Search results

Bedrolls, Soldier Boxes, equipment hung up. Yep, that's a barrack room ! I like the Indian clubs there, they were used for exercise in those days. Great picture Jim.

Thanks Jim, fascinating.

A quick update ! I've tracked this badge down, it belongs to a Territorial unit, 7th Bn, The Hampshire Regiment. Same Regiment but different cap badge. (The British Army has some strange traditions !).

I've been looking at this photo and can say that those men aren't in the Hampshires. What I can also say is that I've never seen that cap badge before !

As is my wont, I'm drawn to the cap badges on view here. The be-ribboned bloke on the left is Manchester Regt and him on the right is possibly Northamptons. I'm also drawn to the man on the right's SD tunic. Either the photo was affected by the photoshop clean up or he has no pockets. I've...

I hadn't noticed this topic before ! With my mates, I visited the Tudor a lot in the 50s, (We called it 'The Bug Hutch' ). We used to walk down Warstock lane to get there.

My Dad and his mate joined the rush to sign up when hostilities were declared. He was devastated when they told him to go home because 'they were doing it different this time'. He was an automobile electrician by trade and was eventually roped in for aircraft production.

The gun is a Bofors, Chris.(Light Ack Ack). I like mikegee's idea of a radar installation.

Ach so ! It was the RCT that saved the world !

Was your Dad tall, maybe had red hair ? I remember exchanging a couple of emails with him, some years ago. If he does remember Roy Herbert perhaps you could tell him I've heard that Roy passed away last year.

My basic trade was Driver/Op but I had a variety of other jobs along the way, as you can imagine.

Oh, I see. I assumed you were all National Service.

A fellow Gunn A fellow gunner eh ? I joined as a boy in '57.

I missed this first time round. Basic Training, yet two of the trainees are sporting medal ribbons !

Lovely stuff ! Thanks Maurice. My personal favourite version of "Finlandia" is the one played on Last Night of the Proms a couple of years ago. The conductor was Finnish. Incidentally, I chose "Be Still My Soul" for my mother's funeral, back in March.

RSMs often progressed to Quartermaster, holding the rank of Captain or Major. Perhaps this is how your G/uncle qualified for the MC ?

Speaking of ocupations that have disappeared. When's the last time anyone saw an Errand Kid ? In the 50s I used to deliver from a grocers in Kings Heath, taking orders to customer's houses, on a bike with a basket on the front. Impossible today, in today's demented traffic the kid would end up...

Thanks Maurice, much appreciated.

What a great idea ! I look forward to hearing some more of my favourites, including "Finlandia" and "The Hebrides".

I remember going with my parents to see Winnie Atwell at the Hippodrome. I can't remember the year but the audience were chanting "We want Rock 'n Roll" so I guess it would've been about '55. She was great.