Cpl Reg Southern had a beautiful voice and was much in demand for sing songs and parties.
Lieutenant Peter Bracewell commanded 6 Troop at this time. He was a Lancashire lad, and could use just the right accent to request Sam to pick up his musket.
Norman Hughes was in the Squadron Admin Troop, and beat a mean rhythm on the drums
The "Officers' Mess sketch involved most of the officers and Mess staff, and made it clear that all the rest of the Squadron's suspicions about what went on the mess were true; pinching the men's cigarettes and booze, and fraternizing with local frauleins. One has to say, though, that if they could come at the frauleins Major John Hodges and Capt Roger Long in drag they must have been very drunk at the time.
Johnny Trotter (left) was one of the 3-ton truck drivers, a man of irrepressible spirit. He and Bill Holyoake, nicknamed "Holy Smoke" (right), formed a very enjoyable comedy duo.
Bill Holyoake was the corporal in charge of the squadron technical stores, all those things needed to keep tanks and trucks on the road. He had a long lugubrious face, perhaps as a result of his onerous task of trying to satisfy all his customers. The lugubrious face, however, came alight when he smiled, and he had a wonderful sense of humour.
Bill Holyoake performs on his own as "The Vicar of Mirth".
Our Master of Ceremonies: Fred Hackett of 7 Troop was normally a quiet man but a very conscientious soldier.
By June 1945 the original squadron band had lost some of its members, but was still a good unit. Corporal Harry Wall, the squadron electrician, was the guitar, Bill Holyoake (a versatile man) the drums, Ralph Pearson the piano, and Bobby Stewart the violin.
Berry Veale signs a program for an apparently bashful Kellett
Members of the Sergeants' Mess watch the show. Seated are:- Sgt Busty Nuttall (holding program); SQMS George Rathke, and Sgt Taffy Jones. Busty was the squadron cook, and a very good one; George had been troop sergeant of 9 Troop before moving to C Squadron on promotion; and Taffy had performed well in the Hill 112 battle. Standing along the wall at the back are (from left to right): Sgt Bill Minton, SSM Tommo Tomlinson, Sgt Tom Anderson, Sgt Butch Robinson, and Sgt Ivor Dyer.
Seated at the table are Ernie Nightingale, Cpl Norman Fraser, Bert Walkling, and Brown
The lads laugh at the officers' sketch