Kit and Equipment

A Nice Bit of Kit, story goes that when 6 Div was reformed Staff Cars were out and Staff Officers were to use Humber Boxes (4x4), well Brigadier Timmis did just that, he had his Humber Super Snipe Staff Car BOXED in the UK and shipped to Munster .... no one said a word, after all he was Brigade Commander ..

Len (Ciphers)

'er the link didn't worm ciphers, excuse my being presumptuous
if I post it here

What link is that Wrinkles, if you mean the photo, well it is up and clear on my original post and is included in your returrn ?????

Len (Ciphers)

Oh! EXCUSE ME, I see what you meant, you reposted it for me ... thank you sir ..too early in the morning here in Western Canada, that or a seniors moment. A little story about the Staff Car, one night about six of us Cpl's were out on the binge, on the way back the Brigadier saw us tramping along the road back to York Barracks in Munster and said to his driver " Cpl Robertson, looks like some of the lads might need a lift". About ten minutes later along comes the Humber Staff Car, without the Brigadier and Cpl Robertson says jump in lads, I'll give you a lift. The 17/21st Lancers turned out the guard at the approach of the Brigade Commanders car, should have seen the looks on their faces as a bunch of pissy Cpl''s fell out of it.

Len (Ciphers)

Twas my pleasure sir. After all you are ex Royal signals and we know you chaps need a little assistance when it comes to techy type things. Only joking (he said lying through his teeth)
Many years ago a mate of mine inherited a Humber super snipe from his Dad, it was a very luxurious car in it's day. A great girl magnet but as it did very few miles to the gallon, when we got the girls we couldn't afford the petrol to take them anywhere.

In 1948 my uncle was the Czechoslovakian Ambassadors chauffeur in London, then when President Benes was murdered by the communists in the Russian backed coup, the loyal Czech embassy staff in London refused to take orders from them and liquidated most of the tangible assets so the commies would not get them. They actually gave my uncle the Humber Super Snipe he drove as the Ambassadors chauffeur and he had it for years, using it as a private hire car.

Len (Ciphers)

I remember when I joined the Royals at Wolfenbüttel in '47 the CO had a Humber Snipe as his Staff car.A great vehicle and there was much argument in the MT of who should drive it(never fell my way)The CO and Sqn Leaders each had a 4X4 Humber box,and they were lovely to sleep in on Winter Sales - and in those days winters were WINTERS!!!!
----
Don

Late 60s GOC 1 Div had the newer Humber Super Snipe in black the CO of the Sig Regt a Ford Zephyr 3 in green and for some reason the driver came from B Tp 3 Sqn but 'Scouse' lost his job and tape for only cleaning on side of the car the one the CO got in and for using the car for 'troop duties' in collecting lads from Bremen…the job went back to MT HQ Sqn and later replaced with an Austin 1800...too young to know the Humber Box 4x4...but a brigadier at 1 Div having an Austin K9 as a caravan and on exercise in the middle of a dark wood remember the door been opened without the blackout and the brigadier standing in his pajamas shouting 'somebody is getting at me there are no sheets'…the GOC had a Bedford 3 ton later 4 ton box body and on exercise in the early hours of the morning I was told by a young Royal Signals officer trying to better his career…'move that generator it is too close to the GOC's caravan' …the door opened with black out on and the GOC said 'what the hell are you doing lad…leave it there get yourself back to bed'…Happy Days

Well seeing we're trading a few Sigs tales from the past, I'll pass one on from the RC Sigs.

T'was in the spring of 71 on the ranges of CFB Petawawa and we were having a Bde. HQ's Exercise. Well Gord Shaw was doing switch board on the grave yard shift. Gordie in normal conversation had a stutter, but when on the raido, phone, etc he lost the stutter and had no problem. So the board rings, Gord answers and it's Brigader Rad's ( Radley-Walters) officer type aid, who had a very pronounced stutter and says to Gordie," G-G-G-Give m-m-m-me G-G-G-Genera Rad's V-V-V-Van". Poor Gordie, his stammer kicked in and he goes, "Woa-Woa-Woa- one M-M-M-Moment Sir". The line goes dead, Gordie knows just what is going to happen. A minute later a pounding on the Switch Board Van door. Gordie swings the door open and says "Wa-Wa-Wa- What is it". The young aid looks at Gordie, points his finger at him and says, " you-you-you're ph-ph-ph-phucking lucky".

Hi Hardrations
Yet another Royal Signals story from 1 Div Verden-Aller circa 1968...one exercise I was allocated to drive the G2 and turned up at his quarter with Landrover SWB 71EL90 plus trailer with a caravan conversion the Major was brand new Canadian Army attached and told me to take the trailer back to the garages as he would sleep in the woods like the rest of us ...100% true story and know I am sad for knowing the registration number...there was also a Landrover LWB for the G3s nick named 'with running water'...the Canadian Major was a good bloke and got me to drive his civvy Mercedes when he was invited out for drinks and paid me well...Happy Days

Hi Steve. Seeing as that was in my time, what was the Major's name? Just curiosity on my part.

Hardrations wrote:

Hi Steve. Seeing as that was in my time, what was the Major's name? Just curiosity on my part.

Hi Hardrations, sorry cannot remember

ciphers wrote:

A Nice Bit of Kit, story goes that when 6 Div was reformed Staff Cars were out and Staff Officers were to use Humber Boxes (4x4), well Brigadier Timmis did just that, he had his Humber Super Snipe Staff Car BOXED in the UK and shipped to Munster .... no one said a word, after all he was Brigade Commander ..

Len (Ciphers)

Len, May I put that photo on to the Kit and Equipment page on the main site please?

Paul.

Thanks Len,

It is now on the Main site. Look in:-

Kit and Equipment - B Vehicles - Staff Cars.

Paul.

Pretty spectacular staff car, I must say....would rival anything WWII German SS officers would have access to, and they had pretty nifty automobiles too (all part and parcel of the NSAP's program of ostentation and intimidation. Make it big, make it unique, design it well, and impress the lesser beings!).

Hi Fellas,

Here's a smart uniform you don't often see :



Just happen to have one hanging in my wardrobe. It belonged to GFM E. Rommel

Jimsigs1

Interesting coat hanger Jim

Thought you would like it Gordon -
the coat hanger of course.

[Just happen to have one hanging in my wardrobe. It belonged to GFM E. Rommel

Jimsigs1[/quote]

Bloody hell !

Do you salute it, or shoot it ?

Always respect the officers, even Major-Generals !!!

[Just happen to have one hanging in my wardrobe. It belonged to GFM E. Rommel

Jimsigs1[/quote]

Jim, I'm no great shakes on Nazi medals.

I take it that the medal at the neck is something like the Knights Cross with Swords and Oak Leaves. What caught my eye is that, peeping from behind it, seems to be the Pour le Merite. What did von Rommel get the "Blue Max" for, i wonder ?

brum

Hi Brum,

Rommel won his Pour le merite as a young Lt during the Battles of Isonzo. This was in the mountains west of Sovenia,a battle involving the Austro-Hungarian and Italian Armies.
I got the bug over Rommel as my younger Sister lives in bavaria and arranged a couple of years for me to see his grave near the neibouring city of Ulm. Also had a private view of the Rommel museum as well.
The Cross is indeed the Knights Cross with swords, Oak Leaves & Diamonds. Only 27 recipients for this award, however there was one of them who won this award but with GOLD Oak Leaves. This was Hans Rudel the Stuka pilot.

Jimsigs1

Does anyone know if a soldier's kit still contains a 'housewife' and if so, are they still allowed to call it such in this modern- day PC world?

Hi Cliffo,

I still have mine two. One dates from 1949 and is in a drawer somewhere. The other I've had since 1961 and she is still going strong.
Incidentally, when did you serve in Cyprus. Me - Famagusta 1955-7

Jim

Cliffo wrote:

Does anyone know if a soldier's kit still contains a 'housewife' and if so,  are they still allowed to call it such in this modern- day PC world?

Shouldn't think so, I would imagine that they would be known as "Housepersons" nowadays.