Big ray

I know this is a late notice but Foxfield Railway have a 40's

do on this week end all are welcome inc German it is located

near Blythe Bridge S.O.T. it's only a small event but a very

friendly group of people run it further details give me a ring

on 07970 708261 or just turn up free entry for vehicle entrants

to show and on trains 40's wear appreciated

C

This is an excellent event that takes place each year, highly reccomended........... why not give it a try.

The North Staffs Area of the MVT meets on the last Thursday of the month...... except December. We attend many shows here in the UK and we travel abroad at least twice a year. ( Holland and France.) We now have something like 50+ green machines, from motorcycles to some very nice armoured stuff (Light armour, Halftracks, Bren Gun Carriers etc.):cool2:

Hello All, my name's Ken and I'm from Stoke-on-Trent.

I did 7 years in the REME '89-'96.

I briefly owned and used a Land Rover 101FC until a couple of years ago and now I'm craving for another.

That'll do for now me thinks.

It's good to be here and thanks for having me.

Ken

Hi, I am ex-REME and also from Stoke........ are you involved with the MVT in the North Staffs Area?

We have got a fantastic collection of vehicles.

Ray.:cool2: You would be made very welcome should you be interested. We meet once a month. ooooooooo

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Hi Brian and welcome,

Ratfanger stadt eh, me i was born at Rintlen (minden) and travelled to Berlin twice once whilst at Hamm School from 1969/1973 (remembering visiting the MSO where the repaired/refurbished Antars) and again in 1993 to attend a wedding of an old school mate.

I have got some piccys some where of my father at Bridge Camp building Bailey bridges.

cheers for now

 

Ashley

Hi, interested to see that you were at Hamm school. I was stationed there from 1956 / 1958. It was then 5 Armoured Workshops. REME....... we had to vacate the place in autumn 1958 and relocate to the old MSO camp in the middle of Hamm. I was billeted in the second block on the left, you went through the main gate, first left, second block (middle one) after the pool (Fire hydrant). I hope that you enjoyed your time there, I had a fantastic time. I still meet with my buddies each year for our reunion (51 years now) We returned as a group in 1990 to view the camp, by then closed, but still guarded by REME.:cool2:

While some people's bodies have a greater ability to handle a cocktail of multiable injections all at once , I dont't think that many really do .Some may be slower to react than others , can't be fun to experiance .

We completed our basic training at Blandford Camp, we were then trucked to Barton Stacey, Nr. Southhampton, Hampshire. This was to be the next phase of our training, and included driver training. Well in the 1950s the vast majority of young guy`s in the U.K. had, had little or no access to a motor vehicle, that probably sounds very strange to to-days youngsters. It would take the next several of my entries to explain the difference between todays society, and that of the immediate post war years..... Anyhow my practical experience with military vehicles prior to my induction into the military was now going to stand me in good stead. Ti try ti illustrate the difference, during one of our early musters at the new camp, we were asked by the NCO in charge if any of us had a driving license. Out of the whole parade only two of us stepped forward, can you imagine that today, I think that only two would have not stepped out. I heard the NCO ask the other guy if he had been driving the family car... I dont know what he answered, I could not hear, but my answer was, No, all things military. He looked somewhat perplexed and ordered me to remain on the parade ground after dispersal. I was then told to get into one of the nearby trucks and drive him around the parade ground......... I was excused any driver training.

I am told the Aussie Army have completely stopped this as switched to the khaki boots. I would have thought they would have keept it for recruit training though but I guess that means an extra pair of boots. Spit polish was a huge problem in Australia because when hot it just melts off. So a trick was, after recruits was to use a small brush and paint your boots in gloss black paint. Some used spray paint, but I liked the small brush as less likely to crack. Only problem was in the Aussie heat your boots don't beathe so your feet get toasty during those really long parades, when politicians used to like to ramble on etc..

 

Keep it up Ray, you are reminding me of (can't say fun times) but perhaps the best achievement wise

In a strange sort of way men enjoy doing military training, its that sense of achievement that you get when it all comes together. Marching when done well looks and feels good. Towards the end of our basic training our passing out parade was done to a marching band, now that`s something else, you really do stick your chest out, and you get a real spring in your step........... sounds silly really, but it`s perfectly true, I am sure any ex-squaddie worth his salt would confirm that. Another thing that sticks in your mind is the vast lines of recruits waiting to be served at the N.A.A.F.I. I remember that when we had received our jabs towards the end of training, we were given time off to go to our barrack room. Most guy`s went down like flies, shaking violently, I seemed to be unaffected, so I went along to the N.A.A.F.I. I waited in a long line to be served, but by the time it was my turn I had become violently ill and shaking, just like everyone else............ not as tough as I thought that I was.

Our Drill Instructor was not sadistic, just very keen on discipline. We were all very bad at drill initially, but as time passed we improved. To start our D.I. told us that we were the worst platoon that he had had the misfortune to have to drill, however by the end of our training he began to tell us that we were the best platoon. Phsycology, how it works!!!! I suppose that we just wanted to believe him. Rifle drill was one of the more difficult drills to nail, if you dont get it right, the noise from the rifles should sound as one, not some kind of a drum roll. We did however get it all right in the end. The only thing that remained at the end of our training was the Jabs (4) depending on where you were being posted. It was very entertaining watching grown men turn green at the thought of these jabs, including myself.:cool2:

We spent many hours during the long winter evenings sitting around the stove pot fire and a burning candle. The candle was to heat up the handle of your spoon, you then used the heated spoon to iron out the dimples on the toes and heels of your marching boot. Once that you had achieved a nice smooth surfaces on those areas you applied spit and polish. Anyone not familiar with this process, you rub copious ammounts of polish mixed with spit onto the toes and heels, eventually you get quite a build-up of polish. You then have to buff this untill you can see your face reflected. It`s now extremely important that you protect those boots to prevent any damage. That task completed you now set about ironing your clothes, to do that we used brown paper and water. Now you can clean up your bed space, that done and you can now retire to your bed, ready for the 5.30am call. It really was not so bad, you did all of this collectively.:cool2:

unfortunately some of the drill instructers are sadistic. I did my traing in '86, you would think we were semi civilised by then...... We had 2 dark guys in our platoon and the DS, nicknamed them Toby and Midnight. They used to make them lie at opposite ends of the hall way with their mouths open and the DS used to post golf balls at them..

 

Some DS get a bit mental, apparently not changed as got a big email from a new recruit last week

 

Memories...........

Our Drill Instructor was not sadistic, just very keen on discipline. We were all very bad at drill initially, but as time passed we improved. To start our D.I. told us that we were the worst platoon that he had had the misfortune to have to drill, however by the end of our training he began to tell us that we were the best platoon. Phsycology, how it works!!!! I suppose that we just wanted to believe him. Rifle drill was one of the more difficult drills to nail, if you dont get it right, the noise from the rifles should sound as one, not some kind of a drum roll. We did however get it all right in the end. The only thing that remained at the end of our training was the Jabs (4) depending on where you were being posted. It was very entertaining watching grown men turn green at the thought of these jabs, including myself.:cool2:

Absolutely, the reality is that when you are given an order you respond instantly, without question, and that is only right...... people lives could depend on you doing what you are told, when you are told, instantly, without question. So one has to say that the thinking behind it is very sound.:cool2:

Although the experience at the time came as quite a shock to the system, an overriding memory is of the friendships that you formed, almost instantly. Putting a group of young men into identical uniforms was a tremendous leveller...... your financial background was concealed immediately, you all looked the same. Friendships were formed very quickly, and very strong bonds formed. Unfortunately some of this bonding was to be broken some eight weeks later, because, unlike regiments the REME was attached to other army units or workshops. This inevitably meant that you were split up from most of your friends for the rest of your service, not to see them again untill returning to Arbourfield Depot for discharge from the service.:cool2:

I think it is hard to convey, but it is still military (Army) doctrine to break you first so that individuals begin to act as a team. Most people would think you could just say sod off but the best way I describe it is that they 'own' you.

Absolutely, the reality is that when you are given an order you respond instantly, without question, and that is only right...... people lives could depend on you doing what you are told, when you are told, instantly, without question. So one has to say that the thinking behind it is very sound.:cool2:

One of the first tasks that we had to perform was the parcelling-up of our civilian clothes, and send them back home. Obviously this task was to lesten the possibility of anyone slipping into civvies and absconding. Another ploy to help prevent absconding, we had no shoulder flashes or acorps markings... perfectly plain uniform, untill we completed our training, this would of course make you stand out like a sore thumb to the local military / civilian police. We never had any spare time from the moment that we arrived at the camp, this again was to ensure that you had no time to think about absconding.:cool2:

The military intended right from the outset to instill fear into all of the recruits, they achieved this initially by cracking down hard on any infringement of military rules, no matter how small, and indeed in some cases when no infringement had taken place. This kind of military thinking kept you very much on your toes.... It did of course lesson in its intensity as your training progressed, and you got to know your drill sergeant better. I have to say in retrospect, although at the time it could be very unpleasant, it did work, and most of the recruits did behave very well. Over time your drill instructor inevitably began to mellow ( only slightly) but it did make you feel so much better.

I guess that I may have been lucky with the fit of my uniform, but equally, I do not remember anyone else complaining about the fit of their uniform....... what I do remembern was the way that some guy`s had no idea how to wear their beret, some would stick out at the side like an aircraft wing....... I still chuckle to myself all these years on when I think about it. The Shermans had to be cut in a particular way because the export of military equipment to Israel was forbidden.:cool2:

One of the first tasks that we had to perform was the parcelling-up of our civilian clothes, and send them back home. Obviously this task was to lesten the possibility of anyone slipping into civvies and absconding. Another ploy to help prevent absconding, we had no shoulder flashes or acorps markings... perfectly plain uniform, untill we completed our training, this would of course make you stand out like a sore thumb to the local military / civilian police. We never had any spare time from the moment that we arrived at the camp, this again was to ensure that you had no time to think about absconding.:cool2:

Interesting detail about the Shermans , having to be cut in a exact way ! A good start , getting the feel of the camp and all. Suprised that the clothing you got fit you ..... I would say many in the US Army would say the gear almost never was the right size !

I guess that I may have been lucky with the fit of my uniform, but equally, I do not remember anyone else complaining about the fit of their uniform....... what I do remembern was the way that some guy`s had no idea how to wear their beret, some would stick out at the side like an aircraft wing....... I still chuckle to myself all these years on when I think about it. The Shermans had to be cut in a particular way because the export of military equipment to Israel was forbidden.:cool2:

On arrival at the camp, now rather late at night, we were issued with blankets, pillows and a bed. This was a wartime camp that had been hastily erected during the early part of world war 2, subsequently it was not very comfortable. It was built like most british camps of the period, a so called spider design, and construted of wood. There was twenty or so beds in each wing, with one stove pot fire........ the fire was totally useless in terms of heating capacity, remember this was the depths of winter. We had arrived in the dark, so we were totally unfamiliar with the outlay of the camp. In the cold light of the following morning we found it to be a very depressing place. Worse was to come.

The following morning our first task was to go to the clothing store to be issued with our equipment. The storemen were obviously very skilled, all of the kit, uniform etc, fitted me very well. It was on this first morning that we discovered that we could no longer walk anywhere, everything was done at the double. I dont think that I can convey to you the fear that was instilled into us, you have to realise that the class distinction at that time was very strong, something that the Americans found very difficult to understand when they encountered it during the second world war. ( That has all now been totally eroded. ) Trying to explain class distinction in print is like trying to explain smell, very difficult, its something that you have to experience.:cool2:

I left my local railway station at 10.30 am, bound for London, then change trains for Blandford in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Firstly you must understand that travel in the 1950s was a very limited activity for most people, including myself. I arrived at blandford station, a very small town, at 9.30pm. We were greeted by a lot of military personel, they were very brutal in their manner towards us, We were ordered onto the waiting trucks to take us to No1 training battalion, REME. (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.) It was a dark, cold, winters night, not a very auspicious beginning, in fact quite a frightening experience for a young man of 18 years. I can assure you that at this time my two years service seemed like an awful long time, I was to say the least very depressed.......... no internet or mobile phones in those days, you felt very isolated, and far from home.:cool2:

On arrival at the camp, now rather late at night, we were issued with blankets, pillows and a bed. This was a wartime camp that had been hastily erected during the early part of world war 2, subsequently it was not very comfortable. It was built like most british camps of the period, a so called spider design, and construted of wood. There was twenty or so beds in each wing, with one stove pot fire........ the fire was totally useless in terms of heating capacity, remember this was the depths of winter. We had arrived in the dark, so we were totally unfamiliar with the outlay of the camp. In the cold light of the following morning we found it to be a very depressing place. Worse was to come.

I worked for my family in there war surplus / scrap business in 1954 / 55. We were cutting up stuff that looked almost new........ Shermans (25 Flails) plus all the other ex-wartime stuff. The Israelies were desperate for tanks, and I think that a lot of this stuff found its way to the Middle East, it went first to Holland, and then I believe that it went through several countries before arriving at its final destination....... We were instructed on how to cut this stuff so that it could be welded back together. The Israelies were at that time buying armour from US dumps in Italy and the Phillipines. Jeeps were in great demand by the French to cover their losses in French Indo China ( Vietnam ) so they were paying silly money, even for wrecks just for doner vehicles. I was conscripted into the army in the first week of January 1956.

I left my local railway station at 10.30 am, bound for London, then change trains for Blandford in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Firstly you must understand that travel in the 1950s was a very limited activity for most people, including myself. I arrived at blandford station, a very small town, at 9.30pm. We were greeted by a lot of military personel, they were very brutal in their manner towards us, We were ordered onto the waiting trucks to take us to No1 training battalion, REME. (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.) It was a dark, cold, winters night, not a very auspicious beginning, in fact quite a frightening experience for a young man of 18 years. I can assure you that at this time my two years service seemed like an awful long time, I was to say the least very depressed.......... no internet or mobile phones in those days, you felt very isolated, and far from home.:cool2:

Hi ray, I'm sure a lot of us would be interested, maybe you could try putting a few extracts on here and if they go well you could use this method to publish.

 

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?10874-Book&highlight=publish+book

I worked for my family in there war surplus / scrap business in 1954 / 55. We were cutting up stuff that looked almost new........ Shermans (25 Flails) plus all the other ex-wartime stuff. The Israelies were desperate for tanks, and I think that a lot of this stuff found its way to the Middle East, it went first to Holland, and then I believe that it went through several countries before arriving at its final destination....... We were instructed on how to cut this stuff so that it could be welded back together. The Israelies were at that time buying armour from US dumps in Italy and the Phillipines. Jeeps were in great demand by the French to cover their losses in French Indo China ( Vietnam ) so they were paying silly money, even for wrecks just for doner vehicles. I was conscripted into the army in the first week of January 1956.

Yes Ray you should start writting that book , Many veterans say oh I didnt do anything big , no one would want to read about what I did ........ First person accounts of the real life in the service help to document how things really were done , how the average soldier got through his service , I find that just as interesting , I m sure I m not the only one by far .

I could put something on here in installments, that would probably bore the pants off everyone. Of course if someone told me that enough is enough I can always stop......... There might be some bits that people would find interesting. There would be quite a lot to tell you about our initial training, (Boot Camp.) very different from todays army............ its nice to talk about it, it brings back many happy memories.:cool2:

Hi Ray,

I also was posted to 5 Armd Wsps, but a lot later than you, and by my time they had moved to Soest.

My spiritual home though is 4 Armd Wksps in Detmold, from 63 until 70, then they started on with this Btn rubbish.

I see among your vehicles you have a Half Track, that was my mobile wksps and home for years, with the FRG. Is your one in its original state or the REME version? I would love to have one with all the gear on it that we had.

 

Nice to see you here , enjoy!

 

Harry.

( and no, I`m not going to tell you my regtl number!):-\

Hi my Halftrack is in its original wartime configauration, Soest was a Canadian camp when I was stationed there, in fact I had two Canadian soldiers as friends. They used to spend Saturday night with us in our Workshops, we had no problem getting them into the camp for the night, including breakfast on Sunday morning. It was not easy for them to get back to Soest from Hamm. I spent a lot of my time prior to going into the REME working for my family, who were into war surplus, so I had spent a lot of time with things military before my call-up................ boy would`nt I like to do it all again, I was driving Diamont T`s, on site when I was only 16.......... I had a fantastic time, we sold Jeeps for about £35.00 each.... little did we know. My wife say`s that I should write a book.

Harleys, Harleys everywhere, but where are the real bikes?

 

Left hand throttle rules :-D

I have a 1943 Harley, a left hand throttle would frighten me to death.......... really, but I must say that I do like the INDIANS.:cool2:

A cup???? all the REME guys I knew carried their own mugs about with them, at all times, so they didn't miss out on a brew.

 

By the way, Hi Big Ray, and welcome.

 

Brian.

Many thanks to the following people for making me feel very welcome to the site....... Mike, Tony, Mark, Simon, ABN Deuce, Brian............. cheer`s guy`s.

Ray.:cool2:

Welcome Ray , You will have to tell us some of the interesting things you came across during your time in the Military .And about your collection of great HMV's !

I was obviously extremely lucky, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time during my army service in the fifties. I still meet with my buddies, we have now been meeting each October for the last fiftyone years. I will be able to recall many things about my service time, including vehicles of the era.......... mostly WW2 stuff. I have infact written an article about my army service for our club magazine, it extended to eight pages, with eight pages you can only cover the fringes....... What I will say is that I would not have missed it for the world, great times great friends, no money ( It was the british army.) I remember that we were always in awe of the U.S. troops with their vastly better equipment, uniforms and good pay. Great times, I really wish that we could all do it again.:cool2:

A cup???? all the REME guys I knew carried their own mugs about with them, at all times, so they didn't miss out on a brew.

 

By the way, Hi Big Ray, and welcome.

 

Brian.

Simon thank you for very comprhensive instructions on how to get my pic`s onto the forum, I have read it and I am still crying......... you could not find a bigger dummy on a computer than myself..... however, I do have some very computer literate friends, I know that they will come to my help...... like me they cannot stand to see a grown man crying. Seriously many many thanks for the time that you have spent helping me, I would like to get some pic`s onto the forum....... I really do have some very nice stuff... I have spent years getting my stuff to what I like to think is how it would have looked when it left the factory. My son Tony thinks that I am nuts...... but I do keep telling him that I am leaving him some nice stuff to take to shows. He has a nice Jeep and BSA M20 himself.:cool2:

come to think of it.. he was very good at getting me to make the tea, I used to get a row if the cup wasn't full to the top!

It`s very nice how people can communicate so easily now..... I still find all this technology very confusing. I must learn how to submit photographs onto the forum. I sit and think how fantastic this instant interaction with like minded people can have such a positive influence, I am truly enjoying it, infact it has broadened the scope within our hobby enormously........... superb stuff!!!!!:cool2:

Hi Ray, welcome to the forums. Is it true that the REME were good at making tea? (as told by an ex-REME sergeant, blame him not me!)

I seem to remember that they were very good at getting someone else to make the tea, they tell me that it stems from a misplaced sense of superiority........... after all it was only Rough Engineering Made Easy. REME:cool2: