Yes,thats right,the "Hannover Horse".I recall a certain Mess Night where the RSM said "lets take the bus to Hannover for a night out".So we ended up at the Meschesee,and when the wife woke up next morning there was,draped over the wardrobe,two flags,one of Hannover,with that horse,and the other one of Hamburg.The local newspaper spoke of "daring thieves"who shinned up the poles to take those trophys,little did they know it was "besoffen feldwebels"!Could not remember a thing myself!!!!Some one must have led me astray! --------- Don
Ahhhh.......Hanover I recall well albeit for a different reason. Winter '56/57 was one of the worst on record and I was detailed to play Last Post at the British Military Cemetery there. We were knee-deep in snow and when I went to play Last Post the mouthpiece froze to my lips it was that cold. As the saying goes; there are somethings you remember vaguely and somethings you just never forget. I still remember the exact position I was standing in at the Cemetery and that was some 53 years ago! Least we forget.
Bri, it's not quite true to say L/Cpl's wore TWO mars bars 58 onwards' For example, in Malaya, L/Cpl's wore only 'ONE' Brass Monkey! Possibly the same in Aden?
And I recall where the duty trumpeters at Wolfenbüttel had the same problem when "sounding off" in the very cold conditions we had in those days.As far as I recall L/Cpls were L/Cpls and wore one stripe? - certainly only one brass chevron on working dress. ------ Don
My recollection is that until the amalgamation L/Cpls wore only one stripe and no 'Monkey'. As to the above; what a smart quinary of Lance/Jacks.Maybe this 'photo should be circulated to modern squaddies as to how they should dress. I'm tryng to think what the collective noun is for a group of L/Cpls. if there is one. A couple comes to mind; 'A Slash of Corporals' or 'A Cutting of Corporals'. No neither sounds acceptable . Anyone got any better ideas? Paddy
With regards to the L/cpl stripe, all I can say is that when I came back for demob I had two stripes as a Lcpl on my BD's, and I understood a full Cpl had two with a monkey above, when I was in Aden and Singapore we only wore one.
Ah yes,L/Cpls,when I joined the Royals they were a power in themselves,and you got your heels together when they spoke to you in those days,Paddy,trying to think of something - stuck for words for a change!How about" Power to all my friends"! ----- Don
Bit of a poser Don.Keep thinking. Seeing the L/Cs remends me of when I got my first stripe after a long five or six months service. It was local/ unpaid and was commonly referred to as Local Acting Unpaid Unwanted Lance Jack. for all that I was immensely proud to have it. Paddy
Thanks John & Derek for getting my pics on the BB. One tape only when we were lads, we still had rationing then even in B.A.O.R. One Brass chevron was worn on our black denims. Names L.-R.:- Robert "Jock Weir, Me, Tom Robinson, Geoff Phillips, "Nobby" Nobbs. Bob right about the date, I think it was in 1949. Eventually I think the tape was worth an extra 6d.a day. With deductions I think we actually drew 10/- one week and £1 the next! Harold.
Nice set of photos Harold and well appreciated by all. You did well getting 10 bob a week. As a boy, I only got two shillings & sixpence a week and that was in 1955!
L. - R.. :- L/Cpl.Monks (alias me) , Alfie Bull (stting down), ? (Standing), and I don't remember the name of the lad on the Right, but he's on many of my photos. I didn't take many of them, I think 3 of us bought the little box camera between us. Never got chance of a Leica for 20 fags! Harold
Geoff Phillips leaning elegantly on good old "309". He is wearing one of the "Combat suits" we tested out for about 6 months. They were made of a new dark green material and were much more comfortable and practical than the B.D. Cap was a bit like the German "feldmutze", and wasn't popular. Picture was at Wolfenbuttel opposite B Sqn barrack block.
I waas proud to get my stripe as much as getting my radio mechanics sparks took my pay to 8 shillings a day a fortune in those days.I lucky in being in the last of the war time call up groups we were in the same catergory as regulars for pay and conditions, Bob
We handed in the "Monkey Suits" after the 6 month trial was up. Never heard any more about them. The overcoat was a superb garment, like a modern carcoat. Probably the outfit cost too much to produce. I came home on leave wearing mine and nearly got put under arrest by a redcap at Harwich for being improperly dressed. The officious swine made me hand it in and collect it on the return journey, which wasn't funny in November! Harold.
those redcaps at Harwich and the Hook were a pain in the butt .I remember being pulled up with others for not wearing webbing belts when we pointed out that we en route for demob at Aldershot and our webbing had had been handing in they insisted on checking all our paperwork. Bob
Hi Chiffchaff You are absolutely right about the picture was taken opposite "B" Squadron barrack block, it brings back more memories. The vehicle I had alot to do with was 550 it was bulled and polished till it shone like a new pin , This was to show off to visiting V.I.Ps Regards Ron.
I went on leave in 1957 in Wesendorf as a 1 stripe Lance Jack and came back to find them all wearing 2 stripes and had to update myself. When it was full corporal we just added the monkey. O happy days Regards to all. John Louch.
This is what I have been saying to Derek, that Lancejacks wore two stripes and a full Cpl added a monkey, when I came back home from Singapore I had two stripes on my uniform and people thought I was a Cpl and I had to explain that the Royals wore two stripes for a L/cpl and a Cpl had a monkey above.
I have put these photo's on for Harold Monks, I will leave it for Harold to let you know who and where the photo's are of.
ReplyDeleteThanks JOHN
ReplyDeleteNow who is going to put names to these lads. i know the faces but cant put names to them
ReplyDeleteWhere was this taken not sure but i think DETMOLD
ReplyDeleteNOT SURE ON THIS ONE
ReplyDeleteTRYING TO WORK THIS ONE OUT
ReplyDeleteNoticed once more that the Lance corprals have only ONE mars bar up they/we wore TWO 58 onwards not sure when this came about.
ReplyDeleteBri.
Wolfenbuttle - say's so bottom r/h corner Bri.
ReplyDeleteNot far from Brunswick as I recall, &no doubt they do too!!!!!!
Wolfenbuttle 1946-50. Would be interested to know what the 'Horse' shoulder flashes represented.
The horse flashes were the Hanover District emblem. Wolfenbuttle was a part of that district.
ReplyDeleteYes,thats right,the "Hannover Horse".I recall a certain Mess Night where the RSM said "lets take the bus to Hannover for a night out".So we ended up at the Meschesee,and when the wife woke up next morning there was,draped over the wardrobe,two flags,one of Hannover,with that horse,and the other one of Hamburg.The local newspaper spoke of "daring thieves"who shinned up the poles to take those trophys,little did they know it was "besoffen feldwebels"!Could not remember a thing myself!!!!Some one must have led me astray!
ReplyDelete---------
Don
Ahhhh.......Hanover I recall well albeit for a different reason. Winter '56/57 was one of the worst on record and I was detailed to play Last Post at the British Military Cemetery there. We were knee-deep in snow and when I went to play Last Post the mouthpiece froze to my lips it was that cold. As the saying goes; there are somethings you remember vaguely and somethings you just never forget. I still remember the exact position I was standing in at the Cemetery and that was some 53 years ago! Least we forget.
ReplyDeleteBri, it's not quite true to say L/Cpl's wore TWO mars bars 58 onwards' For example, in Malaya, L/Cpl's wore only 'ONE' Brass Monkey! Possibly the same in Aden?
And I recall where the duty trumpeters at Wolfenbüttel had the same problem when "sounding off" in the very cold conditions we had in those days.As far as I recall L/Cpls were L/Cpls and wore one stripe? - certainly only one brass chevron on working dress.
ReplyDelete------
Don
My recollection is that until the amalgamation L/Cpls wore only one stripe and no 'Monkey'.
ReplyDeleteAs to the above; what a smart quinary of Lance/Jacks.Maybe this 'photo should be circulated to modern squaddies as to how they should dress. I'm tryng to think what the collective noun is for a group of L/Cpls. if there is one. A couple comes to mind; 'A Slash of Corporals' or 'A Cutting of Corporals'. No neither sounds acceptable . Anyone got any better ideas?
Paddy
With regards to the L/cpl stripe, all I can say is that when I came back for demob I had two stripes as a Lcpl on my BD's, and I understood a full Cpl had two with a monkey above, when I was in Aden and Singapore we only wore one.
ReplyDeleteAh yes,L/Cpls,when I joined the Royals they were a power in themselves,and you got your heels together when they spoke to you in those days,Paddy,trying to think of something - stuck for words for a change!How about" Power to all my friends"!
ReplyDelete-----
Don
must be be between summer 1949 and going to Chester 1950 as they are wearing the Eagle badge
ReplyDeleteand the Hanover horse div sign
Bob
Bit of a poser Don.Keep thinking.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the L/Cs remends me of when I got my first stripe after a long five or six months service. It was local/ unpaid and was commonly referred to as Local Acting Unpaid Unwanted Lance Jack.
for all that I was immensely proud to have it.
Paddy
Thanks John & Derek for getting my pics on the BB. One tape only when we were lads, we still had rationing then even in B.A.O.R. One Brass chevron was worn on our black denims. Names
ReplyDeleteL.-R.:- Robert "Jock Weir, Me, Tom Robinson, Geoff Phillips, "Nobby" Nobbs. Bob right about the date, I think it was in 1949. Eventually I think the tape was worth an extra 6d.a day. With deductions I think we actually drew 10/- one week and £1 the next!
Harold.
Nice set of photos Harold and well appreciated by all.
ReplyDeleteYou did well getting 10 bob a week. As a boy, I only got two shillings & sixpence a week and that was in 1955!
L. - R. :- Downing, Paddy McQuaid, Jock Weir. I can't remember where it was taken.
ReplyDeleteHarold.
L. - R.. :- L/Cpl.Monks (alias me) , Alfie Bull (stting down), ? (Standing), and I don't remember the name of the lad on the Right, but he's on many of my photos. I didn't take many of them, I think 3 of us bought the little box camera between us. Never got chance of a Leica for 20 fags!
ReplyDeleteHarold
Geoff Phillips leaning elegantly on good old "309". He is wearing one of the "Combat suits" we tested out for about 6 months. They were made of a new dark green material and were much more comfortable and practical than the B.D. Cap was a bit like the German "feldmutze", and wasn't popular. Picture was at Wolfenbuttel opposite B Sqn barrack block.
ReplyDeleteI remember the troop of "Wooly bears " arriving just before we left for Berlin ,I was going to ask what happened to those uniforms.
ReplyDeleteI waas proud to get my stripe as much as getting my radio mechanics sparks took my pay to 8 shillings
ReplyDeletea day a fortune in those days.I lucky in being in the last of the war time call up groups we were in the
same catergory as regulars for pay and conditions,
Bob
We handed in the "Monkey Suits" after the 6 month trial was up. Never heard any more about them. The overcoat was a superb garment, like a modern carcoat. Probably the outfit cost too much to produce. I came home on leave wearing mine and nearly got put under arrest by a redcap at Harwich for being improperly dressed. The officious swine made me hand it in and collect it on the return journey, which wasn't funny in November!
ReplyDeleteHarold.
those redcaps at Harwich and the Hook were a pain in the butt .I remember being pulled up with others for not wearing webbing belts when we pointed out that we en route for demob at Aldershot and our webbing had had been handing in they insisted on checking all our paperwork.
ReplyDeleteBob
Hi Chiffchaff You are absolutely right about the picture was taken opposite "B" Squadron barrack block, it brings back more memories. The vehicle I had alot to do with was 550 it was bulled and polished till it shone like a new pin , This was to show off to visiting V.I.Ps Regards Ron.
ReplyDeleteI went on leave in 1957 in Wesendorf as a 1 stripe Lance Jack and came back to find them all wearing 2 stripes and had to update myself. When it was full corporal we just added the monkey.
ReplyDeleteO happy days Regards to all.
John Louch.
This is what I have been saying to Derek, that Lancejacks wore two stripes and a full Cpl added a monkey, when I came back home from Singapore I had two stripes on my uniform and people thought I was a Cpl and I had to explain that the Royals wore two stripes for a L/cpl and a Cpl had a monkey above.
ReplyDeleteMust say I can't remember life being so difficult for the poor Corporals!It must have been in those days "show your left arm only"
ReplyDelete------
Don