Would You Join the Army again?

Join the army again ? With my bleedin' feet ? I don't 'kin think so !

gingerjim, there's no way battledress could worn in this day and age. . . MUCH too warlike !

Naw, too many weemin in it nooadays.The uniforms are a bit on the cheap side tae.Yir rank oan yir chest means yi canny see the persons rank until yir staunin oan his toes.

Let me just recap here.

Our PM, (who goes to the same hairdresser as Ant & Dec, by the way), having hacked another division or so of the army strength, has now decided to involve us in some sort of aggro in Mali.
Said aggro is in support of the FRENCH. Nobody, on the continent of Europe, hates us more than the FRENCH.
It's OK though, HMG have stated that only a minimum of British forces will be involved.

Any reservists on here ?

Been there, done that ... 1956

Len (Ciphers)

All i got was a certificate of transfer, not a dicky wee badge.sniff..

AND i went into the regular army reserve.nothing royal for me..

Talking of Reservists. When I came out (Metaphorically speaking) in '86 I settled in Scotland. I was sent my Reservist papers instructing me, in the event of conflict, to report to No 3 Trg Regt RE, Minley, Camberley. When I moved to Camberley in '87 I notified RA Records of my new address, I subsequently received new instructions informing me that in the event of conflict I was to report to HQ Scotland!! You couldn't make it up.

Had you annoyed somebody in RA records, perchance ?

brum wrote:

Had you annoyed somebody in RA records, perchance ?

That thought hadn't occurred to me Brum, but now you come to mention it, my CO, who reduced me to the permanent rank of Bdr, was OIC RA Records at the time - maybe he thought I liked trains!

Still got my 'dicky wee badge' Gordon, come to think of it I have never seen another one among my buddies, I received mine with my Red Book on transfer from Regular Force to Class A Reserve in May 1956, the ink was not dry before I was back for Suez.

Len (Ciphers)

Commons debate on 18 Jul 1939

Royal Army Reserve (Badge).
Oral Answers to Questions — British Army.



Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller (Northampton)

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the issue of a badge for Army reservists?


Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha (Plymouth, Devonport)

Yes, Sir. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve that the Army Reserve should be redesignated "The Royal Army Reserve," and that a silver badge shall be issued to members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers and the Royal Army Reserve, including officers and other ranks of the Supplementary Reserve, and militiamen who remain in the Army Reserve after they have completed their six months' training. Issue will be made as soon as possible.

A couple of good names there, Gordon. Wasn't it Mr Hore-Belisha who invented the Hore?

Shelldrake, I find your comments most Pedestrian, all Gordon was attempting to do was throw a Beacon of light on the subject.

Len (Ciphers)

The Army Reserve.Did any of you actually attend any training days weekends etc during the time you were a reservist? When I left the Army I went straight into the police so would have been in a reserved occupation?

Not as a Reservist, but when I joined the TA (ER) on release from the Reserve we trained on Tuesdays and Thursdays plus at least one weekend a month and the annual 14 day camp.

Len (Ciphers)

I was on it for 3 years and received a pittence every 6 months..which was taxed at source..Never did a day`s training..TF

A lot can change in 10 years Gordon .. some of our TA (ER) guys went to Aden in 64/65 as part of their commitment to the 'Ever Readies' as we were called.

Len (Ciphers)

I can remember when I was in the Para's in Aden we had the TA 15th Scottish Para guys with us doing their bit.

rucjock21 wrote:

The Army Reserve.Did any of you actually attend any training days weekends etc during the time you were a reservist? When I left the Army I went straight into the police so would have been in a reserved occupation?

I was a Reservist for 20 years, didn't do any training but I am a Gunner so, wouldn't need any.

According to my papers, if I'd been called up as a reservist I would've been employed as a WOII (Driver).
I wonder who would warrant a driver with such a high rank, Rooney maybe, Beckham ? Gordon's ego ?

brum wrote:

According to my papers, if I'd been called up as a reservist I would've been employed as a WOII (Driver).
I wonder who would warrant a driver with such a high rank, Rooney maybe, Beckham ? Gordon's ego ?

Don't know how the powers that be work these things out. I finished up as the MTO, had I been called up I would have been employed as a WOII (Storeman)?


Maybe we could have done a "Change round, Tell Off"?

I always understood that a Royal Army Reservist's term was the unexpired portion of his initial enlistment such as in my day, 5 years with the Colours and 7 with the Reserve or vice versa 7 years with the Colours, 5 with the Reserve, the other option was a 22 year enlistment with options.
In my case after serving 6 years with the Reserve I was released to enlist in the Territorial Army.

Len (Ciphers)

Mine was 9 + 3...

Quote :

According to my papers, if I'd been called up as a reservist I would've been employed as a WOII (Driver).
I wonder who would warrant a driver with such a high rank, Rooney maybe, Beckham ? Gordon's ego ?

Oh no Brum ...Not a gunner..A nice little member of the WRAC.perhaps..My staff car would be a camper van..

ciphers wrote:

I always understood that a Royal Army Reservist's term was the unexpired portion of his initial enlistment such as in my day, 5 years with the Colours and 7 with the Reserve or vice versa 7 years with the Colours, 5 with the Reserve, the other option was a 22 year enlistment with options.
In my case after serving 6 years with the Reserve I was released to enlist in the Territorial Army.

Len (Ciphers)

Len, I believe that it changed in the '70s. I finished in '84 after 24 years and was then committed to the Reserve list until my 60th birthday.

Bloody Nora, did they provide Carers ..

Len (Ciphers)

Sort of - my personal weapon was a Zimmer frame.