Youthful High Spirits
 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...game-mzwwb6wvt

Army officers started a blaze at their barracks when they fired a flare during a drunken party at which a duel was held using fireworks, a court martial heard. The blaze, which caused severe damage at Allenby Barracks in Dorset, followed a dinner when 50 soldiers and civilians retired to the bar and pool area.

Bulford military court in Wiltshire was told that Lieutenant Tim Carpenter told Captain Rupert Nurich he had found flares for “tonight’s festivities”. The soldiers had planned “gladiatorial combat games”and set up a pontoon on the pool, using wood and a kayak for contestants to battle against each other.

Captain Nurich tried to walk on the pontoon but fell in before firing the out-of-date flare, the court was told. It smashed through a bedroom window while a steward who lived there was inside and started a fire on July 22 last year. Ten fire crews fought the blaze.

The court also heard that soldiers were fighting with roman candles and Captain Nurich had let off two more flares. Lieutenant Edward Keith said: “A few people were using fireworks. They were some sort of firecrackers and they probably only had a range of about 40ft. It was some sort of ‘dodge the fireworks’ game.”

Lieutenant Carpenter and Captain Nurich, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, deny arson and criminal damage as to recklessly endanger life. The trial continues.

Never seen the point in this type of thread. Mil avaiation link?

Having spent a week of the Towers course in 1964 or 65 with the then Royal Scots Greys at Fallingbostel, I can hardly say I am surprised. Not a lot has changed in 50 odd years. Just in those days matters would have been settled, rightly or wrongly, by hefty charge on mess bills

He would have to be called Rupert ......... plus ca change .......

There was a Weber less than 400m from the pool.

CG

.....and a notice from the Colonel stating that:

"The practice of shooting at mess servants from the balcony is to cease forthwith!"

YS:E

Sounds like a good thrash.

C'mon, who among us hasn't participated in antics that could have had you standing tall in front of the man?

I find it somewhat comforting considering what I see of millennialist.

Agree with you Westie, in part...

Arson is way over the top - accidental damage, perhaps.

But they should have ensured that any potential collateral was covered appropriately with 'red boys*' at the high port. 'Mitigated' is probably the relevant 21st century wanqueword.

Should all have been settled, as you say, by a hats-on interview with the Colonel. Plus a suitable apology and gift to the steward, making good the repairs from the pockets of those involved who should also have been fined champagne for the mess.

But bringing it to the public's attention with a Court Martial? Why??

* First Aid Fire Appliances, Stored Pressure Water

I don't think you can ignore or sweep under the carpet a fire that required 10 fire crews and caused "severe damage" TBH

High jinks it may have started as but these weren't young squaddies - total lack of brains and control - not surprised the book has been thrown at them

And it looks like "making good the repairs from the pockets of those involved" would require a substantial private income.........

http://www.pprune.org/members/326184...-27-172640.jpg

http://www.pprune.org/members/326184...-27-172658.jpg

http://www.pprune.org/members/326184...-27-172718.jpg

What would happen if it had been ORs ????

I hadn't realised the fire had got into the corridor - could have beena total disaster...........

High jinks! Done some bloody stupid things in the past myself but a switch comes on that thinks hang on... Ok, maybe gone beyond that but, these guys supposed to lead and you wonder about lack of common sense,or is it a forces thing? Not lack of common sense btw, actually....

@downsizer: a cautionary tale to any still in (flying or not) about there being limits to the madness of mess night. Related to aviation in spirit, as I've seen some gatherings get downright expensive in terms of damages. (Seem to recall a window falling from a Hotel in Vegas (Flamingo Hilton?) back in '90 or '91 during some squadron function).

I have a picture on my study wall of roman candles being set off in the OM bar at RAF Benson in 1968. Fortunately the damage was confined to a few, errm, smokemarks on the roof.
As HH says, I don't think this one could have been kept in-house.

This is why we get treated like children.

I always thought mini-flares were crap - good to see they actually have an effective range after all.

That is possibly the essence of why it is happening to Rupe.

See, I have seen/partaken in similar.

Difference is cut 'n' paste warriors didn't plaster it all over pprune to embarrass.... Vastly different to a "when i was thread..."