'Royal'

[JR]

Regards to all serving 'Bootnecks' and to all the 'Booties' who have been there,done it,and got the T Shirt?.I have been sitting in the back row over the last couple of weeks wondering whether or not to Jump Ship! as there seems to be a lack of the 'Old and Bold' postings,within this forum there is a wealth of knowledge Marine wise, the members of the Family cover a multitude of SQs and TQs every branch of the Corps is represented from the exalted ranks of the GD Marines (who over the years) has undertaken most jobs the Corps threw at them,to the support SQs without their help many of us would have been in deep Shi'ite,the Cooks (sorry Chefs) who under extreme conditions managed to sustain us.to the PTIs who ran us ragged the PWs who taught us our trade,the DLs who instilled the pride of the Corps into our hearts.not forgetting that branch of the Corps who made sure we got our pay (or should I say pittance),the 'Chopper jockeys' who mananged to get the mail through along with a few goodies,the AEs who could build a luxury 'Heads' in the middle of nowhere,not forgetting the D3 who could put the fear of Christ into most of the passengers.The Corps has certainly produced the the ultimate warrior.He can push a barrow ride a bike,jump from a perfectly serviceable aircraft,swim ashore,pilot a 'parafin pidgeon'steer a craft,and can 'yomp' for miles carrying his kit needed to subdue any nasty's,the 'Bootnecks' favourite the LPC (leather personel carrier).converses in his own language 'Boot speak' Its certainly true when they say 'Tell that to the Marines' if he believes it,it must be true.And last but not least that Body of Men and Women who make us feel proud to be Marines when the Regimental march is played by the finest musicians in the Armed forces.I will now step down from my soap box and retire to the back row again having said my two pennyworth?.Aye JR

[barryc]

Whatever next, a truly Corps Pissed Three Badger, still can't argue with the sentiments. Once a Marine Always a Marine really is a very accurate statement even if we constantly dripped about everyting the Corps did whilst we were in and rolled out the time honoured " Roll on Death, Demob's too far away" every time something annoyed us.

Yours Aye

Barry

[JR]

Okay BC,Ya sussed me out,I was looking for a responce from the SQ members of the forum as to why they chose their SQ,maybe I should have worded it better?,ah well I shall move again to the back row and observe.Aye JR

[sunman]

Hi JR you just sit there and relax a while mate.
You have contributed a great deal to these forums.
Most of it interesting as well.
SQs. I choose AE so that I could use PE4 to make the
worlds quickest wet instead of waiting an age for Hexamine.
Bridge building,Demolitions,Roadmaking,boating and rafting,
water supply, IEDs , many other general tasks.
Dont think I ever constructed any heads during my career
exept in training.
Did my EVT Course on Octopussy the James Bond film
and utilised my skills to blow up all manner of things.
I can even hang a shelf straight now JR.
Wake up mate im nearly finished now.
Mind you on the demolition ranges Harry Stoker always used to say as we walked back to the bunker........too much black powder Ron.
Aye Sunman .

[barryc]

JR,

SQs, Simple, I was conned!.. Initially I wanted to be a radio tech but was told I had to be a signaller first. Withdrew from the idea of being a pack mule for radio gear but as a GD Marine in 45 in Aden got co-opted, by circumstance, into Sigs Troop and worked for most of the year on the UCN control. Chances of avoiding a S3s after that were absolutely nil, so I became said pack mule. Still lots of good guys in Sigs, far more refined than those rough HW people.

Barry

[Rotary Booty]

I was one of those 'rough' HW guys, who also had to be signallers as just part of their job!

I was conned though, as I wanted to be an Assault Engineer! When the Corps is short of a specialisation, (just before Suez) personal choice goes out the window with the usual promise that, 'You can always transfer later ol' son',
Before I knew it I was an HW1, and 'We've invested too much money and training in you to let you transfer'! (Sound familiar?)

After 12 years of HW, (and doing a signallers job as well ) I got my chance to transfer to being a Heli Pilot. Once they had stretched my legs back to being long enough to reach the pedals, joy! I was then trained to be able to do everyone elses SQ as well as fly, (including sigs!)

Stick around JR, it's got to get better! (but I know what you mean!)

[JR]

There must be some good 'Dits' from all those that chose to specialise.I always wanted to brew up a good cuppa using PE4,but the nearest I ever got to being AE was a pick and shovel and told to start digging?,Sigs now theres a branch of highly intellectual beings? If you wanted the latest buzz those were the boys?.Now landing craft was always my forte my specialty was dropping a line over the side (fishing),HWs all built like the old proverbial Brick S**t house,Now PWs have a language of their own mystic mumblings about watch your front,range and map references and such pearls of wisdom like 'you're all over the target like a Mad Womans Shi'te',PTIs all muscles and no heart,DLs had the bad habit of muttering out of the corner of the mouth to some poor unfortunate recruit like 'Im gonner tear your head off and P**s down ya neck,or like some first drill that we all know who halted the squad in front of a 3 badge Marine withe the words,you had all better buck your idea's up or you'll end up like him (An assett to the Corps).Right you jokers I'll relax again and wait for the in-comming.Aye JR

[Andy O'Pray]

Heavy Weapons, the universal soldier. Carried their own explosives to blow, (brew), things up. Manned their own communications in order to talk to each other and by changing frequency could talk to everyone else. When other poor souls were lost your friendly MFC would point you in the right direction. One minute a member of the MMG troop, the next a member of the recce troop, often driving your own vehicles. Revert to a rifle troop when required. Intelligent, good looking and the best trappers in the unit.

Aye - Andy.

[JR]

Now thats brought all the 'Old and Bold' out of their Sangers.Aye JR

[owdun]

Shame on you, Jim, you failed to mention the King of all SQs, the VM. The man who keeps everything rolling, who changes a LR front axle in the middle of the bloody Sinai as if it's an every day occurrence, who has the workshop wagon so well organized for brewing tea, and all the other comforts of life in the wild, the man who strolls around in greasy coveralls, thus delighting the DLs heart, who can always conjure up a beer when theres none to be had, and will do you a foreigner at a good price. As I said, The King of SQs.


Aye Owdun.

[Humphs]

Done a couple of SQs in my time, started off doing HW 3 s course in Singas Mortars & Tanks (Wombats) was taught many things ie 10 cans of Tiger down your tube on exersize, When you was in tanks you had to learn the A/Tk poem LEADcome on then who knows it. Done a HW2s tanks & SS11 .When 41 disbanded I was sent on a Printers course stayed inthe branch till that was going to be shut sen t me on D3s course got HGV1 out of it thats most of my SQs but there was loads of other small stuff but thats another story . The thing that these SQs taught me was that you was never alone, if you was fed up broke or what ever you always had mates to help you

[JR]

Sorry Frank! The VM that wizard of the workshops,could strip down a car engine in a flash and would put it back together for a small price,and if he was well in with the F.A.M.T.O storeman could whistle you up a new ford (one piece at a time) mind you that was complete with RN number plates?.Aye JR

[Artist]

Applied to be an AE ended up sigs! Came out of hospital in 1974 (pulled up Jennycliff with an A41 and all my clobber, knackered me knee) to be told you are now an RO. 6 months later at CTC on my S3's. Never volunteered for it, it just happened.

Finished my time as a printer. A really bad one!

Artist

[spitfire]

Have to agree that VMs are worth their weight in 'HBM', not only do they live like 'Royalty' in the field (some would say better than when in barracks) but they could turn their hand to anything.

I recall in Iraq in '91 the VMs were banging and hammering in secrecy only to have 'Bast***ized' some gadgets and gizmos to make icecream, they were very popular people !!!

One of them was the barber, they maintained all the showers (again 'Bast***ized from 2 x fairy liquid bottles an empty ration pack, 2 metres of paracord and a roll of HBM); laid a patio area for sun bathing in the secure base area which was used for sunbathing, croquet and lawn tennis, (and eating ice cream and drinking pims whilst watching the regatta - oh no the secrets out !!! Royal with culture, it will never catch on)

Anyway as I was saying I agree with others and take my hat off to the VM's Branch

[JR]

Not forgetting that specialist qualification (now defuct),the 'Bootneck' who follows 'Jack Adj's' Hoss around the parade ground armed with bucket and shovel? who on the completion of the task in hand sells the product of the Adj's hoss to the first drill for his prize roses,(first drill,prize roses? now that rings a bell).Aye JR