Your author, circa December 1984 . . .
. . . looking so young! With everything that's happened in the last 24 months, it's almost as if it's not so much 'a lifetime ago', but several other people's lifetimes!
And, this is the only picture of me in uniform with badging to the Royal Hampshire's, as a few days after this was taken I was cross-posted to the Gloucestershire Regiment and completed my service with them. I was - a year later - offered a return to the R. Hamp's /asked to 're-badge' to the 'Glooms' but declined both options, which pissed my OC off, as while I was happy to serve-on as a Gloucester, and proud too, equally, I was born in Hampshire, lived my first 18-odd years in Hampshire and was recruited from the Channel Islands which was the 'Tigers' area, so my Private's logic rather collided with the Major's view of how things should be done to keep the paperwork clean!
I don't think the Russians lost much sleep over the prospect of meeting me on the North European Plain, do you? But, there's a determination in those eyes . . . or is it more of a "Shit, I actually passed basic'!"?
Yes I see a dont like it up blade now we know why the cold war never got hot any Russkie seeing you like that would think more than twice before starting anything.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Yes, Captain Mainwaring . . . they don't like it up 'em! It had a satisfying weight and a nasty little hooked-end Jah!
ReplyDeleteH
To me there is a slight "deer in the headlights at night" look.
ReplyDeleteOdd now to think that I resigned my commission in 1981 for many reasons but one being that there weren't going to be any more wars. A year later I was following the brief reports of the Falklands affair.....
I fear you're right Ross! In basic' there is a need to do and say exactly what you are told, and the whole platoon (50-odd) in in a queue out of shot, with four NCO's and a photographer all telling us what to do!
ReplyDeleteI was late for the Argie's and got out before Kuwait, although I volunteered through the TA, but they only wanted drivers and medics and I was neither! And after it turned into a rather distasteful turkey-shoot on the Basra highway I was glad I wasn't associated with any of it!
I would have liked to have served in the Former Yugoslavia, that was a worthy enterprise, if a bit 'hands-tied' and we came close to making friends with the Russians . . .
H