REME STATION WORKSHOPS, MOASCAR 1951-53
"MY MATE GINGER"
As Remembered By Bob Hunter
Moving from a 3 bedroom semi to a one bedroom bungalow means that a lot of possessions are “Surplus to Requirements”. In the corner of my wardrobe was a coat that I hadn’t worn for ages and, upon taking it off the hanger, there on the hanger was a name and service number that were not mine. Now that took me back to 1952.
When you entered my billet at R.E.M.E. Station Workshops through the front door, there was a table and a chair, parrafin stove and the back door that led onto a stetch of sand and a perimeter fence with the Railway on the other side.
Back inside, the table had a green covering on it and in the middle was a knot hole which we had pushed down through the covering. This was so that we could put some jam into it and when the flies settled in they got swatted with the fly-swat that every billet was issued with. This way you could produce your 3 flies at the guardroom when you booked out of camp at night.
Now the first bed on the right was occupied by Jock McClean (he was a Glasgow Rangers fan, but that is another story). I can’t remember who was in the bed opposite. Next to Jock was John Sharod, and opposite him was his twin brother but I can’t remember his name. They were not identical twins but talk about “chalk & cheese”. John was the eldest and captain of the camp football team and was on Arsenal’s books. He was a V.E. (vehicle electrican) and he also did the lighting for live shows at the AKC and I helped him on two occassions.
Next in line was my mate “Ginger” or “Yorkie” - obviously because of his hair and also because he came from that lovely City of York. Next was my bed, with the head against the back wall, so I was looking down the room. In between Ginger and myself was a large window. Standing at the window you could see our NAAFI at eleven o’clock on the dial. Ginger and I never used the door as we would hop over the sill and go across.
Under the window was our “Chatti” which was moved to one side every Saturday night so that Ginge could “regurgitate” the Stella beer that he had inbibed 4 hours earlier. We used to have a pair of steps under the window until someone nicked them (the same old story – if it’s not nailed down!)
Next to my bed was a large wardrobe on which sat the radio. On the other side was the next bed and I can see him (in my mind) but I can’t remember his name. Then came John Sharod’s brother, and next another who I can’t remember.
On the other side of the back door was a lad from Blackburn. His claim to fame was that he had 3 nipples. This half of the room was shorter as the wall at the end was partitioned off as it was supposed to be a Sergeants Quarters but it wasn’t used as the Sergeants lived in Married Quarters.
I can re-call the faces of my mates but can not remember all their names. I recall Ron Air from Altrincham, Brummie Thompson – he was originally in for 18 months but it was increased to 2 years service just as he was ready to go home and so he had to do a further 6 months. John Price came from Bristol.
That’s about it as far as I can remember. Now it came about that Ginger was to be posted to Suez. So for his last night we went into Ismailia, to the Blue Kettle Club. Arriving back at camp it was “Lights Out” so, fumbling about in the dark, we put our coats into the wardrobe.
About 5 o’clock
the next morning, I felt someone shaking me – it was Ginger. He said
“they’ve come for me, I’m off. All the best, look after
yourself”. And that was the last I saw of him …. Or was it?
I went down to the Workshops as usual next day, and in the evening I was going to the C of E church, where I was taking lessons in French. I opened the wardrobe to get my coat and, taking it off the hanger, there was Ginger’s name and number. Yes, he had got my hanger.
Moving on to 1956, service life well behind, myself and seven mates from the sports club decided to have a weeks holiday at Butlins camp at Filey, Yorkshire. Arriving there, four of us were in one chalet with the other four next door. Myself, Tony, Willo and Shrings were allocated to York House whilst the others, (Chas, Jimbo, Harry and Roy) were in Edinburgh House. That meant the meal times were different. We went first, then waited for the other four, and all then went to the Dance Hall. Now the rule was that the band played a set of three dances then you had to clear the floor. At the end of one set, I was at the opposite end of the floor to where we were sitting and as I crossed to go back two of the others joined me. The camp photographer said “Hold it lads” and took our photograph as we posed for him. When we got to the edge of the floor a Security Guard said “you are supposed to get off sooner, what’s your Chalet number?” We told him and thought no more about it.
Sunday morning and four of us went to breakfast. Later, whilst waiting for the others, we went down to the beach and met some lads with a football and joined them for a game. Finally the other four came down with two Security Guards who were calling our names. “You are out” they said. “The Manager wants to see you”. In the Managers office he told us that we had broken the rules by not leaving the Dance Floor when told to. So we packed up, leaving the other four behind and went looking for digs in Scarborough because of our rail tickets.
We were walking down a street with a row of tall houses, with about three steps leading up to the front door. When we were about fifty yards in front of these houses, one of the doors opened a chap with ginger hair skipped down the steps, down across the pavement and jumped into a red M6 sports car. I couldn’t see his face but he definitely had the body shape of my old mate. I couldn’t get across to him because of the crowded pavement and then if I had shouted “Ginger” and it wasn’t him, the chap might have taken umbrage. By this time it was too late as the car was started and off it sped.
But I still think, and am positive to this day that it was him. After all, York isn’t that far from Scarborough. So 22599833 CHAPMAN where are you now and can I give you your hanger back?
