My National Service

On leaving school in 1950 John served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith and his brother Gordon became a painter & decorator.  John was called up to do his National Service at the age of 20.  He was assigned to REME and after basic training at Oswestry, Blandford Forum and then Aborfied Garrison his unit was sent to post-war Germany, to Duisberg and then Dortmund where he was stationed.

These pictures speak for themselves, showing as they do, a young soldier and his pals stationed as part of the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) at the re-built Mohne Dam (destroyed by the Dam Busters) and, of course, Belsen, where no birds ever flew.

Both Tam and Gordon Duncan were assigned to the Black Watch and posted to Cyprus, with Gordon travelling out by ship and Tam flying there.