The picture to the left is of me and Cpl Dale, one of my section NCO's. This was taken in 1984, a 3rd way through basic training at Bassingbourne Barracks - Royston.

This was one of the rare moments we had time off, it was a rule for the first 3 months we where not allowed to drink alcohol, we could go to the NAFFI and have a coke or soft drink, but nothing stronger. I can remember as though it was yesturday being picked up from the train station at Royston, being coached to the Barracks, going through the main gates and being told to get of the bus, to walk the rest of the way to our H-block. I can remember having a pair of jeans on that where tight, they where my best pair, they were so comfitable, and I looked pretty good in them.

When we reached our block we were given alocated bed spaces (You can see in the picture what kind of bed we had). We had to go to the stores and get 2 x blankets, 2 x sheets and 1 x pillow case.

We were speed marched all the way there, and sped through the line getting our bedding, it was quick, once everyone was kitted out we were then speed marched back to our block, blankets, sheets, dropping everywhere, guys tripping over everywhere, it was a bit of a shock to the system. After that we were speed marched to the cook house, luckerly it was a stones throw from our block, which I thought, we were told we had 5 minutes to get our food and eat it and back outside in 3 ranks. The beastings began

While in basic training we had the opportunity to enlist in other sporting activities, well I say enlist, it was normally volunteered by our NCO's. I have done Martial Arts (Karate) all my life, so when we had a boxing competition coming up against another section, i was volunteered to join the boxing team. I had boxed in my younger days, but left because my legs kept trying to kick my opponents.

Im in the red shirt and shorts, the funny thing about boxing in the military is, when your in the corner, and being introduced, you have to about-turn , come to attention, then about-turn again, its so militirised, but so as the bell rang that was it, hell for leather, punches thrown, bobbing and weaving, until the bell went. Back in your corner, nose bleeding, mixed with the sweat, never felt so alive, it was awesome.

I continued to box when I reached my Battalion, if you are chosen to box for your Battalion you get special perks, lovely food, time off to train, it was great.

In 1985 I was posted to Northern Ireland where i spent all of my military career. The picture to the left was taken just before we deployed over to Derry City, and had to spend 3 months touring.

I was just 21, the landrover Im standing next to, is the very first time I had driven one. Funny thing was, I didnt have a driving licence.

My Sgt Major came into the office and asked if anyone can drive, and being a little quick on the mark I put my hand up. I was then asked to go and sign out a vehicle. I went to the RCT depot and signed out the landrover, and checking everything, I drove it and parked outside the office. My Sgt Major gave us our orders, told us where we were going, and we embarked, and out of the main gates in a 2 vehicle convoy.

Our oders was to check 3 check points, just to check our men and see if anything needs to be addressed. My Sgt Major kept complimenting me on my driving, and said that he wants me to be his designated driver.

After returning back to main camp, dropping of the vehicles, my conscience got the better of me, I owned up about not having a driving license, to my suprise, my Sgt Major sat down after giving me a bollocking, with a grin and said, that he appriciated my honesty, and picked up the phone and called the RCT driver training. I was booked the next day to take a lesson and then my test. Thats how I passed my test and started my driving career.

On many occassions we were airlifted to different locations. On this purticular flight, we had orders to go out and patrol a disused farm, that was reported as an ammo-dump for Irish Rupublican Army.

The helicopter came in to land, nearly blowing us of our feet, as it settled we grabbed our equipment and was hussled aboard. Sitting down on seats that remind me of deckchairs, the side doors closed, the engine started to spead up, it rised vertical, up and up until it started to bank left, my stumoch was in my throat, we made it up.

flying across the country side, looking through the window, it reminded me of the time I went toSpain with some of the lads, everything looking small, the higher we climbed.

after an hour we started to descend, landing in a field 2 miles away from our destination. We disembarked, huddled together while the helicopter took off. The silence was peaceful. Our section commander told us to check our kit, to get ready before we head off to the old farm. While we all got ready, I noticed an officer had joined our patrol, didnt think much about it. we had walked for three quaters of an hour, when our section commander told us to stop, and take cover, covering all positions. They both were talking, and i noticed the officer who joined us, arguing with our section leader, next thing we started to move.

Finally we reached the gates to the farm, we were breifed, and started slowly up the sides of the road towards the house, I was at the rear, making sure nothing was following us from behind, again we stopped, took a knee, and started scanning the area, everything was still, psssst, we're on the move, closer and closer we got to the house, everything was quiet.

Our section commander gave us locations to cover while the officer and him started checking the farm house, after 10 minutes, we moved towards the barn, checking everything, is anything out of place, new dirt on top of old etc, we took a knee, checking out over the field, along the hedge row, behind me I could hear talking, my head dropped, thinking "what the hell is going on" stern words were being thrown, then for a split second it went quiet BOOOOOOOOM, the earth trembled, dust everywhere, bits of wood, brick falling from the sky, landing near me, on me, what the F*^k just happened, the dust settled, then I saw my section commander on the ground, the officer next to him, without any thought I ran towards them, other members in the section screaming at me to get down, stay in cover.

To be continued...