Back to list of photographs    OR    Return to Home page

Thanks to John Reid 3528074 for this photograph of Hut 207, 18 Flt, 'B' Sqd in the Summer of 1959.

John says "We had a blue disc behind our RAF cap badge. Unfortunately I have forgotten most of the names as there are no signatures on the back. However I am in the middle row on the extreme left. My name is John Reid and coming from the Farming Fenland of Cambridgeshire was promptly 'christened' Walter Gabrial who was a character in the Radio Show "The Archers". After a week this was shortened to "Walt" and this was always used and I was never called by my real name.
The Corporal in the photo is Cpl Pottinger and our other DI was Cpl Archer-Crump who I think came from Bishop Stortford. Our Sgt was Sgt Crawley.
In the back row extreme left is Eddy Warrender and on the extreme right is Val Sampson. Middle row 3rd from left is our Senior Man known as "Dad" because he was a lot older than everyone else in the hut. Middle row 5th from left is 'Jock' Smedley.
There was a mix of National Servicemen and Regulars in our hut and me being a Regular and only just 17 was classed as the baby of the bunch. I remember I hadn't even started shaving on a regular basis just scraped the bum fluff off now and again.
If anyone remembers me in the photo I would like to hear from them so I can put names to faces."

Back to list of photographs    OR    Return to Home page