victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Yes I found this one funny but not all see it that way, when we first moved into our camp living in tents it was at the bottom of the Troodos mountains in Cyprus ,and I was told to build a outside loo, at that time serving with me was a N.S, lad ,he had done his two years but sighed on again for the ex cash,and they had put him with me as a driver and helper which he done very well but he was not a med just a helping hand but he had been with me over a year,anyway I asked him to help me make the loo .We dug a big hole first then put a sacking net all round it so no one could see in,the last part in this build was to use poles and made up a goal post so when using it you did not fall down into the hole.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
We had been using about a week and I would shovel sand in at times just to try a keep the smell down,But when I went on patrol no one done so when I got back I could smell it form some way off, so I said to the cpl I will put sand down there in the morning. well he got out there before I did and yes he was a very big lad, anyway he went in there and as I was walking to it to put the sand down the hole,And then I heard him shout out,Matcham I am going to kill you when I catch you"What had happen as he put his weight on the goal post the pole broke and he had fallen down the hole and he was coved in human muck from head to feet he got out of the hole and was chasing me pass all the tents and behind him must have been all the flys in Cyprus well he gave me a kicking but all lads were laughing at us this is a true story and his name was HUM and I said to him AH"CPL HUM YOU DO HUM ALOT."That got me a good kicking to.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
No more to say about my time in the army overseas did not tell all but you got the best of it,next posting will be about coming back to the UK and again more problems with my back and legs and end up in a military hospital for some time from there it was the end of my years in the army read it next time thank you.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
I was called into the main Canadian camp hospital to see our own Dr,"Matcham you are to go back UK before the main party goes back, the NS soldier serving with you ,will not sigh on again so his time is up so with your bad back etc we are sending you back with him to the unit HO ." When I asked? "In 3days time so pack up and you will be picked up by jeep, and that is what happen and 2or 3 days after that I found myself back in our camp in Colchester in barracks.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Report to the R.S.M.at HQ office Matcham,when I got there he called me in you are not going back on duty matcham put a small pack together ,and put you kit in store and report back to this office because you are to report to the office at the Royal Woolwich Hospital and we will give you a rail pass when you are ready to go.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
next up my new life back in as a young civilian and you will find most of that fun to read .
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
They done test on my legs and back even had lumber puncture which was painful ,I made the drs laugh when they stuck the pins in my legs,I said "Sir can you not pin point the pr0blem" ?I was in that Hospital about two weeks when they told me they are sending me to another Hospital so I was taken to this one by a army land rover after a few days I was called in to see the army Dr who said "Matcham we are going to discharge you, "what sir back to my unit "No I am sorry to tell you that we have found a problem with your back and also may be with your legs so you are going to be discharged from the army on medical grounds "But that was not the end of the matter.
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Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,085
Hi Vic, grateful to know which year we are up to. Thanks.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Around 1964
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Getting ready to go home in the morning from the hospital when I was called back into the hospital office and had to see the CO. I know Matcham we told you that you are going on sick Then discharged from the army,but it seems you are still needed,your unit have been asked by the Royal QUEENS Surrys to let you join them in Germany and you are to go in their band as the EF Clarinet and solo Violinist ,they know about your back and legs but they still willing to take you on.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
"look sir I have not played a Clarinet or violin now for over 3years, and it will take me many months to get back to playing a instruments or even longer then that ,and I do not know if ever I will get back to the standard I was ,if they are thinking I can just join up with their band a play that is not going to happen ."Well Matcham you was told that what you have been doing was only a temporary job and some point you would rejoin a band."That is true sir but I was not told it would take this long"So What you are telling me Matcham that you do not wish to join them."No sir I am not saying that all I saying is it will take time if ever that I will be good enough to play in public again. I was then told to go back to the ward I was on and I will be called back in and told what is going to happen.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
I was called back in "Right Matcham because you now failed the standard of fittness required by the Army, and you joined up 6years ago and the age of 16 ,and you came in the Army AI fit.You have been discharged medically on grounds it happen while in the service of the Queen ,you have 12 weeks sick pay to help you settle down as civilian ,but remember you are still in the army for the 12 weeks.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
"You can pick up a railway warrant from here ,also you are entitled to a demob suit ][/URL]or funds to that amount, must say if I was you I would take the cash the suits they gave out are very dated. So that is the end of my Army years ,but as you will find out later it was far from the end of the army dealings.I signed on for 22years with a 9year option so if I had stayed in there was still a long way to go.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Igot home late afternoon mumwas in dad still at work, they did not know anything of what had happen, I was not one for writing home so they did not know anything about where ad what I had done in the army,there was only one time when my dad was taken ill and in hospital I was told that I was to go home immediately as my father was very ill ,must the army was very good and on the ball over things like this I stayed home till my dad was on his way to getting better.My mum said why are you?and how long ?"Home for good mum army did not want me anymore told me I was now unfit to carriy on in service.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
It made me smile when she said"I do not know what dad is going to say about this when he gets in,My Dad was about 6ft 6ins and his weight was over 18 stone so a big man,but a very mild person "Mum not my fault that this has happen .As long as I still have my room and bed that is all I need.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
Dad got home about 1900hrs,Hi son what are doing home?Well dad the army are saying I am not fit anymore to service in the army so I am home for good ."What are going to do now./?I am alright for a few weeks they are paying my wages for the next 12 weeks.I will pick up a job before then."lets hope so and he did not say what is wrong with you and will you get better,but dad was man of few words.any way next morning I got up had a cup of , went round to see my girl friend she had been going out with me for some years when I was in the army when I got there she was at work.So went down the town I was walking up Saxton st ,so I went into the dairy to see if they had any work,they did not but tooke my name and said if a job comes up they would let me know ,so I came out and just out side was Gilbert,s the bakery so I said to myself I will try there ,went in the office told I had just come out of the army and did they have any work.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
The lady came back and said the manager would like to see you now.So in I went in ,do you have a full driving licence ,better then that sir I have a army one which covers me to drive any vehicle from car to big lorrys,in the 1960s there was no Hgv and if your licence said you can drive lorrys and mine did you could drive one.I had it in my wallet showed it to him,he was happy with that,and went on to say when can you start ,when you want me to sir.Good I would like you to start tonight driving round the cafes, shops and also the ferrys in Dover, at that time they were all down in the western docks .I was so glad to pick a job so soon I jump at it did not even aske about hours or pay.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
I went home when Dad came in,he wanted to know what I done ."Well Dad I got my self a job .he said welldone that did not take long,when do you start?"TOnight dad sorry more about it later I must get ready to go.""WHat is doing ,?and is it good wages, No time now Tell you all about it in the morning.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
I started work that night about 22 00 hrs I was told a person will come out with me just the first night to show me where to go after that I am on my own,It was a very big round from Dover right down to Dungeness ,the times were very tight because of getting the beard and rolls to the cafes etc out and they all wanted them very early and that goes for the ships as well, but you can only be in one place at a time so some customers got upset ,but I was told the ships must be on time even if you have to go back to them making other cafes etc late. Well you will soon have a good laugh on things what happen some nights.
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victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,075
I went to work one night and my very old lorry was parked in the road,Sorry Vic but the bread lorry from Canterbury was late and then I forgot to put back your one.We will go out there now as it is dark out there I will back you in .well I got in and he was backing me round to the back where I loaded up and it was very dark ,we have a bank and the river there to I did not see him backing round and I went straight back went down the bank and into the river all the bakery lads and some girls came out all laughing but for me it was not funny at the time, I was told after it was not the first time it had been done,after that they put lights round the yard.
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