Sunday 13 December 2009

Dave Cowel, Jim Brown, Bob Stott



Dave Cowel, Jim (Jock) Brown, Bob Stott


Monday 30 November 2009

My daughters Birthday Present


Got to show them how it's done

Dinger Flying High

Friday 13 November 2009

The Final Inspection


THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well..
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’

Thursday 12 November 2009

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Dingers 10k Help for Heroes


I am running in the next Blackpool 10k fun run on the 9 May 2011, to raise money for our lads who have been injured in recent conflicts. I did this last year and raised £274 in total with all your help. We all know how cash conscious the MOD is when it comes to paying for equipment but if you look at the H4H site you will see what they are doing with sponsors money for our comrades, its mind boggling. If you click on the above title it should take you to my  Giving page where you can safely donate if you please to.

Finish of the Ennis Rotary Polkafest run. Ennis City Texas USA
Cheers Dinger

Sunday 25 October 2009

Forces Reunited

Email contact

If anyone requires a members email address or telephone number please contact me.

Dinger

Sunday 18 October 2009

Message

Email received from Jim Loach

Hi, Dinger,

what a first class bit of work you've done there. I am so pleased you've done it because there was something special about 410. After having served 22 yrs. 410 is always the unit that stands out in my mind as being the best unit I served in, where I learned such a lot and I think grew up too.

I spoke to Walt Dixon the other day and he said he would ring back as he was just going out but I have had nothing yet. Trev Trev rang me ther day and told me he found Ian Hoskins. The name is familiar but I can't place him. Trev is coming down to Gloucester to meet him and hopefully I'll go up to see them both as well.

I've had no luck in contacting Joe Nelson although a guy called Joe Worsnip, who knows him, said he had passed my details on to him. I think probably the email address is incorrect. I'll persevere anyway. Any Info I get now I'll pass on to you now and again well done for setting up the site.

Best regards to Margret and yourself,

Jim

Dinger,
How nice to hear from you after so many years. I recently contacted Hank Lawrence
concerning an article I intend writing for a professional journal, Plant and Equipment
Professional, PEP, which can be accessed on www.operc.com

When we were both serving in Thailand I heard a wonderful 410 story from the late, Harry Dyer.
he told me about the incident where, he? got himself stuck under a grader moulboard
and had to be extricated by local tribesmen. I wondered if any other 410 members could throw any light on the topic.

Sadly Harry died at Xmas 1999 after suffering respiratory problems for many years. I called in
to his home on spec early in 2000 only to hear he had died some weeks prior. He was a great
guy.

I have been on the website and you have done a cracking job. I look foward maybe to seeing
Ron Tobin or Olly Olyatt popping up ! Wally Boldock did a historical on either 410 or 411 plant tro ops.
I´ll drop him a line.

I am now in regular contact with ex 54 Jack Firth who lives and works in Thailand. I will copy
you in on the next round robin I email and you can trawl through the names. Sadly many ex
54 have passed on, Steve Oakley, and Mick Dunne, though many are on email. Wonder what
happened to, Charlie Hankinson, Spooky Martin, Mick Belair, Ron Dreager, Scouse Bates,
Albert Finney, etc etc.

Regards to your good lady and family,
Mick
PS I am in Gran Canaria until 6 October. Live in Wakefield.

From: Taff Stephens New South Wales

I have been trying to find members of the 410 for years ever since we have had a computer.
I was in Malaya with 410 from 1959 to 1962.
I remember you 'Dinger". I got this address from Jim Howells who is in Canad.
I emigrated to NSW Australia in 1981 with wife

Di & Bri Stephens
to me

show details 7:14 AM (15 hours ago)

Jim Howells sent me your Blog Address and this email address.
Hope it gets to you.

I am Brian (Taffy) Stephens from Newbridge South Wales when I was in th Engineers from 1958 - 1964
I was in 410 Ind Plant Troop in Malaya from 1959 - 1962 when I went back to Ripon Yorks.
Got married in 1963 and left the army in July 1964.
Emigrated to NSW Australia in 1981.
Good to see some familiar names on your site.
Keep up the good work.
I have been looking for Ray Carter for years on this computer.

Ray, Joe Nelson and Tony Evans. I knew a Jim Roach whose wife Mary and son Andrew came to visit me in Newvridge S.Wales after I left the army. His son was a baby in 1964.
There was a "Smudger" Smithers, Paddy Arnold and Paddy Hutchinson.
Has anyone heard from any of them to your Knowledge.
I will keep in touch on the blog.
Had the shock of my life todau when I got email from Jim Howells saying he had found your Blog.

Keep in touch.
Regards
Brian (Taffy) Stephens

Always a Sapper.

Email received 25/01/2010 reference Ron(Gus)Blake

David Blake
to me

show details 9:53 PM (13 hours ago)

Dear John

I was interested to see your 410 blog because my father, Ron Blake - or Gus as he was known - was a member and appears in your list. Unfortunately he pased away in 1999 and my mum, Jean passed away in 2007.

We lived in Penang from 1959 to 1962, came back to the UK and than went to Hameln in Germany for a couple of years before Dad left the Army after 22 years service. Dad then worked for Hampshire County Council, Somerset County Council and Suffolk County Council before he retired.

I've been doing some research on our family history and would love to hear anything you can remember about Dad's time in 410, if your paths crossed. I've recently started sorting boxes of family photographs and there are a good number of army photographs from Malaya - it would be great if you could identify some of the events or people if I can send you copies. Or if you have any which include Dad, I'd love to get copies, I've looked through your video on the website but can't see any pictures of Dad.

Do you know if the records of 410 are held somewhere, possibly in the Royal Engineers Museum?

If you'd like to give me a ring, my number is (Contact Dinger) I'm there most of the time at the moment.

Regards

David Blake

Friday 9 October 2009

Contact Dinger

Thursday 8 October 2009

54 Corps Fld Prk Sqn RE Singapore

I have been looking for any website for 54 as they amalgamated with 410 in 1962. I would be grateful if anyone can point me to such a site then I can link it to this site, as we continued working under the 410 troop banner in Borneo for quite a while after amalgamation.

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Looking for 410 ex members

Can anyone pass on any information or contacts for the following:


Vince Monaghan - Armourer
Olly Olliat - Plant
Brummie Millward - Plant Op Found
Bob Stott - Plant Op
Percy Warnick - Fitter(Found)
Chippey Carpenter -Chief Clerk
Flash Reynolds - Plant Op
Jim (Jock) Brown - Fitter
Bill Skelt - Driver
Denis Orielly - (Bulker) Plant Op
Mick Molt - Plant Op
Norman Ford - Fitter
Jim Watson - (Ting) Fitter
Paddy Plunket - Plant Op
Mick Norseworthy - MT
Brian(Taffy)Stephens - MT (Found)
Jim Howells - Plant (Found)
Dick Elson - MT
Ron (Gus) Blake - MPF
Spud Taylor - Plant Op
John Frazer - Plant Op
Taff Lawrence - MT
Taff Evans - Plant
Taff Roberts - Plant
Jim Powell - Plant Cpl
Ray Jacks - Plant Op
Bill Stevenson - Plant Cpl
Dickie Bird - Fitt/Turner
Wally Ferguson - Pay Clerk
Capt Leutchford 2i/c
Rodger Timlin - Plant Op
Clive Wooding - Plant
Ron Jarvis - Troop Sgt
Paddy Arnold -Plant Op
Paddy Hutchinson - MT
Bill Brown - Plant OP
Joe Nelson - MT
Ray Carter - MT
Smudge Smithers - MT
Tony Evans - MT

Monday 5 October 2009

Trev Green and Wife Pat + his Photos 2009

From the Top
Trev Green And Pat
John Toase and Lyn
Mick Ramsay and Jim Loach
John Bell and Margaret


Posted by Picasa

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Looking for comrades

Hello
I am sending this email on behalf of my dad George Champos who served in the royal engineers 410 from 1957 to 1959 in MALAYA he is looking for any comrades especially one called John Green born in Hull can you help do you remember my dad ??he was cypriot.
look forward to hearing from you
Rebecca

Thursday 10 September 2009

Reunion 2010 Blackpool 13-14 April With guest List

I have now confirmed with the hotel that we will be holding our reunion there. The manager Rosemary has kindly reserved the whole of the hotel for us until 31 January, hopefully we will know total numbers by then.
Address is Windsor and Westmoreland Hotel
256-258 Queens Promenade
Blackpool FY2 9HB.
01253 351 907
There is no single room supplement charged, the prices are confirmed at £18.50B&B per person and evening meal is £5 buffet type , £8.50 sit down 3 course dinner with coffee cheese & biscuits. I have provisionally ordered a buffet for the 13 and a sit down meal for the 14.
The buffet is the usual salad and cold meats with a curry and rice. The sit down meal is waiter service for starters & sweet and help yourself at the carvery with a choice of roast meat, the coffee cheese and biscuits is normally extra but she is including it for us.
There are 11 car parking bays at the front of the hotel and parking on one side of the streets either side of the hotel.
The manager prefers that everyone books directly with her (Rosemary) quoting RE reunion so she can take individual requirements. She will require a £10 per room deposit on booking. 01253 351 907


Confirmed coming so far are:
(PAID)=Deposits paid

Mick Ramsey and Joan (Paid)
John Toase and Lynn (Paid)
Myself (Dinger) and Margaret (Paid)
Ian Hoskins and Pam (Paid)
Trev Green and Pat (Paid)
Jim Loach and Mary (Paid)
Jim Randle and Diana (Paid)
Bill Kent and Cecilia (Paid)
Dave West (Paid)
Mick (Brummie)Milward (Paid)
Dave Cowell and Margrit (Paid)
Ron Tobin (Paid)
Ben Davidson and Mrs (Paid)
Son Of Ben Davidson (Paid)

Keith Orrell and Karen(Keiths Daughter) (Paid)
Mark Strickland (Keiths Orrell's Grandson) Buffet meal only

Not confirmed:

George Champos


Hi all, It would be helpful if everyone who has already booked accommodation at the Westmoreland Hotel for this years reunion would confirm it on this blogs comment box below,
Cheers Dinger.

Monday 31 August 2009

410 History Hong Kong

Hong Kong - 1945-97

The proclamation of the Communist Chinese Peoples Republic (CCP) in 1949 led to a flood of refugees into the British colony of Hong Kong and the likelihood of a CCP Red Army invasion. Reinforcements (40 Infantry Division) were deployed to Hong Kong to assist to secure the border between China and the colony.

The engineer units deployed were:

* 1 Independent Field Squadron RE (transferred from Malaya)
* 50 Field Squadron RE (deployed from the UK)
* 24 Field Regiment (25, 37, 39 Field Squadron RE and 46 Field Park Squadron RE - later renumbered 54, 56, 11 and 15 respectively)
* 41 CRE Works
* 410 Plant Troop RE
* 40 Infantry Division Postal Unit RE
* Transportation Supervisory Unit



On their arrival in the engineers were tasked with strengthening the borders between China and Hong Kong. To do this they repaired mine fields, thickened the wire, and constructed gun emplacements, observation (OP) and command posts (CP) along the northern border of the New Territories. They also laid a 12 mile water pipeline, built camps and constructed a 24-foot class 70 all-weather road to link the villages of Tsun Wan and Sek Kong (known as Twisk or TWSK). The road was completed in May 1953.

In early 1950 67 and 68 Field Squadron (Gurkha) RE arrived in Hong Kong from Malaya. At the same time the other engineer units operated as Infantry, tasked with protecting the north eastern borders of the New Territories.

The Hong Kong Squadron RE was formed in July 1952, from locally recruited Hong Kong Chinese. The redesigned 82 Independent (Hong Kong) Squadron RE in 1982.

Friday 7 August 2009

Upload Photos to web album

1. Open a Picasa account at https://photos.google.com/share
2. Click the settings link in the top right-hand corner.
3. On the general tab, in the 'Upload photos by email section', check the box next to allow me to upload photos by email.
4. Enter a secret word,6-15 characters long. As you enter the word, an email address appears .
5. Click the save changes button.
6. To email your photos. Just attach them to an email message and send it to the newly-created address.

Use the subject line to add captions or to include the photos in a specific album. If the email subject line matches an existing online album title(IE: 410 Reunion 2009 Birdlip). your photos will be uploaded to that album. Otherwise the subject line will instead be added as a caption and the photos will be placed in the Drop box album.

My Album is - 410 Reunion 2009 Birdlip

Thursday 6 August 2009

Saturday 1 August 2009

Friday 10 July 2009

Tuesday 7 July 2009

410 Reunion 2009 Gloucsester

The first 410 Ind Plt Trp RE reunion will be held on the 4 August 09 at the Royal George Hotel in Birdlip, Glouscestershire. Royal George Hotel
Birdlip
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL4 8JH
t: +44 1452 862 506

Confirmed attending are:

John Toase
John Dinger
Trev Green
Ian Hoskins
Juliane Loach
Bill Kent
Mick Ramsay
Jim Randle

Dingers Photo Album

My Army Days
Click photo to open album

Sunday 5 July 2009

Posting comments

If you want to post a comment- In the 'comment as box' select a name ie; your own name or nickname. Could you also email me your email address if you have not already given it

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Any ex 410 plt trp RE Around

If you served in the Unit please contact me. A reunion is being organised.
Dinger Bell
Hi I have created this blog to try to bring together ex 410 personal who served in the Far East until the Troop was disbanded in 1962