Ardent

Long history of animosity between the countries going back 300 years although those on the islands claim British familiarity and no Argentine-supporting residents Becket coming under fire for favouring Argentine relations over recognition of British losses

unfortunately Wikipedia is grossly mis-informed by people who know "something" of the subject this extract is sort of accurate but lacks finese

ok - Electronic Warfare is the detection, analasys and destruction of enemy use of the EM spectrum - at its most basic level it's receiving an enemy's radar transmissions at up to twice their receiving range (if they have a range of 50 miles you know about them 50 miles before they know you're there) and identifying who/what they are and taking appropriate countermeasures or counter-countermeasures (jamming) can't tell you much more or I'd have to kill you after

Electronic Warfare - passed at Leading Seaman rate (my original branch before I went green)

There are a few different styles of German stone/cross in the area: In Commonwealth cemetaries you'll find a very square white stone of the same marble as our own but with rough cut lettering under an impression of the Iron Cross Some cemetaries have thin black metal crosses with a name on each side of each cross-arm - they're about half inch thick and perfectly in line vertically, horizontally and diagonally (the only exceptions being small round rough stones between the ranks for the Jewish soldiers) The majority of stones however are laid on the ground rather than upright and there were quite a few mass graves in the area too

Air Electronics Operator - the EW (Electronic Warfare) specialists that man Nimrod, E3D, etc

Right - just to clear up one point - the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group badge is completely different from the trained parachutist badge (para wings) and is an AdQual and therefore on the right wrist (oh - and only one at a time!)

To my knowledge from the late 70's onwards it was only Pilot/Observer on the left arm - para wings on right shoulder - branch right arm - rate left arm - everything else right cuff

Additional Qualifications things like Bomb Aimer, Seacat Guider, Navigator's Yeoman - used to be Commando Qualified (like myself) but that's been "unified" so it's now on the upper left arm

Only RN Pilots and Observers wear their flying wings on the left cuff - all parachute wings are on the upper right arm with AdQuals on the lower right cuff

Unfortunately as Ieper is on "dead end" rail line it's the only way to travel (it's on the Kortrijk-Poperinghe line - Poperinghe being the end of the line) Friendly and relatively cheap and convienient places to stay would be the Old Tom, Sweerd, Regina or Sultan hotels - all of which are on the Grote Markt or market square and 2 minutes walk from the Menin Gate They can be found online relatively easily

Same place as Rum Bum and Baccy (someone's obviously not using enough masking tape!)

several of the long-standing Brantweer band have the MBE for their services to this

you get a great view of the area from the top of the tower - there's an aluminium plate all round the rampart with lines engraved and painted in it showing directions and distances to all the major landmarks around the region (if you can cope with the strangly unsupported and "open" metal staircase that spirals up from the viewing area in the cross arms)

WWII bullet holes again

If you visit Ieper and look at this you can see the bullet holes from the 2nd war very evident in the bronze

The Ballard of Tommy Atkins Rudyard Kipling ? 1892 I went into a public- ?ouse to get a pint o? beer, The publican ?e up an sez, ?We serve no red-coats here.? The girls behind the bar they laughed an? giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an? to myself sez I: O it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? ?Tommy go away?; But it?s ?Thank you, Mister Atkins,? when the band begins to play- The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it?s ?Thank you Mr Atkins,? when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but ?adn?t none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-?alls, But when it comes to fighting?, Lord! They?ll shove me in the stalls! For it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? ?Tommy wait outside?; But it?s ?Special train for Atkins,? when the trooper?s on the tide- The troopship?s on the tide, my boys, the troopship?s on the tide, O it?s ?Special train for Atkins,? when the trooper?s on the tide. Yes, makin? mock o? uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an? they?re starvation cheap; An? hustlin? drunken soldiers when they?re goin? large a bit Is five times better business than paradin? in full kit. Then it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? ?Tommy ?ow?s yer soul?? But it?s ?Thin red line of ?eroes? when the drums begin to roll- The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it?s ? Thin red line of ?eroes,? when the drums begin to roll. We aren?t no thin red ?eroes, nor we aren?t no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An? if sometimes our conduck isn?t all your fancy paints, Why single men in barricks don?t grow into plaster saints; While it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? ?Tommy fall be?ind,? But it?s ?Please to walk in front, sir,? when there?s trouble in the wind- There?s trouble in the wind, my boys, there?s trouble in the wind, O it?s ?Please to walk in front, sir,? when there?s trouble in the wind. You talk o? better food for us, an? schools, an? fires, an? all: We?ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don?t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow?s Uniform is not the soldier-man?s disgrace. For it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? ?Chuck ?im out, the brute!? But it?s ?Saviour of ?is country? when the guns begin to shoot; An? it?s Tommy this, an? Tommy that, an? anything you please; An? Tommy ain?t a bloomin? fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

I'm reminded of the Ballard of Tommy Atkins (please search it online as I don't have time at the moment) which pre-dates the First World War and sums it up perfectly I'm a bit biased as I've been on the wrong end of a WWII late-entry conscript with home-service only who swore blind that anyone called (or volunteering) to the colours after 1945 didn't do real service (I'm a 17year volunteer)

Apart from 1982 when we got an un-naturally broadcast version of war the UK sailor, marine, soldier and airman gets a really bad press without any understanding of the low standards of peace-time support given to the underpaid volunteer in this country (I've had many a "conversation" with 2yr conscripts who spent their time "in Catterick" who think we have it easy these days) I volunteered in 1981 at the age of 16 - I was in the Falklands in 1982, did my commando course at the end of the year, was in Northern Ireland the same year and back again in 1984/1985, involved in 1st Gulf and managed to survive 17 years in but we still have those that think 39/45 was the end of all "real" service I have the utmost respect for ANYONE who volunteered to serve and also for those who served their country regardless of which conflict they were in but I think we need to remember the Ballad of Tommy Atkins and recognise all those who do the things we don't want to do any more

The Oakleaf (not clover) goes on the ribbon of the campaign where he was mentioned - it would go on the War Medal if it was for service in an area where no campaign medal was awarded In service outside wartime (i.e., no War Medal) if it was not in a campaign area where either a medal was awarded (Korea et al) or the General Service Medal/Campaign Service Medal then it would go directly on the jacket It will not be placed on any other "bravery" award Most Mentions are cited in the London Gazette

Officially, an action or course of conduct worthy of a mention in an officer's despatches to his superiors The oakleaf is awarded regardless of other awards held/pending and would be fixed to the ribbon of the relevant campaign medal or to the tunic when no campaign medal awarded

the daily issue of rum at its demise (31st July 1970) was 1/3rd of a gil added to twice its volume of water (neat for Senior Rates) it was broken down into 3 gulpers, one or more could be given to your oppo for good favours received each gulp was sub-divided into 3 sippers for minor favours a more random measure was to offer whatever you had left for the recipient to finish off - to drink to the "sandy bottoms" I could go on but I think I can already hear the snoring

It's a shame that in 2004 Mary McAleese chose 11th November for her Inauguration and virtually drove past the war memorial without even acknowledging it There was no recognition of this date on a day when the whole of Ireland's "upper echelons" was out in force for a national day

oh poo - I was looking forward to that extra ?50 to see me through my dotage

I hope Lord Ashcroft starts collecting other stuff soon and not just the VC's as I might want to get rid of my (Royal Navy) MM group in the years to come (for pension enhancement purposes)