3parareunion
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

D Coy's first 'outing'

4 posters

Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:25 pm

D Coy's first 'outing' Spw002
D Coy's first 'outing' Spw003
D Coy's first 'outing' Spw005
D Coy's first 'outing' Dj001

Do these few pics ring any bells

D Coy along with elements of support and sigs went to Fort Churchill in late January 63 well equipped with that wonderful state of the art green 'combat' gear, two string vests and a pair of extra socks. The Canadians were well impressed weren't they Tug.

After a couple of weeks there we moved to Brandon Manitoba to do the Canadian parachute course. Big T-32 chutes at something like 2000 and a strange aircraft - C119 - just the thing for your first battalion jump. The 'older' toms had a field day at us sprogs exspense before the first of four drops.

The second photo L-R- 'Scouse' Chambers, 'Thomo' Thompson, Ron North and 'Big' Jock Robertson

Third is taken on the 48 hr in Winipeg. L-R Dave Jeffries, Dave Taylor, Sparra Wilson and Mick Naylor.

Last pic is I think Smudge Smith - arms storeman

Over the years I have kept in occasional contact with Dave Jeffries. By the remotest chance on his part - with one of lifes 'small world' incidents - we met up with Mick Naylor a couple of years back. The three of us would love to hear if Dave is still around so if you know him please get in contact.

There were lots of photos taken in Canada, there are one or two more that aren't scanned yet but anyone got any others?

Best Regards Sparra

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty D Coys first 'outing'

Post  Kentish Lad Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:08 am

Hi Sparra,

How could I forget as I was one idiots, along with Jummy Hand, Alan Coates, Dave Gibbins and Doug Wilkingson who went out there in December to do the Instructors Course at Fort Churchill. Do you remember Major Fidler standing up in front of us saying that Red Berets must be worn at all times, Jimmy tried to tell him that the Toms would get frost bite due to the cold on the badge but he would not listen! Guess what Toms with marks on head caused by frost bite D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin . Also do you remember the last exercise out on the Tundra and Fidler making us walk back towing the sledges on the dirt tracks ripping the bottoms to shreds. I have a couple of photos I will attach later not very good as they are taken from newspaper cuttings. As regards to the Parachute School it was at Rivers and we jumped with T10's.

Bill

Kentish Lad

Posts : 57
Join date : 2009-06-18
Age : 83
Location : Folkestone

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:45 pm

Yes I do Bill, and that long march in those bloody mukluks. I also remember Wally Cardiff having to get in the warm in a Nodwell after getting frostbite in his d--k. Caused quite a laugh that one.

You're right about Rivers - where did I get Brandon from was that nearby? and the canopies of course were indeed T10s they were '32ft dia' though -brains getting a bit dim these days! I remember the drop height was far more than ours and it took forever to get down, the chutes would just spin when you pulled one lift web!! I've found a couple of more pics - will post them later.

Tug tells me you are the 'Bill' that was one of 11plts section commanders along with Alfie Benson and Wilkie Wilkinson. If so I remember you and Alfie 'bailing' me out on Edinburgh station when I'd been 'ill' (wonder why) on the civvy coach that took us there. I think you took care of the driver while Alfie got me out of the way sharpish - I spent the entire journey to Glasgow laying on a pile of packs with my head out of the door window. That was all Danny Kings fault of course. We were off to Ardnamurchan Point - Happy Days

You were off out not long later for a career in the customs - did that happen?

Regards - Sparra

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Aussie Nick Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:15 am

G'day Sparra, your mention of the name Wally Cardiff, reminded me of one morning we were on muster parade at Blenheim when the "Ponysoldier" called the roll, he got to Cardiff, silence! Cardiff, silence again! "Where the bloody hell is Cardiff?
Wally Walsh in the back row, "Wales you silly Ba....d !"
Who said that? who said that?...............
Nick. Very Happy
Aussie Nick
Aussie Nick

Posts : 201
Join date : 2009-04-22
Age : 82
Location : Perth Western Australia

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty D Coys first 'outing'

Post  Kentish Lad Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:04 pm

Hi Sparra,

Seeing that photo of Winnipeg reminds me as we were stuck there from about the 15th Dec until we went up to Churchill on about the 5th January. We were staying with a Canadian Gunner Unit and as we were getting quite a good local over-seas allowance we were out nearly every night down town to the Oxford Bar, you know the one with tables and chairs screwed to the floor!! Alan Coates as usual had his ugly bird that he picked up, this one we called the "Elk" she was half Indian and half Eskimo and bulit like a brick sh**t house, but as he said he was getting his leg over every night which no one else managed!!

Regarding Rivers what about the Exercise out on the Shilo Ranges dropping early in the morning with half of the Canadian Pilots to shot away so we were well spread out. Dick Wallace frpm Sp Coy was No1 Starboard. I was No 1 Port if you remember we were supposed to stagger Port then Starboard but Dick went out with me, my snow shoes came of my shoulder and were "Ringing The Bell" on his helmet, he never ever found out it was me D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin

Kentish Lad

Posts : 57
Join date : 2009-06-18
Age : 83
Location : Folkestone

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:21 pm

Aussie Nick wrote:G'day Sparra, your mention of the name Wally Cardiff, reminded me of one morning we were on muster parade at Blenheim when the "Ponysoldier" called the roll, he got to Cardiff, silence! Cardiff, silence again! "Where the bloody hell is Cardiff?
Wally Walsh in the back row, "Wales you silly Ba....d !"
Who said that? who said that?...............
Nick. Very Happy

Yeah Nick there are some 'Pony Tale' classics. I have one or three! - Stan Richards and Morris Ferry going for orders - "Richards and Ferry reporting for orders Sir" says Stan through the door to an unseen Pony - "Right, form up outside in threes" came the reply from within the office "But theres only two of us Sir" "Then form a blank file" Pony barked.

But the most memorable, for me, was when (in Bahrein) he was in support company after leaving D Coy. I witnessed it first hand from the arms store.
You may recall Pony would never give two or more persons an order it was always the order to the first and 'Same detail to you' for the others.

Support used to muster just down from the guard room on that gravel area in front of the arms stores. They're all fell in and the Pony is approaching - "Good Morning Support Company" he bellows after marching up and banging one in. To a bloody man, in full voice and in perfect time they replied "SAME DETAIL TO YOU SIR" The Pony looked perplexed - you could see the cogs engaging 'Were they taking the piss?' Suddenly he beamed No of course not - 'My Men' written all over his face.

Down the phone to Major Ellwood 'I'm saluting you now sir'

God I bet there's bloody hundreds.

Have a good Day Nick - Hope that's brought the same kind of smile as yours did - Sparra

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:23 pm

Kentish Lad wrote:Hi Sparra,


Regarding Rivers what about the Exercise out on the Shilo Ranges dropping early in the morning with half of the Canadian Pilots to shot away so we were well spread out. Dick Wallace frpm Sp Coy was No1 Starboard. I was No 1 Port if you remember we were supposed to stagger Port then Starboard but Dick went out with me, my snow shoes came of my shoulder and were "Ringing The Bell" on his helmet, he never ever found out it was me D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin

Oh I remember the staggering alright Bill - everything well nipped up -my first battalion jump!
D Coy's first 'outing' Spw%20002a
D Coy's first 'outing' Spw%20012
The guy on the very left is Morris Ferry and second in from him is Spud Taylor no idea on the others. I think this was an acclimatisation flight looking at those chute packs

Dick Wallace was a Suffolk chap - Bury St Edmunds I think. He used to take a few of us down to Thruxton just before Bahrein for free fall - Tex Connor(?), Stan Richards Alan Honeymoon Pete Davies etc - DH Rapide - never did get to free fall though that did come much later - after I was out!

The one thing I remember most about that trip was the food. Both at base - particularly at Churchill "How would you like your eggs? and they meant it too! - and in the ration packs - hot chocolate and wieners and beans!!!! - then it was back to rubber eggs and cardboard bacon

Well spoilt for a month and you got twice as much

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Tug Wilson Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:09 am

Once again great photo's Sparra,
You forgot the Long Johns,and Balaclava out of the British arctic clothing though,do you remember coming off the aircraft and being rushed into that heated hanger up in Churchill,and how the Canadians couldn't believe what clothes we had?Just as well they kitted us out with their kit,do you remember cutting a piece off our ties to sew onto the balaclavas to cover the space between our eye's?.
Some other things come to mind,Snow caves,Breaking trail with snowshoes,Checking the texture of the snow,Cutting snow with a saw,Snowcrete,Axes cutting water out of lakes,Pace counters,the drill for having a "Tom Tit",Graphite grease on weapons not oil,Dry Compasses,Hearing the shout of "TIMBER" throughout the night,20 minute Stags,5 man tent groups,Maps that showed lakes that you couldn't find, but you were stood on them,Canadian ration packs with the winter supplement,Maple syrup,cars that plugged into the hitching rail when stationary to keep the oil fluid,the Monorail in the C119s,and the "Hookup" parachute by the door of the aircraft,alternate exits that quickly turned into sims,loadmasters,Snowshoes,sledges,frostbite,and of course the cold while the rest of the Battlion went to warmer climates.!!!
Yes i remember "Fidler" telling the Canadian Nogwell drivers to return to camp after they had been called out to collect us as the Temperature was more than -50 and getting worse,Those Canadians we had with us went with them when Fidler said "We are Para's we will march back" and as already said, tore the bottoms out of the sledges in doing so,i also remember stopping every 10 minutes to pull up the the Balaclavas to check each others faces for frostbite.Was it really half a century ago,seems like last week.!!!!
Tug Wilson
Tug Wilson

Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-04-14
Age : 85
Location : Beccles,Suffolk

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty D Coys first 'outing'

Post  Kentish Lad Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:39 am

Hi Sparra,

Some years ago while working in Norwich on Market day I saw Dick Wallace and recognised him by his feet D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin he was walking with his son who looked and walked just like him!! He was working as a Game Keeper at Wooton close to the Thetford Training Area. Yes Rivers was close to Brandon do you remember the drive to Winnipeg over the flat Priarie dead boring. Who was your section commader? The old Grey cells are slow at present remembering names. Were you in the aircraft that I was in took off and all of the sledges went out through the front "Bomb Doors" klaxon going emergencey landing, nobody knew what happened I reackon the pilot was still tanked up from the nigh befor and wanted a Kip D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin D Coy's first 'outing' Icon_biggrin

Try to get those other photos on but suffering from mental block!!

Bill

Kentish Lad

Posts : 57
Join date : 2009-06-18
Age : 83
Location : Folkestone

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:56 pm

Cor Bill 'magine getting caught by Dick with a pheasant in yer pocket!

Section commander? er well Bill I think it was you! I have a vague recollection of being in Wilkie Wlkinson's at first but was transferred to yours. 'Pop' Reddick was Sgt in Canada then he went after we got back and we had Bill Hutchinson I think. Wilkie later 'did his thing' on the petrol pump station between the two cinemas just over from the Pegasus and then strangely dissappeared very shortly after! You were demobbed sometime later and I was then in Alfies (Benson) section. We went to Singers about the September time and I think I was in Alfies section then but if not I'm sure I was was by the time of that big excersise in Cyprus in November (63) - Now thats a drop I do remember

Going back to Canada yes I'm sure I was on that plane too. If it was the one where the sledges went off but hung up or jammed or something and they wouldn't let us out then yes I was. Ginge Myers and Dave Taylor were convinced it was down to Bennie Registes 'powers'! Bennie if you're reading this 'Good on yer,man'.

Regards for now - Sparra

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:10 pm

"You forgot the Long Johns,and Balaclava out of the British arctic clothing though,do you remember coming off the aircraft and being rushed into that heated hanger up in Churchill,and how the Canadians couldn't believe what clothes we had?"


Hi Tug, yes we were really well prepared for 'abit of snow' weren't we. Can't remember the tie bit on the baly but you forgot the 'hose tops', holes cut through for the thumb, improvised wrist warmers, two, for the use of!!

God I bet those Canadians were impressed!

Somethings were forgotten until your post - the graphite and the hook up chute among 'em. Had to think what you meant for a minute but yeah I remember it - absolutely bloody confidence inspiring to a lad just about to do his first Bn jump! - why would they need one of them if it didn't happen??

See you Thursday - I'm putting you up for Chairman by the way!!!

Sparra

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Tug Wilson Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:25 pm

See you Thursday - I'm putting you up for Chairman by the way!!!

Sparra[/quote]

I have only two words to say to that and the second is OFF,you must want to walk home from Norwich then :twisted:And here was me thinking we were mates!!!!!Recommend Dennis that will keep him busy Laughing Laughing Laughing
Tug Wilson
Tug Wilson

Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-04-14
Age : 85
Location : Beccles,Suffolk

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sparra Wilson Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:02 pm

Now theres a thought!! Lead balloons spring to mind!

I'll be ready by the way got my shorts out already!

Sparra Wilson

Posts : 15
Join date : 2009-04-27
Age : 79
Location : Beccles , Suffolk. UK

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Tug Wilson Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:47 pm

I got these pictures off another site,a view of Fort Churchill (landing strip on the right), and of course the "Nodwell" the Canadians sent out to collect us but didn't use!!!


D Coy's first 'outing' MilitaryBaseOldCamp_600x350



D Coy's first 'outing' TheNodwell
Tug Wilson
Tug Wilson

Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-04-14
Age : 85
Location : Beccles,Suffolk

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Tug Wilson Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:03 am

I have been sent these pictures of our time in Canada by Bill(Kentish Lad) to put on for him,i only hope they come out OK.

D Coy's first 'outing' Exercisebrief

D Coy's first 'outing' KeyBird
We all got one of these when we left but mine has been lost in the mist's of time

D Coy's first 'outing' Clothes
The picture above and the last, are of Bill(Kentish Lad) helping Rick Lafferty get into his Canadian kit.

D Coy's first 'outing' Localpaper2

D Coy's first 'outing' LocalPaper1
Tug Wilson
Tug Wilson

Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-04-14
Age : 85
Location : Beccles,Suffolk

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty D Coys First Outing

Post  Kentish Lad Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:00 am

Sitting eating breakfast looking out on the snow & ice in the garden took me back to December 1962 when I was in Winnipeg one of 15 stalwarts sent out to do the instructors course for Artic Warfare. As was usual the could only get us out before Xmas although the course did not start until January the 6th I think!! The first Sunday we experinced the great difference between Uk & Canadian forces when we were late for Breakfast, I wonder why!!, and were offered Brunch and 'How do you want your eggs Mac?' All in all our experience in Winnipeg was great the Canadians both Military and civilian were very friendly although I never took to the game of Ice Hockey played on the tennis courts more like all in wrestling Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy .
The time spent there at the Oxford Bar of Portage Ave was great especially Al Coates arriving with his latest conquest half Indian, half Eskimo built like the usaual Brick S**t House, but Al was happy he was getting his leg over. Al again washing his special issue pulllover in the Washing Machine Dryer and it came out big enough for a 10 year old Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy. Herman & I have tried in vain to contact him but I think he has departed to the place where Para's regroup.

Hope you all had a Great Xmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year

Bill

Kentish Lad

Posts : 57
Join date : 2009-06-18
Age : 83
Location : Folkestone

Back to top Go down

D Coy's first 'outing' Empty Re: D Coy's first 'outing'

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum