Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: normal rules on February 25, 2022, 06:21:30 pm
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Just curious to see how many veterans we have on here.
I served from 1986 to 1999. Royal Engineers.
Seen conflict. Iraq. Bosnia (x2)
Been shot at, numerous times.
Lost friends.
Seen death, up close and personal (lots)
My trigger finger is itching watching what is unfolding in Ukraine.
Under different circumstances I would be there to help. With my trusty LSW in Hand(a weapon sadly now decommissioned)
It’s just something that never leaves you.
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I was Royal Engineers 1974 to 1986 I know exactly what you mean! Sadly I'm only fit for the knackers yard but give me my smg back and I'd take a few out with it's incredible accuracy under 10 metres :lol: No it doesn't leave you
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Navy 90-99
Gulf and Bosnia
If they need anyone to parallel diesel generators or start gas turbines I'll get on my old ovies, n steaming bats. Not much call for guns down ships engine rooms.
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I was Royal Engineers 1974 to 1986 I know exactly what you mean! Sadly I'm only fit for the knackers yard but give me my smg back and I'd take a few out with it's incredible accuracy under 10 metres :lol: No it doesn't leave you
Smg. Wow. For the last five years I was our units weapon handling instructor. The SMG is best resigned to history. Accurate to 30 m at best. We did a firearms demo with it once where we draped a mannequin in an old wool army coat soaked in water.
The 9mm round from the smg failed to penetrate said coat. With repeated firing . Utterly useless in anything other than CQB.
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I was Royal Engineers 1974 to 1986 I know exactly what you mean! Sadly I'm only fit for the knackers yard but give me my smg back and I'd take a few out with it's incredible accuracy under 10 metres :lol: No it doesn't leave you
What unit RE were you DR.?
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I was Royal Engineers 1974 to 1986 I know exactly what you mean! Sadly I'm only fit for the knackers yard but give me my smg back and I'd take a few out with it's incredible accuracy under 10 metres :lol: No it doesn't leave you
What unit RE were you DR.?
I was a "Bandy" :) so was permanent staff at Chatham but toured round all RE units and been pissed in more squadron bars than I care to remember. active tours in NI and Falklands just after the main conflict. Secondary trade was hgv drivers hence smg being the personal weapon did Lionheart in 1980?? I feel sorry for the poor gits that were in the back when I was driving. Great laugh Wolfgang knew were we were before we did
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Ah Chatham. The birthplace of the chav and shell suit.
What was the name of the infamous nightclub just down the road fromRSME? Alcohol has dulled my memory .
Happy memories in the Cannon Pub.
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There was the dive bar downstairs in the pub opposite the pentagon centre Van Dam bar in the pentagon with the nightclub next door can't remember the name Van Dam used to have strippers on a dinner time used to be a laugh you would see the local secretary's/office juniors come in do a turn and then back to the office :)
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Was the club called Excalibur or similar?
In f at just checked , Excalibur was gillingham, just down the road.wild wild nights in there.
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Canon, Kg5, sawyers, beast in the earlier days there was the Army and Navy and the Royal Marine on the big Brompton roundabout they were always worth a scrap with the navy when the dockyard was open
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Gawd help you if the navy shore patrol picked you up and took you back to Brompton guardroom
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I spent a while on detachment with hq 3 cdo bde at Plymouth so I know all about dodging the shore patrol in Union St in Plymouth.
Happy days.
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Proper job and raf don’t belong in the same sentence. Lol
Just banter mate.
Respect.
You going tomorrow ? There’s a pint from me if you are there. I’ll be there with my lad.
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Proper job and raf don’t belong in the same sentence. Lol
Just banter mate.
Respect.
You going tomorrow ? There’s a pint from me if you are there. I’ll be there with my lad.
Thanks for the offer, but no I stopped going to away games after Scunny this season. But again thanks for the offer. And if there is one thing that I do miss it is the banter, hence proper job
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Never served my life took a different direction but I have the utmost respect for those who have served and protected this country of ours .
What I would say is that if any aggressor so much as stepped one inch in to this country I would fight you with my teeth if it was the only thing I had .
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Which hotels did you stay in :) :) :)
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Currently serving at 15 years, done most of my time in Germany, hence the name on here, but now back in the UK.
Made a real man of me moving to Germany at 21. Also had opportunities to go places and see things I never would have and this September I'm off to San Francisco.
Made life long friends and memories I'll never forget.
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Proper job and raf don’t belong in the same sentence. Lol
Just banter mate.
Respect.
You going tomorrow ? There’s a pint from me if you are there. I’ll be there with my lad.
Thanks for the offer, but no I stopped going to away games after Scunny this season. But again thanks for the offer. And if there is one thing that I do miss it is the banter, hence proper job
Why after scunny ?
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Currently serving at 15 years, done most of my time in Germany, hence the name on here, but now back in the UK.
Made a real man of me moving to Germany at 21. Also had opportunities to go places and see things I never would have and this September I'm off to San Francisco.
Made life long friends and memories I'll never forget.
Who you serving with GR? If u don’t mind me asking. Germany and SF is a bit of a leap.
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Typical Forces banter but REspect to all who have served no matter which arm you were all in! well actually im not sure about the Raf Regiment they were somewhat special :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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RAF Reg looked after the compound I spent 6 months of my life in. Winter 1997 Banja Luka Metal factory.
Good solid dependable blokes.
Great nights on the piss with them.
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Currently serving at 15 years, done most of my time in Germany, hence the name on here, but now back in the UK.
Made a real man of me moving to Germany at 21. Also had opportunities to go places and see things I never would have and this September I'm off to San Francisco.
Made life long friends and memories I'll never forget.
Who you serving with GR? If u don’t mind me asking. Germany and SF is a bit of a leap.
Int Corps. The green slime
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Currently serving at 15 years, done most of my time in Germany, hence the name on here, but now back in the UK.
Made a real man of me moving to Germany at 21. Also had opportunities to go places and see things I never would have and this September I'm off to San Francisco.
Made life long friends and memories I'll never forget.
A I said earlier I left in 86 I am still good friends with lots I served with and in touch with a lot of others as you say Lifelong Friends are made and characters made
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RAF Reg looked after the compound I spent 6 months of my life in. Winter 1997 Banja Luka Metal factory.
Good solid dependable blokes.
Great nights on the piss with them.
I know but don't let them hear you say that theres a reputation to keep up :)
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RAF Reg looked after the compound I spent 6 months of my life in. Winter 1997 Banja Luka Metal factory.
Good solid dependable blokes.
Great nights on the piss with them.
I know but don't let them hear you say that theres a reputation to keep up :)
RAF come in two forms.
1. RAF reg . Respect. Grafters. Front line. Proper soldiers.
2. The rest. Shiny arses. Nuff said.
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Currently serving at 15 years, done most of my time in Germany, hence the name on here, but now back in the UK.
Made a real man of me moving to Germany at 21. Also had opportunities to go places and see things I never would have and this September I'm off to San Francisco.
Made life long friends and memories I'll never forget.
Who you serving with GR? If u don’t mind me asking. Germany and SF is a bit of a leap.
Int Corps. The green slime
I didn’t realise there were spooks in SF. Had an RAF mate that flew drones from Nellis. But that’s miles away.
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Which hotels did you stay in :) :) :)
All of them!
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I had a proper job, I served in the RAF from Nov 76 - Apr 15
1st Gulf (Al Jubail), Bosnia (well Italy actually on the pizza, pasta red wine tours for Op Deny Flight, Defiant Falcon etc, Kosovo ( APOD Pristina), Saudi & Kuwait x many, Afghanistan x 2.
Would do it all again in a heart beat
Proper job and raf don’t belong in the same sentence. Lol
Just banter mate.
Respect.
You going tomorrow ? There’s a pint from me if you are there. I’ll be there with my lad.
Thanks for the offer, but no I stopped going to away games after Scunny this season. But again thanks for the offer. And if there is one thing that I do miss it is the banter, hence proper job
Why after scunny ?
Because of the fooking idiots that were masquerading as fans of the Rovers that day.
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Slightly off topic, my Grandads Brother was killed in WW1 at the Second Battle of Marne, he has no known grave and was posthumously awarded the Military Medal.
My late step father served in the Navy in WW2 on the Algerine Class of Minesweepers, sweeping off the coast of Italy, Malta and Libya, I have his medals and service records
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RAF Reg looked after the compound I spent 6 months of my life in. Winter 1997 Banja Luka Metal factory.
Good solid dependable blokes.
Great nights on the piss with them.
I know but don't let them hear you say that theres a reputation to keep up :)
RAF come in two forms.
1. RAF reg . Respect. Grafters. Front line. Proper soldiers.
2. The rest. Shiny arses. Nuff said.
Not RAF Regt but spent more time in the field than they did with my time doing outdoor comms for the RAF.
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RAF Reg looked after the compound I spent 6 months of my life in. Winter 1997 Banja Luka Metal factory.
Good solid dependable blokes.
Great nights on the piss with them.
I know but don't let them hear you say that theres a reputation to keep up :)
RAF come in two forms.
1. RAF reg . Respect. Grafters. Front line. Proper soldiers.
2. The rest. Shiny arses. Nuff said.
Not RAF Regt but spent more time in the field than they did with my time doing outdoor comms for the RAF.
So you are sigs?
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Navy 90-99
Gulf and Bosnia
If they need anyone to parallel diesel generators or start gas turbines I'll get on my old ovies, n steaming bats. Not much call for guns down ships engine rooms.
Mate. Your service is valued. Respected and not forgotten. Every person counts.
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Navy 90-99
Gulf and Bosnia
If they need anyone to parallel diesel generators or start gas turbines I'll get on my old ovies, n steaming bats. Not much call for guns down ships engine rooms.
Mate. Your service is valued. Respected and not forgotten. Every person counts.
Every person that signed that blank cheque that could be up to and including their life for the freedom we now enjoy
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Served from 02-11 in the RAF fixing aircraft. Still doing the same. Enjoyed my time in. Numerous Afghan tours.
Feel for the Ukrainian people and would hope we would all stand up if the same happened here.
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Ex-RAF 1965-91 , last meaningful tour at MOD during Gulf War One , Mrs HR ex-WRAF , youngest son ex-RAF and a family of military service as far back at Waterloo mainly in the Royal Artillery . Both my parents served in the RAF , father-in-law on minesweepers WW2 , three grandads fought in and survived WW1
Whilst on holiday in Nashville a couple of years ago , went to the Grand Old Opry where they celebrated a Veteran's night and the response from the audience to the veterans in attendance was amazing ! Included in the show was a performance from the Musicorps Wounded Warriors Band
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Royal Navy for me, 1980-2005. 20 of those years at sea. Deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and the Falklands x4, plus many others.
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Respect to all who served
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RAF 87-06, mostly flying a desk. I was “lucky” not to be deployed to any conflict zones. I use quote marks as this wasn’t by choice, more by of coincidence of postings to units which weren’t directly involved at the times. The most interesting job I had in the UK which would be classed as operational, I can’t discuss the details.
I’m not necessarily advocating compulsory national service but I reckon society would benefit if more of our folks had a forces experience.
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Has anyone served in the special forces.
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I served 9 years RAF regt, 79 to 88.
5 tours in N Ireland and a two year stint in Cyprus.
Never had the vitriol and downright ignorant nonsense the chaps get now off of other units.
Great to hear some positive feedback off chaps who actually worked around the regiment.
I’m a Cold War warrior, so they’d have to dig out an SLR for me if those ruskis ever came calling.
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Interesting read this lads, respect, & a little bit of envy, to you all.
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23 years RN - 1985 to 2008 leaving as a PO Stoker. Various ships, type 22s, Survey, Assault, Sweepers. Gulf, Former Yugoslavia. Shoretime in Gibraltar, Falklands, PJHQ Northwood as well as Pompey, Guzz, Faslane/Rosyth
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I served 9 years RAF regt, 79 to 88.
5 tours in N Ireland and a two year stint in Cyprus.
Never had the vitriol and downright ignorant nonsense the chaps get now off of other units.
Great to hear some positive feedback off chaps who actually worked around the regiment.
I’m a Cold War warrior, so they’d have to dig out an SLR for me if those ruskis ever came calling.
Worked daily with the RAF Regiment during the posting I can’t discuss. Some characters there I can tell you.
I remember the first time I shot with the SLR, on the range. Very first round slap bang in the centre of the little white square on the target board. However I had underestimated the strength of the recoil and got whacked on the eye socket by the rear sight. My grouping was shocking that day..
Although I did armed duties I thankfully never had to shoot at anyone in anger.
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I served 9 years RAF regt, 79 to 88.
5 tours in N Ireland and a two year stint in Cyprus.
Never had the vitriol and downright ignorant nonsense the chaps get now off of other units.
Great to hear some positive feedback off chaps who actually worked around the regiment.
I’m a Cold War warrior, so they’d have to dig out an SLR for me if those ruskis ever came calling.
Worked daily with the RAF Regiment during the posting I can’t discuss. Some characters there I can tell you.
I remember the first time I shot with the SLR, on the range. Very first round slap bang in the centre of the little white square on the target board. However I had underestimated the strength of the recoil and got whacked on the eye socket by the rear sight. My grouping was shocking that day..
Although I did armed duties I thankfully never had to shoot at anyone in anger.
I've never served but I've had a similar experience. Had time in a range with a Steyr 50-cal rifle. As you, the first shot was bang centre. But the recoil was like the end of the world. I didn't hit a target after that because I knew I was getting kicked in the shoulder by a deranged mule every time I pulled the trigger.
Hats off to people who can operate those items while under fire. It's as far beyond my ken as understanding how a batsman can face a 95mph bowler and make rational and well executed strokes.
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The RAF Reg were always brilliant to be around. Whether it be a day on the range, or pre op training.
Lots of operational experience amongst them, lots of stories and funny put downs.
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Still in the RAF, joined in 2010, got 10 years left for my sins. RAF Reg get a bad rep sometimes but I’ve never had any drama with them (well maybe one or two)
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Always find the stories fascinating in good and bad ways. My old man did 22 in the navy and I had many a childhood trip out on family days etc and some time living at bases. I always wanted to join but the health restrictions killed that off.
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Has anyone served in the special forces.
I was on the balcony along with 9589 others I was at the back so you couldnt see me :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
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Ex RE- 1985 -1995
Gone full circle, now teach at 1 RSME,Chatham, teaching young (and old) RE`s how to kill themselves with electricity.
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Ex RE- 1985 -1995
Gone full circle, now teach at 1 RSME,Chatham, teaching young (and old) RE`s how to kill themselves with electricity.
Did you start out at Chepstow or Gib Barracks ?
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Ex RE- 1985 -1995
Gone full circle, now teach at 1 RSME,Chatham, teaching young (and old) RE`s how to kill themselves with electricity.
Did you start out at Chepstow or Gib Barracks ?
85c Chepstow (E Coy)
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Ex RE- 1985 -1995
Gone full circle, now teach at 1 RSME,Chatham, teaching young (and old) RE`s how to kill themselves with electricity.
Did you start out at Chepstow or Gib Barracks ?
85c Chepstow (E Coy)
I was 86-88.
Lived in the block next to the NAAFI. 89 sqn.
Surveyor.
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Ex RE- 1985 -1995
Gone full circle, now teach at 1 RSME,Chatham, teaching young (and old) RE`s how to kill themselves with electricity.
Did you start out at Chepstow or Gib Barracks ?
85c Chepstow (E Coy)
I was 86-88.
Lived in the block next to the NAAFI. 89 sqn.
Surveyor.
Bloody sprogs Southwood Camp rules :lol: I was attached to the Aldershot Band when we moved from Southwood to Gib hated it frightened to death to touch anything luckily back to my own unit after a couple of weeks there
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Royal engineers 2003 - 09 for me. Did my stint at chatham (the nightclub was called the zone while i was there) and did 4 years at 28 engr regt in hameln (where the pied piper comes from) in Germany.
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Royal engineers 2003 - 09 for me. Did my stint at chatham (the nightclub was called the zone while i was there) and did 4 years at 28 engr regt in hameln (where the pied piper comes from) in Germany.
Amphibious.? Or was that 35 engr regt?
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No it was my regiment, it was actually my squadron - 23 amphibious engineer squadron. I spent many a cold day on the river weser doing ramping out drills. It was a lovely part of the world hameln, very clean and the people were friendly enough. I remember every year a local would dress as the pied piper and little kids would be following him round dressed as rats. There was also a tower (or maybe a church?) And when the clock struck the hour this pied piper would come out like on a cuckoo clock play a little tune on his pied pipe and go back in again. I remember seeing that as a 20 year old wondering what was going on then thinking ah well, im off to get pi55ed in alladdins. Good times.
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No it was my regiment, it was actually my squadron - 23 amphibious engineer squadron. I spent many a cold day on the river weser doing ramping out drills. It was a lovely part of the world hameln, very clean and the people were friendly enough. I remember every year a local would dress as the pied piper and little kids would be following him round dressed as rats. There was also a tower (or maybe a church?) And when the clock struck the hour this pied piper would come out like on a cuckoo clock play a little tune on his pied pipe and go back in again. I remember seeing that as a 20 year old wondering what was going on then thinking ah well, im off to get pi55ed in alladdins. Good times.
M3 or m4 rigs?
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All these RE Vets on here :) Was the "Icebox" still about in youre days? I think it was a 28 bar! once met a lass in there turned out her hubby was a right villain and in prison lets say I was glad i wasnt there when he came out :) I could well have ended up in the Weser with concrete boots on
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RAF also - 24 years man and boy. Lucky enough to have served most my time overseas - 3 year tours in Germany twice (Gutersloh and Bruggen), The Netherlands (AFCENT - Brunssum) and Denmark (CAOC - Finderup). Also managed to squeeze in tours in the Falklands, Gulf 1, and Pristina on operational tours and did loads of detachments in Cyprus and the States. I did manage to do a tour at Finningley back at the start of my career and enjoyed two Air shows at DN9.
I still work with the RAF, but think that I left at the right time - it's a different force today IMO...
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Royal engineers 2003 - 09 for me. Did my stint at chatham (the nightclub was called the zone while i was there) and did 4 years at 28 engr regt in hameln (where the pied piper comes from) in Germany.
Did my B1 cbt engr in Hameln CETC, spent plenty of time at Ravelin overlooking the riggies mt park building bridges etc. Shadows was the nightclub of choice then(1990).
The Zone (previously Joanna’s!) changed its name numerous times over the years(preach amongst others) is now closed and has been for a few years.
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Aye them bridges were summat else. Youd be sweating like a pregnant nun, helmet slipping all over the place, beasting them together in a race with another troop.
I did my a1 brickies course back in chatham and i used to do my driving lessons around the priestfield stadium. The nightclub was called preachers by that point ( or creatures as we used to call it).
I remember we always used to start off in the viscount hardinage and there used to be a pub down on the medway called the command house that did a blue night on the first monday of every month ive seen some sights in there i tell thee lol.
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No it was my regiment, it was actually my squadron - 23 amphibious engineer squadron. I spent many a cold day on the river weser doing ramping out drills. It was a lovely part of the world hameln, very clean and the people were friendly enough. I remember every year a local would dress as the pied piper and little kids would be following him round dressed as rats. There was also a tower (or maybe a church?) And when the clock struck the hour this pied piper would come out like on a cuckoo clock play a little tune on his pied pipe and go back in again. I remember seeing that as a 20 year old wondering what was going on then thinking ah well, im off to get pi55ed in alladdins. Good times.
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M3 or m4 rigs?
They were m3 rigs. I cant remember a bar called the icebox although my memory of the mid to late 2000's is hazy to say the least. I did do a stint as squadron barman - €1 for a can of stella and 50 cent per shot or bottle of becks. Imagine them prices nowadays!