Sandbach veteran relives his military career at 60th anniversary event marking end of National Service
By Deborah Bowyer
21st May 2023 | Local News
A Sandbach veteran relived his army days at a service with HRH The Princess Royal marking the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service.
Bernard Preston and his wife Irene were lucky enough to attend the Royal British Legion's event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent.
(Photo: Bernard Preston)
The Royal British Legion invited more than 400 National Service veterans and their families to participate in 'Remembering National Service – 60 years on', a commemorative event in Staffordshire, part of the RBL group of charities.
And for Bernard, a retired Rolls Royce director who grew up in Elworth, Sandbach, it brought back memories of his time from 1959 – 1961 completing his National Service.
"I served in Germany in REME LAD (Light Aid Detachment)," said the 85-year-old from Congleton Road.
Bernard, second in from the right, marching during his National Service days. (Photo: Bernard Preston)
"These major divisional units are capable of quick repairs at the point of failure. I was attached to the Queen's Dragoon Guard at Wolfenbüttel Camp on the then East/West German Border.
"I also accompanied the Regiment on border patrols from Helmstedt, through the Harz Mountains to Goslar. It was a great experience. The regiment did 24hr patrols so we had to support that quite often.
"We could see the troops on the other side in trenches, following us with machine guns, but oddly it never felt overly dangerous. This was the height of the Cold War, so our main purpose was to prepare for any Russian attack.
(Photo: Bernard Preston)
"In the event of this outcome, our role was to retreat and blow all the bridges behind us and then form a defensive line against them. We practised this regularly, we were constantly drilled, so there was no time to be tense or apprehensive.
"I am grateful for my time in the Army, because I acquired a good level of technical knowledge, as well as the confidence and ability to manage, so I went on to hold Director positions later in my career at Rolls Royce.
"I had just served my time as a fitter at Rolls Royce and got onto full pay so the timing was not great but it was an experience I will never forget and one I'm very grateful for. It was something I didn't want to do, but I'm glad I did it.
"When you've been in the Army, the Army is always in you, I still feel the urge to march whenever I hear a pipe band. I'm pleased the Royal British Legion marked this occasion. It was a wonderful event."
National Service was completed between 1947 and 1963 by able bodied men aged 17-21 years old. More than two million men were conscripted following the end of the Second World War, with 395 National Servicemen killed during their service.
Bernard Preston today. (Photo: Bernard Preston)
While National Service ended in 1960, those who had deferred their service still needed to complete it. The last known National Serviceman to be demobbed was Second Lieutenant Richard Vaughan, Royal Army Pay Corps who was discharged on 16th May 1963.
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