A brief resume of myself, Bill Costello, for the record as follows:
Born and raised in Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, a heavy-duty coal mining area.
My grandfather and his four sons (including my father) and one daughter ALL worked in the same coal mine at one time.
I started working at age 14 in nearby Musselburgh as an indentured apprentice Net loom Mechanic in a factory making fishing nets for the world over.
I commenced NS on Sep7/50 when I had to report to Oswestry, Shropshire, to a Royal Artillery mustering depot.
The powers that were at that time, after the usual numerous aptitude tests, decided that Costello would make a good Gun Fitter but Costello's heart was set on being a polisman, (Scots), so I was duly shipped off to Surrey, and to Inkerman Barracks.
Gentlemen, the clue is there before your eyes in the Squad photograph. Get it?... You have 39 barely-shaving sprogs and 2 hairy assed old characters with bloody ribbons on their chests.
Gordon in the third row & Scott in the back row. Ostensibly, Scott was in the Royal Engineers and Gordon was in the-Bagpipe music please-the Gordon Highlanders.
The Brits do have a way with subterfuge!!!!
In those days, I think we got one 48 hr pass per month, and it was a bastard to get home to Edinburgh.
Pretty well all day on the train Friday, and all day on the train back on Sunday.
Hence one bloody day at home. I'm sure it was the same for many others who lived far-flung places as well.
Now for the kicker!!!
Bill.
January 10th 2007
Yours truly has one older brother (Yorks) and two younger sisters still in Scotland. Thanks to the abhorrence of the mines held by my father, he kept me out of them.
When 1950 came, it was my escape from the deadest of all dead-end jobs to get my call up for National Service.
Pause for slight digression. Speaking to Bryan, with Ian's indulgence:
We were in an intake comprising 185, 186 and 187 Squads, and the head honchos assigned were as follows;
185 Squad-Sgt.Albertson;186 Squad-Cpl.Dunbar and 187 Squad-Sgt Sheffield.
As mentioned before, Sgt. "Bones" Albertson was one good head, as was Sgt. Sheffield with 187. I'll talk later about Dunbar, and it wont' be good!
NOW LADS; 'THE 185 STING'.
(Ian, this is aimed mainly at Bryan)
To Bryan, what did you know about these two "remusters"???. Not a bloody lot!
Anyway, Scott & Gordon with their WW2 medals completed the entire course along with the 'Nignogs' and that was it. Or was it?
Ian & Brian .
There was a way that the poor bastards like myself could get some relief from this terrible dilemma about travel, and the kind souls in Depot Company had it!
Actually it was quite simple. They, the Depot Coy 'Dinks', could arrange earlier or changed departure times, but they needed a cash incentive to grease certain palms. Simple as that!
So Bryan & Ian, upon our graduation, Messrs. Scott & Gordon, formerly of 185 Squad and recently reverted back to SIU, lowered the boom on the Depot Company. Quite a few were arrested, the highest ranker to my knowledge was a Staff Sgt.
End of the 185 'Sting' according to Costello.
Sorry I rambled on Guys, but thats me! Shaggy dog story teller extraordinary, but not this time.
PS. I know Ian got a deferment for his NS, but you both clue me in where you went after NS until leaving to go 'down under'
In Comradeship,
Ontario, CANADA.