Cold War British Army "stay behinds" - Live at the Imperial War Museum London (440)

The Royal Artillery's Special Observation Post Troop during the Cold War is examined through the experiences of veteran Colin Ferguson. The conversation explores the troop's formation in 1982 to address a capability gap in targeting Warsaw Pact forces, detailing their role in digging in behind enemy lines to direct artillery fire on follow-on forces. Ferguson recounts the rigorous selection process, emphasizing the balance of physical fitness, map-reading skills, and trainability, as well as the intense training, including vehicle recognition, HF signals, and survival techniques. He shares insights into the harsh realities of deployment, describing the construction and occupation of "Mexie" shelters and forward observation posts near the inner German border, including the challenges of maintaining concealment and enduring weeks in cramped, unsanitary conditions.