Page 14 - BNVTA CAMPAIGN Summer 2020

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campaign Summer 2020
Military Service
Michael John Parker 23503178 Sapper (7th May 1941- 26th May 2006) [transcript of notes shared with us by his daughter].
On the 7th February 1957 I travelled from home to Southampton. Had a Medical, and joined the army (BOYS SERVICE) On the train to Chepstow (ARMY APPRENTICE SCHOOL) Beachley Camp, which was to be my training base and home, for the best part of the next three years, where I was to train as a plant fitter and best of all get a proper education!
ABOUT CHEPSTOW. This was before the first Severn Bridge was built and motorways were just starting. Beachley Camp at that time was a collection of wooden huts and a workshop on an old shipbuilding site, between the River Severn and Wye, there was also a ferry crossing to take traffic from Wales to England.
On the 17th of December 1959
57A apprentice party as we were called, passed out and I joined the ROYAL ENGINEERS.
18th December 1959 – 10th May 1960.
No1 Training Reg Cove Nr Farnborough Hants. Combat training and awaiting next posting.
10th May 1960 – 22nd September 1960
No5 Field Sqd Paderborn Germany. Part of BAOR. The cold war was underway.
22nd September 1960 – 7th March 1961
Royal Engineers HQ Chatham Kent. Continue my trade training I was determined to reach of my trade.
The Medway towns, Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester were the main base for the Royal Engineers.
7th March 1961 – 28th April 1961
Back in Paderborn but not for long. I was off to (Australia) (Maralinga)
Today this seems like a short trip, but in 1961 it was the start of a great adventure! 29th April – 15th June 1961
Headquarters RE getting kit and passport etc.
16th June 1961
Stanley Airport fly viscount turboprop to Singapore via Istanbul and Bombay.
18th June 1961
Arrived Singapore and spent two days waiting for a plane to Perth via Jakarta.
From Perth narrow gauge railway to Kalgoore and then the transcontinental railway to Maralinga (place of big thunder).
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