The stories of the Hebrides really got my attention.
I only went once, being
on the vehicle side there was little for us to do but they probably thought it
would help keep our interest in the regiment. I certainly enjoyed it but do
you have any photos of the camp. I cannot recall it at all. The only thing I do
remember is that it was some way from the firing range and how impressed I
was when they did a night firing and I was in the billet and the whole of the
island was lit up for a short while like daylight. Like you I spent a lot of the
time plodding over the island mostly with I believe Wally Harrison and Buller
Cartwright.
We did see one sight which if I had not witnessed it with my own
eyes I would not have believed. We were up in the hills miles from anywhere
when we came across an isolated cottage with a stone wall enclosing a large
field or garden. When we looked over the wall there was an old woman all in black
pulling a plough with the harness over her shoulders and her equally ancient
husband steering the plough behind her.
When they saw us they stopped and came
over for a natter. I remember they asked us where we came from and we said
Benbecula.
The lady then said, "There are lots of people in Benbecula", as
though it was some huge metropolis.