They Were Not Divided (film)

Enjoyed it too, liked the screamed phrase; "Am I hurting you two, I should be I'm standing on your hair, get it cut". Classic.

 

One of the joys of watching these old films is to spot actors who were to "make it good" in later films.

Did you all spot LLewelin who was much later to become "Q" in the James Bond series ?

Desmond Llewelyn - IMDb

Ron

 

We had a function in the Mess Chelsea barracks, an old Coldstream Guards Officer joked about RSM Brittain, Coldstream Guards. He said any conversation ended with 'yes please Sergeant major'.

 

A couple of reminders of "THE RSM"

THE ARMY'S VOICE NO 1 - British Pathe

LET BRITAIN DRESS YOU - British Pathe

He would have ideal posted to the Clothing store.!!

 

hahahaha, cheers Bluebell!

I think I'll have a play later and work on
some ringtones. "Wake up you idle man"
will be a perfect alarmclock ringtone

 

It was of course said of RSM Brittain that when he was at Sandhurst he once said to an officer cadet "I will call you Sir and you will call me Sir but you, at least, will mean it !!!!"

Ron

 

"I've never heard anything like it, IN ALL ME LIFE!!"

 

Many a tale! How true? Young cadet a foreign prince yawned on parade, 'You there you horrible little *** sir, come here. You yawned, sir, double over to the statue of her Majesty and apologize, the young prince doubled over halted saluted and stood for a minute before marching back, 'did you apologize sir'. Yes Sir. what did her Majesty say sir. She said I looked tired and should have the day off, unflustered the Sergeant Major said - if that is what her majesty said you had better double away sir. There are many more!

 

The Guards Depot Sergeant Major - 'Piggy Barnes' Grenadier Guards, a huge man, on Saturday mornings the Depot would parade and we would perform the 'rat race' marching around camp and the local married quarters preparing the 'crows' (recruits) for public duties. Greeted with 'Good Morning' and woe betide us if we did not shout it back loud enough, 'you will step to the time I call out', - 'stand still there- you that man stand still, god only knows how many thought they were 'that man' and inwardly panicked. Before we all set off he gave the order for Superintending Sergeants to 'rift' the crows a quick warm up, this was done at light infantry pace, left turn,right turn about turn and on it went to the call loof ight, loof ight loof....... Our Super Sgt - one of ours - a Jock, ' I am going to reduce you to shiny capstars, melted boot polish and crispy bacon' and that was all staff included! The days of Caterham, this was apparently watched by some inmates of an establishment near to the depot. The two watched as the Guardsmen paraded, the tale has it that one said to his friend and they say we are mad!

 

In Diane's post above- mention of Sergeants' in Waiting, this was a duty lasting one week confining the lucky pair from each company to a week in barracks, married or single, along with a Corporal in Waiting (LCpl). During the afternoon a piper would walk around the lines and play 'evening orders'. All Sgts' and Cpls' In waiting headed for the RSMs office. The orders for the next day, duties.defaulters and other details were read out, each company giving names for duties etc. The Sergeant Major sat behind his desk flanked by the two desks of the Drill Sergeants'. On one occasion a piper stood in the corner after orders the RSM waved his hand and the piper started playing - the RSM looked at Jimmy T and said what is that call, Jimmy thought and started - 'oranges, oranges, oranges' The RSM looked on bemused - and JT gave the wrong answer, a few sniggers, The RSM another call and yet another wrong answer from a sniggerer. I bit my tongue as the RSM handed Jimmy T a pile of A4 and a pencil, 100 times -'The Barren Rocks of Aden' and by close of play! Would not swap those days for all the Tea in China! In my office near to close of play feet up on desk with fag in hand, tap, tap on the window ignoring it another louder tap. looking around - oh no! It was the Sergeant Major, giving the universally accepted signal to open up. Open window feet together and wait, 'Is it dark in their son get these windows cleaned!' Many a Jock will remember RSM Ronnie Wilkie who went on to an SSR commission as a platoon commander at the depot one of those magic soldiers we all meet in our time.

 

Have just watched this movie again , and still think its a superb film , some of the actors have post war medal ribbons up , but the superb kit and those glimpses of orginal WW2 German tanks , some great scenes as well the bit in Brussels with the Girl Guide is fantastic , also just picked up off Amazon Warsaw 1920 on DVD well worth a go .