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**Ronnie8781** · 19-09-2006, 08:16

Originally Posted by swordman

Oh! By the way. I dont want anyone to think that I was anything other than a very ordinary run of the mill Sapper, And I might add....A very frightened one at times.

No hero me, Just an ordinary Sapper (If there is such a thing?) But I will admit to being a keen young fellow.

What is true about those times, is that we saw and did things that the man in the street could only visualize in his wildest dreams.

What Veterans do find, is that some of the events are so "way out" that they are looked on as "Romancing" Where in truth, all of it did happen But they were exceptional times. In many ways it was as described by a General...The Sappers War.
swordman

I think this might be similar today as well but obviously not on the same scale or danger due to the number of operational tours that blokes are having to do in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Amazing Lobster- Knocker is a Sprog compared to this fella!!!

**A_Knocker_Till_The_End** · 19-09-2006, 10:05

Originally Posted by swordman

Oh! By the way. I dont want anyone to think that I was anything other than a very ordinary run of the mill Sapper, And I might add....A very frightened one at times.

No hero me, Just an ordinary Sapper (If there is such a thing?) But I will admit to being a keen young fellow.

What is true about those times, is that we saw and did things that the man in the street could only visualize in his wildest dreams.

What Veterans do find, is that some of the events are so "way out" that they are looked on as "Romancing" Where in truth, all of it did happen But they were exceptional times. In many ways it was as described by a General...The Sappers War.
swordman

there is no such thing as we all know :D :D :D :D

**swordman** · 19-09-2006, 10:14

Well spoken Knocker...A man after my own heart. I am always quick to remind men from other regiments, that we are the Gentlemen of the RE. Great stuff! I will start posting the battle route later.
Swordman.

**Ronnie8781** · 19-09-2006, 10:16

Swordman- Please tell me was there a lot of rivalry with other Corps back in the day, you know such as the Gunners?

**swordman** · 19-09-2006, 13:22

In war time Ron? No mate. Never, in those far off days we all pulled together mlike there was no tomorrow....No matter what. There was never any rivalry, indeed, quite the reverse.

It is no surprise to learn that more than once, other mobs referred to us the "Gallant Sappers" Captain Edwards had it right: he said we never turned any request down. No matter how dangerous, or unpleasant. In that way we gained a great deal of respect from "All Arms"

For example: When faced with "Hillman" an huge and very powerful enemy defence post, 650 metres by 450 metres, that not one shell had landed on. The CO of the First Suffolks asked Lt A Heal "In the nicest possible way" to open a path through those massive defences.

But that is now the stuff of legends.
swordman

**Ronnie8781** · 19-09-2006, 13:36

Originally Posted by swordman

In war time Ron? No mate. Never, in those far off days we all pulled together mlike there was no tomorrow....No matter what. There was never any rivalry, indeed, quite the reverse.

It is no surprise to learn that more than once, other mobs referred to us the "Gallant Sappers" Captain Edwards had it right: he said we never turned any request down. No matter how dangerous, or unpleasant. In that way we gained a great deal of respect from "All Arms"

For example: When faced with "Hillman" an huge and very powerful enemy defence post, 650 metres by 450 metres, that not one shell had landed on. The CO of the First Suffolks asked Lt A Heal "In the nicest possible way" to open a path through those massive defences.
But that is now the stuff of legends.
swordman

So I take it you did it then? How long did it take?

**amazing__lobster** · 19-09-2006, 13:39

Originally Posted by swordman

In war time Ron? No mate. Never, in those far off days we all pulled together mlike there was no tomorrow....No matter what. There was never any rivalry, indeed, quite the reverse.

It is no surprise to learn that more than once, other mobs referred to us the "Gallant Sappers" Captain Edwards had it right: he said we never turned any request down. No matter how dangerous, or unpleasant. In that way we gained a great deal of respect from "All Arms"

For example: When faced with "Hillman" an huge and very powerful enemy defence post, 650 metres by 450 metres, that not one shell had landed on. The CO of the First Suffolks asked Lt A Heal "In the nicest possible way" to open a path through those massive defences.

But that is now the stuff of legends.
swordman

Not while your still around, fella.

Maybe, alot of the younger generation forget the debt that they owe you and your generation, but most people on this site feel nothing but the highest respect for you.

Please keep the little bits coming, swordman, they are most fascinating.

**swordman** · 19-09-2006, 15:33

Ron.
I had no part in the taking of "Hillman"

That was the sole job of three men Sapper Officer Lt Arthur Heal, L/Cpl Boulton and Sapper Ellis. Both got the MM and Lt Heal, the Croix de Geurre. They were attached to the First Suffolks.

I had nothing to do with that, though I was at Hillman.
It is quite a long story, and it took them some time to work their way through the wire and mines under heavy fire. Courage of the highest order! In keeping with the greatest traditions of the Sappers of yesteryear.

I will try to get round to post the story. That is, if you are not aware of the episode?
Why is it that the Sappers never have much to say about thier achievements?
Typical! After a bloody awful assault somewhere or other, the write up after would be "Technical" no mention of the courage, or of the losses, other than a simple "Lt So and so was Killed, with seven Ors killed and 20 ORs wounded.
Swordman

**swordman** · 19-09-2006, 15:41

You may find this of interest. It is of a young Swordman at the Local Grosvenor Hotel Ball. If I recall? I still had steel calipers on my legs under the "Zoot Suit" But it looked good.

**Holdfast** · 19-09-2006, 18:13

Originally Posted by swordman

Hi
I left the RE back in 1945 having been clobbered on the German Border Near Overloon, Limburg Holland,.
I often wonder how the Sappers set up today, compares with the old Field Company in the Third British Infantry Div (Monty's Ironsides) of WW2.

Being it is 62 years since I saw service it must have changed out of recognition.
Swordman. :D

Swordsman

I left in 1999 after doing my 22, even during my time a lot had changed. The cold war, with a large field army in West Germany. NI being the only real tour. Lots of exercises. Kit that was just good enough.

A lot smaller field army. Peace keeping duties, war against Iraq, (gulf 1), and kit that was a lot better.
Although it wasn't until towards the end we finally relinquished the Cent AVRE. :(

I would imagine that then normal Sapper camaraderie is the same as ever. We do the job that is set in front of us with the kit we have. Whinge and whine as is the want of a Sapper, but have a good p1ss up at the end. We are tolerated by all, but thanked when we get the job done as no one else can do it like a sapper.

Holdfast

(Expecting to get ripped to bits by Knocker)