Friday is not my best day. Up earlier than usual to battle my way across London to Waterloo and then subject myself to the Southern Region cattle-trucks for a trip to Wandsworth Town. To add to my problems it is snowing today and tonight I'm going on exercise to Salisbury Plain (Help)!

So on arrival at 59, the snow by this time has turned to rain, seeing no one about I think that maybe they've called the whole thing off, but no such chance. After fetching the FFR, getting changed and bringing the radio kit up to the floor, I was ready for Mr Cairns "O" Group.

This was amazing. The reason being that hardly anybody had turned up and Mr Cairns went through his orders as if there was a full platoon waiting on the Drill Hall floor. Still, it was good practice for next time.

After the "O" Group we loaded up the trucks and moved off for Salisbury Plain through rain which turned to sleet. We arrived at Bushers Barn at 00.30 and were soon in our pits or on stag. The cooks were already preparing breakfast.

The morning arrived at 5.15; it was cold and snow was falling in light flurries. We ate a good breakfast and for a change curry powder was not the main ingredient; we also washed and shaved, but that's only for Officers' ears. The first patrols were ready to move on time at 6.15 and did so led by that Nottingham Jock, L/Cpl Paul Granger. Another patrol left at the same time led by Cpl Richard Alexander. They were to clear Bush Barn and Fox Covert and on doing this, report back by radio to the O/C, who would then move the remainder of the Company to the chosen one of these locations.

The enemy were to put up resistance, but I think the resistance of their sleeping bags was too strong for them, so they were late. Thus the two patrols were able to attack them on the way into the locations.

The rest of the day followed the same format with the Platoon moving north, then east, and the enemy putting up a small amount of resistance where they could.

Lunchtime arrived, which was welcomed by mugs of curry soup, the Adjutant on a visit, the desertion of Sgt Welsh to the enemy and the instant take-over of his Platoon by Sgt (I hate radios) Ormiston.

After lunch I left from the comfort of the FFR and moved with the OC to watch the next platoon attack. The weather had been extremely kind to us and during this move the sun shone all the time. The last part of the attack was made across a lake, which I'm sure the lads enjoyed greatly (he! he!).

After dinner two "recce" Patrols went out to look at Greenlands' Camp. When they returned they were de-briefed by the OC, then we were all briefed on the next day's attack on the camp. After this a guard roster was organized and the rest of us got some sleep. I, along with Cpls Alexander, Powell, L/Cpl Hills, Granger and Pudney, sought refuge in the four-tonner. Mind you, listening to Ken Pudney fighting to get into his sleeping bag was funny to start with, but got a bit boring after twenty minutes: " What are you doing with that bag L/Cpl Pudney - making it?"

The morning arrived, cold but clear, and after a quick coffee we moved off to attack Greenlands' Camp. After about twenty-five minutes we had reached a short wooded belt just at the edge of the camp, when the enemy opened fire on us. On this signal the Platoon stormed the camp and cleared all the buildings in it. Being so cold it didn't help because a lot of the paths had a thin coating of ice on them and at the start both Cpl Powell and L/Cpl Granger were attempting impressions of John Curry.

When we had cleared the place we watched a section clear the last house, as a demo. The only thing that I could see was different was that they ran faster and that was only because they hadn't made the initial move from our base camp to Greenlands' Camp.

We arrived back at the wood to find breakfast was ready and after eating, everybody washed and shaved, and made a gallant effort to clean their boots, which in most cases were very wet by then. All the tents were then packed and also the radios, at 9.00 we moved back to London. The first stop was a garage, before departure the time changed to 10.30 and we then motored back non- stop to London.

It didn't take long to unload the trucks, what took a while was the weapon cleaning. Before we got stuck into them lunch was served, which many people lost interest in because it was an extremely hot curry. To finish off I took the FFR to the Guards' Barracks to get it cleaned. In the long run I got wetter and muckier than the truck! On arrival back at 59 the Cpls' Club was opened and a pint helped to wash away some of the dirt.

Thus the weekend was over and it had been better than I had expected. My radios worked most of the time and the lads seemed to enjoy themselves, but the next time we need more lads, then we can be sure of getting the most from a weekend and enjoying ourselves as well.

Colin Granger