Just saw myself in this film. I was driving the Champ and water skiing. I remember the tour of Europe and going to Ypres. We moved on through France and ended up in Monaco and meeting Princes Grace. Also the summers in the Isle of Wight.
Strange how your past catches up with you! I am in the film a couple of times the lone guardsman in the crowd and again as Right marker (without rifle) Grenadier in the passing out parade. So many faces that came flooding back. I also did the continental tour, first to the battlefields, then on to Paris, Nice, Monte Carlo and then Italy and Switzerland. Great memories!
My dad was a Grenadier, he took me to Pirbright in 1969, to join the Juniors, they were oh so very nice to me, but I wasn’t fooled. I ended up in the Army 4 years later.
I was there in 1960, and this takes me back. I recognise the Company Commander, Major Phillipson, or “ sticky” to us. The yearly camp on the IOW was actually on the site of a Warner’s holiday camp, and we worked clearing areas fir future use.
I agree I was there then our barracks was the old wooden sheds ,,long walk from the ship to Ryde and then in trucks, and along to the estate that belonged to Stickys relation, was just cheap labour was attacked by the Ryde gang at the tents in the field, I was SG, maybe we both were there at same time, L/S was called Grimshaw,, Officer was WG his name I think was Lt Gomez, actually my time there put me aff the English people, first 72 did a bunk back to Scotland,the officers insisted I spoke English, so I just spoke tinker language tae piss them aff,,how dide ye like the sandhill behind the gym,,sticky made us climb that on nights of boxing if no enough blood,the boys I billitted with were ok, 1 irish,rest were coldstream,,Stan,Michael,ian Nelson, came from my village,and Kelbie from Dundee, Wilson frae Glasgow,all that brasso, and blanco and polish pissed me aff,,, im on facebook , anyone want to reminiss
Since the Junior Regiments ended you can see the fall in standard's in the British Army Today They were the future SNCO of the army which has now been lost
The recruiting film shows a different picture to the reality. Endless drill and bulling of boots was the norm not enjoying yourself in the sun. All lies to get young lads to enlist.
I was in the Scots Guards there the camp was attacked by locals they wrecked the camp ,it was no holiday camp,on jankers all the time,,it was cheap labour for the CO'S friend who owned the estate,,i remember it well, nights on manovres, labouring through the day,,locals were pissed aff ,, the women in Ryde loved us tho.. anyone else there the night of locals attacked, stole all our gear kicked hell out sentrys hohohoho. long ago but remember many,,officers,l/sgt's and seen the CO many times hohohoho. ANYONE THERE THEN.I wanted to join the Black Watch but since I was 6ft 3 they sent me to Pirbright, a guy from my town got a regimental bath..bet he never forgot that....
Just been told one of pals joined after I left he was drummer in local pipe band and joined SG juniors to start 9 year then 22 and retired a RSM Campbell first name Malcom anyone know him..
Who remembers the RSM with unusal birth mark on face,,strange the officers and l/sgts didn't like Scots.put me off the army for life.,they were going to Monaco were you there.wages was just enough left for 10 park drive never heard of them before there,, cash spent on brasso,blanco,boot polish,candles, big wages was a big lie.lost more running fer a bus in civvy st. it was that bad 2 committed suicide..running up and down sand hill behind gym.. never did me no harm.taught me to respect myself and others.
Why are the boys made to sit up on the narrow tables cross legged one in front of each other like that, could they not afford chairs, that must have been uncomfortable and humiliating the hoo ray Henry officers would never have dreamt of demeaning themselves like that so why make the boys do it, to treat them like sub humans I suppose so they knew their place wasn't as equal as them.
Bet ye stull remember yer army number, Pirbright in early 60s had too much bullying and abuse by officers and l/sgts to young soldiers, and wages were less than the dole, what it did for me was to hate many English people with ther posh accents,and their hatred of the Scots and Irish,because we wouldn't speak laddy da English.. Poch mahon,Saor alba gu brah..Watch the dvd THE HILL with sean connery was based on the hill behind the gym,and many Sgts in the guards.
