Bielefeld

Anyone remember the MSO stationed in Rippon Bks, great bunch of guys, always ready with an egg banjo on exercises.

Wonderful days

Jim Hi. I remember them well .While I was living in Germany with my Mother/Father just outside Ripon Bks.(1946/50) In fact in the winter of 1947 my father could not get into camp from our house(which was only 500 mtrs from the camp and after three days The mso and a few other English soldiers arrived in a truck and dug the snow away.it was so high and very deep.I think it was as bad in England at that time to).and then we went on to other camps in the BAOR.They were always there helping in so many ways.Great bunch of MEN.Also when I jioned and later served in BAOR. they use to drive The Tank transporters for our Regt.(5th Dragoon Guards)once meet never forgoten.We Will Remember Them.
John.

Johnwalker wrote:

Great bunch of MEN.Also when I jioned and later served in BAOR. they use to drive The Tank transporters for our Regt.(5th Dragoon Guards)once meet never forgoten.We Will Remember Them.
John.

I n the garrison church of st Christopher in Dempsey Bks Sennelager ,there is a stained glass window in their Honour.and also remembering their part as the free Polish forces in Monte Cassino. it was placed there in 1985 by 23 tank transporter Sqdn .

arbor.
A stained glass window in their Honour.

SO THERE SHOULD BE..

I remember going up with our tanks to Hohne ranges from Sennelarger once .I ask SSM if I could go up with them(MSO drivers) I was in a Austin Champ with another Skin.(they put it down as escort duties!!) during that trip which took a few days I pick up so much bushcraft info.We even had fresh rabbits(I was shown how to trap & skin etc)There were a real great group of men.(it cost me a lot of fags on that trip as I think each & every one smoked) but Hey I had the time of my life.Bless them all.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

John.

John,
I too have a great respect for the MSO. I was ASM of 617 Tk Tptr Sqn Wksp 1972 - 74, during that time we must have lifted every armd regt in BAOR. They were great characters, many with amazing stories to tell of their war time experiences, it used to cost me a good few bottles of vodka during the over night stops; few shots and the reminiscing would start. They always used to look after me on the road, tent to myself on the overnight stops complete with proer bed and all mod cons - it was rough !!!!.
Bob Gregory

Johnwalker wrote:

Jim Hi. I remember them well .While I was living in Germany with my Mother/Father just outside Ripon Bks.(1946/50) In fact in the winter of 1947 my father could not get into camp from our house(which was only 500 mtrs from the camp and after three days The mso and a few other English soldiers arrived in a truck and dug the snow away.it was so high and very deep.I think it was as bad in England at that time to).and then we went on to other camps in the BAOR.They were always there helping in so many ways.Great bunch of MEN.Also when I jioned and later served in BAOR. they use to drive The Tank transporters for our Regt.(5th Dragoon Guards)once meet never forgoten.We Will Remember Them.
John.

Did you bump into the Thorpe brothers during your time in the Skins? Douglas and Ivan? I married Douglas`s elder daughter in 1973.

Hi REME. Know of some Thorpe's .Will check and let you know.I surpose I must Have known them if they were Skins.
Give me time(you know what age can do).!!!!!!!!
Regards John.

Hi matey,

Remember the MSO well in Rippon Barracks. They were the salt of the earth these guys I remember two in particular "Schimfer" and Scouse" Many of these guys went through hard times before coming to the West. Wonder whatever happened to these guys????

and don't forget the slivovitz, they always had a few bottles of that knocking around.

I too wonder where they are now, many of course will have passed on I should imagine.

I can remember one day in the LAD taking the ATU of the wing of a Landy, or trying to. One of the bl***y bolts wouldn't shift so along came big lofty with his bottle of home brewed slivovitz and an old Nescafe tin. Big-lofty was a big half Hungarian/Czech 2.20 meter bloke with massive hands and laughing face. He poured some of his home brew into the tin and mixed in a few drops of gearbox oil. "Do not touch" he said, so we didn't. He then disappeared into the locker room and came out with 8 small grubby looking little glasses. After two rounds of this 'Real' fire-water he was the only man standing. Needless to say the bolts came off with ease.

Mike

LOL Mike, I can just picture the scene somehow.

With regard to MSO in Ripon Bks (see also 623 MSO thread) - they were the Defence Company MSO whose job was to support and protect HQ 1(BR) Corps in the Field.
As their numbers became less and the role of the Company changed they were replaced by 196 Defence Company RPC.

Hi dagian

Nice to know that someone remembers 1 Corps HQ Defence Company (MSO). I was attached to the unit as a REME vehicle fitter while they were stationed in Bad Oeynhausen 1952 The Company then moved into Rippon Barracks in the latter part of 1953.

The one thing that sticks with me was, when we went on the Javlin three week exercises I had to ensure a Bedford 3 tonner was available to carry the beer.

Have to agree, great guys, great days.

I remember the MSO in Harewood Barracks, Herford during the winter of 1952. They dug out all the snow laden vehicles, guarded the camp and they say the CO's driver was an ex Colonel. Great guys and could russle up almost anything from nowhere.

All I remember about Bielefeld was Eckendorfer Strasse, cant remember what they were selling there though!.

I believe there was a Pet Shop there.

That's it, Puss,Puss,Puss

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