No Escape From The Cupboard — Part 22
REGIMENTAL REUNION — AN UPLIFTING STORY
I have been having difficulties trying to get the hang of the Regimental Reunion. I guess I was hoping to re-forge old friendships and share stories with these funny, noisy, boisterous people I missed from all those years ago.
My comunication skills are not terribly good, but I think I have managed to start getting it together. Last night was a schnitzel buffet. A real gut-buster. The arrangements and hospitality are really very generous. I finally managed to start talking to people and having a bit of fun. I broke my resolve not to drink too much. Alas. Had several beers. Mind you, so did almost everyone else, so I am in good company.
This morning, over breakfast, I was approached by Jock Wardlaw. He asked I might be interested in hearing his story. I nearly bit his hand off in accepting. We arranged to rendezvous out in the marquee.
IAN ‘JOCK’ WARDLAW’S STORY:
Jock served in 94 Regiment roughly the same time as me. I was in from 1974–1979. He was in from November 1972 until December 1982
One night in 1974, in the Coyote Bar, Jock met a girl and they hit it off. Her name was Karen. Very quickly, they decided they wanted to get married. Karen was separated from her first husband, a warder at the local prison. Also, she had a six-month-old daughter, Claudia.
Jock and Karen married in 1976 and were immediately posted to Benbecula.
Just in case you don’t know, Benbecula is beyond Ultima Thule. Which is to say, one of the remotest Hebridean Islands. Very remote. Not renowned for it’s cosmopolital social life or facilities. Population: Not very many. Diversions: Nil.
That was the first strain on the relationship. But they survived, and after three months returned to Celle to live in quarters in Marienwerder, and then Kosliner Weg.
Jock left the army in 1982 and they rented a flat in Westercelle. By this time, Jock’s step-daughter, Claudia would be about 8 years old.
Sadly, the marriage went wrong. Jock and Karen separated. Jock returned to live in Blighty. That was the last contact he had with Karen or Claudia. At least, that was the last contact for 34 years.
5 weeks ago, Jock was contacted by Pete Ricketts, now living in Australia (or Dubai, as the case may be). Pete told Jock that Claudia was one of his Facebook Friends. He would be happy to put them in touch.
Jock hesitated for a fortnight. He was unsure quite what to do. However, he composed a message in English and translated it into flawless German. He posted the message three weeks ago and Claudia replied almost immediately. They have been in constant touch ever since.
Jock flew in on Wednesday evening and was met at Hanover Airport by Claudia and her husband. Later he also met the three girls. They have met every day.
Jock didn’t mind telling me that he burst into tears. He is proud of his beautiful step-daughter and her lovely family.

By the time he finished his tale he had me crying as well.
This is an important thing about the power of reunions like this. They are not just a chance to get together with old comrades, get riotously drunk and tell war stories. They also have the capacity to be about much more important things. They can be the catalyst to bring people back together.
They have the power to change people’s lives. Not necessarily in big, dramatic ways, but in small ways that can be much more important than the big and the dramatic.
I thanked Jock very much for his bravery, honesty and generosity in sharing this story.
I now realise my real reason for coming here. I now realise why I was so upset when I had to leave. I am going to be so upset when I leave again on Tuesday.
