Anyone just read that title and thought something like; " Ye kidding me?! How did ....." Only, I suspect that's the only way I'll ever crack this one. Pure chance of someone who knew about it at the time reading this and deciding to put me out of my misery. Here's the craic; Thirty years ago, I came to know a bloke. Over the ensuing decade, we became close enough that he eventually confided that he'd served with the SAS. I certainly remember he mentioned having been in Oman. That should give us a rough time frame? I must admit, it's been so long since I read about such things that I now have no idea of when that was. No matter. He had a key ring. It was, as I recall, a sort of rounded triangular sort of shape, or similar. Made of clear perspex like material. Locked inside was a lighter blue 'background'. Into one side of this background was set a gold coloured St. Christopher icon. Turn it round and it showed the Winged Dagger. For reasons I won't go into here, I was especially curious about this key ring. But I somehow imagined there must be some sort of 'SAS Souvenir Shop' at the Lines, where former members could pick up such things. (Yeah. Forgive me but, I have absolutely zero experience of such matters! ) So, one night, I just asked him. Purely simple curiosity. " Where did ye get that key ring? ". His response, as precisely as I can remember, was extremely like this: He smiled. Half chuckled to himself and said ... (" Some " or " A few ") " ... of us pulled off a bit of a stunt for a certain distillery one time. We got hauled across the coals for that! But, by way of appreciation, they had us these made. " And that's all he ever said, and the last time I ever broached the subject. He didn't like to talk and I didn't like to pry. He's been dead about a decade now. And that damn key ring is Still bugging the carp out of me! Am I to follow him, off this mortal coil, Still wondering what the hell went off there?
Steve - these things happened ....during the Gothic Line Battle we were in support of the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders and one day we were involved in one hellish skirmish over a large building......suddenly all went quiet and we could see the enemy high tailing it out......nothing else was happening.....after an hour or so we sent a recce down to find out what was going on ....they soon understood as the building was a distillery and the Highlanders were higher than the roof and feeling no pain whatever ... some of our lads tried to join them but the C.O. took a dim view of this and so we waited until the Highlanders sobered up before carrying on with the Battle.....they weren't exactly fit the next day ! Cheers
One day we were involved in one hellish skirmish over a large building......the building was a distillery ..... Sorry, Tom. But, I just get this picture of a load of p!ssed up guys loosing off rounds, as fast as they could, in your direction. All the time desperately knocking back the good stuff as they tried to keep ye out. I mean, of course, blokes in Canadian uniform! But, no, seriously; Distillery in Oman? I imagine that could have caused an upset worthy of SAS intervention! Thing is, see; I never really decided quite what age my man must have been. And not knowing when Oman went off doesn't help. Thus it's hard to pin down his, even possible, time scale of service. 'Post War', certainly. I'd say he must have been about fifty five (?) about the time that I knew him? Fact that I can't count to save my life doesn't help either. But I just always had the impression this was in post war UK. All so hopelessly vague, I'm afraid. And he and I used to get smashed out of our tiny minds, together. But still probing him was like poking a rock with a stick of marshmallow!
Steve - why do you suppose the Saudis and all their pals around there travel to Europe so often - which they can well afford their own planes to do the travel bit - it's to get smashed on a regular basis - now NO ONBE can tell me that the ones who can't afford to travel don't also get smashed - ergo there has to be some sort of distillery there - even under all that sand which makes a great filter for the grain...... Oman - Yeman all around there was in an uproar around the middle 60's - mad Mitch sorted many of them out thoguh by marching his Battalion of the Agile and Sufferin Highlanders through the biggest city - his Brigadier wasn't too chuffed and had him fired ..... I'm sure that if the Brig had a gin and tonic he might have laughed it off... Cheers
