gizza posting 01

"GIZZA POSTING"

I'd been in the Army for all of 2 years. Already I was feeling footloose and fancy-free.

At the time there wasn't a lot on offer that caught my attention, but anything had to be better than West Moors.

I'd done my A3 and B2 training. Done my Drill Certificates, so that was Wiffin out of the way. God! that name brings back memories.

R.S.M. Claude Wiffin, Sir in his presence, Black Dog out of earshot. He wasn't the tallest man in the Army, I've seen blankets stacked higher, and he hated anyone taller than he was, so that just about left everyone else. He had his favourites. The Football team, Frank Tiplady. In fact that's about the limit. They don't make them like Claude anymore.

Back to my desire to get away from Dorset. The only place that seemed out of the ordinary was Christmas Island. I'd heard a lot of talk from ex "Grapples", people like Sammy Kirk, Bill Evans and Joe Kirkbride to name but a few. They'd enjoyed it, at least that's what they said.

"Sir, gizza posting." That was the only way to approach Major John Butler, preferably after lunch. Lubrication Hour. He was far more approachable after his daily top up. Not that he was in any way unlikable, just more receptive after a jar or two.

"A posting Chatfield, don't you like it here?".

" Love it Sir, just like a change of scenery, Christmas Island would be nice" He promised to make enquiries. That's it I thought, he'll have forgotten by the morning.

"You wanted to see me Sir" I said as I came smartly to attention in JB's office.

"That posting you wanted Chatfield, I couldn't get you there this year, but I can get you and someone else on reserve"

Reserve, that's a step in the right direction. This years reserves are next years postings. That'll do nicely. The only problem was reserve meant a fortnight at RASC Depot Borden. What a bloody desolate, cold, antique place that turned out to be.

I digress, there were going to be two of us on standby, and two going. Who were the other three going to be?

Alan Miller and Dave Rawlings for the posting, Alan Elsey for reserve. The first two I was acquainted with, Alan Elsey, never heard of him.

Good place to look, the N.A.A.F.I.

"Anyone in here called Alan Elsey?"

"Who wants to know?"

Bloody Yorkshire man, built like an undernourished matchstick. 12 months with a foreigner I thought. Another accent to come to terms with. 22 years in the Army can turn even the village idiot into a linguist.

"Your on Xmas Isle reserve, I'm the other one, may as well get to know each other"

Many pints later we were both speaking the same language, gibberish. So we'd met, talked, got pissed and become great mates. Not bad for an evenings work. Next stop, Borden.