Memory Lane

I guess, like me, most people who have spent time in one of the armed forces have memories of a particular incident which still makes them laugh to this day.

I remember one incident in Bailleul Barracks,Arborfield, in 1962 - we were being drilled by CSM Fifield,
affectionately know as 'Fifi' - a name dreamed up by the course comedian, Pete Jackson.

At this time we had just started basic trade training which involved things like how to use a hammer and heavy duty soldering etc..

Wel,l on this occaision Fifi was putting us through our paces when he paused and glared at one of the less talented members of the parade and said with a deep sigh:

'Brown - when are you going to start soldiering ?'

Pte Brown (not sure now of his name) looked startled and blurted out, (in all innocence):

'SOLDERING, Sir ?'

Fifi turned a bright shade of red and thundered 'No ! Laddie, SOLDIERING !'

Needless to say the whole squad fell about laughing and that incident kept us all amused for many a long month and still today makes me chuckle and think back to those days.

I'm sure many of you have such stories worth the telling - how about it.

johnbe77,

your story is typical of Forces life and I am sure that everyone reading your post will be smiling. It certainly made me smile and it felt as if I was there with you all.

Great story.

As a wet behind the ears, greenhorn 18 year old R Sigs geezer undergoing Phase 1 training at Catterick Camp, in 1963. We were regaled with horror stories about the then Princess Royal, Colonle-in-Chief of the Royal Signals, the one before Princess Anne, and visits by her to various units. When a unit had the anouncement that she was visiting - even seasoned RSM's and Lt. Colonels blanched and felt the 'Hand of God' on their collars.

Not sure if these stories were correct about the Princes Royal demanding of individual soldiers in the middle of her inspections if they were wearing Army issue undercrackers... and the solder had to prove this, and if not, they were double marched off to the guardoom and given 28 days confined to barracks.

I think they may have been stories to frighten young solders to conform, but there must have been some truth to these rumours. Any Ex-Royal Signals who know any different...?

Heard the stories,but never witnessed any..
I only met the present Colonel-in-Chief at Blandford ,before she got the title.That was in her" Naff Off" days..

We were visited by General Guthrie (Major General at the time I think) anyhoo, he was expected to drive through the gates at 1pm, the Sgt Major had briefed the sentry that as soon as he sees the generals car approaching he was to inform the provo sgt immediately. It was nearly 2pm when at last the sentry nipped accross to the guard room window and gave the provo sgt the nod. Having resumed his position at the gates he waited for the car to get close so he could open the barrier. But he didn't open the barrier, the car came to a halt, the sentry approached the drivers door and tapped on the window which the driver obligingly opened. The sentry said, I should hurry up If I were you, you're late and the Sgt Major is going mad!

Princess Mary - Princess Royal took the salute on my passing out parade at AAS Harrogate July 1952. Can't say she did anything out of the ordinary but like her successor, if looks could kill.......know what I mean. Perhaps she looked rather stern probably because her Brother (King George VI) had recently died.
One other thing she was famous for I understand was that she would in her capacity as Colonel in Chief of Royal Signals arrange for Signals personnel to carry out varies duties at her home - Harewood House near Leeds, as providing lighting with generators and associated fatigue wallers whenever she had a funtion. Cannon fodder if you will !!!!!! I wonder who paid for all of that ? I shudder every time I go to the R Sigs Museum at Blandford and pass the glass case displaying her uniforms etc.
Jimsigs

[quote="jimsigs1"]Princess Mary - Princess Royal

I shudder every time I go to the R Sigs Museum at Blandford and pass the glass case displaying her uniforms etc.


Are we permitted a small "phwwoarrrr!", Jim ?

Quote :

I shudder every time I go to the R Sigs Museum at Blandford and pass the glass case displaying her uniforms etc.

What kind of shudder Jim??

Not a personal shudder but I think of all those cringing hangers-on who were only too glad to take our names in case 'She' noticed something out of the ordinary.

HRH was our Col in Chief if memory serves me and in the pass-out parade before mine in 1958 the said vest incident took place. The offending article merely peeped out behind his tie and she remarked how nice it was. As she passed down the ranks the culprit was spirited away to strangled left right...and esconced in the nick in Baghdad lines. I never heard what happened to him. The other guy in the nick at that time drew a picture of a duck on his cell wall and fed the duck with his breakfast, dinner and tea. He finally went before the trick cyclist and gained his passage to civvy street.

Funny, we had the same stories about her in the RC Sigs. I was on her last parade here in Canada in 62 at the School in Vimy Barracks in Kingston Ontario. The whole of the school senior staff went bonkers to prep for her. They had an English lady (secretary) give a speech so as to make sure the acoustics on the speaker system were set up properly (really didn't make a difference). Opened all the windows in the barracks around the parade square to prevent echoing. Then when all the parading was over, another lad and I were heading downtown in civilian dress, her car came up the highway with HRH to attend some function in the Officers Mess, we had some screaming dip sh&t of jnr. officer screaming at us to stand to attention for her passing us. Lots of stupidity for this particular event. Now they have the present Princes Royal coming over for a reunion. Loads of retired twits making plans to spend money and attend. I shall do that when all the people who pissed me off in the RC Sigs are salted away.

Same 'stories' abound about Princess Mary the old Colonel in Chief .. most of it legend and dreamed up by some long gone lance jack ..

Len (Ciphers)

If you dont like my stories I sha'nt tell you any more.

Naa, naa, naa, naa, naa, naa ..

Len (Ciphers)

Oh well pehaps.

ciphers wrote:

Same 'stories' abound about Princess Mary the old Colonel in Chief .. most of it legend and dreamed up by some long gone lance jack ..

Len (Ciphers)

Do you mean *Apocryphal"?...........sniff

Spot on Shelldrake...Just like Barnes and the gunners

Gordon. wrote:

Spot on Shelldrake...Just like Barnes and the gunners

No, that was a lie!

Well I don't know about Apocryphal, but smells like a pile of something.

Len (Ciphers)

Mostly urban myths folks,I (like most of you on this site ) have heard all the stories,but,how many of us have witnessed the event, How does it go? ahh yes,did you hear about so and so, someone told me and so it goes,All about soldiers trying to work their ticket to bizare accidents and much more.

Urban myths ?

How about the soldier and the deep trench latrine ?

Or the Donkey in the Spitfire Casino, Famagusta?

7 Sigs.had a Zoo next door to it...Coming off guard commander one morning i was asked by a siggy who had brought the camel into camp..What said i..to be told that the RSM had found a camel wandering around the square (South Camp). Eff off young siggy says i..Its a load of crap
This was only one event involving animals from the zoo.all of them a.bit of that big word shelldrake used.
This comes up in siggy sites all the time,The camel must have spent more time in camp than the zoo..

Did someone say A Myth..

In 66 having breakfasted I saw two pissed R. Engs running in from the village holding a long 20 ft snake; one at the head and one at the tail.They had been sampling the local hooch and thought the snake bit hilarious. They were Brits and not the Aussies.

I wonder if my new Avatar stops dancing when I log off, how would I find out?