Ubique: The Young Gunner

'UBIQUE'

The Young Gunner

As we left the station we saw an army vehicle. Alan told me, "That's a fifteen hundred weight truck, and the canopy has been removed" There was a soldier standing by it, he had a stripe on his arm. When we reached the vehicle Alan asked him "are you here to pick us up" the soldier replied, "I think so, I'm here to meet David Chard and Alan Dean, is that you two?" "yes sir," I said. "You don't call me sir, I am a Lance Bombardier, only men above Sergeant are addressed as sir, that's Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers. Every one else is addressed by their rank, A Sergeant is Sergeant, I am Bombardier. Which one are you?" "I'm Chard Bombardier" "good" he looked at Alan, "you must Dean then, "yes Bombardier" Alan replied "OK, put your luggage in the back and jump in after it. Kimnel Park camp is seven miles away"

We moved off and soon found out that riding in the back of a fifteen hundred weight truck is not the most comfortable way to travel, especially when there was no canopy on it. When we arrived at the camp we were greeted by another soldier. This one had three stripes on his arm. Alan told me "call this one Sergeant when you talk to him." The Lance bombardier introduced us to him, "this is Chard and Dean sergeant." He looked at us. "I'm Sergeant Green, I don't know why they keep sending odds and sods to us, the Battery is away at practice camp at the moment, they don't return until next week but don't worry, I'll give you plenty to do."