bobdina
08-14-2009, 08:08 AM
News Article
Identical Army twins retire after 100 years of service
A People In Defence news article
12 Aug 09
Identical twins from Scotland have notched up an incredible 100 years of Army service between them in careers that have been as identical as they are.
Jimmie (left) and Ron James
Majors Jimmie and Ron James, aged 65, both joined the Army on the same day, and were promoted on the same day (almost) through every rank in their careers, culminating in them both serving as Regimental Sergeants Major, and then being commissioned as officers.
And, in their own tradition, they both retired on the same day at the end of July 2009.
Jimmie and Ron were both born in 1944 and grew up in New Pitsligo, in Buchan, Aberdeenshire. They both joined the Army at the same time, aged 15, after seeing an advert:
"We both wanted to learn a trade," said Jimmie, "so we wrote off immediately."
The brothers joined the Army Apprentices School in Harrogate in September 1959 aged 15, and never looked back. In 1962, they passed out of the school and went on to have their unique careers.
The brothers chose to join the Royal Armoured Corps, working with tanks and armoured vehicles for better career prospects, and the rest is history. Jimmie continued:
"We were both promoted on the same day, five months after joining the 10th Royal Hussars in Paderborn in Germany.
"After that, we were promoted to the same rank on the same day for every rank in our career, except Warrant Officer Class 1, but not too far apart."
In 1986 the brothers were commissioned as late entry officers, Jimmie into the Royal Army Medical Corps, as Staff Officer to the Colonel Commandant in London, and Ron into the Army Air Corps, as the Operations Officer for 1 Regiment Army Air Corps in Germany.
They even married within one month of each other.
The twins spent most of their careers with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland's only cavalry (tank) regiment and most senior regiment, and spent most of their time in Germany, where the regiment is still based.
Throughout their remarkable careers, Ron and Jimmie have served in Aden (both saw service in the Radfan), Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada (Jimmie went as an exchange officer to the Canadian Forces in Ontario), and all over the rest of the UK.
But both agree that it was their tours as Regimental Sergeants Major (RSM), the most senior rank a non-commissioned soldier can reach, which were the highlights of their careers; Jimmie as RSM of The Royal Yeomanry in London and Ron as the RSM of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps in Detmold, Germany, and then the Staff College in Camberley. Ron said:
"I have never regretted one second. The reason we did so well was that we were so scared of being booted out of the Army for doing something wrong that we stuck in, never questioned anything, and it served us really well. We also have always had the support of our families."
For the last 14 years, since retiring as a serving officer, Jimmie has worked at the Army's Headquarters in Craigiehall, near Edinburgh, latterly as the Military Administrative Officer (Civilian Hospitals), the Army's link with the NHS and those soldiers being treated in NHS hospitals.
He has been working in this capacity as a MOD civil servant. This earned Jimmie a commendation from the General Officer Commanding of the Army's 2nd Division, General David McDowall, last month.
Similarly, Ron has spent the same time working in Germany, as an Assistant Prosecuting Officer for the Service Prosecuting Authority, which deals with courts martial and all aspects of the military criminal justice system, again as a MOD civil servant.
Between the two of them, they have racked up 100 years' service to the Army, both in and out of uniform. They both retired from their service finally on their 65th birthdays, ending one of the most fascinating and unique family affiliations with the Army and MOD
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/IdenticalArmyTwinsRetireAfter100YearsOfService.htm
Identical Army twins retire after 100 years of service
A People In Defence news article
12 Aug 09
Identical twins from Scotland have notched up an incredible 100 years of Army service between them in careers that have been as identical as they are.
Jimmie (left) and Ron James
Majors Jimmie and Ron James, aged 65, both joined the Army on the same day, and were promoted on the same day (almost) through every rank in their careers, culminating in them both serving as Regimental Sergeants Major, and then being commissioned as officers.
And, in their own tradition, they both retired on the same day at the end of July 2009.
Jimmie and Ron were both born in 1944 and grew up in New Pitsligo, in Buchan, Aberdeenshire. They both joined the Army at the same time, aged 15, after seeing an advert:
"We both wanted to learn a trade," said Jimmie, "so we wrote off immediately."
The brothers joined the Army Apprentices School in Harrogate in September 1959 aged 15, and never looked back. In 1962, they passed out of the school and went on to have their unique careers.
The brothers chose to join the Royal Armoured Corps, working with tanks and armoured vehicles for better career prospects, and the rest is history. Jimmie continued:
"We were both promoted on the same day, five months after joining the 10th Royal Hussars in Paderborn in Germany.
"After that, we were promoted to the same rank on the same day for every rank in our career, except Warrant Officer Class 1, but not too far apart."
In 1986 the brothers were commissioned as late entry officers, Jimmie into the Royal Army Medical Corps, as Staff Officer to the Colonel Commandant in London, and Ron into the Army Air Corps, as the Operations Officer for 1 Regiment Army Air Corps in Germany.
They even married within one month of each other.
The twins spent most of their careers with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland's only cavalry (tank) regiment and most senior regiment, and spent most of their time in Germany, where the regiment is still based.
Throughout their remarkable careers, Ron and Jimmie have served in Aden (both saw service in the Radfan), Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada (Jimmie went as an exchange officer to the Canadian Forces in Ontario), and all over the rest of the UK.
But both agree that it was their tours as Regimental Sergeants Major (RSM), the most senior rank a non-commissioned soldier can reach, which were the highlights of their careers; Jimmie as RSM of The Royal Yeomanry in London and Ron as the RSM of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps in Detmold, Germany, and then the Staff College in Camberley. Ron said:
"I have never regretted one second. The reason we did so well was that we were so scared of being booted out of the Army for doing something wrong that we stuck in, never questioned anything, and it served us really well. We also have always had the support of our families."
For the last 14 years, since retiring as a serving officer, Jimmie has worked at the Army's Headquarters in Craigiehall, near Edinburgh, latterly as the Military Administrative Officer (Civilian Hospitals), the Army's link with the NHS and those soldiers being treated in NHS hospitals.
He has been working in this capacity as a MOD civil servant. This earned Jimmie a commendation from the General Officer Commanding of the Army's 2nd Division, General David McDowall, last month.
Similarly, Ron has spent the same time working in Germany, as an Assistant Prosecuting Officer for the Service Prosecuting Authority, which deals with courts martial and all aspects of the military criminal justice system, again as a MOD civil servant.
Between the two of them, they have racked up 100 years' service to the Army, both in and out of uniform. They both retired from their service finally on their 65th birthdays, ending one of the most fascinating and unique family affiliations with the Army and MOD
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/IdenticalArmyTwinsRetireAfter100YearsOfService.htm