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Ron Wingrove
SCLI
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23529582 - LCpl Ron Wingrove writes:
I had a five year deferment from the
forces, I was an apprentice on the gas company, training
to be a gas fitter. After a year I did not go to night
school so was called up for national service, I went
into the Somerset Light Infantry, training was done
at "The Barracks"Mount Street Taunton.
My number was 23529582, after training
we left for Knook camp Warminster where we were a
demonstration battalion. I was then transfered to
Support Company and went into The M.M.G. platoon.
The pay in the forces at this time was a mere 28 shillings
a week so I was glad that I had signed on for the
extra year. In those days you could hike home from
Warminster quite easy so had many 36 hour and 48hour
passes.
After afew months I passed as a specialist
machine gunner and went on an NCO cadre and made L/Cpl.
All my mates were demobbed from Warminster, and in
September 59 we left Knook Camp and made for Osnabruck
in Germany where we amalgamated with the Duke Of Cornwall
Light Infantry in Mercer Barracks B.F.P.O.36. I then
went into the Assault Pioneers, there I made a lot
of new mates and spent christmas 59 on guard duty
{what a way to spend christmas night} but made up
for it afterwards.while in Germany.
At Hamlin on a pontoon course we made bridges across
rivers etc.and also did a patrol up on the Berlin
wall, thank goodness its not like it today. Before
I left Osnabruck in August 1960 I was offered a second
stripe but declined. I would just like to mention
the music at the time, it was just brilliant and just
think we had all the 60s to go yet. I was demobbed
in Bodmin Cornwall late August 1960.
Ron Wingrove and Vic Higgins meet
again after 47 years
Message from Vic Higgins re picture above
This is a picture that I had taken at the
2007 Reunion of Ron Wingrove and I we had
not met for 47years, we were in the SLI
& SCLI together, he was our L/Cpl in
the Assult Pioneers in Osnabruck 1959 to1960
when we went different ways.
But we were only a few miles apart, if
it were not for your great website we may
never have met. Ron was looking at the pictures
that you put on my gallery and he said to
Tony Hood "thats Vic Higgins I was
in the army with him" and Tony said
"why not come to the reunion and Ron
came and what a good chat we had, we talked
all night we were realy true mate's. it
was just great.
Vic Higgins
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Gallery
Click on any image to enlarge and open in new window.
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A2
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A3 - in the Dab - Jonah.
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A4 In the Dab - Jonah
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A5 - Ron Wingrove |
A6 |
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A7 - back row from left to right Bob Gaylard,then
two german solidiers, Cecil Vickery,Keith Reakes,&
L/ClpRon Wingrove. front row left to right Peter Young,
Vic Higgins, Phil Lumbard& Brian Coles some where
on Scheme.
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A8
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A9
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A10 - Cheers Mike
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A11
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A12
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A13
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A14
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A15 - view of Hamlin from camp.
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A16 Osnabruck - Dave Kent 1959
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A17
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A18
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A19 - Osnabruck
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A20 |
A21 |
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A22
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A23 - Ron Wingrove,Bob Gaylard & Bri Coles outside
tent at Hamlin
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A24 - Dicky Bird - Holland
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A25 - Brummie Royal
Engineers and Brian Cole SCLI
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A26 - Pete Young -
Achmeer |
A27 - Cpl Happy Sad |
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A28 -Osnabruck
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A29 Christmas 1959 Osnabruck -
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A30
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A31 - Mick Burford -
Nice shoes
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A32 Christmas 1959
Osnabruck |
A33 - Osnabruck station,
Bob Gaylard, L/Cpl Ron Wingrove, Brian Coles |
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A34 - Dicky Bird and Dave Kent
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A35 - Osnabruck
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A36- L to R - Brian Coles, Keith Reekes, Keith Reece,
Pete Young, Bob Gaylard.
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A37 - Mike Burford Rockin
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A38 - Osnabruck
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A39 - Osnabruck 59/60 Cup of Ovaltine
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A40 - Hamlin
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A41
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A42
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A43 - Osnabruck
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A44 - Cpl Happy Sad.
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A45 -Osnabruck in the Pub, Pete Young, Landlady,
Vic Higgins, Bob Gaylard
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Click on the images to enlarge
Copyright: Ron Wingrove
Back to: SCLI Memoirs
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