Apocryphal SWO stories out there.......

[Airborne Aircrew]

If we are digressing, here is some guys doing it properly!

No... They are cheerleaders in military uniform. Drill is about moving a body of men from a point on the battlefield to another point and having them appropriately oriented at the end of the movement. While I will freely admit that such movements as the high port and such are barely relevant the spinning of weapons as demonstrated in the video you provided is simply showmanship and would never have taken place on a battlefield.

I'll freely admit that your boys look pretty - But they are really only circus clowns.

[Airborne Aircrew]

What a miserable git-the WO !

I'll double post because I can and because there are really two different issues.

There is a WO for a reason. He's the top NCO on the unit. When you have a group of units on a station there needs to be a Senior WO... He is the Station WO. His job is the general discipline of the entire station. If you were such a miserable git that you couldn't accept the discipline he might bring upon you then you might have been better off joining the Navy or the Army where you might have been given some "tough love" when you broke the most basic of rules...

I await the incoming from the shambling bunch of long haired poofs that will try to tell me what a nasty person their SWO was...

[SASless]

Drill is about moving a body of men from a point on the battlefield to another point and having them appropriately oriented at the end of the movement.

In Wellington's time perhaps.....

[longer ron]

LOL at seeing Jack Holt mentioned...he was SWO at Cottesmore approx 73-74,he was one of those guys that seemed to remember your name even if he had not seen you for 6 months But I think he was basically a very fair chap (or so the jankers guys said - after doing swo's working parties etc).
The SWO that Jack replaced was totally different - he was a Polish ex Air Gunner,a really nice guy and doubt he ever barked at anybody !He could usually be seen walking his Afghan Hounds when off duty

[Belle and Sebastian]

SWO bits

The scene is a base near Weston-S-Mare in the mid 80s and young Belle is duty trainee in the guardroom. In walks SWO and goes into his office and sits down. After a minute SWO shouts "what's the number for clothing stores?" Dunno, Sir says me. "Get me the number" he bellows again. I search for the phone book and discover that the phone book is on his desk and I tell him that from the safety of the door. "AND" he says.

Bleedin' SWO expected me to go into his office, pick up the phone book and look for the number and then dial the number and hand the handset over to him.......................and that's exactly what I did!

[Tankertrashnav]

I'll freely admit that your boys look pretty - But they are really only circus clowns

Airborne Aircrew, the point about Queens Colour Squadron is they are a bunch of blokes who can do their main job (as RAF Regiment gunners) and do drill. Watching people doing anything well, from playing football, flying aerobatics or marching is always a good experience. Never had the figure for QCS myself , but certainly don't like to hear them described as circus clowns.

[Basil]

longer ron,

The SWO that Jack replaced was totally different - he was a Polish ex Air Gunner

Did he live in Greetham village?

[Waddo Plumber]

The SWO at Waddington in the mid 70's was, if I recall correctly, Larry Higgins, and I was one of many, many flt lts. In the late 70's I was posted to Wittering, followed some time later by Mr Higgins. On meeting him for the first time there, after the customary "Morning Sah" etc, I said, "Good morning Mr Higgins. Perhaps you don't remember me, because there were many junior officers at Waddington, and only one SWO, but we were there at the same time." He said, "Sir, you are correct, I don't remember you, but then I never was the SWO at Waddington" I looked bemused so he continued "No sir, I was the Station Warrant Officer", saluted, and marched off.

[longer ron]

Did he live in Greetham village?

Not sure - when he was the SWO - I am pretty sure he lived on MQ's but perhaps he could have retired to Greetham ??
He was slim built with dark hair in 72/73

[Brian 48nav]

Couple of my favourite lines were:-

SWO to airman on parade,' Laddie am I hurting you?
'No Sir' came the reply.
SWO ' I should be, I'm standing on your HAIRRRRRRR!'

Similarly, 'Have you shaved this morning laddie',
'Yes Sir''
'
Try standing closer to the RAZORRRR!'

At South Cerney during drill instruction,
Sgt Greenop, 'Stand at ease! -- Mr Ross your feet should be 12" apart! You're a big lad, you know what 12" is!'

At Gaydon, Nav School '66, the SWO was a 'Continental Irishman' Master Pilot,no one on parade could understand a word he was saying.

SWO, almost the best thing about the military and the portrayal by Windsor Davies in 'Ain't half hot Mum' was priceless!

[phil9560]

There is a WO for a reason. He's the top NCO on the unit. When you have a group of units on a station there needs to be a Senior WO... He is the Station WO. His job is the general discipline of the entire station. If you were such a miserable git that you couldn't accept the discipline he might bring upon you then you might have been better off joining the Navy or the Army where you might have been given some "tough love" when you broke the most basic of rules...



Please don't misunderstand me-I'm a big fan of discipline.In fact I agree there isn't enough in todays world.

But come on we were two 15 year olds who thought all our Christmases had come at once .You must concede he was just a tiny bit miserable ??

[SASless]

they are really only circus clowns

Proud of yer service are ya mate?

[davejb]

TTN,
I rather think the 'circus clowns' remark by AA is reference the US army drill team video that follows the QCS one, rather than the QCS one - where 1903 Springfield rifles with chromed bayonets are twirled and thrown about the place. The display exhibits a lot of skill, but it can in no way be confused with rifle drill and is clearly aimed purely at entertainment.... this is not intended as offensive, the skill is pronounced, but it resembles a majorette display most of all, with rather more dire consequences should a twirl go amiss.

Having said that, 'circus clowns' was not a very polite metaphor to use about serving members of the US Army!

I will never forget the SWO at Kinloss who pulled me up as I walked through the main gate enroute SAR standby one morning in the 80's with my holdall over my shoulder.

"Sergeants do not carry holdalls over their shoulders, if it's too heavy for you to carry in your hand then detail an airman to carry it for you!"

Somewhat bemused I agreed with him (he seemed the sort of chap who required a lot of agreement), whilst mentally imagining how well things might go if I were to stop a passing sooty and instruct him to carry my bag to ops for me as it was a bit heavy....
Dave

[SASless]

We know he was not referring to the RAF lads.....else this forum would be out to Tar and Feather him. Yank bashing on the other hand.....well it is all banter now iddnit?

What had him with his knickers in a wad was the US Army display was much more impressive due to the whirling bayonets as compared to the RAF precision display which was extremely good but was not very exciting to watch. Nothing like the spectacle of a bit of home made Shish-kabob to perk up an audience.

I would suggest both were grand....and each worthy of admiration for a lot of hard work and teamwork by all involved.

I was suitably impressed by both....the image of WWII tin hats and bolt action rifles mixed with modern day RAF dress and weaponry.

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Could also be that the "Circus Clowns" remark, in company with that smiley was nothing more than a little bait cast out to try and snag one of the usual suspects

[Neptunus Rex]

Please don't let this Troll hijack our most entertaining thread. Just ignore him. Diverting attention is an age-old RN ploy.

Back to the main plot.
At Linton in the mid '70s, I was discussing arrangements for the guard of honour for the impending AOC's inspection, with the inimitable Jack Holt. I told him that I knew said AOC of old, and that he had a fearsome reputation.

"Don't you worry, Sir" replied Mr Holt, "Air Officers don't frighten me!"

[Really annoyed]

I would remind him how the rank system works pretty bloody quickly

How is that exactly.

The RAF gives its senior rates

The RAF don't have senior rates. You are thinking of the Navy.

[Tankertrashnav]

At Gaydon, Nav School '66, the SWO was a 'Continental Irishman' Master Pilot,no one on parade could understand a word he was saying.

That bloke flogged me a moped - bloody thing never worked! Still, in a deal between a hairy old Master Pilot with a load of WW2 ribbons up and a u/t nav there was never any doubt about who'd come off best!

Wotsit - looking at some of the sacks of manure tied up in the middle strolling around Helston in scruffy Navy rig, I reckon Culdrose could do with a SWO (or whatever you call them in the grey funnel line).

(Sorry NR, but some troll-feeding is irresistible )

[Cornish Jack]

The last of the 'old style' SWOs I remember was Joe Coley - SWO at Khormaksar in the mid '50s and the epitome of the breed - near naked skull, 'razored' cap peak, boots that would dazzle you at 80 paces, pace stick ever 'at the ready' - frightening for we young aircrew NCOs.
The classic talent of verbal abuse was, for me, however, best shown by an RSM at the Cheltenham Tattoo in the 60s. We had done a winching demo in the Tattoo arena and had to be Land Rover-ed back from our Landing Site for the Final Parade. Our driver was a young Army lad and rather overdid the speed as we turned into the arena, which was spotted by the Parade RSM (all gold and glitter with ENORMOUS 'Tate and Lyles'). Once the parade was complete, he bellowed for the young driver's Sgt to present himself and proceeded with a bollocking which contained no repetitions, deviations etc. and pointed out the deficiencies in this NCO's supervision of his driver's training!! A privilege to see and hear!!

[P6 Driver]

RAF Manston in the early 1990's. Winter dress in force. Walking near Station Headquarters, I saw the SWO (a FS holding the post) approach the late Sqn Ldr Peter Stonham MBE and say a few words. Sqn Ldr Stonham was in blues, with his shirt sleeves rolled up above his elbows.

I didn't hear the intial exchange, but I did hear from about 100 yards away, Sqn Ldr Stonham shout at him "I'm big enough and ugly enough to know when to wear a f***ing jumper!"