EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Out of Hours Reds on the Run

Yes; it would have been nice to linger a little longer, but there was no permanent "electro-med" tech post there. There was also my regular (and continuing) work to attend to back at the BMH (King's Park, Kowloon). Not to mention my first child being due to make an appearance in a month or two.

My last ride in an RAF helicopter would have been 47 years ago now. A Wessex out of HMS Tamar at low level across Hong Kong harbour to join an exercise up in the New Territories. I remember that one as a bloke refused to rope down from the hover. He was relatively senior, and I still remember his face - frozen in fear, the poor guy.

I don't remember much about the exercise itself, but (knowing the unit concerned) I imagine it was a bit "tame".

Those were the days... :-)

Those were the days eh? When there was still many destinations for overseas postings and detachments.
Sadly by the time I enlisted in '76 the closures had already started, most of the middle East had gone, Malta closed whilst I was in. Nowadays there's not much left in Germany and just Cyprus, oh and the exotic paradise Aka RAF Stanley!!

Geoff, you are absolutely correct it's a different service these days, you're not even allowed to shout at the little loves anymore!!!

It's all been a gradual whittling down since the Defence Review of 1966 (Wilson, Healey) ... "East of Suez", and all that.

Having said that, I'm told that the UK now spends more on Defence than does Russia! I can only assume that - in our case - that includes pensions ... and "cold sore" claims, and so forth.

But at least training in Oman and Kenya (as well as BATUS - Canada) is still on the cards.

About "shouting", "red cards" and all the rest ... soldiers trained under the "new regime" still produced the goods in Afghanistan.

Time flies, but some of my fondest memories are from my time in the RAF. I have to say, I never really experienced much 'shouting'. I think the is more of an 'Army' thing
Anyone serving, past or present, gets my respect.

When you sign on that dotted line, you don't where, or what you might get involved in!

Here's something that may be of interest, John.

Someone has started a petition aimed at getting the GSM awarded retrospectively (or a "Belize" bar - clasp - to an existing GSM) for service in Belize.

Petition

PS: I believe that German Special Forces (Kommando Spezialkräfte - or KSK) still do the jungle phase of their "selection" in Belize.

I have to agree that the number of overseas postings has diminished! I was fortunate to get posted to Belize in 83, Ascension Island in 86 , and Bahrain in 1990 (Operation Desert Storm). All involved sun, sea, diving, fishing, and bbq's, and a few beers. :-)

Interesting Petition Geoff - unusually, Belize was considered an active posting in the early 80's (which you would expect medals from) - mainly because of the potential for the civil war across the border (in Guatemala) spilling over into Belize. I will sign the petition.