Another attempted Serviceman abduction, this time Aldershot, be careful out there
There's 139 of them so plenty of choice.
I had to go to Aldershot in 2003 for my resettlement brief. Which sadly wasn't particularly useful...
I'd anticipated the 'Home of the British Army' being all shining brass, spit and polish, manicured lawns and black-and-white kerbs, well-maintained buildings and with 'Guns at Batasi' Richard Attenborough-style RSMs marching about the place...
It wasn't. It was an utter tip. Shabby run down buildings, overgrown patches of grass and a few sulking squaddies shambling about looking glum. No pride whatsoever and it even made Tidworth look smart.
I'd anticipated the 'Home of the British Army' being all shining brass, spit and polish, manicured lawns and black-and-white kerbs, well-maintained buildings and with 'Guns at Batasi' Richard Attenborough-style RSMs marching about the place...
It wasn't. It was an utter tip. Shabby run down buildings, overgrown patches of grass and a few sulking squaddies shambling about looking glum. No pride whatsoever and it even made Tidworth look smart.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Historically I always think that the RAF take pride in their establishments, in part because it's where they operate from.
The Army see barracks as a temporary place where they will deploy from............... so they never spend much time or money on them.............
What it's like nowadays I am not sure............
Arc
The Army see barracks as a temporary place where they will deploy from............... so they never spend much time or money on them.............
What it's like nowadays I am not sure............
Arc
I had the misfortune to spend 6 months in Aldershot 10 years ago on a Joint project. I was accommodated during the week in the Gun Hill Officers' Mess. I have never been in such a pig-sty; the contractors and the Garrison staff were in clear collusion with all sorts of 'additional mess charges' for publically funded activities. The food was dreadful - and I'm not picky. Just to say what a coincidence that the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit - as was - paid them a visit after I left.
I had my room broken in to by a drunk soldier who, after stealing my medals and credit cards, proceeded to sexually harrass some of the (rather attractive) nusing officers in the Mess. The RMPs did nothing until I stressed that I was a Lt Col equivalent. Medals and credit cards magically returned; offending soldier quietly RTUd to Hereford, and the whole matter swept under the carpet, 'cos the chap was 'special'.
And the barracks were grim; no wonder the end scenes in 'Quantum of Solace' - set somewhere in central Aisa - were shot in Aldershot.
And less said about the town of Aldershot the better. I think it is one of the most depressing towns I have ever visited in the UK.
I had my room broken in to by a drunk soldier who, after stealing my medals and credit cards, proceeded to sexually harrass some of the (rather attractive) nusing officers in the Mess. The RMPs did nothing until I stressed that I was a Lt Col equivalent. Medals and credit cards magically returned; offending soldier quietly RTUd to Hereford, and the whole matter swept under the carpet, 'cos the chap was 'special'.
And the barracks were grim; no wonder the end scenes in 'Quantum of Solace' - set somewhere in central Aisa - were shot in Aldershot.
And less said about the town of Aldershot the better. I think it is one of the most depressing towns I have ever visited in the UK.
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 9th Aug 2016 at 15:19.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,967
Received 2,864 Likes
on
1,228 Posts
Most of the pubs used to have no Squaddies signs in the windows and when we used to poke our heads in and say can we come in we are RAF, you could be dazzled by the landlords smile as he ushered us to the bar.
we had a Sergeant had the dubious honour of being treated at the Aldershot military hospital for a broken wrist and they set it the wrong way round, they then had to re-fracture it and redo it again, he didn't have a nice thing to say about the place.
we had a Sergeant had the dubious honour of being treated at the Aldershot military hospital for a broken wrist and they set it the wrong way round, they then had to re-fracture it and redo it again, he didn't have a nice thing to say about the place.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
all gone very quiet it seems - no updates, no arrests... last I saw the Norfolk police said they had no idea if the reported attempted abduction was jihadis or "some other reason altogether"... strange
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Oh the miserable memory. Was booked, in my ignorance, into a Mess at Warminster. The room was RAF 1960s spartan, the toilets about 50 yards one way and bath 50 yards the other. The large desk in the room was sliced into little strips where our future generals had sliced up their maps.
Just hope they never ran off the map.
Just hope they never ran off the map.
School of Infantry Mess - I was there for a week's equitation course in about 1984 not a happy experience, and the Mess was no great shakes either. On arrival we were greeted by the course director, arm in a sling after hunting accident at the weekend, then told me I would have the same horse as had thrown him, for the week, and the civilian instructor turned up minus her ring finger - another ring related accident. Great start!
Tipped up at some sleepy hollow of an Army mess in darkest Hampshire for a course the nature of which escapes me, only to be somewhat surprised by what seemed like an excessively large Extra Messing charge. On seeking an explanation from the Mess Manager, it transpired that this apparently covered the cost of feeding two dogs and one polo pony.....
Jack
Jack
Only ever driven in/out of Aldershot due diverted traffic / quicker to get out of Farnborough Airshow -from the green grass - admittedly it does have an air of tradition - as I drive by.
Then again its not like a majority of army post / forts across the pond which look more like science park / corporate office / new white sandy buildings even the ones built in the 50s!
cheers
Then again its not like a majority of army post / forts across the pond which look more like science park / corporate office / new white sandy buildings even the ones built in the 50s!
cheers
Some years back I spent quite a lot of time with the Army, learning to be an accountant. Three or four years later go down to breakfast in a farmhouse in the sticks about 10 km from Tours (that's in France on the Loire). Another couple come in to breakfast, and they seem very familiar, then it dawns - OM at the army base, he is head steward, she is mess book keeper (they now live about 15km from me here). We pass pleasantries and go our separate ways. back at the Yacht Club I have a former 3 Para officer working for me. "Here Bloggs, trade test. Colonel calls you in and says you are next Mess Sec. You go to sort handover and by accident discover steward and book keeper are an "item". What do you do?" Response, quick as a flash "Ask Colonel to appoint someone else as Mess Sec." I cast no aspersions, but as an accountant it is the sort of circumstance that would always get the adrenalin going.
A few years earlier ding some consultancy was a bit unhappy about the accounting function at a client, dug a bit further and found accountant had employed his (married, different surname) sister as bookkeeper. Started the hunt and uncovered about £100k worth of fraud. So you guys and girls with non-public secondary duties, keep your eyes, and ears, open
A few years earlier ding some consultancy was a bit unhappy about the accounting function at a client, dug a bit further and found accountant had employed his (married, different surname) sister as bookkeeper. Started the hunt and uncovered about £100k worth of fraud. So you guys and girls with non-public secondary duties, keep your eyes, and ears, open
The smaller army regimental messes are (or were) a different kettle of fish to the large garrison messes such as Aldershot and Catterick. I visited a few when I was a young Rockape and found them very welcoming and comfortable. Not much civilianisation then, you were served by "soldier servants" as the army unashamedly called them (imagine the RAF talking about "airman servants"!) When you went into lunch it was one long table and you sat down at the next vacant chair, so you could find yourself chatting to the colonel, some crusty old major or a brand new 2nd lieutenant, so cliques of chums at mealtimes were avoided. I recall there was no choice - you had what everyone else had that day, like it or lump it - I usually liked it. No veggie option - I guess that vegetarians didn't exist in the army then!
Most small messes didn't have bars as such. Usually you had a steward who you ordered your drink from and who brought it to you in ante-room, although often in the evenings it was serve yourself, and sign a chit.
All very traditional and civilised, but having also visited Catterick garrison mess I have to agree with previous comments about the place.
Most small messes didn't have bars as such. Usually you had a steward who you ordered your drink from and who brought it to you in ante-room, although often in the evenings it was serve yourself, and sign a chit.
All very traditional and civilised, but having also visited Catterick garrison mess I have to agree with previous comments about the place.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On leaving the Reglars I was offered the resettlement course either at Catterick or Aldershot. I said that I'd heard of a little place in Welsh Wales that did the course. "Oh that" they said "well I suppose so"
Fantastic! The bloke was a Loughborough lecturer and his good lady was a cordon bleu chef. They said that they were discouraging army resettlement apps. The RAF were more in tune with their ethos, "do you drink wine" "I don't mind if I do" sort of thing. No chance of being abducted there and I can still build a canny brick wall.
Fantastic! The bloke was a Loughborough lecturer and his good lady was a cordon bleu chef. They said that they were discouraging army resettlement apps. The RAF were more in tune with their ethos, "do you drink wine" "I don't mind if I do" sort of thing. No chance of being abducted there and I can still build a canny brick wall.
Dougie M
Top place/course that - bu88er of a place to find mind! Definitely one of the better kept secrets in every sense of the word! 7 years later and my brick shed is still standing having never 'laid a brick' prior. Even the SOP bird box has survived the test of time (and being blown out of the tree on occasions).
Top place/course that - bu88er of a place to find mind! Definitely one of the better kept secrets in every sense of the word! 7 years later and my brick shed is still standing having never 'laid a brick' prior. Even the SOP bird box has survived the test of time (and being blown out of the tree on occasions).
When the RAF Officers Mess at Farnborough was closed, I was offered membership of one of the Aldershot messes; having read the above I'm glad I declined!
Only Army Officers Mess I've had experience of was the small one at Benbecula which in my judgement was of the same standard as RAF messes.
Only Army Officers Mess I've had experience of was the small one at Benbecula which in my judgement was of the same standard as RAF messes.
There will be a re-enactment featuring on BBC Crimewatch. Monday 5th September at 9pm.
Serviceman to describe how he fought for his life during attempted abduction at RAF Marham in BBC Crimewatch appeal - Crime - Eastern Daily Press
BBC One - Crimewatch, 05/09/2016
Serviceman to describe how he fought for his life during attempted abduction at RAF Marham in BBC Crimewatch appeal - Crime - Eastern Daily Press
BBC One - Crimewatch, 05/09/2016
Talking to a senior Army officer a few years ago - he said "We love it when the RAF closes a base and we can take it over - the soldiers think they have been put in the Hilton".
Having done resettlement courses at Tidworth and Aldershot since, I see what he meant.
Having done resettlement courses at Tidworth and Aldershot since, I see what he meant.