Sunday rugby and Midnight meanderings.

Sunday morning rugby. The younger Grandson, the large lad at the back, played St Ives today. Much polite clapping and cheering, even when St Ives, “The Hakes” as they call themselves, scored. In this picture one of our lads went over for a try despite the close attention of three Hakes. 

Operation Dipstick - 1972, cast your mind back, or use your imagination if you don’t remember 1972 . Malta, 41 Commando were treading water before our next deployment to some far-flung hot dusty spot, don’t know why, we were already in one. Anyway, in order to remain all-singing-all-dancing killing machines we had to practice our skills. One of these was a night ambush. Sounds simple, fair enough, but it is a complex operation requiring stealth, skill and knowledge. Our troop moved to a clifftop location south of Valletta, the capital of Malta, the enemy was one of our own 8 man sections, led by their Corporal, Brian. 

Before setting off we had dished out all the ammunition, had three GPMGs (General Purpose Machine Gun) Schermuly flares (parachute flares), trip flares and, as there was no such thing as a flash-bang grenade, I was donated a red smoke grenade by the Troop Sgt. 
“Sgt, it’s night, what’s this for?”
“Just throw it.” 
Weapons loaded, made ready, ie cocked, full camouflage and Estée Lauder cream applied we quietly crept a mile or so and got into position. Those who were trusted went forward into the killing ground and set the trip flares, when the wire is hit a pin is pulled and they chuck out incredible white light for about 30 seconds. The rest of us took up our positions. Safety catches off, steely eyes set on the path below us. Gosh we were Wellard. About 0200 a trip flare went off, our signal to decimate anything or anybody in the killing ground, which we were doing rather noisily when I spotted a dark shape dive into a pile of rocks. I pulled the pin on my “grenade” and launched it. After a few minutes of devastation it all went quiet. Our search team went forward and went through the pockets of the enemy, then returned. We withdrew to the transport and the enemy rejoined us. 

The debrief went well, our skills were not too rusty, inevitably the Sgt asked, “Any questions?” 
Brian was fit to be tied. “Which bloody idiot threw a smoke grenade? It has ruined my brand new leather jacket., most of it is dyed red!!!” Well it would be wouldn’t it! Fancy wearing new clothes to go crawling around the cliffs. My face must have been a picture, luckily it was dark because my lips made the shape a chimp makes when he drops a coconut on his foot.

More tomorrow, my return home.