Nijmegem Marches

anyone out there remember the Nijmegem Marches, 4days of 55k's a day? I only lasted one day, Well! I was a driver lol .

Oh yes. Still I didn't have to march. I was the helper, so I was on bycycle. One big mad party. I've been there more often just to party. Only involved once and as a helper as I said. Got the helpers medal which is only a one time presentation.

I completed the 4 days back in the 70's when i was an Army Cadet. My Dad has completed the event on abou 10 occasions. The last being in 2008 when he was 68 years of age.

As you can see I have never had the medal out of it's bag. I received it in 1973.

As you can see I've never taken it out of it's plastic bag. Front and back view of medal. Maybe Paul can make them a bit bigger, and get rid of that huge one I first posted.

I've got to say! Well done that man(Nobby) and his dad, Also to (hardrations), But he was on a bike, I must admit i did enjoy the parties even with my two bad feet, also i didn't know that the marches was still going, I have a photo of hour troop but don't know how to put on this site, Any ideas?

http://www.4daagse.nl/index.php/en.html

The 94th International Four Days Marches Nijmegen will take place from 20 July to 23 July 2010. The registration procedure for 2010 will be determined and published at our website in January 2010.

Unfortunately i will not be able to attend, but if anyone wants any info, please go to the website.

TomM wrote:

I've got to say! Well done that man(Nobby) and his dad, Also to (hardrations), But he was on a bike, I must admit i did enjoy the parties even with my two bad feet, also i didn't know that the marches was still going, I have a photo of hour troop but don't know how to put on this site, Any ideas?

Actualy I went as the back up for the Medic. The medic was former British Army Infantry and hadn't been back to Nijmegan since the war. He found he couldn't handle going back in, too many memories hitting him in the face. So he taught me what I needed to know (how to drain blisters) and that's how I got to do the job. One good memory from that go, is the paper pushing, self preening, greatly over bloated RCASC officer who attached him self to us on the last day. Figured I was there to be his go-boy. Well he got a blister on his small toe. Know how satisfying it is to see a king sized prick turn white and go into mild shock because I drew blood and not blister water. Apparently there was pain. Though I didn't feel anything.

I trained to go in the 60's as an Army Cadet in Leeds, we had N01 army youth group 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards as escort and help, 25 years later I bought a house in Accrington from one of the Guys in 4th/7th! Small world. Didn't make it to the March, we had to contribute to the cost and it was either the march or the school trip to Switzerland. The Swiss won!

Hardrations wrote:

TomM wrote:

I've got to say! Well done that man(Nobby) and his dad, Also to (hardrations), But he was on a bike, I must admit i did enjoy the parties even with my two bad feet, also i didn't know that the marches was still going, I have a photo of hour troop but don't know how to put on this site, Any ideas?

Actualy I went as the back up for the Medic. The medic was former British Army Infantry and hadn't been back to Nijmegan since the war. He found he couldn't handle going back in, too many memories hitting him in the face. So he taught me what I needed to know (how to drain blisters) and that's how I got to do the job. One good memory from that go, is the paper pushing, self preening, greatly over bloated RCASC officer who attached him self to us on the last day. Figured I was there to be his go-boy. Well he got a blister on his small toe. Know how satisfying it is to see a king sized prick turn white and go into mild shock because I drew blood and not blister water. Apparently there was pain. Though I didn't feel anything.

I did like the story of the officers blister very funny, I bet you were the chat that pricked my two heels, The Iodine was very painful, But a few beers cured that Tom

Naw couldn't have been me, this was in 73 and if I remember correctly the Brits were never ones to stop for blisters. They just punched on. Incidentally that's where I learned the Dance of the Zulu Warriors in Cafe de Zol on Bloomenstrabe. Big Joe the pub owner had the cops in for that. As the coppers were pouring in the guilty party were leaving (fully clothed in uniform) held the door for the coppers, and politely pointed out where the trouble was over in the corner in the over crowded Cafe. Joe just about split a gut yelling at the coppers that they were the guilty party, but the cops were busy looking in the wrong direction and thanking the Brits for their assistance. I chocked, yes really chocked on my beer. It was a classic. I had know-en Joe since 65 and had to show appropriate sympathy with out a tell tale smirk on my face.

Hardtats. Was that RCASC officer Capt Gary Graham AKA Capt Crunch, he was mad about Nijmegan,and I believe came back from Cda to take part. He was my OIC Pl in 4 Svc Bn,and I have many stories to tell.

TonyE wrote:

Hardtats. Was that RCASC officer Capt Gary Graham AKA Capt Crunch, he was mad about Nijmegan,and I believe came back from Cda to take part. He was my OIC Pl in 4 Svc Bn,and I have many stories to tell.

Well Tony I don't remember the name but if I remember correctly he was about 5' 8'' or 6', dirty blond hair, wiry build and great lover of pretending he was God. As I said he attached himself to us for the last day of the march. We were HQ's & Sigs 4 CMBG ( my pre-logistic days I was RC Sigs). This was in 73. I had just come back from Denmark prior to this playing in the CFE Pipe Band (yes I miss spent some of my youth playing the pipes). I had been volunteered as the bicycle man by a bud who was in the march team then weaseled out of it. I still tend to remind him of that little trick.

Any how sounds like this Cpt. Graham if he was my man, was a well loved officer in 4 Svc. Btn.

Ross,that sounds like my man,when he left our pln he went to Hq Pln in the Ops Centre,one night he sent one of our sections on a delivery,giving the map reference with the wrong letters,consequently they were 100 kms out on their destination,luckily the section M/Cpl suspected something wrong and once within range called us on the radio and we got it corrected.Much loved,well???!!!

CFE Pipeband,so you were one of John Huggan's rain makers,look in Der Kanadier website, there is an interesting obituary on him.

Thank you Tony. That was a good read. I also see that the Bde. H.Q.'s interpetor has also passed on. Yes John Hugans was a good man and a Pipe Major who was one of the best. Had some fun trips with him.

A point of order Hardrations, old chap. (Your contribution of the 17th December.) I trust the Zulu Warrior was carried out in the time-honoured manner, ie, the newspaper that one jammed into one's crevice, prior to ignition, had to be a venerable British broadsheet called the "News of the World".
It was ideal for the occasion because it was so full of crap it burned slowly!

bazza wrote:

A point of order Hardrations, old chap. (Your contribution of the 17th December.) I trust the Zulu Warrior was carried out in the time-honoured manner, ie, the newspaper that one jammed into one's crevice, prior to ignition, had to be a venerable British broadsheet called the "News of the World".
It was ideal for the occasion because it was so full of crap it burned slowly!

I was always told that was the dance of the Flaming Ass H***s when it was done with the newspaper bazza. But if that was their plan, to do as you describe. Then they were cut short by the arrival of the police. Still all in all it was a good display of British Squadie humour and boistrus actions. It still gives me a good chuckle when I remember it.

My recollection is that "The Dance of the Flaming Arseholes" and "The Zulu Warrior" were one and the same. (No doubt there's a website on it somewhere!) A couple of exhibitionists and a box of matches and anything can happen. Read Spike milligan's books-they were setting fire to farts back in WW2 !
Ai Zigga Zumba !
Baz.

Spike Milligan. Some of the best reading on WW 2 experiences to be had. ( This could start another thread)

Yep. Nothing to do with BAOR either (Sorry Paul !)

Good old Spike. We kids used to be glued to the radio in the early '50s listening to the "Goon Show". Did you get that in Canada ?
The first book of Spike's that I read was called "Puckoon", nothing to do with his war years but about Ireland. I nearly ruptured myself laughing on the train, going back to Germany. (Tenuous link to BAOR there !).

Bazza.

No never got his show, but discovered his books and went for all I could find in the library and book stores. He's a re-readable book. Just open it up the middle and your back with him in what ever adventure he's into.

I read three of his books back in the late 1970s about his service in North Africa with the RA. As I recall the titles were as follows:
Hitler: My Part in His Downfall
Monty: His Part in My Victory
Rommel: Gunner Who?

Yes, every bit as daft as The Goon Show.

Belated Happy New Year everybody.