ooo - lots of helicopters

[kelack]

This is torture

We're sitting in our office overlooking the Dockyard and River Medway and listening to all and watching the helicopters flying around.

It's the Armed Forces Day tomorrow at Chatham Dockyard and I was a muppet and didn't apply for tickets in time A few people from work are going and I'm so jealous of them.

So far we've had an Apache (not a Tiger), a Lynx and a Sea-King go over, around and down the river in formation

Apparently there's a Chinook somewhere but we've not seen it yet.

:bang: I want to be outside with my camera

Edited to correct Tiger to Apache as it just got very close to us

 

[Arkady]

Chinook? nah they're all in Afghanistan...lol

 

[kelack]

There's a Typhoon as well going to be on show



Hope they do one next year

 

[Arkady]

This year and EVERY Year...we're 'Heroes' now apparently...
Though I just remember the Kipling poem; 'Tommy' when people tell me this...

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

 

[Gonetae]

I have never read that poem before Arkady, it's great stuff. Cheers for sharing it.

Tommy.

 

[kelack]

Thanks for sharing Arkady

Makes me remember of my Nan's story about her Mum being disowned by her wealthy landowning family because she feel in love and then married a soldier

 

[Andy the Coastie]

This is torture

We're sitting in our office overlooking the Dockyard and River Medway and listening to all and watching the helicopters flying around.

It's the Armed Forces Day tomorrow at Chatham Dockyard and I was a muppet and didn't apply for tickets in time A few people from work are going and I'm so jealous of them.

So far we've had an Apache (not a Tiger), a Lynx and a Sea-King go over, around and down the river in formation

Apparently there's a Chinook somewhere but we've not seen it yet.

:bang: I want to be outside with my camera

Edited to correct Tiger to Apache as it just got very close to us

Join the sea cadets and get in for nothing ......

 

[Arkady]

15 years ago we were scum...no exaggeration...

Now we're great...when the War on Terror is over, we'll be scum again...go figure...

 

[kelack]

Join the sea cadets and get in for nothing ......

Been watching them hang upside down on a big 30ft net climbing wall thing, woudln't have minded going and joining them then