Blast from the past

SIR – Wg Cdr Martin Mayer’s letter (April 10) reminded me of my own experience in 1959 as an 11-year-old, when my father was based at Ty Croes Army camp in Anglesey.

I used to spend many a happy hour clambering around the rocks and cliffs along the shoreline. On one occasion, unknown to me at the time, the red flag had gone up on the firing range, which was behind me.

The soldiers (doing their National Service) opened up with Sten and Bren guns. I could see the spouts out at sea where the bullets were landing. Every now and again a bullet would be deflected through the targets and hit the rocks around me.

I stayed very still until the shooting stopped and then went home for my dinner. I didn’t tell my mum.

Mike Mullan

Hove, East Sussex