The people we meet.

I did a car boot sale today, wish I had not bothered for the pittance I took having got up in the dark and cold at 6.30 this morning.But whilist selling my wares I got talking to a bloke who said he was 80 years old and had been conscripted in 1948 into the REME, he did his time(when did conscription end) left and then rejoined a short time later into the Glosters ending up in Korea being injured at Imjin..April 1951....came home and after recovering went for SAS selection with 22 SAS, who had come into being as 22 that year.......... he did not say exactly how long after Korea etc, he went for selection.He then said he ended up out in Rhodesia with with the Rhodesain SAS(formed 1961 disbanded 1980) and also spoke of working with the Selous Scouts........which is how the conversation started as I sold him a book about said unit, he then went to Ceylon for 18 months as a Weapons instructor with thier army,I did not get a date for this and that was his story about him he also said his son was 2 Para and after a roman candle while jumping with the Red Devils he smashed up his leg and was medically discharged.So one and all, two questions is this on the level and secondly....... he is at the boot sale every week selling, do I try to find out more and connect his story by a name or leave well alone, me I have doubts and he is the second guy I have met at a boot sale who served in the SAS.......or not I await your replies with intrest

 

WTD145
I believe that the last intake was 1960 and they did an eztra 6 months, some where actually posted to di8fferent regiments todo the said 6 months.
I know for a fair while the SAS recruited outside the British army but do not have the dates.

 

I know a Roman canderler who survived in 1983....My total input...Useless I know...Perhaps you should give up the boots and do bric a brac..or jumble sales. Although whenever I put my kitbag in a taxi on leave....the driver always seemed to be ex sas just making up some pocket money in his spare time....The country was at one time full of sas taxi drivers.

 

Jason... Firstly, medal in the post for doing a boot sale at this time of year... Dark o'clock, freezing cold... ... Well done.

As for your guy being on the level... Well, without meeting the guy, and going on what you've said, it does ring alarm bells that a stranger would reveal (so readily) having been in the Regiment. But, it's not exactly something you can check up on. Ask him about selection, many go through it... few come out the other end, but no one forgets it.

I have a book giving a first hand, and detailed account of selection from around the time your guy would have gone through it.

 

Is 'Roman Candle' Brit slang for any malfunction or only main canopy total malfunction ?

 

Is 'Roman Candle' Brit slang for any malfunction or only main canopy total malfunction ?
I am no expert Stormy but I believe total malfunction of the main canopy.

 

Jason... Firstly, medal in the post for doing a boot sale at this time of year... Dark o'clock, freezing cold... ... Well done.

As for your guy being on the level... Well, without meeting the guy, and going on what you've said, it does ring alarm bells that a stranger would reveal (so readily) having been in the Regiment. But, it's not exactly something you can check up on. Ask him about selection, many go through it... few come out the other end, but no one forgets it.

I have a book giving a first hand, and detailed account of selection from around the time your guy would have gone through it.
Cheers Chris, thinking about what he said he did also mention...it was a slow boot sale I had to do something.......... going to Lofty Wisemmans Memorial service, now unless I heard him wrong......... Lofty is I believe acording to his Facebook page still with us

 

I know a Roman canderler who survived in 1983....My total input...Useless I know...Perhaps you should give up the boots and do bric a brac..or jumble sales. Although whenever I put my kitbag in a taxi on leave....the driver always seemed to be ex sas just making up some pocket money in his spare time....The country was at one time full of sas taxi drivers.
Jumble sales are rare things these days mate! boot sales saw to that, he might well be on the level I wonder if its possible to check on accidents and the Red Devils as for taxis I got in one once outside of Paddington in London having just got of a train from Pompey driver says are you in the Navy

 

... total malfunction of the main canopy.
That's extremely rarely survived.

 

....I wonder if its possible to check on accidents and the Red Devils...

You have a Triservice Safey Centre which supposedly is good on accident stats.

 

So many fantasists around,its very difficult to find out who was true SAS.
But you know,i think the gut instinct is pretty good,the T****** usually give themselves away.
Or IS there a way of checking?

 

Certainly some of the things mentioned tie up with what I have read in several books, but maybe the guy has just read the same books?
As Theobob says - IS there a way of checking?

Mike

 

Does it matter ?

 

Does it matter ?
:p You awkward sod!

 

ask him the "colour of the boathouse at Hereford"

 

Arrse?

As Theobob says - IS there a way of checking?

 

ask him the "colour of the boathouse at Hereford"

PMSL

 

Good point.

You sod, trying to create an incident.
I'd guess they'd tear any amateur 'hunter' to pieces for checking up on some old bloke at a car boot...

Wasn't called Gwilym was he Wtid?
Used to know a proper old Welsh loon that claimed SAS history; we all thought it was bollocks (though he did look strangely like Lofty Wiseman), but he was a right laugh to have a drink with, so who cared.

I'm with you on that sentiment Adam. I get loads of material coming via e-mail that I highly suspect is bogus. However, if it's good for a laugh I tend to simply enjoy the piece and not to run to Snopes to confirm the veracity.