I was posted to 34 Indep Field Squadron, in May or June of 1958 from First Fortress Squadron at Gibraltar. We sailed on the Empire Fowey, pickedup more of the Squadron from Cyprus and arrived in Kenya, where we were stationed at GilGil, close to Nakuru. We were joined there by more personnel who had been posted in from Malaya.I was with Park Troop under Lt Whitfield.

 

When we arrived, all there was was a bunch of tents in a feild. The only buildings were two corrugated iron buildings, the cookhouse, and the QM stores and Armory. We had a few 3 tonners and Land Rovers, but most of our equipment was being sent by sea from Britain.

 

Ten days after we arrived, King Feisal of Iraq was assasinated, and we were on the move. By train back to Mombasa where we embarked on HMS Bulwark and were on our way to Aden. We flew from Aden to Bahrein to secure the oilfields if necessary. While we were in Bahrein they started to split troops off, so we were usually a couple of troops short. In Park Troop we got sent all over, where we were needed and in short order I went to Oman and Muscat, Aden, and the Radfan, then back to Kenya.

 

I left Kenya for Britain on 22 December 58.

 

 

Bob Taylor

I served with 34 Field Squadron from 1974 to 1979, I started off in Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth and then moved to the brand new Barracks in Perham Down (absolute luxury compared to Mooltan). I served in Northern Ireland in 1975 in South Armagh on an R.E. Search team and had many a hairy task to complete most of it with typical field oggy humour. I also went to BAOR twice both on construction jobs to the Soltau plain at Schnevedingen. In fact if anybody can remember what it was like until we built the new all purpose shower and ablution blocks will remember walking miles to a dirty shower block being attacked by thunderbugs. My claim to fame is one of my DMS boots is probably still embedded in one of the many tank roads we built there.

I had a tour in Cyprus and Gibraltar which I think I can remember through the drunken haze. My last tour was to Belize in 1978 but that was after 34 Sqn left Tidworth. I have many happy memories of serving in 22 Engineer Regiment particularly our disputes with the chop jockeys in the catering establishment (cookhouse)

I am now serving with Kent Police and am due to retire in two years time when I have promised myself I will never wear another uniform.

Best wishes to all ex 22 Engineer Regt and 34 Field Sqn personnel. If any person knows how I can get hold of my old mate Mitch Leishman I would be grateful if you could contact me by e mail.