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Jaw jaw about war war
Page 9
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Brian Weatherley catches up with an old acquaintance — and is reminded of a missed opportunity...
"Hello old cocker!" said the voice on the phone. Only two people call me that, and one of them is Freddie Plaskett. CM old lags will remember Freddie's tenure as RHA director-general from 1981-1988. After a military career in which he rose to the rank of Major General Freddie finally dragged the RHA kicking and screaming into the 20th century. After the usual small talk he declared: "I've written a book on my time in the Army. If I send you a copy will you give it a good review?"
Having to puff a piece of not-so-purple prose didn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm. But Freddie's autobiography, Shoot like a Gentleman!, is actually very good. Rather like that other great 'Everyman' Forest Gump, (though clearly with somewhat more natural intelligence) Freddie was involved in some of the most significant events of the 20th century including Indian Independence, the Korean War, fighting communist insurgents in Malaya, life in Cold-War Germany and much more besides. It's liberally sprinkled with anecdotes, like the time he was touring a strangely deserted military port and ammo dump in the American South. Questioning the lack of armed guards he was told foot security was left to "George" an enormous alligator lying beside a large ammunition stack.
"Don't get out," warned his host. "George has a big family and no-one walks around here. We chase them off when we're loading but all the locals know the score and our scaly friends provide us with low-cost security round the clock."
Freddie also reminded me of the time when his FTA counterpart Garry Turvey proposed the two trade associations merge in a plan that was "reasoned, plausible and stressed the similarity of aims". Sadly, the RHA Board of the time turned it down. Pity-to this day I remain bemused as to why the industry needs two trade associations.
"Major General Freddie finally dragged the RHA kicking and screaming i the 20th century"
• Shoot like a Gentleman is E9.99 from Maximilian Publishing PO Box 1998, Salisbury SP5 4YD, or from amazon.co.uk