Our Troops - My Thoughts

[Colchester Kev]

Geo, were you still in the mob when the Royal Scots were based at Colchester a few years back ?, they were there along with the Royal Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire Regiment.

Now its 2 & 3 Para that are there.

[Graham C]

Amazing thread Geo, very moving

[Digger]

A very thought provoking thread Geo......sorry to hear of your recent losses.

As an ex forces person (1979-1993) I have a good understanding of much that you have spoken about, but to lose your brother in that situation & circumstance I cant begin to imagine the pain. Your reaction with the other lads was out of the top draw mate!

I had three tours working out of Bessbrook as an aircrewman in Wessex V choppers with 845 Naval Air Commando Squadron in 1980/81, they were tough times for sure but we made life time friends & it wasn't all bad eh? To think that I was only 20/21 years of age is the mad thing!

I look forward to reading your future posts, I think they will bring back many memories good & bad.

[Geo the Sarge]

Geo, were you still in the mob when the Royal Scots were based at Colchester a few years back ?, they were there along with the Royal Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire Regiment.

Now its 2 & 3 Para that are there.

Yes mate, spent 2 great years there, lived in Fallowfield Road on the Army estate. My 2 eldest attended Alderman Blaxill (sp?) and still have many friends in Colly. They still take the occasional trip down to see old mates. I played football for Dedham, a wee village not far from there.

I once got into a bit trouble at a Sgt's Mess dinner night when I commented on Fagins nightclub being a dive and a death trap due to the fact you entered the club, walked down they steep stairs that could only accomodate 1 at a time and the back doors (with emergency exit plastered all over them) were always chained shut.

How was I to know that the Regimental Sergeant Major's guest that night was the owner of the place.........fkmylife.

21 extras...............day on-day off.    (extras where extra duties, usually overseeing the security of the camp. Generally in full uniform and little if any sleep.)

Geo

[Colchester Kev]

Geo, were you still in the mob when the Royal Scots were based at Colchester a few years back ?, they were there along with the Royal Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire Regiment.

Now its 2 & 3 Para that are there.

Yes mate, spent 2 great years there, lived in Fallowfield Road on the Army estate. My 2 eldest attended Alderman Blaxill (sp?) and still have many friends in Colly. They still take the occasional trip down to see old mates. I played football for Dedham, a wee village not far from there.

I once got into a bit trouble at a Sgt's Mess dinner night when I commented on Fagins nightclub being a dive and a death trap due to the fact you entered the club, walked down they steep stairs that could only accomodate 1 at a time and the back doors (with emergency exit plastered all over them) were always chained shut.

How was I to know that the Regimental Sergeant Major's guest that night was the owner of the place.........fkmylife.

21 extras...............day on-day off.    (extras where extra duties, usually overseeing the security of the camp. Generally in full uniform and little if any sleep.)

Geo

Fallowfield road ... I know it well, i used to sell Cable tv/phones on the army estate ... used to skive off in the NAAFI cafe, and get all the punters to come to me to sign up while i bought them a brew ... you must have some pics of you in the mess trousers knocking about ... they were "interesting" to say the least

There were a lot of Gurkha's about then too , smashing people they were ... shit coffee though ... it was made with carnation milk and was bloody awful, but you had to drink it when they made you one so as not to offend !

[Colchester Kev]

Oh and you were right about Fagins ... down the steps then you had to negotiate the stickiest carpet in the world... LOL what a shit hole that was ... its closed down now, the owners of molly malones turned it into a poker room would you believe ... lasted about 3 months as it was never advertised or promoted.

[Geo the Sarge]

Oh and you were right about Fagins ... down the steps then you had to negotiate the stickiest carpet in the world... LOL what a shit hole that was ... its closed down now, the owners of molly malones turned it into a poker room would you believe ... lasted about 3 months as it was never advertised or promoted.

>>AAAAAAAAAAAAhhh the Sticky Carpet, how could I forget, lol.

Thje Gurkhas are superb soldiers and as loyal to this country as most. Hard to believe with the way thay were treated for a while, they're getting close to putting that right though I believe.

Note for further posts: Ghurka stories.

Geo.

[ItsMrAlex2u]

I have only read the first few posts on this thread so far, but I have a suggestion before you post too much.

Have you ever considered writing a book? I would buy it

[ItsMrAlex2u]

Just caught up.
I re-iterate my suggestion on writing your memoirs, it sounds like there is enough to fill a library let alone a book.

I am speechless. Incredibly moving. Much respect.

[tikay]

Just caught up.
I re-iterate my suggestion on writing your memoirs, it sounds like there is enough to fill a library let alone a book.

I am speechless. Incredibly moving. Much respect.

+1

[Indestructable]

 

[Geo the Sarge]

Bullying

I have an ever growing list of topics for covering in this thread. Thanks so far for the replies and PM’s. From these my list grows.

One PM I received told the story of the death of one of our forum members’ brother which was directly attributable to bullying whilst serving in the Army. I will not repeat the story, it’s not my place. I do thank them though.

Bullying was one of the first subjects on my then basic list, it’s something I absolutely detest. I don’t really have to tell you all that bullying comes in all forms, it doesn’t need to be physical it can be verbal or even mental.

Some people may try to classify certain levels of bullying………..I say don’t bother, a bully is a bully and that’s it. Whether it be throwing their weight around to get what they want or even to prove they are the tough guy or pressurising someone verbally or mentally into doing something they don’t want to, it’s still bullying. Believe it or not I still see it almost every day at work and I work in an office.

I’ve heard of colleagues being told that because they are not prepared to put in overtime to assist the work position that this will reflect on their Balanced Scorecard (a common measurement of annual performance.) It’s bullying, no doubt about it.

I grew up in an area of Edinburgh called Pilton, one of the roughest areas of the city, it’s not a brag, I wish I hadn’t, life would possibly have been easier, but would I have been any happier or wiser? Who knows, that was my lot and as we all do, I just got on with it.

My problems as a youngster where in the home. We didn’t have much money, mum and dad had run of the mill jobs and for long periods my dad was off work with various injuries and illnesses. I was one of seven children, I had 2 older sisters 3 younger brothers and a younger sister. My father was a very violent man and I witnessed him in a few brawls in the street, in fairness on occasion defending something said or done toward the family. However, he could be as violent at home as he was outside. I would say he only had one level of punishment regardless of severity of the offence, throw you in a corner and then punch and kick lumps out of you and then banish you to your room, often with the added punishment of not receiving meals.

I liked the sent to my room bit, I was safe there, I’d had my beating and he wouldn’t hurt me anymore…………until the next time. My mum wasn’t averse to using violence either but in the more traditional way of over the knee, however was happy to use whatever implement was at hand, belt, slipper, the wee metal coal shuffle from beside the fireplace. You know the one, the silver metal Shovel/Brush and Tongs combo on the stand that every family had by the fire back then.

One of her favourites was a strip of yellow plastic track from my hot wheels set that I had received as a Christmas present one year. Many may remember the sections of track about a foot or so long that you clicked together to make your track. It had various other pieces that you could use to make loops in and a ramp thingy you stuck on the end from where you launched your Hot Wheels cars from. Bugger, getting smacked with one of those really stung.

[Geo the Sarge]

There are quite a few incidents of what I consider improper punishment that I suffered in the hands of my parents, I will only list two of them in an effort to explain why I have had such a loathing of bullying.

I was never a bad lad, sure, I made mistakes, broke a few windows (usually with a football.) and occasionally pinched a penny from the dressing room table in my parents room that was part of a pile dumped there by father after his return from the pub the night before. I never committed any offences, never ran with the gangs, all I did was play football. I can’t ever recall being bullied outside the home either. No-one wanted to bully me, I was a cracking wee fitba’ player, one of the best in the area and everyone wanted me to be in their team. Funny how such a simple talent can have its benefits.

The first event happened around 1972/73. I was 11 or 12 years of age. As I said earlier we didn’t have a lot of money and there wasn’t a lot of food in the home. Meals were generally cereal or toast, never both, for breakfast, free school dinner (I used to love school custard, that nearly white, thick as porridge stuff) and generally it would be mince, stewed sausages or soup kind of thing for tea. The mince or stewed sausage was usually served on top of a slice of bread, no veg or tatties (I know tatties is a veg, but you know what I mean.) This particular evening, it must have been a Saturday as dad had returned from the pub and it was fairly early evening. Saturdays he would spend most of the afternoon at the pub, visiting the bookies between pints. I never understood how we could hardly have a proper meal at times and yet my father was in the pub most nights and every Saturday and would have money for betting. Maybe some of the older ones amongst you can explain it.

He came in, sat in his chair, his chair, no-one else dared use it and took control of the tele. After a while he got up and went through to the kitchen. “Aaaaarrrgggh, which of you little bastards took it!” was the scream as he launched himself back into the living room. “Who took the last bit of cheese?” We all looked at each other terrified, we knew what was coming. “There was a bit of cheese in the cupboard (no fridge then) before I went out, it’s no longer there, who took it?” Not sure about others but at that time we daren’t take anything from the cupboard, not even a slice of bread, we always had to ask. We all denied it, no-one would own up, mum said it wasn’t her. “right that’s it, there’s a thief amongst you and I intend to find out who, get through the room, and if no-one owns up within 10 minutes you’ll all be sorry” Through the room meant everyone was to go into the big bedroom.

There were nine of us in a three - bedroomed council house. Parents had the middle room, my 2 elder sisters had the smaller room and the other five of us had the big room, 2 sets of bunk beds and a single bed with not much room for anything else. Three of us were bed wetters so you can imagine that at times it wasn’t a pleasant place to be.

[Geo the Sarge]

After a while he came into the bedroom. “Right have you decided who took it?” we had discussed it and we were all adamant that it wasn’t us, it certainly wasn’t me. The chorus rang out “it wisnae me dad” seven voices  all at different pitches and in concert replied to him. “Right get stripped, wife (I won’t use her name though he did) where’s the strip?” The strip being the yellow piece of track as mentioned earlier.  Get stripped meant we all were to strip naked, we now had the scene of 7 kids aged from about sixteen to 7 standing naked and sobbing uncontrollably, we knew what was coming.

It was always the same routine, oldest first. My eldest sister was ordered to the living room and within seconds it started, I’m not very good at describing noises but if you could combine the sounds slap and thwack together that would be about it. “It wisnae me dad, honest” were the screams which continued for about 5 minutes and then my sister returned, picked up her clothes and went to her own room. Then it was my second sister, same scenario. Then it was my turn, it had surprised me that he had called for the strip as this wasn’t his usual method, as told earlier, he was a trap you in a corner and give you a good leathering type.

However when I was called through I found it was no different, still bundled in the corner however instead of the punches it was a beating with the strip with the odd kick thrown in. Rinse-repeat until all seven had taking a whacking, we had all denied it. Good that’s it done, we all go to bed and get up next morning we thought, not a hope in hell. After the youngest returned he called us all together again. “If I don’t find out who did it within the next 20 minutes you’re all getting the same again. We were left in the big room again to debate as to who done it, we debated for a while, accusation and counter accusation “I was watching the tele” one would say, “I was in my room “  another would reply. “ you were in the kitchen earlier” one would accuse “I only went in for a drink of water” would be the defence.

The debate went on for a wee bit then the offers would be spread around, “if you say you done it, I’ll share my dinner with you” “if you take the blame I’ll give you my marbles and corgi car” sort of thing. I decided I could not bear to go through it all again. I quietly stood up and walked through to the living room. “dad, it was me” (it hadn’t been) the inevitable happened, back to his normal modus operandi, thrown in the corner, no yellow strip this time just fists and feet, I took a hell of a beating “how could you let your brothers and sisters take that sort of punishment, you’re a horrible little shit” and various other utterances. All the words I’ve used are approximate, I obviously can’t remember them exactly.

[Geo the Sarge]

I returned to the room, my eldest sister was first to speak……..”it wasn’t you was it?” “no” I replied. “Then why didn’t you tell us you were going to take the blame and take what people were offering?” I never replied, I was too tired and too sore to explain, I merely went to my bottom bunk and curled up under the huge pink candlewick cover. Why did I do it? I don’t really know, I’d had my fare share of beatings as had my two elder sisters, the younger once not so much, and even tonight probably didn’t receive as severely as the first three. I’d like to think it was to protect them that little bit, he was a monster, they were only kids, I was the big boy of the family, I had a duty to protect my siblings and I did again on a couple of occasions but this time before he got to them.