Northern Ireland
Quote from jkwebster06 on March 11, 2024, 9:34 pmOn border patrol in FSC's (Mk 2's) on a bitterly night in South Armagh, my hands were frozen stiff despite wearing gloves. Having just completed a snap VCP we jumped quickly onto the vehicles - it didn't pay to hang around there ! Snapping the rear hatch shut I thought I'd caught my glove in the hatch - I had but my finger was caught too. It was so cold I couldn't feel anything but when my driver "Jonah" complained blood was running down his neck I realised what had happened. Over the air I was told to go to a doctors in Keady - he refused to do anything ( for various reasons) but told me to keep the finger in the glove . We drove back at speed to Gosford Castle & onto the large area just outside to park up. Loads of lights, plenty of soldiers , some with stretchers, even a helicopter.
I gingerly climbed out of the turret to see Medic Sgt Bill Johnson (ex 10H I think), who yelled "how can you climb out with one leg ?". It transpired that Chinese Whispers had exaggerated my condition in the time it took to get from Keady to Gosford ("He's lost a leg" etc) - the reaction on seeing me & telling them it was only a finger? "Is that all, well you can get to the MI Room yourself then!!" Ambulance, helicopter & soldiers were all stood down whilst I struggled to the MI Room where the tip of my finger was put back. I'm certain the medics were so disappointed !! John (JKW)
On border patrol in FSC's (Mk 2's) on a bitterly night in South Armagh, my hands were frozen stiff despite wearing gloves. Having just completed a snap VCP we jumped quickly onto the vehicles - it didn't pay to hang around there ! Snapping the rear hatch shut I thought I'd caught my glove in the hatch - I had but my finger was caught too. It was so cold I couldn't feel anything but when my driver "Jonah" complained blood was running down his neck I realised what had happened. Over the air I was told to go to a doctors in Keady - he refused to do anything ( for various reasons) but told me to keep the finger in the glove . We drove back at speed to Gosford Castle & onto the large area just outside to park up. Loads of lights, plenty of soldiers , some with stretchers, even a helicopter.
I gingerly climbed out of the turret to see Medic Sgt Bill Johnson (ex 10H I think), who yelled "how can you climb out with one leg ?". It transpired that Chinese Whispers had exaggerated my condition in the time it took to get from Keady to Gosford ("He's lost a leg" etc) - the reaction on seeing me & telling them it was only a finger? "Is that all, well you can get to the MI Room yourself then!!" Ambulance, helicopter & soldiers were all stood down whilst I struggled to the MI Room where the tip of my finger was put back. I'm certain the medics were so disappointed !! John (JKW)
Quote from DavidFullard on March 12, 2024, 8:27 pmI never injured myself during Op Banner tours but when serving in Bessbrook with RHQ I did develop Bells Palsy.
Bells Palsy manifests itself with a weakness (read temporary partial paralysis) of one side of the face causing it to sag. A dropping eye that won’t close and a drooling mouth are other symptoms along with numbness and the inability to close the eye on the side of the face affected. I had all of those symptoms!
I just woke up one morning like it. I went to see the RMO who was in Bessbrook and he diagnosed Bells Palsey. Freaking Balls Up more like it. He said it could come on spontaneously and remain for several months. He gave me an eye patch to wear over my eye that wouldn’t close, blink or produce tears. It was pink!
The guys were very sympathetic to my disease and discomfort I must say., they named me Quasimodo.! Meal times were fun, food would ‘escape’ from my mouth unnoticed on the palsied side of my face. An unappetising site for others at the table and the faux retching of one or two soon encouraged me to eat alone.I awoke one morning to find a piece of cardboard on my chest with a string around my neck, ‘Unclean’ was written on the cardboard. Someone acquired a handbell and rang it when I approached. Truth be told there was no malice in the jesting and in some ways it took the sting out of it all. Some of it even I found funny!
I did manage to acquire a black eye patch after about a week which assuaged my wounded male ego and pride when wearing that freaking pink eye patch but I spent 4 anxious weeks wondering when the very annoying disease might subside. It disappeared sans medication or treatment on its own volition just as suddenly as it arrived after about a month. I was relieved of driving duties for the duration of the affliction and ended up riding shotgun instead. The eyepatch over my right eye must have told any terrorist with half a brain that I couldn’t hit a barn door from 20 feet.
Only much later in life did I learn how fortunate I was that mobiles, internet and social media hadn’t been invented then.
I never injured myself during Op Banner tours but when serving in Bessbrook with RHQ I did develop Bells Palsy.
Bells Palsy manifests itself with a weakness (read temporary partial paralysis) of one side of the face causing it to sag. A dropping eye that won’t close and a drooling mouth are other symptoms along with numbness and the inability to close the eye on the side of the face affected. I had all of those symptoms!
I just woke up one morning like it. I went to see the RMO who was in Bessbrook and he diagnosed Bells Palsey. Freaking Balls Up more like it. He said it could come on spontaneously and remain for several months. He gave me an eye patch to wear over my eye that wouldn’t close, blink or produce tears. It was pink!
The guys were very sympathetic to my disease and discomfort I must say., they named me Quasimodo.! Meal times were fun, food would ‘escape’ from my mouth unnoticed on the palsied side of my face. An unappetising site for others at the table and the faux retching of one or two soon encouraged me to eat alone.
I awoke one morning to find a piece of cardboard on my chest with a string around my neck, ‘Unclean’ was written on the cardboard. Someone acquired a handbell and rang it when I approached. Truth be told there was no malice in the jesting and in some ways it took the sting out of it all. Some of it even I found funny!
I did manage to acquire a black eye patch after about a week which assuaged my wounded male ego and pride when wearing that freaking pink eye patch but I spent 4 anxious weeks wondering when the very annoying disease might subside. It disappeared sans medication or treatment on its own volition just as suddenly as it arrived after about a month. I was relieved of driving duties for the duration of the affliction and ended up riding shotgun instead. The eyepatch over my right eye must have told any terrorist with half a brain that I couldn’t hit a barn door from 20 feet.
Only much later in life did I learn how fortunate I was that mobiles, internet and social media hadn’t been invented then.
Quote from jkwebster06 on March 15, 2024, 8:57 pmBelfast circa 1980, Close Observation Troop - I was doing a recce for an OP facing the targets' front door. Crawling along the space in the terraced housing attics, heart thumping & adrenalin surging (some of the houses underneath were occupied), I espied a a water tank with my Beta light. Reaching in, I pulled a parcel out that had been carefully waterproofed. Opening the parcel ever so carefully I could see in the very limited light a book of sorts - mind racing, I thought it might contain the details of the terrorists ! "Will be a medal for this" I thought, but hopes were dashed when in the dim light I could read "Training Dogs My Way" by Barbara Woodhouse !! On completing the recce some time later I decided to leave that episode out of the Report lol. John (JKW)
Belfast circa 1980, Close Observation Troop - I was doing a recce for an OP facing the targets' front door. Crawling along the space in the terraced housing attics, heart thumping & adrenalin surging (some of the houses underneath were occupied), I espied a a water tank with my Beta light. Reaching in, I pulled a parcel out that had been carefully waterproofed. Opening the parcel ever so carefully I could see in the very limited light a book of sorts - mind racing, I thought it might contain the details of the terrorists ! "Will be a medal for this" I thought, but hopes were dashed when in the dim light I could read "Training Dogs My Way" by Barbara Woodhouse !! On completing the recce some time later I decided to leave that episode out of the Report lol. John (JKW)
Quote from jkwebster06 on March 16, 2024, 9:28 pmLate on a Saturday night, manning a VCP Roadblock right on the border between Keady , South Armagh, and the South. The locals enjoyed their nights out in the South knowing we were set up to stop & search them & their vehicles, on their return, which they invariably took in good part, the many "sherbets" they'd have consumed helping the mood. On one occasion a vehicle was approaching from the South, a little fast I thought & readied ourselves, but instead of attempting to crash through our block, the car hit the sleeping policeman, reared up and broke in half ! It was a silver minivan - the occupants , 3 guys & 3 girls clambered out of the wreckage, the driver kicked the van and they all proceeded to walk through our VCP, singing their heads off ! The driver assured me he'd be back in the morning to clear up !! No MOT's in NI then meant many wrecks were on the road; this one had succumbed to the "tin worm" & had literally rusted away underneath with the bump from the road hump being the last straw. John (JKW)
Late on a Saturday night, manning a VCP Roadblock right on the border between Keady , South Armagh, and the South. The locals enjoyed their nights out in the South knowing we were set up to stop & search them & their vehicles, on their return, which they invariably took in good part, the many "sherbets" they'd have consumed helping the mood. On one occasion a vehicle was approaching from the South, a little fast I thought & readied ourselves, but instead of attempting to crash through our block, the car hit the sleeping policeman, reared up and broke in half ! It was a silver minivan - the occupants , 3 guys & 3 girls clambered out of the wreckage, the driver kicked the van and they all proceeded to walk through our VCP, singing their heads off ! The driver assured me he'd be back in the morning to clear up !! No MOT's in NI then meant many wrecks were on the road; this one had succumbed to the "tin worm" & had literally rusted away underneath with the bump from the road hump being the last straw. John (JKW)
Quote from jkwebster06 on March 23, 2024, 9:49 pmWhilst training for Close Observation Troop (COT) at a location in England, I was amongst some real professional soldiers from all branches of the military. On an initial exercise in creating an OP for a Target Recce, we stopped for a lunch break. I watched in astonishment as the Marines & Infantry guys brought out their eating irons - their mess tins were painted in thick camouflage paint, kfs was a one piece affair and their waterbottle / mugs covered in hessian. They looked at me as if I was an alien when I brought out my shiny knife,fork & spoon, plastic cup and a white melamine plate - "Well, I AM cavalry " I said , much to their amusement, especially when I told them how the Officers, when in the field still have Mess silver in the tent and get waited on LOL. John (JKW)
Whilst training for Close Observation Troop (COT) at a location in England, I was amongst some real professional soldiers from all branches of the military. On an initial exercise in creating an OP for a Target Recce, we stopped for a lunch break. I watched in astonishment as the Marines & Infantry guys brought out their eating irons - their mess tins were painted in thick camouflage paint, kfs was a one piece affair and their waterbottle / mugs covered in hessian. They looked at me as if I was an alien when I brought out my shiny knife,fork & spoon, plastic cup and a white melamine plate - "Well, I AM cavalry " I said , much to their amusement, especially when I told them how the Officers, when in the field still have Mess silver in the tent and get waited on LOL. John (JKW)
Quote from jkwebster06 on April 1, 2024, 8:27 pmDuring D Sqn's tour of NI I was Tp Sgt and was tasked with taking the troop to Strabane for a week to support the Royal Marines stationed there. We got along well with the RM & in conversation it transpired one of the Marines had his own house in Plymouth, his wife at her mothers for the duration, but squatters had moved in to his house. The police had failed to remove them quoting "Squatters Rights" etc, and despite threats and promises the squatters were staying put. It took one phone call from Strabane to the Marine base in Plymouth - a small party of burly Marines took the house by storm and the squatters not only left but were never seen again ! John (JKW)
During D Sqn's tour of NI I was Tp Sgt and was tasked with taking the troop to Strabane for a week to support the Royal Marines stationed there. We got along well with the RM & in conversation it transpired one of the Marines had his own house in Plymouth, his wife at her mothers for the duration, but squatters had moved in to his house. The police had failed to remove them quoting "Squatters Rights" etc, and despite threats and promises the squatters were staying put. It took one phone call from Strabane to the Marine base in Plymouth - a small party of burly Marines took the house by storm and the squatters not only left but were never seen again ! John (JKW)
Quote from DavidFullard on April 2, 2024, 12:13 amDuring an Op Banner tour circa 1972 ( I think) as mentioned above I was stationed in the police station in Bessbrook with RHQ. One of the RUC Liaison Constables used to arrange invites for soldiers to local ‘safe houses’ for a meal. I went to a house with Paul Sandilands. The family compromised a widowed mum and a 17 year old ‘gawky’ daughter totally enamoured of all things British Army. I received 3 further invites to that home during our 4 month tour always just me. Mum was a brilliant cook and Dorothy the daughter was an avid and attentive audience to my stories.
Fast forward to Sennelager days many years later. I was Fam S/Sgt, JT was ‘FamO’. I came into the office we shared one day and he told me a woman had rung for me. Nothing new in that I dealt with families all the time. It happened again a few months later. Both times the woman left no name, no details just she would call again. She never did and I forgot all about it. 2 years later I was SSM HQ Sqn when I received a call from a RMP S/Sgt telling me his RSM wished to speak in private with me and could I be in the STC WOs & Sgts Mess the next day at lunchtime. I assumed it would be the local RMP RSM and, full of intrigue, I turned up next day and went into the large mess bar area. I saw a female RMP S/Sgt sat at a table and I looked for the RSM but couldn’t see him anywhere, The woman stood up said she was with the RSM and I should take a seat.A few moments later the RSM turned up. To my absolute astonishment the RSM turned out to be the erstwhile ‘gawky’ girl from Bessbrook. Only now she was an extremely smartly dressed WO1 RMP and there was nothing ‘gawky’ about her. She greeted me with a warm hug. She was the mysterious caller who never left a name. We sat and talked for about an hour. The female S/Sgt addressing her as ‘Ma’am’ throughout was clearly not comfortable with me addressing her RSM by her first name. Dorothy was single and unattached she told me rather candidly, I in turn spoke of my wife and daughter.The conversation was a bit awkward after that but I learned they had driven from Osnabruek to meet me.We parted with another hug and I never heard hide or hair of her again.To this day I can only speculate on the mysteriousness of her calls and the motive for that meeting. Perhaps I am being naive?
During an Op Banner tour circa 1972 ( I think) as mentioned above I was stationed in the police station in Bessbrook with RHQ. One of the RUC Liaison Constables used to arrange invites for soldiers to local ‘safe houses’ for a meal. I went to a house with Paul Sandilands. The family compromised a widowed mum and a 17 year old ‘gawky’ daughter totally enamoured of all things British Army. I received 3 further invites to that home during our 4 month tour always just me. Mum was a brilliant cook and Dorothy the daughter was an avid and attentive audience to my stories.
Fast forward to Sennelager days many years later. I was Fam S/Sgt, JT was ‘FamO’. I came into the office we shared one day and he told me a woman had rung for me. Nothing new in that I dealt with families all the time. It happened again a few months later. Both times the woman left no name, no details just she would call again. She never did and I forgot all about it. 2 years later I was SSM HQ Sqn when I received a call from a RMP S/Sgt telling me his RSM wished to speak in private with me and could I be in the STC WOs & Sgts Mess the next day at lunchtime. I assumed it would be the local RMP RSM and, full of intrigue, I turned up next day and went into the large mess bar area. I saw a female RMP S/Sgt sat at a table and I looked for the RSM but couldn’t see him anywhere, The woman stood up said she was with the RSM and I should take a seat.A few moments later the RSM turned up. To my absolute astonishment the RSM turned out to be the erstwhile ‘gawky’ girl from Bessbrook. Only now she was an extremely smartly dressed WO1 RMP and there was nothing ‘gawky’ about her. She greeted me with a warm hug. She was the mysterious caller who never left a name. We sat and talked for about an hour. The female S/Sgt addressing her as ‘Ma’am’ throughout was clearly not comfortable with me addressing her RSM by her first name. Dorothy was single and unattached she told me rather candidly, I in turn spoke of my wife and daughter.The conversation was a bit awkward after that but I learned they had driven from Osnabruek to meet me.We parted with another hug and I never heard hide or hair of her again.To this day I can only speculate on the mysteriousness of her calls and the motive for that meeting. Perhaps I am being naive?