After trade training I went to Gibralter Barracks in Camberly, Surrey, for Combat Engineer training....  11 Weeks of fun, Bridge & Road Building, Watermanship, Explosives,
Mine Clearing & Laying...  mines that is.....   Booby Traps, Trench Construction, Obstacle Construction of Obstructions......
Loads n Loads of fitness....
I was due to be posted to 5/9 Independant Commando Squadron in Plymouth so I was beasted
by the training NCO.... all for my own good, Me n Ug really went through it....
and strangely enough I loved every minute of it........
Thank Heaven for Training NCO's !!!!!!!!!!!
I failed the course at Plymouth, got injured near the end of the course...  split mt knee open
which then got infected... boy was it hard,still dont know if I would of made it through any how...
I was then sent to 73 Squadron, 23 Engineer Regiment in Osnabruck
my first real taste in the real Army, not as bad as I'd expected, and a hell of alot more boring
We were a close support squadron for the armoured battle group...  a new concept in warfare
We spent months and months on exercise in Germany, training, testing it out etc...
I joined Support Troop which was full os all the Diggers etc, the lads were a rough bunch,
containing the hardest, scruffiest, loudest of the regiment....
lucky me eh.....!!

I was trained as a Combat Engineer Tractor Operator, CET's or Frogs as they are known
are an (due to there alledgedly amphibious nature..... aledgedly) are a strange piece of kit..
always breaking down....  boy did I love em.......   not !