Have you ever had any special forces guys come deer stalking on the estate?.
- Thread starter Johnsmith1995
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Sealgair nam fiadh
Well-Known Member
Have had a couple out stalking, the most memorable were two guys with long hair, straggly beards and a good tan, they were fit as f__k.
Had a mortar platoon and medics out at the hinds, the snipers were supposed to come but they got sent abroad so someone had to fill in.
Also got involved with Project Artemis with the Royal Marines
pattfoundation.org
Had a mortar platoon and medics out at the hinds, the snipers were supposed to come but they got sent abroad so someone had to fill in.
Also got involved with Project Artemis with the Royal Marines
Project Artemis RM | PATT Foundation
pattfoundation.org
Yep.....in Sutherland a few years back (and possibly still do ahem! ). A couple of the Officers landed in a helicopter on the old road nearby while the boys were rumbling around the nearby hills..... very entertaining folk!
Some of our Gurkha friends used to come out for the hinds as well - very good shots they were too.
Some of our Gurkha friends used to come out for the hinds as well - very good shots they were too.
Just had a look on Google maps and seen the lay of the land
Mallaig being where we got on the ferry to make our way over to the estate and the old forge pub looks like the one I mentioned, coming out of there we would have swung a left to walk down to the accommodation which looks to be the case here so its almost certainly the place!
Thank you for confirming this as its always been something that has bugged me..........what a beautiful part of the world and somewhere that I would certainly like to visit again
Ettrick reiver
Well-Known Member
Aye it's definitely the same place, had many a memorable day out on Kilchoan as well as in the Old Forge. Some proper characters on Knoydart.
Ettrick reiver
Ettrick reiver
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
“Special forces” types were quite common in many estates in NI - housing estates, though I never got to meet any…
My brother-in-law lived quite close to the International Airport about 18 miles out of Belfast in a very quiet and peaceful country area. One sunday we were there for lunch and afterwards took his labs out for a walk up the narrow hedge-lined road which his house was on. There was only one other house on that road and it was huge - owned by a chap who ran a very big construction firm. Being high summer the roadsides were heavily weeded and the hedges thick, suddenly one lab which was twenty yards ahead dived into the overgrown ditch and all we could see was his tail which was wagging furiously; to our surprise he wouldn’t answer the recall so we though he was onto a rabbit or phezzie.
By the time we got up to him the “rabbit”, all six foot of him and bedecked in freshly cut weeds and twigs was climbing out of the hedge carrying a distinctly non-issue Armalite! Before we knew what was going on we were surrounded by half a dozen very serious gentlemen dressed in the same vaguely becoming fashion who, in a not very subtle or gentle way, were quite interested in who we were, etc……
Long story short and told later to my B-i-L by the owner of the construction firm they were “daring chaps determined to win” who were on a stake-out as intel was that he was going to be ‘hit” because his firm did work for the security forces. This happened on more than one occasion with my B-i-L - fortunately never again to me.
As a sad footnote this chap’s son was killed along with two others shortly after he joined the police. His father renamed the firm after him as a tribute to his memory. Bad old days…….
My brother-in-law lived quite close to the International Airport about 18 miles out of Belfast in a very quiet and peaceful country area. One sunday we were there for lunch and afterwards took his labs out for a walk up the narrow hedge-lined road which his house was on. There was only one other house on that road and it was huge - owned by a chap who ran a very big construction firm. Being high summer the roadsides were heavily weeded and the hedges thick, suddenly one lab which was twenty yards ahead dived into the overgrown ditch and all we could see was his tail which was wagging furiously; to our surprise he wouldn’t answer the recall so we though he was onto a rabbit or phezzie.
By the time we got up to him the “rabbit”, all six foot of him and bedecked in freshly cut weeds and twigs was climbing out of the hedge carrying a distinctly non-issue Armalite! Before we knew what was going on we were surrounded by half a dozen very serious gentlemen dressed in the same vaguely becoming fashion who, in a not very subtle or gentle way, were quite interested in who we were, etc……
Long story short and told later to my B-i-L by the owner of the construction firm they were “daring chaps determined to win” who were on a stake-out as intel was that he was going to be ‘hit” because his firm did work for the security forces. This happened on more than one occasion with my B-i-L - fortunately never again to me.
As a sad footnote this chap’s son was killed along with two others shortly after he joined the police. His father renamed the firm after him as a tribute to his memory. Bad old days…….
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
I was up in the Highlands and Islands a couple of years back.
One of our party had come through the military route. When we got to the middle of nowhere, he pointed out a small bridge that was over a fairly moderate burn.
It turned out that he and his mates had built it 'back in the day', as part of their training.
When you looked under the bridge, they had all carved their names into it.
I thought it rather lovely.
One of our party had come through the military route. When we got to the middle of nowhere, he pointed out a small bridge that was over a fairly moderate burn.
It turned out that he and his mates had built it 'back in the day', as part of their training.
When you looked under the bridge, they had all carved their names into it.
I thought it rather lovely.
sikamalc
Administrator
Over the years I have had a few who were special forces, although the vast majority never let on they are ex SAS. I had one chap who came a few times with me, and was/is a site member who was in covert work and was ex Australian army. But he never let on what area of work he was in, as such. Did a lot of survalence work for the police.
The estate next door to what was one of my leases in the highlands, often had the Marines and special services training on there in the winter. I doubt that still occurs as its now owned by Paul Lister ( the man that wants to release Wolves into the highlands) which he will never achieve. Thank fully.
I have also had a lot of serving and Ex police stalking with me, including FEO's.
The estate next door to what was one of my leases in the highlands, often had the Marines and special services training on there in the winter. I doubt that still occurs as its now owned by Paul Lister ( the man that wants to release Wolves into the highlands) which he will never achieve. Thank fully.
I have also had a lot of serving and Ex police stalking with me, including FEO's.
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sako751sg
Well-Known Member
What gave you the impression the Armalite was distinctly non issue?“Special forces” types were quite common in many estates in NI - housing estates, though I never got to meet any…
My brother-in-law lived quite close to the International Airport about 18 miles out of Belfast in a very quiet and peaceful country area. One sunday we were there for lunch and afterwards took his labs out for a walk up the narrow hedge-lined road which his house was on. There was only one other house on that road and it was huge - owned by a chap who ran a very big construction firm. Being high summer the roadsides were heavily weeded and the hedges thick, suddenly one lab which was twenty yards ahead dived into the overgrown ditch and all we could see was his tail which was wagging furiously; to our surprise he wouldn’t answer the recall so we though he was onto a rabbit or phezzie.
By the time we got up to him the “rabbit”, all six foot of him and bedecked in freshly cut weeds and twigs was climbing out of the hedge carrying a distinctly non-issue Armalite! Before we knew what was going on we were surrounded by half a dozen very serious gentlemen dressed in the same vaguely becoming fashion who, in a not very subtle or gentle way, were quite interested in who we were, etc……
Long story short and told later to my B-i-L by the owner of the construction firm they were “daring chaps determined to win” who were on a stake-out as intel was that he was going to be ‘hit” because his firm did work for the security forces. This happened on more than one occasion with my B-i-L - fortunately never again to me.
As a sad footnote this chap’s son was killed along with two others shortly after he joined the police. His father renamed the firm after him as a tribute to his memory. Bad old days…….
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
It was definitely issued, mostly by the unofficial side.
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Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
In those days the standard squaddie issue was the SLR or occasionally sten (usually held by a military policeman if I recall correctly). In thirty years of the Troubles and living in Belfast which was literally crawling with soldiers (can’t think why) throughout I never saw anything else except perhaps once or twice a scope-mounted Lee Enfield. Hence my assumption about the regiment involved (later confirmed by the chap they were protecting).
Happy to stand corrected about the Armalite….
tim@tcs
Well-Known Member
The AR 15 was issued to Recce Plns and to normal rifle sections in the ARB (Armagh Roulement Battalion) throughout the late 70's and 80's until the L85A1 was on general issue. The M203 and M79 was also issued and the L4 LMG was issued to supplement the L7 GPMG throughout the province on rural ops. The amount of customisation allowed depended upon role and how far away from the grown ups you were!In those days the standard squaddie issue was the SLR or occasionally sten (usually held by a military policeman if I recall correctly). In thirty years of the Troubles and living in Belfast which was literally crawling with soldiers (can’t think why) throughout I never saw anything else except perhaps once or twice a scope-mounted Lee Enfield. Hence my assumption about the regiment involved (later confirmed by the chap they were protecting).
Happy to stand corrected about the Armalite….
Irrigation ditches are from bringing water in to water crops, drains and dykes are for taking it away to make the ground dry enough for agriculture. 2 different things
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Drains and Dykes are two very different things.
At least they were when I was at school...
Not the ones old Finny is referring toDrains and Dykes are two very different things.
At least they were when I was at school...
sako751sg
Well-Known Member
Very common on both sides for sure.
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
True story,
I was working a night duty at Dublin airport during Bill Clintons visit, as you might imagine security was tight, (Hilary still hadn’t forgiven him for a recent indiscretion). The Marine presidential helicopter transports were parked on a disused runway, 3 of them.
I briefed the staff and retreated to my desk with a cup of coffee and 2 McVities, our normal staffing complement was boosted by a couple of secret service agents, an Air Corps officer and 2 special branch men, so it was going to be a very long cramped night.
Round about 0230 the phone rang, the guy in the tower thought he had seen movement on the airfield close to the choppers. The security experts exchanged shifty looks, but said nothing, so the airport security were dispatched. The tower guy must have had eyes like an owl, he directed the security detail straight to a spot in the grass, the jeep stopped, the door opened and the driver appeared enter conversation with 2 tufts of grass. The driver drove away and said he’d call me on a secure line.
Oh Fook, what now?
There were special forces dug in inside the security perimeter on the airfield, one of them had popped up for a whizz and been spotted, I was ” strongly advised” to do nothing and to tell the guy upstairs that he hadn’t seen a thing, the lads who weren’t actually there would be gone before dawn.
It would also be much appreciated if the guy upstairs would look out another window for a while and keep his gob shut.
No chance, the representatives from the other agencies were wetting themselves laughing and couldn’t wait to spread the good word far and wide.
I was working a night duty at Dublin airport during Bill Clintons visit, as you might imagine security was tight, (Hilary still hadn’t forgiven him for a recent indiscretion). The Marine presidential helicopter transports were parked on a disused runway, 3 of them.
I briefed the staff and retreated to my desk with a cup of coffee and 2 McVities, our normal staffing complement was boosted by a couple of secret service agents, an Air Corps officer and 2 special branch men, so it was going to be a very long cramped night.
Round about 0230 the phone rang, the guy in the tower thought he had seen movement on the airfield close to the choppers. The security experts exchanged shifty looks, but said nothing, so the airport security were dispatched. The tower guy must have had eyes like an owl, he directed the security detail straight to a spot in the grass, the jeep stopped, the door opened and the driver appeared enter conversation with 2 tufts of grass. The driver drove away and said he’d call me on a secure line.
Oh Fook, what now?
There were special forces dug in inside the security perimeter on the airfield, one of them had popped up for a whizz and been spotted, I was ” strongly advised” to do nothing and to tell the guy upstairs that he hadn’t seen a thing, the lads who weren’t actually there would be gone before dawn.
It would also be much appreciated if the guy upstairs would look out another window for a while and keep his gob shut.
No chance, the representatives from the other agencies were wetting themselves laughing and couldn’t wait to spread the good word far and wide.
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