How did we entertain ourselves in BAOR?

What did we all get up to while serving in BAOR West Germany, West Berlin, back in the Cold War days? Well, there was a certain amount of drinking for a start! Let me know what you were up to?

[@jamesross1799]

The army was always well lubricated back then young lads together and what fun it was!!!!!!!!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

💯👍🇩🇪🍻

[@barrymason5714]

Our block contained everything. Cellar bar, Naffi shop and WRVS Lounge with "cor!" in attendance. She was from Guernsey. Ground floor Naffi canteen and bar, cookhouse and dining hall. First and second floors all barrack rooms (about 8 max per room) and other facilities. Only had to go outside for morning parade and off to the REME workshops. On guard duty once, we had a full screw kept in guard room nearly all day. He had two half litre bottles of clear liquid. One vodka, one lemonade to sup from. Eventually collected and never seen again. This was 1963 - 1967, rat arsed every evening. Down town in Minden same at weekend. Bratwurst mit pomfrittes and zenf, yum. Halb henshen mit pomfrittes, bit messy stripping the chicken off bones.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers Barry, great memories mate 👍

[@Bill_Dingsite]

A lot of the lads knicknames at the weekend were Swampy. Mattresses steaming in the sun on a sunday morning gave it away!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I remember seeing that happen 🇩🇪🤣

[@jaegarfiftyeight8048]

Germany 1980 - 86 Worked hard; played hard; Loved the summers; loved the winters. As a pad I didn’t live on the MQ estates but in a village and then a town so got invited by neighbours to all the German festivities - Schützenfest; Rose Montag; Rhein in Flames; Sylvester etc. Drank the odd beverage 😉 Owned a vehicle (had x2 brand new tax free from a place in Holland IIRC) Petrol coupons and x5DM to the £ - letstab! OK, let’s drive then. Took full advantage of already being across the channel. Weekends and A/L headed for the Ardennes; The Eiffel; Harz mountains; Bavaria and Austria - skiing/hiking/camping. (And the odd beverage). Camped the length of the Rhein/the Mosel/the Ahr especially during the Weinfest season! Might have visited the Oktoberfest/Bierfests now and again. 🙂 Didn’t have time to get bored. Went back to U.K. ☹

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪👌👍

[@vonsprague7913]

BAOR were the most heavily armed functioning alcoholics in the history of modern warfare lol. German girls with hairy armpits, mad discos that were either pulling sessions or massive punch ups, Apel schnapps and all ranks barbeques. Skiing as adventure training and the cold powdered snow. Drinking games! Good times.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

We did know how to party 🇩🇪👍🍻

[@Rasputin8221]

I went out to Fally in the 90s with 1 RHF as a newly promoted full screw. I was in a long-term term relationship and suddenly off the leash. Looking back, I'm amazed that my liver/relationship survived the onslaught. Everything revolved around booze in those days. If you did well, the reward was booze. If you didn't, you commiserated with booze. Taxis would pick you up outside the block and then drop you off outside the block if you could remember where you lived. Great days with great memories and the best posting I had. Oh, and the Jocks were great to go on the piss with! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇩🇪🍻

[@leeennis9177]

I remember a lad who drank Newcastle brown ale by the bottle before 1st parade. He was most definitely a functioning alcoholic. Every Sqn had its own bar and yes beer was a daily reward. Clean the tank park and we can open the bar early. Sweep up outside RHQ and we can open the bar early. Drinking was promoted daily. I remember the same guy who drank daily being carried off to hospital at a beer festival to have his stomach pumped out. Sad but true! We had a lake nearby and it would have hundreds of yellow handbags placed around the edges to keep it chilled. Yes we played and worked hard.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪🍻

[@Buckrogers8746]

You don’t think I’m going to open out too the hole world and say what we got up to in our spare 😮time on BAOR 😂😂😂💪🏻💪🏻🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

No names no pack drill 🪖🍻🫡

[@CensureAsylum]

British Army Of The Rhine.. I taught myself to play guitar - I bought guitar magazine before there was an internet and I learned that way. I took my guitars and amplifier around the world with me and one day I left the army to get an education. My proudest moment was performing in font of hundreds of students. I am going out street performing and will upload videos soon. One day I will return to Cyprus and play on mount Trudos.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

You spent your time wisely, unlike myself and I imagine many others. A KZbin channel of your performances would be great 👍

[@bellshooter]

My wife was a teacher in Munster in the 80's , I was a civilian, but I worked in Libya as an Engineer , that led to a few awkward phone calls thro the Military exchange... The US finished that when they used the Bay of Sirte incident to attack Tripoli, and I was shipped back. The guys were on black alert when I hit Munster, and after a night with friends we were leaving a school block by the fire exit (alarm reasons) and suddenly a squaddie jumped out from cover , never been so glad I always carried my passport with me!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

👍brilliant memories

[@parkerzilla6323]

Drinking culture? Memories of bottles of Apfelkorn.

[@bugler75]

I have no memories of Apfelkorn itself but I remember the next morning’s aftermath ! 😂😂😂

[@paulkearse5924]

Best six years of my life, single and as a pad! Oh the glory days.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Paul brilliant memories we all have

[@johnnycooper7019]

Dear Keith, I fondly remember 'Family Favourites' on the radio, in the crew room! Best Wishes Johnny

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great memories John 👌

[@siroyal2040]

Plenty of beer and lady's at the time lol. No mobile phones, great videos Mr tab 59 bring those good times and memories flooding back keep safe sir 👍👍👍

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🫡🇩🇪🪖🍻👍

[@jonbritland8389]

Keith please keep it up. I am a civvy but i really enjoy this channel. You have reiplied to me in the past. Please consider widening your channel to Royal British Legion or SAAFA. I would love to see your audience grow but it is upto you. Jon Britland stapleford Notts

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Jon, thank you for your support 🙏. I'd love to expand the channel but I'm really not sure how to?

[@siroyal2040]

We're all civvies mate, but it's a great channel I am really surprised he has a low following for all his hard work he does 👍👍👍

[@jonbritland8389]

@@siroyal2040 I know a decent bloke when I see one I want his channel to go from strength to strength. He deserves a much bigger audience. I will have a think about this.thanks for commenting.

[@geoffcowen8912]

I was in Germany around 85. Whenever I tell people about the officially sanctioned booze culture, I tell them, if you needed anti freeze screen wash for you car in the German winter, it was cheaper to buy a litre of tax free vodka from the NAAFI than buy proper screen wash!!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I've done that a couple of times since I've been out

[@kevinadamson5768]

When I was stationed in Hohne garrison W. Germany in the 80,s with the Scots guards drink was dirt cheap and the single lads just got drunk every weekend then went down to Bergen after and finished off there. I was newly married with a young kid so I rarely went out on the town only I f I t was someone's leaving do, but used to go to the corporals mess on a Friday after work sometimes. I know a lot of other regiments had their own squadron bars but we never apart from the naafi and various messes. There was a big drinking culture in Germany and a lot of lads succumbed to it because it was that cheap. Some of the lads saved up and went to the reaperbhan (I think that's how you spell it) and went with prossies of which they would regale us with the stories on the Monday morning. I lived in Germany for three years and looking back it was a lonely old place for the wives when the men were away on exercise all the time. I didn't have a car in Germany so didn't get to see much of it except the training areas but the single lads went on snow queen skiing quite a bit in the winter. 😊

[@jameslynch7826]

And who remembers “ Indian hours?” Start 0730 Off Geknocken at 13.30 Bliss Plus geographically and as far as cities and travel and things to see Germany has so much more to offer than the uk. I remember lots of pads went camping and hiking at weekends and the naturist lakes full of pissed squaddies and their pranks. I have been back three times. I can highly recommend St Pancras to Brussels then into the Fatherland. The German railway systems have good month long ticket bargains. I am thinking of visiting for the Euros as I am sure many of us are!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Agreed 👍. I visit Germany almost every year for the last 20 years. Such a beautiful country 🇩🇪

[@roganmuldoon3357]

The first German phrase I learned was 'ein bier bitte'. The next one was 'noch ein bier, bitte'!!!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

That's the badger

[@SpecOpsPhotography]

There was a shop in Clifton Bks in Minden that sold British newspapers and other stuff, if I remember correctly it was run by the WVS Womens Volunteer Service

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

💯👍

[@Crunch2327]

Engineers always had Sqn Bars up in the attic. Bar off camp owned by ex-squaddie. One enterprising young lad smuggled a lady of the lamp into his room, she was finally found by management a month later, she walked off with a healthy bank balance and more than a bit bow legged 😁🤣

[@sterlingmoose9335]

Forces Weekly Echo was one of the newspapers. That and the Sixth Sense came out weekly and was only usually bought because it had the TV listings for the week ahead. TOC H or Sally Army were often on camp or in the pads quarters for UK newspapers and such. When are you going to educate the masses about Wolfgang and his blue bratty van? Another great video Keith, keep 'em coming!!

[@TheJon2442]

I was a Welfare officer towards the end of BFG 2013-15 based in Elmpt. I had to read early every Friday as often allowances etc were changed and I would get the usual culprits asking why they had not gotten. If only they let us know first I could have done something for P1Os. Happy days.

[@shirleydrury5565]

O Keith a bit of BLUE you bad boy. L.o.L😊Thank you for your uploads regards to you and Tracer. P.s Good health and Happiness to you both❤😊❤😊

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Very many thanks as always for your kind words and support 🙏

[@andrewbrown2173]

We did six years in Minden, we had many alcoholics, drinking was a problem. Fighting with locals and other units was a problem. In fact we had curfews enforced on us. BFBS was very poor and limited in the 80’s. Then we purchased a video recorder for the platoon but limited juice of videos. But lots of German porn videos. The NAFFI and messes had functions from time to time. Minden night clubs were off limit to us, so every month we went to Hanover. Some of us ventured down to Rhinedalan on the occasional weekend to Pops and Eddies,to meet up with WRAC but we had to compete with the REMF’s for BAOR. Winter time we went skiing.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🫡🍻

[@Britdetector]

Later we had tv's, VHS and Betamax video recorders that would all switch between BFBS and German/Dutch TV signals, providing you bought your equipment from either the NAAFI or SSVC !

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

👍

[@JayMac-gh1kx]

😊 green on mucker that was a gd tabbing mucker lots of memories 😊😊

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Hey there Jay, are you lobbing in on the D Day 80th anniversary?

[@jeffmacrae4633]

The more I watch your videos...the more I'm amazed at how similar the Canadian Army was at around the same time... Keep it going... awesome videos

[@jamesross1799]

The british and Canadian army were basically the same thing throughout 2 world wars. They operated as one.

[@SteveHB59]

And very similar in the Australian Army, only warmer 😎

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers Jeff all the best maye🇨🇦

[@stabilis83]

David rodigan is one of the top reggae DJ in the world interesting to hear you mention him

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I use to listen on Sunday evenings as often as I could, I believe he's still going?

[@DesmondsDonders]

I remember listening to the football one day on BFBS and a guy saying don't listen to that we can watch it live tomorrow with a few beers.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

😂brilliant

[@davidclarke3342]

Hi mucker suffering from alcohol problems after serving in b a o t wreck my marriage because of my addiction to asbach I was still able to do my duty I am in recovery now I have been sober for 18 months now after 6 months of rehab

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Hey Dave, glad to hear that you ate recovering. It is a sad fact that so many troops suffered like this back in the BAOR days. I bet there are no figures detailing just how many. Take care mate 👍

[@davidclarke3342]

Thanks for your reply I think slot of it's bordem and feeling isolated I I've in Bristol there so many ex services living on the streets here always associated with alcohol abuse but they are not going the help because they are proud and feel ashamed of asking for help to them and myself it's always looked on as a weakness

[@mgtabc7367]

Awright mate, ah served between '80 an '87, West Germany, Northern Ireland an Berlin, big time piss artist right up tae 2012, efter daen 11 months rehab wiz able tae stop an been sober ever since, moved tae a nice wee toon, gonna be 60 next month an noo am chillin', so it is possible tae kick it intae touch, keep it up, ah'v no been happier. Awe the best 👍, Tam. P.S excuse ma English am fae Scotland 😂😂

[@mgtabc7367]

Thanks guys 👍, take care ✌

[@plumduff3303]

My sister just died of cancer...gone for a tab to keep myself sane watching this now thanks so much keith

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Shit. Mate I'm saddened to hear of the loss of your Sister. Cancer is such a wicked thing. I lost my younger Sister to secondary bone cancer in 2006, she was just 43 years old. She lived with us and passed away with me by her side in our dining room which we had converted into a bedroom so she didn't have to be in the Hospice. I'm out Tabbing shortly and I'll be thinking of you brother. God bless.

[@plumduff3303]

Thanks keith it's wicked and cruel illness she looked so different..it got into her liver. Rip sis she was 52..tabbing keeping me sane might tab all night.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

@plumduff3303 I know I don't need to tell you but if you're tabbing tonight take care out there. All my best wishes 🙏

[@plumduff3303]

Tabbed muswell hill to Bedford...stress subsided time for a kip ..keep up the great films keith they kept me pecker up.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

@plumduff3303 glad you're home safe, have a good rest now. Take care

[@OldhamSteve52]

Posted to Belgium/The Netherlands 86-89. 66BF to the £. 3.30 guilders to the £. Had our own bar. Small beer 10 BF. 12 grolsch 21 guilders, 5 guilders back on a crate of empties. 5,000 BF of petrol coupons every month. You paid 1500 BF. Spirits and cigarette ration every month. Nice earner if you didn’t smoke and drink. Only seems like yesterday.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great memories Steve 👌

[@michaelingledew]

Before the time of Internet, EasyJet and mobile phones. We had to get on, work and socialise. It was simply the best times of my career. NAAFI bop, yellow handbags and ramp parties (I'm ex-MT)

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers Michael 🇩🇪 👍

[@TheJon2442]

BFBS is still based in Chalfont Grove Teleport, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire . They used to visit Germany, on request with their ice-cream van... Always tried to book for events. 1000 free ice-creams. Happy days! SSVC.... Previously SKC!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

👍🫡

[@bugler75]

Great video Boss. If you’re ever back in Germany let me know. I can maybe get till you to buy you both a beer. All the things we enjoyed are still there. Just sipping a Herforder with my lunch although Bitburger is more common near me (Saarbrucken area)😊 All the best to everyone 🫡🇬🇧☘️ Ian

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Hey Ian, always good to hear from you my friend. Thank you for your kind offer, you never know we may just take you up on it lol. Take care.🇩🇪

[@bugler75]

@@LetsTab59-bd4fd My pleasure ! 😊

[@baz7344]

Another great thought provoking video Keith! 👍I seem to remember there was quite a lot of boredom & 'Egyptian PT' listening to music after work on your new NAAFI bought stereo. Yes, booze was cheap but only if you wanted to drink it in barracks or with some of the Pads at their home. We all prefered to go into town which was an easy walk from Hammersmith Bkks; into Herford but not Salamanca Bkks; Soest which was in the boondocks & nowhere near a town. Many of the Gasthaus in Herford [1970's] were expensive & had 'GERMAN ONLY CLUB' signs in the window & they meant it! Never play with or spoil your beer mat in these places because they were used as an open bar bill by marking them with a pen stroke for each beer. The ambition was to get a car or motorbike as soon as possible to travel around a bit if you could by blagging enough petrol coupons. You could drive to the Mohne Dam & pretend to be an Admiral for the weekend or at least buy a sailor-cap to try & chat up a fraulein & get her onto your imaginary yacht! 😉 'Phantasia Land' was like a German Disney World & I went there a few times when I'd become friendly with some English girls working as can-can dancers in a bar. I was stitched up for Colonel's driver later which put paid to a lot of evenings & weekends having to drive the Colonel around while he got pissed instead of me. Lots of boredom working in the MT Park Mon-Fri & only two proper Exercises a year ... 'Spring Rites' which was a radio Ex & then the main 'Quicktrain' Winter Ex as in 'fc*k me the Russians are coming!' I did Op: Snow Queen for a ski trip to Bavaria & some Office Sgt who thought he was funny volunteered me for a sport parachute course at Bad Lippspringe. We had four & two men rooms in old Prussian Cavalry barracks at Herford [Salamanca was former Canadian 'modern' single storey stuff] complete with cockroaches. When my room mate got a posting to Hong Kong instead of me I thought that's the last straw & put my ticket in. I joined to see the world not drive lorries full of furniture around married-quarters or rotor blades up & down the Autobahn! 🤣

[@gunner678]

Ziplock plastic bag = waterproof phone. Don't use a black bin bag, it affects the picture quality and a bit too big😊. BAOR as a young man was great, but never managed to save any pay, I wonder why. Far too many memories to share, but just a quick story. I remember when things began to change and we started having dry exercises. My troop deployed along a main route, tree lined, terrible far air defence coverage, so we found buildings to locate the Javelin dets (not the Javelin ATK). The director of Warsteiner brewery was very hospitable. He let me locate a couple of dets on the brewery roof. He also gave us a truck load of bottled beer. Normally great, but things in the early 90s were totally different compared to late 70s early 80s, when beer was everywhere. You'd see crates on the decks of Chieftains. Still we took the chance, and took the beer back, undetected for our troop bar. We had a few free nights on that lot.

[@november50]

lol, the good old days. Left Dieppe Barracks(Singapore) same year you left Germany. Awesome 2,5 year piss trip and like you picked up enough local language to get by, in the bars. Got on the piss with some Brits(think they might have been Jocks) based out of Hong Kong after an exercise in Malaysia, was in a platoon swap with some Aussies in Butterworth, Malaysia for a week culminating in a battle shoot and falling plate, while still pissed/hung over. Thankfully didn't fall asleep on the ferry from the rock(Penang), like some poor Aussie trooper who had to pay for 16 trips after he was woken up. Did learn a bar drinking game from the Aussies called "smiles" while indulging in Penang's nightlife😁. Aussie, Brit and Kiwi servicemen knew how to party back then, no matter where in the world they were.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

We were the best 🇦🇺🫡👍🇳🇿

[@peterbrown1012]

When i was in we only had BFBS radio, we had a tv room, but only German channels that were dire. German beer came in small bottles in long, thin boxes. These fitted neatly in the ammunition holders in our tanks on exercise. The troop leader kept a box of Mars bars in one and wouldn't share. I had gone to bed and was asleep when after midnight, my door opened, and i was asked if i wanted to go for a drink, i said ok, got dressed and headed for the town. When i was on guard duty, it was funny watching some soldiers returning from a night out as they passed the guard room putting on their best sober walk.

[@roganmuldoon3357]

There was a small space next to the gunner's seat in the MkII Chieftain where a box of Crunchies fitted perfectly.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great memories Pete 👌

[@fergusmason5426]

When I first got to BFG in 1995 (Wentworth Barracks, Herford) a yellow handbag was 3 marks 20 in the NAAFI. Ten bottles of beer for less than £1.50. My liver didn't stand a chance. I had a big room between two, double bed, sofa and schrank donated by pads, telly from the SSVC shop, a fridge full of Herforder and a German girlfriend that stayed on camp every weekend. Happy days.

[@vmax42dave]

I lived in Osnabruck early seventies, the only English programe on TV was Sesame Street ! 🤪

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🤣

[@petersmithm9]

Listening to BFBS all day in the workshops. Woman's hour and Richard Nankivell, " Hello Nankers Old Horse" stick in my memory. I was a full screw when posted to BAOR so had my own room. Had my own TV and Betamax player. Bought a few Adult tapes and charged the lads 1 Mark each to watch them in the block. Sometimes took them to the Cpls mess, set up an area with TV facing away from bar and show them there. Made a few bob doing that. More than one or two weekends went up to Denmark or just over the border to The Netherlands.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Hello nankers old horse 🐎 brilliant I'd forgotten about him on BFBS

[@TheJon2442]

​@@LetsTab59-bd4fdI think he was done for having an unnatural interest in kids!

[@moodyguymick]

Thoroughly enjoyed my time in Germany 82 - 85 👍

[@mikechild3414]

Came off an exercise, and had to go to Krefeld , went to a chip shop, and had sausage and chips, which one of many sausages do you want? Washed down with bottles of German beer in the back of the 4 tonner. Bloody marvellous. I hate fish anyway!! 🤣

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪👌👍

[@allanxxxxxxxx]

Hi Keith the best 9 years I had in Germany Dortmund-Paderborn-Lippstadt Double Asbach & Coke DM 1.50 lol

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

My favourite tipple still today

[@LeonTrotsky6782]

Cheap LP’s from the NAAFI, so a quick look in the barrack rooms & you would see a multitude of musical tastes, Led Zep to Harvey Andrews, Moody Blues to Tamla Motown, reggae to Elton John etc, etc.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great comment Mick, appreciated

[@trevorrickard9451]

Hi, Keith, tap an cocktail umbrella to the side, or better still get a basher from a action man kit. My first two week camp was there in 75 , tented camp up the from the road from the naffi, showers in the old house stables, over the use to a quiet room big arm chairs some drinks place you could write home, run by some one other an the naffi not remember who but the second week had they funding pulled, but then the church army place (NO BEER).. the camp is all gone now flatten in 77 for the big silver jubilee parade. Trev 5 Queens,

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great memories Trev! 👌 🇩🇪🍻

[@mikeplatts2603]

" A certain drinking culture " ? surely you jest Keith, it was so bad in Hildesheim that our Squadron club ( in the basement of our block ) was shut on a Tuesday and the only bar open at our end of the camp was the Buffs bar who held their meetings on a Tuesday, simple solution....we joined 🤣🤣🤣

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🤣👍👌💯🫡

[@howardcopestake1036]

1973-1976 Beer, bed, bonking, and boredom says it all After that I got married and we started touring and weekending I got posted back to Catterick for a year then Cyprus for a 2 year beach holiday followed by 2 years based at Shape with the Americans and very bored staff orifices wives…..Next was a 2 year punishment tour on special duties in NI. On completion back to Celle at 94 Locating’s old Barracks I finished there and was posted to Southern Germany with afcent nato where because I got zapped in NI i was to remain for my last 8 years looking after an electronic switch in charge of 16 Americans 3 Germans and 3 Canadians, as the old sweat, I never worked nights or weekends and slowly got bored, so I took up Volksmarching/ Rambling where eventually I became the Club President and finished up getting a German National Award for the advance of sport in Germany 25 years in. Beer bottle!!!

[@chanwtv]

This is absolutley Bang on. Your best Yet IMO. i WAS baor 82-86 more of this.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Thank you very much 😊

[@davejybandit]

Not long discovered your channel. Enjoy it thanks. Mention of Trenchard Barracks took me back. My late Father was stationed there 1970-1974 (ish). We had Married quarters at Klein Hehlen. I went to Gloucester School Hohne. I left in 1973 and first job was in the NAAFI Family shop Butchery department in Celle. The SKC attached to NAAFI was a regular place for me to go, since in those days the only TV available was German. After that I would be in the NAFFI Bar which was above the NAAFI families shop ran by live- in employees of NAAFI. Two Nightclubs I remember frequenting were the "Take it easy" and the Coyote bar (Kayote?) Age 15/16 I would get home drunk at 0400-0500 hrs. Mum would be livid, Dad would say "He's growing up"! Dad was a C/SGT RGJ and ran the Battalion Pig Farm, the SGT's Mess & the Officers Mess. I do remember him being away for one six month tour of NI. The little Newspaper/ Magazines/ sweets/ Chocolate Shop in Trenchard Barracks was ran by Toc H. Me myself I never served though when i aged 28, I joined the (then) TA. 5h Bn. The Queens regiment, I only did 3 years and in first year did a two week recruit cadre at Bassingbourn Barracks, 2nd Year two week camp based in Minden for Exercise Potent Gauntlet BAOR 1989, Third and last year I was back at Bassingbourn for JNCO's cadre. keep doing what you're doing, Gob Bless you and yours. Thank you for your service. Dave Yeatman (age 66).

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Small world Dave, many times in the SKC and families NAAFI in Celle.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

And was also with 5 Queens at Leros Bks Canterbury

[@davejybandit]

Good times, I was B Coy (Westwood) 👍🏻

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

@@davejybandit me and the Tracer Round were at B Coy Westwood TAC

[@LeonTrotsky6782]

Remember those cigarette coupons? You got cheap king size cigarettes dirt cheap. So you could drink & smoke yourself to oblivion. We didn’t have access to gyms in the early 70’s. We were not fit. Needless to say. But, loved being in barracks with the lads. W. Germany was a wonderful place, absolutely loved it.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great days in Germany fantastic characters in every Unit, brilliant memories

[@johnsockett7458]

Served on Berlin. Never left the same block to eat,sleep, go to work, the Cpls mess or NAAFI. By the way check out Soviet Encounter by Mike Guardia.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers John 🇩🇪 👍

[@bugler75]

Thats a great channel John👍🏼 Ian

[@MikeJ-c72]

I was a functioning alcoholic when i served in Padderbone and partied on the strip in Sennalager😂

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cracking times 🍺

[@zaynevanday142]

A lot of the lads ended up settling there ❤

[@zaynevanday142]

Had a friend who was one of Rudolf Hess guards

[@zaynevanday142]

Reminds me of this great song 😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaPahHeObpqqedUsi=SnMgxmEV-rTRHVBC

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Yes, I have a couple of mates still out there

[@roganmuldoon3357]

It was the Union Jack paper (can't remember if it was free or not), same as the Union Jack club in London where squaddies could get an overnight stopover bed while heading to and from home and back to wherever. 1968-75.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Thank you, I wasn't 💯 sure of the name.

[@spartacus72]

TOC H was where you got your news papers from .We was ok for things to do in the Grenadier Guards Based In Munster We had BMH Munster 5 mins away from Oxfords Bks so most of the nights we was living in the girls rooms.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

You lucky bleeder 😆 a whole lot of nurses right next door 👍🍻

[@ianclayton4483]

Love your channel mate. Thank you

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Thank you Ian for your support 🙏

[@terrystephens8603]

I also remember the drinking culture.I was never too bad but some had serious problems actively encouraged to drink then getting into serious problems.One lad was drinking benz fuel on exercise.Not sure what his lifespan was but he did 50 to the gallon😂

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@kevinnicklin4717]

Any remember the Hollywood in schlob neuhaus sennelager great memories 1987 1990

[@jeffharper9703]

Buckfast withoot end and galore daddy'o 😂

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🍻🫡

[@carlsherwin5557]

Was at hohne one big piss up, still haven't recovered 🙂

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I can feel your headache now 😫 thanks for commenting 🫡👍🥃

[@kennymcewan7281]

The old yellow hand bags lol yep in Taunton the naafi was from entering g guard room from outside turn right and on right hand side a can of beer was about 50 pence and cook house was under accommodation block in heide kaserne

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

That's absolutely correct Kenny 👍

[@anthonygardiner6213]

A box of 50 King Edward Imperials for £5 in The Naffi, that's where My cigar habbit began.

[@seanwheeler3116]

My memories from Germany are all positive, we had yellow handbags and a lot of food. Bratwurst or currywurst mit pomfrits und mayo (spelling might ge wrong, it was a long time ago). Pizza was also a big thing with large glass vats of brandy or sherry, so drink lots while you wait for your pizza. Then back to the block to eat and drink, yet no matter how drunk we got (and it was a lot) we could always do a BFT, CFT the next morning. A few were sick along the route but we all did it and made it back. My favourite meal was brunch on Saturday and Sunday. I loved the food in the mess, great for a hangover. Anyone remember one TV show on a German channel called Tutti Frutti, we all watched that lol.

[@seanwheeler3116]

Anyone remember the tenants beer with the pictures of the girls in a bikini. Drinking to try and get as many as possible and it was random each can.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers mate 👍 🇩🇪🍻

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Yes remember them well. Use to build a little pyramid with the empties

[@NobbySapper]

We had a Sqn bar, frequented most nights and NAAFI breaks for the cheese or ham rolls the barman sold, or a bag of prawn cocktail crisps (fish heads) with a pickled egg in. The SSM was always last to leave. Our Plant store was in the cellar, of the big old German infantry accomodation block, we had a rest room in there with sofas. Drinking time started at about 1500 hrs on a Friday with a trip to the NAAFI, for a crate of Grolsch, before we hit the Sqn bar, then down town. On leave we used to collect the old 10p pieces, exactly the same size as the old Deutsch Marks. With the exchange rate of the time they were very useful in the German phone boxes, or the "watch and shoot" machines in Hannover or Hamburg. Allegedly. 😜 Force's Echo newspaper Keith.

[@roganmuldoon3357]

I thought it was the shilling coin that was the same size

[@NobbySapper]

@@roganmuldoon3357 possibly, I don't remember pre-Decimalisation, I was still at school then. But the old 10p pieces certainly did fit.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Brilliant Nobby, cheers 🍻 mate 👍 🇩🇪

[@NobbySapper]

@@LetsTab59-bd4fd always a pleasure Keith. Keep up the excellent work.

[@eng9040]

Wildenrath and other units had a taxi fund at the main gate, if you arrived skint the fare was paid. But you had to pay back double great business model.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪👌👍

[@TheJon2442]

Now a Siemens test track.

[@donxz2555]

NAAFI, SKC cinema (No TV as before BFBS) , Local Schnell imbiss for a curry wurst and chips (mayo optional), local German pub when NAAFI was closed and as you state every troop or squadron all had a ‘private bar’ it really was a alcoholics dream, the NAAFI sold duty free booze and doubles were standard. We used to do pub crawls over the border in Holland where the cloggies were more welcoming If you knew someone with a car we would drive off to distant places and get hammered and get tattooed (some not remembering the experience until having a shower the next dat and finding ‘tweety pie’ tattooed on his butt) Now with few exceptions all the bases are gone JHQ is a ghost town. Worst of all the Army’s and Airforce numbers then and now are shameful, we now would be lucky to hold a small beach in Cornwall from an invasion of elderly nuns.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

All so very true 👍

[@Simon_W74]

Drank. Watched videos from the NAAFI. Never took in the sites of Germany. Kick myself often about that on. The nearest we would get is the long drive to the American PX at Geeson. Probably spelt it wrong or miss remembered the name. Was a singly.

[@Bill_Dingsite]

I kick myself too for not doing more with my weekends in Germany and getting out and about

[@piano40s]

Cheap booze in the Naffi when I first got to Germany never heard of Asback ( probably spelt it wrong) Pernod and that Blue stuff? before long I was drinking it by the bottle and so was everyone else Beer was drunk by the crate full all for a few Pfennics then Bratties and chips schnitzels and all that other nice stuff then at 4am it was Pizza time before jumping over the wall to get back in camp ( no Jeans allowed to leave the camp) then first Parade an hour or two later, good job the Russians never came most of us wouldn't have been able to find our tanks never mind get in them, if you got guard duty spoilt the whole thing and there was a lot of them.

[@James-gf9jl]

Remember Richard "how's your parts?" Nankivell on BFBS radio? I think he used to do the morning show.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Hello nankers old horse 🤣

[@roguetrooper5401]

Ah the battery bar I think I lived there and on exercise the joy of the yellow handbag (Herforder pils) complete with it's own church key come to thiink about it I need a drink now

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪🍻👍

[@davejybandit]

Just for info BEBS is available to this day in the UK on DAB for anybody interested.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Yes, I've got BFBS on my TV.

[@granitesevan6243]

🤬 English...! Always complaining about rain 🤣 I'm Welsh, my mate, so rain is beautiful 😍 Thanks for the great content x

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I left South Wales almost 3 years ago now, beautiful country 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@stuart-xt3jo]

tab behind the local bar (on back of a beer mat) pay it off pay day start again

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

We've all been there 🍻😂

[@Simon_W74]

Most mobile phones are waterproof these days.

[@tonystone9367]

there are waterproof cases ! i recently upgraded to a S24 and bought a waterproof case that works well !

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Cheers Tony will take a look 👍

[@kennymcewan7281]

Brill episode Keith

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Thanks Kenny 👌

[@stephenayscough230]

oh the memories i was stationed in Celle in 1985 and my farther in law was in 94 locating reg

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I was with 94 in Celle

[@stephenayscough230]

@@LetsTab59-bd4fd i was after you i was in 14 signal regiment (EW) my farther in law was Keith Willers he was in 94 its a small world

[@martynnixon7143]

Who's great idea was it to put an outdoor pool in Trenchard Bks? Made for magical OPTAG fitness !!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🤣👍

[@Screwball70]

They were only playing leapfrog 🎼🎶

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🤣

[@freelegal]

My (iPhone - yes expensive!) is supposedly waterproof even up to surviving immersion but I'm not about to test that claim anytime soon!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I never trust these gadgets 🤨

[@petermanning1864]

Good old herferder Pils yellow handbags

[@moodyguymick]

Preferred Warsteiner myself, mate.

[@SpecOpsPhotography]

The civvy petrol station across from the guardroom sold them, 7Dm each. reckon they sold more of them than they did petrol

[@marksadventures3889]

OMG! Corridor parties!

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Great.....deadly.....but great 🇩🇪🍻

[@Britdetector]

Most Samsung phone are now capable of being immersed for up to 20 minutes in 1 metre depth of water

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Good to know 👍

[@kennymcewan7281]

Did not know that about trenchyard having studios when a was there it was 2 royal anglian

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I knew they (BFBS), were somewhere in or near Celle but it wasn't until I did a bit of online research into them that I found that out.

[@tdezyn]

When was you with 156 Inkerman Bty Keith. The times of Brian Hall? BFBS and Old Nankers, How's your spare parts 🤣😂 Heide Kaserne also had surfboards you could sign out and use at Steinhuddermere and BBQ with Beer.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Yes remember Brian, I was in H Troop from 78 to 85.

[@bloggs692413]

never a dry day in Germany even on ex we had smokers The best pub crawl

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🇩🇪👍🍻

[@thebloodyban1413]

Pure curiosity, what flag you got flying?

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

It's the Infantry Corps Flag.

[@terrystephens8603]

Bfbs was great.Remember people not going to naafi until coronation street was finished😂These were butch blokes and ladies.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

👍

[@neilk943]

Don’t buy a telly or a car save or your money and PVR!

[@Tg-cb7ly]

God help ya if your room job was the corridor especially after a corridor party

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

Noooooo 😬

[@johnribble]

Naffi bar , on the lash with the lads ,possibly fighting jocks next door ,block party

[@Tg-cb7ly]

Paderborn 85 the George bar the city bar Bolton 5 .paderborn pilsner looney juice for squaddies

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🍻🇩🇪

[@user-be9js4wm3z]

Remember eating the black forest Gate and yards of beer lovely beer not watered down and I remember doing a strong drink called rastapuss and also snaps rasta pushy as it was called then also was like sold in like a wine bottle I could well have been German wine can anyone else remember theese if so please reply

[@exsubmariner]

Drank a bottle of rats puss in Denmark icebound. tasted like methylated spirits and ginger. gave me alcoholic poisoning

[@andyt3304]

I've still got a bottle of Ratzeputz as a memento of my time in BAOR / BFG (Fally 1988 -1990 1992-2007) I haven't opened it yet, I don't think my liver would handle it. If you are ever in Nottingham give me a shout and we can crack it open

[@jameslynch7826]

Yes It was madness Sqn bars ABCD and HQ Sqn Then the camp Naafi regularly trashed Cinema next to camp Then the local German bar Then into Munster proper I used to see a lot of bands then so we would drive to Essen Enger Oberhausen Hamburg even to see bands which got us out the army loop . And we’d meet Germans at different gigs. A German bird was handy as they all lived independently from an early age. It got you out of camp. You got the usual 3 yr types oh I miss my bird who did nothing and didn’t enjoy Germany. Stayed festering in the block. Adventure training Skiing Sailing The odd military festival for the Krauts. We sometimes went on the lash to Holland or even Denmark which was brilliant. And we had a busy work schedule but it was fun. And yes a lot of piss ups. Summer in Germany was lovely. When we returned to the Uk it was absolutely crap. I hated it. It also ruined the morale and cohesion and skills set of the regiment.

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

James you're absolutely correct when you mentioned returning to the UK ruined a unit. But what fantastic laughs we had and memories we made out in Germany 🇩🇪 ❤️

[@jameslynch7826]

I won’t be the only person her here to say it was the best time of my life without question.

[@Katmando376]

You still like a good drink Keith? 🥃🍺

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

I do but in much more moderation than the old days 👍

[@ianclayton4483]

We had a very good LAD bar in Munster

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

LAD always had a good bar in any camp you visited 👍

[@billwassell8902]

I remember decorating the LAD bar at 6inf workshops Munster back in the sixties had my first and last binge on Pernod ,what a hangover !!

[@a8283371]

RAF Gutersloth, pigs bar, onky drank on days ending in y

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

🤣

[@kevinwilkes5115]

Sounds very similar to life in Falane

[@LetsTab59-bd4fd]

👍🍻