1966 - BOLKIA CAMP - Ramc consisting of Capt John O'Donnell(late arrival) Sgt Scouse Davies, Cpl's Tony Field(hygiene)and Brian Lawless, L/Cpl Smudge Smithson,Pte George and lastly myself.

This may sound a bit Dads Army/MASH but it is true. On arrival in Brunei having only had 24 hours of the two weeks acclimatization time in BMH Singapore we were promised, We managed to claw back some days while we met the Admin staff and sweated, met the team we were replacing and sweated, were taken on a guided tour of the area and sweated, visited the local hospital and various contacts and you've guessed, we sweated some more!

Having taken up our post and attacking our work with great enthusiasm, vim, vigour and verve you know the sort of thing I mean, we were somewhat put out to receive notification that the Camp RSM would much appreciate our company on his morning parades. Well that's what it sounded like. Anyway the very next morning we did attend his parade but unfortunately we were missing one of our number. I think he had a good reason for non attendance? To be expected voices were raised and the upshot was 'we're Medics'. True we were Medics and that horrible man had upset us. Wasn't that awful. Now this is where Smudge was about to prove his worth. After parade he hid himself in his office for quite some time, because as you know that is what Clerks Ramc do best. Later, much later our peace was destroyed, Smudge appeared from his office his hands full of copies of ACI's or DCI's. "I knew it and I've found it". Our bookworm had found the all-important info he had searched his tomes for. "Either we get paid the Gurkha Allowance that everyone else gets or we are not of his unit therefore we don't have to do his parades. Sgt Scouse looked at all of the evidence set before and was compelled to agree with the findings. As he was a leader from the front it became his job to present those same findings and feelings to the powers that be. This he did with great aplomb. Before the day was out the medical staff were informed that there would be no payment of the Gurkha Allce and there would be no further need for us to attend the morning parade.

It will come as no surprise to you to find that we were rather chuffed at this sweet outcome. However just to keep the peace we held a little attendance parade outside the Medical Centre at 9.00am on the button!.

Well that is my little memory and I hope that it put a wry smile on one or two faces.

Tony Field of Tilbury if you don't recall the run-up run-down story I will have to come back and tell it.