Living Underground: The Reality of Stay Behind MEXE Shelters

Our guest on Pod #004 is Sammy Nicholls.  Kev and Colin talk to Sammy about joining the Army in 1980 and subsequently volunteering for the Special Observer selection course in 1984. 

In this episode we cover the challenges of siting and digging in large underground hides known as mexes and the forward deployment of two sub surface observation posts (OPs).  Sammy describes the routine in the Mexes and OPs which was for a period of up to three weeks until such time Soviet forces has passed over or supplies had expired.   Patrols would then conduct a long exfiltration over a number of days back to friendly lines.  Also covered is the patrol equipment used at the time including optics and weapons. 

We finish with Sammy's book choice on Desert Island dits Battle Scars by Jason Fox. And film The Great Escape.

Recommendations from the team include Worst Journey In The World by Apsley Cherry - Garrard who took part in Capt Scott’s Antarctic polar expedition over the period 1910 - 13 and described polar exploration as “at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time that has ever been devised”.  Finally a book called Undercover by Patrick Howarth which  is the history of the Special Operations Executive during the second world war, the volunteers and training and the very basic equipment. 

We also highlight The Big Walk initiative.  Devised by Tim Richardson an ex Gunner officer and the founder of the Black Isle Group.  Find out more on Tim’s web page at www.thebigwalk.co.uk. 

Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.

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This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.

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