The lack of promotion of Armed Forces Day by the government is shocking, who are they afraid of offending I wonder? I have lived and worked in Russia, prior to the current conflict in Ukraine, and they know how to do their Armed Forces Day. It is a major celebration for the whole family. They still operate a system of conscription so I would imagine that helps too, as all men over the age of 18, unless they were medically exempted, have served. We certainly need to do a lot more here in the UK and making it a bank holiday would be nice. Too many bedwetters in Parliament for that to ever happen though, I mean, look how long it took to get the Veterans Card.
Very true Paz. I'm hoping that while Mike (RRW), is staying here with us, will allow me to make an interview video so he can tell his story. Its not pretty what happened to him after he left the army. PTSD, Drink, Divorce and Homelessness. Thank you again for all your support 🙏
Used to organise the Armed Forces event for North and Mid Devon, veterans, their families,school kids and the public loved it. As did our contributors, museums, charities, the military,cadets,historians,collectors, living history groups and youth groups. The only issues we had were with teachers or "demonstrators" from a particular ideology, lefty, globalist, middle class and bigoted. There is a respect for our personnel and veterans out there, but not our political classes or the media.
Sounds a scream and best...no. MP's about. I remember being told back in the day by an MP SGT; "you should know better sir"! I replied; " I lead by example from the front". The trouble is I was at the bar. that cost me.
As a veteran I was disappointed at the lack of media attention and promotion of armed forces day they happy to promote everything else but not armed forces day sad state of affairs
Thanks for keeping me upright you too when even my walking stick didn’t. On Saturday night.😅Yes people were so respectfull. shaking hands, buying drinks saying thankyou for your service never experienced that before. respect to them all including the Caribbean community who were there..👍👌
2022 you were with us on Remembrance Sunday in Skegness Ex- service,doe,s it ring a bell ??? It's my 3 Anglian flag on the wall + my photos.Ive got a photo of us all @ the bar,will try & find it.Regards Gazza. 4444ssss
To be truthful Leicesters Armed Forces Day wasn't as big as I thought it would be, but still nice to turn out, eh? Dug the suit, tie and beret out after some laundering and ironing. Should've done the Skeggy one, could have dropped in on some of my relatives for a brew,lol!! 😉 12 year veteran 💂♂️ 🇬🇧 " Nulli Secundus "
Boston wasn't overly busy itself. Our AFVBC stand and all 3 Cadet groups, amongst others at the Memorial garden. Cleethorpes seems to be the busiest one around. Your Reggae festival sounds banging though, good on you! Love a bit of Ska and Reggae myself.
Here in Plymouth we had a good day on the Hoe with stands from the marines, navy and others. Vehicles and a helicopter on site and children encouraged to get in and get their hands on in contrast to some councils who actively discouraged any kind of Armed Forces celebration - children not allowed to touch weapons in case it glorifies violence etc. I'm afraid I have a low opinion of the BL - event organisers but only when there is money to be made.
I was at the event as well Thing is couldn’t believe how many organisations were there who weren’t really relevant,just seemed to be hangers on I think the event has been diluted from previous years
I just knew after talking to you pair on WhatsApp the other day that I couldn't trust you to behave on your own!🤬🤬🤬🤬 Even Tracer round had to come and saves your sorry behinds!!!🤬🤬🤬 Seriously guys. Looks like you had a BLAST! So sorry that I couldn't join you. But next year, look out wherever we end up. I'm gonna make sure I come and keep you under control!😉👍🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 As the 'tee totaller' I can be taxi and escorting.👍👍🤜🤜 Catch up soon. LETS TAB!!👍👍👍👍🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
Haven't seen Mike in probably 36/37 years, we're both from the same Valley. I was in Portsmouth with the navy and used to catch up with him on the train heading home at weekends. Top bloke, and great to see him looking well!
We had a lovely armed forces day up in catterick with our son who’s in the light cavalry,many thanks to all those young boys and girls of all ranks for putting on a great day for the families,as an ex squaddie myself I was shocked at how much the army has changed in 30 years,NAFFI bar was a winner though with everyone well oiled right up until midnight.
Skeggie, brings back memories. i went into London on Remembrance day, took some bottles of water, flasks of soup and some sarnies, used to do it alot in Colchester, lots of homeless Vets used to be there. Just had loads of hassle off drunk new transport for london workers. won't ever go into the west end at night again, Scary. God bless.
We live near a barracks and they used to do a really good family event. We would take our son. Now nothing. I don't know whether its security, defence cuts or wokeness but its a great shame. We miss it and these events were really well attended by the local community.
Bonjour from France, Glad the Reggie festival was ok just worth going for that, I need advice from the Tab Master, I am going to do my first TAB today English style, I will achieve 1km I am ready to move, How much weight do you carry in your bag, Whats good to start of with. I am recovering from injury. Broken shoulder after 2 operations and a double fractured spine. This has put pressure on my nerves especially my optic nerves. I have been in recovery for 1 year already . I am doing a safe route close to the house in my village. Look forward to your advice, Merci
Hey great to hear from you 🇨🇵. I have a long term neck injury and so I carry only 10kg including the weight of the patrol pack. Maybe just carry the pack empty to start with and see how that feels? You can then gradually increase the weight and distance of your pack and TAB? Take it easy to start. Good luck, let me know how you get on. Now, Lets Tab 🪖🫡
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd UPDATE, I did get out I did the 1Km as it was 26C in the south west of France today in our region. Stopped half way at our local super market took on some water and did small amount of shopping carried back about 1.5kg in a bag not on the back. Then did a bit of bonus hill climb. It was more of a fast walk today, I was given a pair of YDS brown issue boots by a ex-pat here. They are already broken in, I did the TAB in them today, TAB I was told is a bit of running and fast walking caring all your equipment. I have the opportunity to use the pool as our village has a swimming pool. One day pool exercise next day TAB. We also have a zip wire across the river. Its so many Euros to use it but been told we are allowed on, I will have to send you some pictures. Im trying to loose weight this is the objective, and to be motivated to do other things get the house clean. I have set a target to get up by 8 am and moving not to stay in bed, and get to bed more early, Any other suggestions, TAB Master.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd UPDATE . Did the TAB achieved the 1Km , Only carried 1.5kg today, It was more of a fast walk today, It was 26C today so had to stop during the 1km to take on some water, Had been given some YDS brown boots broken in second hand, I wore them, on the TAB,. What are the best exercises to warm up with before doing a TAB.
@Jean-MarcBordeaux well done, good achievement. With regards to warming up before a TAB, I really wouldn't worry too much because, you aren't going too far and second if you are setting off at a very relaxed pace you shouldn't need a warm up, maybe do a few gentle leg stretches, just be careful. Good luck 👍
Dear Keith, I work in Aldershot and saw nothing apart from in pt 1 orders. In Farnborough even less. End of Broadcast. Best wishes to Tracer-Round & Mike & yourself.
Having just recovered, ISH from an illness and considering that our council will no longer fund AFD, I spent my armed forces day on Sgur Finniosg-aig... Windy day, but brought back some great memories of expeditions and winter climbing days on the Aonachs and Grey Coires with some great Military guys and good mates..!
Great day armed forces day, march pass eyes right and all that, few mates drove to see us in Leicester. Always a piss up with the rest of the veterans, Loved it great time. Go to anywhere in the UK, Next year Newcastle. Pleased you had a great day at Skeg.
I’m sorry, arms forces day wasn’t a success for you both. It really does need to be organised better, but unfortunately the British Legion these days aren’t up to it. I am glad the folks at the reggae festival looked after you. Perhaps next year, the country can celebrate our armed forces in the manor, they deserve and with pride, and a big parade, hopefully.❤🇬🇧❤️
Completely passed me by, We were away with Our Daughters to mark our Oldest turning 16 and also instead of going to a Prom which she wouldn't have been able to cope with.
My local veterens breakfast club held a golf day to raise funds for the charity we are currently supporting, then the VBC (vets breakfast club) location put on food & entertainent for the evening ATB Barry
Good to hear you had a great time at Armed Forced Day. Well deserved, I'd say. We had Veteran's Day a little while ago here in the Netherlands, it is something more or less familiar. Love the guest, with unmistakably Welsh melodic accent. Love to learn a bot more about him and his time in service as well. As a Swamp German I don't know to what regiment (cavalry, right?) the coat of arms on his beret refers to. Don't know why, but ever since I served with the RNLA and encountered guys driving around in Scimitars and Scorpions on the Sennelager training ground with skulls and bones and the motto "Death or Glory" on them (any reference to the Charge of the Light Brigade by any chance), I love regimental histories of the British Army. The skull and bones were from (then) 7/11th Lancers if I remember correctly, but that was 1988, so memory fades a bit. Maybe you could tell us 'bloody foreigners' a bit of what makes regiments in British service a bit more special as opposed to battalions in other armed forces some time during a next tab? One other thing I you allow me, Sergeant Major. We had pretty naughty marching songs in the RNLA back in the day, which we sang loud when no senior commanding officer was around. The lyrics were about women of pleasure, Heineken still coming out of our behinds when buried and inexperienced ensigns being tenderly loved by prize winning bulls after they inevitably screwed up. All of which was immediately changed to proper, officially allowed songs as soon as someone with laurels on his shoulder appeared, of course. What I'd like to ask you: are there any similar, 'unofficial' marching songs in the British Army and if so, could you lift a bit of the veil for us without spoiling it for today's active personnel? After all, I would not want to be the cause of some general 'straightening the troops out,' if word came out.
You ´Cloggies’ are great guys! It always shocked us to see some of your guys with long hair but you guys had and still have a great reputation💪🫡 The ´Taff’ beside Keith is from the Royal Regiment of Wales. Hope this helps😊 From a ´Paddy’ in France, Ian
@@bugler75 Whaaat? In bloody France of all places? Just kidding mate, I was there last year, visiting the beaches in Normandy and Pegasus Bridge of course. Met quite a lot of British (and Irish), so never a dull moment. And the French (and Germans taking care of the German war graves) were just lovely as well. Thanks for the intel. I didn't know there was a Welsh regiment with black berets, I would have thought a regiment with the name of a constituent part of GB would be infantry, not cavalry. Or is it infantry nonetheless? Either way, the feelings are very much mutual. I don't know how or why, but Dutch soldiers and those of the (former) Commonwealth go well together. Probably because we share a black sense of humor, a love of beer and an irreverence for authority? Been an anglophile my entire life, with a slight preference for the Gaelic speakers (underdogs, so the Dutch identify). I must say that the bloody B-word broke my heart the other day. The British were always on our side in Brussels and all of a sudden us cloggies (never wore a pair in my entire life) had to pull the wagon all by ourselves. Luckily Iron Maiden and Judas Priest still made it across the Channel a few times so naturally I had to see my lifelong favorites. I so hope the customs BS will go as soon as good old sir Keir ("Fox Man!") takes hold of no.10, so that I can visit my beloved second homeland again. As soon as I hear 'Go home you bloody foreigner!" I know all is as good as it was. :D Cheers mate and thanks again. Enjoy your time in Frog-country.
@@bugler75 By the way, Paddy's are Irish, , like Jocks are Scottish, aren't they? If so, is it true that a funeral in Ireland (or Ulster) is merrier than a wedding in England? ;)
@@Pincer88 Mr Pincer, you have made me laugh so hard! Yes, I must agree with you that we really do share so much! I’ve never met a Dutch person I didn’t like! And it was normally in a bar! I do plan to go to Arnhem around September time again. I was one of the Paddies there last year in and around the British and Canadian sectors. We met a group of Ditch at Ranville Cemetery who joined in with our ceremony there and had a Vin d’Honneur in the town hall after. The Welsh, Scots and Irish all have a Royal regiment of foot with the country name in the title: Royal Irish Regiment Royal Regiment of Scotland Royal Regiment of Wales. These are amalgamations of all the previous Scots, Irish and Welsh Regiments. All due to reductions. England had County Regiments for recruiting purposes. Of Course you have 5 Regiments of Foot Guards, essentially 2 x English and 1 per region: Grenadier Guards Coldstream Guards Scots Guards Irish Guards Welsh Guards. There are of course non regional regiments like the Parachute Regiment, the Rifles (although traditionally some areas will be targeted for recruitment by the Rifles) and the SAS. The Cavalry used to have Regional Titles but these have largely gone. This is a really simplistic overview ! But each Regiment generally has hundreds of years of service history and traditions, like your Regiments. Of course most of ours would have been with Prince William and Queen Mary at the time too. Great chatting mucker! All the best from near Metz. Ian
@@bugler75Hahaha, glad to be of service to you Master Ian. And nice to make your acquaintance! I'm Peter, a 57 year old welfare worker in an elderly care home, sadly cloistered to home due to a nasty post covid condition. Thanks for the elaborate (for this medium that is) overview. My online avatar refers to the pincer movement we trained over and over when in service to near perfection as a method of a fighting retreat/delaying action and the wolf, because that was our company's mascotte (well, it was a husky actually, but that's a minor detail.) You're right, my own regiment (unceremoniously disbanded in 2004) was a key unit in the allied ranks at Quatre Bras, near Waterloo and later was mentioned by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington in dispatches after the main event at Waterloo itself, due to a brave bajonet charge on the allied left flank, when it nearly caved in. The Dutch, much to their detriment I must say, valued military tradition as little as authoritarian people. In that respect I love watching Trooping the Colours on the Beeb, it always sends shivers down my spine. Luckily - albeit far too late imho - that trend seems to be reversing now the threat from our friend in the Kremlin is all too real. People have a hard time learning history's lessons, don't they? I imagine you have served - or still are serving - as well. Could I ask in which unit (regiment, RAF/NAS squadron/RN Ship) and in what capacity? Just out of interest, not as a measure of character by any means. Hope you have a lovely time in Metz and in Arnhem, later on! Cheers, Pete
I want to join royal engineers. Is this a good choice? What do you think about them I'm interested to hear it from a veteran! Would I get a good trade from it too? What sort of jobs are available after my time in the Army on civi Street
Be careful, it'll be a shock. My advice is to get as many City and Guilds in trades, but also all your HGVs, including Hazmat licences, so you can drive logistics once out. One word if warning, if you got into trouble with plod before joining, even if you did 22 years in, this will preclude you from many jobs in local government, the NHS,education, Police, Fire Service, RNLI, banking,taxi driving,coach driving, security, as well as the voluntary sector, scouts, cadets that kind of thing.
@@NobbyClark-g3y yes, I don't have any criminal records. I heard its possible to get decent qualifications whilst in the army which is what am hoping to achieve. Get as much done as possible whilst enjoying my time there. To then re enter the civilian life and make out a good CV. Pretty much make sure that I'm set for life. Do you know at what level the trades are learnt in
@@Utlathram80 usually they'll go to a level 2. Personally I'd go for the carpentry and joinery but try to get my plumbing and heating level 3, that should cover your 'Gas safe' if you become a civvy. Combat Engineering is hard, over the years several sappers have sustained broken collar bones building MGOBs I think they're known as. If the weather's crap, it's too hot, too cold,too wet, you'll come across some poor RE buggers digging holes, filling holes, standing about waiting.
Sounds like you had a great day. We had nothing here in Australia 🦘 dispite hunting round for something. Don't think the people I see in the RSL (RBL) was all none services. Great video Guys .
It's been attached to that patrol pack since I left the Army, never bothered to remove it. So in answer to your question, nothing really, its just there. Back when I was serving, it was always handy to have at least one carabiner with your kit. Thanks for the question, much appreciated.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fdmay be able to link other ropes together with carabiners? Short lengths of rope on troops can be tied together to make long ropes. Sure US Rangers on D Day had these short ropes.
The foreign insurgents known as "councils" hate our armed forces, and some refused to hold events. Also, many of our own civvies look down on former serving and serving bods because of the media and other such undesiabkes here having called/screamed at them "baby killers" when our bods came back from Irag and later, from Afghanistan. On top of that, you have the weak types who "Would have joined but...." who hate or are jealous of those who actually took the first step into the recruiting office. I don't think the army is doing tself any favours these days with its less aggressive recruiting policies on tv, especially for what remaining infantry we have left.
