Hi There.
I really enjoy looking at this site and appreciate that Henk does a grand job keeping it going but I was wondering, with all you chaps that come on here, how many of you actually did any time in the armed services? Also if and when you were in the forces, couldn't wait to get out, I know that when I did my stint, (nine years), I enjoyed it for the six but then counted the days on the last three. Although I like seeing you fella's dressed up in your outfits and attending Normandy etc, I don't need to act the part, done it got the tee shirt etc, I know the old soldiers like seeing you all in your garb and the bikes etc and they can all recall the time they served but I just like the military vehicles.
So come on how much service did you see? and did you get your knees brown?
TTJohn
email (option): Jomichael@aol.com
I didn't do any military service...After four years in my schools Air Cadet Squadron I was keen to join the RAF when I left school, but my old man had different ideas..Most of my family (for generations) were Engineers and my father thought that would be a good career for me as well, so steered me towards it...I remember him saying when I suggested the RAF as a career..'You don't want to do that, people telling you what to do all day, you should think for yourself'....Well, at 15 I didn't think for myself and so Engineering it was...I'm very happy to have done that though and have no regrets. Engineering is a trade where it's impossible to 'fake it'..you can either do the job or you can't and I am proud of my families long contribution in that arena..
In uniform I'm not 'acting a part' like some sort of 'wannabee', if I wanted to do that I'd be more likely to wear current uniform. In fact I resent any implication that I am doing so, as it is making totally incorrect and ill informed assumptions about my motives.......It's very simple..it's a case of matching my appearance to the bike on appropriate occassions to make a better display of it...Rather like the people who wear Edwardian clothes in thier old cars on the London to Brighton run..Nobody actually thinks they are trying to be 'Edwardian'... ...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Yes, RAAF, RAF and Royal navy count, cadets doesn't.
email (option): Jomichael@aol.com
Hi all here,
I was in the Dutch army for my military service during 14 months in 1980-1981.
My dad and all my uncles were soldiers but I just couldn't fit at that time, when I was 19/20 years old.
But people grow up and I ended up in the Dutch police force 
Regards,
Ramon
email (option): noahlevi6@hotmail.com
My Father and Grandfather were RAF, so I went though all the interviews and medicals to join up too when my time came, but at the last hurdle was told that recruitment had been cut and that was that, apply again in 18 months. I got a job doing something else and never reapplied. I often wish I had 
Roger: A fellow RASCer and RCTer, well done mate, mine was 1960 to 69 from 22 air dispatch to 65 Heavy plus ace force, UN in cyprus, then finished up 18 amphibious down in Devon.
TTJ
email (option): Jomichael@aol.com
Well done Henri you old git you must be nearly as old as me
TTJ
email (option): Jomichael@aol.com
Hi John,my dad was RASC and RCT just after the war,46-47.he was at a camp near Chesil beach near Weymouth for a time then at a Canadian or American camp on an airfield near Pickering or Malton in Yorkshire.There was little to do as the occupants of the camp had mainly been demobbed.he was a DR for a while,when he went to get his first bike(m20) he was given a chit,and told to go to a particular hanger.he said it was full,lines and lines of bikes.the guy in charge said take your pick.he chose the BSA as his dad had one.
after a while doing that as they got sorted out they had to learn to drive lorries
this was done round the airfield.after about a week ,the instructor walked in and said driving test in fifteen minutes outside,this consisted of a flat out run down the runway,a three point turn and back to the start point,six tested in twenty minutes in a Bedford 15 cwt pickup.one of his duties was a daily run to York to pick up fresh supplies,and calling at Smiths brewery Tadcaster for the beer for the officers mess.sounds to me he had a pretty easy time of it.he ended up in charge of the food stores as he was a butcher by trade and they needed to rotate the stock properly to prevent waste.there was a bake house on the camp and the locals could get a loaf through the back gate.
He told me he and a mate had a weekend pass an so slipped a couple of nice pieces of steak into his bag for his mum and dad.they caught the bus to Leeds
and were walking to the station when the MPs pulled up in a jeep.they asked where they were going,and had to show their passes.the MP then said right get
in,my dad s***t himself and said why what have we done,the MP replied dont you want a lift to the station then.
so there you are a little bit of info for you
cheers rick
email (option): richardholt@rocketmail.com
TT john maybe we might have been in the same places UN Nicosia 1964/65 and i am not sure of the dates but it would have been in the sixties air dispatch at RAF tangmere i drove the lorries/crane that went and picked up what you had maybe dropped agosies beverlies and hastings
email (option): roger.beck@node6.com
Roger. We must have been in Nicosia at the same time then, I was there in 1964 -65 that was when we got re-badged and it changed to the RCT I was with 65 coy then on the Nicosia airport, I know 47 Air Dispatch were there at the same time, quite close to the swimming pool if I remember correctly, I think we were the first to get the U.N. gong. I never stayed with Air dispatch I only did the course at Watchfield and got a bit fed up with all the wieghing and strapping down, the Hastings were grounded while I was there after a crash, and para's got killed.
Had one drop of a landrover & trailor, came down the DZ but the shoots broke free, quite a hieght, they dug it out eventually, the officer got one months extra duties for that.
Keo brandy five bob a bottle from the Red Lion and the old pakkie doing egg butties late at night when we got back.
Happy Daze
TTJohn
email (option): Jomichael@aol.com
someone had been naughty is the reason the chutes came free the chute release mechanism is designed to break off when the load hit the ground so not to be dragged along so one snatch on the load going out the back of the aircraft the second snatch when the load hit the ground someone has giving it a snatch before they dispatched it out of the aircraft i had to dig one out of the ground at otterburn training ground
email (option): roger.beck@node6.com
Military service, Corps of Engineers, 1955-57. After that, commisioned as an Civil Defence Explosive Ordnance officer, but fortunately, never served as such because I started working in the Third World...
email (option): viaconsu [at] planet [dot] nl
Ex REME
1979-2010
13 years Regs
Germany,UK,NI
18 years TA
Germany,UK,Iraq
Love talking to the old boys and the banter with the lads on the Normandy tours.
Tony just likes to come and keep an eye on us to make sure we are properly turned out for D Day.. ...Ian 
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com