111 (Dragon) Battery Y Troop provided the communications for 111 (Dragon) Battery and the 'Dragon's' had the distinctive reputation for blowing a load of 'Hot Air'. This comment was whispered to me not by a Siggy but by a Gunner! Up Your's Sir! The friendly rivalry which existed between the Gunners and the Siggy's wasn't always sweet. I have heard from a very reliable source that during the early days at Shoebury when RHQ passed on some unpleasent demands of the Signals the OC of the Squadron called Cpl Bainbridge to his office and gave him the order 47 degrees. Cpl Bainbridge would then march out of the OC's office and out to the Statue of 'Jimmy' which stood outside the Squadron office on a concrete plinth which had been recovered from the sea defences placed there during the WWII. It's seems that 'Jimmy' could rotate on the plinth and Cpl Bainbridge would turn 'Jimmy' so that he would point his two fingers at RHQ. Origin's of the Lanyard & the Classic Sapper Leg Pull There has long been a tale-usually told by Sappers-about the Gunners wearing a white lanyard for cowardice, allegedly for deserting their guns. The official Gunner reply is that, the story is nothing more than a piece of leg pulling. The tradition of ‘winding up’ stems from the age-old rivalry between the two ‘sister’ corps founded under the Board of Ordnance and trained together in Woolwich. Amazingly Gunners still ask whether there is any truth in this story. The origins of this story are embedded in verbal military history so it is impossible for anyone to say that it never happened on the other hand the same can be said about anyone insisting that it did. In politics there is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. So know doubt this leg pulling will remain as long as there are Gunners and Sappers. It would seem that this piece if leg-pulling is repeated in various forms. The gold stripe in the Gunner stable belt stems from the colours of the uniform at the time the stable belt was introduced. It was not a question, as the jokers would have it, of yellow stripes for cowardice! Equally ludicrous is the suggestion that the Gunners has seven ‘flames’, as opposed to the sapper’s nine, because we lost two guns at some point in history! Ironicly I pulled these tales from a Gunner's website. Nothing more refreshing than pissing into the wind. Dragon Battery Sergeant Major's Nightmare We had two main Batteries in the Regiment, 10 (Assye) Battery and 111 (Dragon) Battery. 111 Battery had an ancient cannon, in the shape of a dragon which they had obviously nicked off the Chinese some time in the past. Now this cannon was mounted on an old fashioned cart wheel type gun carriage and was fairly impressive. The cannon was placed on a concrete base at the head of 111 Battery's drill square and it was common practice (after a good night on the wellie) to turn the cannon around to face the living accommodation, stick brooms, squeegees and other objects in the mouth of the cannon then toddle off to bed happy. The BSM of 111 was obviously unhappy with this practice and decided to place a chain fence around the concrete platform, unfortunately the pins holding the chain were banged into the gravel and not secured, consequently a couple of Siggy's (who shall remain nameless) came back from town the night after and simply pulled the pins out of the gravel, turned the cannon on its axis, put all the normal stuff in to the mouth of the cannon, rammed the pins holding the chain fence back in and went to bed. The following day we were all called on parade where the BSM of 111 Battery started interrogating the larger members of the squadron as to their whereabouts the night before. We were all puzzled as to his choice of interviewees until he explained that it must have taken at least 10 strong men to lift the cannon and turn it round within the chain fence. He then went on to promise us that no matter what happened he would find this group of desperados. He never did find out. Another wild night out on the town. One night whilst returning to camp after a trip into Dortmund we came across a Gunner the worse the ware for apple juice climbing the flag pole whilst grasping his brattie and chips, as he neared the top of the pole he paused to scoff some of his supper. Unfortunately he quickly discovered Newtons law of gravity when he let go of the flag pole with both hands to ensure his last few crumbs satisfied his hunger. Needless to say he came crashing to the ground breaking a wrist My grateful thanks to Dave Henry for allowing me to use these two stories on this website. Unfortunately due to work commitments Dave has closed down his website. Dear 'Jimmy' A Signalman serving with the Corps in Germany was angry and upset when his fiancé wrote breaking off their engagement and asking for her photograph back. He went round the barracks and collected from his mates, all the old unwanted photographs of women that they had, bundled them all together and sent them back with a note saying, "I regret to inform you that I cannot remember which one is yours-- please keep your photo and return the others." Equipment Shortages There was a young gunner, who, just before battle, told his sergeant that he didn't have a rifle. "That's no problem, son," said the sergeant. "Here, take this broom. Just point it at the Germans, and go 'Bangy Bang Bang'." "But what about a bayonet, Sarge?" asked the young (and gullible) recruit. The sergeant pulls a piece of straw from the end of the broom, and attaches it to the handle end. "Here, use this... just go, 'Staby Stab Stab'." The recruit ends up alone on the battlefield, holding just his broom. Suddenly, a German soldier charges at him. The recruit points the broom, "Bangy Bang Bang!" The German falls down dead. More Germans appear. The recruit, amazed at his good luck, goes "Bangy Bang Bang! Staby Stab Stab!" He mows down the enemy by the dozens. Finally, the battlefield is clear, except for one German soldier walking slowly toward him. "Bangy Bang Bang! shouts the recruit. The German keeps coming. "Bangy Bang Bang!" repeats the recruit, to no avail. He gets desperate. "Bangy Bang Bang! Staby Stab Stab!" It's no use. The German keeps coming. He stomps the recruit into the ground, and says, "Tanky Tank Tank." Courtesy the 'Big Yin' Billy Connelly Saluting Did you hear the one about the Signalman on posting from 260 Sig Sqn to 21 Sigs who when asked by an RAF Officer for not saluting him. "Don't you salute RAF Officers in the Army." The quick thinking Signalman replied "We don't have have any RAF Officers in the Army Sir!" Officer Cadet Efficiency Reports These are actual phrases from Officer Cadet Efficiency Reports (performance appraisal for the military officers). "Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't watching." "A room temperature IQ." "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together." "A gross ignoramus---144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus." "A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on." "A prime candidate for natural deselection." "One-celled organisms outscore him in IQ tests." "Donated his brain to science before he has finished using it." "Fell out of the family tree." "Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming." "Has two brains: one is lost and the other is out looking for it." "He's so dense, light bends around him." "If brains were taxed, he'd get a rebate." "If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week." "If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change back." "If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean." "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled." "Takes him an hour and a half to watch 60 minutes." "Was left on the Tilt-A-Whirl a bit too long as a baby." "Wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead." Smart Signalman An old demobbed gunner saw a very tired young Signalman resting after a 10 mile bash. The old gunner said with disdain: "When I was your age I thought nothing of a ten-mile bash." The young Signalman replied: "Well, I don't think much of it either," A Gunners Tale It was a dark, stormy, night on Salisbury plain. A gunner was on his first guard duty. A General stepped out taking his dog for a walk. The nervous young gunner snapped to attention, made a perfect salute, and snapped out "Good Evening, Sir!" The General, returned the salute and said "Good evening soldier, nice night, isn't it?" (Well it wasn't a nice night, but the young gunner wasn't going to disagree with the General), so he replied "Yes Sir!". The General continued, "You know there's something about a stormy night that I find soothing, it's really relaxing. Don't you agree?" (The young gunner didn't agree, but then the gunner was just a gunner,) and responded "Yes Sir!" The General, pointing at his dog, "This is a Golden Retriever, the best type of dog to train." The gunner glanced at the dog, and said "Yes Sir, It is Sir!" The General continued "I got this dog for my wife." The gunner replied "That was good swap Sir!" Camouflage & Concealment Location: A Heavy AD Battery radar site on a hilltop in Germany circa 1973. BC: "I say Peter, I would like a word about camouflage". OC Y Troop: "Yes sir?" BC: "Could you get your chaps to conceal the circular antennas of your radios, they are giving our position away". OC Y Troop: looking over the BC's shoulder at Noddy and Big Ears doing what they did best. "I will see what I can do sir". Two Five Two Gnr Smith was brought up before the BC on a charge. "You can take your choice, Gnr Smith - one month's restriction of privileges or twenty day's pay," said the BC. "All right, sir," said Smith, "I'll take the money." Logging Company What happens if you fill a Gunners' boots with water? He'll sprout roots and grow branches. Do not mess in the realm of Dragons. Remember you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup

111 (Dragon) Battery in Aden in 1963

In 1963 111 (Dragon) Battery, 37 Guided Weapons Regiment, Royal Artillery, carried out hot weather experiments on the Thunderbird Mk1 Surface to Air Missile in Aden.

I am trying to establish if the Battery was supported by any Royal Signals unit during these hot weather Trials. If you know of any such unit or you served with the Royal Signals, Royal Artillery, REME or RAOC during this trial can you please contact the Webmaster