Success In Nijmegen
Cadet John Gordon recently took part in this years International 4 Day Marches, held in Holland from the 21st - 24th July.
Our Journey to Nijmegen started in August 2008 at the former 912(Helensburgh) Squadron premises where we set off on our first training day. Before we knew it, it was May 2009. We had our crucial qualifier at Garelochhead that we all had to complete if we wanted to attend Nijmegen. From the 20 cadets that attended training 9 were picked! Money was raised from sponsored walks, bag packs, Glasgow Audi and Lidl who also supplied the team with kilts.
It was time. Friday 17th July, we set off on coach from 122(Maryhill)Squadron at 4pm. It was 5 hours before we picked up cadets from both East Cheshire & South Manchester Wing and also Staffordshire Wing from PPPA Cheadle Hume and MoD Stafford. The pickups had finished and all we had left was for the coach to meet up with the rest of the British Military Contingent at South Mimms services. After everything was finalised we headed off to Dover. At about 3am we hit travel congestion on the M25 just outside Watford and we were a hour late for our ferry from Dover. Being cadets, we all headed for the food court on the ferry for breakfast at 4am. Soon after we finished our food we were in the middle of the channel. While we were up on deck, we could see both Dover and Calais. Everyone then started talking about the stark reality of pilots returning from Europe during WWII.
It was time. The journey to Holland had begun! Everyone on the bus had fallen as sleep. From the aisles to the stair case, the bus was packed to the brim and it was starting to stink. We had one stop, which was at a McDonalds that had one broken-English speaking worker. Back to sleep it was, and off we went. We arrived at Camp Huemensoord at about mid day. From then on we unpacked and we had a quick tour of the camp. After the unpacking we had free time. This was to mingle with the other teams. What a laugh it was. A bugle off and some more antics happened in the ‘Lego’ type accommodation, that is similar to those in Camp Bastion. At 4 we headed into Nijmegen which was a bundle of laughs and a dear trip out, there were bands on everywhere and stages set up round every corner and people dressing up and all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, ‘Pirate Dave’. Back to camp it was and we went to the disco that night. Soon it was morning, and we were to have the best breakfast anyone could offer. Sandwiches, sour cream yoghurts, sour milk and come to think of it sour everything. Monday was to be our last day before we started marching. So we all headed back into town and went for lunch. We then had a walk about Nijmegen in our kilts that we wore that day, which was rather interesting and scary!
We headed back to camp and we got asked to go to the 4 day marches opening ceremony. CS95’s was the dress and we were sat in the Nijmegen FC Stadium. Before the opening ceremony started, all of the cadets started to create an atmosphere. Singing YMCA ,conga and the doing the Mexican wave, which was repeated every few seconds. After a while the regulars joined in and we all had a ball, including the civilians. The following morning the Air Commodore and the Brigadier praised the cadets for the efforts from the night before and they both said ‘That we never seize to amaze them’. Back to our new home and we had an early night. Our team had to be up at 3am for breakfast. While we were waiting in line half of the BMC fell as sleep. Literally falling.
It was time. 5am to be precise. The BMC moved into position and we were asked by the tannoy announcer ‘Britain, Are You Ready?’ A loud roar came from the BMC. We headed off with Air Commodore Ian Stewart and Brigadier John Wolsey taking the salute for each day. The day was split into 4 marching sessions with 3 rest points which was manned by 34 Signals Regiment who handed out soup, pasta and cereal bars for the BMC. Our first day was our hardest because we just started and also because of the climate. The heat was unbearable. As we approached rest point 3, a man had collapsed. We later found out that this man was one of three people to die during the marches due to heat exhaustion and lack of fluids. As we headed back to the camp we found out that the H1N1 strain of swine flu had broke out and some people were quarantined.We then found out a tent was on fire so we marched into the beer tent, where everyone marches into after a days marching, we had to do a song and dance for every time we entered. Day 1 > When the Scots Go Marching In. Day 2 > Living on a prayer...cos we were half way there. Day 3 > Happy and you know it. Day 4 > You having a laugh we were knackered singing was the last thing on our mind.
Day 2 was the easiest. We had a time of 8 hours and 30 minutes. This was our quickest marching time on the longest day. On our way back we marched through Nijmegen city centre and we all walked through the waterfall. As we approached the city centre all we could here was cheers and singing. It was one of the best experiences that week and they were handing out sweets, blister packs, hats, flowers and all sorts. Any time we were in the country side we all felt down. But as soon as you passed through a village you felt 100 times better. There was people lining the streets and having a party at 5am and people had their sofas out on the streets. Day 3. Something of a challenge shall we say! No one in the team had done 3 days of marching. So it 
was hard for everyone and it was hill day. Or speed bump day to us. The hills were tiny but it was raining and we all wanted the day to end. Flt Lt Herd always kept saying just around the corner and that’s us nearly there. Yes and pigs can fly. We all had a laugh every time he said but he was true though. As soon as we got back to camp it was in order shower, changed and dinner. That night we were kept up by thunder and lightning which was the worse I have witnessed.
Now onto Day number 4. We had an early start that day with a 2am wake up call. Britain was the first contingent to go. And Brigadier Wolsey was retiring so we all shook his hand to say thanks. This was the hardest day of all and it felt as if the day would never end. But soon enough it was rest area 3. 7 km left and we all wanted to quit. But no, quitting was not an option. As much as everyone hated it I started singing with every bit of energy left in my body to try and boost morale. And it worked. The McDonalds sign was in sight. This is where we would get our medal. Not in McDonalds but in Charlameign, a huge field converted into a military operation centre. Just before we hit the field, people were handing out helium balloons. This was the funniest moment everyone had. We were bursting into laughter as we approached the Wing Commander. He said well done and took a balloon and joined us in our mome
nt of joy. But this was cut short by the rain. So we had our medals given in the tent. I felt a feeling that I never felt before. I don’t know what it was and I still don’t but I can tell you this. It was the best feeling ever, happiness, joy and proud of my team and myself for completing the marches and also for the reason I had done it for.
After the events at the field we headed back to the camp. Missing the beer tent as it was the last thing on any one’s mind. We then got changed showered and ‘medic’d up’ and went for dinner. We later found out that the team came 2nd best in the ATC. We then packed our clothes and then headed off to the BMC Beer tent where they sold the best of British.
We left at 6am the following morning and on the way to Calais we had a small stop at a chocolate factory in Belgium. A moment I shall savour and remember 200 people gathered into the factory shop and raided all the free tasters and cleared the shop of the majority of its stock. It was if Christmas came early. While we were at Calais we had a display from the French Version of the Red Arrows. Which was very entertaining and we also had a few aircraft cross the channel with people doing the wing walk. It was ferry time. Home soil was upon us. We headed to the food court again and oh, the food was amazing. £20 was well worth the lunch we had that day. Fish and Chips and Chocolate Fudge Cake with Caramel and a portion of extra Chips and proper Irn-Bru.........It tasted so nice. This was also the last time we would see each other on the ferry home. Welsh wing went one way we went the other, although we have plans for next year. The journey home was pretty good. I got a lift home from Adult Warrant Officer Tom Kerr and I eventually got in at 6am. I would reccomend it to everyone in the Corps. See you there next year!
Training for 2010 starts on the 26th September 2009.
I also met a former cadet of the squadron. Sergeant Allan Reid from RAF Northolt, who is now an Air Cartographer in the RAF. The world is a small place!
25 hours coming back on a coach = Hell
Walking 200km = Pain
Banter, Laughs, Medal and the people = Priceless
Nijmegen
Glasgow and West of Scotland Wing Road Marching Team 2009
Flight Lieutenant Grahame Herd 1777(Dumbarton Blackburn)Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Vanda Nicholls 49F(Greenock)Squadron
Civilian Instructor Jack Daly 2166 (Hamilton)Squadron
IC Flight Segeant Colin Harvey 1138 (Ardrossan)Squadron
IC Flight Sergeant Catherine Graham 122(Maryhill)Squadron
IC Sergeant Thomas Trevorow 1777(Dumbarton Blackburn)Squadron
Sergeant Mark Grant 396(Paisley)Squadron
Sergeant Andrew Jones 2166(Hamilton)Squadron
Corporal Konan Whyting 122(Maryhill)Squadron
Corporal Adam Banks 498 (Wishaw)Squadron
Corporal Susan Wiliams 122(Maryhill)Squadron
Cadet John Gordon 1701(Johnstone)Squadron
Reported By
Cadet John Gordon