Bob Burgess, my memories of national service in 1950.

I was called to report to the Cheshire regiment at Lichfield, part of the Mercian training brigade, where we went through the usual reception and issue of kit etc. then off to the tailor to be altered to fit….. a couple of days later to be interviewed by the PSO, who studied all our paperwork re education etc. after which he said what do you want to do in the army. Having been in the cadet force and not wanting to be lumbered with a rifle I said I would like to join the military police, which he noted. It was then off to the optician for a further eye test. We were told to keep looking at part 2 orders and a couple of days later I got my order to go to Inkerman, it was then a mad dash to get my uniform from the tailors and pack kit to leave the next day. I was the only one to leave.

On arrival at Woking, where a 3 tonner was waiting, it was off to Inkerman where we all paraded to be split into 3 squads, 179,180 and 181. The tallest, the drivers and the rest. It was then off to spiders with Cpl Holloway our SO. Those before and after us would know all about it…all the classroom work followed, then off to Aldershot for MT training, on completion and passing out parade where we were told where we were going. It was off to B.A.O.R the next day. Down to Harwich on route to the Hook and up to Bielefeld, overnight stay then on with 2 others in my squad to 59 Pro Company, Hamburg District H.Q.

We were located at Alsterdorf in purpose built German Barracks along with 194 Coy, who were in a separate building to us. Our tasks were to do the foot and mobile patrols in the City, we were located in the Transit camp for 1 week, next week it was off to the docks to do security at No.6 gate which was the British Military gate, 3rd week in barracks getting back to normal and doing all our MT work in preparation for our 4th week at Area H.Q where we raised and lowered the flag, stood guard at the entrance of the building checking the ID of everyone of whatever rank. We worked on a rotating basis, our accommodation was inside the entrance where we ate and slept. It was then back to barracks where it all started again. Our only chance to enjoy the delights of the city was our week in barracks. No civies in our day, all we were allowed were shoes and they had to be brown and highly polished of course.
Things carried on much the same during 1951, old pals going home, new lads coming in and the odd duty like escort to the Area Commander during the Kings birthday parade and up to Berlin to support 101 during the May Day celebrations. Trouble was expected as the Russian memorial was in the British sector. We went both ways by train which went daily to maintain our right of movement through the Russian Zone.

On our return it was back to our normal routine until December when we had a foul winter with heavy snow and very low temperatures. It was greatcoats all the time when on duty. 1952 started the same way then started to improve which made life more bearable. We had news later that 1(BR) Corps was being reformed and we were going to be their Pro. Company.

Things started to move pretty quickly and an advance party was formed, made up of the office staff and some of the MT and of course the Officers. The majority of the Sections also went. The remainder formed the rearguard which would follow when the accommodation had been set up and was ready for it. I was left behind as duty Sgt, although still a Lcpl. My function was to organise and post rosters, part 2 orders and generally act as dogsbody, taking muster in the morning etc. The final task was to organise the arrangements for the final move.
When the order came we formed up with remainder of the vehicles led by one of the escort jeeps I took up the rear of the convoy in the other escort jeep and off we went to our new home in a beautiful little village called Bad Rothenfelde, of course when we arrived the building was still having the floor of the mess finished and the bar was not yet built. I finished up sleeping in a nice little room for two at the far end of the C.Q.M.S. stores in the woods just beyond the MT lines, the opposite end of the building to where the barber used to come on a Saturday morning. I stayed there with Bill Hadaway our three ton driver until I went home for demob. Our only foray into the field during my time there was on operation Counter-Thrust and organising the company football team for the Corps knockout. We played against the SIB team who knocked us out in the first round.

Back in the UK I served in 42 Div/Dist ProCoy in Manchester until 1965 when a general TA reorganisation took place and we became 1BR corps signals Coy. As acting WO I took the company back to Bielefeld for our 15 day camp. We air trouped from Manchester, on arrival we formed into 3 sections, Lt. Goldie and I stayed at /coy HQ, the remainder we sent to the detachments, each under a Sgt, where they were replacing those on leave. We brought them in once each week to pay them and to give them a bit of drill before letting them out for a night out in Bielefeld.
Back home Mr Goldie left us to join the police force, our OC left and then our 2/IC Capt Gordon Stead left. Some old boys will remember him from the 1950s, when he was RSM Stead. He left Hamburg just before I arrived in 1950. He went to Korea. Other changes took place in 1966 & 1967 then in 1968 we lost our section outbased at Knutsford, a company in Cardiff was winding down and also one in Birmingham. I had the chance to carry on as WO when the Coy HQ moved to Birmingham but decided enough was enough, so ended my career which I enjoyed every minute of.

WITH VERY BEST WISHES TO ALL MY OLD FRIENDS WHEREVER THEY MAY BE

Bob Burgess.