Fate

Talk about your time in the Regiment, the KRH, Military Life, Equipment - Let's keep the good memories going.
Post Reply
bodge
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:41 pm
Location: hull east yorkshire
Service details: national service 1952 - 1954
Real name: Malcolm Brown

Fate

Post by bodge »

My 1952 intake was all due to join the 10TH Hussars luckily I got out of step on the pass out parade and was back squaded therefore I was allowed to become a member of THE REGIMENT .Which means I made many friends and have lots of memories and exigencies but just 2 poor ones 1 my accident with the B.E.S.A. 3weeks in B M H 2 my friend found dead in his store room 3 Slim Bonfield breaking his leg
Bill Bentley
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2019 6:40 pm
Location: Spain / Germany
Service details: 1970 - JLR RAC, 14/20KH, Para Sqn RAC, 14/20KH, Hereford, 14/20KH, 2 Para, DLOY - 1990.
Real name: Martin William Lester Bentley (Bill) (Basha !)
x 1
x 29

Re: Fate

Post by Bill Bentley »

Bodge,

I can understand that anybody who is 'out of step' felt at home in the 14/20H :lol: .
But, can I ask you to be a bit clearer, my not knowing your abbreviations, about the following:
What does B.E.S.A. mean and, after 3 weeks in BMH, I hope that you have been getting some compensation.
And, yes, isn't it odd: Everybody expects soldiers to be KiA, but a great many die of RTA's and the like and of course the effects of booze related conditions, or just life both in and out of barracks.
Notwithstanding all of that, we're still here :D :D :D
bodge
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:41 pm
Location: hull east yorkshire
Service details: national service 1952 - 1954
Real name: Malcolm Brown

Re: Fate

Post by bodge »

Hi Bill The besa was the machine gun on the Comet when there was a stoppage you had to lift the cover a little to see if the cartilage had been hit
If it had you slam it down quick.
I did not have time and the full percussion cap hit me between the eyes and entered my head about 1 inch I was am very lucky to be alive.
Bill Bentley
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2019 6:40 pm
Location: Spain / Germany
Service details: 1970 - JLR RAC, 14/20KH, Para Sqn RAC, 14/20KH, Hereford, 14/20KH, 2 Para, DLOY - 1990.
Real name: Martin William Lester Bentley (Bill) (Basha !)
x 1
x 29

Re: Fate

Post by Bill Bentley »

Ouch :o :o !
Sometimes people are lucky in their misfortune :shock: .

If it had struck anywhere else it could have been serious :lol: :lol: :lol: .

Joking apart, you were very lucky !
Michael Burgess
Posts: 102
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 6:37 pm
Location: Uk Dorset
Service details: Boy's Sqn RAC 1956 B Sqn Berlin 1958. Stayed Regt Duty till 1990 then RAC Gunnery School till Xmas 2006. Completed 50years and 6 months service.
Real name: Mick Burgess
x 10

Re: Fate

Post by Michael Burgess »

Bodge
Am I right in thinking when you had a stoppage on the BESA the action was "Tap Cock Pull" glad you survived
Take care Mick :roll: :oops: :lol:
Bill Bentley
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2019 6:40 pm
Location: Spain / Germany
Service details: 1970 - JLR RAC, 14/20KH, Para Sqn RAC, 14/20KH, Hereford, 14/20KH, 2 Para, DLOY - 1990.
Real name: Martin William Lester Bentley (Bill) (Basha !)
x 1
x 29

Re: Fate

Post by Bill Bentley »

Mick,
although I worked with the Brownings .30 & .50 for years I can't remember what the phrase was. Cock, hook & look sticks in my mind, but whether that was GPMG, LMG, SLR, SMG or my trusted handgun was, I can't remember; it's no longer a part of my life 8-).
Last edited by Bill Bentley on Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
bodge
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:41 pm
Location: hull east yorkshire
Service details: national service 1952 - 1954
Real name: Malcolm Brown

Re: Fate

Post by bodge »

Yes Mick
with the stoppage you recocked then fired and if it did not then fire you again recocked and lifted the cover a little to see if the round had bee struck
if it had you slammed it shut real quick. In my case it went off as I lifted the cover bang. The next I remember as they lifted me out of the turret was someone saying look at the hole in his head.
Fate I was not in the tank at the time the loader had forgotten what to do so thy sent for me Yes I was and am lucky.
Bodge
Syd Jones
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:01 pm
Location: Catcott, Somerset
Service details: Joined the Regiment in June '52 at Haig Lines, Crookham, Hants, initially in to Recce Troop. Regiment moved to Sabratha in November '52, where Recce Troop disbanded. joined 4th. troop 'A' sqdn. later SHQ troop. Demobbed in '54 & transferred to Staffs. Yeomanry, finally discharged in '56.
Real name:
x 1

Re: Fate

Post by Syd Jones »

Well there you are Bodge! Must confess I hadn't realised that the cap had actually entered your noddle! I was sitting on the turret of a nearby Comet when a cloud of smoke puffed out of your hatch...Very impressive it was too! Was it Willie (Sgt. Williams) who came to the rescue? Golly! Just think, it was close on seventy years ago! Glad to know you're going on well. I clocked 90 back in February. Where did the years disappear to?
Cheers, Syd Jones.
Post Reply