It's Only Pretend - Isn't It?
One of the most intense times of my Naval Career was the day I was 'volunteered' by my Divisional Officer to take part in the annual 'Exercise' involving the elite SBS and Royal Marines, plus local emergency services and police. It was one of those times where you did all you could to get out of camp before it started or else you were stuck there, having to carry a gas mask around with you while doing things like fighting pretend fires, evacuating from pretend bombs and running messages around for Officers in charge. If, like me and my colleague Alison, you had to take part, you were allocated a task. Ours was to go to a small store room half way up the cliffs of Portland, within the Naval Base, with our Burberry Mac and Respirator (Gas Mask) and wait for instructions. We went and waited. After a few minutes we heard shouting and people running up the road. Two men in black, wearing balaclava's and carrying guns came around the corner, shouted "Get Your Hand...