What an interesting read Fatcivvie, I think if we were all honest about it, we all owe a lot to our Army experience
albeit at the time I viewed my National Service akin to forced labour. Having said that. An old sweat said to me
just before I left. "You'll be back."
"How do you make that out?" I asked.
"I can tell your type." He replied. "The Armies ingrained into you."
"Not me," I said.
You Know. The old bugger was nearly right.
Soon after demob when in Charing Cross Station a joker wearing the fruity full Foreign Legion garb backpack, rolled groundsheet. The lot, crossed in front of me.
If ever there was a time I nearly turned around and rejoined, it was at that moment.
But Hey. The Army can be ever thankful this reprobate never darkened their hallowedalls again.
Back to your memory. I had a similar experience with "Big Jim Tierney" showing his human side. One time on parade during finger nail inspection he noticed I was losing a finger nail from Blanco poisoning.
"Ooh! What's wrong with your finger lad?" he asked. I explained and he said. "Well be sure to get it covered with a plaster." No Big deal but boy. Did it do wonders for my ego to be spoken to by "Big Jim." My head swelled several sizes just from that one encounter......Yes Scottie...To save you asking... It has gone back down... Just the other day actually.
Topic: a life time (Read 4301 times)