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How could I ever forget my birthday at 21?
Was doing the ole guarding bit in HK.
I Can never forget the name also, sounds like; Shat a kock
a place called Sha Tau Kok.
The China Boarder ran down the main street in the village.
This side of the boarder we had a post on the street, as seen in the photo.
The only weapon we had was a parang.
The duty was called "anti snatch patrol".
Should any member of the British consulate be snatched and taken over the border, it was the duty
of the patrol to run over the boarder on a rescue mission.
This particular station / posting was a 4 hour on and 4 hr off, continuously for a month at a time.
On your off duty you had to ensure all your kit was up to scratch.
Note; No wings up, and no beret with badge. This was to confuse the reds which British soldiers
were there at the time.
On my 21st birthday we were in the canteen / Naffi, and we were only allowed 2 cans of beer per man.
I asked why and was told we were on active duty...............(ok then wheres my Hong Kong medal?).
Anyway as some of my muckers were sitting at the table, all had 2 cans in front of each man.
So as I finished one can off, I had to pass the can to the next man to my right, and so on, until I was pissed.
The lads gave me their ration because of my 21st.
Prior to having a drink, we had been briefed for that nights OP.
Which was to take down anti slogan posters that were put up on some water tanks.
After about 3 hrs kip I was woken up and asked if I was fit enough to do the Op.
Of course I was.
So two men (myself included) had to run across the China border screaming and swinging the parangs above our
heads, took down the slogans before the Chinese Militia knew what to do.
Of course we had 4 Gimpies behind us trained on the Chinese.
That was it, my 21st Birthday.
Was doing the ole guarding bit in HK.
I Can never forget the name also, sounds like; Shat a kock
a place called Sha Tau Kok.
The China Boarder ran down the main street in the village.
This side of the boarder we had a post on the street, as seen in the photo.
The only weapon we had was a parang.
The duty was called "anti snatch patrol".
Should any member of the British consulate be snatched and taken over the border, it was the duty
of the patrol to run over the boarder on a rescue mission.
This particular station / posting was a 4 hour on and 4 hr off, continuously for a month at a time.
On your off duty you had to ensure all your kit was up to scratch.
Note; No wings up, and no beret with badge. This was to confuse the reds which British soldiers
were there at the time.
On my 21st birthday we were in the canteen / Naffi, and we were only allowed 2 cans of beer per man.
I asked why and was told we were on active duty...............(ok then wheres my Hong Kong medal?).
Anyway as some of my muckers were sitting at the table, all had 2 cans in front of each man.
So as I finished one can off, I had to pass the can to the next man to my right, and so on, until I was pissed.
The lads gave me their ration because of my 21st.
Prior to having a drink, we had been briefed for that nights OP.
Which was to take down anti slogan posters that were put up on some water tanks.
After about 3 hrs kip I was woken up and asked if I was fit enough to do the Op.
Of course I was.
So two men (myself included) had to run across the China border screaming and swinging the parangs above our
heads, took down the slogans before the Chinese Militia knew what to do.
Of course we had 4 Gimpies behind us trained on the Chinese.
That was it, my 21st Birthday.
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