Energumen

Part Four, The Don R's and London Circular. So, the broody Austin Champ is really struggling to close the gap and I, spoiling for another battle of words with my tormenter, decide to pull over to hasten the confrontation. Now it was my turn to have the puerile tantrum, I leapt, well yes I could and often did in those days, yes, I leapt from the cab, grasped my beret and like a protagonist of yore, thrust it on the ground, (well the Don R's had all the gauntlets). Here was my challenge. Have you ever been so built up for a fight, that you have actually felt disappointed, when the other party apologises or gives a reasonable excuse?. Bod it, you know that man, you know, that one , the one in the Austin Champ, well it wasn't him. Bogger!. Captain K, a most genial and well respected, up through the ranks, Gentleman, greeted me with his warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. "Well Sapper", he says, "and which front are you returning from today". Don't you just hate it when you want to be sullen and morose, and some bogger makes you laugh?. I explain in great detail, my traumatic experiences of the day and close by telling him that I am obeying the last order and trying to catch the convoy. "Well you are to be congratulated", says he, (this was better, a bit of praise, what a nice man). "Yes congratulations indeed, you have done so well, the convoy is at least ten miles to your rear, and what news have you of the Don R's "?. I explained that when last seen, they were heading South Like two angry bees who had flown through a line of washing and come out bedecked in Grandfathers World War one Military attire. I will be brief, who are you kidding?, who me?. Well, the convoy duly became caught up with, after I had waited about forty minutes. We all had tea and set off South. The Don R's?, we came across them somewhere North of Watford. Now, how about the London Circular, ah, indeed, that is a story for another time. Energumen

How nice of you. The funny thing is, they knuckled under and knew where we all stood, but that set the tone for an underlying warmth between us, which they felt able to confess to at the end of the course. I remember my Colleague Pete, in response to these lads coming up to us and thanking us etc, he said in his best parade ground voice, "right lads, now you have all passed out, you can call me Pete>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>Corporal ******* Pete!"

Hi 6X6, I wish I had known. I am in BS37, and would have tried to beg a viewing.

Part three; The Don R's Now, still smarting from the public dressing down for doing as instructed, but nonetheless happy to be free of the impedence of slower trucks for a while, I wend my way homeward again, the whistle and clatter of the V8 petrol and vibration from the all terrain tyres, interrupted frequently with the sharp crack of the canvas tilt as sail like, it fought with the wind, these had become a sort of calming overture to my ears. Then it happened, as if from nowhere first one, then a second Don R appeared alongside my cab door, the riders appearance resembling some gruesome and macabre ghouls from a nightmare. Goggles, crash helmets, great coats flared out like the wings of Concorde, leather thigh boots and gauntlets, complete with scarves that trailed like ships pennants in a storm. Here we go, "Wwwuuuwww wwwwwover" shout the ghouls in unison, as they wooble, along, bodies akimbo and left arms flailing the air, "Wwwuuuwww wwwwover yapwat". It was quite clear to me as an astute observer of body language and military speak, that these individuals wished me to stop and exchange dialogue with them, and I did so. Now something must be left to the readers imagination, so you must insert your own sentences, phrases, grunts, gesticulations and obscenities into the tale at this point. Suffice to say, it resulted in my doing a five point about turn on this rural road, scarcely wide enough for a vehicle in each direction, now you would think I had been punished enough, wouldn't you? yes?. Not Broody likely, just as I complete the manouvre, up comes a knight in , no not shining armour, a broody Austin Champ, who could this be wondered I, as it approached, then an arm bedecked with three of the most prominent chevrons known to man, appeared from the drivers side, apparently offering to give me some physical ecstasy and relief, now I knew who this was, before the voice became audible, sorry, no prizes. Sargeant Strident, having sent the Don R's to turn me round, had been advised that if I had carried straight on it was a more direct route to the A1 anyway. He now directed another five point about turn and in his own inimmitable way, sent me to join the A1 South and catch up with the convoy. On arriving at the A1 with the two Don R's in attendance and Strident having gone goodness knows where, I was instructed to wait in a lay by for the rest of the convoy and rejoin at the rear. This instruction was valid for about fifteen minutes, whilst the two Don R's Went Northward, after which time they reappeared, telling me to get my boot down as the convoy had already passed. Now it is fair to point out at this time, that the only means of radio communication between any convoy members was a pair of No.19 radio sets, which were 'netted in' at the start of our outward journey and never spoke to each other again until we got home. However, delightful, I am coaxing about 51 mph out of this old Canadian Thames, the various noises like sections of an orchestra, each making their own unique contribution to this 1812 overture, with the curtains providing the explosions. Even more delightful, the only vehicles passing me are the 'Tartan Arrows', who remembers them?. Then in my 2inch mirrors, first offside, then nearside, I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be an Austin Champ. To be continued.

second attempt at getting this on correct subject location.

I think my memory serves me correctly with it being plywood, but hey the hair has gone, and I think each strand took a million memory cells with it. Ha ha.

Hi Gents, new boy again. The last one of these I saw was at a military vehicle show, on the Isle of Wight in the 90's, it also had a diesel engine fitted. I have added a picture on Swills thread elsewhere on site, of one still in military attire. I believe it is the one we had in the TA at Brighton, but cannot be sure, as I picked the picture up later.

Hi again. I believe the gear Maze as I called it, was standard and mounted on brackets to the floor. Yes I did get to drive it, but only a couple of times, and much to the chagrine of the Plant Sargeant, who tried to keep it for himself, I think the driving position gave best public display of his brilliant white chevrons. Ha ha

Hi, yes, this was a Scammel Constructor RE. It was paired with a Tasker 20ton low loader, and designated for plant vehicle transport in a Field Park Squadron. I do not have much recall of the technical spec. but There is probably something on line, which I will search out for you. In the picture, that is either a Catterpillar D4 or Fowler Mk.7 bulldozer on the trailer. Though it was used for much of our plant. The loading method was 2 pairs of rear wheels across the back, each pair fixed by a large nut and with curved, slotted capture brackets, which, when you jacked up the rear end with hand operated toe jacks and undid the Large nuts, would allow the wheels to come away in pairs, you could then adjust the toe jacks. The engine was a Rolls Royce Petrol, and when connected and fully loaded, I understand we got between 1 and 2 miles per gallon. The gear selection was via a Plywood fretwork type gate. That is a start. Incidentally, I have just seen mention of the Albion 10 ton machinery , (Workshop), wagon, we had one of those as well, a fantastic mobile workshop, where our guys made allsorts.

Lance Corporal indeed. Well, that takes me back many years. There I was newly promoted and marching a squad of twenty odd TA recruits of the 5th bn. Queens Regiment TA, around the old SS camp at Cella in Germany. (Host unit The Royal Green Jackets). Full of it?, well yes, that and a little more. "Le-eft, Right Le-eft, Right >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>" "Keep those arms straight, thumbs pushed back, Chest Out, Chin in, Look your own Height, etc. etc. etc. You will all know the drill. I am marching them across a grassed area to a Fieldcraft lesson. Now me being busy watching what the squad were doing, and them wishing all sorts of evil upon my personage, I did not see, and they did not care to warn me of, a massive hole from which a large fire hydrant had been removed. Lady luck, we all know, can sometimes be ones best friend, well yes, she was theirs, but totally deserted me. Their course took them right past the very edge of the hole, and me, base over apex, right into the muddy morass at the bottom. Well, they kept marching, laughing as quietly as they could, until, I could not help but see the funny side myself and just sat in the hole, smothered in shush, and laughing like a hyena sitting on a peacocks plumage, till they broke off to come back for me. How are the mighty, (especially the self important), fallen.

And here is another from the 1960's TA Days

Hi Ya, love the Old 10 ton Albion Cargo. That is the model we had in your neck of the woods in the early 1960's. Royal Engineers (RE TA at Preston Barracks Brighton. And thereby hangs another tale. Having posted it on another site, is it ok to redo it on here?. Could one of the site administrators please advise.

Hi Folks, a little diversion, this link is to a guy called Steve, who drives across America as an employee of a transport company, his web cam, runs 24/7, through his screen, even when he is asleep on board or delivering. He has a cat, (heartwarming story that), and he is just back on the road after a few days of being off road in Omaha with electrical/management fault. He has previous videos and beautiful still shots on the site too. At this time UK 1530, he appears to be in a truck stop, he pulls in roughly every 2 hrs. from what I have seen. if you mail him, mention Energumen. This is not a commercial link, I have just had a couple of e mail exchanges with him. Enjoy, I do, and why not mail him?. http://bigrigtravels.smugmug.com/

Serves you right for stuffing them with rolled up hankies in the crotch.

Re; the Incredible Hulk films, shame that, most people would sell their wives to star in the movies. And I'll bet you get thousands of free shirts from advertising sponsors. You asked for that. Ha ha.:rofl:

Hi Tony, thank you for the welcome, most kind. If you are 'on the Island', you wouldn't have come across the GMC 353 or Richard Le Brocq in your travels, would you?.

There may be a few modern day car manufacturers looking to double stack their production before long. The young families who have gone along with the all too recent, truism, of 'buy the best home you can afford because they will always go up in value faster than inflation' are sure in for some hard times now. Maybe they should have bought Jeeps. Lol

This is the last of my Brother's little collection. (the 6X6 Dodge he ordered on the Sunday before his demise, was due to be delivered the next week, we had to cancel it.). This little baby was Con's pet, in fact most of our work on it was cosmetic and minor mechanicles and running gear. I have a wooden boxed Special edition Book 1278/2000. I will put it on the sale and wanted page.

Hi Enigma, not in our experience, anyway, they are not exactly volvos are they, But I love the way they drive.

Cheers 6X6, who knows, if the lottery comes I, I may well buy one or ten, and get back on the circuit.

Hi Colonel, you are very welcome, the link came from my desire to acquaint myself with those vehicles. Being a Nebraska man, may I offer you a great link?. This is an American Trucker who I have been following live on his cab link as he crosses the States. He is I think still off the Road at the moment at the Volvo Truck dealers in Omaha, but there are several videos and beautiful still pictures on his web site. http://bigrigtravels.smugmug.com/ Enjoy.

Hello Bodge Deep, many thanks for your comments , much appreciated.