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Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry
A short Profile of the Early Years of my Military Career
January 1959 - May 1982 ( 23years 156 days )
by Tony (Nobby) Clark
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I was called up for National Service in January 1959
and sent to the Somerset Light Infantry Depot at Jellalabad Barracks
Taunton. Having lived in Taunton all my life, and within sight of
Jellalabad Barracks, I didn't have far to go
.
Jellalabad Barracks Mount St. Taunton (Dave Pruett)
RSM A .V. Worster met the intake at the gate and marched
us straight to the Barber Shop. We then formed up into Sale Platoon
Commanded by Lt.Olie Reynolds and Sgt Chantry, we completed basic
training in March 59 and joined the Ist Battalion the Somerset Light
Infantry in Warminster - at the time Demonstration Battalion to the
School of Infantry.
I was posted to A Coy under LCpl Ray Bates, Cpl Clobber
Cleaves, Sgt Nobby Farley, Clr Sgt Kendricks, CSM Barker, Major Gouch
, and the CO at the time was Lt Col Lawson. I took part in the farewell
parade of the Somerset Light Infantry when the Colours were marched
off parade for the last time to the tune ' Old Lang Syne '. One of
the saddest days of my military career.
Somerset Light Infantry Contingent on Warminster
Station heading Osnabruck BFPO 36 for Amalgamation. - (Evening World)
It was with then onto Battalion in Osnabruck BFPO 36
to link up with the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry in preparation
for the amalgamation with the Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry,
to me the ' Happy Regiment.'
Leaving Knook camp, Vic Higgins in the front, Keith
Reakes, Bob Gaylard,
then unknown then Ray Smith. then unknown - (Vic Higgins)
Yes the happiest years of my life in the Light Infantry.
I left Osnabruck as a Corporal., then from Osnabruck to Plymouth,
for a few months, preparing for the freedom of Taunton Celebrations
and Taunton Tattoo in Vivery Park, prior to the posting of the Battalion
to Gibraltar.
No 1 Sctn, 4 Plt, B Co. Osnabruck, L to R, Yorkie
Hewitt, Nobby Clark, John Metters, ? , ? , Johnny Welsh, ? , Sampson
- (Nobby Clark)
In August of that year, the Battalion Embarked for Gibraltar
on HMT Devonport at Plymouth, and I believe, it was the first time,
that wives were allowed to accompany their husbands on board ship
and the last ever troop movement by sea - ' Thank God he says '.
Nobby Clark & Joan Clark embarking for Gibraltar
on board HMT. Devonshire. - (Somerset County Gazette)
Gibraltar was a wonderful posting. The first time the
Battalion had been in the sun, so to speak - and didn't that go down
well? I went off to Tobruk with A Coy for three months, desert and
adventure training. On our return to Gibraltar, I bought a new Ford
Anglia Car for £499 and when the Battalion was posted to Berlin
in 1963 I drove from Gibraltar to England and England to Berlin through
the East German Corridor to the walled city of Berlin - quite scary
as one can imagine. They told us that Berlin was a good posting to
sharpen the Battalion up after the dreamy posting in Gibartar . It
did that alright, we didn't know whether we were on our head or heels.
Gibraltar revisited, March 2000, Nobby at Europa
Parade Ground (Nobby Clark)
Stand by for this, Stand by for that, Stand by was
the Battalions second name. A good posting for all the tension it
brought, being in the heart of the Cold War as it was. I was promoted
to Sergeant and had a lot of fun, in the various messes Corporals
and Sergeants during the rare times off duty. Most of the lads in
the Battalions claim to fame, is that they stood guard over ' Rudolf
Hess ' and a couple other renowned Nazis who were held in Spandau
Prison. Berlin was my final posting in the SCLI as I was posted to
Cornwall - Recruiting.On my return to the Regiment, we had become
the Light Infantry.
Copyright Text and Image: Tony (Nobby) Clark. (Others
where indicated)
