My Canadian back-woods friend Chad Clifford has just started up his own bushcraft and nature lore school “Wilderness Rhythms” in Ontario, having returned south after five years in the Arctic with the Inuktiut eskimos, learning directly from them how to build kayaks, igloos and survive in the harshest of all environments.
I first met Chad during filming of the BBC 2 Bare Necessities series, when he made fire-making using a fire bow look literally as easy as striking matches. (The secret is using Nature’s own fire lighters – tiny scraps of the right varieties of lichen which flash up very quickly into a flame).
For a really interesting holiday and learning experience second-to-none, I recommend getting in touch with Chad. It’s equally fun in the winter snow, or just plain messing about in boats (canoes) during those long, hot summers in the lakes.
15 comments
Manuel Lempa says:
26 January 2012 at 3:01 pm (UTC 0)
Dear Mr. McManners,
I am a German and lived near Münster in North Rhine Westphalia. In my youth I have had frequent contact with British soldiers. 1989 was a great exercise of the 1st Armoured Division (UK) “White Rhino” and British guests were with us (RECCE Land Rover). One soldier showed me his SA80. Was a great experience. Since I employed the former British Army of the Rhine. Accordingly, I am also interested the Falklands War. My question: Is there any literature in German on the Falklands conflict and BAOR?
I’m interested in the British Army, but my english is bad anyway
Thank you, though.
best regards
Manuel
Hugh McManners says:
30 January 2012 at 5:44 pm (UTC 0)
Dear Mr Lempa,
Thanks for getting in touch. I don’t know if there is anything about the Falklands in German. There’s quite a lot in Spanish, but not much of this is about the British side of things! How do you feel about the British Army finally leaving Germany?
Manuel Lempa says:
31 January 2012 at 6:22 pm (UTC 0)
Hello Mr. McManner,
Thank you for your reply. I find it very sad that the British Army is leaving Germany. She had become a part of our society. The exit of the British army will leave a hole. The young people in Germany find it ok. They do not know why there are British troops in Germany because it is a young generation. Also during my four years as a soldier, I have been in contact with British soldiers. But that just passes the time and life is change. Nice that the memories remain.
They were stationed in Germany? When and where? I’ve lived in the vicinity of Soest, between Munster and Paderborn. There was the 3rd Armoured Division (UK) in Körbeke – North Rhine Westphalia.
Nick van der Bijl says:
2 January 2012 at 10:52 pm (UTC 0)
Dear McManners
By way of intro, I am former Int Corps and was posted to HQ 3 Cdo Bde during Op Corporate. I am also an author with about ten books published, all military history and numerous articles in security and military periodicals. I am also a Trustee of the Mil Int Museum.
I have been asked by the periodical Britain At War, who are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the campaign, to describe the action against Argentine Combat Team Eagle at Port San Carlos and on Fanning Head. I shall be basing the article on the handwritten account of Lt Esteban, which we found in Stanley after the surrender and orders given to him at Goose Green. I didn’t question any of the Fanning Hill Mob until 3 Para picked up a sergeant the following day. He gave a substantial amount of of info on Goose Green. To support the article, I wonder if I could use the series of photos p96 to 97 and also the sketch facing p99. I would be happy to pay.
I look forward to hearing from you
Nick van der Bijl BEM .
Hugh McManners says:
9 January 2012 at 10:48 am (UTC 0)
Dear Nick,
I thought we were on first name terms – from when we met at the IWM reception.
An interesting article. If you’re talking about the photos of my team waiting in HMS Plymouth to be flown in, they were taken by Lt Col Keith Eave. so he’d be the man to talk with.
But haven’t you got my email address – maybe you could scan the pics you need and email them to me,
All best,
Hugh
John Grant says:
28 September 2011 at 10:35 pm (UTC 0)
Hi , I hope you can help, I believe you wrote the Royal Marines book following 638 troop , ??
I am desperately looking for a copy , can you give me any help ????
Many thanks
John
Hugh McManners says:
26 October 2011 at 11:29 am (UTC 0)
Hi John,
Sorry not to have picked this up until now. I’ve got some hardbacks and paperbacks. Let me know which you’d like. I’ll have to work out a price including postage/package so let me know your address. As the commando course remains the same (you can never get too much of a good thing), this book is still avidly read at Lympstone!
All best, Hugh
Martin carroll says:
10 June 2011 at 8:43 pm (UTC 0)
Hello Hugh ,
I was just wondering if you are going to do another forgotten voices of the Falklands? I was on hms avenger during the conflict working on the bridge I have some fantastic stories if you are going to do another book? I witnessed the last exocet attack on the task group and other action during that time
Thanks for your time and regards
Martin
Hugh McManners says:
20 June 2011 at 2:27 pm (UTC 0)
Hello Martin,
I am thinking of adding to it. BUt there are so many stories to be told, and all you can achieve in a 130k word book is a terribly small part of it.
You could write your story down and email it to me. I’m thinking of creating a website where people could post their stories. I’m sure by using ARRSe for example to encourage others to do the same, a much better story archive could be created.
Would you be interested in contributing to that – and maybe getting your comrades to do the same?
Very best,
Hugh
martin carroll says:
1 October 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC 0)
thanks you I will send you some
cheers
martin
Phil Eyers says:
9 June 2011 at 3:10 pm (UTC 0)
hello Hugh,i don,t know if you are the right man to talk to but its a start,an old uncle of mine(sadly no longer with us)was one of the orinagal sbs members,he told me some fantastic stories from learning to jump out of a plane to sailing an old converted trawler making into a gunboat.He trained with Anders Larsen and was with him when Larsen was killed,if this and a few more stories are of any intrest to you please let me know as i am trying to find out more about his wartime escapades which were many,his name was Jack(john)Brewerton.i hope i may hear from you,
regards. phil eyers.
Hugh McManners says:
20 June 2011 at 2:21 pm (UTC 0)
Hi Phil,
Sorry not to get back to you until now.
The best thing to do would be to write down all you can remember, then do your own research. If it’s any help to you, I could post your results here on my site, which might in turn attract the attention of others who might have other pieces of the story. They could do the same thing, and the story could grow – a bit like WIkipedia.
Let me know if you think that might help,
All best,
Hugh
orientalnipper says:
19 March 2011 at 3:30 pm (UTC 0)
Dear Mr. McManners,
i’m joe, i bought the book backpacker’s handbook about a month ago. it’s quite good. i’ve always wanted to travel somewhere but i just don’t have the time.
you know what i’m preparing for my college entrance examination to be held in June, and i’m so tired.
thank you for your book which take me out of that stress. and i’m planing to go to Australia after the big exam.
could you give me some advice on where to go and what hotels i should select or something. i’ll go with three other people.
sorry for my poor english.
liz scott says:
26 November 2010 at 8:37 pm (UTC 0)
Dear Mr. McManners,
The story of the three teens adrift in the South Pacific caught my attention yesterday and I believe I heard you commenting on the BBC World Service.
My father, Freddie Fuller (1911-1993) sailed for the Alfred Holt shipping line out of Liverpool. In August 1943, his ship the MV Medon was torpedoed in the South Atlantic and he and 16 crew were adrift in a lifeboat for 35 days. The ship that rescued them was in turn torpedoed, and he and his crew spent four more days in a life-raft before being picked up by a sailing ship out of the Caribbean. Freddie Fuller was decorated for leadership and safeguarding the lives of his men.
The reason that I am contacting you is that I have my father’s original hand-written log of this experience, together with his reflections and suggestions for improving survival for sailors in the merchant fleet. I wonder if you would have any interest in these materials? I would love to share them with someone who might have a professional interest. The wartime stories of the Merchant Marine have received little attention in the history-telling of WW2.
Freddie Fuller went on to be warden at Outward Bound, Aberdyfi.
Yours sincerely,
Liz Scott
Hugh McManners says:
2 December 2010 at 5:37 am (UTC 0)
Hi Liz,
We’re tried to email you, but the address we’ve got for you bounces back. COuld you confirm the email address you gave us please?
All best, Hugh