Fire up the QM 2

who landed in Normandy in June 1944 with the 43rd and served in France, The Netherlands and Germany. Captain Robert Drummond Hay, then delivered the Act of Remembrance:

“This day we remember all those who served in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry since 1741; those who passed through their basic training on this site and in particular the 5,878 soldiers of the Regiment who gave their lives in the First World War and the 1408 in the Second, as well as those who fell in other conflicts and with its successor regiments, The Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles”. A wreath was then laid by Corporal Reg Charles.

Former Corporal Roy Bailey then gave a lighthearted but very faithful recollection of his time as a National Service Recruit at Cowley Barracks in the 1950s, prior to deploying on operations during the Cyprus Emergency. The last of many of the bugle calls of the afternoon sounded by Bugle Major Phillip King of the Oxfordshire (The Rifles) Battalion, Army Cadet Force, and Rifleman James Howard of the 7 Rifles Bugles Platoon, was appropriately “No More Parades”.

Veterans then visited the small plaque mounted on the original boundary wall retained in the campus development, on Holloway. This was placed to remind passing citizens of Oxford of their connection with this historic site and their regiment and the sacrifice of so many of local soldiers who gave their lives to safeguard the freedom that they enjoy. Thus, ended a memorable and evocative day, especially for those veterans who had experienced the rigours of basic training in Cowley Barracks. Hopefully, the memorials and the mural will also attract the interest of generations of students in the regiment’s history and indeed in the possibility of serving with The Rifles.

Finally, great credit is due to Major Terry Roper MBE TD, who initially had the inspiration to commemorate the regiment at its old Depot and then the drive to bring it to fruition.

(Again my apologies to Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes)

Another gritty roller coaster ride of action.

Don’t cha just love surprises? Well maybe only the nice ones which this one was as the love of my life sprung one on me one morning “We need a break - so pack your bags we are sailing to New York for Chrimbo on the good ship Lollipop or the Queen Mary 2 as its known these days”. The 2nd surprise which was considerably less nice than the first, was that we would be going in just a few days’ time! Jeez! The deviousness of the fairer sex can be breath taking! luckily no as a quick massage from security proves I am not carrying anything untoward and we are let through.

At last we get on board and find that our cabin is ok if you don’t have a cat to swing about. Whilst unpacking we hear the ships horn giving it like an elephant with colic which means that at long last we are on our way. Whey hey! Unfortunately it’s going to be a long 7 day journey, icebergs permitting of course.

Fortunately we (or I should say me) can pass the time watching all the dancing girls in the shows along with the odd singer, and I do mean odd if you get my drift, and of course eating and drinking and then more eating and drinking.

On Sunday the 15th December we arrive at Southampton docks only to find our departure delayed by strong winds blowing the air bridge about. Of course the old fashioned gangway from the quayside to the ship could have been used but as the tide comes in you need crampons, ice picks and ropes just to get up the steep incline. And let’s be honest that’s not a dignified way for a QM2 passenger to embark is it?

After handing our bags over to a porter it was off to passenger check-in. Hand luggage and anything metal into a tray and through the Xray machine. Its then my turn and would you Adam and Eve it the bloody thing goes “Errrgghh! Errrgggh! Errrgggh! as I walk through. The thought goes through my mind “is it rubber gloves time?” but In between one of our eating sessions we decided to have a limp round the deck. I’ve taken to having to use a walking stick as the old legs have started to play up but hey! even Rolf Harris had an extra leg but let’s not dwell on that as his name is as toxic as Gary Glitter’s!

We are now in the North Atlantic, its bloody cold with heavy snow and windy enough to blow my wig off! Having trouble even standing due to the strength of the wind and I think my eyeballs are about to freeze. Even the brass monkey has gone in for a brandy, yes folks its damn cold.

Walking around the ship I bump into Simon Weston (Falklands Campaign) and have a few words with him. The following day I find he is giving a talk as part of the ships ‘entertainment’ about what happened to him in the Falklands and what he has been up to since - all very interesting. Two day later he gives another talk about the same thing. This gives me the idea that there must

be a few other veterans on board the old tub. So I organise a meeting via the ships ‘activities system’ in one of the bars. About 25 turn up, the eldest being in his late 80s so it’s a case of pull up a sand bag and tell war stories for the evening –a good night all in all. I then ask Cunard if they can put out a memo to the whole ship that there will be a Veterans Group photo by the ships Christmas tree. Unfortunately good old Cunard managed to time it at the same time as guess what? Yep! Simon Weston giving yet another talk about you know what. Unfortunately therefore only 4 turned up including me but that’s a Brick and we told a few stories and had the photo taken. On one of the ships shows was Bernie Flint the comedian from Opportunity Knocks who I thought had died years ago. Anyway it turns out he had been in the Navy with one of my drivers - well that little nugget really made my trip worthwhile –not!

At last and after a week on this floating café I’ve had enough but there in sight at last is Noo York! We made it and not an iceberg anywhere in sight! We disembark, find our cases, talk to a nice customs guy (not) and out we go. At last the BIG APPLE but yeah what a let-down as we have to wait for almost an hour for our ‘pre-arranged’ cab. Not a good impression or start to our holiday when you are in the business yourself!

The hotel is ok, just, and we are put on the 26th floor where we can see aircraft going by. At least I hope they are! We had asked for two single beds in our room but find it’s a double so I have to limp to reception to tell them why I had requested this. In the telling they suss me out and ask if I’m a veteran. Yes I am say I and we end up with a bigger room, two king sized beds, mini bar and free Wi-Fi! This wasn’t the only act of kindness to veterans I found during our trip. In fact the marvellous thing was that despite being a UK Limey I was treated with the same respect as their own veterans. Wherever we went throughout our trip we were thanked for the service to our country and to America and found many of the tourist hotspots are free entry for us old farts, sorry Veterans. I wish it was like this back home.

Anyway Times Square is just a short walk away and also the Rockefeller Building so we decide to do the TOP OF THE ROCK TOUR. I’ve still got my Green Blazer with badge and regimental tie on so its ‘assistance’ all the way and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR!

After a coffee and scoff, its back to the hotel, unpack a bit, find the tea bags and a welcome brew then it’s off again to discover the BIG APPLE That’s if the lift can make it to our floor! Walking about and shopping is a treat (not), police all over the place, winos, crack heads and the down and outs all over the place. Day 1 done!

Up early on day 2, coffee and a bun in a local coffee shop on 7th Avenue and we are set for the day, they really do big buns here! Then it’s off to the Empire State Building to see if there was a big ape hanging from it. This particular building has featured in over 250 films since 1931 but King Kong was undoubtedly the best. We then decide

a quick scoff in an Irish bar, a brew and a gonk till morning.

Ground Zero and Survivor Tree

to walk to Ground Zero the site of the Twin Towers to pay our respects. I take the map but have one of those officer moments and get lost - so it’s a cab instead. This is one of three visits to the site we do in our short time in New York because it’s way too much to absorb in one go. Christmas Eve is just another day in New York and we are up early (some kinda holiday this is). Today we are off to see the USS Intrepid an aircraft carrier that is now a floating museum. We decide to walk there by using the map but yet again a potential officer gene (not) kicked in and once again we got lost. However on the way we come across a fire station where we met a number of guys involved in the 9/11 shout. They had lost several members of their crew in the Twin Towers collapse, but firemen being firemen were still willing to pose for a photo in front of the plaques on their station wall in honour their dead work mates.

The actual memorial itself is based on the footings of both towers and when told how many people had died there I can understand perfectly why America declared open warfare on terrorism in general. Surprisingly one tree survived the carnage (Callery Pear) and was taken away and kept healthy until it could be replanted back into the soil of Ground Zero in 2010. Its name is now known as The Survivor Tree.

From here we take a boat trip to Liberty Island to see what all the fuss is about with this extremely large green woman with a torch. We return as night time falls and we get off the boat only to find we have got over an hour wait for our coach to take us back. No way were we going to wait that long in the cold so we get the local state run ferry back at a fraction of the price. We get off and are close to Wall Street so we have a quick coffee and decide to go back to Ground Zero for a night visit as it kinda takes your breath away in darkness. After that short train ride back to our hotel, We stumble on our way and taking our lives in our hands trying to cross small roads the size of the M3 finally make it to the Intrepid. My wife has to pay, but yet again as I’m a British Veteran there is no charge. I won’t bore you with all the details of what’s on the ship as you can see it all on the inter -web on your computer thingy. However I have to say it’s very well presented and extremely well looked after. There is even a small bit of England is there in the shape of a British Airways Concorde. God bless her!

where this time we go into the museum. It’s very well done and takes you through the events of the day from initial phone calls to the fire service, radio messages between fire departments, civilian phone calls and TV reports of the day. Some of the film footage we didn’t see here in the UK and its harrowing watching it and listening to all the calls for help. The museum is set over the foundations of the Twin Towers and behind one wall are the reposed remains of some of the people that had perished - their bodies never to be found. A stairway is still there where a lot of people made it out also the wreckage of a fire truck where its crew were killed. In total 2605 people died of which 343 were fire fighters and 71 police officers. Correct me if I’m wrong but it’s all from memory. but I’m sure he knew I was there, and I WILL visit it again.

The Lincoln Memorial is a sight to see as is all the war memorials in and around the cemetery. A whole day could be spent visiting this place alone. Today I have decided to wear my green blazer with badge. A passing American Marine stops me for a chat, it turns out he has just come back from Tokyo on a posting. What in hell he is doing there God only knows but I thought it best I didn’t ask. After a quick photo and another THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY we part. Different countries, same job, just soldiers.

As a soldier you more often than not expect this to happen to you but not to an office worker never to go home and see their family again. RIP all of them.

For us the day is now at an end, tomorrow is the day an old fat guy with a white beard dressed in red tries to squeeze down your chimney. Yes it’s Father Christmas and like me only c**es sorry visits once a year!

Up at ‘sparrows’ on Christmas morning as we have a coach to catch at 7am for a tour around Washington. During our slow walk to where we catch the coach we quickly realise that in New York it’s just another day. Everything is open so we decide to have another quick coffee and a scoff and then catch the coach for the 3½ hour drive to DC. One of the memorials that did haunt me was the Korean War Memorial which depicts a patrol of American GIs. No matter which angle you are looking at this memorial one of the guys is looking at you. Bit spooky that but so cleverly done.

Our first stop on arrival is Arlington National Cemetery where the remains of over 400,000 military and other high profile dignitaries from a Private to a President from the USA and 11 other countries are buried. I have been to many war grave cemeteries all over the world but this one has to be the largest I have ever seen. Because it was an official tour I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to pay my respects to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier We also take in the White House but can’t get round the front for security reasons. Around the back there is a new stronger fence being installed. The place is guarded by loads of police as you can imagine. I find me a quiet spot where no tourists are to get a photo. After a few minutes I am approached by a big guy in sun glasses dressed in a dark suit. No he’s not from the film Men in Black but a special agent assigned to guard the Presi-

dent. It seems his attention was caught by the way I was dressed with a regimental badge on the blazer. “I’m a veteran from The Royal Green Jackets, British Army mate” I inform him. He had surprisingly heard of the Regiment and after a bit of a chat he like everyone else had done thanked me for my service. He then says something to a little guy who seems to be up the sleeve of his jacket and without a shot being fired he bids me a safe journey. Nice guy but wouldn’t want to upset him.

Anyway as we have time on our hands we decide to have a little more scoff before we get our coach back to the BIG APPLE. We stop at the Hard Rock Café which is almost opposite where Lincoln died. ! I decided I would like to try a burger American style, After enough burger to choke an elephant it’s back on the coach for the long journey back to the hotel. It’s been a good day and Arlington will stick in my memory for a long time.

We near New York and it’s packed like the M25 on a Monday morning, not like Christmas day at all. Hotel, brew, pack ready for our flight back to the UK in the morning and sleep!

Fire up that Boeing 747!

Tiny A.

BITS AND PIECES Part 2

MARCH THE NEXT ONE IN SERJEANT MAJOR!

Support Company 1 RGJ Girdwood Park 1977. Mutley (as we in the Int Section named him) walked in one day and stayed.

Mutley was a very friendly dog and useful to have around. When Company Commander, Major Nick Jenkins, went on R&R he stood in for him. SWIFT AND BOLD TANKER

The tanker was spotted at Southampton docks.

Swift & Bold Transport Ltd is owned and operated by Dean Lawrence ex 2RGJ.