It’s over. Your clearance chit is all signed off. You’ve received your last train warrant, they’ve taken your ID card off you at the guard room, and you walk out through the gate for the last time, it’s Endex. It doesn’t matter how many years you served in the military, it will always have a lasting effect on the way you live the rest of your life. Marine, soldier, sailor or airman, whichever you may be, there are some qualities and experiences that most, if not all veterans, share. There are 3 types of people, Civilian, Military and Veteran. Once you join the military, you can never go back to being a civilian again. When you’ve left the military, you might think you are doing a great job trying to blend in to your civilian surroundings, but the signs are there, that you once served your country, sometimes without you even realising it. What you will realise is you’ll never be normal again.
This short book was recommended to me by a friend (also ex services) and having read the description I thought that I was in for a treat. Looking at the current star ratings it would appear that I'm going to be in the minority with this review. Whilst it did evoke a few memories from my time in HMF it was not exactly the side splitter I had anticipated. To clarify, I'm not saying that it wasn't good, it just didn't "float my boat" and, as always, I can only say how it was for me.
Hello all stations 3 This is 3 pronto speaking ENDED OUT.
What a great read full of memories and good laughs. I must admit I'd forgotten the parrot on BFradio in Germany hell he was annoying. At 70 I still miss those days mine were OP Banner . Would I do it all again ........of course I would. Thanks Clive from a proud VET.
Typical Ward.....semi-coherent nonsense poorly written. Mildly amusing at times and thankfully short.... However, it doesn’t make much of what he says untrue...outrageously exaggerated perhaps, but not untrue.
Being ex military and now a veteran I could totally relate to the stories and humour from the author. Memories came flooding back, some good, some bad, would have loved it too have been a longer read.
Brought back loads of good and bad memories. The banter between army friends and the other services. I've been out for 40 plus years and do every thing the author mentions, my wife and civy friends just roll their eyes look away.
I served from 82 - 97 and remember, especially the 'Parrot' and resemble a lot of what was written. A short but good read for any veteran. Some 'Civies' might understand it!
I was leaving the RAF in January 1987, all passes, ID card, equipment handed in, Married Quarter marched out. I found this absolutely hilarious, I was familiar with most of the tales and references. Pretty much any veteran from any of the Services would chuckle at this.
The occasional use of ‘Americanisms’ such as ‘buddy’ but on the whole a good read. Though different Regts had different standards of humour, leaving turds lying around wouldn’t have been thought funny in 1RRF. Having said that, as a miner post Army, most Colliery’s wouldn’t have found this funny either, but one Colliery (Whittle) had a very ‘lavatorial’ sense of humour.....mebbes they had a history of Welsh ‘blackleg’ miners?😁