Grand-daughter joining Rock Ape Reserve.
Thread Starter
I did ask her permission ...... the other 3 women in squadron have all been on various RAF sites when they qualified ...... can you expand a bit on possible risks please?
LB
I have no more than the fact that I never liked my face to be published anywhere. But then again there was never any good reason for anyone to publish my face so it was kind of a moot point.
If your GD is happy then there is no problem and I retract my statement your honour.
BV
If your GD is happy then there is no problem and I retract my statement your honour.
BV
Thread Starter
I have no more than the fact that I never liked my face to be published anywhere. But then again there was never any good reason for anyone to publish my face so it was kind of a moot point.
If your GD is happy then there is no problem and I retract my statement your honour.
BV
If your GD is happy then there is no problem and I retract my statement your honour.
BV
At RAF Nicosia 1963 there was a brilliant charicaturist whose basis began with a shadow side shot
I remember there being a noticeboard at Akrotiri with photos of suspected Soviet "honeytrap" agents working the bars in Hero's Square. We used them like a bingo checklist, see how many we could spot on a night on the town. I think there were bonus points if you managed to pick one up. IIRC, at least one bar was declared out of bounds because of that game
Hero's Square in its entirety was out-of-bounds to all 9 Sigs Regt and 33 Sigs Wing folk in 1975-6 - mind you, getting there from Ay Nik would've been a monumental undertaking so we found our entertainment elsewhere.
Thread Starter
Brief update: she is still very enthusiastic and has now been introduced to the Gimpy but not yet entrusted to fire it. Sounds like a good decision.
Good news is she has been accepted for Ex Wintermarch, Norway next month, Nordic Ski in extreme cold. I hope her year as a chalet/ hotel ski bum a few years ago will help: she is a very good skier downhill, but x-country looks bloody hard work. Only a month ago she was in India at 40C ........... Norway Minus big numbers and wind chill. Gpa will follow her progress from a warm armchair .................................
Good news is she has been accepted for Ex Wintermarch, Norway next month, Nordic Ski in extreme cold. I hope her year as a chalet/ hotel ski bum a few years ago will help: she is a very good skier downhill, but x-country looks bloody hard work. Only a month ago she was in India at 40C ........... Norway Minus big numbers and wind chill. Gpa will follow her progress from a warm armchair .................................
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Downhill skiing in a form fitting ski suit pales when compared to romping with MOD spec death boards while carrying a heavy rucksack....I am thinking.
It must make you just a little bit worried....and fairly amazed.....and really proud of her accomplishments!
It must make you just a little bit worried....and fairly amazed.....and really proud of her accomplishments!
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The reason being RAF dress tended not to be worn by RAF troops in WW2 Europe, as colour wise it could get you mixed up with the German side and shot at by allied troops, so Army uniforms were preferred.
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I think WB627 was referring to the difference in breast pockets. The sergeant third from the right (looking at the photo) has a pocket minus the blouse. According to Wiki this was an austerity measure introduced in 1942.
regards
Batco
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The nearest sergeant has the Africa Star which was actually authorised in 1943, ahead of most of the other campaign stars, thus it is not unusual to see the ribbon being worn alone. The medals themselves of course didnt come along until later. Interestingly the men are wearing the 5th Army formation sign which was worn by both British and American troops in Italy.
There cant be many photographs of major generals wearing regiment flashes,I suspect he may have been the first Commandant General of the RAF Regiment (he bears a striking resemblance to Arthur Lowe, as Captain Mainwaring of Dad's Army!)
By the way when I was in the regiment in the 60s/early 70s we never talked about mudgards, always flashes, I assume the term has come into common usage since I left
There cant be many photographs of major generals wearing regiment flashes,I suspect he may have been the first Commandant General of the RAF Regiment (he bears a striking resemblance to Arthur Lowe, as Captain Mainwaring of Dad's Army!)
By the way when I was in the regiment in the 60s/early 70s we never talked about mudgards, always flashes, I assume the term has come into common usage since I left
Sir Claude Francis Liardet (b. 1881, d. 1966), late various Lancashire regiments and latterly Royal Artillery, was (unusually for a Major General) a Territorial Army officer, who was appointed the Air Ministry Inspector General of Airfield Defence and Director General of Ground Defence from 1941; subsequently becoming the first Commandant General of the RAF Regiment from 1942 - 1945.
2788 Sqn RAF Regiment were the first RAF Regiment squadron to go into the line with the Eighth Army in Tunisia during 1943 (probably hence what appears to be the Africa Star ribbon on the battledress of the four NCO's being inspected, accuracy of the colourisation process notwithstanding) and later transferred to Italy, where they saw heavy fighting at Monte Cassino in 1944; again in an infantry role as part of the 2nd NZ and the 4th British Divisions respectively (also hence the 5th Army formation badge). So I'd suspect the photo was taken shortly thereafter, possibly Jun/Jul 1944, as the squadron was subsequently moved to Corsica and took part in the invasion of southern France (Operation ANVIL / DRAGOON) by the middle of August 1944.
(Of note, The National Archives hold a file (Air 29/97) which includes some 2788 Sqn nominal rolls from the period. Not available online, perhaps somebody local with a readers' ticket could work out who Sgt Curtiss was?!!)
Last edited by Squipdit Fashions; 6th Feb 2024 at 09:47. Reason: Dates, grammar
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When he went ashore (in a blue RAF battledress) he found that he was being shot at from the front by the Germans, and from the rear by US troops from the other landing craft who weren't expecting someone in a blue/grey uniform on the beach to be friendly.
Total thread drift, but is the Sgt, second from right, Jack Watson, the actor? Late of 'The Wild Geese', 'The McKenzie Break', 'North Sea Hijack, 'The Sea Wolves' etc!
If it's not him, then its his bl**dy double!!!
If it's not him, then its his bl**dy double!!!
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Brilliant observation, OJ - but wiki tells us that he was in the Royal Navy during the 2nd Mondial Unpleasantness.
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Did some research once for a staff ride to Normandy and found an account of an RAF Cpl radio operator who was sent with the US troops to Omaha beach.
When he went ashore (in a blue RAF battledress) he found that he was being shot at from the front by the Germans, and from the rear by US troops from the other landing craft who weren't expecting someone in a blue/grey uniform on the beach to be friendly.
When he went ashore (in a blue RAF battledress) he found that he was being shot at from the front by the Germans, and from the rear by US troops from the other landing craft who weren't expecting someone in a blue/grey uniform on the beach to be friendly.
And, ironically, the largest wartime user of British-issued khaki battledress, outside of the allied Empire nations, was probably the German Kriegsmarine who captured a huge stockpile of them at Dunkirk, re-badged them and issued them to their U-boat crews...
Enough thread drift! Back to you, Langley.....
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Thread Starter
Nothing to beat a good informative digression.
I hope to report end of March.
Next excitement is to fire the Gimpy, not just run around with it. Her uncle, who was a Rock reservist at Scampton c. 1983 advises her to be a bad shot, to avoid carrying it or the ammo.
I hope to report end of March.
Next excitement is to fire the Gimpy, not just run around with it. Her uncle, who was a Rock reservist at Scampton c. 1983 advises her to be a bad shot, to avoid carrying it or the ammo.
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Thread Starter
Last edited by langleybaston; 14th Mar 2024 at 21:05.
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LB , good for her she looks like it's enjoyable .
SASl , our lad at 16 had opportunity to x-country ski , snow hole over night , and ice climb with Army cadets in Norway as a 16 year old . He could down hill ski .....
But the adventure was thoroughly enjoyed , even with MOD kit , and especially with some Noggie instructors .
Achievable challenges , the opportunities should not be turned down .. Just don't get old as the ' achicvable ' bits become less !
rgds condor .
SASl , our lad at 16 had opportunity to x-country ski , snow hole over night , and ice climb with Army cadets in Norway as a 16 year old . He could down hill ski .....
But the adventure was thoroughly enjoyed , even with MOD kit , and especially with some Noggie instructors .
Achievable challenges , the opportunities should not be turned down .. Just don't get old as the ' achicvable ' bits become less !
rgds condor .
LB , she certainly looks like it's enjoyable , congrats to her and you .
SASl , our lad as a 16 yr old Army cadet , had the brilliant opportunity to X-country ski , snow hole overnight , and ice climb in Norway . He had skiied before , and even with MOD kit
[ looked at it afterwards and thought it good ] the group thoroughly enjoyed it , with their staff and some Noggie army instructors .
Achievable challenges should be taken up at every opportunity ..... Just don't get old ... the '' achievable '' bit shrinks .
rgds condor .
SASl , our lad as a 16 yr old Army cadet , had the brilliant opportunity to X-country ski , snow hole overnight , and ice climb in Norway . He had skiied before , and even with MOD kit
[ looked at it afterwards and thought it good ] the group thoroughly enjoyed it , with their staff and some Noggie army instructors .
Achievable challenges should be taken up at every opportunity ..... Just don't get old ... the '' achievable '' bit shrinks .
rgds condor .