Armoured

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I moved from HQ Troop 31 Sqn to 2Toop 31 Sqn in 1977 while at Osnabruck. While there I did not go out on any exercises which was I suppose a bit of luck, all that was to change when we moved to Munsterlarger. I went out with 2 AVLBS onto Saltau and did not have a clue where I was going especially at night so I reverted to an AVLB leading the way as most AVLB commanders knew Saltau like the back of their hand.

We had been sent out to support the Royal Irish Hussars,I reported to the CO who viewed Armoured Engineers with suspicion and indicated he had dealings with us before. His instructions were that were to stay put and not to move unless the RSM told us to. As someone posted into Armoured I found all this a bit strange, on recounting this tale to the lads some of the older ones told me they had heard of a Troopy and crew being put under close arrest in an AVRE by this very CO.

I was approached by the Adjutant and asked if we could put on a display for some of their lads who had never seen an AVLB, this we did but in the process an hydraulic pipe on the boom burst, hey ho down to one AVLB I saw this going down like a lead balloon with this CO. Salvation came in the shape of Billy Wright who knew where he could lay his hands on a pipe from an AVLB that had no engine and was on the tank park. I gave him my FSC and off he went and returned with the pipe. The AVLB was fixed and all was well. I went to tell the ADJ but instead came across the CO who was on one knee watching us, I told him we now were back to 2 AVLB's and explained what had happened and how we had fixed it. He did not say a word just nodded his head looking through half closed eyes.
I think we were now accepted, I was invited to the briefing for the Div Commander, the RSM was handing out whiskey in cut glass tumblers from a silver tray. This was the first of many enjoyable encounters with the Cavalry/armoured Corps who lived in a world of their own. Before long I was able to find my way round Saltau without a map Day and Night.

To be continued.........