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Following my completing basic training at Caterham and Pirbright. I was posted in as a Trained Soldier at Caterham and successfully took two squads through their training in the time allotted.

During December 1955 I was posted to the 3^rd Battalion at Pirbright. Where I attended a drill course in No 4 coy on successful completion of this I was promoted to L/Corporal. The Battalion being stationed at the Chelsea Barracks in 1956 following trooping the Colour, I was posted to the Headquarters the 1^st guards Brigade within the 3^rd div in June 1956. Served in the Brigade Intelligence Section being promoted L/Sergeant 1957.

In November 1961 I joined T/A 597 Company R.A.S.C. and served with the T/A for 14 yrs attaining the rank of S/Sergeant with 217 squadron R. C. T.

I then Started work with the MOD driving school at Leconfield as Instructor Driving in July 1976 being promoted to Driving Examiner July 1987 until retirement in June 2001.

I joined the Army Cadet Force in march 1979 with the rank of C S M , being Commissioned 1981 I held the posts of Detachment Commander, Area Staff Officer, Company Commander and Adjutant. I retired with the rank of Major on December 31^st 1999.

Brian H M Smith (23982553 from 1963 – 2003)

I was born in Hull on 1 April 1948.

I joined the Coldstream Guards in1963 reporting to the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion, Oswestry on 10 September. In December 1965 I was posted to the Guards Depot, Pirbright to complete my training before posting to 1^st Battalion Coldstream Guards in Iserlohn in March 1966. I had been ‘volunteered’ by Major MM Bull CO 13 Company) for training as a clerk. From 1966 to 1978 I served with both Battalions in Germany, Chelsea Barracks, Tidworth and Norway (as part of the AMF(L) force), Windsor, Cyprus (in 1974 when Turkey invaded the island), Northern Ireland for the 2^nd Battalion’s resident tour from 1976 - 78, and Caterham. I had a number of solo 6-month detachments to the Norwegian Infantry Regiment in Voss and the French Army training camp at Le Larzac. I also served at the Guards Depot, as a member of staff, from March 1970 – October 1973 I was posted to Regimental Headquarters in August 1978 as the Records Warrant Officer (ORQMS). I was promoted Warrant Officer Class One and appointed Superintending Clerk of the Regiment in January 1982 where I maintained the regimental accounts, was General Secretary of the Coldstream Guards Association, oversaw soldier career-planning and various other duties.In July 1987 I declined the offer of a commission in order to fulfil the appointment of Superintending Clerk Household Division, a long-term post (till age 55) that only becomes available every 18 – 20 years. I had applied for this post, something I had always wanted, and was delighted to have been selected I filled this post from November 1985 until July 2003 - what I still believe to be the best job in the British Army - responsible for the administration of The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) and its accounts, and numerous other tasks. The office was also responsible for all Public Duties and State Ceremonial in London and Windsor, and during my time in office we also covered the weddings of The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Duke and Duchess of York, and the funerals of The Princess Margaret, the Princess of Wales and The Queen Mother. I was awarded the MBE in 1989 for service to the military and the MVO (Royal Victorian Order), the more senior award, in 2003, for service to the Sovereign Immediately on leaving the Regiment in 2003 I went to work for an educational trust located in Leconfield and Beverley, but decided to retire early just after my 59^th birthday in 2007.I have been married for 40 years and have a son, daughter and granddaughter. I have a number of interests, computers, love shooting, running and keeping fit, and work for he Samaritans and my Surgery GP’s Patient Involvement Group.

Leaving School at 15 I had a number of jobs , then aged 19 ,I decided to try and get out of the rut I was in and in 1956 off I went to the local army recruiting office to see what they had to offer. My father had said when I told him of my intensions, don’t join the infantry get a trade, so with this in mind of I went. I had at the time thought that I would like to join the R C T, however that was before I met the recruiting Sergeant. After filling out the forms and doing the education tests he asked me what I would like to do. I replied I would like to go into the R C T, he replied with straight face that he was sure they were over subscribed but would see what he could do. Did I have any other choice he asked?. I couldn’t think of one so he asked if my father had been in the services, I replied that he had done 7yrs war service in the Gordon Highlanders, but I didn’t really want to join them! His reply was they may try to claim you but he thought there might be another way of ensuring I went into the R C T by putting down my third choice as the Coldstream Guards. I didn’t think I would be tall enough at 5ft 9ins but he did a quick scan and replied you’ll be ok as it’s only a formality. Three weeks later you guessed it I got my call for a medical I had been lucky! The Coldstream Guards would accept me. I told my father and his reply was they are a good regiment he had come across them in the war you’ll be ok!. The recruiting sgnt just happened to be a Coldstream Guardsman his name was Barker (no relation) I was green but soon wised up. At the medical I met for the first time two other lads who had so luckily been selected for the Coldstream Guards, Ray Gale and Ken Huggins. Ken went on to become Gen Sir Willy Rouse’s orderly and then Gen McClellen’s reaching full sergeant and served for 12yrs, he is a member of our branch so we still meet for a drink and chat. January 1966 the three of us boarded a train from Hull never been away from home before and heading for the Guards depot in Pirbright. We formed our Squad very quickly, in those day’s it only took a couple of weeks. Under the watchful eye of trained soldier Thompson, who a few day’s earlier I had asked quiet seriously what’s it like mate? I didn’t know at that time he had more power than god and you didn’t call him mate he quickly put me right (bless him). Our Squad instructor was L/Sgt Peters; this was going to be his first platoon he had taken through training. Our Superintending Sgt was Paddy Shearer. CSM Holbrook was in charge of the Coldstream element of our training at Pirbright and Major MM Bull the company commander. Between them we were soon knocked into shape and we were finally posted to the First Battalion, who were at that time stationed Aldershot Bks Iserlon W G. We dropped out of the back of three tonners up to our ankles in mud, into the middle of Senalager, the Battalion was on exercise so they took us all straight there from the airport, It was one of the wettest they’d and there we were sparkling, our kit immaculate straight from the Guards Depot dumped into what could only be described as a sea of mud. The three of us were posted to Support Company, myself and Ray went into the mortar platoon, Jeff Gonk Pearson was pltn Sgnt and there I stayed for my six years service. Making many friends who I am still in contact with to this day. Ken went into anti tanks. We were quickly absorbed into battalion life ( Reg Bowes taught me how to drink). Bill Race taught me to drive a Saracen apc, and that was where I first met Sgnt Eddie Rackestrow later to become my CSM. His job was to take us for the driving test. When he wanted you to do a particular manoeuvre he would shout down the headset and if the response wasn’t quick enough he would follow through with his boot in the back of your neck, perched where he was it was very easy for him to get the message across and he never missed. Stationed in Chelsea Bks twice, front and back gates, first in 1967 then 1971. I did public duties on Buck, Jimmies, Tower and the Bank of England picket, we even got bussed down to Windsor to help out there. With a couple of state occasions plus Troops we were kept busy. The second battalion was also stationed in Chelsea in 67 until posted away later that year. (That was the last time both battalions served together). Between Public Duties we also had to keep up with normal training and of course the annual BE test. Tidworth was another posting with exercises in Norway were we all learnt to ski and live under arctic conditions and hold back the Russians, well it was in the middle of the cold war! And it was certainly cold. Back to Chelsea again and then NI, to keep the peace. Canada, Turkey and Denmark where some of the places we went on exercises.

My service time up I handed my kit in to Sgnt Bob Cox in Chelsea and left the regiment in January 1972. I had become much wiser by then but I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of my service. Taking up employment in Civvy Street I became a long distance truck driver. I was mainly on the continent, driving all over Europe. This I did until 1985. My wife got fed up with me never being home and the kids were all growing up and I never got to see them. I took a job with a local chemical company here in Hull. It was shift work and boring but it paid the bills, and I was home every day so I couldn’t complain and I am very happy. I have Two Sons, Two Daughters and five Grandchildren. Now in 2011 having retired from full time work I have volunteered my services to the Branch as the Hon Secretary and will still help maintain our website