In September 1960, after two years of smoking French cigarettes, chewing American gum and forgetting what it was like to be a member of Her Majesty’s Forces, I was asked what posting I would like next. I felt I deserved my home posting. I was told Fontainebleau is a detachment of London District and therefore a home posting. (For the last two years I had received 35 shillings a week overseas allowance!)
Thinking I had done the Far East and Europe (we did get about a bit in ALFCE), I would now go for the Middle East. Tripoli was available. I applied and was accepted. I got on to the troop ship in Southampton bound for Tripoli. I was quite looking forward to all that sand and sunshine.
In November 1960, I disembarked in Famagusta, Cyprus. On board, I told the powers that be a thousand times that I was going to Tripoli. I was told I could go wherever I liked, but the ship was going to Hong Kong (my Hong Kong!) Standing on the quayside, alongside a Military Police Land Rover were two RMP Lance Corporals. They knew I was coming to Cyprus! I joined 3 Inf Bde Pro Unit RMP at Anzio Camp just outside Dhekelia; a lot of the lads were ex 51 Bde and 227 Pro Coy. British troops had left Nicosia and Famagusta was a 3 Bde RMP detachment. Whilst in 3 Bde I was involved in exercises in the Troodos Mountains and the Libyan Desert.
My final posting request in 1963, after nine years with the Corps, was the UK and home. I was offered it, accepted, and actually got it!
Since leaving the Forces, Elaine and I have lived in Birmingham, Cardiff, Dudley, Scotland (Strathaven), Bristol, Stockport and Droitwich. Her Majesty had nothing to do with these moves! After enjoying my military service and having some of the best postings available, at that time, I often wonder what life may have been like if I had actually got the postings the War Office promised me!
AND FINALLY…………..
For the poetry lovers among you here is a little poem Fiona wrote in the wee small hours when Jean was restless. Fiona read it in her lovely Scottish lilt at the Service of Thanksgiving ~ it says it all.
My Auntie Jean was one of a kind,
A Saint, a lady with a wonderful mind.
So content and happy with the life that she had,
I suppose today it’s wrong to be sad.
Loving and giving she was to us all,
Always ready to catch us whenever we’d fall.
Her advice and wisdom was the best you could get,
For that I’ll always be forever in debt.
Many people I have nursed with this wretched disease,
But none so stoic and so easy to please.
I wished I could produce that miracle cure
To save this life so incredibly pure.
The battle now lost and body to grave,
An example she was of how to be brave.
Her heart was so big it fit like a glove,
The spirit now freed to Heaven above.
I love you so much it’s hard to let go,
But that’s me being selfish for this I do know.
The laughter, your smile and beautiful face,
Is something that one just can’t replace.
A mother to many, a wife to the end,
What more could one ask of a very dear friend.
As I look to you all today I have seen,
This lady was much more than just “Auntie Jean”
Fiona Lightfoot.