operator.

unclevanya wrote:

I Posted to 28 (BR) Sig Regt from 16 Sigs Bradbury Barracks after completing Class 3 Trade Training as Comcen Op way back in 1964. A 'wet behind the ears' 19 eyars old, and Old Timers at 16 Sigs told me that 28 Sigs was a 'Pinishment Posting'. Now what was it that I had done.....

I was with 'Bravo Troop' 2 Squadron Franscica Barracks. OC Troop was Capt M.O. N. Bird. Oh those days of misspent youth in the NAAFI Bar get pee'd, then later in Corporals Bar after being promoted to Lance Jack.

I was there when the CO was Lt Col Pagan.... remember his 'Pagan Jokes'??????

The Tara RSM was WO1 Spence....

We must have passed each other I got posted from 28 to 16 around that time. M.O.N. Bird was the Football Officer. Spike was never one of my favourite people. For a while I dated Inga who worked in the Sgt's Mess. Happy Days many spent in "Black Annies" od Cafe Schmidt!!!!!