Al bows out after nearly 50 years (From Salisbury Journal)

Al bows out after nearly 50 years

4:21pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Forces focus By David Falcke

TILSHEAD soldier WO2 (RQMS) Arthur “Al” Mundy, 64, based at Netheravon Camp, is ending a 49-year army career which began at such a tender age he was simply known as “The Boy”.

“I was raised in Tilshead, which is surrounded by five military camps, and this environment inspired me to embark upon a career in the armed forces,” explains Al. “As a paperboy, I used to think ‘one day I will be a soldier’ and so that is what I went off and did - and I have been at it ever since.”

Al admits he did not envisage embarking on such a long military career. After being a boy soldier, he had a spell in the Territorial Army before signing up for regular service.

He expected to leave the army after 26 years, but then took another post and has been based at Netheravon Camp ever since. Over the course of such a long military career, Al says he has witnessed many changes to the armed forces.

“The most striking thing is the enhanced welfare provisions soldiers now receive,” he observed. “Technology has also had a huge impact on the role of a young soldier. Soldiers are a higher calibre now because of the equipment they have to use, and this can only be good for the army.”

He now faces a very different life as a civilian.

“I always said I would retire if I ever felt like I didn’t want to get up in the morning,” he said.

“But as it is, I am still here and I still want to get up in the morning - I am up by 6am even though I do not start work until 8am. My 49 years in green have been really good but now is the right time to move on. It has been a long time since I was a civilian and, at 64, I am looking for a career change.”

During the course of his army career, Al has been able to pursue his passion for football. He has previously managed the Aldershot Services team and the Army Football team, and even took the Combined Services Team abroad to Portugal.

He remains committed to the game and is currently the secretary of Amesbury Town Football Club, and secretary of discipline for the Mid-Wiltshire Youth and Minor League.

Al lives in Boscombe Down with his wife Tina, 50, and their son Nathan, 20, who is studying at Southampton University. He also has two sons and two daughters from his first marriage and eight grandchildren aged between two and 19 years old, who are sure to keep him busy in his retirement.

And he already has plans to work part-time as a driver to keep himself occupied. “If I stay at home my wife will give me jobs to do and I will not get paid for them,” he grins.