British Soldier Northern Ireland 1980-ish

[Jimbo]

Thanks Guys for all your input on details etc, all very useful and appreciated by me, I was never over there in Northern Ireland so I take my cap off in respect to you blokes who had to deal with it....I was ( and I expect this'll kick off some interesting remarks ) Too busy trying to keep warm around the braiser during that bloody awful Firemans strike of 77 I always remember you guys being pulled off the line to ride on a Green Goddess with no proper training or equipment to deal with a serious incident, Not a good time all round thanks to bad politics, then it went & kicked off all over again 25 years later and the squaddies were pulled off the line again and the same rusty old Green Goddesses were pulled out of storage just as the 2nd Gulf war was brewing in the headlines, nothing learnt from the past it seemed to us old hands, once again around the braisers!
Cheers
Jim

 

[Scotty]

Hi Jim, sorry for the delay, here is the photo and a wee sketch, hopefully this shows the difference if not I'm sure one of the "forty twa" will pipe up.
All the best,
Scotty

 

[Gra30]

Yes Jim
I was crew commander at Norton Manor, Taunton
All I can say is it was an experience and I wish I had taken some pictures of my Goddess, although I still know it and remember it better than my car, and priming the hand pump
We watched the war start during my night shift and there were some unhappy RMs who had been kept as drivers.
Some thought they had missed their chance to serve a conflict, little did they know then what was to follow years later.....
I keep in touch with 2, definately no politics mate, just memories
Best wishes
Gra

 

[BobLff257]

Yes, I remember Jim. I was 20 years old and 10months in the job and loving it in 77. Then the winter of discontent, things were never the same again. It really defined you throughout your service, I think you know what I mean. I have never forgotten those times. Please, I don't want to go political with this, it's a long time ago but to a Fireman it's ..................history.

Rob

 

[Jimbo]

Yes Gra I bet the blokes were P off if they thought they were going to miss out on doing the biz over in Iraq, nothing worse then training to do something then not getting chance to do it for real, We actually had a guy on our station who was an Ex RM, he tried to leave the Brigade to go back in the RM so he could have a go over there, but then he was bit of a Mad Dog!

Rob, Yes mate, I had only been in the Brigade a couple of years when the 77 strike happened, but like you said it's a Firefighter's ..sorry... Firemans history Bad times alongside good at least we had a lot of public support back in 77, all a long time ago.
Cheers
Jim

 

[captnenglish]

I may be a Yank, but this brings back memories.

 

[TonyT]

Ahhh the Firemans strike part 1.... guys were sent to RAF St Athans to get an HGV 3 it consisted of driving across the parade square turning round and pulling up between some cones, the next guy would get in and do the same back across the square, as you got out you were issued an HGV3 lol.

As for the model, you want to put the gun sight up too my trousers were elasticacted at the bottom, there was a hole in the seam for it.

 

[Jimmy S]

I may be a Yank, but this brings back memories.

P checked a few Yanks over there.........was that you?

 

[jakbwrhr]

Hi Scotty,

The hackle is further towards the ear. Effectively, the hackle should sit above your middle finger if you place your hand right next to your ear, with the index finger running up the side and your thumb cupping behind the ear...

Please excuse my updating of your sketch...

Kind regards,

James

 

[sd0324]

Now that's what i call a weapon,fond memories.
Brian

Funny this came up,I had the privilege to shoot a very nice full auto FN FAL Belgian model this afternoon,truly a beast!

 

[jakbwrhr]

Hi Jim,

Let me know if you would like a BW hackle - I have a few spare lurking around...

Also can send you a pic of the regimental flash worn on the left arm if you need...

Cheers,

James

 

[Scotty]

Thanks James, the sketch was from memory, I had 2 BW sect comd's at Glencorse and after that I avoided them like the plague. It would be nice to see your headdress done accurately, it was unique after all.
Aw the best,
Scotty

 

[badger]

i joined the royal marines in 1972 and was issued with an slr, we kept it in our lockers and cleaned it constantly, it went everywhere with me and once you fired it, you were hooked. a great weapon. but i remember the barrel would get extremely hot very quick.