rubecula Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Just got home from the parade in Holyhead today. I found it all very moving, and, as I get older it seems more and more poignant. A Royal marine with a chestful of medals saw my beret, and he came over and thanked me for my service. I nearly burst into tears. So I was wondering how everyone else feels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 250 Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Just got home from the parade in Holyhead today. I found it all very moving, and, as I get older it seems more and more poignant. A Royal marine with a chestful of medals saw my beret, and he came over and thanked me for my service. I nearly burst into tears. So I was wondering how everyone else feels. Couldn't believe when it was mentioned on TV that it's 25 years since the end of the Gulf war ! Veterans from all wars and conflicts deserves thanks.A lad from my school was killed in Ireland, my Grandad survived Gallipoli and my wife lost her great Grandad with his two brothers in WW1, so my thoughts today were with them.Saving private Ryan was about 3 brothers getting killed in combat.Well it happened in my Wifes family, but there's no Hollywood blockbuster to remind us, just a block of marble with their names and ages on.Her Grandad, when his father was killed had to leave school at 12 and find work to help the family.In the 2nd world war in the last few days of the conflict a Jap mortar took off his left leg and put a steel plate in his head.Wars were not very kind to Frank ! The last 100 years or so have seen a great generation dissapear. We have to remember them. What ever service you did Rubes, thanks ! Romey 1878 and rubecula 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Rubes, where did you serve? My active service was in Malaya (1955-57). Still got my campaign medal but never get it out of its box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted November 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Mostly I was in West Germany John. I went to many places but mostly it was West Germany. I was in both the RAF and the RAMC Blue250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Rubes, when you were with RAMC were you ever at Ash Vale, Aldershot? That was our transit camp for overseas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted November 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Went to Aldershot for training. but cant remember if it was Ash Vale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 Me and my mate a lancejack, Escorted a prisoner down to the "Glasshouse" Aldershot's Military Prison in 1959. It was a long way from Catterick and very embarrassing taking him to the toilet with me cuffed to him. rubecula 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formby Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 Mostly I was in West Germany John. I went to many places but mostly it was West Germany. I was in both the RAF and the RAMC Blue250. What years were you there, R? My uncle was based at RAF Sundem (near Gutersloh) from 56-58 (time of the Hungarian revolt). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) Went to Aldershot for training. but cant remember if it was Ash Vale. It would have been Ash Vale. Ash Vale was the main RAMC Depot. It was on the outskirts of Aldershot, long walk from the train station. About 12 years ago I spent three days in Peterborough General Hospital. The duty doctor in A&E was a captain in the RAMC. I asked him if Ash Vale was still going and he said 'yes'. Edited November 14, 2016 by johnh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 It would have been Ash Vale. Ash Vale was the main RAMC Depot. It was on the outskirts of Aldershot, long walk from the train station. About 12 years ago I spent three days in Peterborough General Hospital. The duty doctor in A&E was a captain in the RAMC. I asked him if Ash Vale was still going and he said 'yes'. Was bought up in Guidford so know Aldershot quite well, was a contact in the RCT who got me Cup Final tickets in 1984, they had Army FA stamped on them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted November 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 What years were you there, R? My uncle was based at RAF Sundem (near Gutersloh) from 56-58 (time of the Hungarian revolt). 73 onwards for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Steve Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 In his 90s, my grandad recorded his reminiscences of WW-I on cassette tape. When I listen to them now, especially his account of the Battle of the Somme, I try to imagine how he must have felt - a teenager, who signed up under-age, seeing most of his colleagues die before his very eyes. Thank you John and Rubes for your service to our country. rubecula 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 In his 90s, my grandad recorded his reminiscences of WW-I on cassette tape. When I listen to them now, especially his account of the Battle of the Somme, I try to imagine how he must have felt - a teenager, who signed up under-age, seeing most of his colleagues die before his very eyes. Thank you John and Rubes for your service to our country. My grandad was captured at the Somme. Lucky for me really otherwise I wouldn't be here. The Germans took his boots off him as he kept breaking the door down by kicking it. He was a tough old bird and only 5'2" tall. bless him. He was in the Royal Irish Rifles. got home and then came over to live with his sister in Liverpool. Everton supporter too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 My grandad was captured at the Somme. Lucky for me really otherwise I wouldn't be here. The Germans took his boots off him as he kept breaking the door down by kicking it. He was a tough old bird and only 5'2" tall. bless him. He was in the Royal Irish Rifles. got home and then came over to live with his sister in Liverpool. Everton supporter too. You know I've never really thought about that before, if my grandad had died.... Anyway I've put him up here before but this is Archie in uniform. Don't know much about his service apart from a letter we have to my grandma from the front with an awkward poem. That and the fact that he was in an advance at Passchendaele where (can't remember the exact figures but it was something like) 5000 men went "over the top" and only 250 came back; lived through the duration but never the same man. Went from being a successful business owner with his two brothers to dying a homeless alcoholic three years before I was born. No Help for Heroes back then. Love the fact that at a big family reunion quite a few years back an elderly relative looked at my lad, who was probably five at the time, and said he was the absolute image of him. Wish I'd known him. Cornish Steve and rubecula 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Steve Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 A few months ago, I uploaded on YouTube grandad's recollection of the Somme. If you're interested in hearing his account... MikeO and rubecula 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 hey thank you Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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