Happy Hour in the Falklands
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Happy Hour in the Falklands
Defence review: These cuts leave us vulnerable to our enemies around the world - Telegraph
Oh dear . . .
I'm reliably informed by soldiers who have recently served in the South Atlantic that, if the Argentines chose to attack late on a Friday night, they would find the islands relatively undefended, as that is when the fighter pilots like to let their hair down in the bar of the Upland Goose Hotel.
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I remember CBFFI calling a no-notice exercise at 2200 one evening in the mid-eighties. I am not sure of the state of the fighter pilots, but some punchy calls were made in the COC at RAF Stanley!!
It won't be the "Upland" Goose they'll be in - many happy memories of the real Goose though. Typical army plonker who's quoted - the Q crews will not be in there, they'll be at work. Perhaps he'd like to comment how many of the troops are bladdered/fighting at the RIC bar?
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Perhaps he'd like to comment how many of the troops are bladdered/fighting at the RIC bar?
Never having to clear and lock that bar again has added years to my life expectancy.
The sheer amount of boozing on a Thu and Fri night was indeed eye watering. However, there were plenty of people at work doing their jobs.
As for the Infantry, a bloody disgrace. Apart from the Ghurkas they were a bunch of animals. The rest of us may have been in the bar drinking but at least we were not lurking in 38 facility jumping on people and beating them senseless. That's when they were'nt tearing lumps out of each other. Some of their SNCOs were just as bad and their officers, with one or two exceptions, were 'nice but dim' types.
Happy days!!
As for the Infantry, a bloody disgrace. Apart from the Ghurkas they were a bunch of animals. The rest of us may have been in the bar drinking but at least we were not lurking in 38 facility jumping on people and beating them senseless. That's when they were'nt tearing lumps out of each other. Some of their SNCOs were just as bad and their officers, with one or two exceptions, were 'nice but dim' types.
Happy days!!
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'Our' ric was kept out mischeif by using 'em to clear the ice off our runway.
On the way down their TriStar had to divert, to Montevideo, I think. Night in hotel resulted in some all too predictable mayhem. A few nights after arrival some squaddies barricaded themselves inside one of the eleventy-twelve thousand bars on base. After 3 substantial fines for the ringleaders, and a weeks ice-scraping duties, they seemed well behaved. Their CO was a bit of an @rse though, particularly at one of the boozy quiz nights.
Happy days.
On the way down their TriStar had to divert, to Montevideo, I think. Night in hotel resulted in some all too predictable mayhem. A few nights after arrival some squaddies barricaded themselves inside one of the eleventy-twelve thousand bars on base. After 3 substantial fines for the ringleaders, and a weeks ice-scraping duties, they seemed well behaved. Their CO was a bit of an @rse though, particularly at one of the boozy quiz nights.
Happy days.
Last edited by Willard Whyte; 22nd Oct 2010 at 13:27.
fighter pilots like to let their hair down in the bar of the Upland Goose Hotel.
IF anyone of the officer class is down town it's more likely to be the Malivina House Hotel. Very nice it is too.
I agree with Wyler that the behaviour of some of the infantry down there was truly shocking. On my last visit just months ago, an Army Staff Sergeant was jailed for attempting to bite one of his colleague's cheeks off his face. Animals is the only word for some of them.
I don't think the issue of RAF people having a quiet pint when they're not on Q is the big problem down there.
Oh, and just saw this gem:
the RAF has a squadron of just four Typhoon interceptors (at MPA)
Last edited by Laarbruch72; 22nd Oct 2010 at 13:03.
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I was down there for just over a year so saw 3 different Regiments (Paras, Cheshires and the Gurkhas) and can concur with the comments about the RIC. The Cheshires were easily the worst however the Gurkhas were brilliant (and we had plenty of excellent curry too!!).
J_J
J_J
I've just finished reading "The Junior Officers' Reading Club" and his parting shot about lazy RAF staff and boozing at MPA was quite stinging. Therefore it's interesting to hear that the Army are perhaps not quite as virtuous as the author made out!
In the late 90's, the RIC at the time caused mayhem in their first 2 nights. The RSM ordered everybody out of the buildings and into tents for 3 days. Apparently, after that, they were as good as gold for the next 6 months.
NUFC1892 wrote:
The easiest way to lock the Gull & Flick Knife was to get one of the RIC guards to do it. I was lucky and had the Woofers regimental boxing champion on my guard and he cleared the place in five minutes flat. I just stood back and watched.
That night was brightened by a senior RAF occifer who turned up at the 38 Facility guardroom, dressed in wet-suit and flippers looking for the Sub-Aqua Club (so he said) although it was rather late in the evening(after closing time) for him to be doing so. One of the Woofers did ask, in all innocence, if that was a flying suit he was wearing.
...........
Never having to clear and lock that bar again has added years to my life expectancy.
Today 07:52
Never having to clear and lock that bar again has added years to my life expectancy.
Today 07:52
That night was brightened by a senior RAF occifer who turned up at the 38 Facility guardroom, dressed in wet-suit and flippers looking for the Sub-Aqua Club (so he said) although it was rather late in the evening(after closing time) for him to be doing so. One of the Woofers did ask, in all innocence, if that was a flying suit he was wearing.
Is the Upland Goose still going in Stanley? Nice fish and chips to accompany the (canned) Guinness, IIRC. God knows what type of marine life the fish was, though.
And MPA at night? Like Alcatraz with all the cell doors open.
And MPA at night? Like Alcatraz with all the cell doors open.
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Rug
Most Friday Nite HH's started on the infamous 1435 Flt Maltese Cross Rug.
Only fighter mates and 'nice' chicks were allowed to stand on it.....
(nice = any chick, after having been there > 3 weeks)
One cold/snowy Friday night, the senior service played a blinder and nicked it.
We, on 1435, got an e-mail several days later with a photo of said rug on the flight deck of HMS ?????? on it's way home crossing the equator !!
Then it was back to the Goose. Less said about that the better.....
Only fighter mates and 'nice' chicks were allowed to stand on it.....
(nice = any chick, after having been there > 3 weeks)
One cold/snowy Friday night, the senior service played a blinder and nicked it.
We, on 1435, got an e-mail several days later with a photo of said rug on the flight deck of HMS ?????? on it's way home crossing the equator !!
Then it was back to the Goose. Less said about that the better.....
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You & I got lashed up on that carpet Leon, July 1999 IIRC.
You were busy shouting to keep the blunties and Ruprechts off....
I keep playing Supersonic by Oasis....
Remember ? No ? Me neither !
You were busy shouting to keep the blunties and Ruprechts off....
I keep playing Supersonic by Oasis....
Remember ? No ? Me neither !
Best "pole" story was when CBFFI was being brought into the Goose by OC 1435. Two young ladies are twirling around the afore mentioned when CBFFI exclaims "good god, where did you get these 2 trollops from?". To which the OC replied "Sandhurst, Sir".
They were 2 Sandhurst Cadets!
They were 2 Sandhurst Cadets!