Memories of the Dewerstone, Dartmoor, with the Royal Marines
Posted: Fri 08 Feb, 2008 1:44 pm
Whilst reading the thread Running in the Gym the Dewerstone was mentioned. I suddenly had a flash back to over thirty years ago when I was a Marine (S) in Hq & Sigs.
surfingdream wrote:
Talking about the Dewerstone. Not sure if you remember the area well Artist I live in the house next to the WhiteThorn pub just up from the river. Often go running up the river when its dry. When its wet and cold it is a recipe for disaster. The Dewerstone itself now is part of a tourist climbing wall. All the people who come to climb it are absolute S**T and leave the base in a state. Often see booties running up the single track to the top or through the lane on " Killer Hill".
Can't remember when it was but once I was doing the Safety link during the Corps annual orienteering competion being held around the Dewerstone. There I was sat on me lonesome with an A41 set counting the competitors as they ran past when down the track came a party of OAP's all wearing Anoraks, cordroy trollies, hiking boots and little bergans singing "I love to go a wandering" at the top of their voices. They saw me, I saw them, at that point along came two Bootnecks giving it their all pounding along the track, cue a mega big pileup between the OAP's and Royal.
Never knew that owd Dears knew such foul language as was offered to those two Bootnecks Hell bent on winning the trophy for their unit. Explained to the OAP's that in point of fact they were on a Military training area and it would be best if they naffed off sharpish to which they replied "We know, thats why were here" They were a bunch of Dudley Do Rights Hell bent on ousting the forces from Dartmoor. So I thought "Bollox!" and let the silly owd buggers crack one. I informed the boss who said I'd done the right thing.
Ten minutes later after a radio message from the boss I was on me way down towards the river as one of the owd getts had slipped on a rock, and fractured his skull (one of the fitter OAP's had legged it down to the bottom and told the boss). I got to the location first only to find that the owd guy was BLR (Beyond Local Repair) as in dead as a Do Do. Got on the radio and informed the boss. OAP's were all milling around looking stunned and confused. One asked me if I could do ought for the deceased. Christ knows why I said it but my reply was "No I ain't go a spade with me, sorry". PC?........Naw not me back then. Me boss pissed his sides laffing when he heard about my reply although the Cops and the Ambulance crew who arrived about half an hour later were not so chuffed when they were informed of my reply by the remaining OAP's.
Artist
surfingdream wrote:
Talking about the Dewerstone. Not sure if you remember the area well Artist I live in the house next to the WhiteThorn pub just up from the river. Often go running up the river when its dry. When its wet and cold it is a recipe for disaster. The Dewerstone itself now is part of a tourist climbing wall. All the people who come to climb it are absolute S**T and leave the base in a state. Often see booties running up the single track to the top or through the lane on " Killer Hill".
Can't remember when it was but once I was doing the Safety link during the Corps annual orienteering competion being held around the Dewerstone. There I was sat on me lonesome with an A41 set counting the competitors as they ran past when down the track came a party of OAP's all wearing Anoraks, cordroy trollies, hiking boots and little bergans singing "I love to go a wandering" at the top of their voices. They saw me, I saw them, at that point along came two Bootnecks giving it their all pounding along the track, cue a mega big pileup between the OAP's and Royal.
Never knew that owd Dears knew such foul language as was offered to those two Bootnecks Hell bent on winning the trophy for their unit. Explained to the OAP's that in point of fact they were on a Military training area and it would be best if they naffed off sharpish to which they replied "We know, thats why were here" They were a bunch of Dudley Do Rights Hell bent on ousting the forces from Dartmoor. So I thought "Bollox!" and let the silly owd buggers crack one. I informed the boss who said I'd done the right thing.
Ten minutes later after a radio message from the boss I was on me way down towards the river as one of the owd getts had slipped on a rock, and fractured his skull (one of the fitter OAP's had legged it down to the bottom and told the boss). I got to the location first only to find that the owd guy was BLR (Beyond Local Repair) as in dead as a Do Do. Got on the radio and informed the boss. OAP's were all milling around looking stunned and confused. One asked me if I could do ought for the deceased. Christ knows why I said it but my reply was "No I ain't go a spade with me, sorry". PC?........Naw not me back then. Me boss pissed his sides laffing when he heard about my reply although the Cops and the Ambulance crew who arrived about half an hour later were not so chuffed when they were informed of my reply by the remaining OAP's.
Artist
