Albert "Wally" Waller

28 April 2005

From the Daughter of Michael Kirk

7 Nov 04

Dave Simpson
24 Sept 04

Old Oppos
6 Aug 04

Mike Kemble
1 July 04

Mike Kemble
26 June 04

Gordon Farrell
5 June 2004

Lynne Scott
30 May 04

Douglas Graham
12 Jan 04

Hi Mike, I am a first time visiter to your website. My question is how do I get in touch with Terry Brocklebank he posted a message( July 2002) I was with the 1st RTR from 1957....1960 in Hong Kong. Best Regards Douglas Graham

Mark Hill
30 Nov 03

Jesus this takes me back seeing all those images, people and places I had forgotten over time and now at the grand old age of 36 I decided to see if I could find some information on Hildesheim to show my girls where their dad was as a boy soldier. Surfed the web searching for Tofrek Kaserne and up popped your site. I had three great years with 1 RTR in the Pay Office under the esteemed Paymaster Bob Megarry, sharing the office with you and Steve and Ged, as well as the rest of the RAPC lads. Looking at the site it's funny how people like Ray Crellin, yourself, Eddie Atkinson et al have not changed over the years, I think some of them have lost weight even! The reunions look fantastic. Do you allow those who were attached to 1 RTR to attend? Anyway great site, I will keep coming back and will have to dig out some old photos and other stuff I have, like a 1984 Cambrai Ball drinks mat, and send on to you for the site. Could to see all that time on the technology called Pampas? served you well.

Dave Henderson
19 Nov 03

Jim Steele
10 Nov 2003

Tiny Hart
In Forum - Nov 2003

Dean Owen
15 October 2003

Hello Mike, I served with the first back in the 1993-1995 prior to that I was in the Signals. I am looking for any who has photographs of D Sqn on our PGF tour back in 1994. Also if any one has any from Exercise Lion Sun. I am also a co-founder of the Northern Ireland Veterans Association and have the Honour to be the secretary please inform other tankies of this site if you would be so kind  HYPERLINK http://www.nivets.co.uk www.nivets.co.uk . I will get our Webmaster to place a link on our site for your site. Please let me know either way... Fear Naught Dean Owen. See Banner below.

Mike Kemble
9 October 2003

This is an ongoing thing. Can I ask each and every one of you to look at the link on the front page to Erdington Aquatics (which I run) and clicking on Retailer of the Month in the Marine section on the left hand side, click on the link on that page, vote for Erdington Aquatics by putting Retailer of the Month in the subject heading and Erdington Aquatics in the text. It will only take a couple of minutes. Mucho grassy ass!

Alan Hodges
2 October 2003

How great it was to see everyone in the afternoon and sorry but had to go back as work called, and hope Paul made a few bob from the "SUPERIOR SHIRT". In fact Alan, Paul treated it with complete and utter disdain. I believe he thought it belonged to some bottom of the League stuff!! I think it raised £85.

Gary Hatfield
2 October 2003

I was in A sqn 4 troop with: Pete Standring, Sgt Gary Walker, Cpl Tony Roberts and others from 1980-84 or any others who want to get in touch.

Mike Kemble
1 October 2003

I got a message from Gill, daughter of Don & June Thomas, regarding the possibilities of someone running a "Children of the 1 RTR" Reunion. I told Gill that I would post this online to gauge what the reaction might be. I don't know if it would be held at the same time as the main function, or separately - what do you think? Is there anyone out there prepared to organise such an occasion?

Keith Birch
24 September 2003

Paul Ramsay
19 September 2003

Was in Benidorm again last week and bumped into Mike and Chris Curtis!! Showed them the sights and photos to follow. Went to Charlie Proctors humble little pad and had a spot of lunch - more piccies to follow. Got a room spare in the Peaseholm Park if anyone is stuck. Everything is ok for next week. Golf is sorted out. All systems go. See you next Friday in the Lord Nelson.

John Moore
17 September 2003

Hi my name is John Moore, I served with the regiment in the 80`s. I stumbled across your internet side and was delighted to see so many familiar faces. Im living and working at the moment (as Paramedic) in Hannover Germany. Please send my regards to everyone. If anyone would like to write to me, my e-mail is on the rtrmail page.

Dave Henderson
14 September 2003

Just a few lines to wish you all the best in securing a new job, man of your skills wont be left out in the cold too long, enjoy your freedom whilst you can. Thanks for the info on the RTR official page, just got of it and found I did not recognise anyone so I must be old. I expect you will be packing for the big event, not heard from Paul for a while, so I assume he’s busy with the final touches, can you ask him if he’s still visiting during the World Cup? Could you please pass on my best wishes to all at the reunion, hope you all have a great time, will there be a notice board, perhaps I could send a message to be put on display??

Cpl Bob McClymont
13 September 03

I received the following email from Cpl Bob McClymont (Son of anyone we know??). I am not sure if its one of those pre printed thank you for calling emails but here it is. It shows a bit of insight in the the recent history of the Regiment. After checking out the site more thoroughly, its nothing anything special, just a "satisfied soldiers" site! They obviously do not have much of an imagination, and the history section sucks!

Hi M8 hows it going. Here is the link for the official website of the regiment. http://www.firstroyaltankregiment.com/

I am Cpl Bob McClymont, I am currently serving with A Sqn, 1RTR. As I am sure you have heard on the news, the Regiment has been very busy, but I will give you a brief history of what the Regiment (A Sqn in particular) has been doing over the last 7 years. Firstly, I joined the Regiment as a crew driver and settled in, as I am sure you did, to normal Regimental life.  Did a couple of exercises on Batus (July '97) and then were one of the first regiments to do an exercise  in Poland (Oct '97), which was exercise Eual Eagle.  I then did my first Operational Tour in Cyprus (Dec '97 - June '98), which I have to admit was extremely hard work, sunbathing on Ayia Napa beach and jet ski-ing etc, you know the picture!!  During that period I did a Cadre course and then the CO informed us that we were going to join the Joint NBC Regiment. I was then selected to be part of the Op Bolton 12 - which was basically the first  12 guys who formed the JNBCR (April '99).  The Regiment then formed as a whole in October and have been carrying out Operational Tours in Kuwait for NBC defence of Ali Al Salam Airbase. After that, things became a bit routine.  I then moved to A Sqn again, back on tanks (June 2000)!!  Carried out armoured warfare display duties at Warminster and was then called upon to deal with the Foot and Mouth crisis (Feb 2001) and as I am sure you can imagine, the squadron dealt with the difficulties of this type of job with proffessionalism - as you would come to expect of 1RTR.  We then went back to normal duties of A Sqn Warminster, when we were once again called upon - this time to deal with the Fire Brigade strike (Nov 2002), which as I am sure you have seen by the news was carried out with no problems at all.  To be totally honest, was a lot of fun, driving around in your Green Goddess with the blue lights flashing at a top speed of 30 mph, with a Police escort.  Even though it was made out of wood (not a particularly good thing for a fire engine to be made out of) it was actually a good piece of kit that did the job! Then the big one happened!!  The first deployment of the JNBCR to war! We carried out pre-deployment training through Nov/Dec 2002.  I flew out to Kuwait on the 5th Feb 2003, The time between then and the start of the war was spent mainly in preparing kit and carrying out drills as this would have been the first time we would ever have done this in a battle situation, ie just like the first tanks in WWI.  I have to admit, everybody from the rank of Trooper to Lt Col carried out their duties to the standard that is required and in our case beyond as I am sure our comrades did in WWI It was an experience which was both good and bad, but I can honestly say that the majority of 1RTR tried to do something good in Iraq.  Whether this actually has an effect on the country is neither here nor there.  Only future history will prove this to be the case. Well, hopefully you now have an insight from Trooper to Corporal's experience of being in the 1st Royal Tank Regiment from 1996 to 2003. If you need any more info, let me know and I will pass you on to the people in the know. Cheers Bob

Paddy O'Sullivan
10 September 2003

Hi Mike, Paul,  Just visited the web site --- absolutely brilliant!! Many thanks for the hard work, time and effort that both of you expend to keep 1RTR members in touch. I am certain it is well appreciated by all. I apologise for not keeping in touch and there are no real excuses as Paul tried very hard to get me motivated!  I will however do better in the future. I had my 55th birthday recently, am still in uniform and still awaiting my LS & GC medal! It was such a pleasure to view your site and see the faces of times gone by but so sad to hear of the passing of such well known characters. I remember well Fearless in ' 66 (especially the 'rum' issue!) and Libyia (godforsaken place- where we all went around clutching bottles of 'chalk' medicine to deal with Libyian Gut!).Do give my regards and best wishes to all  -especially the footballers (What times we had!) Although I spent my last years with the 3rd I always remained 1RTR at heart (even if I did coach the 3rd to beating the 1st in the Col Cmdnt's Cup!). Incidentally th n/k lad in the BAOR Final Team photo was Billy (Bones) Jones. Once again many thanks, I will continue to view the site for many hours with fond memories. Keep your powder dry!

John Murray
6 Sep 03

Keith Birch
5 September 2003

Just got my promotion I take over my new job as General Manager Middle East on the 26th September and will be living in Abu Dhabi. I will miss the reunion which is a bastard as I have been waiting for this all year. However the chance of being on £75k a year don't come round that often I have emailed Paul and let him know I will send some cash with Tim Baxter have a drink on me for your work on your web site keep it up. I will email my new contact details over when I get in situ, then you can let everybody know then if anyone wants a cheap holiday they can contact me. Regards and good luck for the future keep it FIRST. 

Mike Kemble
30 August 2003

Following the sending of the 30 August 1 RTR Update, I got some mail failure notices back. One says that codex897 email address is over its quota and cannot be delivered - you know who you are? Pete Kelly's address is still returning mail so he is going to be deleted. Tony Booth - not working either. Don't forget, if you change your email address, I need to know! I hope to be bringing some website printed cards this year, save all those beer mats! Update: Paul Danisz is bringing 500 cards printed to my design for the website. Deeeelighted! Update 5/9/3: Connie & Tony - you email is now defunct too!! AAAGGGHHH! Is anyone in contact with anyone from the Regiment, do they actually know what Paul has been organising all these years? Does the Regiment know about the website - Do they CARE? Vic King - empty your mail box - its full!!

Bob Jones
24 August 2003

I am experiencing severe difficulties  with Hi Tech Highway at this time insofar as i have not been able to retrieve Emails sent to me on or after 22/8/03, iI wonder if u could post something on the web site to that effect and hopefully i will be back amongst u soon. many thanks

Jim Stanley
21 August 2003

Graham Bass
13 August 2003

Some good news for a change Our news is we are now GRANDPARENTS to a Grandson he arrived on Gillian's birthday at about 8:27pm on th 11th of August both mother and baby are fine baby came in at 7lb 11oz he will be named Euan Thomas Storey. Will have some photos for the re-union to show off.