NEWSLETTER
21 November 1975

INTRODUCTION
With the first breath I must apologise for the small part of last weeks newsletter which was allotted to news from Londonderry. This was not a reflection on what a closely guarded secret everything is that happens here; but on the clash of interest between tie Ops Officer and PRO. Unfortunately the production of the Regimental Op Order won and the newsletter was published with more flap than haste.

The dreadful word "deadline" is the one on which my every waking hour hinges. This does not mean the time by which the article should be written, but the very last second at which inspiration can be received to prevent the boring flannel from appearing. There arc only two solutions to the problem. One, that activity increases and the front line news comes hot from the press and the other that it remains as it is and badly written Waffle appears. We all believe that there is no choice and everything will continue to be flannel.

The Regiment is deployed in five separate locations. 18 Battery have their Headquarters and one Troop in Hawkin Street Armoury which is in the centre of the Protestant Fountain Estate. The other three Troops live at Bridge Camp with our attached Company of the Worcester and Sherwood Forresters Regiment. They control entry to the walled city. Bridge Camp is more comfortable than Hawkin Street, but having to go and be briefed at BHQ cuts Into' the rest periods.

94 Battery live in the Masonic Car Park and observe and patrol the Bogside. This is the largest and most comfortable Battery location.

49 Battery live in the Waterloo Car Park and control the Strand area. Beside this Car Park is Victoria Barracks, the old RHC Station, in which Tac HQ live. Tac are fed by 49 Battery. Finally Echelon live in Port George with the Light Infantry and Royal Navy. Fort George is an expanding empire with new accommodation being built. When this is completed the Naval Hotel HMS RAME HEAD will return to Portsmouth.

We have had three visits this week, one military in the shape of the Commander Land Forces Major General Young. We also had the Liberal Party spokesman in Northern Ireland, Mr AJ Beith MP and the under secretary of State (army) Mr RC Brown MP. With the latter visit we also had a bevey of photographers and TV cameramen, 42nd was mentioned in both Ulster TV and the BBC showing several well know Regimental faces.

There have still been no incidents of note, not even any stone throwing recently

B TROOP NOTES
B Troop also suffered hiccups before leaving for Ulster, we lost Gnr Reg TUVEY on the last day to join the Rear Party, and are still waiting for Gnr Alan KAY to join us from hospital. Gnr Steve SCHOFIELD has now joined us, two days after his 18th Birthday, which ho shared with Lbdr Jesse JAMES and Gnr Bones CLAYTON. The latter two shared a beautifully made cake with the compliments of the ACC (Hawkins Street Branch).

Although life at the front is not too hard we do suffer from a man-power shortage, partly because some afternoons we lose Bdr Joe ELWARD to soccer and Lbdr Jesse JAMES, Gnr Jock WALDIE and Lcpl Ken LOOMES to Rugby. Our most serious loss is Sgt Dougic MASSEY who we all believe is somewhere among the 25 blankets on his bed.

Apart from normal military duties, B Troop has been called upon to do some extra jobs the most noticeable being when B Troop (Brickies) completed a job with only a shovel which the Royal Engineers failed to do with modern equipment. It has certainly put us in the EC's good books.

To finish on a lighter note, the find of the week goes to Sgt Crazy DAVIES (Jnr) who in six hours caught two queers, prostitute and a petrol bomb,

FROM A BATTERY NET
-Hello 2 this ia 22B. There is a car stopped just 60 metres south of my position ..... "
He has switched his headlights out .....
the driver is getting out ......
He has left his door open ........
he is moving up close to the wall of the building .....
he seems to be fumbling with something under his coat....
it could. "be a weapon ...... or . . .....
2 this is 22B, Cancel, out"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The QM was overheard to say:
We have more people on night duty in Tac than Montgomery had at the Battle of
El Alemein.

There is no truth in the rumour that all the chairs have been removed from the ops room and replaced with saddles.

DID YOU KNOW
Members of the Intelligence Section have changed the last three digits of their Army numbers to "00-".

The SMIS thinks we are on excercise.

D TROOP JOTTINGS
whenever faced with the problem of writing an article for any magazine, I immediately try and make a list of things that have happened..
So as usual I sat down at 4 am (19 Nov) and by SIX am I still had a blank sheet of paper. To say its quiet in Londonderry would be an understatement of the century.

my next move was to go and ask the Troop themselves what they had been doing.
So I went through the pouring rain to the home of Bdr Alex ALEXANDER and his section. "What shall I write to Fallingbostel I asked, sitting in a dark, damp, breeze block hut affectionately known as Papa Nine.

"Well you could write .about the journey" replied Gnr Barry Appleby, "You know, about the flight from Gutorsloh to the wind swept expanses of wild Aldergrove, about the wait in the VIP lounge and the questions asked by the friendly customs official as he helpfully tipped your luggage all over the floor".

"Don't be daft" said Lbdr Mick ALLEN, "that sounds like a brochure for a package holiday tour gone wrong".Tell them about the natives.'" '

So equipped with at least one idea I moved on to the next sanger, the notorious Foxtrot One. It became notorious while 2nd Field Regiment were here, but since we moved in the Bog-siders who use it every day have been incredibly well-mannered even on occasions talking to the lads on the gate.

Sgt Marty COLLINS put this down to an altogether better type of soldier. Lbdr Christy ABBOTT shattered this theory by remarking "no its not, were just better looking"!.'

I posed the question "What shall I write- again and the reply was "Tell them about Bruce". Well, Bruce is a "wee scabby dog" that had previously attached itself to 5 Section and no matter what time of day or night one visits 5 section, one will always come across Bruce.
The conversation then moved to the previous night when the section had visited the British Legion Club over on the other side of the river Foyle, to celebrate Gnr DOBSON's 21st Birthday. The conversation rapidly deteriorated into public house chat.
So back I came to the Ops Room and I looked at my piece of paper with the list of events in it which was still blank and came to the conclusion I had little of interest to write
about. However D Troop are keeping themselves busy with the normal routines of the Strand.
1
Q - - What would you call artificial turf
-A---Flbregrass

F TROOP THOUGHTS

Once again F Troop have been successful in the Inter- Troop Competition, retaining the Title of "Champion Troop", as a result of hard work and one hundred percent effort. I was informed by the Colonel at 94 "Battery farewell dance in Vallingbostel that we were leading the field in the competition at just over the half way stage. This was quite a surprise as we had only won one event and came 8th in two others, but by maintaining a good average had set the pace. Knowing that we were in the lead we had to work harder to stay there.

This was achieved by taking first place in four of the last events six events.
The most pleasing of these was the Small Bore Shooting, This gave us the winning total of 40 points and our nearest rivals had 67 points, that was a clear 27 points win, well done the lads"
We're still trying to 'arrange a celebration party but because of IS duties here in the Bogside, the only likely places are the "Bogside Inn" or maybe a disco in the "Stardust". We will have to wait until March and the return to Fallingbostel.
Still a well kept thirst is hard to lose and we will have two excuses for a party, "by then.

The flight and journey over here were uneventful except for the quantity of money being passed to customs officials as duty for excess 'fags' however both sides seemed satisfied.
As soon as we arrived through the gates we put the kit in our rooms, drew IS kit and started patrolling in the'Bogside, now known as "The Patch".
Within a couple of days we had our first Cordon and Search. Sgft nettley Davies and Kevin Jubb with their section formed the cordon whilst Bdr Roger Hailes and the search team went inside to do the search of the House, Sgt pete Jones and Gnr Jock Munro doing guard and escort with the Troop Commander supervising.
Although the search proved negative, it was far from uneventful, Gnrs Ginger Hopkins and Terry Lowndes did the search of the attic. Ginger Hopkins now has the nickname of "Twinkletoes". He put his great big boot through the bedroom ceiling. from now on he is restricted to concrete floors only.

Sinoo then our Troop Tanks of lifts and searches have greatly improved with no fuss or bother. Although everyone is hoping for a positive find instead of the Rubber Bullets which seem to decorate every sideboard in the patch.

The foot patrols apart from doing their tasks have not been without moments of humour. The Troop Commander W02 Bill Brown was observed trying to be "Batman one evening and fly from one side of the road to the other.
He claims that Gnr Stevie Gough tripped him.

We have Settled down to our duties here at the Masonic with Patrols and Standbys for six days and three days in the Observation posts, and are now on our second tour of OP'S.

I would like to welcome Gnr Geordie Cooper to the troop and' may his stay be a happy one. Also on behalf of the troop, I would like to congratulate Gnr (spud) and Mrs Murphy
On the birth of their baby boy.
The following have had birthdays and we wish them good luck.
Sgt Nettley Davies and Bdr Kenny Everitt.

Let us now gather round to sing the praises of that wonderful bunch of heroes led by
Ssgt (dont forget the AC) John Wilson (Ed' I had to publish this to get the typing done).
I refer of course to the under world that exists in Victoria barracks, the Regimental Office or ground floor south side.
Where else would you get a beaming smile and be told to Gerroff ahtofit" with such charm and finesse. Our hospitality is widely known and remarked upon by those who have been unfortunate enough to receive it.
Our. war weary guests are served with cups of steam-- coffee, if they bear gifts, However our speed and efficiency would make British Rail blink. We think they taught Gnr Brian ROSS how to make coffee.
You can sample the mystic wonders of foreign shores, transport being no problem unless you sec Lbdr Ray LIMB. Just settle back and let him whisk you away on the toe of his boot "if you F*****g come in here again changing flights for the third time you won't go".

Should you ever have legal queries or problems we have no finer expert in the legal back roads and swamps than Sgt Alan PHILLIPS. We guarantee the results every time provided it is only a query and not about a genuine crime.

when you come in weary and shell shocked looking for a sympathetic shoulder to cry on during your off duty, Gnr Gary CROSS is the man. Don't let his gruff 'I've seen it all before" manner put you off. He has seen it before - he filed your report.

So now you have heard all about the wonderful services we perform. But there is more.' We do typing while you wait (Ed - when?) and do the impossible almost immediately. Our 24 hour service is open to all who know the password. "Chief I want this by ---- " and come between the hours of 1145 and 1200.

(The clerks branch of Tac HQ have settled to the unholy routine well. Thank goodness the ex-Adjutant has not written an Op Order this week - Ed).

Notice on a. church door in the Strand Road area; "This is the house of God This is the Gate of Heaven, ( This door is locked in the winter months)

Heard on the Welfare Telephone

What number are you calling from ? Pause !!!!!

Its right there on your dial ! Long Pause - 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITHOUT BHQ BATTERY

The Battery Captain asked me to do the first article on BHQ Troop 94 Battery for the. Newsletter. BHQ consists of the Intelligence Section, Operations Room, BQMS Stores and the BC's party.
Int Sect is under the fearless command of Captain John DEAKIN, working alongside; him are Bdrs Terry (I hate Georddes) TORODE and Charlie (its not my job) BUTLER. Under them arcethree hard working Gunners. Eddie (l want to get off) H'ASKAYNE, Chesney GROVES and John "Raff" RAFFERTY who makes the best pot of coffee this side of Brazil. They do a great job even though they do tend to take photographs without any film in the camera.

The Ops Room, which is the nerve centre of the Battery has two Ops Officers. Lt Richard MORRIS who spends most of his time dismantling the Tac map or counting the days to R & R, and the SM, Jack (I work 25 hours a day) SIMPSON.
Anytime between 0800 and 2359 hours if you pop"into the Ops Room you will meet one of these charming gentlemen.
They will have a smile on their faces and will no doubt invite you in for a cup of coffee and a pleasant chat about the weather etc/ Very nice people indeed. There are four signallers, who maintain they are second to none. Bdr Dave (I'm in charge) BARTHOLOME, Bdr Terry (When I was in Salalah) KITSON and Gnr MANTLE. These four boys are liked and loved by all members of 94 Battery because of their sterling work and dedication to duty in the Ops room. The only thing they have not yet discovered, is who assembled the tannoy in Tango Two, it keeps buzzing. The rumour is that it was Sgt Netley DAVIDS to keep in step with his twitching.

The BC's party is famous for its ability to sleep, especially Gnr Alan BERRY. He had a fright this week when someone got him out of bed at 0430 hours to do a cordon. That done, he was back by 0600 hours.
Lbdr Reg MOORE spends most of his time fixing the Troop television set. He is so good at it that he was asked to put a TV in Rorsville flats; Reg declined.

The final part of BHQ is the BQMS Store. Here you will find that ever cheerful
'Q', Tommy "I am not a storeman" BUTTON. He is ably assisted by Bdr John BAYLOR who spends his time chatting to the BSM and is MT NCO and Battery “Bookie“.
The other member of the ;Q Staff is Gnr Pete "I don't know where I am" ROE who, every third night, is heard to say "I don't get enough sleep" as ho wearily drags his poor body up to Whiskey/ Sangar.

We will keep you informed on how our intrepid heroes battle their way through the four month campaign.


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