I said no............

Yorkshire must be empty. June lives near us, she had an allotment near ours, we saw her virtually daily as we dog walked. A happier easy going personality would be difficult to find, especially in a Yorkie! As with many of us she has an illness. It’s identical to mine, whereas I’m fortunate enough to hibernate for a day or so when attacked by the bug, she makes herself get up so her wee dog can get out. She makes me smile, she makes me laugh, she also makes me ponder how difficult life can be for those without any relatives to help. Heaps of respect for June. 


I said, “No.”

From 2nd January 1979 to the end of March 1979 I was based at Bardufoss, Norway for Arctic training, 200 miles inside the Circle. There’s cold, then there’s Bardufoss. A totally new experience for me but not for the members of the flight, our Marines and engineers. We lived alongside the Royal Navy Squadron who were training there. One day a RN Wessex hit a ski lift wire, rotated over it and creamed in. On board was a trainee pilot, a winch-man and an instructor pilot. The instructor and I had become friends as I helped train his team for eagle flights, where a Marine gazelle would lead six or eight aircraft, carrying up to 60 Marines into an attack. Excitement doesn’t get much better. Anyway, I had been away in the snow for a few days after the accident, I heard that my friend was dead, we were very much alike, altitude challenged, dark brown hair, bloody good looking, you get my drift. When I walked into the galley for dinner that evening one of the Norwegian ladies who worked for us, screamed, collapsed and hit the deck. It seems she thought I was dead. 
I have pondered long and very hard over the following. To hide it or show that things are not always as fun and rosy as I have previously made out in my stories.
If you thought that was bad, this next bit left me wondering if I should have handed over my wings and stripes. I’m not proud of this but it did happen.
After 10 weeks of restraint our lads decided to challenge the Navy to a pub games night. The senior Chief Petty Officer and I decided to stay sober and watch from a safe distance. All was going really well when the main door opened and in shuffled two RN Lieutenant Commanders, from the maintenance part of the Navy Sqn. I immediately went over, explained this was the lads thrash and their event they should not, for their own sakes, be there. They insisted, so they were given a RN and RM escort, me and the Chief. 
It had to happen, one of them complained to one of our Marines about the lack of social life in deepest Norway. At this point the lad, one of our best mechanics and a real cockney, placed his hand on the officer’s shoulder and said, “You stick with me.” Or something similar. The officer went banzai and almost yelled ‘Rape!” The chief saw to the irate lads as I ushered the officers out. Having reasserted that they were in the wrong and should leave they got very huffy and went in search of alcohol. 
I was woken from my pit at 0300 and told to report to my boss, who I knew was rat-arsed on Low Flyer, ie Grouse Whisky. The conversation went as follows. 
“Sgt Parry I want you to charge Marine Twice-Nightly with assault of an officer.” 
“No Sir.” That cracking noise is Nelson jumping up and down on his column.
Sgt Parry listen carefully, I want you to charge…..”
“No Sir, you are drunk, he is drunk, the two Naval officers are drunk. I am sober and will not charge one of our men with an offence he did not commit.” 
Boss went mad, Navy officers went mad. The Marine was locked in an office, I unlocked him and took him back to his accommodation. 
We were trained to respect and always obey any officer. In this instance there was no way I could or would. He lost the Flight’s respect and we just trudged through the next couple of weeks, losing our previous cohesiveness. A great shame, BUT they would have nailed the Marine and probably sent him to the RN prison. Not on my watch. 42 years later we are still friends.