Messages from the Webmaster

MessageType:      Complaint
Subject:          Web Site
SubjectOther:
Username:         Ken Wakeman
UserEmail:        kenwake@ntlworld.com
UserTel:          020 8850 2246
UserFAX:
ContactRequested:
Remote Name:      80.1.224.8
Remote User:
HTTP User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; FunWebProducts; SV1)
Date:             25 Apr 2006
Time:             14:53:06

Comments:

I have just made my first visit to the website and find that it is largely aimed at surveyors and their squadrons. When I have attended AGMs I have felt a little left out, why you may ask, I was a National Serviceman and not a Boy entrant or a Regular. This stood out for me at Ewell when my Wife and spent the whole visit on our own. I did my basic at No4, trade training at the School and then on to 42 at Fayid. I was supposed to join 2AFSD but no vacancy existed on arrival, I was given the choice of RP or QM staff and I chose the latter. On returning home TA was with 135. All of this from Jan52/June58. I would like to know how many Ex N/S Men are members of the branch or how many non surveyors there are because I am sorry to say that one does get a feeling of a 'club culture'

My reply

Dear Ken,
I'm sorry that you are disappointed with our web site, I'm afraid that I cannot answer your query as to how many members were National Service men (or the near NS the 3 year regulars), however Peter Wood may be able to enlighten you. The site content depends on who makes contributions to the site and most survey trades have been represented, Field men, air surveyors, printers, draughtsmen and storeman Survey. I can't point you straight to it but I'm sure that there have been entries from National Servicemen in our newsletters. If you have a particular memory give me the detail and I will, providing that normal standards are maintained, publish it. I note that you have used feedback rather than the visitor log which would be seen by all viewers, would you like your comments made public? The only things ever deleted are spam or items felt to be in bad taste.
Please come back to me, by the way I was one of the minority who was not an ex boy! During the first few years of my service the majority who I worked with were in fact National Servicemen.
REgards
Albie Field

Kenneth's reply
Dear Albie
Thanks for your prompt reply, I did not mean to give the impression that I was disappointed with the site and as I said this was my first visit so was not sure which way to contact you. Yes, by all means make my comments public as it will be interesting to see what reaction it brings. I will continue to use the site and will contribute to it.
Thanks again
Regards, Ken

Date	Message
30 Jun 2008	Further to the message from Mike Griffiths asking for ex RE Survey and ex A/Ts to contact him, may I draw attention to the fact that the AGM of Association of Harrogate Apprentices will be held on Saturday 4 October 2008 at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate. There will be a social evening at the same venue on Friday 3 October 2008. The event is open to ex A/Ts and permanent staff who served at AAS / AAC Harrogate. It may be advisable to make hotel / guesthouse bookings in good time as there is a conference taking place at Harrogate International Centre that weekend. Booking information can be found through the link below: http://www.iknow-yorkshire.co.uk/tourist_information/yorkshire_dales/harrogate/harrogate.htm Further information about AOHA can be found at: http://www.theharrogateapprentice.co.uk/re-union/index.html I hope to meet up with some of you that weekend. REgards, Andy Anderson (56B)
25 Jun 2008	Attention all members of 58A 7 58B This is an e-mail received from Mike Griffiths Dear Sir I am organising a 50th re-union of ex Harrogate apprentices from the year 1958 i.e. 58A/B So far I have got 50 people coming largely ex signals, as the ex RE people have been very hard to find, and the survey people especially so!!! As a former member of D company, of whom half were RE survey, I would dearly like to contact some fellow ex sufferers of the delights of AAS Harrogate. If there is anyone out there who would like to get details of event or perhaps just contact ex colleagues Please e-mail at ann-mike@blueyonder.co.uk Regards Mike Griffiths ex D Coy and R. Sigs
29 Jan 2007	A message from Andy Anderson Just in case it has not been seen yet, the Ripon REA Branch has given details of the Ripon Weekend 2007, on their website. Kenn Hart does state that all bookings should be made through their Branch Secretary - see note at end of item. I wonder if we will be able to raise some more members of Mil Svy Branch to attend this year. Hopefully the Standard Bearer will make it this year! http://www.riponreaweekend.vze.com/ REgards Andy Anderson
21 Jan 2007	I'm afraid that due to personal problems there is a delay in putting some updates on line. normal service will be resumed as soon as possible
1 Jan 2007	A message for all you Jungle Bunnies, BBC1 Monday to Friday this week 17:50 tonight 1900 Tuesday to Friday- Expedition Borneo, don't miss it. I found the programme to be excellent but could have been improved with the addition of a few maps. As for Gunung Kuli, they were hardly the first there, on mapping from the 60's the point is shown as a trig station. Who from 84 was up there with their theodolite?
16 Dec 2006	Christmas Greetings May I as webmaster take this opportunity to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and A happy New Year Due to personal problems there will be delays in publishing contributions, I have one from Flab Ford covering several aspects awaiting processing and publication which I will publish as soon as I can. REgardS Albie
21 Aug 2006	Harrogate Intakes 53A & 53B I have arranged a 'draft' 50th anniversary for 53A & B Harrogate intakes. This is on Sat 7 Oct @ 8pm, at the Swallow St.George Hotel, Harrogate. I think I have accessed most of the known reprobates from those intakes, if not they can contact me on 01342 714984. At the moment we have 18 attending plus 11 wives/partners. We also have the exclusive use of the hotel Conservatory room from 3 pm on that day. If any ex boys from around the early 50's would like to join for a coffee, or something stronger they will be welcome. Kindly publish. Regards Alan Roberts
7 Aug 2006	Harrogate e-mail from Andy Anderson Good morning Albie, This is to let you know, if no-one else has mentioned it, that the Association of Harrogate Apprentices will be having their annual meeting at Harrogate over the weekend of 6th and 7th of October 2006. Ex - A/Ts of Term 56B are also hoping to organise a Dinner at a venue in Harrogate on 5th October to commemorate 50 years since joining AAS Harrogate. There is a website - Http://www.theharrogateapprentice.com/ Should anyone require any further information, I will be able to provide details. Regards, Andy
7 Aug 2006	Thanks to Streak mentioning Pathe New web site I have come across a video clip from 1944 showing Sapper map making, I am unable to put it on our site but this link will enable individuals to download and view it, the preview quality is free to download http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchword=royal+engineers+surveyors
9 July 2006	My apologies for the delay in posting new pages on data received at the AGM, personal problems I'm afraid, rest assured they will be dealt with as soon as I can.
16 June 2006	Yesterday I had a telephone call from one of our members, Stanley Osbourne, a National Serviceman who served with 525 GHQ Survey Squadron at Fayid in 1949. Has anyone else come across this unit which it is believed became 47 GHQ Survey Squadron in 1950?
30 Apr 2006	A success story, Derek Fletcher a 3 year regular featured in Eric Davey's article about 1 RASLS in Cyprus has made contact with Eric for the first time since 1956, half a century ago.
26 Apr 2006	I am publishing an item of feedback that I received yesterday together with replies and would like comments as to whether the complaint can be justified. MessageType: Complaint Subject: Web Site SubjectOther: Username: Ken Wakeman UserEmail: kenwake@ntlworld.com UserTel: 020 8850 2246 UserFAX: ContactRequested: Remote Name: 80.1.224.8 Remote User: HTTP User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; FunWebProducts; SV1) Date: 25 Apr 2006 Time: 14:53:06 Comments: I have just made my first visit to the website and find that it is largely aimed at surveyors and their squadrons. When I have attended AGMs I have felt a little left out, why you may ask, I was a National Serviceman and not a Boy entrant or a Regular. This stood out for me at Ewell when my Wife and spent the whole visit on our own. I did my basic at No4, trade training at the School and then on to 42 at Fayid. I was supposed to join 2AFSD but no vacancy existed on arrival, I was given the choice of RP or QM staff and I chose the latter. On returning home TA was with 135. All of this from Jan52/June58. I would like to know how many Ex N/S Men are members of the branch or how many non surveyors there are because I am sorry to say that one does get a feeling of a 'club culture' My reply Dear Ken, I'm sorry that you are disappointed with our web site, I'm afraid that I cannot answer your query as to how many members were National Service men (or the near NS the 3 year regulars), however Peter Wood may be able to enlighten you. The site content depends on who makes contributions to the site and most survey trades have been represented, Field men, air surveyors, printers, draughtsmen and storeman Survey. I can't point you straight to it but I'm sure that there have been entries from National Servicemen in our newsletters. If you have a particular memory give me the detail and I will, providing that normal standards are maintained, publish it. I note that you have used feedback rather than the visitor log which would be seen by all viewers, would you like your comments made public? The only things ever deleted are spam or items felt to be in bad taste. Please come back to me, by the way I was one of the minority who was not an ex boy! During the first few years of my service the majority who I worked with were in fact National Servicemen. REgards Albie Field Kenneth's reply Dear Albie Thanks for your prompt reply, I did not mean to give the impression that I was disappointed with the site and as I said this was my first visit so was not sure which way to contact you. Yes, by all means make my comments public as it will be interesting to see what reaction it brings. I will continue to use the site and will contribute to it. Thanks again Regards, Ken
30 Mar 2006	I would like to thank all who have contributed to the site but it would be very much appreciated if some more recent contributions from serving members could be made available in order for us "old fogies" to have an insight into today's Geographic service.
29 Mar 2006	Yesterday there was another problem with the server which resulted in the site being unavailable for some time. If you add this site http://www.forum.ukhost4u.com/index.php?action=static&staticpage=1 to "favourites" you will be able to see if there is a server problem on colo2. by opening it.
26 Mar 2006	Re Map Depots...8 AFSD was located in London prior to moving to Ascot circa 1947. In to fifties it moved to Guildford and in the recent past has moved to Feltham with a few changes of designation on the way. 3 Depot was based in BAOR and shuttled from Detmold, Bielefeld, Meonchen Gladbach and Ratingen. From then on ?????? 2 Depot was based in Cairo then Fayid and on to Cyprus From then????? There was also a depot in Palestine which was disbanded in 1948 when we moved out....A bit more useless information!!!! From Nick Carter I have today recompiled our visitor log thanks to "spammers" filling it with spam, hopefully it will remain clear for a while otherwise I may have to rely on e-mail entries and add them after vetting. Albie
17 Mar 2006	There has been a problem on the server today which is now resolved.
1 Mar 2006	In answer to Streaks queries in the visitor log 89 Field Survey Squadron RE was formed in Kenya in 1953. To provide survey support for the Mau Mau emergency. It was disbanded in 1959 This information came from Snapshots through time. A fascinating ramble through significant places, people and landmarks of Geo's (formally Military Survey) long and distinguished history. For details ask Peter Wood, our secretary. ASLS an abbreviation for Air Survey Liaison Section No 1 ASLS was in Cyprus and was previously 47 GHQ Survey Squadron RE. RASLS Radar Air Survey Liaison Section once based at Polymedia Camp in Cyprus 135 Geo's Territorial unit see 135 Squadron & links AFSD Army Field Survey Depot, a term unknown to me until Nick Carter mentioned it in a request. I can only assume that it comes from the forties & early fifties.
24 Feb 2006	Message from Alan Roberts If you have not already heard through the grapevine, I'm sorry to have to tell you that Wes passed away last Sunday evening, after a very painful illness with cancer. He is being cremated on Friday 3 Mar, at 1pm, at the Poole Crematorium, Gravel Hill, Poole, Dorset BH17 9BQ I am sure that his wife, Miriam, will be pleased to see any of his old military friends there. Her phone No. is 01202 893538. 23 Hazel Drive, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9SP. Jim Talbot, John Turnbull and myself will be attending. It would be great if some others could also attend. We could, perhaps, go for a pie and pint afterwards. Can you get this onto the website? It might gather in a few more reprobates.
23 Feb 2006	You will be aware that Ripon was the first city to award the Freedom to the Corps back in 1949. To celebrate this in 1999 They had the biggest parade of REA standards ever seen in the North of England and what a magnificent spectacle it was too. In 2004 the City of Ripon celebrated the 400th Anniversary of the Award of its Charter and we were well supported by Standard Bearers for the historic event. This year, again, the focus moves from the City to the REA itself, in that we will be having the dedication of the new National Standard at the Mayor Making Cathedral service. This will be on the same format as the dedication of the Amphibious Branch standard in 2005. It is believed that this is the first time that the National Standard has been dedicated in the North and it would be great to have the maximum support of the REA standards [50+] for this once in a lifetime event. The Ripon Weekend takes place over the weekend 12/14 May 2006
20 Feb 2006	I Would like to apologise for sending the round robin yesterday, I was over enthusiastic. It will not happen again, only responses to individuals will be e-mailed in future.