A boy soldier in the Cold War Royal Engineers (245)

07/22/22 • 57 min

2 Listeners

Paul joined the Royal Engineers in 1977, aged 16 as an apprentice. We hear of his experience of joining the army at such a young age and being away from home for the first time.

After initial training his first posting was to Osnabruck in 1979. Shortly after his arrival Paul is appointed to the challenging role of driver to the Squadron Sergeant Major

With participation in exercises such as Crusader 80 and Active Edge Paul describes in detail the role of Royal Engineers in Cold War Germany, including mine laying, bridge demolition and fixed defence construction.

Paul’s story is full of great anecdotes and tales of the reality of life in the British Army of the Rhine.

Don’t miss our next episode where Paul joins the Army Air Corps and becomes an Aircrewman Observer on Gazelle helicopters along the Inner German Border.

0:00 Introduction to Paul's journey in the Royal Engineers

1:30 Request for support to keep the podcast running

2:31 Paul's early life and decision to join the army

9:14 Paul's arrival in Osnabruck and his role as a Land Rover driver

29:00 Paul's experiences in Germany and developing an affinity for the country

38:20 Preparation and expectations for exercise Crusader 80

47:00 Cooperation with German farmers during the exercises

59:00 The humanity of the Sergeant Major and the challenges of dispatch riders

35:33 Transition to engineering tasks during the Crusader 80 exercise

42:20 Paul's transition to support troop and working with REME workshop

51:01 Paul's career move and application for the Army Air Corps

52:56 Ian Sanders: Closing thoughts and reminders

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Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

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I am delighted to welcome Paul to our Cold War conversation...

Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode245/

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Paul joined the Royal Engineers in 1977, aged 16 as an apprentice. We hear of his experience of joining the army at such a young age and being away from home for the first time.

After initial training his first posting was to Osnabruck in 1979. Shortly after his arrival Paul is appointed to the challenging role of driver to the Squadron Sergeant Major

Paul’s story is full of great anecdotes and tales of the reality of life in the British Army of the Rhine.

Don’t miss our next episode where Paul joins the Army Air Corps and becomes an Aircrewman Observer on Gazelle helicopters along the Inner German Border.

0:00 Introduction to Paul's journey in the Royal Engineers

1:30 Request for support to keep the podcast running

2:31 Paul's early life and decision to join the army

9:14 Paul's arrival in Osnabruck and his role as a Land Rover driver

29:00 Paul's experiences in Germany and developing an affinity for the country

38:20 Preparation and expectations for exercise Crusader 80

47:00 Cooperation with German farmers during the exercises

59:00 The humanity of the Sergeant Major and the challenges of dispatch riders

35:33 Transition to engineering tasks during the Crusader 80 exercise

42:20 Paul's transition to support troop and working with REME workshop

51:01 Paul's career move and application for the Army Air Corps

52:56 Ian Sanders: Closing thoughts and reminders

Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

I am delighted to welcome Paul to our Cold War conversation...

Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode245/

Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

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Previous Episode

A Mormon missionary in Cold War East Germany (244)

In the early 1980s East Germany had just 5000 members of the Church of Latter-day Saints, many of which had been members since before World War 2.

In 1982 East German leader Erich Honecker historically allowed the church to build a temple in Freiberg and in 1988 Mormon missionaries were allowed into East Germany. Ken Brady describes his experiences as a Mormon missionary in East Germany as the country gradually disappeared and was absorbed into West Germany.

Ken also gives us a valuable view of life away from Berlin in cities such as Cottbus, Gorlitz, Schwerin, Frankfurt an der Oder and Eisenhüttenstadt. It’s a fascinating story told with humour and candour as Ken grapples with local dialects, the local food and tricks with East German currency.

0:00 Introduction and Ken Brady's early interest in East Germany

7:16 The Church's operations in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall

12:24 First impressions of East Germany

21:17 Fear of the Stasi after the fall of the Berlin Wall

28:18 Encounters with locals suspecting them to be CIA agents

34:19 Sightseeing and exploring local culture on days off

42:19 Guidance on political party selection and introduction of West German products

46:17 Teaching religion to those with no prior experience

56:22 Currency Unification and its impact on East Germany

1:09:00 Ken Brady's service in West Berlin

1:18:18 The stark contrast of Soviet architecture

1:21:00 Thanking the Patrons and final remarks

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Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

I am delighted to welcome Ken to our Cold War conversation...

Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode244/

Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Radio GDR

If you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

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Next Episode

British Army Air Corps helicopter co-pilot in Cold War Germany (246)

Paul continues his story with his recruitment into the Army Air Corps. It’s initially delayed with a tour providing airfield repair in West Germany and then the Falklands, but finally, he’s at training at Middle Wallop, the home of the Army Air Corps.

He describes the training including underwater escapes, flying and navigation. As a Gazelle crewman, his role was navigator, observer and co-pilot. We hear of exercises including the lesser-known Railex/Probex, a US, French and British exercise to re-open a land corridor to West Berlin should the links be closed by Warsaw Pact forces and the British Frontier Service.

Paul’s story is again full of great anecdotes and the dangerous reality of flying low-level missions in a single-engine aircraft including a forced landing with a General on board.

0:00 Introduction and Paul's recruitment into the army air corps

1:30 Sponsor: Call for donations and listener testimonial

8:08 Discussion on practice drills and Paul's deployment to the Falklands

20:02 Surviving training and posting back to Germany

24:17 Transition to a new hangar and memorable encounter with Apache helicopters

28:34 Flying the inner German border and interception of unauthorized flights

33:42 Exercise Railex Probex: A combined US, French, and British exercise

44:08 Winning the Rolls Royce Trophy and personal experiences in the army air corps

54:24 Reflecting on the dangers of the job and the forgotten casualties of the Cold War

58:33 Importance of timing for the general's travels and emergency landing due to engine failure

1:13:59 Return to the Corps of Royal Engineers and posting back to Germany

1:21:16 Paul's sunshine tour in Gibraltar and final tours

1:21:48 Closing remarks and appreciation for patrons

Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨

Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping preserve Cold War history.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

I am delighted to welcome Paul to our Cold War conversation...

Photos and videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode246/

Don’t miss our previous episode where Paul joins the Army as a boy soldier in the Royal Engineers here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode245/

Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

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