Memories of Parsons/ Blackdown/Deepcut/ And Chilwell Barracks

I was stationed at Parsons barracks for two weeks before we moved to Blackdown camp for basic training. I did a course on office work and did touch typing which lasted for ten weeks. During this time I recall doing my first guard duty on a bitter cold night. During the night it was so quiet as I shouldered arms but I was interrupted by an over zealous second lietenant who frightend the life out of me when he tapped me on the shoulder and said "your dead soldier" but I was far from dead as I almost stuck my bayonet into his stomach. He must have learned a lesson and I didn't see him any more that night. Two lads that were my mates were Alex Leonard from Sunderland and Gordon Hickey from Burnley. During the period  at Parsons we took a trip into London and stood outside Buckingham palace watching the changing of the guard. Suddenly this huge body came up to me with a busby hat. he was a seargent in the Coldstream guards. he bawled " salute now soldier or I'll have you put in jail for six months" well I saluted and we all did a shoot down to Pink lane where Alex was done for two bob by a card trickster trying to find the lady. All my mates were shipped off to Egypt and I was the only one to fail a medical due to a birthmark on my upper leg. I was bitterly disappointed as I knew I wouldn't see any of them again although since I left the army in 1953 I have tried to contact some  but to no avail. I was in a holding platoon for about two months before in February 1952 I moved over the road into a newly formed Ordnance Field Park.  I did a driving course at the RASC in Deepcut for about three weeks but I failed my one and only driving test taken by  coincedence by an instructor from Newcastle a mile or so from my home town in Gateshead. I recall the seargent there called Alexanda. While at the Field park only fifty yards away over the road in deepcut there was a little cafe where we would all crowd in for our buttered toast and tea on bitterly cold mornings. I recall that one of my colleagues while on guard duty fell asleep and was caught by the dutty officers. He got six months in the clink. They called the lad Lamb and he hailed from London. This was the time of the testing the breaking of the sound barrier and from time to time loud bangs could be heard just like thunder in the sky. We saw a plane in difficulty zooming to the ground crashing which looked less than a mile away but Second in command captain Dagliesh at our camp went to look for the plane to no avail. I often wonder if this plane was ever found and were there any casualties. The Ordnance Field Park was transferred to Bournemouth. Quite a few were posted to other units including myself. I was posted to Chilwell barracks just outside Nottingham where I joined the company band and we paraded at Nottingham castle on Coronation day in June 1953. Most of the other lads went to Bicester. I have tried to contact some of the lads while at Deepcut and in the band at Chilwell barracks but I haven't traced anyone. Maybe if anyone who was in the Ordnance Field Park in 1952 or in the company band at Chilwell in 1953 read this message they can contact me on lsmy59@aol.com-which I will appreciate very much.---------Les May