newbie just joined - ex airborne forces

Hi to all members.
Look forward to some interesting stuff re WWII.

My father served in RAF from 1939-45 ending the war in Hamburg, a town which he became very fond of and without fail went back every year on Holiday.

I joined the forces myself and served as paratrooper in RAF Regiment with active service, three N-Ireland tours and one in Oman.
Guess it may surprise some people the RAF has paratroopers

Had signed up for 9 Years but unfortunately had a bad parachute accident and got medical discharge after 6 years.

Also did short stint in Rhodesian army, who signed me up despite medical discharge, but think they would have accepted a one legged dwarf as they were desperately short of manpower with their little war in progress-anyway lets just say it was not a successful adventure and rather unpleasant experience-rather not talk about it too much- we all make mistakes!

Since then been travelling round the world visiting many countries.Visited some interesting WWII sites, Pearl Habour in Hawaii and travelled the train along the Death Railway in Thailand, terminating at the Bridge of the River Kwai,which incidentally doesn't look anything like the wooden bridge in the movie, it was in fact a metal bridge!

Also lived longer periods in various places, Malta 1 year ,Thailand 4 years, Ecuador 9 months, Romania 5 years and finally ending up in Holland.

England was off the menu- I could not face living in UK any more, which under NuLabour seems to have turned into a surveillance mad, semi-police state with everyone being monitored and snooped on.

I served to defend our freedoms and refuse to live in such a place!
I call it the UKSSR now

Anyway Holland is nice and what I like about the Dutch they really appreciate what the Allies did and every year commemorate the Allied liberation, in particular the airborne landings at Arnhem of course!

When I moved here found out the place where I live was the first town to be liberated on the main line of the British advance into Holland in September 1944.

From what I heard from the locals the main road which I can see from my house about 50 meters away, was nicknamed Hells Highway by the Allies with very heavy fighting in this area.

Just down the road from me is a small Allied war cemetery with about 200 British servicemen from many regiments , like King's Own Scottish Borderers, Durham Light Infantry, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry,East Lancashire Regiment,etc

And about 20 minutes drive down the road just across the border in Belgium in the Lommel region, is the famous Joe's Bridge, named after commander of the Irish Guards.The Irish guards under the command of Joe Vandeleu captured the bridge.

Once while cycling down a track through some woods, came across a small memorial with a photo on it, seems a Canadian bomber crashed there 1944 killing the whole crew and to this day the Dutch leave flowers in a vase, which is a nice touch.

Apparently the photo was placed there by some relatives who came over from Canada to visit the Memorial.

....and Yes that is me in the picture, doing my Clint Eastwood impersonation, sad case...watched too many Dirty Harry movies

Bought a S&W .357 Magnum as personal weapon, which I kept after leaving airborne- until it was taken away by the British Gestapo ,after UK banned all handguns in private hands, the Nanny State strikes again!

 

welcome to the forum tp..

 

Welcome to the forums tp, looking forward to your contributions.

 

Welcome to the forum tp3813,

Quite interesting to read up on your CV. If you don't mind me asking - did you happen to serve in the RLI, 3rd Commando? since two good friends of mine (still living in former Rhodesia) had served as troppies the 1RLI and later on went to serve in the Selous Scouts.

Have fun on the forum and see you around

Regards
Kruska

 

Hi Kruska,

>If you don't mind me asking - did you happen to serve in the RLI, 3rd Commando

No, actually being ex-airborne, to my surprise -and shock- they put me in the Rhodesian SAS!

I never considered myself SAS material, airborne training was quite tough enough for me, thank you!!

I tried to talk the Rhodesian recruiting officer out of it, but he insisted, as the SAS was the only airborne unit they had, so I was stuck with it.

Of course I soon realised it was nothing like the British SAS, in the UK you have to serve several years before you even can apply-Rhodesian SAS at that time, I was surprised to see 17 year olds straight from school joining up, without any military experience whatsoever-so really totally incomparable.

I should have enjoyed wearing the beige beret with the winged dagger -but I didn't, I felt like a fraud!

So consequently I don't go around shouting I was in the SAS, because I know it wouldn't be right, -enough make-believe "elite" soldiers around- I don t want to be another one, -although I was actually in it.

Don't get me wrong, I am not slagging off the Rhodesian SAS they were good, just not anywhere near the standard of the British.

Not their fault - simply boils down to numbers- they were totally outnumbered and fighting for survival and had to take anyone they could get.

Well they certainly had a way of teaching people fast, with some- shall we say "unusual training methods". When practising assaulting positions, couple of sergeants were behind with 7.62 FNs ,which packed some power ,shooting live bullets as close to us as they could get away with.

No fun having bullets whizzing 3 inches from your head, or hitting the ground next to you showering you with lumps of Earth from the impact...**** me, I will never forget that!

But I thought it was pretty crazy, all it takes is a ricochet and game over!
But amazingly nobody was killed during training...... just as well with the manpower problems they had

Really reminded me more of the Foreign Legion than anything else- in our barracks there were lots of different nationalities, South Africans, a German and quite a lot of Portuguese, who previously served in Angola which if I recall was previously a Portuguese colony,...when that fell some carried on the fight and came over to Rhodesia.

Also like to point out I am not a racist, I had nothing against the Blacks, in fact had some sympathy for them.
I just went for the adventure and for the hell of it ,whether that was right or wrong, I don't know- I was young and didn't know any better, but have no regrets though, no point having regrets- what is done is done!

But looking back they certainly were better off, even under the White oppression- now they are under the Black oppression of Comrade Mugabe-and 10 times worse off!
How to F*** up a beautiful country, in one easy lesson-courtesy of Comrade Bob!!!

 

tp3813

I would say you are right on the comparrison to the Foreign Legion. Quite a lot did come from Angola and Mosambique. One of them (a German having fought in Mosambique before, is still running a pub north-west of Rusape.

The impression I got, was that this war, (in contra to the western press) was anything else but a racial war. The sad part is that at the end both parties the blacks and whites lost about everything.

I wanted to list up for the Rhodesian army, however I was just 17 and my father had a strict NO for me. In a way I guess I was lucky to have missed out on that adventure.

Regards
Kruska

 

Welcome Mr. TP Aka MR. TransParency First time I heard the Word "Rhodesia" In many posts in 18+ years, Zimbabwe.
Many Cattle ranchers Hired S.O.F. AKA Paid Merc's to Gard the Cattle, or as Security for the Ranch, from Native Africans,
Individuals that would steal the farm animals to fead their families or to sell. The Bottom like provides a C.I.A. Report

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html

No need to carry such a big Revolver, Doing Eastwood, one of my favourite Actors.

HeadsUp The US Marine Corps are looking for men like You Will pay more and you get all the New GEN II Gear.
There's nothing like Coyote Brown.

I know that the country now is in shambles a known fact. Massive corruption with many in poverty.
Plus much of the foreign aide gets pocketed.

"Per Terra et Mare" Nemo Me Inpune Lacessit.

Fare Winds``~~,, & Soft landings Spañiard Over and Out,,,,,,..............................

 

Welcome aboard, TP. Seems like you will have a lot to offer, and I look forward to your posts.

 

Welcome to the forum. Years ago, I had a Rhodesian camo BDU shirt. I had to settle for a smaller size, so the sleeves were too short. So, I wore it with the sleeves rolled up and it was fine. Warm in winter cool in summer, I loved it. Now, genuine Rhodesian camo is pretty expensive. Enjoy your stay here.

Greg C.

 

Hi again Kruska

(and thanks for the comments form Spaniard, luketdrifter and Greg)

>I would say you are right on the comparrison to the Foreign Legion. Quite a lot did come from >Angola and Mosambique. .

Yeah it was a bit like that, many British there too, couple of Scottish, etc-sure was an interesting mix-and those Portuguese were a happy bunch

Before going to Rhodesia I did briefly consider the French Foreign Legion, went as far as writing to their headquarters and they replied sending some leaflets etc. Looking through those I could see their wages were like a joke, extremely low pay, at least then, don't know what it is like now.

Well if I'm going to get shot at, at least I expect reasonable wages for it! In comparison the Rhodesians paid much better, so that decided it for me.

---------------------------
Note for Spaniard: Did you know there is a Spanish Foreign Legion? Not many people know that
----------------------------

>The impression I got, was that this war, (in contra to the western press) >was anything else but a racial war. The sad part is that at the end both >parties the blacks and whites lost about everything.

Yeah that place is f*****, 80% unemployment or something like that. When the whites were in charge was nothing like that bad, the country was very well run. Now it's an utter shambles.

>I wanted to list up for the Rhodesian army, however I was just 17 and my father had a strict >NO for me. In a way I guess I was lucky to have missed out on that adventure.

Yep, no fun being on the losing side.... but as you said in the end they all lost!


--------------------------------------

>Spaniard
>Welcome Mr. TP Aka MR. TransParency

I like transparency ...... especially these days with all the slimy, lying politicians around!

>First time I heard the Word "Rhodesia" In many >posts in 18+ years, Zimbabwe.

Yeah well it was a long time ago and a pretty localised conflict.

>No need to carry such a big Revolver, Doing Eastwood, one of my favourite Actors.

Yeah mine too Old Clint is is great, turns out he's a pretty good film director as well in his old age.

As to the big revolver well strictly speaking, was the wrong gun for Clint impression

I had a .357 Magnum, when in fact Clint carried a .44 Magnum, which Dirty Harry never ceased to remind us, was the most powerful handgun in the world .....well at that time anyway.

But later on a visit to San Francisco, I did manage to get a chance to fire the .44, always wanted to try that after watching Dirty Harry
Mind you had quite a bit of a shock, Clint was right, it is bloody powerful. Being used to the .357 didn't realise what power that thing had and should have gripped it tighter.

The thing kicked like a mule- I was amazed, actually managed to cut my finger on the trigger guard with the first shot.
That is one hell of a gun!

But after that experience realised it's not really practical for normal use, its just too powerful, which is most likely why cops use 9 mm ,.38 Special,etc

>HeadsUp The US Marine Corps are looking for men like You

Naw... Paratroopers hate Marines, didn't you know that .... well in England anyway.

Anyway I am sure they wouldn't want me now, I am way past my "sell by" date

And now I'm older and wiser , I consider war stupid and senseless and saddens me to see all those young guys right now, getting wasted in Afghanistan and other places. For what?
Slimy politicians who lie and cheat for their own ends, while other peoples sons give their lives!
Stick those slime bags on the front line for a while, they would soon change their minds about starting wars.
I would love to see that ginning, lying s*** Blair, lying in a ditch with bullets and mortars whizzing around -that would wipe that cheesy grin off his bloody face!

Bit off a dilemma and contradiction really -I loved being a soldier, but I think war is stupid-strange world


Actually when I considered forces career it was a toss-up between Royal Marines and Airborne. But I remembered I get terribly seasick so decided Marines probably wasn't a good idea-anyone who has ever been really seasick, will know what I mean!

However my cunning plan didn't quite work out-what I didn't realise when we used to go parachuting, it is also training for the pilots, which involves flying at extremely low level, like 200 feet or something, then just before the jump they go up to 800 feet and throw us out.

Well flying in a Hercules at 200 feet as I found out to my dismay, was not much different from a ship on the high seas, due to the air turbulence at that height. I still got bloody sick. In fact it was probably worse than being seasick in the Marines, because trying to jump out of an aeroplane, when you're feeling as sick as a dog is not recommended :-(

Also used to be quite perturbed looking out of the window and seeing the wings bend and flex to a quite disturbing degree, with the extreme turbulence. But old "Fat Albert" -as British airborne call the Hercules C130- is one hell of a plane, those things are built like tanks! The only plane I ever felt 100% safe in!

>I know that the country now is in shambles a known fact. Massive corruption with many in >poverty. Plus much of the foreign aide gets pocketed.

Yeah well, that goes for the rest of Africa more or less, it's not politically correct to say so, but some parts of Africa are still in the dark ages!

Watched a documentary once with children being accused of being witches and those F**** did unspeakable things to them... like hammering nails into their head to "drive out the evil spirits".... yeah right....

Well its driven by money, some nasty low-life evangelical preacher tells parents their children are witches and he must drive out the "evil spirits", charges the parents who are normally very poor money they can't really afford- and the child suffers terribly.... yes charming people!

I know what I'd like to do to those f****, target practice with a .44 Magnum springs to mind!!

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luketdrifter Location: Michigan
>Welcome aboard, TP. Seems like you will have a lot to offer, and I look forward to your posts.

thanks, saw your airborne avatar..... is this a fellow ex paratrooper?

Michigan I see.... ah one of our colonial cousins from across the Pond
should imagine 101st, 82nd ?
--------------------

 

luketdrifter Location: Michigan
>Welcome aboard, TP. Seems like you will have a lot to offer, and I look forward to your posts.

thanks, saw your airborne avatar..... is this a fellow ex paratrooper?

Michigan I see.... ah one of our colonial cousins from across the Pond
should imagine 101st, 82nd ?
--------------------[/QUOTE]
Tribute to a fallen friend, TP. It's the 173rd Airborne. Buddy was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.

 

>Tribute to a fallen friend, TP. It's the 173rd Airborne. Buddy was killed in Afghanistan in >2007.
----------------
Ah I see, sorry to hear that- yeah, we lost a guy as well just couple of days ago from 2 Parachute Sqn, RAF Regiment.

Makes me weep all these lives wasted for the lies of f****** politicians

 

Yes that was a localized conflict.



Well 101st or 82nd US??

YouTube - The Spanish Legion

YouTube - The Spanish Legion


First Marine Corps was established in 1537 in Spain The rest just fallowed their example.

See you on the posts

 

Small world...I have a Selous Scout aquaitance too....Bit of a bruiser, sercurity guard....Apparantly I'm only one who ever speaks to me so he's latched on to me...I'm scared..........He's a bit of a nutter...I attract nutters....How you doing then Kruska.

 

So where and when did you do P coy mate..Where did you do your balloon jump? Brother was 2 para. Many mates from the time still in touch with me. Interesting to see if our paths crossed.

 

Well....ahm.., I don't think that I attract nutters...but somehow nutters and me always seem to meet up .

As for my ex. Selous Scout friends, (wouldn't mention their names or whereabouts - since Zimbabwes government ist till today, trying to make out those former Selous)

They are running a small business , and surviving in view of the desolate economic situation of their country. And they and their families are about the most kind and sincere people I have ever met.

Regards
Kruska

 

Hi Tp, welcome to the forum. Glad you had such a great time in Holland, I was there last week , I go there every year.

 

So where and when did you do P coy mate..Where did you do your balloon jump? Brother was 2 para. Many mates from the time still in touch with me. Interesting to see if our paths crossed.
------------------------
well we did not do the actual P Company, we had our own selection, basically same a PCoy, called pre-para done at Colerne.

That sure was a bitch, was half dead at the end, if I recall only 9 out of about 64 starters made it

Ballon jump yeah ...nasty those
my first time I was the only guy in history of airborne forces to get twisted chute in ballon jump....sergeant said I jumped and then tried to get back in again ...silly bugger.
mind you dont remember that, being in a state of shock.
Never was very good at parachuting really. always terrified me....and my landings simply awful- like a sack of potates being chucked off a roof. Fortunately was much better at other things

Oh yeah getting off the point now- where was it?
If I recall Abingdon...well the place used by Abingdon for ballon stuff, whats it called again.. Weston on the Green

 

Colerne....Know it well...Was at Rudloe mile away for a few years. Weston on green was one of our haunts. Good to have you aboard.

 

>Colerne....Know it well...

Yeah had some good times there, just one sad memory, when a Hercules crashed and whole crew was killed. Could have been worse though, it only just missed the married quarters by a whisker.

We were actually on a route march and having a packed lunch on the way near some pub and one of the guys spotted a large mushroom cloud in the distance and wondered what the hell it was.... Little did we know it was those poor guys in the Herc.
only realised what happened when we got back and saw the fire engines etc.
All that was left of it was just the tailplane....messy job :-(

Also remember that was the day my mate and I got caught cheating... well a bit anyway
Were supposed to have full kit in our pouches and Sgt decided to have a kit inspection after the packed lunch. I think I had a towel and my mate had a pair of socks

Sgt was not impressed as you can imagine

But we paid for it big time.

There was a pile of bricks and rocks and he duly marched us over there and every possible space he could find on us,pouches, para smock, trouser pockets etc-was filled with bricks and rocks...we could hardly stand, never mind walk.

Nearly finished us off, but you know paratroopers are stubborn lot,so we decided F*** him and we shot off into the distance, leaving everyone else behind and came in first and second
So Sgt muttered "silly buggers", grinned at us and all was forgiven

>Was at Rudloe mile away for a few years. Weston on green was one of our haunts. >Good to have you aboard.

thanks