Alamein Barracks at Huyton

I had never even heard of Huyton, much less been there until I joined the Territorial Army in 1967. I had enlisted at a recruiting office in Manchester and attended the Alamein Barracks for my basic training in 1967.

In those far off days we wore our uniform instead of civvies when leaving the barracks and I have happy memories of a bunch of us "squaddies" riding on the top of a double decker bus into Liverpool city centre for an evening's entertainment!
The trouble with this was that the beery evening always seemed to be followed by an early start the next morning! Believe me Corporal Stewart's drill was not the best cure for a hangover. Sometimes instead of drill we would pile into the back of a "three-tonner" and drive out to the nearest firing ranges at Altcar.

I passed out successfully and was posted to the 42 East Lancashire Squadron of the Lancs Yeomanry - soon to become 33rd Signal Regiment. I enjoyed my time with the Scousers and learned a lot of tricks with them which were to stand me in good stead over the following five years with various Royal Signals units!