Strolling down memory lane as a journalist

My 14-year-old granddaughter has been in the Army Cadet Force for about 18 months and was recently promoted to the rank of Lance-Corporal, which pleased her to no end. She enjoys the responsibility that comes with the rank and has proven to be a competent shot with the training weapons. At her school they recently had a series of discussions on career paths and she opted for the British Army and came home buzzing with all that such a choice offered her. She also enjoys history at school and has chosen that as one of the subjects for her exams. Her interest in military subjects has grown very strong, without any encouragement from me, and she likes to ask questions about my work as a military historian and battlefield tour guide.

One weekend recently she dropped in to pay a visit and began asking questions about the First World War, which is a subject she is studying at school. I asked her to open a drawer in one of my filing cabinets to retrieve a folder with photographs and maps so that I could show her some things that happened and the distances involved. Then, somehow, the conversation veered off on a tangent and we started talking about my early days as a journalist writing for the specialist publications in the area of defense publishing. We continued to talk, and looking at photographs it was like taking a trip down memory lane. I began to tell her how I used to cover the NATO “Reforger” (Return Forces Germany) Exercises from 40-plus years earlier, which are now historical events themselves.

During pauses she asked questions that reminded me of the training exercises held in the U.K. On these occasions, units from other NATO forces, including Italian and the then Federal German Army (West Germany), would sometimes attend, which was sensible considering these countries had cooperated with the U.K. in developing the 155mm FH70 howitzer. Such home-grown exercises involved artillery and armor and were always of interest for publishers of magazines, and we journalists built up our own photo-stock of images for reference.

These displays of firepower and mobility were thrilling to observe, as AFVs such as Scorpion and Striker CVR(T)s were put through their paces along with artillery such as the FH70, firing target practices on the ranges either at Lulworth in Dorset or Larkhill in Wiltshire. Some photographs show me “hands on” with weapons, when I was 40 years younger and had darker hair.

After she left, I continued to look through the photographs of days gone by and revisit many memories. The images caused me to think how 40 years ago the vehicles and weapons I was looking were “state-of-the-art”’ and how today some are now privately owned by collectors and vehicle owners. For example, the Scorpion and Scimitar CVR(T)s which had performed so well during the Falklands War in 1982 are now seen at vintage vehicle shows along with others such as the Saxon AT105 developed by GKN-Sankey. Another vehicle developed by the same company, the “Simba”, is still in service with the Philippine Army. However, only a couple of years back I saw an example in private ownership on display at a vehicle show. It just goes to show how times change.

I reflected on the “corporate” days when, along with other journalists, I used to be invited to attend demonstrations organized by defense equipment manufacturers to see the latest piece of kit being supplied to the Army. We would be given rides in the new vehicles such as the MCV 80, today known as the “Warrior”, or to test fire rifles, pistols and sometimes something a bit heavier. For example, when the British Army accepted the SA 80 rifle into service, I was given several chances to fire it along with the Light Support Weapon (LSW) version. Deactivated examples of both these are now in private ownership by collectors and re-enactors.

Another experimental design I got to fire was the anti-riot weapon called “ARWEN 37”, produced by Royal Ordnance Factories at the Enfield Factory. The name was short for “Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield”. The figure “37” was the caliber of the round it fired. Unfortunately, sales were not as forthcoming as hoped. However, it has been re-launched under the same name but now in the Mk II and Mk III versions. Deactivated examples of the original are of interest to firearms collectors with traders selling them for up to £1,200 GBP (about $1,500 U.S.).

In the late 1980s, the British Army finally began to rid itself of old wartime weaponry that had been held in storage for almost four decades in some cases. This included the venerable 25-Pounder gun/howitzer that had provided such sterling service during WWII in all theaters from Europe to Burma (Modern-day Myanmar). Before these guns were phased out, the Army arranged for a series of nostalgic displays, to which they invited veterans who had fired them in conflict from WWII and the Korean War. We journalists were given the opportunity to have a go, also.

Another, even larger caliber artillery being phased out at the time was the BL 5.5-inch field gun, which had also served throughout WII and many post-war conflicts. The veterans were delighted to see these familiar guns again and we journalists relished the chance to fire them.

In the mid-1990s things began to slow down as the so-called “Cold War” came to an end and defense manufacturers cut back. Germany, which had been divided since the end of the war in 1945, was unified in 1990 and the tension in Europe eased further. At about that time I began to turn toward military history and photographing historic vehicles. I also began to attend re-enactment events, which were like outdoor military museums with all the historical kit and weapons on display. I have made lots of friends among these groups, leading to invites to join in the action. One early contact I made was a member of the Muzzle-Loading Association of Great Britain. He invited me along to the shooting ranges at Bisley in Surrey, where I was allowed to fire a matchlock musket of the type as used during the English Civil War in the 17th century.

I was used to firing modern weapons, including the AK47, with their sharp recoil actions, but the musket was more slow and gradual and unlike anything I had fired previously. I have also been privileged to fire the British Army’s .303-inch Lee-Enfield rifle as used in both World Wars. The British Army’s Martini-Henry rifle from the late 19th century is another weapon popular weapon with shooters in the U.K., but it’s usually rechambered for 7.62mm because of the availability of the ammunition. Spending a day on the ranges firing this historic weapon is an experience I will never forget.

The move from reporting on NATO exercises to writing about historical vehicles and weapons was not difficult, just a case of doing a lot of reading and talking to people. That wasn’t so difficult because I enjoy doing both. So, from modern main battle tanks I have moved to join the ranks of military enthusiasts and collectors, not forgetting the re-enactors. The change has led to more great memories, hopefully with more yet to come.  

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