Logo: Jeff at his licencing to be a Reader

9. JEFF - ARMY (Military Photo's)

Unfortunately not a lot of photographs of me to reflect my 23 years in the army. I tended to be photographing other people!
I joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier aged 16 arriving at my first unit on 10 January 1961, retiring in 1984.

Group 61A - January 1961 - Jeff is front row 3rd from left

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Group 61B - I transferred to this group at the end of 1961 - front row 3rd from right.

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Next 3 photographs - on my first exercise and camping in 1961 (I think).

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On watermanship training at Hawley Lake near Aldershot in 1963. I am in there somewhere, getting very wet.

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Gibraltar - my first posting abroad where I spent three happy years.
Initially we lived in Buena Vista Barracks but later moved to Governor's Cottage Camp (shown below).

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Jeff as the organist in Kings Chapel, Gibraltar
(no organists gown so wearing choir robes)

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Jeff typing in the office of 1st Fortress Sqn RE, Gibraltar.
Our super, lovely typist (Carmen) was on holiday so I stood in for her.

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Jeff standing in for the Chief Clerk (probably on leave) - note the shorts & hairy knees! I had got my first stripe by now.

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On duty in the office (must have been an important occasion because I am wearing full No 2 Dress).

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Standing outside the main entrance to 1st Fortress Sqn RE when it moved to Governor's Cottage Camp, Gibraltar
(from the old Buena Vista Barracks)

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Jeff talking to the WRVS lady in Gibraltar (this was part of a PR exercise)
Note the starched pressed uniform (the shorts creased up immediately one sat down) and the old fashioned 'puttees'.

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Taking part in a PR photograph with the WRVS Lady in Gibraltar including Navy, Army & RAF.
Note my highly starched and pressed uniform and the big Dress Hat (2nd left).

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Taking part in the annual sports day in Gibraltar. Jeff wearing white shorts.
Some blighter put a canon ball in his bucket so he nearly left his arm behind!!

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Our Sqn cook sgt, SQMS (Sid Pym?), Chief Clerk (Sgt Gordon Collins), SSM's Clerk, Typist (Miss Carmen Scaniglia of Gibraltar) (sorry, cannot recall all the names)

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Sapper Geordie ?, L Cpl Dougie Gall, Sapper Willie Squires
we all shared a room (with others) and my alarm clock that they hated!!! Life was simple - all we had each was a suitcase, bed, metal locker, bedside locker and all was contained within that.

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L Cpl Dougie Gall a room-mate who introduced me to the delights of Spain

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Spr ?, Spr Battersley (two good decent blokes) and myself in HQ 25 Engr Regt as clerks.

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Jeff in the office wagon taking part in Ex Quick Train with HQ 35 Engineer Regiment, Hameln Germany. Now a Cpl.

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Jeff when Chief Clerk 12 Engineer Brigade at Barton Stacey, Hampshire. Now a S Sgt. Back row 3rd from left.
The unit disbanded and became the Military Works Force.

Jeff remained as Chief Clerk of that unit until posted to HQ Scotland in Edinburgh.

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When HQ 12 Engineer Brigade disbanded to be replaced by the Military Works Force the staff held a brief ceremony, lowering the Brigade Flag. Jeff is second from the left in the back row.

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Lynne and Jeff attending a Mess Ball in Edinburgh (1983)

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