I feel very privileged that my country had and has such incredible brave honourable military that is always there in the background for my safe, cosy easy life…..thank you all….huge respect to all our military past and present.
Well..having served myself.....I saw this as informative as well as funny..in a dark humoured way..especially when he said about the boxing gloves.."..get two toffs to fight it out.." loved it... I joined because I wanted to...there were lads at Junior Leaders that had been in trouble with the law..and it was either the Army..or a detention facility..hahaha..they chose the Army.. I remember thinking I was a "hard" man..smoking a cigarette with my two mates and an older Corporal looking at us saying.." ..you fellas are going to regret it.." How right he was in just a small part of life..that he was imparting to us...fine times
To the Interviewer. Please, just a quick note to say how refreshing your interview style is. No ego, succinct, focus on the subject matter expert, making it all about the interviewee. Gracious thanks. VFC
Alex's account of getting lost on the penultimate march and getting 3.5 hours sleep before the endurance march is bewildering. I raise my hat to you Sir.
I was going to join the Royal Signals after passing the test, I had been naughty boy and got in trouble with the Police, the recruiting sergeant said I’d have to stay out of trouble for 12 months before I could apply again. He said why don’t you go and join the local TA do it for 12 months it’ll keep you out of trouble and put you in a good position to join up.. So I went down there it was 4 RGJ, I was put on trial for 3 months because of my Police trouble.. I fell straight into it and when I went to Sutton Coldfield I was offered Signals REME or Royal Engineers.. But the call to the Royal Green Jackets was too much - Joined 1RGJ.
@@karlnicholls1784 - My Grt Uncles were all in the LRB in WW1 and attended a drill hall in Mile End I think its been demolished now. The lived in Lichfield Road Mile End. I joined the TA 4RGJ in 1972 and joined the Regular Army in 1975.
I also served with Alex. 12 Platoon training Winchester. He is actually sitting on the left of me in a Platoon photo that was taken outside the gym at Peninsula barracks!
I have a very nice card which was sent with a cheque by Alex a couple of years ago, when I was raising money to bury a Rifleman who had fallen on hard times and died quite suddenly. Still thinking of his blokes long after everyone else has forgotten.
That would be me. In the real world I don’t take orders from any man, opinions and advice, yes, but never orders. Do I respect the character of some men, yes. Do I have respect for the man in this video, yes. But no man could ever possibly understand the individual who dares wins the emotional battle of intelligence psychology of women that are struggling to keep their souls alive when they constantly trampled on
Hi Boss! 2RGJ all the way…… I have a very nice card which was sent with a cheque by Alex a couple of years ago, when I was raising money to bury a Rifleman who had fallen on hard times and died quite suddenly. Still thinking of his blokes long after everyone else has forgotten.
I too was a Rifleman. When at Sandhurst I was finding it a bit Guardsman limiting, having done two years in TA Recce. Thankfully, a Green Jacket Cpl came in to run a Section Attack exercise and his opening statement to the student was: "Call me Cpl, not Staff... staff work in shops." From that moment onwards Sandhurst was a breeze.
@@alexgardiner1292 Well it was all a bit: "Yes Staff, No Staff, three bags full." Of course there is quite a lot to being an officer, and Sandhurst has an important role of ensuring students know what they should. I found the lack of imagination gobsmacking at the time, but then on reflection understand a certain discipline does gain a certain steadiness. It's all about being professional about a serious undertaking. Some lectures were worth staying awake for. I found Green Jacket leadership ethos more inspiring, and effective. As a 20 year old, I just wanted to be outside and sneaking about in the dark. Well, that and the shooting. Planning, coordinating, and orders were enjoyable too, but not everyone wants to fly a desk to be a General. Best times were always getting gritty in the field. Anyhow, you took it to another level. You look good on it. Might have to pick up your book. Good times. I'm pretty certain the next generation are well up to task by all accounts. Not sure the politicians are ever.
I laughed out loud at the vignette about Sennybridge training area being in "appalling conditions". Those are the conditions on Sennybridge, there are no others......!
This video has only just popped up on my feed today and I found it throughly fascinating. My father John Devine was with Mr Gardiner back in NI and as I understand it was very disappointed when he left. Thank you for taking the time for this video, your recollections have been riveting.
The 'O' type engagement where young potential officers complete other ranks basic training of their chosen corps, before going up to RMAS, was a great scheme. It got axed with options for change cuts in the 1990s.
Got my late dad's RGJ StayBright in my left pocket as I watch this! Had it incorporated into a credit card holder as constant reminder! He joined in 50 and came out in 83-84. He went to Sandhurst as an instructor in the early 60s he couldn't do the drill as he couldn't do it slow enough :-) in 71 when this man joined we were already in Gibraltar for a two ish year stint! He gave us an interesting childhood. EDIT: Apologies for upsetting people because I chose to use my business name on my RU-vid channel! Didn't come here for an argument but listened and watched with respect in the forefront of my mind. RGJ gave me a very enjoyable childhood! From my conception in Bulford to my birth in Iserlohn! Gibraltar, then S.H.A.P.E. for almost eleven years! My father got lucky he never did Ireland! He was running Bulford Manor for General Sir John Mogg in 66ish! 67 I came along in Iserlohn. He did Cyprus for 18 months or so, saw some jungle in Malaya too. Where he had the opportunity to shoot some clown but didn't, that later went on to do life for murdering two coppers in London! Was on patrol apparently he was in charge and ordered to shoot anyone who didn't announce their return through the thick jungle! But he didn't luckily or unluckily for the coppers! Told me the bloke nearly got peppered by buckshot as he was carrying a Remington shotgun! When the bloke was eventually released my dad wrote a piece to the daily mail and they published it about how he nearly shot him! He got some abuse back the mail told him even after all those years! The charmed career my dad had was down to his boss John Mogg! Pulling strings I guess! They were good friends really! I believe Mogg was Ox& Bucks with some association to the Paras. He did Arnhem at Pegasus Bridge! Tough bloke but fair! I've nothing but fond memories of him. After Iserlohn it was back to Bradford for us where my parents were from. Dad was up in Durham! We stayed in the UK until 71 ish then on to Gib! My father ran the Governors Palace for Varyl Begg. Departed there in 73 for the UK again for about 6 months then on to S.H.A.P.E. John Mogg wanted my dad there so off we went! He ran his household for him "The Chateaux Saint Pierre" Great memories of that place too. One of Moggs subordinates that owned or was related Huntley & Palmers Biscuits used to blow his hunt horn for me. I loved it!. I think the guys name was Palmer! Mogg was DSACEUR at SHAPE until 76. I got to meet all manner of people including Alexander Haig Supreme Allied Commander. SHAPE was one big favour doing exercise! Never a dull moment! When Mogg went my dad morphed into RQMS! Where he stayed till we came back to the UK in 84! Mogg still pulling for my dad said he could probably get him a plumb posting to retire on! The choices were Berlin or Queens Messanger. My mum wanted neither! So dad ended up at Imphal Barracks York! It wasn't all beer and Skittles though my dad lost some good mates along the way Tony Martin, blown up on exercise in Germany early 60's when something failed to go off and he approached it!!! Mac Cameron I belive he was a chopper pilot also killed in the early 60's became a permanent fixture in his staff car When a Centurian squashed it flat! Also in Germany. And finally Terry Hosker! Murdered with two other colleges in the Pentland Hills. Murderd by Andrew Walker in 85 it was a payroll robbery! The bloke my dad almost shot in Malaya was called Harry Roberts! Dad was his platoon Sargent! W02 CLIFF POLLARD 7-5-32 to 16-4- 21 A stand up Bloke!
Without posts like yours, most of us would never know about these characters, or these stories. At least you've had an interesting life. Having done 20 years in the mob from the 1970s (never SF), there were a lot of tragedies, a lot of good times, and a lot of characters and genuinely hard men.
Wow, my old mans boss. Often around our house when I was a kid. My old man was very good friends with Alex always spoke very highly of him. Fantastic interview, hope you're well Mr Gardiner Swift & Bold.
Nobby Winkworth was my CSM in 2RGJ. He got me on my NCO’S cadre, whilst on that cadre I also (accidentally) punched him in the face and dropped him on his arse…..Nobby jailed me. Next morning though, he got me out of Nick, allowed me to “sort out” the reason I had chinned him in the Garrison Gym, then sent me back on the cadre and told me to pass or else…I did and came top on that cadre……. Others recollections may differ about the man, but Nobby was a top bloke in my opinion!
I still have my Junior Jet Club logbook - Singapore to London may times, DC-6 Argonauts, Lockheed Constellations, the Comet and the 707. Overnighting in airline hotels in Rome, Cairo, Karachi, Singapore whilst the plane waited for the next day.
Born in '71. My mum is Irish. My dad was a Captain in the Green Jackets. I have a number of mementos but my favorite is a British Army issue Kukri that I still have (light infantry working with Gurkhas, who would have figured). Anyway, most importantly, thank you, very much, for your service.
nice to see and hear a genuine veteran and a real vets channel. from a vet of the British Army as opposed to the ENGLISH army and ENGLISH veterans. best of luck.
@@pjmoseley243 he was in the RGJs and that is a English regiment it’s now the rifles and recruits from England however we are the British army we don’t have a Scottish army or welsh army or a English army or a northern Irish army
@@MrTangolizard If you look at the history of RGJ it has had a very strong connection to Scotland and other countries...your definitely wrong about it being a English Regiment, it pays to do research !!
@@williambuchanan8607 lol I’m not wrong at all the RGJs come from the 43rd regiment of food (Monmouthshire wales) 52nd regiment of foot Oxfordshire and 60th regiment of foot (raised in America) and the 95th regiment of foot Derbyshire
Looks very different now to how he looked when he was in Dubai in 80,s. He was well liked among the seconded staff in Dubai and my father said, a lot of fun.
Noticed you twisted your shorts when the lad said you did ok on the on officer's day audience...yep pretty scary. Always had empathy for the lads on the stage 😏👍
Wonder if he remembers that SSVC interview about i think it was about Spearpoint or something similar. He deadpanned at an ambush. The enemy fallschirmjagers came up the road. for them the war is over. I’d love to see that clip again
He is very light - different reflection to what I would expect on Northern Ireland, esp 70s, served in Scots div myself, they referred to Green Jackets+ Light infantry aka light Div as " falling plates". Like targets on range. V good interview. Interesting character.
Great stuff, they dont make them like they used to... that include people unfortunately, it was back in '85 when I was made Swift and Bold, it was known as the Light division Depot rather than the Rifle Depot back then as the LI were trained with us
Hi Alex, I am curious about the wooden winged dagger on the floor. It looks like my old man’s handy work. He was 264 G Tp (79-81) and he craved a few of those during his time at H and sold them to people. In fact one was up on the wall in the Paludrine club when I was attached there (95-98).
I done two tours as a Japanese kamakasi flying zeros , two crash landings great career I joined in 44 in Japanese airforce Japanese on my father's side he served to in China
I remember the milling at Pennisula barracks it makes me chuckle today. However, if I knew what the future held and understood that the Establishment had already committed treason I would never have joined and we should question why so many men went to their death during both world wars. It was not as they were told for democracy and freedom we have never had that in any of the Home Nations. Today we are being absolutely swamped by illegals coming here who are allowed to apply retrospectively for asylum. Currently, there are six thousand makeshift camps in France holding hundreds of thousands of these people who all want to get here. This is costing the British taxpayer billions of pounds and those who really control the UK Government ( it is not anyone in Parliament) profit from it hence they are facilitating the destruction of England and Wales. The borders are being violated and brought down and it's a dangerous time for all of us. What annoys me is the way we Vets are treated many of us are homeless, many afflicted by mental health issues yet, we are ignored with very little help and the illegals are put up in 5-star hotels with many going on to commit serious crimes against British people. This is not sustainable and we need to engage in Lawful rebellion and stop funding those hell-bent on destroying us and the country. With that in mind, I stopped paying council tax back in 2008 and used the saved money to do my LLB and educate others on the issue. The problem is our English Constitution which the oath system is based on has been suppressed and subverted. We need to see the dissolution of the UK its not working for the people.
Great question! Used for a few reasons… 1) to hear what is being recorded, as there isn’t someone monitoring the interview (which could include bad sound with equipment or not talking direct enough into the mic, and/or unwanted surrounding noises etc). 1 man band here! 2) in turn, this stops any feedback. 3) volume can be turned up if hearing isn’t what it used to be for both. Hope that helps! Gav 👍
How do i go about finding my dad's military record. Unfortunately he died when I was 11 and I don't have any records for him. He was in 3 para in the 70s?
Not too sure. But there might be something if searching online, for departments you might be able to contact, or some sort of ancestry company. Good luck with it.
I also tried for 19th Royal Artillery 1968-74...got absolutely no place being past from piller to post. However, you will need proof of who you are, who yur father was and any info you have on him, eg birth certificates, death certificates etc. army info that you have. Google military and find out where to send. @@MilitaryVeteransPodcast
I found details of my cousins grandad who died in Burma in WW2. I can’t remember how I did it but it was all done online, there are some voluntary organisations as well
Are you stating that every man and his dog is meant to know what Harrow on the Hill is/was/meant to be? Not everyone is highly educated, nor comes from the UK. However, thanks for your comment.
Correct about the Enfield 3 Bander. The second was a Belgian flintlock that had probably been left or sold to an Afghan. Then some armoured must have refurbished it…very beautiful with French markings. I bought both in Bagram at the Friday market.
Everyone goes through selection. If you pass for some horrible reason, you even lose a rank. So, if you're a srgt you take a pay cut to corporal. Not sure if that is still the case and maybe people on here better qualified can say its changed. But a load of bullshit seeing as the British Army aren't actually paid alot and have families. And we expect these people to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
@@declanshanahan3888 you don't take a pay cut, you become a trooper (So in effect you lose your rank if you have 1) but remain on the level of pay you were on until you get promoted / are on a higher level than you were before.
@@declanshanahan3888 everyone in the ranks starts as a trooper regardless of what rank they held in parent battalion after selection, not sure of the officers though cos they only do two year stints.
@@andrewalexander1086 to be fair I believe every infantry regiment lost men in Northern Ireland I have no idea what the breakdown is of troops KIA by regiment obviously I think the UDA would have lost the most but after that I wouldn’t even begin to know
Y es it seemed one of our Bn was always there and some idiots still call us falling plates,as well as being really derogatory to the fallen,it was the Green Howards who unfortunately had this terrible nick name after a very bad tour.
@@MrTangolizard Nope, some Inf Regs went a good few years between tours . With our Reg, the 3 Bns were pretty much rotated through NI. During my time, my Bn 2 RGJ , did a tour 77/78 again in 79 then 81/82 . In all I did 7 tours in 22 years and that doesn't include the tours I missed due to being posted as an instructor.
Not sure what's going on here, did sas selection but was too young. Ireland, Ireland, Ireland......it's NI, not fkn Ireland. I did three yrs there, at Longkesh, No soldier who toured NI refers to it as "Ireland", ffs
Served with the RGJ whilst stationed in Strabane. Also worked with some ex Reg lads in my 30 year career within the RUC & PSNI. Proud to have done so. Salutation’s from Belfast Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
Some comments. The Trucial States were not Omani ! Also, 10 days before the UAE was formed (without Ras Al Khaimah,) the Iranians invaded a number of small islands in the middle of the Gulf which were the territory of Ras Al Khaimah. From then (Nov 1971) it has been a festuring sore at the UN. What very few people know was that the British government encouraged the Iranians to seize them. 6SBSRM carried out the beach recces whilst the Royal Marines trained the Iranian means for the mission. All during time the UK was contacted to protect the Trucial States. One could ask "who needs enemies when one has Britain as a friend" ? Britain in return wanted oil and gas concessions around the islands for BP and wanted Iran to formally recognize Bahrain as an independent country (Bahrain and Qatar were going to join the UAE but both decided not to). In the 1990s the US wanted to seize the islands from Iran and return them to the UAE if they could be leased for US air and naval bases. Their request was declined.
Alex. I knew two officers in the Truciall Scouts; one English (David Neade) and the other Scottish (John Whitelaw). When the Iranians in age the Tunb Islands in Nov 1971, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah the latter with his troop to take on the might Iranian forces into their show then saw sense. During the invasion the RAK police and scouts killed 43 Iranian marines, including the Shah's brother in law. They suffered one KIA and all but one not WIA. This now Martyr'z Day in the UAE. RAK formally joined the UAE a year later and the RAK scouts were integrated into the UAE army. In 1998 onwards I initiated the training of the UAE marine corps by the Royal Marines. When the contract was over (2012) the UAE general officers started their own private military company and hired ex USMC to carry on the task
