266 (GVA) O.P. Bty R.A. (V)
1986

In 1971, 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Observation Post Battery was formed as an independent Observation Post unit as a reinforcement unit for the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) supplying observation post teams. The battery had a four gun troop of 25pdr field guns. In time of war the battery would provide 18 Observation Post Parties to regular army units

Bty H.Q. Nominal Roll

Battery Commander - Major R. G. McKenna R.A.
Battery Captain (B.K.) - Capt J. Smith R.A. (V)
Administive Officer (A.O) - Capt W. Cross R.A. (V) (late Lt Col QM)

WO11 (B.S.M.) Derek J. Driscoll
WO11 (T.S.M.) Roy Lockyer
BQMS - Peter Scattergood
Sgt Terry Cox (Signals)

Attached personal

Brigade Sgt Major Rodney Harville - Georgia National Guard
1st Sgt Charles Butch Watts - Oklahoma National Guard
Sgt 1st class Ben Clarke - Oklahoma National Guard

Battery Officers Nominal Roll

Lt. Eric Mellor R.A. (V)
Lt. Peter Randall R.A. (V)
Lt. Paul Caukwell R.A. (V)

Other Ranks Nominal Roll

Ivor Ealden
"Nobby" Clarke
Keith Neagle
Phil Manning
Peter Palling x2 brothers
Bdr Harry Harris

266 Visit National Guard in U.S.

This was an exchange visit to the 156th Field Artillery Brigade (Rainbow Division) of New York State National Guard at Fort Drum. U.S.A. from 4-19 July 1986 by battery mambers WO11 (BSM) DerekJ. Driscoll, WO11 (TSM) Roy Lockyer, Sgt Barry Darbon and is here described by Derek Driscoll:

We left Brize Norton on a R.A.F. VC10 and landed at N.Y. Dulles airport, arriving on the 4th July, 1986 (Independence day) to be met by representatives of the N.Y. National Guard, and Command Sgt Major Murry of the unit that we were to join. He was only told the day before, while sitting by his pool, that we were coming to his unit. We then flew by Beachmaster aircraft, to Fort Drum which only had clearance to fly that morning.

That was the way the 2 week attachment was deemed to go, we were not allowed to join in with the unit and train with them or stay out at night with the unit, as we were classed as OBSERVERS only. We were billeted with the unit for only one day, on the first night we were there we went to their U.S. Army Club (N.A.F.F.I), after a few jugs of beer we started to sing and as our repertoire got louder and some may say dirtier, we were told by the manageress to be quieter, as the disco next door had complained about the noise we were making.

On the second day we were moved into officer accommodation and given a Ford truck to get about with, and Sgt Ashford got out his Union Jack and it was flown from a pole at the rear of the truck, many comments were passed about our right to fly our flag by various officers but no action was taken. As to a training programme or where or what the unit was doing day by day was not forth coming, we were left much to are own devices, so the evenings were spent in the officers mess.

On the first night that we walked in to the Officers mess, we were greeted by the site of three officers, with their backs to us, one of which was trying to teach the others the words to "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" we joined in from behind them, the smile on the face of one of them was enormous as he was Capt Brad Hard, "Brits" he shouted, he had played for the U.S.A. "Eagles" Ruby team and had toured with the team in England.

In the following two weeks we taught them the 3 man lift, Bomber over Berlin, (engine fire), Old McDonald had a farm etc. But I began to noticed that when we entered the mess some would move away to the far corners of the mess, when asked why we were told that they did not approve of our boisterous antics, so we made our apologies to them and became little more subdued.

The officers were very kind to us and arranged for us to visit their units in the field. We flew in helicopters over the range area with the National Guard on training flights, as the guests of Capt. Carlton O' Flanagan we visited the radio relay communications vehicles, watched different batteries firing and when we were with our host unit we were allowed to join in some of the training as instructors/observers, it was a totally different way of teaching. A group of 6 men sat in a half circle reading from a book and each took it in turn to read a paragraph, to make sure that they knew it off by heart. We saw a lot of this type of teaching but not to much individual hands on training. We tried when allowed, to make the instruction less boring by using empty milk cartons to make tanks, drawing a road in the earth and using string instead of wire to lay a telephone line across the road. It seemed to us that they had no responsibility in the lower ranks to teach or make decisions on their own initiative.

My main observation is that the culture within the U.S. Army is all inclusive, if the book says this is the way to do something, then that's the way it is done. (Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men - Douglas Bader), not like the British Army which is more regimental / tribal in its outlook and allows some degree of personal initiative. On talking to some of the older officers, the opinion was expressed that the Vietnam War changed the U.S. army's outlook and the fun and singing went with it.

On the last day with the our host Bty we were taken to an area where we were allowed to fire their small arms all blanks I have to say, the ammunition we were told came from the secret places that was used by the soldiers within the vehicles. Everything that was fired that morning was from all accounts left over, from previous exercises.

When we said are farewells, to all, who by their efforts had made our visit so memorable, Captain W. D. Lawton, told me that the General had ordered that we were to be met at Dulles airport and shown around Washington by the National Guard, what a trip that was, we visited the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, President Kennedy's grave in Arlington National Cemetery, Imo Jima Statue and the Pentagon and what a place that is, everything in America is so big and that extends to the welcome we received. The visit was not as I and the others had expected, the unit did not know that we were to train with them, it was disorganized, the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, but that said, I would not have missed it, we had a great time.

The Pentagon is a really large and imposing building seen from afar, but it is only when you get close to it do you realise really how big it is. The security is very dominant with guards everywhere, we had to have ID tags which we had to give back when we left and no amount of asking would they allow us to keep them as a souvenir. The inside passage ways are enormous and the amount of people hurrying here, there and every where is staggering. We where taken for a meal in one of the many restaurants within the building and we had to pay for it!!.

Afterwards we were taken to a small bar outside of the Pentagon which was very nice but when we started to sing, the bar manager thought that we were drunk and he had to be told that we were Brits, and that we always sing while we drank and that we were honoured guests of the U.S. military. The National Guardsmen must have thought we were bonkers the way we drank, but we had to tell them that their beer was weak and tasteless, which they did not fully appreciate.

We were then taken by the Guardsmen to the Dulles airport where we were met by a Colonel from the British Embassy, who wished us a save journey home, he explained the reason he didn't meet us when we landed was he was celebrating Independence Day with his family and friends, nice for some we thought!!. Having said goodbye to our National Guardsmen and thanked them for the tour of Washington, we seemed to have left a lot of Brit uniform as mementoes with them. They in turn gave us small enameled metal badges of different National Guard units.

Images of the exchange trip to the USA (Click on image for larger version)

National Guardsmen Visit 266

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, London 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 Derek 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 of Fort Cobb] and Sgt 1st class Ben Clarke \of the Enid Oklahoma National Guard, Captain Jeffery Smith the B.K. [Battery Captain] introduced them to the Bty Commander Major R. G. McKenna R.A. and the rest of the battery admin staff.

U.S. National Guardsmen, left to right: Sgt 1st class Ben Clarke, 1st Sgt Butch Watts, Brigade Sgt Major Rodney Harville
Photo: Andy Cooper

The first week of camp the orbat/ training included the Americans as much as possible, Captain 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 Sergeants 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.

The battery 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 from the U.S. National Guard, to join in the training that was organized. They joined the battery for the New Zealand Farm Camp, Salisbury Plain Training Area, on the 14-28 July, 1986 but not for the King George Fifth Cup which took place at Otterburn Ranges, Northumberland on 26-28 July, 1986.

New Zealand Farm Camp - 14-28 July, 1986

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.

Lt. Steve Jelf and Lt. Paul Caukwell, 1986
Notice the OPs Laser Range Finder and its ASTM mount on the right of the image
Photo: Andy 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 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.

The Training centered around the King George the Fifth Cup, an artillery competition which was to be staged at Otterburn ranges, Northumberland on the last weekend of our camp. After a long day on the ranges I (WOII BSM Derek Driscoll) was informed that one of the Subalterns had some thing for me. it turned out to be a VT (Variable Time - Proximity) fuse, he had picked off the range "It will go nicely with the rest of your ammo collection" he said, on closer inspection I was not to sure that it was safe, so I had the young man walk to a near by field and placed it down carefully on the ground.

Capt W. Cross the A.O. arranged for an A.T.O. [Ammo Tech Officer] from S.T.P.A. to turn up to explode the device, on examining the fuze he confirmed to me that it was possibly still live, he then set a charge and exploded it.

The latter part of the first week some personnel were detached to act as safety for Bristol O.T.C. (Officers' Training Corps) on Dartmoor ranges for their artillery competition, but the weather was so bad on Dartmoor that it was changed to Salisbury plain at the last minute. apart from a wrong Bty center which was sorted, before the guns arrived on the position and a lesson in not trying to use the director with a Hexamine cooker in your top pocket, the competition went well.

The rest of the week went off very well

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.

Leaving New Zealand Farm Camp, 1986
Notice the red container in foreground with sandwiches for the trip to Otterburn
Photo: Andy Cooper

The battery left new Zealand Farm Camp for Otterburn ranges on the early Thursday evening, unfortunately we had to leave our American friends behind in the care of Captain Smith, as we drove out of the gate of the camp our three new found friends were at the gate standing smartly at attention and saluting as the guns passed them. We went to Otterburn via Bristol and picked up more members of the Bty.

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.)

The friendship made then between WOII BSM Derek Driscoll and CSM Butch Watts continued for years, Derek was God father to Butch's Grand Daughter Haley and both 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.

Command Sergeant Major Butch Watts, 1994

Command Sergeant Major Butch Watts in dress uniform,
37th National Guard Association, Oklahoma meeting, 26 March 1994

King George Fifth Cup, Otterburn Ranges, Northumberland - 26-28 July, 1986

We had to re-fuel our vehicles at motorway service stations, at the time they were giving away a small Brown pot complete with a cork stopper, as so many tokens were being given for a full tank of fuel, we took advantage of the offer and cleaned them out of the little brown pots. There was a rumour going around after camp that one unscrupulous soldier had collected all the pots he could and then gave them to his wife as a thank you present for letting him go to camp, smart or what.

The trip to Otterburn was long but we made good time and only one vehicle got lost but turned up later under his own steam. The competition was a little different from those we had took part in previously, more emphasis's was put on the actual deployment and tactical awareness of the guns, i.e. the use of camouflage nets and the speed in which we could put them up were much to the fore as never before. These competitions, were the start of our preparation to be not only proficient in our O.P. drills but also to be a recognized gun battery those members would in future equip themselves very well when called upon to support the regular forces.

The usual disciplines were also tested AFV recognition, NBC, medical and radio procedures, the gun's also had a anti tank/direct shoot to do, which in the competition Sgt Manning of the bty came a close second.

We did not win the competition but we all thought that it was a fix anyway, as winning gave a unit confidence and self belief, as I remember some of the marking decisions were to say a little dubious.

Exercise Bold Guard

Exercise Bold Guard took place in the Schleswig-Holstein area of northern Germany. Its aim was to prevent the enemy from breaking through to the Atlantic. Around 65,000 troops from five NATO nations took part in the exercise which lasted from 12 September to 7 October. It involved troops from Denmark, West Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. Among them were the OPs from 266.