Alamein Barracks

These barracks were used as the recruit training centre for the Territorial Army and all volunteers serving with the 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment completed basic training here in the 1960's before passing out to "trade training" with the Royal Signals. I completed my initial training here and quickly went on to train in Germany at RAF Geilenkirchen with the 42nd Signal Squadron. Altough the official MOD records show RAF Geilenkirchen closing in January 1968, it continued in service as a training location for the Territorial Army. I served there in November 1968 with 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment on exercises for my annual camp. I recall US servicemen were also based there so it would have been used as a NATO base (AFCENT, Allied Forces Central Europe). As a German speaker I had more than my fair share of guard duty on the main gate interpreting for the GI's, as it seemed the US Army posted mainly black soldiers on the gate and they needed language support. Quite a responsibility for this lowly Signalman fresh out of recruit training and a huge change from the Alamein Barracks!