of us had any reason to return to our little camp, I reminded John of his earlier comment. “Oh that,” he said “Come with me and I’ll show you something.” John led me back down the track to about half-way and whilst aiming the
shotgun should there be a need to use it, showed me the remains of a wild boar tucked away in what clearly was the tiger’s lair. I then asked John why he hadn’t told me before … “Oh that” he said “Well, had you known the lair was alongside the track you wouldn’t have
been quite so keen to use it” Yes, John was a professional soldier, a good and likeable man, but most of all it cannot be said that he didn’t have a sense of humour!
‘ERE’- Its short title or being ‘Extra Regimentally Employed’
Or, ERE (when the Regiment feels that you might be gainfully employed elsewhere!) by Mr K W Iveson, formerly The Life Guards 1952-1978
B
efore the advent of computers, and all things associated, there was a little well known breed called Squadron Clerks. My first taste of ERE was a posting to RHQ Household Cavalry, Horse Guards, Whitehall. Eight o’clock train from an Army hiring in Beaconsfield to Whitehall, and usually the six o’clock back in the evening. Back then, I suppose RHQ was the military equivalent of the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. I compiled the statistics on the Household Cavalry, using a card system, which was submitted monthly to the MoD. I was also Assistant Honorary Secretary of The Life Guards Association co-ordinating the Annual Dinner, Christmas cards etc. The Honorary Secretary was Maj Norman Hearson. Personalities I recall at that time were Col The Hon Julian Berry, WO1 Ken Harrison (RHG), Superintending Clerk, with his well-lit pipe! SQMC Gordon Ingham (RHG), (Uncle Staff Ingham, well known horse trainer had some useful tips). Finally, Bob Hogarth (RHG), now a Chelsea Pensioner. You occasionally caught a glimpse of Bob as he always appeared to be shrouded in a cloud of cigarette smoke. Next came a posting around the corner to 1 Elverton Street as Chief Clerk of the newly formed TAVR Armoured Regiment, ‘The Royal Yeomanry.’ The Regiment being formed from the following TA units. A SQN - Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry staunch men of the West B SQN - Sherwood Foresters Yeomanry from Nottingham, less bows and arrows of course. C SQN - Kent County of London Yeomanry - The Bowler hat brigade from Croydon. D SQN - North Irish Horse from wherever, with a bit of blarney and a twinkle in their eyes. HQ SQN - Berkshire Westminster Dragoons, with a few ‘Del’ boys
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scattered here and there. Commanding Officer: Lt Col Desmond Rice, later Major General. 2IC - Maj WB Anderson (Scots Greys), whom I believe wanted independence then. Adjutant - Capt Freddie Spicer RTR. ‘We happy few, we Band of Brothers’. We met up once a year for two weeks annual camp. First year was at Bellerby in the wilds of North Yorkshire. Even Henry VIII on his grand tour said that Yorkshire was the last place God made on earth, or words to that effect. Second year we went to Northampton Barracks, Wolfenbüttel, little appeared to have changed since I was last there in 1953. Returning from Germany and disembarking, (I cannot now recall where), it may have been Felixstowe. An eagle eyed Customs and Excise Officer spotted the packets of pipe tobacco I had put in the gun barrel of a Saladin armoured car, which I had bought back for the caretaker’s husband at 1 Elverton Street, (the tobacco not the armoured car!!) Tongue in cheek, I said it was Freddie Spicer’s or Mike Yarwood’s. Duly admonished and fined they allowed me to keep the tobacco. The next six months between postings was spent trudging behind Dennis Meakin, at the handover of the new Hyde Park Barracks, making out inventories of all things movable and unmovable. Off again down the A303 to become Chief Clerk of BRAC, STRATCO at Wilton. BRAC - Brigadier J P Wheeler GSO1 - Major Oliver Not a particularly memorable posting - indifferent AF B 2066 - ‘could try harder’! One particular incident which occurred through non-military, and involved ‘her indoors’, which some of the ladies of
the Regiment may have experienced. I had gone to the Mess one evening for a drink. About 0500hrs, dawn just breaking over Salisbury Plain, and the Druids in their heaven, she who must be obeyed realised I was not in bed and decided to walk up to the Mess. She saw the welllit Mess, she heard the clink of glasses, raised voices in conversation merriment all round. She opened the door to the Mess, room in darkness, no noise, no one around - spooky or what! Eventually she found me asleep in my car. Off on my travels again to be Chief Clerk HQ RAC AT 1 (BR) Corps, Bielefeld. CRAC Brigadier Nigel Bagnall, later Major General, posted shortly after I arrived to be replaced by Brigadier Martin Sinnatt, who I believe on retirement, became Chief Executive at Crufts. BM - Major Nick Ansell of Brewery fame. DAAQMG - Major RB Bentley RTR. An amusing incident of note. We had been on a sailing exercise from Kiel to Denmark. On returning and docking at Kiel the conversation went something like this: Brigadier Martin “Tie the yacht up Mr Iveson.” Mr Iveson “Yes Brigadier.” I now know how Neil Armstrong must have felt when he took that momentous step. I took one leap and the next minute found me inspecting the seabed. Of course I missed! Brigadier Martin “Please stop messing about Mr Iveson.” (shades of Kenneth Williams) Being dressed in combat kit and boots it was rather difficult to extract myself from the water. On coming up for the third time two German Dockers, who probably resented losing the war, de-