Greenaway, David (Oral history)

British NCO served as ammunition examiner with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, Cyprus and Bahrain, 1961-1973; served with 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Sqdn, 11 EOD Regt in Northern Ireland, 4-8/1973; NCO and officer served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Logistic Corps in GB, Canada and Germany, 1973-2000.

REEL 1: Background in Croydon, Surrey, GB, 1942-1957: family and childhood; education; recreational and sporting activities; training with Boys Brigade; enlisted with army age 15; aptitude test; selected to be ammunition examiner; reaction of parents; story of enlistment in Croydon, 1957. Aspects of training in GB, 1957-1960: posted to Army Apprentices College, Chepstow: issued with uniform and kit; accommodation in barrack block; cleaning of barracks; storage of kit; inspections; opinion of food; attitude to army life and discipline; punishments; drill and weapons training; specialist trade training in ammunitions; theory and practical exercises; inspection of ammunition; disposal of unsuitable ammunition; educational classes; awarded Army Certificate of Education First Class; daily routine; off duty activities; leave; pay; physical training; posted to Army School of Ammunition, Bramley, GB; continuation training for three months in guided weapons; passed out, 12/1960. Aspects of period at Central Ammunition Depot, Kineton, GB, 1961-1965: description of base; opinion of accommodation and food; command structure; use of civilian labour and European voluntary workers; relations with Regulars and National Servicemen. REEL 2 Continues: promoted to corporal; duties supervising ammunition workshops; size of workforce; relations with members of Women's Army Corps; opinion of officers; daily routine; discipline in camp; method of ammunition inspection; supply and storage of ammunition; pay; marriage; posted to Cyprus, 1965. Aspects of period at Army Ammunition Depot in Cyprus, 1965-1968: accommodation in married quarters with wife and son; daily routine; description of depot; employment of local Turkish labour; relations with civilians; duties disposing of ammunition; political situation; security; promoted sergeant and returned to GB, 1968. Aspects of period in GB and Bahrain, 1968-1973: duties as ammunition examiner with 47 Air Dispatch Sqdn, RAF Lyneham, GB; description of RAF Lyneham; sergeant's mess; opinion of accommodation; posted to Central Ammunition Depot, Bramley; duties in charge of disposal of unsuitable ammunition; safety precautions; posted to Bahrain, 1969; description of duties as second-in-command of RAF Ammunition Depot including responsibility for accounts, storage and inspection of ammunition and missiles; living conditions; climate; opinion of accommodation and food; story of closing down depot and disposal of ammunition; promoted staff sergeant and posted to 1 Ammunition and Disposal Unit, Catterick, GB; duties and type of incidents dealt with; role in advising police on counter-terrorism measures. REEL 3 Continues: ammunition accidents; collection of forensic evidence after bomb explosions; enforcement of ammunition regulations in other army units; lectured in schools on dangers of unexploded ordnance. Aspects of operations with 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Sqdn, 11 EOD Regt in Northern Ireland, 4-8/1973: part of Belfast unit; organisation of four-man duty teams and rotas; working methods; story of defusing explosive device at customs post; types of device used by IRA; use of robot; various examples of defusing explosive devices; opinion of accommodation and food; off duty activities; story of section commander killed by bomb; attitude to danger. REEL 4 Continues: psychological effects of bomb disposal operations; introduction of psychometric testing for potential recruits; relations with other military personnel; pre- deployment for Northern Ireland. Aspects of period in GB and Canada, 1973-1980: duties in Catterick and Hounslow; liaison with Metropolitan Police Bomb Squad; story of defusing IRA bomb at Aldershot railway station, 12/1974; duties checking Queen's mail at Buckingham Palace and assisting police in counter terrorism operations; promoted Warrant Officer 1 and appointed instructor at Army School of Education; posted to Suffield, Canada; duties in charge of British Army training unit battle group and at ammunition depot; opinion of accommodation and food; effect of climate; story of trip to Mexico. Aspects of period in GB and Germany, 1980-2000: posted to Catterick, GB, as senior ammunition technician; joint police/army training exercises; rank and promotion; officer training at depot in Camberley and commissioned; posted to stores section, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 94 Locating Regt, Royal Artillery in Germany; duties in charge of stores section and workshops; accommodation in German Army barracks; officers' mess; role in exercises; story of meeting artist Terence Cuneo; duties as second-in-command with Ammunition Inspectorate, British Army of the Rhine, 1984-87; staff appointment as technical manager for British Army's mines, explosives and demolition stores; promoted major; posted as officer-in-charge of control and accounts at 3 Base Ammunition Depot; role in organising ammunition supplies during First Gulf War. REEL 4 Continues: duties as barrack officer; role as officer in command of Army Accommodation Service Unit, Cambridge, GB; attitude to be made redundant from Army; work as retired officer responsible for ammunition packaging and marking; retired, 2000. Various memories of second tour of duty in Northern Ireland, 1980.