Life as a British Soldier in Cold War West Berlin (114)

Mar 21, 2020

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Anthony enlisted in the British Army in 1987 and after 9 months he was posted to West Berlin.

He tells the story of life as a Private in Berlin from the drinking (and the fighting) to the urban warfare training in Ruhleben & Dough Boy City. We also hear of the reality of knowing that should the Cold War have turned hot his life expectancy would have been in hours.

It’s also a tale of tragedy and the forgotten casualties of the Cold War where injury and death could come even in peacetime. Two of Anthony’s fellow soldiers died during his two-year tour of Berlin and we’d like to dedicate this episode to remembering Lance-Corporal Ian Fleming and Lance-Corporal Mick Quayle. We thank them for their service.

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Back to today’s episode, we start with Anthony’s schooldays and end with his experiences in Berlin the night the Wall opened. I found this really entertaining story and I’m sure you will too.

We welcome Anthony to our Cold War conversation…

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