National Service 1958
A Memory of Scarborough.
I was posted to Burniston Barracks as a newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Pioneer Corps in 1958. Our task was to clear the Fylingdale Moors of unexploded munitions. Unfortunately we experienced the deaths of several soldiers on the Moors on the day I arrived. In no time we had ambulancies on site as well as helicopters on stand by. It was a satisfying job which had to stop each time the fog came down and the troops came back to base by hearing the ringing of a bell. We even had Bessie Braddock ask questions in Parliament as to our task. All the men I was proud to work with including other Officers, Medics and Royal Engineers. It was a marvellous part of my life. Later a part of the area was cleared to erect the early warning domes. I am a proud Somerset boy who has lived in NEW ZEALAND for the past 53years.
Add your comment
You must be signed-in to your Frith account to post a comment.
Add to Album
You must be signed in to save to an album
Sign inSparked a Memory for you?
If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?
Comments & Feedback
I HAVE NOTED YOUR COMMENT WITH INTEREST. I WAS A SERVING FULL CORPORAL WITH 260 COMPANY ROYAL PIONEER CORPS AND I WAS STATIONED IN BURNISTON BARRACKS SCARBOROUGH IN 1958. I WAS DEMOBBED FROM THERE IN DECEMBER THEREABOUTS IN 1958. I WASACTUALLY ON THE FYLINGDALE MOORS CLEARING SPENT AMMUNITION. WE WORKED WITH THE ROYAL ENGINEERS. IT WAS BITTERLEY COLD WHILST WORKING ON THE MOORS DURING THAT WINTER IN 1958. I ALSO WORKED IN THE STORES FOR A TIME AND WHILST IN THE STORES I HAD TO DEAL WITH CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR COMPANY THAT UNFORTUNATELY GOT BLOWN UP - A SORRY AFFAIR. I HAVE TRIED TO GET A PHOTOGRAPH OF BURNISTON BARRACKS BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. I SHALL BE RE-VISTING SCARBOROUGH IN AUGUST THIS YEAR. TRUST YOU ARE KEEPING WELL.
BEST REGARDS - MR.L.G.KEW (ENGLAND)
PS I CAN STILL REMEMBER MY NATIONAL SERVICE NUMBER !!
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL.
I DID NATIONAL SERVICE 1956 TO 1958.
POSTINGS WERE:
1) HORSLEY HALL WREXHAM
2) SHERFIELD UPON LODDON NEAR BASINGSTOKE
3) BISLEY RIFLE RANGE
4) MARCHWOOD NEAR SOUTHAMPTON
5) BURNISTON BARRACKS SCARBOROUGH
WHILST SERVING AT SHERFIELD ON LODDON NR BASINGSTOKE I WAS ISSUED WITH A GLOWING REFERENCE FOR ANY FUTURE EMPLOYER FROM CAPTAIN BISSON - DID YOU KNOW HIM?
BEST WISHES
MR.L.G.KEW (ENGLAND)
PS THE ONLY PART LEFT NOW OF BURNISTON BARRACKS IS A CARPARK WITH SOME OF THE OLD BUILDINGS STILL IN IT
Roger.
FORGOT TO MENTION I SAW FYLINGDALE MOORS FROM A BUS RIDE BETWEEN SCARBOROUGH AND WHITBY LAST WEEK.
LEONARD GEORGE KEW