16 Field Squadron
Parishoner’s Gazette
Here at
last! After all the training and hard work of the last three months it was a great
relief to arrive here and start doing things properly. Humber Pigs are no
longer 4 ton lorries with “Pig” chalked on the side, but are real exciting
swines for the drivers to appreciate (and crash). After a week with D Company
Queens Own Highlanders, the advance party was able to welcome the main party
and Squadron HQ, 1 Troop and two sections of 3 Troop moved to their sardine can
accommodation at Paulette Avenue. There is just room to park three Landrovers,
two pigs and two 4 tonners with a certain amount of difficulty. Needless to
say, when the convoy carrying the main party arrived at Paulette Avenue, not only
were two 4 tonners and 2 pigs parked in the yard, but also the mobile library
the NAAFI truck and the ration wagon. 2 Troop and the SHQ Troop other section
of 3 Troop went to St
Matthews Church Fall where they were met by a snarling, vicious
one - eyed beast called Rex who had been taken over from the QOH (think
this is a dog - Ed).
Within 2 hours of their arrival the first sections were out and discovering
the joys of the attractively named streets Such as Chemical, Kilmood and
Thistle. But beware ladies!. They were also greeted by that attractive, sexy
young woman -
Mrs Ann Duffy (Rose to 2 Troop). Regrettably, what Rose said about 2 Troop
at St Matthews Church Hall cannot be repeated here.
Extensive improvements are being made to both our locations, all that
sandbag sangar building practice at Osnabruck and Sennelager was not wasted and
even the local population marvel at our handiwork. Spr Jim MENZIES has spent
many hours
erecting a CGI shelter for our washing machine and tumble-drier. SSgt Mick BANKS
has deliberately been keeping the OC awake hammering the CGI throughout the
daylight hours.
Operations have been muted the big strike marches passed peacefully, the
latest Apprentice Boys Day was an anti-climax and we were reduced to searching
for a decent size crowd. The Tartan Gang have not been tested against us yet, nor
the IRA for that matter. The only excitement was offered by a gunman. In
the chase, the gunman contributed to close Military/RUC
co-operation by going home to be caught. This was just as well since ZERO,
the OC, call signs 32 - something and 23 -
entirely sure where each other were, not to say
where the gunman was.'Searcher' LARCOMBE with his section
found this out the hard way by combing the area, looking for both the gunman
and 32 - something, not knowing which was more dangerous, and in the event
finding neither.
Already there are signs of cracking-up amongst the workers of the Squadron.
Sgt John BAILIE when puzzled why he could not get through to Sydenham, had to
be reminded by the 21C that he had been dialling his own number for the last
ten minutes. Even the SQMS SSgt Bob SLOAN went to church twice on Easter Day.
His, excuse was that he 'only went for the buffet' but it is believed that he
was praying his wife wouldn't find out he has been posted back to BELFAST in
October.
The biggest GOOF of the month must go to Sgt Mick DOBSON who entered the
Paulette Avenue Mess one Sunday morning as the CO was discussing a certain type
of book and said, "Don't bother to get up chaps"!
The SSM is being hounded from room to room but only because he insists on
smoking the most frightful cigars. It is really an attempt to become so
unpopular that he might be relieved from carrying out the duties of watch keeper.
