Life in Neumünster

Hi, a bit more info 13/18 in Neumünster.My Dad (Sgt. Bill Coates) and me (At this time 22997191  Cpl.Alan Roy Coates) Later Sgt. My mom and my 2 sisters also in Neumünster at this time. My joungest sister Kathleen Coates went to School in Plön 1956 to 1957. I met and married my wife ( Ingrid Duske ( German girl from Neumünster) in Neumünster 18.10.1957. After serving 12 years in the 13/18 we returned 1971 to Neumünster with 3 children still living here today. we also have 2 Grandchildren.

Hmm, reminiscing about life in Deutcheland. I was watching the BBC2 prgramme with Rick Stien, TV Chef, Restauranteur and businessman who owns several businesses in Padstow, North Cornwall, an area I know well, as my Cornish family comes from Port Isaac and Camelford area,  where the Doc Martin Sitcom show is filmed.

I was interested in that Rick Stien's family came from Germany pre-World War One. He also has relatives in and around the area around Dusseldorf. I was stationed at Bradbury Barracks, Krefeld, and later Franscisa Barracks, St Tonis. It was wonderfull to have my memory jogged on the German food that squaddies used to eat after a night on the ale. All very mouth watering, and a place I'd like to visit again perhaps, one day when if I win the Lottery.

I certainly hark back to the 'certain sound' that German pop music had in the 1960s. The different beers etc in German Pubs, the system of marking Beer mats for what one had drank, and the 'rubbing out' of the biro marks that some of the Pub lady barmaids marked on the beer mat......!!

The knicking of ashtrays, and glasses was nobodys buisness. I seem to remember every barrack room had several large 'liberated' ashtrays from local German Pubs...... Hmm, those were the days of misspent yoof, after duty, get 'brahms & lizt' in the local Deuther Gasthaus.....

I shall be looking forward to watching Rick stien's progress through Germany each week on BBC 2 at 8:bounce:    PM to 9 PM each Monday evening.....

I used to be intrigued by the cash bag that the nice lady barstaff used to wear under their aprons....!! Perhaps I needed, and still need more Bromide in my morning tea......

Which leads me to another 'Truth' from way back when...... was their any truth in the effects of Bromide on rampant squaddies? Or was this just another Urban Myth put about by the Medics....  

Alan

There were a number of children at Ploen whose fathers were serving with the 13/18th. The two attractive teenage daughters of your then Bandmaster were much admired by the Boys.

Uncle Vanya.

I too enjoyed the Rick Stein programme though clearly the clips about the Beatles time in the Reeperbahn had been carefully edited.

Ah, yes, mention of the Reeperbahn. connot have the truth outed else it might frighten the Old dears....why squaddies went there, or generations of German soldiers, sailors and airmen. Nor a mention of Kanal Strasse in Amsterdam, where the nice ladies sit in the shop window luring in poor, drunken squaddies, matelots and blue jobs..... ?? Hmm, I never did get round to those places....... honest!!

The programme shown last night about the family living in Nuremburg must also have been "Carefully" edited, one minute there was snow on the ground and in the next shot it looked like there were leaves on the trees.