Source: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/dont-you-step-hob-nail-boots-4829828Don’t you, step on my hob-nail boots
UPDATED 00:08, 3 JUL 2013 BY GETSURREY
Who is that with Elvis?
THE guy on the right of this picture is instantly recognisable, but who’s that with him?
Elvis Presley did his national service with the US Army in Germany between 1960 and 1961. And while there it seems that he posed for pictures with fans from the UK who were also “doing their bit” in uniform.
Michael Flowers from Guildford owns this picture and takes up the story. “Back in the Sixties my father-in-law, Arthur Ford, was the manager of Taylors, a subsidiary of Kodak that was based in the Rodboro Buildings on the corner of Onslow Street and Bridge Street.
“The firm printed photographs and one day this picture came through the system.
“Knowing that I was an avid Elvis fan, he made a copy for me. I have kept it all these years, but have no idea who the British soldier is.”
As Taylors printed up local people’s pictures, it is just possible that the soldier or his family came from the West Surrey area.
We would be interested in hearing from anyone who recognises him. Call chief sub-editor David Rose on 01483 508920.
Source: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/meet-king-rock-n-roll-4841524Off to meet the king of rock ’n’ roll
UPDATED 21:17, 2 JUL 2013 BY GETSURREY
Elvis in his Jeep
THE mystery soldier pictured in the Surrey Advertiser last week with Elvis Presley is Reg Tamplin, who was a national serviceman with the Queen’s Royal Regiment.
But that’s not the end of the story. A number of people called and they’ve supplied a lot more as why a Tommy got his pictured taken with the king of rock ’n’ roll.
Mick Coppinger of Guildford was also a national serviceman with the 1st Battalion of the Queen’s regiment stationed in the then West Germany. He recognised the soldier with Elvis, and although he could not remember his name, he said: “We were based at Iserlohn near Dortmund. Our lieutenant colonel was a guy by the name of Lloyd Owen who had been a real war hero.” Lloyd Owen set the young lads a kind of initiative test whereby they had to go off (often in pairs) to various destinations.
The extent of their travelling depended on their ingenuity. All they had to travel with was a small amount of money and a letter proving that they were British servicemen.
Mick ended up in Copenhagen, while others made it back to Britain (and then back to Germany again), while some, it seems, didn’t roam so far but went in search of someone famous, such as Elvis Presley.
Tina Hall of Guildford called to say that she also has a copy of the same photo that appeared here last week as well as another picture of another soldier pictured with Elvis!
British National ServiceMan George Norris with Elvis
At about the time that these photos were taken she was working at Young’s chemist shop at the bottom of North Street in Guildford.
It appears that the negatives has been sent there for copies to be made and, being an Elvis fan, Tina was allowed to have a couple of extra prints made for herself.
And Bob Jordan of Bisley has come forward to complete the story. He too met Elvis while he did his national service with the Queen’s regiment.
He said: “Last week’s picture shows Reg Tamplin. I last met him six years ago at a regiment reunion. At that time he was living in Basingstoke.”
Bob has a copy of the same picture and a copy of the picture of another Tommy with Elvis.
“That is George Norris,” said Bob. “The two of them went off in search of Elvis and found him at his base near the town of Bad Nauheim.”
Bob said the pictures were taken in mid-1959. A few weeks later Bob himself went in search of Elvis.
Of his encounter with the King, he now takes up the story: “Our initiative test lasted seven days. A pal, Brian Donald, and myself decided to head for Lake Geneva.
“We hitched lifts in various modes of transport. One of which was a VW camper. The driver was very talkative and as we passed through different cities and places he told us about the destruction the Allies had inflicted on them during the war.
“We decided to make a detour to Bad Nauheim, hoping to meet Elvis, like Reg and George had, but we were not very hopeful of our chances.
“We arrived at Elvis’s camp at a place called Ray Barracks at Friedberg and were allowed to stay there the night. We were told that Elvis rented a house just outside the town and were given a lift there. We then knocked on his door.
“A very large bodyguard with ginger hair answered. He told us that Elvis was not in but that he would be back at the base the following morning.
“As we left, a Volkswagen Beetle drove past with four US soldiers in it. Unbeknown to us at the time, Elvis was one of them. Evidently his car always drove past his house as there were often up to 20 people (mainly girls) hanging about outside. When this was the case, the car went around the back and Elvis had to climb over a fence to get in by the back door.
“After a good night’s sleep at the US base in what seemed like a luxury flat, we enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast.
“We were then told that Elvis was about to collect his jeep from the motor-transport park.
“I had a little box brownie camera that was quite difficult to focus. Also, the weather, being very overcast with light drizzle, was against me. I kept my fingers crossed as this was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The house Elvis rented in West Germany and his BMW car
“After about 10 minutes, Elvis arrived on his own. He was very polite. He told us that he wanted to visit England some day. I asked him whether I could take a couple of photos and he obliged by jumping into his jeep and waited until I took three snaps. He then said he was sorry because he had to leave as someone was waiting for him. He wished us good luck and waved as he drove off. From that moment I hardly let go of the camera until the film was developed.
“Once back at Iserlohn, I took the film into the NAFFI shop. A few days later I went back with my fingers again crossed and found to my delight that the pictures had come out okay. I then had a number of prints made for others in my company. It was a talking point for weeks!
“I’d say that Elvis was far better looking in real life than in any film or in pictures of him that I had seen.
“He was very easy to talk to. I noticed what looked like an inoculation mark on his left cheek and on his left hand he was wearing a huge ring.”
Of course, Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, never did get to perform a concert in the UK.
Elvis Presley and the US Army
THE US Army Centre of Military History website states that Elvis Aron Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, on March 24, 1958.
He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960, and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964.
During his active military career Elvis served as a member of two different armor battalions. Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, he belonged to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. During this assignment he completed basic and advanced military training.
His overseas service took place in the then West Germany from October 1, 1958, until March 2, 1960, as a member of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor. For the first five days of that period he belonged to Company D of the battalion, and thereafter to the battalion's Headquarters Company at Friedberg.
While in West Germany Elvis wore the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 3d Armored Division.
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