AS Territorials mobilised for service in the Gulf, I was reminded of the occasion I was recalled to the Royal Navy - by accident.

I arrived home from work to find a buff envelope awaiting me. Heavily printed on it were the ominous words "URGENT.MOBILISATION."

Inside were my instructions, complete with a railway warrant. I was to report immediately on board HMS Flying Fox at Mardyke Wharf, Bristol, taking full kit with me.

I knew Flying Fox which was headquarters ship of Severn Division of the RNVR, but why this flap?

It was most unusual for Saturday Night Sailors to be mobilised without the formality of a Royal Proclamation.

There was certainly consternation over communist forces advancing across China and the Russians had so far failed to return the battleship Royal Sovereign, loaned to them during the war.

I was still assembling my kit when a telegram arrived cancelling the order. I later learnt that mobilisation papers were always at the ready and normally kept under lock and key but details were checked every month.

It seems this check was in progress and, in the same office, monthly orders were being prepared for despatch. Apparently the monthly orders were mistakenly locked away in the safe and the wrong batch of envelopes put in the post.

No one realised what had happened until the first rating arrived, dropped his kitbag at the top of the gangway, saluted and announced: " I'm here."

JOHN HINTON,

Worcester.