It was explained that there was a time restriction on the test and that if there were any questions teams could ask before they left. Most teams rushed off without reading the full instructions, which in most cases proved to be the failing of them later. Then there was team 3 who had to wait for Steve Terry whilst he went to change into his test uniform, this would normally be classed as poor performance however it must have been their strategy to give the team the time to put a proper plan together, which paid a dividend.

 

 The first team back, which included 2 experienced officers returned in good time and had answers to all the questions. After having tea and biscuits they decided to complete the answer sheet, only to find they had all the wrong answers. They then after playing a guessing game went back out to do the course again and check the answers.

The teams returned and rushed to interpret their wet notes on to new answer papers before handing them in. Then after a quick turn around and change the first group set off by minibus to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. Packed lunches were issued in transit. There was time for a quick whistle stop tour of the Arboretum, meeting at the REME memorial at 13.00 hrs to lay a poppy wreath with REME emblem, in memory of Eric Deveraux, Dave Barlow, Bill Ellis, Bryan Hawks & Ken Hill. John Hayley said a few words and read a prayer, followed by a moment of silence and thought for those no longer with us from 211 and the Core.

The Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

The laying of the poppy wreath was an opportunity for those who had medals to wear them and Albert Johnson arranged the OCC photo shoot.  The mini bus departed back to Lichfield and drop off at the hotel, from there the men departed for further tours of Lichfield and the Cathedral and others did it in their dreams.

 

There was a small incident in the town when a number of the more keen old comrades stormed Debenhams, they had heard someone say “Bin Laden” is on the third floor. What was actually said was “bed linen is on the 3^rd floor”.  After the comrades explained they were hard of hearing the police let them off with words of advice, “turn your deaf aids up”.

 

The men met for pre-dinner drinks in the bar and all without exception looked very smart. Before the mess meal and meeting, Albert took further photos of the group outside the hotel. The meal was served before moving on to the mess meeting presided over by John Hayley and a very good deputy secretary, Mr. F.

 

 The results of the test and presentations.

 

Did we find out?

· If there were cheats in 211! – of course

· Can the men work as a team! – defiantly

· Is there such thing as Army Intelligence! – the jury is still out

 

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