RGJ Veterans Reunion – Cancelled

The real hero of the Cold War – Wolfgang

by Alasdair Ross

I saw a tweet the other day, with a picture of the mobile Schnellie wagon of Wolfgang.

Modern soldiers might wonder what we are all on about, however, I am sure certain Range Complexes in the UK still see an enterprising burger van turn up and you then see the resulting large black bin bag of quickly disposed of, half frozen pack lunches! However, never mind how good those burger vans are, they will never compare with the legendary Wolfgang! His Blue Schnellie Van (Schnellie, British Army slang from the German word for quick food shop – Schnell Imbiss) would roam the large Soltau Training area, in North east (West) Germany and It did not matter how good your camouflage was, he would find you and then any semblance of tactics would go out the window as soldiers rushed to him for Chips mit mayo, Bratwurst mit senf and a yellow handbag of beer. Rumour had it that he had fitted in his blue van a Clansman 353 radio, a set of BATCO and sets of orders!

My three favourite Wolfgang stories that I actually witnessed are:

1. We were in Soltau with the whole 3 RGJ Battle Group on our final warm up exercise before departing for BATUS in Canada, and to show all of us how large the Battle Group was, we all leaguered up and then walked up a small hill where the CO addressed us. We all turned round and saw the A and R Company 432s, two Squadrons of Chieftain tanks and assorted other vehicles, a formidable sight but as the CO spoke, to the back of the mass of vehicles a late addition arrived – Wolfgang – blasting out music. The brief finished and then 600 soldiers poured back down the hill, past their vehicles as they raced to get to the front of the queue for Wolfgang. 2. I was in the 3 RGJ Milan Platoon and we were dug in with A Company along a valley in Soltau, practicing setting up ‘Tank Killing Areas’ in case the Russians had ever attacked with their T72s and BMPs. As any soldier will tell you, stood around in a trench was never a soldiers favourite pastime but as the sun dimmed and we got ready for night routine. Wolfgang appeared in front of the trenches. No one moved, we all waited then the first Rifleman jumped up from his trench and made for Wolfgang, soon followed by others all hoping to be served before the hierarchy noticed. We were not helped by Wolfgang blasting out what seemed his only record on his speakers, “Are you lonesome tonight” by Elvis. 3. I was again attached to A Company 3 RGJ and was travelling back from a brief in the back of the Company Commanders Landrover. In the back with me were two young Platoon Commanders who suddenly got very excited and before anyone else spotted him, one of the young officers had spotted Wolfgang. The OC then turned round and as quick as a flash, commented that it was a pity that the young officer was better at spotting Wolfgang from a distance than he was at spotting and recognising enemy armoured fighting vehicles. (This story would be of no surprise to those who know who the young officer was).

For those still guessing who the Officers mentioned were – the OC (later a General) was last seen working at St Pauls Cathedral and the young Officer reached the dizzy heights of Adjutant (in a warm place, close to Spain).

1A Iverna Gardens, Kensington

BN HQ 7 Rifles and the London Office of the Rifles

A Potted History

It is now three years ago when on 23 January 2018 BN HQ 7 RIFLES and the London Office of The Rifles moved from 56 Davies Street in Mayfair, which had been the spiritual home in London of the Green Jackets, to 1a Iverna Gardens the original ancestral home of ‘The Kensington Rifles’ in Kensington. ‘The Kensington’s’, although ‘Rifles’ had no historical connections with the Green Jackets or our antecedent regiments, were raised in 1860 by Lord Truro. They became established in Kensington in 1885 at Adam and Eve Mews and Iverna Gardens, off High Street, Kensington. The original subtitle, ‘West London Rifles’, was altered in 1905 to, ‘The Kensington Rifles’, when the Regiment was adopted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and granted permission for the cap badge to be made up of the Coat of Arms of the Royal Borough, mounted centrally upon an eight-pointed star. 13th London Regiment was the short title after the formation of the Territorials in 1908 and from October 1914, the title was 13th Princess Louise’s Kensington (PLK) Battalion, the London Regiment and is carried on today through 41 (PLK) Signal Sqn (V), located elsewhere in London. The Kensington’s war memorial bearing the names of the 1,324 officers and men who were killed in the First and Second World Wars is located in the library of the Kensington Town Hall. The funding for the Drill Hall came by subscriptions from the Kensington’s Officers in 1885. The building was designed by Fred J Hopkins and the commemorative stone was laid by Colonel Somers-Lewis and his wife and can be seen at the Adam and Eve Mews the back entrance to the ARC. The building has a unique roof which is one

of two examples left in the country of ‘Victorian Plank Work’. Mapping of the area circa 1850 shows a militia training area surrounded by green fields, a complete contrast to what is here today. The Royal Navy took over the building in 1945 and used the premises as their recruiting centre for London as well as a base for the Navy Provost Staff. Up until the most recent £2.5million refurbishment the basement contained cells for detaining AWOL sailors apprehended in London. On completion of 1a Iverna Gardens W8 Entrance the refurbishment in 2004 the building was taken over by B Det 256 (City of London) Field Hospital. At the time of writing, we and Bn HQ 7 RIFLES are currently co-located (rather tightly) with B Det 256 Fd Hospital, a detachment of RAF Air Trg Cadets, a detachment of Metropolitan Police Cadets and an Army Cadet Force detachment. The front entrance of the ARC, in the tree lined Iverna Gardens, lies between two upmarket and expensive Victorian red brick Mansion blocks whilst the back entrance is at the southern end of the rather exclusive Adam and Eve Mews. The nearest Tube Station is High Street Kensington on the Circle and District Line. It is then a 5-minute walk to 1A Iverna Gardens. Sadly, 1A Iverna Gardens does not have the room or social facilities we so enjoyed in Davies Street. Adam and Eve Mews W8 entrance