Greetings from the Antipodes

A Happy New Year to you all from Down Under.

It's already 2013 here as I type this post.

I found this site by accident after I had had an exchange of emails about the sewerage problems in Dubai from a good friend, Peter Parman who was REME LAD to 3 PARA in their second tour in Bahrain. I said nothing had really changed in 50 years as in 1961 -1962 we emptied the buckets out in the ocean when we were in tents on Muharraq Island.

Joe Grout was on the QM's staff and was responsible for all the buckets to be collected and emptied out in the ocean early every morning. Brummy Medley drove the 3 ton Bedford truck. That was the detail which was mainly made up of those on RP's. At the end of the tour Joe Grout received a GOC's commendation for his morning task.

In the exchange of emails I told him that I had driven the truck for 3 days. It was alright being the driver because I was well out of the way of the load. It was a real slow drive to minimise the mishaps with the buckets as the detail rode in the back with the merchandise.

Arthur Channon put me on orders for being improperly dressed. I had my stable belt on and unfortunately the leather on the end of the fabric behind the buckle had come unstitched so the fabric was frayed. I had ordered a new stable belt but it hadn't arrived form the UK. Arthur Channon made a big meal of it in front of Capt Spacie (RSO)who was acting OC HQ Company at the time for which he gave me 3 days RP's. I did a deal with Brummy Medley, I would drive the shit truck and he could have a lie in and I got off handling the buckets.

Anyone else remember the shit bucket detail ?

Dave Barrowcliffe 3 PARA MT platoon

hi Dave - remember it well, especially at high tide when the wind was blowing off the sea.

AH THE SWEET SMELLS OF THE EARLY MORNING ACTIVITIES IN BAHRAIN IN 1961.IT IS RUMOURED THAT DEAR JOE MADE A SMALL FORTUNE COLLECTING POP BOTTLES WE WERE TO IDLE TO TAKE BACK TO THE WOG SHOP,(OOPS AM I ALLOWED TO SAY THAT).HAVE A GOOD YEAR FOLKS,HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU IN COLLY IN MARCH. DOUG RODGERS

The fresh drinking water was collected by water tanker every day from the soft drink factory in Manama. The local soft drink was Stim and Coca Cola was also bottled at the same place. I cannot remember having to pay a deposit on soft drink and you certainly didn't pay it on the Becks and Heineken.

Dave

First post for me. I was in 8 Platoon C company on the Bren gun with Mick Mingins in '61.

I remember the bucket run fine and also remember you had to be very careful to pick the right partner when swinging the contents into the sea or the whole lot came back at you.
I also remember Joe Grout when on that NATO exercise in Greece when Joe pored a whole Jerry can of petrol into a latrine trench before filling it in. He then came back into the Quartermaster's compound to ask Mick and I if we had any matches. We had none so off he went found some matches and set off back up the hill. In the meantime some bloke had sat down on the Latrine and was reading a magazine with his head below the level of the Hessian. I said to Mick we really should tell Joe and he said, Aye, we really should. Joe had a quick look, saw nothing and chucked in a lighted match. One huge Woooosh and the poor bloke shot into the air screaming in a high falsetto. Mick and I by this time were rolling about on the ground.

Dave, I understand Nick Nicholson is also in Australia. He was the best man at my wedding and I haven't heard from him since around '63. I'd love to get in contact with him again.