Rheindahlen - The Kremlin

Does anyone remember the Kremlin,a massive building which as well as housing the Rhein Army Signal Centre provided a home to many Nato units.

A look at Google earth shows how much the area has changed since my time in 19 AGSR 1956-58

We called it "The Big House" in my time there from 1967 to 1970.

Don't recognise any of it now on Google earth

I served with the Royal Signals in Birgelen, not far from Rheindahlen and in other locations in Germany, and we had a 'patch' with one sword, vertical on a red cross with a blue background. Not the 'cross swords' on a blue background. That came later, after I was demobbed in 1959.( I would 'attach' a copy, but I am defeated by the instructions!).
Can anyone confirm what qualified our unit to wear this patch? I was told at the time that all those units that came under the control of Rheindahlen, wore this patch if they didn't have their own regimental patch.
Anyone remember the qualification required for the one sword patch?
Bill.

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Bill 1 wrote:

I served with the Royal Signals in Birgelen, not far from Rheindahlen and in other locations in Germany, and we had a 'patch' with one sword, vertical on a red cross with a blue background. Not the 'cross swords' on a blue background. That came later, after I was demobbed in 1959.( I would 'attach' a copy, but I am defeated by the instructions!).
Can anyone confirm what qualified our unit to wear this patch? I was told at the time that all those units that came under the control of Rheindahlen, wore this patch if they didn't have their own regimental patch.
Anyone remember the qualification required for the one sword patch?
Bill.

[/img][img]

Bill,

Take a look at http://baor-locations.com/BAORFlash.aspx

Paul.

I have an example of the Crossed Sword insignia which in my time 1967 to 1971 was appropriate to HQ BAOR.

What you describe is the insignia for Rhine Area as opposed to other BAOR units who came under the control of HQ 1 (BR) Corps.

When I was at 19 army group 57-58 we wore the crossed swords shoulder flash of BAOR HQ

It was the "Big House" in the '70's as well as far as I know. I never served there, but when I was at Corp's HQ we did a summer TEWT in the Gymnasium there.

Do you remember Roy Willingale? He was a LT when I was there but I undertand he made Lt Col

56 59 i was at viersen used to spend many happy hours at rheindahlen , globe cinema, naafi , that big pub in the woods , and the lovely ladies of wrac, ginger

Quote :

and the lovely ladies of wrac

29 Coy WRAC .. more than a few stories to recite about my times with some of them - unfortunately not suitable for this Forum !

Oh i think they would be suitable..Do tell.

dagian wrote:

Quote :

and the lovely ladies of wrac

29 Coy WRAC .. more than a few stories to recite about my times with some of them - unfortunately not suitable for this Forum !

Come on. there's only me and Gordon read this sort of stuff!

And Brum...When he`s not watching the ladies tennis

them girls played a real mean game of hockey half of veirsen hockey team had to report sick after playing the ladies, they took no prisoners , we used to have great times with the girls though , wonderful company , they could drink most men at rheindahlen under the table, one who will remain nameless used to have to shave her chin every morning, i made the mistake of taking her to the globe one night, after heavy snogging i found i had a rash over my face. it was her stubble that did it , ginger

Are you quite sure of the sexual orientation of these "ladies" Ginge ?

It sounds a bit to me like one of those Rugby club bashes, where they all turn out in drag . . . know what I mean ?

Toggle and Two? Or does that come under "Army Lingo"?

Shelldrake wrote:

Toggle and Two? Or does that come under "Army Lingo"?

Forgive this dribbling old geriatric.

I can't find "Toggle and Two" anywhere.

Repeat. Over.

29 Coy WRAC was a 'punishment' posting for some of the girls.
Most of the Lezzies were posted there. They couldn't kick them all out so they used to try and keep them together in one Unit.
I was quite pleased because they used to look after me and my straight girl-friend ... I spent many a weekend in their Block and the Lezzies would provide an early warning system if the RMP were approaching, giving me time to 'disappear'. One of my 'disappearing acts' was to move from my girl-friend's room into the next room occupied by a couple of Lezzies ---- I would climb into their bed (between the two hot bodies), the RMP would then look in see the 2 girls in the same bed and not imagine there was a guy under the bedclothes between them!
Ahh those were the days.
Lost a Brigadier's Staff car, as a result, one weekend but that is a another story!!!

brum wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

Toggle and Two? Or does that come under "Army Lingo"?

Forgive this dribbling old geriatric.

I can't find "Toggle and Two" anywhere.

Repeat. Over.

Meat and two veg!

dagian wrote:

29 Coy WRAC was a 'punishment' posting for some of the girls.
Most of the Lezzies were posted there. They couldn't kick them all out so they used to try and keep them together in one Unit.
I was quite pleased because they used to look after me and my straight girl-friend ... I spent many a weekend in their Block and the Lezzies would provide an early warning system if the RMP were approaching, giving me time to 'disappear'. One of my 'disappearing acts' was to move from my girl-friend's room into the next room occupied by a couple of Lezzies ---- I would climb into their bed (between the two hot bodies), the RMP would then look in see the 2 girls in the same bed and not imagine there was a guy under the bedclothes between them!
Ahh those were the days.
Lost a Brigadier's Staff car, as a result, one weekend but that is a another story!!!

Dagian, I think it was in 29 Coy that the phrase "WRAC Boxing Team" originated.

brum she was the right gender ok , funny enough she came from brum , mind you we did run into the weird type in the dock area in antwerp , dislodged many a tooth from lovely looking blondes in dannys bar , what a place that was , its a wonder the queer buggers kept using the place after the beatings they took , funny enough the gendarmes always took their side, ginger

Yes it was certainly "The Big House" during my time, although I did not have the dubious honour of having a rash from beard stubble, all the ladies of the WRAC I worked with and certainly in Rhine Area were really nice (sort of feminine) and as said could certainly drink a lot of soldiers under the table

Les

They weren't all lezzies. I left one behind when I got demobbed and tried to get in touch without success

I used to hear stories about some of the WRAC girls, that some were build like 'Brick Outhouses' and could pick up a Squaddie and chuck them across the bar (The Shack) if anyone horned in on their Girlfriend - a pretty, good looking young greenhorn WRAC who had just been posted out from Blighty would be taken under the wings of those girls (usually RCT 3 tonne or 10 tonne truck drivers).

As far as Rheindhalen was concerned, there us to be a Recce Truck that ran from 28 (BR) Sig Regiment for the Lads up to Rhiendhalen for R & R (boozing) in the various clubs, bars etc every evening around 6:30 pm. The only one I can remember was the 'Shack', a German Bar, the 'Queensway Club' (RAF one) and another NAAFI run club for us lot, the Squaddies.

Many a drunken evening's boozing was carried out back in the 1960s. Many a dreaded night as Recce NCO on duty (I was a newly promoted unloved Lance Corporal). It was a duty that I used to dread, particularly trying to persuade drunken mates to climb back on the back of the Bedford 3 Tonner being used as the Recce vehicle.

We always stopped on the way back at a German Chippy for Pomfrits mit Mayo before getting back to camp. All good fun, but at times it could bring about a 'clenching of buttox', especially when some of the Regiment Hard Cases had decided to make use of the Recce vehicle for an evenings pee up at Rhiendhalen.