Albert has kindly sent me the following pictures in the hope that they will stir a few memories for the Micks who served with him in Aden 1966-67

The Bear(Connolly), Sidney Bogle
and Mullally

Myself with L/Sgt Rose on Guitar

Gdsn Millen, Joe Singleton, Sidney Bogle, myself and Conlon

L/Cpl Hovis Brown
Going for his annual shower
(obviously well-bread)

L/Sgt John Devlin & Gdsn McKenna
 
 

CSM John Mayne
with the Moyne brothers
(John with the VC)

and now a true story of when Albert first joined The Micks . . . .

Hi Ivor, Mess or Ablutions.

I'm from Liverpool and I was in the Irish Guards. My army number is 24000648. I joined up in May 1965, and served until May 1968   I did 18 weeks basic training plus one Z week .
Before we were properly squadded we had a week called Z week It was a week to get everything ready for actually starting your training, going to the company stores and getting your kit issued etc.  With having a lot of free time in between getting our kit issued we were put on fatigues around the Guards Depot ( Pirbright Camp Brookwood, Surrey).
When they told me 'I would be on fatigues' I said I thought you only went on fatigues as a punishment, 'no', I was told, because 'we were not properly squadded we would be used as labour around the camp as and when they thought fit'.  I was not at all happy with this as I had joined up as a soldier not a labourer.  Well I was sent to the QMs Stores and when I arrived at the stores three Guards Officers were talking together outside the stores, I found out which one was the QM, and when I approached him and told him I had been sent  to do fatigues at the stores the QM  told me to come to attention, I told him I was Z week squadded and I had not been trained to do any drill movements yet, OK he said with a smug expression on his face I want you to clean the ablutions out and I want the floor clean enough to eat my dinner off, I said 'OK sir I will do my best'.  Well after about nearly three hours I went to find the QM and guess what ?  He was still talking to the other two officers.  He then asked me what I wanted I said 'Sir I have cleaned the ablutions and the floor is clean enough for you to have your dinner off, but  myself personally I prefer to have my dinner in the cookhouse off a plate on a table but if you want yours off the toilet floor that's up to you'.  Well his face went bright red the other two officers were laughing their heads off saying wait till we get in the mess and the other officer's get to hear about this.  Well the QMs face was bright red his veins were sticking out on his neck he was in a terrible temper huffing and puffing and told me to push off and get out of his sight. As I got about ten or fifteen feet from him I said you ought to think of what you are saying to people and also you will have to get up really early to catch a Scouser out.  Needless to say I was never sent to the QMs Stores on fatigues again.  I still think of the arrogant high handed attitude he had with me a poor lowly humble recruit at the time.

Best regards, AlbieMc.

PS  A joke, A GUARDSMAN was on a first aid course, and he was asked what would he do if  a guardsman got injured while out on patrol and got most of his brains was blown away, he said, 'I would make him an Officer'.

On the left Guardsman McMichael and Guardsman Skillen with the radio on the right, just before going out on foot patrols around Aden. (click on the image to see an enlargement

Matlah Christmas 1966

Sent to Albert by John Mayne.

James McKenna 07 on the left, William ( Maxie ) Maxwell on the right tea break 3 Company.

McKenna 07 on the right William ( Maxie ) Maxwell on the left both holding SLR rifles 3 Company.