Saw this picture...

[Don the Mod]

...of Pete at Talavera Bks.

Talavera Barracks (The photo is from 1890 I think).

Three stories high.

2nd Battalion were there after coming back from Egypt in 1954. Real crap accomodation.
Hardly any hot water or showers etc and the toilets were at the back of the Barracks where the old stables for horses had been. Talk about basic.

These barracks, built between 1854 and 1859 as part of Wellington Lines, were part of the replacement of the hutted camp with permanent brick built buildings. The Infantry Barracks were renamed in the 1880s at the instigation of the G.O.C., Sir Evelyn Wood, after one of Wellington's victories in the Peninsular War. They were demolished in the early 1960s and new married quarters, the Talavera Park Estate, built on the site. The estate was completed by the late spring of 1964 and provided accommodation for 298 military families in 170 patio style houses and 28 maisonettes. These were in turn demolished in the 1990s and replaced with conventional brick built semi-detached houses.

[peter dearden]

Re: Saw this picture...

I remember running past them when doing my pre para training at the para workshops in 59

[trubrit2411]

Re: Saw this picture...

Squaddies 'specially Airborne Pit Bull Toms, should be in hard accomodation. Keeps 'em tough. Maida was a good balance. Gil Ghani......Painted walls and a big Gym. Thats all they need. Oh and crap food so they can moan about the ACC non stop, and threaten the cooks.

[peter dearden]

Re: Saw this picture...

Gill GhanI took me through maida when I re-enlisted he was one hard man but fair

[standinthedoor]

Re: Saw this picture...

...of Pete at Talavera Bks.

Talavera Barracks (The photo is from 1890 I think).

Three stories high.

2nd Battalion were there after coming back from Egypt in 1954. Real crap accomodation.
Hardly any hot water or showers etc and the toilets were at the back of the Barracks where the old stables for horses had been. Talk about basic.

These barracks, built between 1854 and 1859 as part of Wellington Lines, were part of the replacement of the hutted camp with permanent brick built buildings. The Infantry Barracks were renamed in the 1880s at the instigation of the G.O.C., Sir Evelyn Wood, after one of Wellington's victories in the Peninsular War. They were demolished in the early 1960s and new married quarters, the Talavera Park Estate, built on the site. The estate was completed by the late spring of 1964 and provided accommodation for 298 military families in 170 patio style houses and 28 maisonettes. These were in turn demolished in the 1990s and replaced with conventional brick built semi-detached houses.

That's the barracks in which 2 Para mutinied/rioted etc (think Paddy Pestell was the RSM) early 50's. Officers stayed away and let 'the ranks' sort it out. Think it was a mixture of shit living space, crap food, bullshit (it was 2 Para) and some pillock felt that no one should get home one weekend and kept everyone in barracks. Result, riot. That led to the blocks being demolished. No one charged I believe. An old mate of mine was in 13 Para in WW" and they finished up in the far east ready to have a go at the Japs when the US let a couple of thunderflashes off over Hiroshima and Naginbastard so war ended. He says they were kept out in the sticks for months in trencehs, no war they wanted home and mutinied. Montgomery disowned the unit. Some of those same blokes were in 2 Para early 50's. Riots and Para not exactly strangers!

[bob9739]

Re: Saw this picture...

Nowt like a bit of history, you learn something new every day.

[jim scott]

Re: Saw this picture...

Gill GhanI took me through maida when I re-enlisted he was one hard man but fair

Gill was involved in the tug o' war training when the 88 stone team won the army championships in the early 60 s,a lot o other worthies as well ,first four on the rope Chick Huston ,self, Jimmy Grant Shug Wynne other's?? Gill was maybe anchor on the team, CSM Jim " Wee Man " Ferguson, C Coy, was the team coach

[trubrit2411]

Re: Saw this picture...

Gill GhanI took me through maida when I re-enlisted he was one hard man but fair

His reputation preceded him. I used to see him running you blokes past us. Our two striped God Smokey Lloyd used to say "There is the infamous Corporal Ghani of the Ist Battalion..... Eater of Crows" I used to think thank **** I joined a bit later.

[trubrit2411]

Re: Saw this picture...

That's the barracks in which 2 Para mutinied/rioted etc (think Paddy Pestell was the RSM) early 50's. Officers stayed away and let 'the ranks' sort it out. Think it was a mixture of shit living space, crap food, bullshit (it was 2 Para) and some pillock felt that no one should get home one weekend and kept everyone in barracks. Result, riot. That led to the blocks being demolished. No one charged I believe. An old mate of mine was in 13 Para in WW" and they finished up in the far east ready to have a go at the Japs when the US let a couple of thunder flashes off over Hiroshima and Naginbastard so war ended. He says they were kept out in the sticks for months in trenches, no war they wanted home and mutinied. Montgomery disowned the unit. Some of those same blokes were in 2 Para early 50's. Riots and Para not exactly strangers!

I would like to have seen that. Pity we can't time travel.

Paddy Pestell was the OC HQ Coy in Browning who when he caught me running over the T Tracks with the muscle mechanics out of the gym for the fifth time instead of supervising ....unsupervisable middle aged women in the cook house, shrugged his shoulders and pushed me medical discharge papers over the desk and said "Sign here" He was a very intimidating bloke.

[jim scott]

Re: Saw this picture...

His reputation preceded him. I used to see him running you blokes past us. Our two striped God Smokey Lloyd used to say "There is the infamous Corporal Ghani of the Ist Battalion..... Eater of Crows" I used to think thank **** I joined a bit later.

When I left in 64 Gill was still 3 Para

[standinthedoor]

Re: Saw this picture...

Gill was involved in the tug o' war training when the 88 stone team won the army championships in the early 60 s,a lot o other worthies as well ,first four on the rope Chick Huston ,self, Jimmy Grant Shug Wynne other's?? Gill was maybe anchor on the team, CSM Jim " Wee Man " Ferguson, C Coy, was the team coach

23 PFA were the army masters at tug-o war, watched them training one day pulling a barrel of concrete up a gantry, proved what can be down when 'ordinarily' built blokes work as a team. Do not think they ever lost the minor units, and I think 3 Para were well up in major units tug (could be 2 Para!)

[trubrit2411]

Re: Saw this picture...

When I left in 64 Gill was still 3 Para

I always thought he was 1 Para. I think he was when he was commiting Crowicide in Maida.

[billy meikle]

Re: Saw this picture...

His reputation preceded him. I used to see him running you blokes past us. Our two striped God Smokey Lloyd used to say "There is the infamous Corporal Ghani of the Ist Battalion..... Eater of Crows" I used to think thank **** I joined a bit later.

C coy1 PARA good lad

[Dave Burgess]

Re: Saw this picture...

I remember bimblin over Queens from the block ta pump some iron in the Maida loft sweatshop n seein Gil knockin fukk outa iz sen duin circuit training in the main gym, Burpees, Squat Thrusts n jumpin over benches. I think eee wuz prepairing fer Selection at Hereford.