Can anyone tell me about CSM Haslam's military record. I was his Coy clerk (B Coy) in Minden in 1963. He was a wonderful person to work for and had a really great disposition. He always seemed to have a smile and be whistling (I guess this is why he was called Happy). Unfortunately, I didn't know much about his time in the service but I suspect he was a veteran of WWII.

Was CSM Haslam possibly English, Dad Jimmy Torrance (transport) knew him.

I don't know.

He definitely was English.....I can remember him as a Sgt and Colour Sgt in Buxtehude and Bahrain.
Regards,
Chris Johnston.

You will also remember, then, big Willie Peat. He recently suffered a massive stroke from which he has partially recovered and is now trying to learn how to speak again.

Bill, did you mean Bill (William) Peattie, the dispatch rider. If it is I remember him vividly. He was one of the Regimental characters and had many good stories to tell, especially the ones about how he lost his pinkie. I met Bill and his son at the 40th Anniversary of the disbandment in Douglas. They sat across from me in the bowling club and I told his son stories of Bill roaring around, Soltua, Paderborn, Sennelager and other training areas on his motorbike. Although Bill couldn't respond verbally you should have seen his eyes light up and the big smile on his face.

Yes, I do. That's the man. I remember him well for thr trouble he used to cause me when I was B Company's pay clerk in Minden. That and wee Sanny Lindsay's penchant for interfering in everything.

Bill, when were you B Coy clerk? I became Coy Clerk shortly after joining the Regiment in MAR '63 in Minden. The position was vacant when I joined the Coy. Happy was Coy SGM and Wee Sandy was Coy Cdr. I met Sandy at the anniversary too. He looked liked the same person that he was back then - ready to climb Everest with a bottle of water and some hard tack, and he could probably do it and in record time too!

I wasn't with 'B' Coy. I worked from the pay office but 'B' Company was my area of responsibility.
I agree about 'Wee Sanny', he probably could. Don't forget the cheese, though.

The late Bob McAllister (Orderly Room Sergeant) worked under 'Wee Sanny' (he was a Lt-Col at this point) at Maryhill Barracks many years ago - but long after the disbandment - and Bob told me that he hadn't changed a bit. I remember you from 'B' Company. I too remember 'Happy'. It was cruelly said that he whistled all the time because he hadn't a clue what was going on. Not true, of course, 'Happy' was quite sharp, trust me. He was nobody's fool. You may remember the pay staff at that time was Capt Jim Findlay, S/Sgt Robert Butler (as Irish as the pigs o' Docherty), a Sgt whose name escapes me, Gerry Bloom, Cpls Maxwell, Pennington, (another bloke whose name I forget..John, something-or-other) and myself. HQ Company Cdr was 'Big Wal' (Major Walton), CSM was Hines. You'll remember the Adjutant, 'The Dud'; Captain Dudley, as was and of course, the late, great 'Big Jake' Sneddon, the RSM. I really liked him. Do you remember George McAteer (Cpl)? Someone told me that he went on to become an MP but I have no way of knowing if this is the case.

Bill, I recall Bob McAllister, Big Jake (who couldn't) and Captain Dudley. Wasn't Captain Dudley the fellow who'd walk out the main gate and come in back a few minutes later and if the duty gate guard didn't ask for his ID he'd bring them up on charges? I was on Saturday morning parade at Elizabeth Barracks and fainted - straight down, nose first into the asphalt. Big Jake came over and asked if I had been drinking the night before. I told him no. He then went ballistic, hitting me with his yard stick and telling me to stop getting blood on his parade ground. Captain Dudley came over and told Jake to stop and get me help which he did, but grudgingly. When we were in Aden I was the Bn command post duty operator on night and Jake was the duty officer. Around midnight he told me to go the the mess hall and get some tea and sandwiches. The mess hall SGT - an ACC type, pulled rank and told me to "f" off because the mess hall had just closed. Jake didn't say a word, he walked out and came back about twenty minutes later, with the ACC SGT carrying a tray with sandwiches, biscuits and tea. After that my fear of Jake diminished and my respect for him grew immensely. He really looked out for the Jocks when we were in Aden. I also saw the humerous side of him in Aden and I always looked forward to being on duty with him.