Laughter and lunch for veterans at military museum

What is missing is any sense of a gap between young and old. The people who are gathered upstairs in Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life range in age from their 30s to their 90s. Yet there’s no mistaking the bond that links them.

As 83-year-old John Thompson says: “The generation doesn’t matter.”

The monthly gathering at the museum has been taking place since last July. Now it is one year old.

The veterans’ lunch club is a chance for former members of any of the armed services to get together, swap stories, revisit memories and enjoy a light lunch. Last week there was a lot of birthday cake as well.

However old they are, or wherever they served, the veterans feel a close connection to one another. Many enjoyed their years in the forces. Some saw terrible things. But they all know what military life is like.

“You make contact with people in similar circumstances, with similar experiences,” explains 93-year-old Ted Newstead. “People can talk about their own lives and what they’ve been through,” adds Ernie Henderson, 88.

“Wherever you meet other ex-servicemen you speak the same language,” agrees 80-year-old Robert Wickings.

Many look back with happy memories. Richard Otway, 64, is from Carlisle and served with the army in Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Hong Kong.

“I’ve been all over the world and had a great time,” he says.

He thoroughly recommends the lunch club: “I still keep in touch with a lot of the lads, but it would be good to see some others coming here.”

Some had frightening or upsetting experiences too. It’s impossible not to hear their stories and admire their courage.

Ted Newstead lives in Kirkbampton. When he was about 18 he was among the second wave of Allied soldiers to arrive in mainland Europe after D-Day.

When it came to crossing the Rhine, he recalls, there were no purpose-built amphibious vehicles left – so a land vehicle had to adapted.

“We crossed in an amphibious tank – just a tank with the turret taken off. The Rhine is a very swift-flowing river. We were more frightened of being sunk than being shot!”

Afterwards he was sent to Palestine. Britain was the “mandate power” there, governing the territory before the state of Israel was established, and the British were being targeted by Jewish terrorist groups.

They destroyed the King David Hotel, the British headquarters in Jerusalem, during his time.

“It was an emergency, it was guerilla warfare,” he recalls. “But I wasn’t frightened. I’m a very religious man and whatever happened you had someone to believe in. The army padres who held services at the front line were brave.”

He adds: “The training you get in the British army is very thorough, so by the time you go into action you know you can depend on your comrades and they can depend on you.

“I had confidence in all the troops who served with me.”

John Thompson also saw service in the Middle East.

John is from Penrith and is a long-serving member of Eden District Council.

He was called up for national service at the age of 21, and after basic training in southern England he was sent to Aden in present-day Yemen.

The army were there to protect ships in the Red Sea and tackle the Yemeni insurgents, and John worked as a vehicle mechanic.

One incident he remembers is having to fix a broken-down toop-carrying lorry in complete darkness.

“It was two o’clock in the morning. If the insurgents had seen any light at all they would have fired pot shots at it. So I had to work under a tarpaulin. You just got on with it.”

Of course, there were times when comrades were killed. The army’s approach was to keep the others occupied and take their minds off it.

“You were given lots to do so you didn’t have time to mourn or sit down and ponder it. You were busy, busy, busy.”

Ernie Henderson, from Gretna, found himself working in catering for two of the armed forces – the air force and the army.

“I started out as an RAF chef,” Ernie relates. “Then my father wrote a letter to the commanding officer saying: ‘We need him at home’. But there were five lads and three lasses at home! He just didn’t believe that I’d get myself promoted.

“I worked as a baker and confectioner and then joined the Border Regiment. I ended up cooking for some of the elite.”

Richie Hinson is 34 and joined the army at 16, for what seemed like a good job.

“I did well in my education but I didn’t want to be in the classroom any more,” he says. He soon joined the Military Police. “It was everyday policing – dealing with petty crime and so on, protection units for people like ambassadors or generals.”

Richie also served two tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. “I wasn’t frightened. I had a good team around me and we were there to do a job.”

But there was tragedy in Afghanistan: “We lost five in a roadside bomb. These are people that you live with and work with and breathe with, and all of a sudden they are not there.

“That has a massive impact.”

The club was set up with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Jules Wooding, learning and access officer at the museum, says the members find it beneficial.

“The club has gone from strength to strength in the past 12 months. All veterans have been made welcome, and the inclusive nature of the club is part of its attraction – people enjoy the informal banter and military chat! It provides a friendly space where veterans can feel comfortable, which helps combat social isolation. It’s an opportunity to get out and about.”

And it can act as an information point. “We often get people in to talk about forces-related services. Having veterans with us every month is a valuable connection between the military community and the museum.”

Should other veterans come along? All the members recommend it.

“It’s up to them,” says Ted. “But I think they’d find it interesting, and enjoyable.”

n The lunch club normally meets on the third Monday of every month. The next is on August 19, from 1pm to 3pm. Those wishing to go are advised to book places in advance by calling 01228 532774.