Back to New Zealand Farm 1986.
Under Construction
The visit of 3 members of the U.S. National Guard
to
266th [GVA] O.P. Battery R.A. [V] Annual Camp
New Zealand Farm Camp
Salisbury Plain
Dated 14-28 July,1986.
*
On their arrival in London the three U.S. National Guardsmen's who were to join 266 GVA O.P. Bty [V] were taken to Wellington Barracks and the next day taken to the station where they took a train to SALISBURY .
The three American National guardsman were picked up from Salisbury Station, and were met by BSM Driscoll on the way back to camp we pointed out Salisbury Cathedral and stopped off at Stonehenge, on arrival at New Zealand Farm Camp, we settled them in to the barrack accommodation.
They were, Brigade Sgt Major Rodney Harville of [Savannah], Georgia National Guard, 1st Sgt Butch Watts [Fort Cobb] and Sgt 1st class Ben Clarke [Enid] of the Oklahoma National Guard, Capt Jeffery Smith the B.K. [Bty Capt] introduced them to the Bty Commander Major R. G. McKenna R.A. and the rest of the battery admin staff.
Left to Right: Sgt 1st class Ben Clarke, 1st Sgt Butch Watts, Brigade Sgt Major Rodney Harville.
[photo A Cooper]
The bty strength at camp was low due to regimental attachments later in the year, but this made for a good basic training routine for our American friends, to join in the training that was organized.
The first week of camp the orbat/ training included the Americans as much as possible, Capt Smith also took them on a quick tour of the local hostelries and they also went back to Bristol to see the T.A. center and the battery silver.
The Sgts Mess wined and dined them at a mess dinner which was attended by some ex mess members of the mess, also the officers invited them to drinks in the Officers mess.
Mess Dinner Photo to be added.
When the time allowed, between training due to the bad weather at the O.P. fog and low clouds, we introduce them to the gentle art of Cricket, played with a ball made from the debris of the days firing; tape, cardboard discs and a rammer which was used as the bat, the wicket was a ammo box stood on it's end, Sgt Ben Clarke used the rammer as if he was playing baseball, we all enjoyed this time spent in the company of our new friends.
We organized a Sod's Opera one evening for the entertainment of our American friends. The officers sang songs as did the Sgts, but the best by far were the other ranks who put on a real show it centered around the American war films that showed how they won the war. Gnr Steve Jones, who was nicknamed the "the Pup" by Sgt Ben Clarke played a large part in the show as a ammo carrier supplying ammo to the front line troops. [Ammo =cans of beer]
With there ideals and their enthusiasm, using beer cans as grenades and broom sticks to act as the rotors for a helicopter we had impressions of John Wayne and Audie Murphy and many others, it was enjoyed by all, afterwards we all joined in a drink and a singsong. Some army games were played i.e. two men both blind folded would try to hit each other on the head with a spoon held in their mouths, but as with life, it was not fair, as the bty member would lift up the blind fold and hit the opponent on the head with a kitchen ladle. This caused a lot of amusement and laughter for those watching and a very sore head for Butch Watts.
Left to Right; Lt. Steve Jelf and Lt. Paul Caukwell.
[photo A Cooper]
Ass slapping also took place, Ben Clarke having been told that the ideal was to stay standing on the 6 foot G.S. table that was used as a stage, for as long as possible, even the best efforts of Lt. Paul Caukwell, who was told by the BC that defeat was not an option for an officer of the GVA, could not shift him, Ben stood standing till the end!!, this display by Ben Clarke was greeted with great roar of appreciation and respect from the members of 266 Bty, the next morning his and Lt. Caukwell ass's was black and blue with clear hand marks all over them, on his return to the states, 1st Sgt Butch Watts had to explain to Sgt. Ben Clarke's wife exactly "What had gone on in Little old England" as he was still quite badly bruised.
Steve Jones Steve.E.Jones@Airbus.com
writes, "The other memory I have is when we were live firing and Ben
came to work on A Sub with Nobby Clark and I was No 3 in the seat.... Nobby was
showing Ben the Shells and picked one up as normal with 2 hands and handed it to
Ben to look at. Ben laughed and said 'those aint shells.. they're just big
bullets' He explained that the US guns he worked on used proper shells.
When we started firing, Ben was picking up
the 'bullets' one in each hand (hands like shovels)
and when he had a go at
ramming we thought he was going to ram the shell out the end of the barrel!!
- top bloke..
During their time spent with the battery the Americans took part in all aspects of Bty training and showed great enthusiasm in everything that was asked of them and we also taught them that Wadworth's 6X was not warm lemonade as Brigade Sgt Major Rodney Harville will testify to.
Oh what Happy Days.
On the day we left for Otterburn, our three American friends stood at the entrance to the camp and stood at attention and saluted the guns as they passed out of the camp, the disappointment that they were not coming with us to Otterburn showed on there faces, it was plain for all to see.
[photo A Cooper]
Ready for the off, notice red container in foreground with sandwiches for the trip to Otterburn.
The three Guardsmen were taken back to Salisbury station by Capt Smith who bade them farewell, back in London they stayed in Wellington Barracks for three more days, and used the time to go sight seeing the capital. [Soho was one of the places visited? or so I'm told.]
More Photos of our American friends to be added as I have only 35mm slides and they need to be copied.
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Command Sergeant Major Butch Watts.
Dress Uniform
26 March 1994.
37th National Guard Association, Oklahoma meeting, 1994.
***
The friendship made then between Derek Driscoll and Butch Watts continues to this day, Derek is God father to Butch's Grand Daughter Haley and both have visited each others homes on various occasions over the years. Butch Watts is also a Honoury member of the Bristol Branch of the Royal Artillery Association.
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Comments/ Observations
mailto:derekjd@blueyonder.co.uk