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National Service

What is an M.U? I would be interested if anyone has any information on a Sutton Coldfield RAF Camp during late 40's early 50's. Any help much appreciated.
Carolann
 
Maintenance Unit, Carolann

(Have the vaguest of memories of its existence at the beginning of my own N.S. in 1954 and wishing I had been posted there! But can't be sure that this isn't a "mis-remember").

Chris
 
RAF Sutton Coldfield was squadron No 912 (County of Warwick) -AAF - (Barrage Balloons) formed at the outbreak of war, originally based at Tyburn Road, then Whitehouse Common and after seeing service in France, returned to the UK and known as No 5 Balloon Centre, with units located at Walmley Golf Club, Hodgehills Common and Walsall Road, Great Barr. Sutton Coldfield history archive has a web page on it.
Bob
 
mine too , sold mine for £25, when I left, many. many , hours of honing and layering, of Cherry blossom, to achieve, double tap sole, and years of re studding.
 
aggie2347 said:
Boots for the use of.View attachment 143483
Click to expand...
On our first bull night in the billet most of us new recruits got the toecaps of our boots looking like that using candles, spoons, loads of Kiwi polish, and cold water.

We went on parade next morning and the D.I. looked at us and told us to stamp our feet. The shiny polish coating cracked and fell off in flakes.
 
When you think back to our youth,don't the army memories seem to pop up first, and your first few days trying to stop the RSM giving you an earfull:sob::sob:
 
We used to get into trouble for tucking our trousers into our gaiters with an elastic band to make us look smarter. Some used weights. Sometimes the British army seemed to object to us looking smarter. With my peaked hat, i used to pull the sides down a little like the officers did. Another bollocking!
 
Smudger said:
I was just thinking about some of the songs we sang, usually after having a bevvy or two!
Songs we squaddies sang.
10 green bottles
knick knack paddy whack
we are the rasc (or whatever regiment you were in )
My eyes are dim i cannot see
Kiss me goodnight sgt/major
A scottish soldier (for the Scots )
Danny boy (for the Irish )
Can`t think what the Welsh sang?
Some of those songs would have a rather rude interpretation
Click to expand...
Men of Harlech
 
The one that still sticks in my mind is the RAF General Salute - well we did play it on every parade, both at Stoke Heath and at Shawbury, where we amalgamated with their four players once a month so that they could have a proper parade with music!

Amongst marches we played were the RAF March Past, BB&CF, and the theme tune to the film Robin Hood, known to us oinks as Robbin' B*****d. :) There were many others, of course, but memory is fading when it comes to such mundane matters.

Maurice :cool:
 
Had a read through the thread today and looked at my group photo below. We were called up from all over the country pausing our civilian lives for compulsory two years service in the RAF. After seven weeks of basic training with all it's trials and tribulations this pass-out photo was taken. One day later we were posted to different units across the RAF and I never saw any of them again ... I'm third from left, front row ... I remember how we were ordered to sit ... left of the DI, right legs over left legs, and right of DI left legs over right ... closed fists on thighs ... :)
Flight Smart RAF Padgate.jpg
 
sospiri said:
The one that still sticks in my mind is the RAF General Salute - well we did play it on every parade, both at Stoke Heath and at Shawbury, where we amalgamated with their four players once a month so that they could have a proper parade with music!

Amongst marches we played were the RAF March Past, BB&CF, and the theme tune to the film Robin Hood, known to us oinks as Robbin' B*****d. :) There were many others, of course, but memory is fading when it comes to such mundane matters.

Maurice :cool:
Click to expand...
i thought i saw you in "get some in":grinning:oink
 
Reading about all the bs, makes me glad I served, as a regular, in the RAF. However some parts of the RAF - usually non operational - could equal anything the Army and Royal Navy were able to achieve.
 
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