Would like my DAD to hold a Lee Enfield No.4Mk1(T) after 70 years

[enfield303t]

Cass and I visited Sandy today and despite him fighting a cold he was in great spirits and we had our usual conversation on everything from poaching to sniping. We all had some great laughs, hope you think things are as funny as we did.

Sandy talked about being a sniper and again stressed how important camouflage was, without it done properly you are dead for sure, just a matter of time.

Poaching again was talked about it detail, Sandy saying he was taught by his father and it was necessary to survive. The local policeman Bill Morgan always tried to catch Sandy knowing he was poaching so one day when Sandy's dad told him they were going that day with Bill Morgan there was great surprise. How funny going poaching with the policeman that was always trying to catch you, quite ironic. Sandy's dad told him to not say anything to Bill, just let it go and poach with him.

As mentioned before they used a cleek to catch salmon. One night Sandy's dad told them there was a abundance of salmon in the river and that he should go out with Alec Hardy to get some fish. Knowing Bill the local policeman would be looking for poachers Sandy suggested they cross the river and work upstream as there is no way that Bill would wade across the river to get to them. As the approached where they intended to catch fish they had to slide down a concrete angled wall that was there to prevent erosion. Now Sandy told us you always held the cleek by the hook when you did this however Alec failed to do this so when he jumped into the creek at the bottom of the wall he put the cleek thru his waders, boot and into his foot. This was really serious as Sandy was only about 14 and Alec was his fathers age and much larger. Alec eventually with the help of Sandy worked his way out of the creek and up the wall to the trail above. Sandy then had to carry Alec about 100 yards to their house where upon examination they realized they had a serious issue. When Sandy cut off his waders and boot he noticed a black mark around the cleek but no bleeding, he told his dad to give him a razor and he cut a incision into the foot to allow it to bleed. This action probably saved Alec's life as later the doctor said without that quick action he probably would have had serious blood poisoning. Sandy's dad took a full bottle of whiskey, gave it to Alec and told him to start drinking it.

The decision was made to go get the doctor, Sandy left to do that and said it was such a dark night he had a difficult time trying to find the doctors house. When he knocked on the door the servant (female) answered the door and asked what he wanted. He told her Alec Hardy had stepped on a cleek and they needed the doctor to remove it. This was too much information as soon it was all over town what happened and one didn't have any problem realizing that Alec was poaching.

When the doctor arrived he realized there was no way to pull out the cleek so seeing as Sandy's dad had removed it from the handle it would be best to push it thru his foot. By this time Alec had consumed all but a few ounces of the whiskey and felt no pain during the removal. Guess there is a good time to be absolutely "drunk as a skunk".

From conversations it is pretty evident Sandy was always a very good marksman so I asked him how he was picked to be a sniper? Sandy was in the Territorial Army and the Battallion RSM Tommy A. who was from his home town knew Sandy was a prolific poacher and good shot so he recommended him for the position. Sandy trained to be a sniper with the Lovat Scouts in mountains in Wales. The Lovat Scouts are famous and there is no doubt that this training helped hone his skills. Here is a link if you want to know more about them.
Lovat Scouts

We ended today's visit with one of the funniest stories ever in my opinion.

Sandy told us after the war there were many beautiful women in Germany and a lack of males, countless being killed during the war and countless others in POW camps. He said for as little as a chocolate bar you could willingly have the company of the most beautiful girl as the Germans were short of everything including men. Now there is a lady (German) where Sandy lives who is 87 years old and he was telling her about what you could get for a chocolate bar and somehow this 87 year old lady thought 94 year old Sandy was propositioning her for sex. When in Germany Sandy learned enough of the language to be able to ask a lady if she would go to bed with him and he was relating this to this local lady. She is so upset she won't talk to him anymore and won't even take his phone calls. I don't think any of us including Sandy have laughed so hard in years, that is beyond funny. Sandy related "what was she thinking, I am 94 and she thinks I want to sleep with her"? You just had to be there!

OH ONE MORE BEAUTY!

Every year a circus of sorts would visit Sandy's home town of Newcastleton and there was always a contest to pick the most beautiful young girl and handsome young man. Well one time Alec Hardy's daughter was picked as the most beautiful young lady and Sandy picked as the most handsome young man. Sandy said it was only appropriate to take this young lady for a walk so they went up the path to a large field of tall grass. Apparently things were going "very well" when suddenly this young lady's uncle almost stepped on the two of them lying in the grass. Sandy said he never heard the uncle coming as he would always walk in the grass beside the gravel path as he said the gravel wore the soles of his boots out too quickly. Nothing is more Scottish than walking off a path to save the soles of your boots.....yes we laughed so hard about this story. Sandy still is a real character with a great memory.

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[enfield303t]

During our last visit with Sandy we talked about his shooting skills and a competition he entered when he moved to Calgary. He told us in 1951 he was living in Calgary AB and met as former SAS member and they decided to enter a big bore shoot they heard about. They went to a store and bought a couple of Lee Enfields, I am guessing No1's the day before the shoot. took them home and cleaned them up.

Sandy said the following day they went to the Sarcee Range and took a couple of shots to sight in their rifles. Things went well and he won the running deer competition that day. He said the Calgary gun club ( probably affiliated with the Alberta Provincial Rifle Assoc.) asked him to join. Sandy said he couldn't join as he was too busy trying to make a living as a plumber.

Here is a link to the Sarcee Range and what is in use now. http://www.albertarifle.com/APRA%20S...story%2012.pdf

[Reiver xxv]

Hi folks
I have just read through all the posts and accompanying videos. It would be great understatement to say it has made my day. My family have ties with the KOSB the 4th Battalion especially. My Great grandfather Adam Dickson served with them in both Boer Wars as well as WW1, his son my grandfather William served in WW1 and my late uncle Billy (known as Dicky) served in WW2. All I'm happy to say made it through. I myself served a tour in Northern Ireland with 1st Battalion KOSB. The regiment has now been amalgamated with the Royal Scots back in 2007 to form the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. I would be honoured if you could pass on my kindest regards to Sandy from a fellow Borderer, we shall never forget the sacrifice that were made to preserve our freedom. My father was a sniper in the Black Watch and this series of posts have made me consider a Lee Enfield so I can give him a shot. It's such a small world, so many connections yet thousands of miles apart. The inventor of the Lee Enfield, James Paris Lee was born twenty miles from my home and my uncle used to be the police in Newcastleton, known locally as Copshawhome !
Once a Borderer Always a Borderer !
Reiver XXV

[enfield303t]

Reiver xxv. Will be more than happy to pass on your regards to Sandy next time we visit.

In the not to distant future I expect Sandy's son Ian will be posting video he took during his visit with his dad this spring.

Thanks for your post and you service.

[IanS]

Hi Reiver xxv,
will be talking to my dad tomorrow evening and will pass on your best wishes. I know Enfield303t will when he next visits.
What was your uncle's name and when was he a policeman in Newcastleton?
My dad's uncle served in the Boer war, he carried a sixpence throughout, my grandfather carried the same sixpence in WW1 and my dad carried it in WW2. Must have been a lucky one!
Best wishes
Ian.

[Reiver xxv]

Hi Ian
It's amazing how any of our families made it through the conflicts they fought in, my dad tells stories of his dad who when passing along a shelled trench if there was a casualties hand hanging out all passing Jocks would shake it for luck. My grandfather always said that he would make it through and that anyone talking like they were going to "buy it" usually did. He said the saddest sight he seen in WW1 was Aussie horsemen coming back into their lines after an attack mourning not just their fallen comrades but their horses as well. The sound that saddened and angered him the most was that of wounded horses screaming. My uncle is Ian Inglis who served in the Mounted Military Police before joining the civilian police. He was at Copshawhome from mid to late sixties. He then moved to Hawick where he completed thirty years service and then worked as a court custodian officer till retirement. He is well known in rugby circles as he was qualified referee and attended many games over the years. He still lives in Hawick. It's a small world ! All the best to you and your family
Garry Dickson
Once a Borderer Always a Borderer

[IanS]

Hi Garry,
my dad probably wouldn't know your uncle as he left Newcastleton in 1951, he may well know the family though, I'll ask him tonight.
Hoping to get the video finished and sent to Badger if he is still happy to upload it for me.
Ian.

[IanS]

Hi Garry,
just off the phone from my dad. He says he knew a Jim Inglis who was a joiner, I wonder if that's the same family as your uncle. This would have been in the early 30's.
Best wishes,
Ian.

[henry r]

thanks again to sandy for sharing his tales and all involved in the video's.

i imagine these will become a treasured part of your family history for generations.

[enfield303t]

Cass and I need to get up and see Sandy very soon, it has been a busy fall and too long since our last visit.

Many thanks Badger for posting the new videos.