Page 26 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 57

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

he recalled ‘we were able to move Major Andy Johnston’s
forward once again, and at the first
rendezvous we were met by friendly time in Iraq
Burmese people, the first we had seen in
all of the campaign. We were delighted
when they presented us with a good Editor: I am grateful to Major Andy Johnston for sending me some of his recollections
supply of fresh salad ingredients; lettuce, of his time spent with the Iraqi Army in 2011. He mentions that he ‘borrowed’ about
cucumbers and tomatoes. This was the 5 tons of white stone from the Americans and donated this and some ISO containers to
first sign of fresh food for months. It the wives of Iraqi personnel who then started to growing vegetables in them. I feel sure
tasted delicious; a grand change from that the Americans will appreciate that their white stone is being put to good use.
dried ingredients.’
With victory in August 1945,
Chapman returned to India and then OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2011
to the United Kingdom in June 1946. It was Christmas in the desert, the sand had turned to snow,
On his return Chapman was posted to Our presents at the roadside, a place where brave men go.
the Engineers Stores Central Depot They sit there oh so patiently, with a beady little eye,
(ESCD) at Long Marston, Yorkshire. A gift that is so deadly, awaiting trucks to trundle by.
Although only at the depot for two
months he impressed the messing officer For food and drink these brave men go almost every single day,
who wrote that Corporal Chapman ‘has It is their job, THEY MUST GET THROUGH, whatever’s in their way.
proved himself a very hardworking and The driver drives, the lookout looks, eyes searching all the time,
thoughtful assistant. He has been NCO A cardboard box, a pile of dung, tin can or washing line.
i/c cookhouses and catered for some
1100 men to my utmost satisfaction. The hours pass, the evening comes……they finally arrive,
I confidently recommend him to his They rest, they smoke, they drink, they chat……good trip they all surmise.
future employers as a valuable assistant A job well done, they are content, now hungry as can be.
and suggest that he would do well in the Hot crispy bacon, fresh bread rolls and lashings of HP.
catering line. I shall be very sorry to lose
his services’. Sustained, refuelled and loaded up, it`s time to head off back,
After discharge from the Army in The lights are on, the eyes are pealed, same way or faster track?
1946, James Chapman continued in the Same way they say, “it was quite safe”, not subject to attack.
catering trade, first finding employment Two cans tonight, it`s Saturday, before they hit the sack.
as an assistant chef at a Birmingham
hotel and later as head chef for a Working as a team again they slowly wend their way,
Marshall & Snelgrove Department Scouring every lump and bump, ensuring it`s ok.
Store. Afterwards he opened his own
café and later worked for Birmingham The seconds turn to minutes, the minutes then to hours.
Council until retirement. He remained The lookout calls out “Stop the Truck” for a lovely bunch of flowers.
a lifelong member of the Army Catering No flowers in the desert, are slightly out of place.
He trains his eyes more closely as the sweat runs down his face.
Corps Association.
James Chapman hand-written recipe book A bit of tinsel, a bit of twine is all that he can see.
A Christmas gift, back of a lorry type, to the likes of you and me.
But they were not there before he ponders, using the back of the vehicle for cover,
So why are they here now he thinks, so cold, no time to shudder.

He raises up his rifle and fires one well aimed shot,
The place erupts with fire and smoke spewing deadly shrapnel, razor sharp and hot.
It zings and smashes into the van, cutting and slashing through the air,
Designed to burn and maim and kill, it really does not care.
It hisses as it hits the snow, white hot, then red then black,
He crouches down protects his eyes, for the end of the attack.

“Nice one lad” the Corporal shouts, now get back in the van.
Special treat tonight for you my boy, you can have the extra can.

Andy Johnston
Mentor in Logistics and Engineering for The 10th Iraqi Army Division - 2011

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