Walts
Quote from Cliff_C on December 14, 2023, 9:15 pmFreddy
You mentioned "Walts"! There are many.
Whilst posted to the Cadet Training Team (CTT) in Edinburgh, there was one adult instructor (civvie, wearing three stripes), he had told everyone that he was ex SAS. He would hold all the other adults in awe at the mess functions about his exploits but would never talk to any of us regulars. No one could ever say anything wrong about him.
I must admit he did look smart in his blazer and "22" tie. When the CTT visited a detachment we would always write a summary report which would go to HQ Scotland. On one visit, one of the cadets (kids) asked if I could show them how to sneak up on a sentry and stab him. Sorry, I cant do that. On interrogation, yes, the adult instructor was telling the kids how to silently kill sentries etc. I reported this to HQ Scotland. The sh*t hit the fan, There was an investigation and low and behold it was found out that the adult special forces expert had certainly been at Hereford but sadly not stabbing sentries , just spuds. He had been a lance jack in the cookhouse.
Cliff
Freddy
You mentioned "Walts"! There are many.
Whilst posted to the Cadet Training Team (CTT) in Edinburgh, there was one adult instructor (civvie, wearing three stripes), he had told everyone that he was ex SAS. He would hold all the other adults in awe at the mess functions about his exploits but would never talk to any of us regulars. No one could ever say anything wrong about him.
I must admit he did look smart in his blazer and "22" tie. When the CTT visited a detachment we would always write a summary report which would go to HQ Scotland. On one visit, one of the cadets (kids) asked if I could show them how to sneak up on a sentry and stab him. Sorry, I cant do that. On interrogation, yes, the adult instructor was telling the kids how to silently kill sentries etc. I reported this to HQ Scotland. The sh*t hit the fan, There was an investigation and low and behold it was found out that the adult special forces expert had certainly been at Hereford but sadly not stabbing sentries , just spuds. He had been a lance jack in the cookhouse.
Cliff
Quote from DavidFullard on December 15, 2023, 1:50 pmCliff, your posts are always interesting to read, your previous one on oil companies is full of stuff I never knew. The site would benefit enormously from more frequent posts from you…and of course, Mick, Bob and anyone else minded to tap the keyboard.
Now my Walt story. At least I think it is a Walt story.
My village [Broughton] is circa 6 miles from the steel town of Scunthorpe. The area is quite different from the traditional Lowry painted pictures of old industrial towns and features lots of woods, green belts and …golf courses. I joined Holme Hall Golf Course circa 1995. Once one of the home courses of Masters Champion and Scunthorpe born Tony Jacklin, Holme Hall is one of the premier courses in the Lincolnshire region.
Every Friday evening a small group of us, including my daughter’s Pa-in -law would meet in the clubhouse for a few drinks. I used to leave the office early (5pm) and V would drop me off at the golf club and collect me again at 2130 or so.
One January evening the golf club had hired the ( large) restaurant/function room out for a Burns Night event hosted by the Scunthorpe Pipe Band. Scunthorpe has long enjoyed a successful Pipe Band ( at least 2 members of the P&Ds in Sennelager were from Scunthorpe) and the town has a small Scottish element of steelworkers.
Anyway, this Friday evening 4-5 of us were propping up the ( scruffs) bar in the club when a number of kilted guests arrived for the function. Most went straight into the function room where the main bar was but a couple came into ‘our’ less crowded bar. I returned from a loo visit to find my daughter’s Pa in law talking to 2 guys in full highland evening dress. I remarked to one of them that the Royal Stuart Tartan of their kilts was also the regimental tartan of my old regiment. ‘Were you SCOTS DG’ ? the chap asked. I affirmed I was and asked how he knew. He was a Piper in the band and explained the Chairman of the Scots ‘Club’ or whatever it was they all belonged to was a former SCOTS DG RSM. Intrigued I asked his name and he told me. I can’t remember the name now but it wasn’t a name I had ever heard before. I asked him if he was sure about the SCOTS DG connection..he absolutely was and the chap mentioned was attending this very evening.
The bar became a bit crowded so our group sat down at a table. Circa 30 minutes later the chap I had spoken to came over and pointed out a tall ( very smart) man at the bar as the RSM he had spoken of. Myself (and daughter’s Pa in law) went up to the bar. I said to the tall chap ‘Hello I understand you used to be the RSM of SCOTS DG’. He said that was correct. He was about my age ( 50ish) at the time. Now we all know no-one of ANY rank, Trooper to Lt Colonel, ever forgets any RSM we ever served with yet this guy was a complete stranger to me. Not only that he but he claimed to have been RSM DURING my service! He got a bit agitated at my questions and turned away to talk to others he was with. My daughter’s Pa in law tapped him on the shoulder and said ‘David here was a Major in the SCOTS DG’. The guy looked like a rabbit caught in car headlights. I told him it was strange we had never met and asked him how that could be. No he hadn’t actually been RSM IN the Regiment he explained but had been ‘posted’ as RSM elsewhere in Scotland WHILST in SCOTS DG. ‘Oh so you were RSM at ERE’? I asked. He looked blank. I said I thought he was a fraud. I told him for that to have happened he must have served at least for a time as a senior rank at RD during my service and he would be known to me. His ‘friends’ looked on embarrassed and drifted away into the function room. He quickly slunk after them. The chap who had pointed him out to me stayed behind and asked if I was really a retired SCOTS DG Major. Others with me assured him that was so. He left to join the others in the next room. About 9pm the Burns Night revellers had a ‘loo’ break and I searched for the elusive ‘RSM’. Strangely he had gone missing.
I was going to follow the matter up but I heard on the grapevine he had resigned from whatever position he held in that group/club. Fortuna is a fickle mistress!
Cliff, your posts are always interesting to read, your previous one on oil companies is full of stuff I never knew. The site would benefit enormously from more frequent posts from you…and of course, Mick, Bob and anyone else minded to tap the keyboard.
Now my Walt story. At least I think it is a Walt story.
My village [Broughton] is circa 6 miles from the steel town of Scunthorpe. The area is quite different from the traditional Lowry painted pictures of old industrial towns and features lots of woods, green belts and …golf courses. I joined Holme Hall Golf Course circa 1995. Once one of the home courses of Masters Champion and Scunthorpe born Tony Jacklin, Holme Hall is one of the premier courses in the Lincolnshire region.
Every Friday evening a small group of us, including my daughter’s Pa-in -law would meet in the clubhouse for a few drinks. I used to leave the office early (5pm) and V would drop me off at the golf club and collect me again at 2130 or so.
One January evening the golf club had hired the ( large) restaurant/function room out for a Burns Night event hosted by the Scunthorpe Pipe Band. Scunthorpe has long enjoyed a successful Pipe Band ( at least 2 members of the P&Ds in Sennelager were from Scunthorpe) and the town has a small Scottish element of steelworkers.
Anyway, this Friday evening 4-5 of us were propping up the ( scruffs) bar in the club when a number of kilted guests arrived for the function. Most went straight into the function room where the main bar was but a couple came into ‘our’ less crowded bar. I returned from a loo visit to find my daughter’s Pa in law talking to 2 guys in full highland evening dress. I remarked to one of them that the Royal Stuart Tartan of their kilts was also the regimental tartan of my old regiment. ‘Were you SCOTS DG’ ? the chap asked. I affirmed I was and asked how he knew. He was a Piper in the band and explained the Chairman of the Scots ‘Club’ or whatever it was they all belonged to was a former SCOTS DG RSM. Intrigued I asked his name and he told me. I can’t remember the name now but it wasn’t a name I had ever heard before. I asked him if he was sure about the SCOTS DG connection..he absolutely was and the chap mentioned was attending this very evening.
The bar became a bit crowded so our group sat down at a table. Circa 30 minutes later the chap I had spoken to came over and pointed out a tall ( very smart) man at the bar as the RSM he had spoken of. Myself (and daughter’s Pa in law) went up to the bar. I said to the tall chap ‘Hello I understand you used to be the RSM of SCOTS DG’. He said that was correct. He was about my age ( 50ish) at the time. Now we all know no-one of ANY rank, Trooper to Lt Colonel, ever forgets any RSM we ever served with yet this guy was a complete stranger to me. Not only that he but he claimed to have been RSM DURING my service! He got a bit agitated at my questions and turned away to talk to others he was with. My daughter’s Pa in law tapped him on the shoulder and said ‘David here was a Major in the SCOTS DG’. The guy looked like a rabbit caught in car headlights. I told him it was strange we had never met and asked him how that could be. No he hadn’t actually been RSM IN the Regiment he explained but had been ‘posted’ as RSM elsewhere in Scotland WHILST in SCOTS DG. ‘Oh so you were RSM at ERE’? I asked. He looked blank. I said I thought he was a fraud. I told him for that to have happened he must have served at least for a time as a senior rank at RD during my service and he would be known to me. His ‘friends’ looked on embarrassed and drifted away into the function room. He quickly slunk after them. The chap who had pointed him out to me stayed behind and asked if I was really a retired SCOTS DG Major. Others with me assured him that was so. He left to join the others in the next room. About 9pm the Burns Night revellers had a ‘loo’ break and I searched for the elusive ‘RSM’. Strangely he had gone missing.
I was going to follow the matter up but I heard on the grapevine he had resigned from whatever position he held in that group/club. Fortuna is a fickle mistress!