British Territorial Army Recruitment Film 1970s | TA | British Army | Military

[@daveh1081]

I joined 217 Sqn RCT in Leeds in 1982. Recruit training in Grantham Jan 1983. Went on Lionheart/Spearpoint in 1984 in West Germany. We had Bedford TM's among other things. Great times.......I'd do it again in a heartbeat!! It taught me a lot. I only did 4 years.......a girl distracted me! Many thanks Hampshire Prints.

[@PeterCo-h4v]

Excellent footage showcasing the TA as it was back then. Unfortunately scenes like these are consigned to history. Thank you Hampshire Prints!

[@Hants_Prints]

Very welcome!

[@Yorkshire321]

@@PeterCo-h4v where was the first 2 minutes filmed? They're driving on the rh side of the road.

[@playaajax8750]

@@Yorkshire321 probs germany

[@leveller123xyz]

I was TA 82-94 I was absolutely amazed to see them in action, minus helmets! I was not aware of the great helmet shortage of the 1970’s. But I did enjoy watching it. I was 562 REME at Southall then went to 873 (Deathray) Sqn RE Sappers at Acton

[@wills681]

1:45 Debbie appears to have inflicted a significant hickey on John's neck. 🙂

[@mole389]

Hors de combat

[@nucleargaz1]

Well spotted, good skills!

[@MartiniHenry45]

In the late 70's I was in C Sqn, Queen's Own Yeomanry, Saracens, Foxes & Ferrets, really enjoyed the video, happy days!

[@chrisoffer3074]

I was in A sqn royal yeomanry based in Wiltshire we had the same kit, good times

[@chrishewitt4220]

I was in 2/51 Highland (Gordons) from 1985 until 1991.

[@cujimmy1366]

Is Gordon Jackson narrating.

[@Tomteeejay]

Yes, Gordon Jackson.

[@wills681]

Nice one. That voice! Narrated by...? I know it but I can't place it. Edited to add: Gordon Jackson, that bloke in The Professionals.

[@jonathanperry4189]

@@wills681 good shout!

[@mjspice100]

..and the butler in Upstairs Downstairs.

[@wills681]

@@mjspice100 Ah yes, Mr Hudson.

[@paulcurry4706]

Gorden was in the movie The Great Escape 1963

[@ibana8449]

In the mid 80s I was in a TA REME recovery company, It was equipped with Scammell Explorers, Leyland Martians and Scammell EKA recovery trucks. When the annual camp went to Bordon in Hamps, they all went to the REME museum. The guy showing them round introduced them to the Scammell Explorer and said it was withdrawn from service in the early 1970s. Our lot said it wasn't and that they still had them ( 8 in all). The guy didn't believe them. After some discussion it was accepted as fact. The TA of the 80s was essentially a uniformed social club serving cheap watered beer, and weekends away.

[@johnallen7807]

Try saying that if you had joined the Paras! I joined 3 Coy, 10 Para at Finchley in 1970 and did 17 years with them and tougher units!

[@leveller123xyz]

I ran 26 miles the TA Marathon and 4 (sore feet) days marches at Nijmegen, freezing me nutz off on Iron Hammer, in sub zero snowy W Germany November 1988! It was not all piss up’s and jolly’s although certain units were very slack, normally due to not fit officers in charge, who normally over ruled regular army PSI’s who wanted things tightened up a bit.

[@leveller123xyz]

@@johnallen7807 when I joined 562 Sqn most SNCO’s were airborne trained, and the unit was fitter and better trained than rest of 151 Transport Regt. Who we joined after 562 RCT SQN lost it’s airborne role. Although we were known to have a good swallow.

[@johnallen7807]

Nearly 60000? and the current strength of the entive regular Army is now just 70000! God help us!

[@Scout1134]

Gordon Jackson...Narrator?

[@Tomteeejay]

Yes.

[@georgeb65412]

Johns parents corner shop is located here in Ipswich: 52°03'50.6"N 1°08'03.2"E

[@Baron-Ortega]

I see this stuff and it just makes me sad. Our country is a dump now, filled with trash.

[@mcorco516]

I used to be in the TA and most of my family were in the regulars. I used to have a lot of pride in our military and a natural patriotism in being British. What a dis-functional shithole this place has become. It's become like this by design, not by accident.

[@residentgeardo]

Cool footage .. from 1978 it seems (it says so on a magazine cover at the beginning) Any reason why nobody is wearing a helmet during the heli assault?

[@Hants_Prints]

Good spot, the footage details say produced in 79 but they have been pretty unreliable so we've been more vague than we would like 👍

[@nomadicbehemoth2830]

@@residentgeardo there was a shortage of helmets so you will sometimes see lads with no helmets or using a beanie etc.

[@paul.a.sangster]

i was a medic with 254 field ambulance RAMC TA

[@chrisoffer3074]

We had fox's good piece of kit had to be careful as a bit top heavy good times

[@ibana8449]

15:12 - Scammell Explorer parked as the Wessex departs ......

[@bugler75]

19:32 “One thing it’s never been is boring” Yeah, right! Stag on!!!😂😂😂

[@johngreen-sk4yk]

And "GD's" dixie bashing in the cookhouse 🥴👍

[@bugler75]

@ Ah yes! Who could forget about those?! 😂

[@skylongskylong1982]

Good old days when the TA was over 75,000 strong, and if to old could join H.S.F

[@ianturner8459]

I was in S.W.A.T. ... Some Weekends And Tuesdays 😊.

[@johnwilkinson9604]

The enemy light tank is actually a Scimitar not a Scorpion. Ex Queens Own Yeomanry 75 to 86 RHQ Cpl J Wilkinson. Now own my own Ferret Scout Car which I was the driver of when I was Rebro

[@sirrichardrichard5655]

Go Bodie go Doyle

[@mcorco516]

Ah, i knew I recognised that narrators voice.