Our Troops - My Thoughts

[Geo the Sarge]

Life in Middletown consisted of the odd day patrol, vehicle checkpoint and night patrol/ambush along with daily security and sangar manning of the base. Immediately outside the base was an HGV weighpoint/search area where the occasional HGV truck would be pulled in to be searched.

During these searches we would often find such contraband as cigarettes, electrical goods, Poteen and surprisingly……..butter!! not really sure why but at that time moving butter from South to North was quite a big thing and I would imagine quite lucrative, reasons for which I have no idea. We wouldn’t concern ourselves with this at the time, after all we weren’t HMRC.

However years later the Army started taking more interest when it became clear that a lot of the monies made from these schemes was being filtered back to assist terrorism.

Early one morning one of the alarms went off, we basically had 2 separate alarms, one for fire which, if I remember correctly, was a continuous siren and one for an attack on the base which was intermittent. Actions on the fire alarm where to make our way to a central location for a head count and then await the arrival of the fire brigade, no different to what most places of business operate.

The actions on the attack alarm where to remain where you were and get yourself under protective cover, usually under the bed or desk/table if you were in an office or dining room area.

This was the attack alarm and as there had not been any sound of gunfire or explosion we knew that it was warning of a possible attack or could actually have been a potential car-bomb delivered to the front gate which was a common occurrence in those days. We would then await further instructions issued over the tannoy from the ops room.

Instructions were issued that a suspicious device had been found inside one of the vehicles that had been marshalled into the vehicle checkpoint outside the base and that we were to assemble in a fielded area to the rear of the base. Our platoon kitted ourselves up and made our way to the area, knowing that we would be deployed on some sort of patrol to assist securing the area whilst the various agencies arrived to deal with the incident. I obviously had Roxy with me and it was agreed that she would accompany us on the patrol.

[Geo the Sarge]

We patrolled the perimeter of the cordon that had been set up, it was quite a rural area so there was plenty of field trudging, fence climbing and breaking through bushes to create an entry into various fields. Whilst often there were natural pathways and gates as through-routes between fields they were obvious spots for booby traps so the troops rarely used these.

Roxy had an absolute ball, running up and down the line of the patrol, fetching the many sticks being thrown for her and a few feeble attempts at catching rabbits. About 4-5 hours later we were given the all clear to return to base and proceeded on our way back. As we made our way through the village we encountered the usual snarling dog, a real pain in the arse for most troops in these days.

We were convinced that some of these animals had been trained to hassle us at every opportunity and we would often find some beast snapping at our ankles or running alongside snarling or barking away. Yet anyone not in Army gear could approach it and talk and stroke it without any bother.

On this day however, Roxy made a bee-line for it and chased it off down the road, my heart was in my mouth as I had visions of her disappearing never to be seen again and there was no way could I break off from the patrol to hunt her down. There was no way either that the Army would extend the patrol to go hunt for her. Luckily, once she was satisfied that the beast was no longer a bother she returned to the patrol.

From then on it became standard that whenever we went on patrol that Roxy would accompany us and on many occasions her presence ensured we had less hassle from the local dogs. It was before the days of these fancy extending dog leads with a return spring and lock that we see these days, however one of the troops supplied me with a large extended rope-style lead which was commonly used by dog-handlers at that time which meant I could keep control of her and she would still have a decent bit of freedom when on patrol with us.

[Geo the Sarge]

Roxy would also accompany us on night time patrols and we also had her on a couple of ambush nights and one particular babysitting job. We had been tasked to lie in wait within the Caledon estate:

http://www.caledon.org.uk/sitemap.php

Lord Caledon was a member of the peerage and he and his family were considered a legitimate target by the IRA. Information had been received that the estate was being surveyed with the possibility of an attack. We had been deployed and various covert positions were set up around the estate. It was a large estate and obviously we concentrated on the areas that gave most easy access to it.

We had patrolled into position after dark having been dropped off from a couple of covert Sherpa vans earlier. Sherpa vans were used a lot in these days for covertly transporting troops around the province, there were a lot of them around. They were the chosen mode of transport for a lot of the shop keepers and businesses in the province and we often disguise the vans by taping the ends of empty crisp/sweet boxes to the windows to give the appearance of it being loaded with provisions for a shop.

We had lain in wait for a few hours positioned in a common ambush set-up of 2 small cut off groups to the flanks with the main body of the ambush in the centre. Roxy and I were in the main group. On these occasions she was always a great help. Having the acute senses of a dog, she would be an early warning system when there was any movement or approach from some distance. She would lie with us and whenever she sensed something she would give a very low growl and would turn to face the direction from which she had sensed any movement or noise.

More often or not it would be cattle or deer but whenever she gave an indication it would result in all the troops being extra alert. During longer ambush periods we would stag the watch, generally take it in turns to get a bit of head-down, keeping a sentry at each cut off and the main body.

With Roxy there, in the event one of the sentries slacked and also dozed off we had the extra protection that Roxy would alert us to any other presence in the area. I don’t know whether it was through these excursions, however Roxy never, ever barked. Even when we returned to the normality of home life, I never heard her bark.

[Geo the Sarge]

On this night she had begun her normal low growl to indicate she had sensed something and she was indicating towards our left flank so we contact the cut offs to ask if they had seen or heard anything. They hadn’t and we had not seen or heard anything from our position. We maintained our vigilance and sure enough, after about 20 minutes we began to hear the familiar sounds of rustling and snapping twigs associated with someone moving through a wooded area.

We were then contacted by the left cut-off that they could see 2 figures emerge from the edge of an adjacent wood about 300 metres in front of them. Using night vision they had determined that no weapons were visible and it was decided that a challenge would be given. “Army!! Stop, hands up!!” or words to that effect, were hollered in the direction of the 2 figures who immediately froze and raised their hands in the air.

The cut off group then skirmished into a position to check them out. One of them was known to the Security forces, the other was not. They had only map, compass and torch in their possession and gave the story that they participated in orienteering and were practising their night navigation.

We arranged for a couple of RUC guys to be choppered out to the estate to pick them up and they were then taken away for further questioning. Like so many of the arrests we made over the many excursions throughout the province, I never knew the end result of this incident. Needless to say we were happy that we had put an end to a potential subsequent attack on the estate and the Caledon family.

[Geo the Sarge]

The return to Edinburgh after our 2 year stint in Ballykinler seen the end of Roxy’s military exploits, although she did continue to accompany us on further postings to Germany, Inverness and Colchester.

Mrs Geo would never allow her to go to kennels or be separated for too long from us so travelling was always a pain. Wherever we were, we would always drive back to Edinburgh during leave periods. We never had a proper holiday all that time.

Travelling from Germany back to Edinburgh was always a 24 hour grind. Drive to Hook of Holland or Seebrugge, ferry usually to Ramsgate or Dover and then the drive all the way up to Edinburgh. 2 adults, 3 kids and a huge black beast in one motor.

Fortunately I liked my big cars and most of these journeys were done in a huge golden coloured Ford Granada 2.8 ghia automatic, murder around town but a fantastic cruising machine.

[Geo the Sarge]

Roxy remained with us for a total of 18 years, a grand age for a dog. Unfortunately age caught up with her and eventually her back legs gave out on her after a period of arthritis. It was a gut wrenchingly sad day when I had to get a mate to drive Roxy and I to the vets. I couldn’t drive myself as I knew she would not be coming back with me. I got my mate to drop me off at the vets which was about 5 miles from home in Colchester and asked him just to return as I would make my own way home.

Within a few minutes the vet had confirmed the worse, nothing for it but to have her put down. In all fairness, he actually scolded me as he thought (and was probably correct) that we had let her suffer a bit too long. Selfishness and prolonging the agony to ourselves – Guilty as charged. He administered the injection whilst she lay on the table with me by her side giving as much comfort as I could. It was quick and painless, the eyes closed, her breathing slowed until finally stopping and the words of the vet “That’s it sir, she’s at peace.”

I took the decision not to burden extra grief on the family by arranging to have her buried ourselves and left her in the hands of the vet. After settling the bill I then proceeded to walk home, all the while sobbing uncontrollably. It took me an age to get home by which time I thought I was now in control. As soon as I entered the house it all started again, all 5 of us in a huddle sobbing away. Heartbreaking but, somewhat bizarrely, a very warm moment for us all.

RIP Roxy
RIP Rodney.

Geo

[bolt pp]

nice story mate, really enjoyed reading that

[turny]

fantastic story mate and a great read.roxy seemed an amazing dog.

thanks for dedicating it to rodney's memory

[cdw1111]

More stories please.

[boldie]

More stories please.

Very much this.

[RED-DOG]

More stories please.

Very much this.

+1

[bolt pp]

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gHfW_kTwp4xYG7EjqKJclsAu3TFA

[pokefast]

They've all gone septic.

[Geo the Sarge]

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gHfW_kTwp4xYG7EjqKJclsAu3TFA

Thanks Bolty,

bet you kept this till after the event to ensure you got a front row view. lol

Christmas on operations is always a hard time for the troops. They are renowned for not keeping in touch with back home and there are many stories of soldiers being taken aside by the sergeant major and being made to sit down and write a letter home. It's almost like you get caught up in a whole different world and you are "gonna do that letter tonight."

Xmas is different, it really is a time where the soldier can be at his lowest. Can only think it's the memories of christmas' past, the gifts, the family gatherings etc.

At this time the troops are inundated with all sorts of gifts and comfort packages. These come from so many people totally unknown to them and range from cards, letters of support to food, sweets and on occassion used undies - lol.

It is always greatly appreciated by the troops.

If anyone is thinking of sending anything, make sure you add some sort of contact detail, even an email address or phone number. Soldiers find it very frustrating when they receive a gift from someone who has taken the trouble to remember and thank them but they cannot pass their appreciation back to Mary, Oxford.

Geo

[Geo the Sarge]

It was brought to our attention recently that Shell garages have been refusing to allow our poppy collectors to put collection boxes and poppies in their forecourts/shops.

One of the replies we have had:

Thank you for your email regarding whether the Poppy Appeal can continue to have collection boxes positioned in our service stations. As you may or may not be aware the Shell Retail Business operates as part of Shell UK Ltd. (Shell UK). Shell UK believes that investing in the community and other good causes is an integral part of running its business in the UK.

It believes that companies should act as responsible members of society and give something back to the communities in which they operate. Today, rather than simply giving to worthy causes, Shell prefers to donate skills, time and knowledge as well as money. We do this at a national level in an attempt to act in a coordinated manner and thus leverage our resources and maximise our contribution. As an example, Shell Retail supports Macmillan Cancer Relief, RSPCA and Motability through its successful Drivers' Club loyalty scheme.

It is in the context of this strategy that Shell Retail will not be allowing any further charities, including the Poppy Appeal, to use its forecourt network to collect monies. However, as indicated above, Shell UK's corporate social responsibility teams based at our corporate headquarters in London and our individual business location in Aberdeen and Stanlow may be in a position to offer further support. My apologies that in this instance Shell Retail have been unable to help. I trust that you will find other opportunities to raise money for what is undoubtedly an extremely good cause.

Yours sincerely, Shirley Cinco Shell Customer Service Centre Rowlandsway House Wythenshawe M22 5SB Shell U.K. Oil Products Limited is a separate limited company, which acts as agent and manager of the oil products business of Shell U.K. Limited. Shell U.K. Oil Products Limited Registered office: Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA Registered in England: No. 3625633

Whilst I can understand that they do indeed supply much needed assistance to chosen charities throught their own process, surely things like the once a year Poppy appeal or Children in Need deserve consideration in their own right?

It's not as if we are asking Shell themselves to donate.

Thoughts?

Geo