STRAIGHT FROM TRAINING PLATOON IN WINCHESTER, MICK JACKSON JOINED No.1 SECTION, 7 PLATOON, B COMPANY 3RGJ IN CELLE, GERMANY. I HAD THE HONOUR TO BE THE COMMANDER OF THAT SCURVEY CREW. NOT YET EIGHTEEN, MICK SLOTTED INTO THE GROUP LIKE A CARTRIDGE SLIDING INTO A WELL-OILED BREECH. THERE SEEMED TO BE NO "TRIAL PERIOD." HE WAS JUST THERE, DEAD KEEN, AND READY TO DO ANYTHING AT THE DROP OF A HAT.

THIS RAW ENERGY WAS VERY SOON HARNESSED BY BILLY NETCHER, THE UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION OF BREWING-UP, ON-THE-MOVE.

IN THE BACK OF A 432 ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER CAREERING AT TOP SPEED ACROSS SOLTAU TRAINING AREA MICK AND NETCH WOULD BREW UP ON A No.2 PETROL STOVE AND A 1 GALLON BILLYCAN.

NETCH. "MMMICK, HOLD THE FFF******' STOVE STEADY"

MICK. "PISS OFF NETCH, I AM HOLDING IT STEADY, JUST MAKE THE BLOODY TEA"

NETCH (THIS DIRECTED AT RAY PEA****, THE DRIVER.)" RAY, SSSLOW DOWN, AND TRY TO MISS AT LEAST ONE BUMP, WE'RE TRYING TO BBBREW UP BACK HERE, Y'KNOW.

HOW THEY DIDN'T BLOW US ALL TO KINGDOM COME AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY, OR SCALD THEMSELVES AND HALF THE CREW IS BEYOND ALL HUMAN COMPREHENSION.

BUT, THE END RESULT WAS ALWAYS A SCALDING-HOT, BLACK PLASTIC MUG OF STRONG SWEET TEA THE COLOUR OF BROWN PAPER. AND, IF A "NIGHT PATROL" HAD GONE WELL A SPAM OR CORNED BEEF SANDWICH, DELICATELY CARVED WITH A CLASP KNIFE, WITH TRADEMARK DIESEL, PETROL AND SOLTAU MUD-FLAVOURED FINGERPRINTS ON IT, THRUST UP INTO THE TURRET AND DRIVING COMPARTMENT. NO GOURMAND OR GOURMET EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF SUCH MEALS THAT MICK AND NETCH TURNED OUT FOR CALLSIGN 23A ! MEMORIES...

I CANNOT BEGIN TO GUESS JUST HOW MUCH MIKE MEANT TO HIS WHOLE FAMILY, NOR HOW SORROWFUL THEY MUST BE AT HIS PASSING. I FEEL FOR YOU ALL IN MY HEART. FROM ALL MEMBERS OF CALLSIGN 23A, GOODBYE MIKE - YOU WERE A "ONE OFF"

JOHNNY Mc.