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Please do continue to email me your messages which are very much appreciated and of great interest. I am always pleased to receive emails but I am not now unable to add to the guestbook. If anyone wants to get in touch with people who have posted in the guestbook then please let me know and I will forward your details to them. Hopefully you may also recognise someone,Thanks, Alan |
From: Malcolm Fox :Sent:24th January 2009
I left Grammar School in July 1955 aand soon after enjoyed the delights of ITCRM Lympstone along with fellow"enthusiasts"!..we were 882 squad under the watchful eye of a very young Corporal CROOK.....a nice guy, very understanding amongst all that was going on.......is ther e anyone out there who remembers this period in our very young lives...what an experience,,,did me no harm, and was "the makings".........bring NS back!!!! Malcolm Fox.( a Geordie) went to 42 Commando..sniper course...40 Commando.....survived to become a PE teacher!!!!
From: Peter Tucker :Sent:28th October 2008
Hi there, I am Peter Tucker and I was called up for my National Service on the 3rd March 1949 and I had to report to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry and was enlisted into the Royal Artillery and my no. was 22112917 after doing basic training with 17th Trg Regt R.A., further training followed and finally I was posted to Germany and sent to Woolwich Depot to await a draft, whilst there awaiting Embarkation Leave I went down with appendix pain and was sent to Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich where I had an operation the same day. During my stay in hospital there was a National Dock Strike and Woolwich Depot was used to billet Service Personnel for the strike so when I came out of hospital the only place to sleep was on the verandah of a barrack block on a mattress filled with straw, next day I went on 7 days leave, during which time the strike was settled and the Depot had returned to normal. I had missed my draft so I was sent the next day to Germany and as I was still wet under the collar I was placed in the charge of a Sgt returning to his unit in Germany after being Y listed. He escorted me as far as Hannover where we parted company, I was given all my posting documents and taken to the RTO at Hannover, as it was late at night by the time we got there they put me on a truck and sent me to the Transit Camp for the night, with instructions to report back back to them the next morning. The next morning which was on the Saturday having left Woolwich on Thusday I was placed on a civilian train for Celle, and given a compartment to myself with all the necessary details and told to report to the RTO at Celle . On arrival at Celle about lunch time the RTO contacted the unit to which I had been posted and I was sent to the Lakeside NAFFI club to await the duty jeep, this arrived early afternoon and I finally arrived at my unit 33rd Airborne Light Regt R.A. stationed at Fallingbostal they gave me some bedding and the Orderly Sgt found me somewhere to kip down until Monday when I would be finally placed. On the Monday I was interviewed by the Assistant Adjutant and becaused I could do shorthand and touch type it was decided that as they were not expecting any replacements anywhere I should stay in RHQ and take a place in the Regimental Office.
In November of 1949 the whole brigade (16th Independant Parachute Brigade Gp) returned to England to the Aldershot area, we were at C Camp Barton Stacey. My release no was 4905 which was due out in August 1949 I was lucky as the day before I was to be posted to my TA unit NS was increased from 18 months to 2 years because of the Korean War but it did not effect me so I duly was posted to my TA Regiment which was 255 Medium Regt RA (West Somerset Yeomanry) for the remainder of my National Service which was 4 years. The Bty to which I had to do my drills was P Bty and was 14 miles away from my home. As I had to do 4 years I thought that it would be better if I became a volunteer TA member and receive the annual bounty and many other privledges, in the end I did 8 years with the TA reaching the rank of Bdr finally finishing with the army in 1958.
From: Mike Taylor :Sent:28th September 2008
My name is Mike Taylor and I am a friend of Tony Heatley, a one time member
of the Kings Own Royal Borders. As I am ex Merchant Navy he asked me if I
knew, or could find out, what had happened to the troopship Devonshire. He
told me that he had travelled out to West Africa on this vessel in 1960.
With a little searching on the internet I found out the history of the
vessel and that she had been scrapped in 1969.
Tony told me a bit more about his adventures in Cameroon, he was in B
Company, and I said I would see if I could make any contact with his old
National Service comrades. I found your web site and gave him a copy of
your recollections. He was amazed at how much you could remember of the
time out there but confirmed most of the detail, he well remembers
Lieutenant Olsen and apparently was his batman for some time. He questions
the fact that lance Corporal Gardener was killed in a road accident as he
says he travelled back to the UK with him.
Tony does not have internet access but can be contacted through me. His
name is A R Heatley and his number was 23640106.
From: Brian Phillips :Sent:2nd July 2008
Hi Alan - Thanks for providing this interesting site
I'm Brian Phillips - 22442400 - Called up for N/S - R.Signals, to a freezing Catterick in January 1951 - To reside In Barrack Room 40 top floor. We had a whip round for a wireless and were able to drop off to sleep listening to hits of the day that included 'Goodnight Irene' - 'On top of Old Smokey' - 'My heart Cries for You' - Later we went from the luxury of a heated barrack block with hot water on tap - to those dillapidated 'Spiders' that were a half mile walk from the cookhouse and said to have originated from the Crimea war era - Freezing, damp, and cold water ablutions ! - After passing out as Teleprinter ops we were posted to Singapore District Signal Regt - via Pocklington for tropical kit, followed by 2 weeks embarkation leave, Overnighting at Londons deep underground accommodation at Goodge Street station , then on to Southampton to board HMT Dunera - (same boat that a young schoolgirl name of Joanna Lumley also sailed on) - being a very amateur dance band trumpet player I was allowed to join the ships band for 'entertainment' - thereby escaping all ships chores and duties ! - On arrival at S'pore we lived under canvass at Calcutta Camp - that later would become the palatial Princess Mary Barracks and still exists- Being ferried out to Fort Canning - communicating by teleprinter with our units up country
in the jungles of Malaya. Most of the Singapore that us young lads then knew has mostly dissappeared under the bulldozer, being replaced with council style housing and concrete almost coast to coast. Events during our time included the assassination of the Governor Sir H Gurney, when his car was ambushed by bandits on a remote jungle road, And the tragic death of our young L/Cpl pay clerk - accidentally shot with his own revolver in camp . I often think back to those carefree days of our youth - Sadly we seldom appreciated the good fortune of being posted to such an exotic and interesting land with so much spare time for leisure in a superb climate. It would be good to hear from former comrades and friends who also served in those places - Best wishes to all - Brian
From: John Williams Sent:1st June 2008
Hello there and thanks for your interesting website. Perhaps you may find my website of interest to you. I have recently finished it and the site is a fairly complete account of my National Service experiences from September 1958 until September 1960. The site address is: National Service and V-bombers www.johnw55.freeuk.com/vbomber I am now 71 and I can honestly say that those two years were the hardest I have ever worked in my life! Thanks again! Regards, John Williams
From: Jo Gent Sent:20th May 2008
Hi Alan
My name is Joe Gent and I was in Machine Gun Platoon in Bamenda with Sgt Machin. I remember you from the photos on your site.My friends were Keith Bennet and Harry Duffy we were all from Bolton.Hope to be in touch with you soon with more information.Best wishes Joe
From: Tom Duffy Sent:15th April 2008
Hi Alan,Reading the pages on your website, brought back some of my memories from when I was in the Border Regiment on National Service, 23176671 from Sept 1955 – 1957.I was Post NCO with the Battalion in Gottingham Germany before they went off to Berlin. Working prior to becoming Post NCO in the Orderly Room.
I have a few pictures of our intake after our Passing out parade in the Castle Carlisle as well as ‘The Queens Birthday Parade in Hanover’ If they are any use to you or any other user ofyour Guest Book I can scan them and send Them to you.RegardsTom Duffy
From: Ted Morris Sent:12th April 2008
TED WACKER MORRIS HELLO MATE GREAT SITE YOU HAVE .I WAS CALLED UP IN JUNE 1960 AND AENT TO PARK HALL CAMP OSWESTRY AND FROM THERE TO COLCHESTER KIRKEE-MCMUNN BARRACKS .DID OUR TRAINING AND THEN GOT PUT INTO OUR BATTERIES .I WAS IN 27 STRANGES BTY 20FIELD REG AFTER A FEW MONTHS WE WHERE SHIPPED OUT TO TAMPIN MALAYA .IPLAYED SPORTS FOR THE REG AND I ENJOYED MY TIME OUT THERE ANY ONE WHO WENT OUT ON THE OXFORDSHIRE WITH US WILL KNOW THERE WAS A FEW OF US WHO WERE SEA SICK THE WHOLE TRIP. THATS ONE WAY TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS THANKFULLY WE FLEW BACK.KEEP THE SITE RUNNING MATE IT REALLY BRINGS BACK MEMORIESTHANKS TED MORRIS
From: Mike Hargreaves Sent:17th March 2008
Alan - Congratulations on your initiative re National Service records and your experiences in the Cameroons with the KORBR. I too was there at the same time flying out with the Advance Party from Heathrow in 1960 and returning on the Devonshire in 61.
I haven't read all the stories and links yet but have spotted a contribution from my pal, Jim Thomas who served with me at Mamfe both of us being regimental signallers, although Jim came out with the main body and we served together for several months. He has mentioned my name in his contribution - not in a derogatory manner I might add! I also saw several people I know on Ernie Baldwin's photo of the lighter taking us to the Devonshire- including I think myself, the guy with the camera at the top left!
I would like to contact both those people and add my own contribution if possible. What a wonderful experience it was, not at the time of course, but we all did a great job in difficult and dangerous circumstances and then moved on without any fuss to live our lives. Best wishes Mike
From: John Edwards Sent:29th February 2008
Dear Alan, I have just come upon your site, I was serving with ROYAL SIGNALS as an electrican driver I travelled with the grenadiers who were replacing the KOBR IN the Cameroons I was stationed at Beua were we had our own bar called the Mermaid . I remember celebrating my birthday in the bar but finished up in hospital falling ill with dangi fever but the food was great in there as it was near to the officers mess.I remember driving to bamenda using a one way system if my memory serves me right you went up on even days and down on odd days. I did my ns from JAN59 --JAN 61 yours sincerly John Edwards
From: Ed (Wacker) Morris Sent:27th February 2008
My name ed wacker morris 23796900 gunner with 20 field regt 1960-62 training at park hall camp oswestry .then to kirkee mcmun barracks colchester .from there to tampin in malaya . had a good time reading the e mails this really is a good site you should be proud of it good luck to everyone sorry i forgot to say i was in 27 stranges battery cheers
From: John Willis Sent:24th February 2008
There are no Royal marines in the guest book up to now but I realise it is early days. In the hope of finding some old friends I did my National Service in the Royal Marines at Lympstone and Poole – 1955-1956. Is there any one out there who may remember me ? John Willis – Yarm, North Yorks
From: Mike Woodford Sent:22nd February 2008
Hello Alan , my National Service number was 23004494, from 1953 to 1955, I was stationed at 62 Company R.A.S.C in or very near to Spandau, in fact many a time I drove past Spandau Prison when they were changing over guarding the only prisoner in the prison - Rudolf Hess I always found it strange the way the russians drove away with their guards sitting in the back of their vehicles, the tarpaulin sides down on every lorry preventing anyone seeing the russian soldiers and of course to stop the russian soldiers from seeing how the west lived
I also remember driving to Gatow when requested (or is it ordered) and able to see the russian soldiers in their guard huts on stilts behind the wire fences, looking at me and my lorry through binoculars and there was always one of them following you pointing their rifle in your direction in case you drove through the fence into the forbidden russion zone..................now two very true stories if I may
True story No. 1 -In 1956 I had emigrated with my younger brother to Southern Rhodesia and I moved to Bulawayo, I am in a nightclub on my umpteenth bottle of Lion Lager, when I saw 'Jock' across the room, (Jock was with the Argylle & Sutherland Highlanders, and I was involved in making many a journey from Berlin Station to the Montgomery Barracks transferring soldiers and all manner of their equipment to their new home) and I had many, many a glass of Schultheis in the Berlin NAAFI with Jock.
As we old soldiers do, I through my arms around him saying how good it was to see him, only to be told I had my arms around his twin brother.
Lucky I did not receive a glasgow kiss
True story No. 2 -Still in Southern Rhodesia, this time 1957, I am in a bar in Gwelo, midday and only two customers drinking, eventually we started to talk and I recognised a scottish voice and a while later national service was mentioned, he said he was with the Argylle & Sutherland Highlanders in Berlin, I told him I had been involved in moving his Regiment to his barracks He told me that the RASC driver driving the lorry he was in had reversed into a very very large crate containing the Dress Kilts of the Regiment, yes it was me, I heard a very loud shout from a CSM of the Argylle & Sutherland Highlanders, wearing his regiments dress who came, I swear, from the east end of London Trying to make an excuse for my bad driving skills, the CSM recognised I was somewhat local to London and following a real b******ing. let me off
Just to close, I remember 2 officers in our company, 2nd Liutenant J.E.T. Ray and Captain Barton (Dick)
Regards and best wishes Mike Woodford
From: Brian Murray Sent:18th January, 2008
Hi, Alan my name is Brian Murray from Lowca Whitehaven I was in The Kings Own Border Regt [1957-1960] stationed at Gottingam. Berlin . Barnard. Castle. I was one of the drivers who took the advance party to Barnard Castle Station enroute to the Camaroons. I was a driver in HQ CO 23502583 Pte murray....Best Regards B Murray . Story very good crack enjoyed it
From: Anthony Mcnally Sent:19th December, 2007
Could you ask in the guestbook anyone who was stationed at Bridge of don barracks 1972. Please email as per the above if you can help Anthony.
From: Jeff Sherwin Sent:10th September, 2007
Hi Alan Thanks for the memories, in may 1959 I reluctantly reported to the Staffordshire regiment at Litchfield. There were about 90 of us, by far the majority had served apprenticeships and were over 21. eleven weeks later half of us were transferred to the Cheshire regiment stationed at Selerang barracks Singapore we travelled on a comet 4 commercial jet, after a little over a year the malayan conflict was at an end and we returned to southampton on the troopship Devonshire, after 3 weeks leave we went to Carlisle for a couple of weeks before going to Ballykinler N Ireland. As the end of my service approached We were told that national service was coming to an end, we were discharged a few weeks early on april 7 1961. Looking back my army experiences were very positive. My service changed me for the better. I found it difficult to settle back into my previous life, within a few years I had a wife and a couple of kids and was living in British Columbia. In Malaya we lost a corporal in a rafting accident his nickname was Elbow, God bless him. Thanks again, Regards Jeff Sherwin L/cpl retired (Hyde Cheshire then.-Abbotsford BC Canada now)
From: Tony Fellows Sent:3rd August, 2007
Alan. I wondered if i had imagined it, not once in my RAF career did i ever hear of anyone knowiing or posted to Mamfe. Fact is, from memory we were just 30 bods, part of 230 Sqn, (Odiham) as you know flying in support of the Army, it was my first overseas posting, rather a shock to the system!!!. The amazing coincidence is that after i returned to UK, my next overseas posting was to RAF (DET) Lagos, operating Hastings of 36 Sqn, flying down to the Congo, via Accra & Lagos, both interesting, and very different from the "norm". Some three years past i sent for my RAF Records to try and establish why the two West African postings,however all "gen" apart from promotions,courses, and postings were shredded, so to this day i do not know why the Air Force had me down for the West African connection.Kind Regards.Tony Fellows. (Sevenoaks Kent)
From: Richard Crinall Sent: 23rd July, 2007
Hello Alan, I'm trying to find old army friends for my father (70 next month!) who was in the Border Regiment and served in Berlin as a guard at Spandau prison in 1958. This was his first posting of his national service before going to Hong Kong, Stanley Fort in 1959 to1960. I know he was very good friends with 'Jock' Cameron and hoped you may be able to help
me. I see on your memoirs page Michael Robinson was in Berlin at the same time and wondered if you would be kind enough to forward this email to him. Thanks in advance.
Best Regards,Rachael Crinall.
From: Jim Thomas Sent: 25th June, 2007
Hello Alan, my name is Jim Thomas and my army number was 23772116 I came across your site yesterday accidently, looking for something else entirely. was in the K.O.R.B. and went to Cameroon as a signaller in HQ Company. At first I was stationed at the Buea camp, and (against all odds) volunteered to go up to Bamenda with some security codes for the radio. On the way I stopped over at the Mamfe camp, for a night, and was well-fed. Then up to Bamenda to deliver my parcel. I travelled in a Landrover with a mate who was also a signaller but could drive. (I had no licence at that time). We stayed one night in Bamenda and I met all my mates from the Signals platoon. Then, off back down to Mamfe, to stay the night again. If I remember rightly you could only travel one way on a certain day, then opposite the day after. Anyhow, while at Mamfe I did a stint on the radio to relieve a mate. When I got back from Mamfe to Buea my captain, named Blinkoe who said that he had heard me on the radio at Mamfe, and asked me if I fancied a transfer to Mamfe. I jumped at it , as I saw that Mamfe was a very relaxed place, no bullshit, no parades, no saluting and all on first name terms (even the officers)So, off back to Mamfe the next day, where I was in with a full corporal Albert xxxxxxx, a private names Mick Hargreaves and two Royal Signallers. We worked the radio in shifts, so it meant that you only worked one day in three, split into mornings and afernoons. Cushy hey! We were kept busy with signals to UK ordering stuff for the RAF to finish off the camp.you obviously were demobbed before me (mine was April 1962) but before hand was transferred to the Loyals for two days (typical army). I hope to keep in contact with you as I have never seen or heard from any of my mates for years. Bye for now, Jim Thomas.
From: Lesley Singfield Sent: 15th June, 2007
Hi Alan. Good luck with the site. I began my 2 yr stint Feb 1959 with the REME in Honiton Devon, I was 21, married with two young children. Call up for apprentices was deffered until they had completed their trade, (what a crafty way to get trademen on the cheap) My first weeks pay was 15 shillings, my wife received £2. 12 6. We applied for a national service grant and eventually my wife received £4. 5. 0d about a third of the going rate. The average wage for a mechanic was £12, we lived in povety and visits to jumble sales for clothes. A woman across the road helped my wife out finacially, her husband was in prison, but she was much better cared for than my family. I went to Borden in Hampshire on a tank course. (A vehicles) What a terrible camp that was, we even got an artical in the People or the Pictorial sunday newspaper about the non stop bull.
Some lads even slept on the floor to seep their beds and kit tidy. It was at Borden I realised that some regulars would pay to have their guard duty done. I did at least two a week at £1.10s a time, Weekend guards fetched much more, the most I got was £9 10s for a bankholiday, It was the talk of the camp, I was always able to send money home. We would thumb lifts home if we had a 48hr pass. I lived in Liverpool and would often arrive home in the early hours of the morning soaked to the skin. I was posted to Liverpool (deysbrook barracks) for 7 months, 3 miles from home!! It was a good camp and the food was excellent, not the pig swill we had at Borden. My last twelve months I spent a Mathew Barracks in Tidworth Hamts, I'd passed my Vehicle Mechanic 2 and 1 and my money went up to £3, I still did a few guards for cash, fiddled a bit here and a bit there, I even stole a complete cooked leg of pork from the officers mess xmas dinner table and thumbed up to Liverpool with it. (It was very nice) I met some great lads, I wish I'd kept in touch with them. I do wish the country would give national servicemen more recognition, Over the years many a conscript has laid down his life for this country, We were under paid and under valued, we get no pension, regulars do. No matter how bright and clever, if you had a scouse, brummy or newcastle accent, you would never get a commision. Best wishes with the site. Les Singfield 23610721 59/03
From: Ted Cuerden Sent: 11th March, 2007
Hello Alan.
This is Pte Ted Cuerden 23790636. You may not remember me,but i was out in the Cameroon's in two platoon A company,I was interested in your account of our time out there,I know a few of the names you mentioned,PMaguire,Ian Forsyth,also Eric Macreadie,who i noticed had sent an email,Best Wishes,Ted Cuerden.
From: Anita Frost Sent: 25th October, 2006
I am looking for anyone who might have known my father. His name is John William Bradley he served his National Service between 1950 - 1952 during that time he served in the following countries Eritrea for 4 months , Cyprus for 2 months , and Egypt for 12 months. He was in 1st Bn the Royal Berkshire Regt from what I can gather from his army records he was a rifleman but also trained as a cook. His army no was 22410242. My father was from Sheffield -<Note from ALan - email me above if you have details>
From: Mike Forster Sent: 10th October, 2006
I've read with interest through all the e-mails on your Site. So thought I'd try and see if I can make contact with some of my mates. I served with the "Queens own Royal West Kent's"from 1954-1956. We did our training in Maidstone Kent and then went to Germany. We were stationed in Luneburg/north Germany. I was in the Corp of Drums. Hoping some one out there might be interested.
From: Jeff Sherwen Sent: 13th September, 2006
Hi Allan Thanks for the memories, in may 1959 I reluctantly reported to the Staffordshire regiment at Litchfield. There were about 90 of us, by far the majority had served apprenticeships and were over 21. eleven weeks later half of us were transferred to the Cheshire regiment stationed at Selerang barracks Singapore we travelled on a comet 4 commercial jet, after a little over a year the malayan conflict was at an end and we returned to southampton on the troopship Devonshire, after 3 weeks leave we went to Carlisle for a couple of weeks before going to Ballykinler N Ireland. As the end of my service approached We were told that national service was coming to an end, we were discharged a few weeks early on april 7 1961. Looking back my army experiences were very positive. My service changed me for the better. I found it difficult to settle back into my previous life, within a few years I had a wife and a couple of kids and was living in British Columbia. In Malaya we lost a corporal in a rafting accident his nickname was Elbow, God bless him. Thanks again, Regards Jeff Sherwin L/cpl retired (Hyde Cheshire then.-Abbotsford BC Canada now)
From: Ken Bradshaw Sent: 15th April, 2006
Hi Alan,I read with great interest your article on the Cameroons. I was in the RAMC field ambulance serving in the Cameroons with your regiment. It was a privilege to have been there with such a professional regiment.When I read your article it was like being there again and what seemed like a dream suddenly made me realise that it did really happen.
I spent the first couple of months at Beau camp and then moved on to Tiko cottage hospital if you remember we had a surgical unit there not in the hospital itself but in I think it was 2 like mizzen huts with about 6 beds in each. We hardly had any patients but plenty of tarantulas that I had to kill as it worried the patients. Most of the patients seemed to be circumcisions with the occasional appendix operations. We sometimes help with civilian operations.
I then went to Bamenda camp and was soon sent to Sante Coffee. It would seem that we were on to same patrols. In particular I remember the raid on the terrorist camp high up in the bamboo forest I was with the patrol that came up the mountain after the shooting had started. I remember clearly those shots at dawn. You perhaps did not realise that most of us medics were not as fit as you boys and often got left behind as on this occasion. I was probably about 100 yards behind you lot and I could hear the cries of agony coming from the forest and could see the blood all over the bamboo trees. I can’t tell you how scarred I was being on my own. When I caught up the first think I was asked to do was to verify that the two shot were dead and I can tell you that I took a very quick Glance and said yes they are. I know that you said there was only one dead but I am sure there were two.
Our next mission was to destroy the camp although I don’t think I had much energy if you remember when we slept the night before it had rained and I just happened to be lying where the water channelled down. I remember we all had to carry two or three weapons that we had captured and I remember that the prisoners were made to carry the ammunition on their heads. There were three prisoners one of whom was a woman who I felt sorry for in their pathetic state
We set of down the hill and soon I fell quite a way behind until I could no longer see the platoons there didn’t seem to be any waiting in those days. I was again scarred as you can imagine after all that shooting I would have been an easy target. I had almost given up and climbed to the top of a small hill and with luck I saw the other medic in the far distance and I kept him in my sights. When I eventually caught up you had all had a rest and just as I reached you the order was given to move out. Another patrol went out a few days later I think to recover the bodies and when they Reached there the camp had been put back up.
The other patrol I was on was where we went to see the chief in the village. We went into the hut; Quite a big hut, there was a large carpet on the floor which none of the tribes men would step on. There was like a throne and one end of the hut with all the chairs arrange around the carpet. We all sat down and watched as the room gradually filled up with armed tribes men. Do you remember when they spoke to the chief they covered their mouths. Your sergeant went in a back room to ask his questions and the chief asked if there was a doctor. I was of course called upon to act as a doctor. It was not for the chief but for one of his wives. I handed out a few pills and told him it was very powerful medicine, he seemed happy with this.
Do you recall how the medic had his own little tent where I used to get a small queue of locals outside in the morning? There was little I could do for many of them but I did my best.I get the feeling that we must have rubbed shoulders, as many of your experiences are very similar to my own.I won’t bore you any more but congratulations on a good article.
Best Wishes,Ken Bradshaw 2 brigade field ambulance
COMMENT FROM ALAN : Ken was on the same patrol as the one I was on in my Story
From: John Kelly Sent: 15th April, 2006
Hello Alan. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries - especially those concerning Fulwood Barracks where I did basic training in late 1957 with the East Lancashire Regiment, then moving to RAEC and eventually Libya. Congratulations on your enterprise. National Service is so often just forgotten these days - but it was a big thing in our young lives. I was so disappointed at the lack of publications on NS that I sat down and wrote my own and got it published (National service 1950s: pub Oleander Press). These things never make any money (not for the author anyway) but that was not my intention; it is just that the records need to be kept I think. Good luck with the website - something needs to be recorded while we are still actually here! (I and an old Army friend are returning to Tripoli and Libya in September - after nearly 50 years)
John Kelly
From: Lawrence Avison Sent: 13th April, 2006
Hi Alan ,I hope you are well.As many more have said ,just happend on your Web site,very good ,stured my old gray matter.When i went for my medical they asked me what i wanted to join Navy I said.got my call up for the ACC.Reported to Aldershot for basic taining then posted to Caterick for my cooks corse that done got posted to Kure Japan.Embarked on Empire Orwell,a troop ship,spent eleven weeks cooking in the ships galley.I was dropped of and spent six months cooking for RMP then posted to Korea,it was that cold that i had to boil frozen eggs first before i could fry them,also spent six months in Korea,it was back to Japan for me to catch the troop ship Asturias home so I thought only to be dropped of at Singapore,spent two weeks in a transit camp then i was posted up to Malaya to the RASC in the jungle it took four days sat on a wood slat seat on a train that must have been built in the eighteen hundreds did my time there and was told I would be flown home for demob,no such luck ,the Sueze crises came up and I was stuck had to wait for it to finish.So i did a little bit more N/S than most on my pay of one pound per week,ten bob of that was taken from my pay to be sent home to my mum to save for me for when i got out,BUT Mum had spent it each week as it was sent so when i got out I had two days of then it was back to work down the mine. Laurie Avison 23100328 A.C.C Leeds W/Yokshire
From: Ron Rees Sent: 19th February, 2006
Dear Alan,
I have just read through the memory page and I notice that there is a lack of Naval Personnel writing in. Now I was called up in May 1954 and reported to H.M.S.Victory (now H.M.S.Nelson ) for basic training, From there I was Drafted to H.M.S.Ceres in Wetherby Yorkshire for further training, I suppose it would be classed as skill training. From there I was drafted to H.M.S.Drake the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport for a short while before Being drafted to 827 Squadron (Fleet Air Arm ) and that is where life in the Navy opened up.Now when I joined up there were quite a few N/S men about in the Navy. All the Best
Ron Rees
From: JD Gabbitas Sent: 12th February, 2006
Very interesting all the experiences.
I myself went into Oswestry June 1950 then to Rhyl and finished my 2 years in Dusseldorf with 19th Fld. Have only made contact with 1 mate I served with, now in Australia. Have many happy memories of those 2 years just a few not so, any one who was in 19th then please make contact.
J.D.Gabbitas
From: Donna Slingsby Sent: 11th February, 2006
i am searching for anybody who might of known my dad, George Hoare, he did national service from 1952 to 1954, royal ordanance corp. in 1952 for 14 days he was at aldershot,then hilsea barracks portsmouth for 12 weeks training. he then joined 17 vehicle battalion until 1952 in munchion cladback in germany think the spelling might be wrong. love to hear from anybody who maybe new him or any family member like me who are trying to fill in the gaps of their dads past years. i have photos but only two names gordon anderson who was a farmer and bob mitchell lived in fulham spent time at the rifle pub but now i think known as the golden gloves. hope someone can help. keep up the good work on this site its so hard to find out any information on the national service.
thanks Donna
From: Tony Rogers Sent: 4th February, 2006
I was called up to do my National Service in January 1951, then after basic training in Colchester I was posted to The 1st Bn The Suffolk Regiment who had been in Malaya since August 1949. The regiment had earned an excellent reputaion in the three and a half years they served in Malaya. Thinking back to those days when there was not an ounce of fat on any of us, carrying heavy loads in those tropical humid conditions, my god! we were fit young men who thought we would live forever. Like most men of 18 I did not wish to go into the army, but with the benefit of hindsight, It did me a power of good and I feel that I am a better person for having did my time. The one great benefit of doing National Service is the comradeship that develops between all the lads in times of adversity. So much so that today, 55 years later we have our own local branch of The Suffolk Regiment OCA with 270 members and it is just great to spend time in their company talking over old times. Sadly we left 21 of our comrades buried in Malaya. Our duty is to remember them as they were. Young healthy men with their life yet to live as we have done.
Tony Rogers
Hemel Hempstead
From: George Andrews Sent: 4th February, 2006
Good on you Parkie,
Just been reading through your experiences during your early life and your time in the army. It's a jolly good read and probably typical of the story of many a young fellow of that era. I enjoyed it immensely. Make sure you keep a hard copy for your family,these social histories can vanish so quickly. Our generation is starting to get near the end of the plank. My own case was slightly different in that I was one the thousands of kids evacuated from London in 1941 and as both parents perished in the war, I never went back. At 17 I was persuaded to volunteer and I signed on for 9 years in the Royal Signals. That was in 1956 and coming from a series of boys homes, Army life was a doddle. I came out in 1965 despite great attempts to make me re-enlistand then spent the next 10 years in the Merchant Navy. For the first five years or so of service, National Service guys were everywhere ( they used to call us "thick regulars"and not always in jest ) and there was a wonderful cross section of the British nation. Every one of them moaned about having to do it but I have never met one who told me that he regretted having done it. I'm sure there may be a few but thy are hard to find. They were a great credit to their country and in Australia I believe they are being recognised with a National Service medal. I believe that that is how it should be. I'm glad you still meet up with a few of your old mates,you've got plenty to share' I personally think we would do many of our youngsters a favour if we re-instituted a form of service for them. It doesn't have to be military,it could be fisheries patrolling,anti drug custom work or even work to do with global warming. Anything that got youngsters into situations of adversity and discipline. I bet you that they would thank us for it, afterwards of course.
Good luck mate George Andrews.
From: George Andrews Sent: 6th January, 2006
Good on you son,"Naafi on pay day" what a wonderful expression. It took me back over fifty years to Catterick when we had to pay for "barrack damages" brasso,boot polish,dusting cloths and God knows what else and were then left with an absolute pittance to buy some watery beer and a few soggy chips.But what wonderful young guys they all were.All the best for the new year and God Bless you.Kind regards,George Andrews
From: Ernie Baldwin Sent: 2nd January, 2006
Hi Alan ,I have just read your account of service in the Cameroons,Great story .I served with C Company, along with Alan Smethurst,Yes our accomadations were much better than you guys had up country,Thats when our gung ho Plt Officer wasnt trying to impress everyone and haveing us out on detachment to do patrols,I braught 2 convoys up to Bemenda with supplies so I know what your main camp was like.I have to agree about the RAF they shut down the NAAFI when we arrived there, It was good seeing some of names you added most of them I knew, Jimmy stewart went to be a cook in the Sgts Mess for awhile in Germany,I was in from 1958 till1964, then moved to Canada were Ive lived ever since < once again good reading yours truly Ernie Baldwin
C and HQ camp on the lower slopes of Mount Buea - sent by Ernie Baldwin
Ernie Baldwin sent this picture - “The barge that took the KORBR back to the Devonshire - homeward bound”
From: Norm Collins Sent: 31st December, 2005
Hi Alan I enjoyed your account of your time at Fulwood as I was there myself as a recruit in the Loyals (60/20 intake) from 4Aug. 60. I was not fortunate enough to see any "real" service as I was posted to Wuppertal ,Germany but have no regrets at all about my time in the Loyals,sometimes wish I had signed on.I am now living in Australia and lost touch with my mates from that time,wish I could turn the clock back(don't we all) best wishes and thanks for this pleasant trip down memory lane Norm Collins(23805331)
From: Eric Mcreadie Sent: 24th November, 2005
Hi There,I think that you and I must have bumped into each other at sometime during our service.My name is Eric M'Creadie(23649575L/Cpl Two Platoon A Company) I was at Westwick Camp and Bamenda,Santa Coffe to,so we must have walked down many of the same path's.I know Pete Maquire, Ian Forsyth.I haven't seen any of them since demob.I have lived inCanada for over 30 years( I was born and raised in Blackpool) I have fond memory's of my army pal's.I also have some pictures taken in the Camaroons (black and white ).If you would like to see them I would be more than happy toE-Mail you them.
From: Keith Standring Sent: 8th November, 2005
Hi Alan, I've only just visited the Grenadier Guards Association, East Kent Branch site and read your enquiry about what happened during the period of Grenadier service in the Cameroons. I served there throughout with No. 3 Company at Kumba. For a reasonable but not especially detailed overview of our time in the Cameroons I would strongly recommend you get a copy of 'Once a Grenadier.....' by Oliver Lindsay who was a Grenadier Officer in the Cameroons. He devotes Chapter 10 of his book to 'The British Cameroons 1961-Stepping stones to independence'. Incidentally, from 1970-1995 I madecountless visits to Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow. Thank goodness the roads have improved since those early days!!
Keith Standring
Regiment: Grenadier Guards
Service Dates 1959-62
From: Brian Shaw Sent: 12th October, 2005
Hi I wondered if you can give me some advice regarding finding some old comrades from my NS days.I served in 1954 to 1956 in the 35th LAA/SL Regt 92 battery Royal Artillery BAOR 25 northern Germany Ive tried various Web sites all promising the impossible,but none of them cannot even locate my old regiment,sometimes I feel I must have dreamt the whole episode in despair,I did locate one site that found me one ex gunner who wrote for a while but contact dried up
Gunner Brian Shaw
From: Karen Tunnacliffe Sent: 29th August, 2005
Hello, I am trying to find information about my Grandfather who served in the KOBR and later the North Staffs,he was not very forthcoming about his army career before he died,but I know he served in Burmah,and his nickname was Darky Joe but his real name was Harold Rayner. He was originally from Hartlepool area but later moved to Cumbria. Any information would be appreciated. Thankyou Karen Tunnacliffe
From: Jim Rankin Sent: 11th August, 2005
G'day Alan,enjoy your site very much.I was in the K.O.R.R done my b.t.at bowram barracks Lancaster served in H.K.1954/56.If you could put me in touch with Anne I could pass on some info about different mobs that where in Honkers at the time.keep up the good work
Jim Rankin Sydney Australia
From: Michael Robinson Sent: 28th July, 2005
Hello Alan, Through your Web site I am now in touch with Derek Ormerod who was at Carlisle Castle doing his National service training the same time as me, (1957 ) then we went to Berlin with the Border Regiment, when the Battalion amalgamated we finished our service at Humbelton Camp Barnard Castle. As Derek lives in Australia I'm going to send him some pictures of the old camp at Barnard Castle which I took when I was over in the area in June, you my have been back yourself, but I have attached three pictures. All there is now at Humbelton are green fields, a lorry park and a footpath through to a farm in the area that used to be the main entrance, guard room and MT section, and at Westwick there is one lone building in the middle of agriculture land.
From: Mike Clough Sent: 24th July, 2005
Hi Parky I have come your website by chance
.Very much enjoyed your account of National Service with 1KORBR. It brought back many forgotten happy memories. I thought that I had a fair memory (my wife says 'I've never stopped talking about my National Service in the Cameroons)
Like you I was called up in 1960, Basic training at Fulwood Barracks, (Namur Squad) Weapon training on the moors, the period at Barnard Castle, then to Cameroons. with Support Company first as part of MMG Platoon (but soon volunteered as Company Clerk with Dave Heslop under CSM Kershaw) then as you to Bamenda Camp (Santa Customs, Santa Coffee et a...) I remember you and a load of the lads you mention plus the Officers(a mixed bunch) Warrant Officers, and NCO's - Sgt (Hooky) Walker, (later Colour Sgt) Sgt Dickinson (Assault Pioneers) Sgt Machin, Sgt Wakefield, etc..(+ the 100 or so lads) all of whom I remember with respect and affection they were good 'professional soldiers' who took good care of us young National Service lads under their charge.
Regards and many thanks Pte Mike Clough 23788231
From: Terry Basson Sent: 12th July, 2005
Dear Alan
I am a National Service man 1952-54. I was posted to Munster in Germany to join the 2nd Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles. I visited Winchester yesterday where I did my formal training - a delightful day.I should like to find some of my old comrades - I have a few names stored away in my memories and the KRRC chronicle for 1953 has proven also very helpful - my service number is 22671598.Can you be of any assistance?
Terry Basson
From: Brian Parkinson Sent: 11th July, 2005
Good Morning!
Once in awhile I search for Parkinson sites and this am came up with yours which I will save and revisit. I farm in Illinois, west of Chicago near the Mississippi River. My father was in the 1st Marine Division, 11th Artillery as a forward observer. (Peleliu, Okinawa,China see "With The Old Breed, E.B. Sledge) . My uncle was also in the Marines on the cruiser Quincy which was at Normandy and later took Roosevelt to Egypt where Churchill visited the ship before the Yalta Conference. Uncle Everett actually shook Churchill's hand when he cameaboard although he wasn't supposed to. Churchill just reached out to the first one he saw, shook his hand and commented about my uncle's size. My grandfather was in France in WW1, was in combat with the 3rd Army, 7th Artillery, Muese Argonne I believe and was probably gassed, he had emphysema and died young.My gg grandfather Thomas Parkinson, was in the militia and was at Yorktown. In his application for a pension he stated that he was in and out several times depending on the farming season and he served under French officers at Yorktown, digging trenches.My mother does the genealogy research and thinks our part of the Parkinson family came from northern England. Someday I'll take up the hunt but in the meanwhile I say hello to fellow Parkinson's on the web.If you are into family history I would be interested.
Brian Parkinson
From: Jason Stubbs Sent: 21st June, 2005
Alan,i found another spare moment to take a look at the web page. its a great read. massively different to my RAF days.
jason stubbs
From: Brian Abbot Sent: 1st June, 2005
Not national service, but I wonder is there anyone out there who served in the Infantry Boys Battalion at Crownhill Barracks Plymouth 1955-57.,
(later the Junior Leader's Regimnet) or in Cyprus with the Royal West Kent Regiment 1957-59 in the Kyrenia Pass and Nicosia ?
Brian
From: Peter Browne Sent: 1st May, 2005
DEAR ALAN, I WAS CALLED UP FOR N/S ON THE 5 OCTOBER 1960 TO 5 OCTOBER 1962 AND DONE MY BASIC TRAINING AT EGLINTON NEAR L/DERRY N. IRELAND, I WAS 21 AT THE TIME THE REASON BEEN THE GOVERMENT COULD NOT MAKE A FIRM DATE AS WHEN TO END N/S. DURING B/T AT EGLINTON WE HAD A CHOICE OF TWO REGIMENTS THE INNISKILLINGS OR THE ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES I CHOSE THE R U R.
AFTER 4 MONTHS B/T WE WERE FLOWN FROM MANSTON TO DUSSELDORF AND THEN BY TRAIN TO ISERLOHN I0 MILES FROM DORTMUND. I WAS ONLY REALLY HAPPY WHEN OUT ON MANOUVERS BARRACK LIFE WAS GRIM.AS ONE OF YOUR WRITERS HAS SAID IT WAS MY MOST TWO IMPORTANT YEARS OF MY LIFE. I HAVE TRIED HARD TO TRACE OLD N/S FRIEND BUT NO LUCK, JUST IN CASE SOMEONE FROM THE RUR N/S 1960 TO 62 MY NAME IS PETER BROWNE FROM LONDON.
REGARDS, PETE.
From: Tony A Taylor Sent: Friday, February 25th, 2005
Mr. Parkinson,
A good story, well told. Thank you, sir for sharing this with us.
Tony A. Taylor
U.S. Army (Retired) Military Police Regiment
From: Ray Hoggart Sent: Friday, February 19th, 2005
Hello again Alan,
Like you and lots of others, I did my two years from January 1960 to January 1962 and although I wasn't keen on the army at the time I have since realized that they were two of the most important years of my life. I have made numerous attempts to try and trace old comrades thinking they would be out there just waiting to be reconnected. Unfortunately they are not out there, I've lost track of how many sites I have left messages on and only ever found one, the chap in the next bedspace to mine in training at Rhyl, so I now keep in touch (although it's usually to complain about the pains of old age).
So here I go again, I'm Ray Hoggart, 23757155, ex Royal Regiment of Artillery, Oswestry, Rhyl, Woolwich and Hohne in West Germany. If anyone does remember me, particularly from Rhyl I would love to hear from them, I certainly wasn't the last of the NS men, they came in for a few months after me and unfortunately the very last ones had to do an extra few months on to their two years because the uptake of regulars was insufficient.
I will visit the site again now that I have found it, keep up the good work, who knows I may find another ex comrade. <If you wish to contact Ray - please send an email to me above and I will forward on to Ray>
Ray.
From: Hank Devine Sent: Friday, February 4th, 2005
Hi Alan,enjoyed reading about your experiences with national service.i`m wondering if anyone out there remembers "R" company,R.A.O.C. at Tel el Kebir,Egypt 1949-50.
regards, henry devine, Toronto,Canada
From: Anne Hepburn Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 7:43 PM
Hello,I am looking a script which contains a soldier sent out to Hong Kong in 1953. Can anyone let me know how long it would take to sail out there by troop ship at that time?Also, if anyone can give me more information about Hong Kong at that time, and the British troops out there?
Many thanks.Anne Hepburn. If you can help Anne then please contact me above and I will pass on your message - Alan
From: Norman Silvester Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 7:37 PM
Subject: Cameroons
Dear Alan, Chanced upon your site by typing in Cameroons. What a great story. I was in the 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards who took over from you (although I did not know until now). I was a driver with the MT platoon and spent my time at Kumba, servicing the outlying camps with water via an Austin K9 tanker. If you are interested our branch of the Grenadier Guards Association have a website at http://www.rcgoodson.demon.co.uk/ekb/Default.htm Thanks again for a good read Norman Silvester
From: Duncan Gauld Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 12:39 AM
Subject: National Service memoirs site
Hi,I just thought I would write and tell you how interesting It was to read your story of your time in National Service. I am 16 and will be joining the Royal Navy at some time soon (currently I am a Sea Cadet), and came across your site when, out of interest, I was looking up when NS was abolished.Your time in the Cameroons certainly sounded like quite anadventure..!Can you tell me, by the way, if Vickers is still around? Are they
still making British fighting ships.Thank you for the interesting read!
Duncan Gauld(Dundee)
Name : Dennis Caetano - Three Point Press
Excellent website. Perhaps you'd enjoy reading ours. Please check out http://www.georgethomasclark.com/ -- the author's official web page - which features information about his biographical novel HITLER HERE. This work is unique because all the characters have bylines and thus the opportunity to reveal what they did and how they felt during an era of unprecedented destruction. The online excerpts are from the points-of-view of Hitler and six other characters.Generals Guderian, Halder, Rudnstedt, Rommel, Manstein, Zhukov, and Patton also have numerous entries, and so do soldiers from a variety of countries.At the recent Frankfurt Book Fair, HITLER HERE generated reading copy requests from several foreign publishers, and the English language rights in India have just been sold to Mastermind Books.Sincerely,Dennis Caetano Three Point Press
Name : Adrian Vaughan
I hope you are still as very well and fit as you look in your photo on your site. I was not a National Serviceman but I put NS-men through their 10 weeks basic training at Topsham Barracks, Exeter from 8/58 until maybe 3/59. I can't quite recall. I have often wondered who would remember me. I was pretty hopeless, not at all cut out for a Regular Army Weapon and Drill Instructor. I joined the Infantry Boys Bn. in 3/56 purely to get away from an oppressive home and had a very important experience there, at Plymouth for 2.5 years. But I was never able to order people about so I got by as an Instructor at Exeter by being nice to everyone and all the recruits were very kind to me. One squad I had, all new graduated from University were extremely kind to me and got me 'Champion Squad' for that intake. One of them, clearly with a degree in psychology or psychiatry told me I was a very good actor as a drill corporal - but it WAS an act. I got myself a medical discharge in 9/60.
I am very grateful to the Army for putting up with me and bringing me on so to speak. I was glad also to leave and felt as no Regular soldier should feel when he drives past the guard-room for the very last time. YIPPEEE! Freedom!
All the very best,
Yours sincerely,>
Adrian Vaughan
Name : Alison Chandler I have been searching for info for my father. Does anybody recall serving in Aden around 1960-62 as an Air Dispatcher with Tom Mowat from Cullen? He did training flights in Watchfield(?) nr Swindon. I would love to pass any emails onto him.Thank you.
Name: Karen Buckley ( nee Hughes)
City Bolton
Sent: 19.40 - 28/10
Name: Mike Foster
City birmingham
Sent: 15.32 - 29/9
very well written. would be nice to get it published.there is a big demand for books on the subject.I met some of your lads,on leaving the Cameroons the were posted to Cyprus were i was serving
Name: Glynn Roberts
Homepage: http://liverbird.com
City riverside california USA
Sent: 15.23 - 6/9
hello there everybody, served in the Kings(m&l) in preston and Kenya 1960 -1962 at Muthaiga and Kahawa, was theBrigs driver, Brig horseford, anyone rember those days there
Name: Ken Bicknell
Sent: 17.00 - 27/8
i joined dcli at bodmin in 1958,went on to osnabruck germany,amalgmated with sli in 1959 to become scli.i was in Acoy with Sgt edwards, cplblackwell came out in 1960,ilive in newquay cornwall,retired now running local football teams men and women/anyone knows me drop me a e-mail would love to hear from any of my old mates
Name: Ian Forstyh (Bruce)
City Barrow
Sent: 14.10 - 24/8
Thought I did OK in basic training, Preston 59/60 as marksman on LMG but this meant I carried it when I got to Battalion in Barnard Castle. Typical !! National Service.
Name: Ted Montague
City Barrow-in-Furness
Sent: 22.45 - 15/8
Nice one Alan! Really impressive site and a lot of hard work evident. I need to set aside a few hours to read it all in detail but it looks very interesting and worthy of publication.
Name: Paul Maxwell
City Lancaster
Sent: 07.05 - 11/8
wonderful really enjoyed it
Name: edward
City lake worth Fl USA
Sent: 02.28 - 9/8
Hello! Brother-in-law of Bill Hawksford writing to say!!! Nice page and Bill's stories too!!! I'm retired Army USA 30 yrs. Chief Warrant [helicopter maintenace Officer] WWII- North Africa and China Burma
Name: stephen
City liverpool
Sent: 20.08 - 29/7
I think they should bring national service back
Name: Donald Young
City brighton
Sent: 16.46 - 28/7
Congratulations- a great web site. I enjoyed(?) two years in the Kings Own in Rosetti Barracks and was amused to see the gate where we checked in "SPD" at 2359hrs and was facinated to see photos of BdeHq (memories of guard duty) and RSM "Chad" Remington and my old CSM - WO2 Heath! Wow!
Name: R Molyneux
Sent: 21.04 - 19/7
Dear Alan:
I write on behalf of a friend who has not got an e-mail or internet facility. Would you please let me know if it is possible to obtain your memoirs in book form, and, if so, how best to go about it.
Yours sincerely,
R. Molyneux
Name: Georg Kay
City Adelaide
Sent: 12.24 - 12/7
One Thousand apologies!I said Dragon,but now that I have my hearing aids in,I can see my mistake!Worthy of a 252 eh?
George K30.
Name: George Kay
City Adelaide
Sent: 13.23 - 11/7
As usual just fell into your site mucker,ex signals platoon,Falaise Camp,M.E.L.F. 26 Egypt,52-54.So,you lads,how,re they hanging?Glad to see the old Dragon still on the standard,is the brass bell still kept out side of the Guard room+that Chinese(?)banner?
There are two of us in touch over here,some more not reported back yet,Nobby Clark or Eric as he is called on Sunday,s would, i,m sure be chuffed to hear from any old Border Rievers that are on the site!
Now to ave a quoise shufti through the letters!
Regards to all
George,K 30
Name:James (Andy Capp)
City cornwall
Sent: 19.09 - 29/6
Hello mate I also served at BMH Dhekelia 1958-60
nice to see some of the old boys still around cheers jim.
Name: Georges Oliver Barron
City Whitehaven, Cumbria
Sent: 15.32 - 2/6
I was part of the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment from Nov 1957 - 1959. Army number 23434967. I am interested in finding out more information about the regiment at this time! Do you know where I can look!!
Name: Judith Tangi
City Maryland
Sent: 14.08 - 23/5
Read some part of ur memoir about Cameroon it is quite interesting and will like to hear more from u.
thanks
Name: Mike Cairns
City stockton on tees TS20 1JU
Sent: 17.20 - 4/5
Served in Larnaca Sub Depot Cyprus 1957 - 1959. During the troubles. Site of camp is now Larnaca Airport.Always remember first six months confined to camp because the dangers from EOKA. Great camp spirit as a result. Received General Service Medal because we were classed as being on active service. After demob had to sell it for £5 due to being hard up. Lots of memories. Any other "survivors" around?
Name: Bill Atkinson
City Sydney Australia
Sent: 03.41 - 28/4
Dear Alan
Just read your page And it transported me back to my time in the Border Regiment and Carlisle Castle.(1955-1957.Yes I enjoyed my N.S.also.Not as good as you at recall though.Ever get to Australia? Regards Bill.
Name: Lynseed
City Cambs
Sent: 12.13 - 13/4
Anyone know my dad, Den Parish (Michael Dennis George Parish) He did national service in the 50's. I think he was in Egypt but seems to have been to the Seychelles too. Recently he died and we knew nothing of his army life. Just trying to fill a gap.
Name: Michael Robinson
City Workington
Sent: 12.00 - 3/4
Hi, I have been reading your memoirs on your Web site and your mention of Humbleton Camp, I arrived at the camp with the 1st Battalion Border Regt, when we moved there from Berlin in 1959 and was nearing the end of my national service (Nov 59).
I was in HQ Company on the MT section for most of my service, however the in the run up to the amalgamation a few of us who had only days to do got detailed to get fitted out with a dress uniform and take part in the rehearsals for the amalgamation parade,as you can imagine after nearly two years driving a lorry it was like learning square bashing all over again.
Your account of your service and your site is brilliant.
Yours
Michael Robinson
Workington Cumbria
Name: Steve Walton
Sent: 18.53 - 30/3
Looking for Brian Davenport ex Royal Army Pay Corps October 1960--October 1962 Based at APO Ashton U Lyne Home address Irlam District of Greater Manchester.
Name: Norman Althoff
City West Islip NY USA.
Sent: 19.59 - 21/3
Referred by Bill Hawksford - Funny army stories.
RAF 1948-1950
Tern Hill Shropshire.
Melksham Wiltshire.
Interested in hearing from instrument section old buddies.
Name: Claire Williams
City MANCHESTER
Sent: 18.24 - 19/3
HELLO LOOKING ON THESE SITES TO TRY AND FIND SOME OLD FRIENDS OF MY DADS.
HE WAS IN THE SOUTH/BORDER REGIMENT BEWEEN 1957-1959.ANYONE KNOW HIM BILLY WILLIAMS?
Name: Julie Eyles
City Bexleyheath, Kent.
Sent: 23.01 - 5/3
My Dad, Eric Rivers served his stint of National Service from 1952-1954. He tells my sister and I fond stories of when he was stationed in Germany and Malaya, and what they all got up to. He was in The Queens Regiment. He was also stationed at barracks in Guildford, Seancliffe (?) sorry about the spelling!
and Perbright. It would be brilliant if there was anyone out there who was also stationed in these places.
Name: George Greensmith
City Tyne and Wear
Sent: 15.05 - 3/3
Have just learned about this Web site from BillHawksford, It seems very interesting as I have waited a while for someone to respond, especially from the area in Egypt where I spent a lot of time.
Name: Bill Hawksford
City Amityville, NY 11701. USA
Sent: 23.26 - 1/3
Love to exchange army stories, particularly with ex RASC.
Kempston Barracks,Yeovil,Catterick,Halifax,Chapeltown,
Sowerby Bridge,the Drax area and Moascar Egypt. 1946 -1949.
Name: Ben Leigh
Sent: 10.24 - 29/2
Lads Army Needs You!
We are a production company currently producing a new series of Lads Army to be broadcast on ITV1 during the summer. The series will take another 30 lads back in time to the 1950's to endure 4 weeks of national service. We are looking for anyone who has personal film of their time in national service to get in touch with us on the below details.
Ben Leigh
Bad Lads Army
Twenty Twenty TV
Kentish Town road
Name: John Tucker
Sent: 10.21 - 29/2
Alan Parkinson deserves to be commended on an excellent and most interesting account of his time spent during his period of National Service. I am certain that these memoirs will provide many other Nation Servicemen with thoughts pertaining to their own military exleriences.
In my opinion, National Service. in a relative short time, served to make men out of young boys. Many, I am sure, benefitted from this experience and the training that prepared them for it.
Good Show !!
Captain John Tucker C.D.,
Royal Canadian Air Force (Ret.)
Name: John Kelly
Sent: 10.20 - 29/2
Congratulations Alan (Parkinson) for writing such an interesting account and for making it available for everyone on the net.
I too started national service at Fulwood (September 12 1957) doing basic training for ten weeks with The East Lancashire Regiment - so your account rang quite a few bells. I was then transferred to the Educational Corps doing another few weeks training at Wilton Park Camp, Beaconsfield. I flew out to Libya ias an education sergeant in February 1957 and after some time at HQ in Tripoli I was with The 6th Royal Tanks at Homs (70 miles down the coast from Tripoli). I finally returned with the regiment by troopship in August/September 1959. after two fascinating years.
After retiring from teaching I decided to write up my story and it was published this year and is in quite a few libraries now: "National Service 1950s: Lancs Bucks Libya" published 'The Oleander Press' Cambridge (which likes doing books on the Middle East and has a series on Libya)
I really enjoyed reading about your experiences Alan and hope that many more people will do something similar. Nothing like enough has been written about those fascinating years of conscription. Perhaps you will inspire them!
I see the BBC has an interesting website on World War II and has invited people to write in about their experiences and memories. I wish they would do something similar on national service: it is a fascinating slice of social history, but rather neglected and forgotton.
John Kelly (23418269)
Name: Thomas Venn
City HUNTINGDON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Sent: 22.09 - 23/2
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHEN THE LAST NATIONAL SERVICE MAN WAS CALLED UP AND WHEN HE WAS DEMOBED.
I WAS WITH 13 SIGS IN GERMANY UNTIL 1963
Name: Bill Lillick
City kent
Sent: 21.29 - 16/1
Hi,meet one of the luckiest soldiers to do National Service,i served from April 51 until April 53,six months at catterick,Royal Signals,and then the rest of my time in...wait for it...Trieste,the best posting in the British Army bar none,ski-ing in the Italian Alps,many trips to Venice,swimming in the Adriatic,did i enjoy National service...well what do you think..Betfor Signals forever
Name: Bill Alvey
City Southport
Sent: 19.43 - 13/1
I did my National Service as a Driver (Service Number T/22653299) for 78 Coy RASC in Korea from April 1952 to April 1954. After some initial training at Aldershot, the majority of my training was at Yeovilton in Somerset.
We sailed out to Korea on the Empire Asturias (?), arriving first of at Kure in Japan after about six weeks sailing. After arriving in Pusan in Korea we were transported up to Inchon to pick up our lorries. I had a Bedford QL and we drove in convoy to Middle School in Seoul where we were stationed for the duration of our service.
I was assigned to the 29th Brigade and transported munitions, supplies and personal to them. After completing my service I spent two weeks in Britcom General Hospital in Kure, before disembarking on the Empire Windrush. Some of us got off the Windrush at Singapore because of engine problems. The Windrush later had an explosion in the Engine Room and sank. We completed our return journey on the Empire Orwell to Southampton.
My memory is not too good now and I would be interested if anyone has any recollections of these events, or remembers serving with me. I also have a couple of photographs of the men I trained with at Yeovilton, and of me stood in front of my Bedford QL in Korea is anyone would like them.
Kind Regards,
Bill Alvey
Southport, Lancashire
Name:Ald Garner Jones
City Frodsham, Cheshire
Sent: 08.58 - 11/1
I too did my basik training in Fulwood bks October 1959 -1960 then joined the 1st bn Kings Reg in Kenya E.Africa after training,them were the days some good some bad but that was life as a soldier, I remember the last of the national service men leaving the Regiment in Berlin 1962 when the regular soldiers pulled them in a landrover through the gates of the camp,I myself finneshed my time in 1965 (sorry I was a regular) N.Ireland In all my years with the Kings I was stationed in E Africa1960-1962,Kewait 1961.W Berlin1962-1964,the Ballykinler N.Ireland 1964-1965
Name: kevin james ex aptc
City nassau, bahamas
Sent: 06.14 - 10/1
a buddy of mine and I {he did ns in the RMP in HK 55-57} found your site and enjoyed it very much.
Name: Alan Mercer
City liverpool
Sent: 14.35 - 1/1
I to did my basic training at fulwood bks in 1959-1965 with the kings regiment, brought back some good memories for me. Throughly enjoyed reading your experience's.
Name: Jim Smith
Homepage: http://www.3rdcarabiniers.org.uk
City manchester
Sent: 00.15 - 27/11
great site, i missed NS but served with some of the lads who where in their last 6 months of NS.
anyone who served in the 3rd carabiniers please feel free to visit my site dedicated to the regiment.
good luck and all the best
Name: Carole
Sent: 19.32 - 17/8
I am trying to trace people on behalf of my grandad who served with him between 1952 - 54 in the 24th HAA Regiment at Shearness, Isle of Sheppey. His name is Alan Parker. He had a friend called Alan Gilbert and mentioned a Captain McCorkindale. If anyone could help, or give me advice on how to trace people, please email me. Thank you.
Name:Jason Stubbs
City barrow in furness
Sent: 15.35 - 13/8
enjoyed your recollections of your days in the army on the radio, alan. reminded me of those thursday nights in the cricket club putting up with frank and brian!
Name: Kathy's Military Links
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/kathysmilitarylinks/index.html
City USA Illinois Proud Mom of 3 who serve/US Armed Forces
Sent: 01.37 - 4/7
Alan, what an experience you're life has been.
I am honored to list you!
Thank you for your wonderful site and for your dedication and service with the Army and the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment.
I listed you at http://www.geocities.com/kathysmilitarylinks/allies.html which is my page for US allies, our friends!
Sincerely,
Kathy
Proud mom of 3 U.S. active duty service members
Name: John Tucker
Sent: 15.07 - 19/6
Got the Memoirs but saw your guest book first, so am entering my name.
The homepage of your site looks really impressive, and I look forward to getting into the real bumph.
John Tucker C.D.
Captain-R.C.A.F (Ret'd)
Name: Roy Hayton
City Barrow-in-Furness
Sent: 18.18 - 31/5
Most interesting. Reminds me of my own service...at a much earlier date. But the same kind of bods - some good, others useless!