Post NCO

David Thomas · Post NCO

Hi Ken, I was thinking today, as one does occasionally, of the time I took my turn as NAAFI NCO, going to Wolfenbuttle each morning, collecting the mail and rations, and running the bar in the evening. There was a guy whose full time job was supervising the bar, I think his name was Vince Regan. As far as I can remember he was not an operator, I think it more likely he was part of the MT. Do you remember him? Can you confirm what his ‘proper’ job might have been. All the best. Dave T.

ken vipond

Hi David,oh i can remember Vince Regan,i am still in touch with Vince on a regular basis,Vince was part of the M.T. group but did various jobs like Ration truck,postman and local stud,i was best man at Vince,s first wedding to a lassie from Lelm,in fact you might remember Vince,s wifes sister,she was a reall stunner called Ziggie,Ziggie still lives in Lelm and her husband i think is the Burgermiester.Vince now lives in Wolfesburg with his new partener Anni,they are both retired now after a long and successful working life at V/W.A couple of years back at one of the Konigslutter reunions Vince took our little group on a tour of V/W at Wolfsburg and we had a fantastic day with Vince knowing all the ins and outs and speaking German like he never knew any other language,a cracking fellow and someone that i am proud to call my friend,hope that answers your Q.best regards from Ken

David Thomas

Cheers Ken, I thought you might know him. In fact you were discussing the VW trip with Stu when we were at Chester, but I didn't realise the guy who took you around was Vince. Small World isn't it. All the best. Dave T

GerryK · Post NCO

I knew Vince even before Langeleben. Both he and Harry Housley(also MT), served thier apprenticeships at the same engineering company as I did. Metropolitan-Vickers in Trafford Park Manchester. I never returned to engineering, Harry did for a short while until he started his own driving school. Vince used his aquired skills in the power station at VW.

GerryK · Post NCO

Further to my last post, how many Posties can you remember?
I can start with Doc Clarke (RAMC attached), Hughie McErlaine, Jim Husband, Fraser Putt, Frank Mitchell, Jim Bisset, plus one more I cant put a name to !! Any advance? Question

paul croxson

Posties??
When I was there letters were delivered by bare foot native bearers carrying forked sticks. How things have changed

Bob Wells

Paul did you say letters? They must have been the things my mother said I never wrote

paul croxson

I hadn't realised before Bob that you could write!
I don't recall you EVER filling in a log sheet. You were much too important for those sort of things. Talking of log sheets, do you recalkl Mick Bailey who usd to write beautifully - a sort of italic. I am always asking about him and the rape charge but have never got to the bottom of it. We shared a tent as you may recall

Bob Wells

Paul I recall that we had a conversation regarding Mick way back in 2006. I was under the impression that he returned to Sheffield when he left Germany.

Bob

peter jones

Hi Paul, If I'm not mistaken, it was Mick BELL who was charged with rape. The day I left 1 wireless in May 1956 I wished him well; prior to his impending court case. He was sat on his bed playing his guitar and seemed quite cheerful. Like you, I've never heard any more about it since then.

kerby

Hi to the mid fifties troop. Thought I had better log in to add to those of you from 55/56. What memories. Keith ps sorry its short but I am at work.

paul croxson

thanks Peter but it wasn't 'Bell'. All of this happened in April/may 1955 as by 1956 I certainly wasn't sharing a tent with anyone sadly. (I loved them in the Spring and Summer with the flaps tied back) Bob, I think is right and he did tell me. Frankly when talking to Bob it was either at the Konigslutter or Loughborough Hotel and my memory does fade when alcohol is present which it is invariably so there.
Perhaps it was the same girl luring both innocent squaddies into accusations of foul deeds. Mike Bailey ceratinly wasn't guilty! I think it was Bob who told me that the accusations were finally withdrawn due to public pressure from the 'locals'.
Thinking back to the tents. One thing they didn't have was that wonderful aroma that the billets eventually had. Redolent of fearsome farts, fags, beer and unwashed bodies, not to mention boots and socks. I can almost recall it, coming back in after a mid - 8am.
Another bit of Langeleben folklore I recall was a nearby village which we were warned against entering as there was widespread secondary syphalis present. I do vaguely recall there were some extremely funny looking people around when we drove through (probably hoilding our breath).
Keith, hello. I have also just remembered those stainless steel buckets of tea brought round to wake one up before defending the free world. They must have been at 4am since we had far more important things to drink at other times.

Bob Wells

Hi Pete The name Mick Bell struck a chord and set me searching through my old photograph album, there I found a photograph of the Mick Bell I knew when I was at Munster. I think we were on the same watch as the photo looked like one of those day off photographs. What I do remember about Mick is that he was an artist.

Bob 1954/59

Mike Hudson · Post NCO

Dewi Cariad, I hope you have taken note of the reactions to your simple question.A positive answer from the Viper and then all Hell breaks loose, great isn't it?
When 225 moved in we poor Spec Ops never did the run to Wolfenbuttel but did man the switchboard, which originally was one of the old 'Plug in Plug out' types. On my sojourns in there I got on famously with a husky voiced wench at t'other end (Wolf) named Christine. She had a voice that would have raised something on the dead, pure(?) velvet.
To cut a long story short Terry Tarring, a good mate and I arranged to meet her and a friend at the Tetzelstein. A Beetle pulled up and two lasses got out, one was slim blonde and gorgeous t'other was porcine and hirsute. I say no more and that type of luckstill prevails.
A certain Acting Singleman Shoreland did run the Sgts Mess Bar with help from yours truly and equally I the Kinema with him. Those were the days my friend. To quote Joel Grey in Caberet, Money makes the Vorld go around and it did. Forgive us Father for we have sinned but what the heck!!
Twisted Evil

David Thomas

Hi Mike, Great to see you back and in such fine fettle. Yes it is wonderful how these topics of our evolve, when putting up a new idea, it is never possible to predict what they’re going to lead to. Your story of the delectable telephonist Christine from Wolfenbuttle puts me in mind of Sally Traffic on the Radio 2 Terry Wogan show. She has a wonderful voice with dulcet tones to die for; but I believe a figure which in these politically correct times is probably known as “fuller”. All the best, Dave T.

Mike Hudson · Post NCO

Dewi, Cariad I am far from being in in full ow't but what the heck. The sensual Sally Boazman, a voice like I imagine Marlene's to be, deep and seductive but look at her on either he website or the BBC one and view her in t'bath. By Gum, a reet comely wench, there's BIG and there's Comely and said wench is 'Reet Comely'.
My lusts, however, are shared twixt 'The Splot Tottie' Lynn Bowles and Bobbie Pryor, the ex Invicta Lass. Forgive me Father for I am going to SIN, WITH A BIT OF LUCK and a can of Robin STARCH.
To your left, right, reach and press, OFG&G Embarassed

Mike Hudson · Post NCO

Dewi, Cariad, dare I correct you but after being blown from Lane 1 to Lane 3 and back again, I think I dare ow't.
The curvacious Ms Boazman is a Reet Comely Wench but not a 'TOG' wench. The sensuosly lustable Hot Splottie Hottie is noy the Wogan wench. Lynne Bowles, I love you, a mucky chuckle, to me a wench to lust after but then an outsider.
Bobbie Pryor, the lass that fills in when t'others are unavailable is 'Sensuous', I have heard her before on I think 'Radio Victa' but my memory is amiss.
I even have' Shorep' as being good looking, SORRY GOT TO GO . i CAnnt type IN A straiGHT jACKeT
Ow'D PhaRT ...................

Hi Mike, Great to see you back and in such fine fettle. Yes it is wonderful how these topics of our evolve, when putting up a new idea, it is never possible to predict what they’re going to lead to. Your story of the delectable telephonist Christine from Wolfenbuttle puts me in mind of Sally Traffic on the Radio 2 Terry Wogan show. She has a wonderful voice with dulcet tones to die for; but I believe a figure which in these politically correct times is probably known as “fuller”. All the best, Dave T.

David Thomas

Hi Mike, I have no wish to distract you from your lane weaving on the M6, I just trust you’ve not got calls in or north of Cumbria. With your chosen trade of white van driver, you undoubtedly spend many hours a week listening to your radio, so I must bow to your superior knowledge with regards to the delectable ladies. I usually listen to Radio 4, except for when Gardeners Question Time comes on. I can put up with Womans Hour, the Morning Service and look forward to the afternoon play, but not GQT, that really has to be the pits. I’m up in Scotland Sunday through to Thursday, so things will be a bit quite from this part of the world. All the best. Dave T.

marleneandgypo

Hi everyone

I was just thinking this as well, glad to see our Mike back even if he and Pete Shoreland seem to have invented a kind of Esperanto all their own Wink

Also as you say wonderful to watch a topic evolve.

I know what you guys did at Langeleben was top secret and involved radios but I didn't think in my wildest dreams that the radio work involved Woman's Hour and Terry Wogan! There was me thinking I was a NAAFI girl for a team of heroes at their radio stations protecting the likes of little old me who was busy making lots of butties and cups of tea to keep up your strength and you are sat with your feet up listening to Women's Hour?

Mike Hudson · Post NCO

Dewi, Cariad, I tend to listen to Radio 2 until Wogan has finished and then switch to a 'Talking Book'. Wonderful, for anyone who has never tried the 'Talking Books' on either Tape or CD THEN DO SO! Trust me, you will enjoy listening to books / authors that you would never consider reading but will enjoy, totally, listening to.
Nos Da, OFG&G

shorep

IF Bob Wells still writes in this age of rampant chinese produced technology I should hope he uses a 2H pencil like he made me use and therefore put the Biro factory on short time

Bob Wells

I have to admit I still use a 2H pencil. Not for log pads but now it's a shopping list.
Some of you out there may remember Paddy Rogers, he didn't go to Germany but instead he was posted to Cyprus around 1956/57. Whilst in training he met up with Geoff Pearce. They became good friends, letters where exchanged but like a lot of us contact was lost.
Now I happened to be looking at the photographs from 1957 and there was one of Geoff with an unknown Scouse, who I'm almost certain was Jimmy Dunn. The only other piece of information I have regarding Geoff is that he came from Dagenham.
Do any of you old soldiers know the whereabouts of Geoff ?

By the way I'd have written this a lot quicker than it's taken me to type it

Bob 1954/59

paul croxson

Bob,
Its an odd thing but I still use 2H which I buy by the box every 5 or so years (and with a chisel point too). I wonder where I picked up that habit? I think it might have been Mike Bailey whose log sheets were, for their time, almost works of art.
By the way, when did you learn to write? That's news to me.
Look forward to seeing you again next month. Take care & Look after yourself! Not many of us left.

paul croxson

Funny old thing - this memory business. Bob writing about 2H pencils suddenly reminded me that in Christmas 1955 I was given the job of writing all the unit Christmas cards, a job I think that Gordon inherited a year or so later. Fifty years on ... who on earth did the 'Unit' send them to?

Gordon

Not quite, Paul. The CO of 34 LAA regt RA, Sheerness, decided that each Battery should keep a haircut register. This was the job that fell to me. I managed to spin it out, together with amendments to Queen's Regulations, until - O happy day! - I was transferred to the Russian course. Do you think my lovingly penned haircut register is preserved somewhere in the Ministry of Defence?

Gordon

Tom Neal

Hello Bob,
I was on watch with Geoff Pearce, Eggy Beavers and others.
The last time I saw him was in November 1960 on the way back from Cyprus with George Girling and we were on one of the London stations when Geoff came dashing up, had a few words with us but was late for some meeting or other and could not stay to talk.
I was also with Paddy Rogers in Cyprus and a few years ago he turned up at one of the Langeleben reunions in Loughborough. He was only there for a short time and I do not think he is a member but he did not live too far away from Loughborough so if you track him down he may still be able to help with Geoff.
Tom

Bob Wells

Hi Tom
Thanks for the info. Slowly but surely I'm making progress in trying to track Geoff down.

Bob

GerryK · Paddy Rogers

Info for Tom and Bob, its likely that you may get Paddy,s details from Dave Geere or Ben Banyard. He definitely is residing in Lough ( Dishley or Thorpe Acre) Saw him a few months ago in town, dashing for a bus.
Gerry K.

Bob Wells

Hi Jerry

Paddy lives over at Stone in Staffordshire, I spoke to him last week. Geoff is the one we are trying to track down.

Bob

BrianK · In search of Geoff Pearce....................

It may be of some interest that the last time I saw Geoff was at Len Hill's 21st in '59. Quite a few of us old A Watch hands were invited. I believe those included were Eggy Beevers, Geoff, Jock Cunnion, and here I may be mistaken, but Bill Bowles may have attended. Of course the idea of a reunion on a yearly basis was floated but like many good ideas at the time nothing happened. Its takes rather a special person to organise one of these things, step forward Frank Mitchell!! I digress a little when, in my opinion of course, I say, if Frank's name is not on this commemerative stone/tablet/whatever it will be a travesty of justice! IMO of course.
Back to the search for Geoff. Anybody thought of contacting the Barking & Dagenham Post? A human interest story for them I would have thought. You know the kind of thing, long lost mate from the fifties etc etc. Thats how Frank found me as a matter of fact in Oct.'96.
Going back to Len. After his party he came up here (Grimsby) to live and stayed with me for a couple of years. He got married just after me and we still kept in touch but he went back to London and then the Christmas cards etc stopped. Tried to find him but nothing transpired. Even dear old Frank had a go. I've tried recently but had no luck so I wish you well in your search for Geoff.......................

GerryK · Paddy Rogers

Sorry Bob, my mistake. Was thinking about Paddy Porter.

Bob Wells · Seeking Geoff

Many thanks Brian, next stop 'Barking and Dagenham Post'

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Paddy Rogers

In search of Geoff Pearce....................

Paddy Rogers

Seeking Geoff