Our gym teacher at my prep school was a very nice man called Sergeant Hirons. He never talked much about the First World War, but judging by his age and the tunes he sang softly to us - Pick up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Come Along - he almost certainly saw action in, and no doubt still bore the scars of, that terrible war. It's strange think that we were in those days far nearer to World War I than we are to the Second World War now. I think it was Sergeant Hirons, too, who introduced us to the delights of "O'Grady Says".
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At Beaumont, military matters were in the capable hands of Major Roddy and Captain Kelly, again both very pleasant people in their different ways. Although military life has always had a certain attraction to me, I always used to dread Thursday afternoon drill days in the ambulacrum as, amongst other things, uniform of any sort sits uneasily, or rather hangs limply on me. I also found it difficult to bring my badge and parade boots up to the requisite degree of shine. Worst of all was the end-of-term inspection of our kit in the armoury. Permission to leave for the holidays was conditional on passing this inspection. I sometimes wonder how I ever managed to see my parents... From time to time our word power was increased courtesy of a visit from a sergeant of the Irish Guards from the neighbouring Windsor Barracks.
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From 1956 to 1960 we spent our holidays abroad, first in Libya and then with the BAOR in Germany. I have the fondest memories of both these postings. Looking back to our time in pre-Gadaffi Tripoli, it seems extraordinary now that there should have been shops reserved for Officers and others for Other Ranks (ORs).
I'd forgotten all about the shops!
ReplyDeleteBut do you remember Kitty Cola, sold by an old man on a bike? Actually, we were forbidden to drink this as it was believed by our mother to be toxic.
But goodness, Tripoli was a lovely place. They say you should never go back, but I long to. One day .....
Yes, I do remember Kitty Cola - very well! I am tempted to go back to Tripoli but I'm not sure that I would.
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