It's nearly 60 years ago since I  volunteered for  the Gloucestershire Regiment. I joined the Ist Battalion at Reservoir Camp, Gloucester (now closed) with George Henaghan a workmate from Liverpool for our initial training. Our trainer-corporals were Corporal Keen and Corporal Beveridge, our Egypt Platoon sergeant was Sergeant Mc Farlane, all Korean veterans. The training officers were Capt Strange and Lt. Barker. We were both short-term  (three years) regulars from August 1952 to August 1955.

After basic training at Gloucester we joined the battalion at Knook Camp, Heytesbury, near Warminster, Wilts and were made barmen in the Officers Mess. I became the Officers' Mess Corporal under Sgt Fudge the Officers' Mess Sergeant. 

In the winter of 1953 the Battalion moved to Deerbolt Camp, Barnard Castle, County Durham. (now a remand home.)

  Whilst my pal George Henaghan shipped out to Kenya with the battalion to slake the thirst of those fighting the Mau Mau,  I was posted to  the relatively quiet backwaters but equally thirsty officers  of HQ of 51 Infantry Brigade at  Tel el Kebir in Egypt. From there I transferred to  Brigade HQ at Fayid were I worked under  Major  H.L.T Radice (later Colonel of the Regiment)  at the HQ of 51 Infantry Brigade in Fayid Egypt.  Amongst other things serving champagne in the blistering sun at  a party held to honour Brigadier James Roderick Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness CBE, DSO, a distinguished British Army officer during World War II who was also chief of  the Scottish Clan Sinclair.

I would be delighted to publish any photographs from fellow ex-Glosters,  but prefer to restrict them to those taken  around the same period or thereabouts. Attachments to gevans613@aol.com please.