As a chaplain, I really enjoyed your take on the role of Padri, nice positivity and indeed I heard a Nam veteran once say ‘ there are no atheists when under fire’ thank you for sharing. Harry
I should have clarified, I am a civillian anglican chaplain but if in the forces, I would have shown courtesy and offered small gifts to the troops ocassionally. Have good year bud. Harry....out🙂
That brought back memories of basic training at Roussillon Bks and our intro to the God Squad and our civvi Chaplain Canon Keith Catchpole, a splendid chap and highly entertaining.
A true story for you ; in The Former Yugoslavia, heavy weapons were being collected from remote mountain villages. The villagers hadn't seen a priest for several years. The unit padre, a Congregationalist, is mobbed by the locals wanting to kiss his hand and get a blessing from him. He played along with it to keep them happy. An old village guy says to him , "I'll give you something to keep you safe from robbers and bandits" , jumps into his ancient car and returns 10 minutes later. Gives the padre a small cardboard box. Expecting it to have a wooden cross, medallion or copy of a religious icon the padre opens it. Inside were two Soviet era hand grenades !
I’m Ex-RAF. While at APC in Belize, the replacement Army Padre popped over to Puma Det, Williamson hangar to introduce himself. Said to me, ‘I’m the new Padre, you can either call me Padre or Jim. Call me Sir and I’ll thump you one.’ 🤣😂
Our Padres out in Germany were always very approachable and down to earth. The garrison church was on our camp next door to the gymnasium where I worked and the Padre would come through our building each morning to reach the church as I was mopping our entrance hall. He’d always greet me with a cheery hello. Then when we deployed to the Gulf in ‘91, our previous Padre volunteered to return to the regiment so he could come with us due to the close relationships he’d formed with the regiment. I remember watching a documentary about a young vicar who put himself forward to train as a Padre and followed him through his Sandhurst course then, as he wanted to be a Padre with the Paras, through P Company which he passed (including the milling!) On the Tabs he would carry a metal cross equal in weight to a rifle. He was a very humble bloke and as you alluded to, saw his role as more about being a listening ear for the blokes and not about ‘Bible bashing’.
I remember serving in an RAA Field Regiment where the BK (Battery Captain) of one of the batteries marched the whole battery off a church parade. The Commanding Officer (CO) was not amused and the BK was duly fronted. When I became a CO, my Padre was an integral part of my closest advisors (The Unholy Trinity) which was the RMO (Regimental Medical Officer), RSM and the Padre. Although the Diggers referred to him as Old Nic because of his physical appearance, he was greatly respected by all ranks and always there and available 24/7! Ne was a great man
One of the para chaplains back in the 70s was called Basil Pratt. He came to church service at the Duke of York’s School a couple of times. He would arrive on his motorbike and introduce himself as “My name’s Pratt. Pratt by name, Pratt by nature. And if any of you cool kids sat at the back don’t believe in God, 15 minutes on the back of my conversion machine and I’ll have you believing…” In the mid 80’s the padre of 26 Engr Regt had a DPM cassock made for services in the field. They certainly were characters…
Baltic for sure . Read of the D day tank padres retrieving the guys out of the tanks that needed buried on the point of not letting their comrades see them . Sometimes under fire . Brings a tear to the eye to think of the humanity shown and done . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
As an avowed atheist, I got mugged off when I joined up. Asked my religion, I said: "atheist", but the recruiting WO said it would be easier if he just entered CofE. I said I hadn't been raised CofE, but as an RC - so that went down instead. I didn't realise the repercussions of that entry. Endless Padre's hours, church services, etc., etc. I finally changed to Agnostic when I got my third tape up. All that said, I've a massive respect for the Padres that I encountered - not for the religious element (which they never really pushed), but for the 'social worker' aspects. They had direct access to the CO of the Regiment, and on more than one occasion, when one of my young soldiers came to see me with some problems (which his troop sergeant, corporals, etc. couldn't/wouldn't help with), I'd point them in the direction of the Padre - and a lot of the time, they got a resolution. As always, a great video with recollections of our time in the Army. Thank you
82 i was in a LCU that had just delivered some jock guards to relieve us in situ at Bluff Cove going back to Fitzroy where were were to be relieved by the Taffs, well we all know how that went. Anyway next to me in the dark wet and cold with half the south Atlantic coming over the sides and disappearing in or out of two huge holes at the bottom of the hold area was none other than the Brigade priest. Nice man and we had a good chat for the few hours it took to get there. Only found out he was the Brigade priest when we got to Fitzroy. Had his work cut out the next day.
During our basic training at the RCT depot in 1984, our intake was invited to go to the RACD depot at Bagshot Park for some spiritual enlightenment and a fancy lunch. There was a big lake in the grounds of the park with a sign that read "Please do not walk on the water" Prince Edward is now the tennant of Bagshot Park.
One of the toughest Corporals (born a Corporal I reckon!!) was a Christian. Very old school in his manner, gave tough love but also took care of all and sundry. He was respected by all ranks. Rest In peace Stewarty S. I didn’t have much time really in the Army for organised religion but met and respected many Christians and one Sikh. The only Padre I disliked was one I met after I left thankfully. Having left the Army I found my own way though! Happy New Year folks, health and happiness to you all 👍🏼😊
Drove past Cathedral Church of St Michael & St George in Aldershot earlier. Many an hour spent in there......most not volunteered for! But, as it was so close to Buller barracks.....we were bound to be volunteered!?
hello again ,it was The Longest Day , where the Padre lost his Kit . He was played by the Actor John Gregson . John Gregson often played the parts of Officers in the Forces Particularly RAF officers .
Sadly religion is one of the reasons that I felt would have gone against me from joining the army. I was brought up R.C. and with an Irish surname, my parents didn't think it would be a wise move back in 1980. Big regret now at 61 wishing I had enjoyed the life of being a soldier.
Back in '76 from the R.A.F side it was (CSFC) Church of Scotland and Free churches, (C of E) Church of England and (RC) Roman Catholic. As a Baptist I came under the CSFC! If there wasn't a large contingent of CSFC, I would meet with the C of E. A few civilian churches looked after us really well especially when you were a singly and away from home, nothing better than pulling up to Farmhouse Sunday Roast after a service. We had Moral leadership courses at Amport house down in Andover. Scripture Readers are from SASRA and usually are veterans. We also had the C of E Church Army operating as Padres too, Then there was the Sally Bash, the only lads to wear their Salvation Army shields on their RAF uniforms.
When I was in the Apprentice collage (1976-78) each of the 4 companies rotated "Church Parade" on the Sunday. There were 3 chapels and Padres one for each religion. We would form up in our best civvies (collar tie) and then be split into CofE , RC and "Odds +Sods". After a few months our "Odds+Sods" contingent grew as we were last in and first out of the church which showed the actual faith of the soldiers. However I must say that in 23 Years of Army service I never met a bad Padre.
Happy New Year to you, Keith, and the Tracer round! 🍻 It feels almost like spring already... Another interesting video, buddy. Thanks for sharing, Gus 👍🏻
Happy New Year to you both and stay warm. Luckily I am visiting grandchildren in Australia over the winter months. Currently in Melbourne where it is 29C and forecast for 36C for the weekend.
Oh mate I was literally just looking on the map to find out where that was, I was in Herford at the time and remember driving up on that road north in my LHD German plated Ford Escort. I know it was in or around Lubbecke but I can't remember exactly where. I quite enjoyed it actually.
I remember, when i was serving in Germany, we had to attend church parade, one cocky Guardsman Stated to The Regimental Sargeant Major, "Sir, I'm an atheist " The Regimental Sergeant Major said "thats fine, you can stand outside the church for the 45 minutes" Not a good idea, it was minus 15 degrees. He was frozen.
I know you may think that's a funny and innocent annecdote, but its actually a story about pressuring religious engagement and discriminating against those of other faiths (in this case, no religious faith). I understand that having a chaplain service may be important to some soldiers, but to assume everyone's engagement and effectively punish an unwillingness to sell ones personal integrity if you're not religious is incredibly wrong and serves no purpose but to alienate non-religious people from the army. I too would have refused the church service because I don't think it's right to pretend to believe in things I don't believe in, particularly in the company of people who sincerely do believe and have dedicated their lives to that belief. It's about respect... both ways.
Happy New Year to you, we had a very bright sunny day on the new years day, But raining today the 2nd. I love the houses in the background as you walk about, Dropped you an email,
Our Padre came with us to the range to fire L2 grenade. Most welcome. Good sense of humour .and duly wore the mk5 steel helmet painted purple with a big white cross on it,courtesy of one of the lads. Happy new year.
Wen i was in the ACF bk in the day m8t we had a chaplain who was in the REG PARA and was at arnhem Johnny Frost bridge an still went jumping 😊😊 in the same kit he was given bk in ww2 37'BELT kit puttys low leg boots PARA smock !! Etc! Gd old persy the pongo the PARA reg!! Gd old days m8 from a oldswet my self an ex'service AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER!! Lots of memories lol'lmao winks lol have a gd day m8t to u tracer round keep going it can only get better m8 ok cheers mucker 😊😊
Quite a funny one church parade Christmas 1998. C coy a lad said he was atheist . Our csm tried dragging him into church unsuccessfully. CSM getting loud outside the church says to a private soldier when I get back I’ll check records if you’re lying to me your charged. Turns out private B was an atheist . But instead of Danny B he became Damien from the omen .
One of the Padres we had in the AMF (L) in the late 90's was Frank Collins formerly of 22 SAS. He wrote a book called Baptism of Fire but sadly committed suicide not long afterwards.
Remember during basic training at ATR Winchester. The corporals were not fond of the God squad. Non believers they were thought it was a waste of time for us recruits. Depends on the corporal ? Weather they believe or not. I found the padres listened more to us recruits. In my eyes they were Ok. 👍✝️
I remember during basic training being marched to church parade, read God’s riot act about morality, being marched back to barracks, and then forced to spend my 40 quid a week in earnings on cleaning materials from a shop owned by a corporal’s wife. I think he eventually got court-martialled.
I put down Agnostic when I joined, but as it was'nt an option they put me down as Aetheist! Ended up doing guard for most church parades. Never met a Padre thet I didnt like or that would treat me differentlt to anyone else.
When I joined the RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force), I was asked what my religion was, and I replied "Church of England" Padre then asks me If I'm a regular church goer?, I told him that I went to Midnight mass every Xmas Eve. He says "Thats Catholic. I say "Yes but I go every year". He replies "Okay You're a regular goer then"
I took over the accommodation in Canada and the outgoing padre informed and showed me the location he left a bottle of scotch for the incoming padre and yes I carried out his instructions. I couldn’t make my buckshees out of a man of god 🙏🏻
When I joined up I was defaulted to CofE. which did annoy me as I can't abide religion. I did get it change from CofE to Agnostic or Atheist, not to get out of any Church parades. As we didn't have many at all. I just don't like being attached to on form of religion or another. I was Christened CofE, then was shipped off to a Roman Catholic Boarding School. Which is were any forms of Belief left me pretty much as soon as I was forced to go to Chapel and having to do RE. I respected my Headmaster who was a Priest, I had a lot of time for Him and one of the retired Nuns we had helping us out in the boarding house. My biggest problem is when views are pushed upon me. As I normally keep my views of religion to myself. So when my own kids were born we didn't have the Christened. that is up to them to decide if they wanted to or not. As I am not overly happy with being Christened myself, into something I have no time for.
That is my sentiments exactly, I was christened C of E but learnt at an early age it was all utter bollocks but had C of E on my docs. Didn't want to upset the apple cart in the army by saying I was atheist because I knew I'd be put on cookhouse fatigues. 😅
@ I was never worried about doing extra jobs if it meant I didn’t have to listen to someone telling folk something that I considered utter nonsense. Fair exchange in my mind. Never had to do anything like that myself. Did my share of dixie bashing on exercises after the Cook forget that they weren’t welders. 🤣
Keith do you remember the odd angry shot! The boys made a tickling box !! For want of a better word for the pardra!! That was my kind of humour! Cheer buddy stay safe👍👍
HNY Keith, you brought back some fantastic memories of my old WO, the big man was a bear of a man from Glasgow. Sunday church parade RAF Wyton, pace stick in hand he’d shout right gentleman…Kafflics form up on right….Prodys to the left….anyone else who canny remember what they are in the middle……the middle men unknown to them got dicked with GD flight….being a Glaswegian myself the big man gave me the gypies warning…..so it was a jump to right for tea and biscuits, a great man…..he was my god…and sometimes saviour…thanks Keith.
Fondly remembering a religiously intolerant and discriminatory guy exploiting a position of power to punish people of a different religion is a bit of a wild one. "great man.... he was my god" That's worrying.
Very simular in rn. But are chaplins. Hold no rank normall they are the rank of person they speak to at the time. And that religion. The one we had not typical always had drink in his hand and mostly drunk. We called him the bishop. Met queen elizabeth many times. And would cuss and swear like most matleots do. We had church parade on ship most sundays or even funeral services too.
4 Sqn 21 Engr Regt Nienburg 1990. Paperwork for dog tags before Op Granby. Question: Religion? Most of us wrote "CofE". "Coffee!" Yelled the Chief Clerk "Coffee?" "It's CE. Go away and do it again!" The Padre of 21 Engr Regt wanted to take his pyjamas and electric organ on Op Granby. His Driver took his pyjamas and burned them.
There a Factal book of Green Jackets Jew Padre, in Napoleonic War a padre lead the boarding from a RN Warship to a Spanish Warship. I heard a RAF padre FXXK in a church hall after hit his hand.
Always found it ironic having a man of God (allegedly) being attached to a battalion for spiritual help / advice when his flock were trained to kill other people. 😂😂
Why is everyone okay with this forced religious engagement or punishment theme in the british army? It's not a funny little annecdote that athiests and people of other faiths are given the shitty jobs whilst the christians get preferential treatment. Religious engagement should be entirely voluntary and therefore happen in your free time. Effective punishment for a lack of religious engagement is genuinely and fundamentally evil
@tommo9757 because nobody’s sense of morality is derived from their religion, no matter how much they think it is. The bible, for example, contains a lot of pro-violent hatred as well as messages of universal love and forgiveness. Most people gloss over the bad and focus on the good. In order to do that, you have to know what’s good or bad already. Also, religion doesn’t have a monopoly over the word ‘evil’
There was another religious influence called "Sandes Homes for Soldiers" They were run by evangelical Christians. I fondly remember the one at Pirbright. It was like an alternative NAFFI, their tea, snacks etc were superior.
As a chaplain, I really enjoyed your take on the role of Padri, nice positivity and indeed I heard a Nam veteran once say ‘ there are no atheists when under fire’ thank you for sharing. Harry
Yep, the padre said that to me before Afghanistan. It's true though...
My son in law is in the RAF and he often says that the Padre offers out sweets when he comes around .
A nice gesture , did You do that ?
I should have clarified, I am a civillian anglican chaplain but if in the forces, I would have shown courtesy and offered small gifts to the troops ocassionally. Have good year bud. Harry....out🙂
That brought back memories of basic training at Roussillon Bks and our intro to the God Squad and our civvi Chaplain Canon Keith Catchpole, a splendid chap and highly entertaining.
A true story for you ; in The Former Yugoslavia, heavy weapons were being collected from remote mountain villages. The villagers hadn't seen a priest for several years. The unit padre, a Congregationalist, is mobbed by the locals wanting to kiss his hand and get a blessing from him. He played along with it to keep them happy. An old village guy says to him , "I'll give you something to keep you safe from robbers and bandits" , jumps into his ancient car and returns 10 minutes later. Gives the padre a small cardboard box. Expecting it to have a wooden cross, medallion or copy of a religious icon the padre opens it.
Inside were two Soviet era hand grenades !
I’m Ex-RAF. While at APC in Belize, the replacement Army Padre popped over to Puma Det, Williamson hangar to introduce himself. Said to me, ‘I’m the new Padre, you can either call me Padre or Jim. Call me Sir and I’ll thump you one.’ 🤣😂
Our Padres out in Germany were always very approachable and down to earth. The garrison church was on our camp next door to the gymnasium where I worked and the Padre would come through our building each morning to reach the church as I was mopping our entrance hall. He’d always greet me with a cheery hello. Then when we deployed to the Gulf in ‘91, our previous Padre volunteered to return to the regiment so he could come with us due to the close relationships he’d formed with the regiment.
I remember watching a documentary about a young vicar who put himself forward to train as a Padre and followed him through his Sandhurst course then, as he wanted to be a Padre with the Paras, through P Company which he passed (including the milling!) On the Tabs he would carry a metal cross equal in weight to a rifle. He was a very humble bloke and as you alluded to, saw his role as more about being a listening ear for the blokes and not about ‘Bible bashing’.
I remember serving in an RAA Field Regiment where the BK (Battery Captain) of one of the batteries marched the whole battery off a church parade. The Commanding Officer (CO) was not amused and the BK was duly fronted. When I became a CO, my Padre was an integral part of my closest advisors (The Unholy Trinity) which was the RMO (Regimental Medical Officer), RSM and the Padre. Although the Diggers referred to him as Old Nic because of his physical appearance, he was greatly respected by all ranks and always there and available 24/7! Ne was a great man
One of the para chaplains back in the 70s was called Basil Pratt. He came to church service at the Duke of York’s School a couple of times.
He would arrive on his motorbike and introduce himself as “My name’s Pratt. Pratt by name, Pratt by nature. And if any of you cool kids sat at the back don’t believe in God, 15 minutes on the back of my conversion machine and I’ll have you believing…”
In the mid 80’s the padre of 26 Engr Regt had a DPM cassock made for services in the field.
They certainly were characters…
Curwen Rawlinson and Paul Carter were the chaplains I knew in Germany in the 70s and 80s. Brilliant guys, both of them.
Baltic for sure . Read of the D day tank padres retrieving the guys out of the tanks that needed buried on the point of not letting their comrades see them . Sometimes under fire .
Brings a tear to the eye to think of the humanity shown and done .
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
As an avowed atheist, I got mugged off when I joined up. Asked my religion, I said: "atheist", but the recruiting WO said it would be easier if he just entered CofE. I said I hadn't been raised CofE, but as an RC - so that went down instead. I didn't realise the repercussions of that entry. Endless Padre's hours, church services, etc., etc. I finally changed to Agnostic when I got my third tape up. All that said, I've a massive respect for the Padres that I encountered - not for the religious element (which they never really pushed), but for the 'social worker' aspects. They had direct access to the CO of the Regiment, and on more than one occasion, when one of my young soldiers came to see me with some problems (which his troop sergeant, corporals, etc. couldn't/wouldn't help with), I'd point them in the direction of the Padre - and a lot of the time, they got a resolution. As always, a great video with recollections of our time in the Army. Thank you
Good to see ya out on the New Year. Always a pleasure here when ya come on.
82 i was in a LCU that had just delivered some jock guards to relieve us in situ at Bluff Cove going back to Fitzroy where were were to be relieved by the Taffs, well we all know how that went. Anyway next to me in the dark wet and cold with half the south Atlantic coming over the sides and disappearing in or out of two huge holes at the bottom of the hold area was none other than the Brigade priest. Nice man and we had a good chat for the few hours it took to get there. Only found out he was the Brigade priest when we got to Fitzroy. Had his work cut out the next day.
Sad times , bless .
Wonderfully put my friend
Well done sir god bless you Jesus is lord redeemer!
During our basic training at the RCT depot in 1984, our intake was invited to go to the RACD depot at Bagshot Park for some spiritual enlightenment and a fancy lunch. There was a big lake in the grounds of the park with a sign that read "Please do not walk on the water" Prince Edward is now the tennant of Bagshot Park.
Enjoyed it Keith and once again Happy new year 🎉 to you and the Misses!
I knew you would mention the padre from the longest day looking for his sacrament box in the pond, very iconic forgive the pun !
One of the toughest Corporals (born a Corporal I reckon!!) was a Christian.
Very old school in his manner, gave tough love but also took care of all and sundry. He was respected by all ranks. Rest In peace Stewarty S.
I didn’t have much time really in the Army for organised religion but met and respected many Christians and one Sikh.
The only Padre I disliked was one I met after I left thankfully.
Having left the Army I found my own way though!
Happy New Year folks, health and happiness to you all 👍🏼😊
Drove past Cathedral Church of St Michael & St George in Aldershot earlier. Many an hour spent in there......most not volunteered for! But, as it was so close to Buller barracks.....we were bound to be volunteered!?
hello again ,it was The Longest Day , where the Padre lost his Kit . He was played by the Actor John Gregson . John Gregson often played the parts of Officers in the Forces Particularly RAF officers .
Sadly religion is one of the reasons that I felt would have gone against me from joining the army. I was brought up R.C. and with an Irish surname, my parents didn't think it would be a wise move back in 1980. Big regret now at 61 wishing I had enjoyed the life of being a soldier.
Back in '76 from the R.A.F side it was (CSFC) Church of Scotland and Free churches, (C of E) Church of England and (RC) Roman Catholic. As a Baptist I came under the CSFC! If there wasn't a large contingent of CSFC, I would meet with the C of E. A few civilian churches looked after us really well especially when you were a singly and away from home, nothing better than pulling up to Farmhouse Sunday Roast after a service.
We had Moral leadership courses at Amport house down in Andover.
Scripture Readers are from SASRA and usually are veterans. We also had the C of E Church Army operating as Padres too, Then there was the Sally Bash, the only lads to wear their Salvation Army shields on their RAF uniforms.
Happy and prosperous New Year to you and Tracer Round Keith !!
Thank you Martin have a peaceful and healthy 2025 mate
Happy New Year to you Keith and tracer, keep warm and keep safe, all the very best,👍.
Happy New Year To you & Tracer, keep the vids coming Keith 👍
When I was in the Apprentice collage (1976-78) each of the 4 companies rotated "Church Parade" on the Sunday. There were 3 chapels and Padres one for each religion. We would form up in our best civvies (collar tie) and then be split into CofE , RC and "Odds +Sods". After a few months our "Odds+Sods" contingent grew as we were last in and first out of the church which showed the actual faith of the soldiers. However I must say that in 23 Years of Army service I never met a bad Padre.
Happy New Year to you, Keith, and the Tracer round! 🍻
It feels almost like spring already...
Another interesting video, buddy.
Thanks for sharing,
Gus 👍🏻
Really? It's -3 deg C here (in UK)
Happy New Year to you both and stay warm. Luckily I am visiting grandchildren in Australia over the winter months. Currently in Melbourne where it is 29C and forecast for 36C for the weekend.
Great video as per! Happy New Year Keith and Tracer around 🥳😊
Happy new year mate. Im new here but ive been catching up with your videos. Great stuff mate, love the content and sense of humor. Great stuff 😊
Thank you for your support 👍 🫡
That padre in film Longest Day was at Pegasus Bridge.
Anyone remember the "Church House Courses" run at Lubbecke in Germany? Didn't attend one myself but my mate got RTU'd from there. 😕
Oh mate I was literally just looking on the map to find out where that was, I was in Herford at the time and remember driving up on that road north in my LHD German plated Ford Escort. I know it was in or around Lubbecke but I can't remember exactly where. I quite enjoyed it actually.
I remember, when i was serving in Germany, we had to attend church parade, one cocky Guardsman Stated to The Regimental Sargeant Major, "Sir, I'm an atheist " The Regimental Sergeant Major said "thats fine, you can stand outside the church for the 45 minutes" Not a good idea, it was minus 15 degrees. He was frozen.
I know you may think that's a funny and innocent annecdote, but its actually a story about pressuring religious engagement and discriminating against those of other faiths (in this case, no religious faith). I understand that having a chaplain service may be important to some soldiers, but to assume everyone's engagement and effectively punish an unwillingness to sell ones personal integrity if you're not religious is incredibly wrong and serves no purpose but to alienate non-religious people from the army. I too would have refused the church service because I don't think it's right to pretend to believe in things I don't believe in, particularly in the company of people who sincerely do believe and have dedicated their lives to that belief. It's about respect... both ways.
Yep. Tried the same in basic training with the same results. Not the cold that you experienced - it was just chucking it down 😠
Happy New Year to you, we had a very bright sunny day on the new years day, But raining today the 2nd. I love the houses in the background as you walk about, Dropped you an email,
Happy New year Keith. All the best to you mate for 2025!!
The padre in the odd angry shot was given a very unusual gift
Eh?
Our Padre came with us to the range to fire L2 grenade. Most welcome. Good sense of humour .and duly wore the mk5 steel helmet painted purple with a big white cross on it,courtesy of one of the lads. Happy new year.
Wen i was in the ACF bk in the day m8t we had a chaplain who was in the REG PARA and was at arnhem Johnny Frost bridge an still went jumping 😊😊 in the same kit he was given bk in ww2 37'BELT kit puttys low leg boots PARA smock !! Etc! Gd old persy the pongo the PARA reg!! Gd old days m8 from a oldswet my self an ex'service AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER!! Lots of memories lol'lmao winks lol have a gd day m8t to u tracer round keep going it can only get better m8 ok cheers mucker 😊😊
I remember my year at Harrogate aac padre pots great man !
Happy New Year old horse!
Brilliant thank you 👍🍻🫡🍻
Quite a funny one church parade Christmas 1998. C coy a lad said he was atheist . Our csm tried dragging him into church unsuccessfully. CSM getting loud outside the church says to a private soldier when I get back I’ll check records if you’re lying to me your charged. Turns out private B was an atheist . But instead of Danny B he became Damien from the omen .
Outside garrison church dehikila Cyprus
One of the Padres we had in the AMF (L) in the late 90's was Frank Collins formerly of 22 SAS. He wrote a book called Baptism of Fire but sadly committed suicide not long afterwards.
I know, I bought his book years ago and read it - quite an eye-opener! Didn't know that he killed himself.
@@angelacooper2661 It was a different dynamic having a padre with far more combat experience than any of us.
Roman Maxim.
'If God is with us, nobody can stand against us'
That's where the tradition originates.
Remember during basic training at ATR Winchester. The corporals were not fond of the God squad. Non believers they were thought it was a waste of time for us recruits. Depends on the corporal ? Weather they believe or not.
I found the padres listened more to us recruits. In my eyes they were Ok. 👍✝️
You spelt weather the meteorological way - it's whether!
I am reminded of that blasphemous T-shirt: Jesus is coming, look busy!
Happy New to you and Tracer Round 😁
Happy New Year 🎉. The Animals have a song Sky Pilot.⚓🇺🇲🇺🇲
I remember during basic training being marched to church parade, read God’s riot act about morality, being marched back to barracks, and then forced to spend my 40 quid a week in earnings on cleaning materials from a shop owned by a corporal’s wife.
I think he eventually got court-martialled.
❤👍❤👍👍👍love your uploads . All the best to you and Tracer good health to you both❤❤Regards👍❤❤️
I put down Agnostic when I joined, but as it was'nt an option they put me down as Aetheist! Ended up doing guard for most church parades. Never met a Padre thet I didnt like or that would treat me differentlt to anyone else.
When I joined the RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force), I was asked what my religion was, and I replied "Church of England" Padre then asks me If I'm a regular church goer?, I told him that I went to Midnight mass every Xmas Eve. He says "Thats Catholic. I say "Yes but I go every year". He replies "Okay You're a regular goer then"
I took over the accommodation in Canada and the outgoing padre informed and showed me the location he left a bottle of scotch for the incoming padre and yes I carried out his instructions. I couldn’t make my buckshees out of a man of god 🙏🏻
When I joined up I was defaulted to CofE. which did annoy me as I can't abide religion. I did get it change from CofE to Agnostic or Atheist, not to get out of any Church parades. As we didn't have many at all. I just don't like being attached to on form of religion or another. I was Christened CofE, then was shipped off to a Roman Catholic Boarding School. Which is were any forms of Belief left me pretty much as soon as I was forced to go to Chapel and having to do RE. I respected my Headmaster who was a Priest, I had a lot of time for Him and one of the retired Nuns we had helping us out in the boarding house. My biggest problem is when views are pushed upon me. As I normally keep my views of religion to myself. So when my own kids were born we didn't have the Christened. that is up to them to decide if they wanted to or not. As I am not overly happy with being Christened myself, into something I have no time for.
That is my sentiments exactly, I was christened C of E but learnt at an early age it was all utter bollocks but had C of E on my docs. Didn't want to upset the apple cart in the army by saying I was atheist because I knew I'd be put on cookhouse fatigues. 😅
@ I was never worried about doing extra jobs if it meant I didn’t have to listen to someone telling folk something that I considered utter nonsense. Fair exchange in my mind. Never had to do anything like that myself. Did my share of dixie bashing on exercises after the Cook forget that they weren’t welders. 🤣
Happy New Year everyone 😁
Keith do you remember the odd angry shot! The boys made a tickling box !! For want of a better word for the pardra!! That was my kind of humour! Cheer buddy stay safe👍👍
I am an atheist (never caused me to having do pan bashing) but this guy makes me take my proverbial hat off: John Weir Foote, VC, RHLI
🫡🍻
Happy newyear
Cheers James
Now they have female Chaplians, they are referred to as Madre.
HNY Keith, you brought back some fantastic memories of my old WO, the big man was a bear of a man from Glasgow.
Sunday church parade RAF Wyton, pace stick in hand he’d shout right gentleman…Kafflics form up on right….Prodys to the left….anyone else who canny remember what they are in the middle……the middle men unknown to them got dicked with GD flight….being a Glaswegian myself the big man gave me the gypies warning…..so it was a jump to right for tea and biscuits, a great man…..he was my god…and sometimes saviour…thanks Keith.
Fondly remembering a religiously intolerant and discriminatory guy exploiting a position of power to punish people of a different religion is a bit of a wild one. "great man.... he was my god" That's worrying.
Very simular in rn. But are chaplins.
Hold no rank normall they are the rank of person they speak to at the time. And that religion.
The one we had not typical always had drink in his hand and mostly drunk. We called him the bishop. Met queen elizabeth many times.
And would cuss and swear like most matleots do.
We had church parade on ship most sundays or even funeral services too.
That sounds like the mad bish. Mike something from Wales and rode a scooter.
Singing (onward Christian soldiers) oh boy it got loud 😅😂
4 Sqn 21 Engr Regt Nienburg 1990. Paperwork for dog tags before Op Granby. Question: Religion? Most of us wrote "CofE".
"Coffee!" Yelled the Chief Clerk
"Coffee?"
"It's CE. Go away and do it again!"
The Padre of 21 Engr Regt wanted to take his pyjamas and electric organ on Op Granby. His Driver took his pyjamas and burned them.
Church Army were the ones that came to do visit that troops !!
The Pare scene from that great Australia war movie "The Odd Angry Shot" th-cam.com/video/TIBmc4pn8LY/w-d-xo.html
The God squad ! As we called them in the navy 😂
The catholic padre for the paras was killed in the Aldershot officers mess bombing.
There a Factal book of Green Jackets Jew Padre, in Napoleonic War a padre lead the boarding from a RN Warship to a Spanish Warship. I heard a RAF padre FXXK in a church hall after hit his hand.
The God botherers 😂 they have a lot of pull in Infantry battalions
Always found it ironic having a man of God (allegedly) being attached to a battalion for spiritual help / advice when his flock were trained to kill other people. 😂😂
Thou shall not kill i am ex army and a muslim. Why would muslims kill. Please do noz confuse culture and religion. Just be kind.
Their book tells them to.
DOGs in the army ❤
Why is everyone okay with this forced religious engagement or punishment theme in the british army? It's not a funny little annecdote that athiests and people of other faiths are given the shitty jobs whilst the christians get preferential treatment. Religious engagement should be entirely voluntary and therefore happen in your free time. Effective punishment for a lack of religious engagement is genuinely and fundamentally evil
If you don't believe, how can you have a moral reference and thus say what is evil, other than what you personally think.
@tommo9757 because nobody’s sense of morality is derived from their religion, no matter how much they think it is. The bible, for example, contains a lot of pro-violent hatred as well as messages of universal love and forgiveness. Most people gloss over the bad and focus on the good. In order to do that, you have to know what’s good or bad already. Also, religion doesn’t have a monopoly over the word ‘evil’
There was another religious influence called "Sandes Homes for Soldiers" They were run by evangelical Christians. I fondly remember the one at Pirbright. It was like an alternative NAFFI, their tea, snacks etc were superior.
It was still there when I left in 2015