Swift and Bold Journal 2019

SWIFT

BOLD And

The 2019 Journal of The Royal Green Jackets Association

18th December 1923-12th November 2019 1

2

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Swift and Bold 2019 Contents Foreword by Colonel Carron Snagge OBE DL Chairman RGJA

4

Editorial By Kevin Stevens

5

Royal Green Jackets Association Contacts List

6

Statement by The Chairman re Veterans Day Cancellation

7

Obituary-Field Marshal Lord Bramall KG GCB OBE MC JP

8

Obituary -General Sir Thomas Pearson, KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar

10

The Light Division and Rifles at the NIVA Service of Remembrance 2020

13

Regimental Museum Report

14

Central England Branch Report

17

Oxford Branch Report

20

London Branch Report

22

Winchester and District Branch Report

29

Wiltshire Branch Report

33

Light Division and Rifles Veterans Band Report

34

Yorkshire Branch Report

35

The Buglers Association of the Light Division and Rifles

37

North West Branch Report

39

South East Kent Branch Report

41

Veterans Reunion Winchester 2019

43

OP BANNER 50th Anniversary Commemoration Staffordshire

47

Finding Cpl “Aussie� Fewell 1GJ

49

OP BANNER 50th Anniversary Commemoration Northern Ireland

53

Act of remembrance for 23883510 Rifleman A.R Land 2GJ (KRRC)

54

The Unveiling of the Regimental Memorials Old Cowley Barracks Oxford 56 Fire up the QM 2

58

The Looted Camera - A story from the Great War

64

Seven Metre Bell Target Air Rifle League

65

Forgotten D Day Plaque unveiled in Oxford

67

In Memoriam 2019

69

Front Cover

Back Cover

Field Marshal Lord Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP, DL

The National Memorial Arboretum from a different angle 3

Production team Mr Kevin Stevens Major Michael Leeming Major Mike Gleeson MBE Mrs Janet Gleeson Mr Trevor Anderson Mr Mark Adams Mr Roy Baillie Mr Seamus P Lyons

This publication contains official and personal contact information. It should be treated therefore with discretion by the recipient.

The views expressed in the articles in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Royal Green Jackets Association or the Ministry of Defence.

No responsibility for the goods or services advertised in this journal can be accepted by the publishers, printers or the Royal Green Jackets Association.

Printed By

The Print Guru

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Foreword by Colonel Carron Snagge OBE DL Chairman The Royal Green Jackets Association Coronavirus, inevitably, has caused me to re-write my foreword, just before this magazine goes to press. We are all being affected by this pandemic and it is already making the working of the Royal Green Jacket (RGJ) Association more difficult. Our meetings have all gone on-line and our finances have taken a major hit, which, although we will recover from eventually, will certainly test us this year. The situation reinforces the importance of this magazine, our website and our Facebook page, so please make use of all these sources of information and news. They are more useful than ever as we weather this extraordinary storm.

As most readers will already know, not so long ago we lost two of our most senior and influential Riflemen; Field MarshaI Lord Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP, DL and General Sir Thomas Pearson KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar. Both have obituaries in this edition of Swift and Bold which are well worth reading. They were inspirational founders of our regiment and they have set us extraordinary examples to follow.

Last year most RGJ Association Branches had active programmes and the national reunion in Winchester in July and the NIVA reunion at National Arboretum in September were well attended.

There were also good turnouts of Riflemen at the Remembrance Sunday Parades not only in London and Newcastle but also at memorials all over the country.

Getting together physically will be much more difficult, if not impossible, this Spring and Summer. Sir John Moore and Peninsular Barracks (including the RGJ Museum) have already been closed to visitors. The RGJ Officers’ Club Annual Dinner has been postponed until the Autumn and the RGJ Reunion at Sir John Moore Barracks has been cancelled, with planning already under way for the next reunion in early July 2021.

On behalf of all members of the Royal Green Jacket Association I would like to acknowledge and thank all those who support, contribute, edit and produce this magazine and all those in the association’s Branch Committees, the RGJ Officers’ Club and the RGJ Council, who give up so much time and energy to make our Association as successful as it is. Thank you all.

Hopefully, the Northern Ireland Veterans Association Commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum on 12 September will go ahead and, if it does, it will be especially appropriate, after the long period of social isolation, that as many of us as possible make the effort to attend. We can be assured of an excellent reception after the parade, courtesy of Central England Branch, and many other Branches will arrange transport, as they did last year. It is a great day out and our Regiment is always well represented.

Good luck if you are suffering from the virus or just self-isolating. Keep up to date through the Association’s website and Facebook page and, in the meantime, let’s all look forward to some truly mighty “Survivors’ Reunions” when it is all over!

Swift and Bold

4

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Editorial Like our Chairman I have written and re-written this editorial several times and it is this and the table of contents that are always the very last parts of S&B to be completed.

This evening, like many, my family were out clapping the NHS for the fantastic work they are doing, but when people started belting away on pots and pans my mind drifted back to the early 70s when we were so often received by kindly housewives welcoming us with joy by banging anything noisy in sight on the streets of Northern Ireland! Such happy days! At least nobody is shooting at us this time !!

We receive many photographs for S&B, they cannot all be used or S&B would soon take on the size of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Therefore I use as many as I am able to in each article. I have also included a few as fillers elsewhere within the journal.

calendar entries for 2020 from our branches which I hoped you might find useful, however given that Coronavirus is wreaking such havoc across the UK with cancellations and postponements being announced almost daily I have postponed this until next year.

May I thank all those who help with the production of S&B especially my proof readers Mike, Janet and Trevor and all those who have advertised in, or donated towards the costs of the journal again this year.

Stay safe and let us all hope for a better summer and autumn.

Kevin Stevens

It was also intended to Include this year a few

Corporate Advertising: Andy Hayes Solid Sheds Personal Donations: Robin Thorne

Patrick Dalby

Marius Coulon

Michael Leeming

Christopher Kemball

Carol Gurney

Syd Hopgood

Seamus Lyons

Rod le Couilliard

Alex Price

Paul Arney

Roger Downton

Roy Brown

David C Pitman

Chris Gates

L S Thacker

London Branch

Danny Norris

Charles Goodheart John Jackson

Peter Casson-Crook

Jamie Balfour

Patrick Mitford-Slade

John Coleman

Chris Pond

Bob Herbert

Barney Vivian

Michael Koe

Michael Vince

Michael Chataway

Harry Steel

5

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Royal Green Jackets Association Contacts List 2020 President

Maj Gen James Gordan CB CBE 01962 828524 admin@rgjassociation.info

Chairman

Col Carron Snagge OBE DL

01962 828524 admin@rgjassociation.info

Vice Chairman

Lt Simon Booth-Mason

01962 828524 admin@rgjassociation.info

Secretary

Lt Col Jan-Dirk von Merveldt

02074 924936 London@the-rifles.co.uk

Treasurer

Maj Michael Leeming

07803 341929 michaelleeming@hotmail.com

Membership Secretary

Mr Hugh Goudge

01924 849020 oldsweat@yahoo.co.uk

Webmaster

Capt William Shipton

01256 895719 Bill.shipton@btinternet.com

S&B Editor

Mr Kevin Stevens

01865 452813 admin@rgjassociation.info

Photo History and Branch sites Mr Seamus Lyons

01279 723908 seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info

Database Manager

Mr Roy Baillie

01488 658681 gjadatabase@btinternet.com

Deputy Database Manager

Mr Tony Williamson

07891 367429 rgjadepdatabasemanaer@gmail.com

In Memoriam Board Manager

Mr Mark Adams

01442 380713 mark.adams@rgjassociation.info

Branch

President/Chairman

Secretary/Treasurer

Contact details

Aylesbury

C - Mr Alan Grant

T - Mr Keith Bateman

01296 426765 alanrgrant@aol.com

Buglers Association Lt Div & Rifles

C - Mr Alan Tamblyn

Central England

P - Maj Michael Leeming C - Mr Mark Picken

S - Mr Peter Page T - Mr Guy Mynett

01922 694733 petepage71@hotmail.com

East Midlands

C - Mr Leonard Dooley

S - Mr Martin Coates

01623 239299 martincoates53@yahoo.co.uk

London

P - Col George Smythe OBE

S - Mr Gary Driscoll

01708 442662 rgjldn@ntlworld.com

The Riflemen’s Association north East

P - Capt James Ramsbotham CBE DL S - Darren Roberts C - Mr David Nichol

0191 438 5432. davenichol@nicholassociates.co.uk

North West

P - Lt Col Seam McEvoy BEM C - Mr David Judge

S - Mr Mark Lydiat T - Mr Ray Gerrard

01512 830391 melydiat@yahoo.co.uk

Oxfordshire

P - Brig Robin Draper CVO OBE C - Maj Terry Roper MBE TD

S - Maj Andrew Bowes TD

07773 200085 rgja.oxford@gmail.com

South East Kent

P - Mr Fred Barrett C - Mr Glenn Ternent

S - Mr Robert Newman T - Mr Tony Killelay

01843 297069 geordie_t@btinternet.com

Wiltshire

P - Brig V ere Hayes CBE C - Mr Michael Walsh

S - Mr Gary Byrne T - Mr Bill Tyson

07545 966826 gasa102@gmail.com

Winchester & District

P - Brig Nicholas Prideaux C - Maj Roy Stanger

S - Capt John Fritz– Domeney 07801 386461 or 02380 465829 T - Mr Peter Andrews johnfd2@sky.com

Yorkshire

P - Capt Kit Dollard C - Mr Fred Williams

S - Mr Stuart Anderson T - Mr John Woods

Tel Not Known alan.tamblyn@buglers.co.uk

01757 618081 valerieandeson41@outlook.com

The above information is taken from the Regimental Association Website as at 1st February 2020 6

The Royal Green Jackets Association

CANCELLATION OF THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS VETERANS REUNION SIR JOHN MOORE BARRACKS, WINCHESTER ON 11 JULY 2020.

Having deliberated very carefully within the Royal Green Jackets Council it is with much regret that I announce the cancellation of the Royal Green Jackets Reunion on 11 July 2020 at Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester.

and Peninsular Barracks (including the RGJ Museum).

Planning for next year’s Reunion, probably on 10 July 2021, is already underway so please pencil that date in your diary now. Details will be confirmed in due course.

We therefore made a Swift and Bold decision, to cancel.

There were a number of reasons for taking the decision to cancel our reunion early.

1.

It looks as though the effects of Coronavirus are going to last for months, rather than weeks, most of those who attend are “at risk” or close to being so and our numbers usually exceed 500. By holding the event we would be likely to break Government guidelines and our first priority must be to protect the health of our members.

2.

The cost of the event to the Association is nearly £50k and we have already paid out a couple of deposits which we are now likely to lose.

To be fair to our contractors, the sooner we give notice the better.

5.

Many Riflemen need to make travel arrangements and book accommodation. The sooner their requirements can be clarified the better.

So far, the Northern Ireland Veteran Association’s Commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum is still planned for 12 September this year. Several RGJA Branches arrange transport to this event, it is a great opportunity for Riflemen to get together and there is always a good reception hosted by CE Branch after the parade. Please put that date in your diary. We will all be in need of some comradeship by then.

Colonel Carron Snagge OBE DL Chairman The Royal Green Jackets Association

3.

Usually we fund a large portion of the expenditure from our well invested capital portfolio. This year our capital investments have already suffered very significant losses (+34%) and the prospect of further loses is very likely. Committing ourselves to liquidise assets this Spring/ Summer to fund the reunion would not be in the long-term interests of the financial security of the Association.

4.

The MoD has already closed all its properties to visitors, including Sir John Moore Barracks 7

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Field Marshal Baron Bramall of Bushfield KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP, DL Obituary Dwin Bramall was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) on 22 May 1943. He took part in the Normandy landings landing on Juno Beach on D+2 in June 1944 and was soon in action against German forces counter attacking North West from Caen. On 16 July 44 he was wounded near Maltot but returning to the Battalion in time to see the Falaise pocket closed in August 1944. In March 1945 he received the Military Cross for an action Near Antwerp, Belgium on 20th October

occupation forces in Japan.

Promoted to Lieutenant on 18 June 1946 he served in the occupation of Japan from 1946, before becoming an instructor at the School of Infantry in 1949. Promoted to Captain on 18 December 1950, he was stationed in the Middle East from 1953 and was then promoted to Major on 18 December 1957. Subsequently he served two years as an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley from 1958, and then served on Lord Mountbatten's staff in 1963 creating the MOD. Appointed OBE in the New Year Honours 1965, and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 25 January 1965, he was appointed Commanding Officer of 2nd Royal Green Jackets (Penang/ Malaysia) which was deployed to Borneo in Spring 1966 during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation where he was awarded a Mention in Despatches (MID).

He was appointed commander of 5th (Airportable) Infantry Brigade in Tidworth in November 1967 being promoted to Brigadier on 31 December 1967.

He was General Officer Commanding the 1st Division (Verden/Aller) from 6 January 1972, Commander of British Forces (CBF) in Hong Kong from 1 December 1973 and appointed KCB in the New Year Honours 1974. He went on to be Commander -in-Chief, UK Land Forces on 15 May 1976 and was promoted to full General on 25 June 1976. He was appointed Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) on 20 March 1978, advanced to GCB in the New Year Honours 1979, before being made ADC General to the Queen on 26 June 1979 and appointed Chief of the General Staff on 14 July 1979. In this role he strongly supported the plan in May 1982 to land troops at San Carlos Water.

Montgomery pinning the MC on a young 2Lt Bramall

1944. Before the ceremony at which Field Marshal Montgomery pinned on the ribbon, one of Monty’s staff gave Bramall a word of warning: “The Field Marshal will ask you if you have ever met him before. He won’t mind a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’ – but he will be very upset if you say that you can not remember.”

After VE Day he prepared for and served with the 8

The Royal Green Jackets Association

He was also Colonel Commandant of the 3rd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets from 1973 to 1984, Colonel of the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) from 1976 to 1987 and Colonel Commandant of the Special Air Service Regiment from 1985 to 1993.

After his retirement he served as Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London from 1986 to 1998.

He was promoted to Field Marshal on 1 August 1982 and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff on 1 October 1982. In this capacity he developed the concept of the "Fifth Pillar" pulling together the activities of defence attachés to form a structure for intervention in smaller countries. He retired in November 1985.

The Coat of Arms of Edwin, Baron Bramall of Bushfield

He was created Baron Bramall, of Bushfield in the County of Hampshire in 1987 and served in the Upper House until he retired in 2012. He was Invested as a Knight of the Garter in 1990.

He was a former President of the MCC (1988) and became an Honorary Life Vice President of the MCC in 1997. His other interests included painting and travel and he was a Vice-President of SSAFA Forces Help.

Field Marshal Bramall died on 12 November 2019.

Coronet A coronet of a Baron

Crest Statant lion barry Or and Azure supporting a UK Field Marshal’s Baton erect proper.

Torse Mantling Or and Sable.

Escutcheon Per fess embattled Sable and Or between three Stafford knotts a lion rampant all counterchanged.

Supporters Dexter: A Malayan Tiger holding in the dexter paw a Kukri, all proper.

Sinister: a Chinese Dragon proper, holding in the sinister claw a Maltese Cross Sable.

Motto PERSTA ET PROESTA Latin: "Stand fast and step ahead”

Orders The Order of the Garter circlet.

The collar as Grand Cross Knight of the Order of the Bath.

The badge as Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[53] 9

The Royal Green Jackets Association

General Sir Thomas Cecil Hook Pearson, KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar Obituary was ordered to prevent any further withdrawal.

Having driven the enemy from the west side of the road while under heavy fire, he held the position against repeated counter-attacks by greatly superior numbers of infantry and armour for two days and nights. Surrounded twice, he destroyed the encircling tanks.

After the 4th Armoured Brigade arrived in support, Pearson negotiated the surrender of a force of about 15,000 Italian soldiers. Asked for his thoughts at the time, he replied: “I was worried that they would find out that I had only just over 100 soldiers on my side.

The picture of the surrender, commissioned by the Rifle Brigade and painted by Terence Cuneo, shows General Sir Thomas Pearson, who died aged 105, was a rifleman and a parachute brigade commander who was awarded two DSOs in the course of an outstanding military career.

Thomas Cecil Hook Pearson, the son of ViceAdmiral J L Pearson, was born on July 1 1914 at Queenstown in Ireland and educated at Charterhouse. He was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Rifle Brigade and posted to 1RB. He subsequently transferred to 2RB, with whom he served as a platoon commander in India, Malta and Palestine.

Pearson in the foreground and the line of Italians stretching into the distance. He was awarded his first DSO, the citation stating that his courage and leadership were chiefly responsible for preventing the enemy from breaking through.

In January 1940 Pearson accompanied the Battalion to Egypt and the Western Desert where he was Mentioned in Despatches. In February the following year he was in Libya, in command of the Advance Guard Company, a motorised rifle unit and a section of anti-tank guns. The 10th Italian Army was withdrawing south down the coast road from Benghazi to Agedabia and he

He took over command of 2RB in November after the CO, Lt Col “Vic” Turner, was severely wounded at Kidney Ridge in Egypt in an action for which he was awarded the VC.

10

The Royal Green Jackets Association

In early May 1943, the armour was held up by German anti-tank fire from a position that could not be observed, to the north of the mountain Djebel Ressas in Tunisia. On the night of May 9th Pearson led his motor battalion forward to recce

Germans shortly afterwards. Pearson escaped from the island in a motor torpedo boat, dodging radio-controlled gliding bombs on the moonlit nights and lying up under camouflage nets in neutral Turkish waters during the day. After moving to SOE HQ at Bari in Italy he helped to plan operations in the Balkans.

In June 1944 he became Deputy Commander of 2nd Independent Parachute Bde Gp, serving in Italy and then the south of France as part of Operation Dragoon, before taking over as Deputy Commander of 1st Air Landing Brigade.

Escorting Major-General Fritz Freiherr von Broich, a German officer who had surrendered to him in May

the situation. He was well ahead of the leading tanks and his move was carried out under heavy shell and small arms fire.

In May 1945 he accompanied the 1st Airborne Division to Norway to receive the German surrender and served as General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) at Div HQ. He was awarded the King Haakon VII Liberty Cross for his services. It was there that he met Aud Skjelkvale, whom he married two years later.

Having secured the observation necessary for the artillery to deal with the German 88mm guns, the divisional armour was able to continue its advance, and a large number of the enemy were taken prisoner. The citation for the award of an immediate bar to his DSO paid tribute to his “complete disregard of danger and magnificent leadership”.

He commanded 2 RB to the end of the North Africa campaign and then volunteered for service with Force 133/266, operating in the islands around Leros in the Aegean. While attempting to get supplies and equipment to them from neutral Turkey, he was arrested after landing at dawn from a caïque at the point where he was to meet his contact.

He was imprisoned at Kusadasi on the Turkish coast but was swiftly released after the intervention of the military attaché from Ankara. This misadventure ended any chance of supplies and air power coming from the Turkish mainland to support the Leros garrison, with the result that it fell to the 11

After the war, Pearson commanded the 1st and then the 7th Parachute Bns. He served in the War Office as GSO1 Land/Air Warfare before being selected in 1948 to attend the newly opened Joint Services Staff College, to which he was to return in 1953 as an instructor.

He spent the intervening years at HQ Malaya as GSO1 and at HQ Far East Land Forces as GSO1 (Plans) in the early years of the Malayan Emergency. In 1955 he was given command of 45th Parachute Brigade (TA). This led to command of

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Wye.

16 Independent Para Bde Gp.

He was Colonel Commandant 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets from 1970 to 1977, Representative Colonel Commandant The Royal Green Jackets from 1973 to 1977, ADC General to the Queen in 1974 and Deputy Lieutenant of Hereford and Worcester from 1975 to 1985. Appointed CBE in 1959, he was knighted in 1967.

In April 1957 there was an attempted military coup in Jordan. The Brigade was in a tented camp in Cyprus and was scrambled at short notice to fly to Amman. When Israel denied overflying rights, all the aircraft were ordered to return Brigadier Pearson, however, with a nod to Nelson, reported that his radio had malfunctioned and flew on alone to Amman. After the Beverley landed at the airfield, an anti-tank gun was unloaded. Pearson and Maj Anthony Farrar-Hockley (later to become General Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley GBE KCB DSO & Bar MC ) called for a table and chairs and were watched by a large, restive crowd while, with

General Pearson is survived by two sons. One of them, Johnny, was also a serving officer in the Royal Green Jackets and also with BRIXMIS in Germany.

The operation could have turned out badly, but the use of bluff, moral force and the threat of reinforcements on the way deterred the rebels and played a notable part in putting an end to the uprising and preserving King Hussein’s rule.

In February 1960, Pearson became Chief of Staff to the Director of Ops in Cyprus for a short time before becoming Head of the British Military Liaison Mission (BRIXMIS/ Potsdam/East Berlin) in the Soviet Zone of Germany.

Pearson’s first appointment as a Major General was as General Officer Commanding 1st Division in BAOR (Verden) from 1961 to 1963, when the Army was being transformed into an all-regular force. He was Chief of Staff, NORTHAG, from 1963 to 1967, a most exacting appointment during Denis Healey’s Defence Reviews.

General Sir Thomas Pearson KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar born July 1st 1914 died December 15th 2019

In 1967 he was promoted Lieutenant General and returned to the Far East as GOC FARELF; he was appointed Military Secretary the following year.

After three years in Oslo as C-in-C Allied Forces, Northern Europe, in 1974 he retired from the Army in the rank of general.

Obituary The Daily Telegraph, Verified London Office, The Rifles

A passionate countryman, in retirement he enjoyed field sports and sailing and devoted himself to the preservation of salmon stocks on the River 12

13

The Royal Green Jackets Association

MUSEUM REPORT 2019 effect on visitor numbers that were down by around 700 on 2018 at an overall total of 12,390.

The Joint Ticket initiative, which offers a reduced entrance fee to the three admission charging museums in Winchester, is also having a negative effect on our trading of around £350 plus an unquantifiable amount of Gift Aid and reduced shop sales. We will be addressing this with Winchester Military Museums early this year.

Your Museum continues to be an increasingly popular destination for visitors to Winchester; the time and effort put into marketing by the Staff, in particular using social media, is showing results as recent comments on Trip Advisor show:

The 2019 programme of evening lectures proved popular and well attended. The highlight this past year was probably a return by Professor Emily Mayhew, supported by Harry Parker (author of Anatomy of a Soldier), speaking about the treatment of those wounded in Afghanistan.

“An excellent day out for all the family”…“The standard this museum is kept at can't be overstated”…“The staff were very friendly, happy to help with any questions”…

The 2020 programme of talks can be found on the

and one of which, as Green Jackets, we should all be proud to read: “This must be the best Military Museum in the country” It is heartening to see the Museum so highly rated by visitors and this would not be so without the hard work and effort put in by the Museum Staff Mrs Christine Pullen as Curator, Ms Elspeth McPhee as Museum Assistant, Major Ken Gray as Archivist and of course our volunteers. Volunteers are key to the Museum’s operations as they help keep our costs down and free up the Curatorial staff to concentrate on their core duties and keep the Museum displays fresh. Please get in touch if you think you can help. The Museum has been particularly fortunate to have had Brigadier Vere Hayes as Chairman of Trustees for the past 4 years – he stood down in November. Vere has put a huge amount of time into continuing to make the Museum successful; we are very grateful and wish him and Penny well.

One of the various exhibit cases

Museum Website and places booked through the shop. The talks are always interesting with the opportunity to meet the speaker over a glass of wine and canapes afterwards. The museum is always looking for new subjects of interest and the curator would welcome any ideas or introductions.

The Museum staff create small temporary displays throughout the year, often using projects undertaken by students sent to the Museum to

The uncertain economic climate this year had an 14

The Royal Green Jackets Association

gain work experience. In addition to these there were two larger exhibitions in 2019: Inspiration for 'The Last Duel' exhibition came from researching the history of an épee in the Museum

Norman Leslie’s épee and correspondence related to the duel

Reserve Collection that it was discovered had been used by Captain Norman Leslie, Rifle Brigade when, in 1910, he fought a duel against Yousury Pasha, a Turkish Diplomat with whose wife he had had an affair when serving in Egypt. Duelling was illegal so they met in secret in Paris; the duel was the last one to be fought by a serving British army officer. The exhibition featured the épee Norman Leslie used in the duel and a collection of related hand written letters arranging the meeting that are held in the National Archives Dublin.

The second exhibition entitled '50 years of Op Banner' featured a rolling display of photographs on a large screen in a corner of the main bar tent at the 2019 Reunion. It attracted a lot of attention and triggered numerous 'war stories'. The images of Op Banner are to be included in the VDU that forms part of the RGJ displays in the Museum.

In July soldiers from the past were on parade in Winchester to commemorate Salamanca Day - The Rifles regimental birthday named after the Peninsular War battle of 1812. The 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles re-enactors were at the Museum where the staff, wearing regency costumes and accompanied 15

by actor Jason Salkey who played Rifleman Harris in the TV series ‘Sharpe’s Rifles’, joined them. Visitors viewed items of memorabilia from the film set and learned what life was like as a rifleman during the Peninsular War. Friends of the Museum among you will be aware of plans to update the ground floor displays from the end of WW1 to 2007 with particular emphasis on the 50 year story of The Royal Green Jackets. We are also working on improving the initial displays on entrance to the museum so that they explain a bit more about the origins of the Rifleman and the difference between line and rifle regiments. This project continues to be developed alongside the implementation of the already planned changes to the stairwell including completion of the conservation and reframing of the 43rd and 52nd Colours, and an interactive display of bugle calls with video. Once the plan is agreed we will be able to go out to Design Consultants for tenders on implementation; when a preferred submission is agreed the quest for funding will begin!

Whilst the immediate threat of losing MoD funding has receded it has not gone away so keeping the Museum fresh, attracting more visitors and building up contingency funds remains important.

As was said last year, please support your Museum in any way you can, for example: Become a volunteer. If you live not too far from Winchester and are able to help, either by sparing a few hours on a regular basis to man the welcome desk or take on another task, do contact the Curator. It would be greatly appreciated.

Sign up ‘on line’ as a ‘Friend’ by using the Museum website - on the Home Page scroll down to ‘Information’ and ‘Supporting the Museum’; then scroll down to ‘Becoming a Friend’.

Come to a Talk.

Buy from the online shop.

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Consider leaving a small sum to the Museum Trust Fund in your will.

Finally, do call in at the Museum if you are in Winchester, you will always get a warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you.

Brigadier (Retd) James Plastow CBE Chairman RGJ (Rifles) Museum Trustees

Curator: Mrs Christine Pullen, curator@rgjmuseum.co.uk, 01962 828549

Re-enactors and Museum Staff in Peninsular War costume

The Waterloo Diorama

16

The Royal Green Jackets Association

CENTRAL ENGLAND BRANCH Greetings to our fellow Officers, Riflemen and family members reading this, our summary of events for 2019. It is fair to say that the Central England Branch have had a quiet year by our standards. Nonetheless, we have been ever present and despite a 'dampening down' of events, we are always looking ahead as to how best we can move forward as a branch. This, we believe, is done by finding the balance between formal and social events for the diary. Within this reporting year, there has been no difference. We usually aim to meet up every 2 – 3 months dependent upon what is happening and in doing so maintain an even balance across the year without expecting our members to be worrying about cost and expenditure. In terms of our contribution to Swift and Bold, we have for the past few years had the luxury of being able to 'wax lyrical' about our flagship event the 'Greenstock Festival'. However, we decided that in 2019 there was to be a ‘fallow’ year for those involved with the planning and execution of such a busy event.

BANNER' Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, followed mid-afternoon by a late lunch, and a few beers, together with 200 RGJ veterans from around the country, at Lichfield Rugby Club.

2019 also saw the annual November Remembrance Sunday Parade followed, in December, by another of our greatly anticipated functions, the Rifleman’s Christmas Ball.

We continue to keep a watching brief on the Regimental Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) at Alrewas, but with the freak weather we experienced in late 2019, the River Trent saw a significant rise in the water level, with a month’s worth of rain falling in just a few hours.

This, in turn, led to the River Trent bursting its banks leaving half of the NMA flooded for a couple of weeks. The drainage system installed back in 2010 by the NMA grounds’ maintenance staff was simply overwhelmed.

Although, I can confirm that we have moved swiftly to ensure that 2020 is well and truly endorsed and underlined for its return. Greenstock 'V' (The Retreat from Corunna) is at DEFCON 4 in terms of planning, organisation and admin. We just need to ensure that the event receives maximum publicity coupled with great interest from you, the reader, by supporting the event. Incidentally, check out the poster within the 2019 S&B Journal or our events page on Facebook: Greenstock Festival for further details.

There appears to be no damage as we go to press but our memorial will be professionally surveyed once the spring arrives. An Association Council decision will, no doubt, then be taken in terms of what precautions can, if any, be implemented!

Central England Branch have coasted along nicely with a fluctuating number of members but this has had little effect on the success of our events.

A good example of this being in September when we were blessed with a fantastic day and by a great attendance at the 50th Anniversary of 'OP

Last year saw a wide stretch between our last event of 2018 which was the Riflemans' Christmas Ball in December and the first get together in late February which was a meeting held at our old, but refurbished, watering 17

The Royal Green Jackets Association

hole - 'The Port and Ale' in the Black Country in late February. A relatively small number of members, friends and family gathered for some local hospitality and to catch up with our good friend and comrade Ray Gaffney and his good lady Tracey.

to join the Central England Branch following its formation back in 2012! On Saturday 6 February there was a meeting up in Buxton in the Peak District for a post Christmas and New Year ‘tab’ amongst the picturesque Derbyshire Dales scenery to brush away the winter cobwebs. The weather was more like early May than early February and not a drop of rain all day. It is worth a special mention at this juncture, because the picture accompanying this section is a significant one in that it was the last time that branch member Frank Hone (ex 3RGJ) was out with us. Frank sadly passed away 7 weeks later on Monday 8 April after an unexpected and short illness.

Frank’s demise was a shock to us all and visiting him in hospital was an upsetting affair. He, like Ray Gaffney, was an original and devoted member of the branch and he was ever present, not missing any functions or events; including taking part in the Birmingham to London sponsored walk we did back in 2016. He will be sorely missed by his fellow Riflemen within the CEB. The next ‘tab’ being organised by CEB Chairman Mark Picken is planned for Sunday 12 April 2020 around the canals tow paths of Birmingham.

(L-R: Les Pitt, Ray & Tracey Gaffney, Author, Gary Collins and Stu Read)

It is worth noting that Ray and Tracey Gaffney have made serious financial investment in the building and the business generally and it is now regarded as a fine-dine restaurant - and not before time!!

The Port and Ale now serves some real fine Indian cuisine that is truly worth a visit. That aside, it

April saw a small gathering convene to discuss Branch projects over a beer or three in Kingstanding at a location that must remain nameless. A few cheap snifters were had before moving via Taxi in convoy to The Deer's Leap P/H some 2.5 miles north and well worthy of our clientele.

Nothing too spectacular but a decent days’ socialising and banter was had by all nonetheless.

The next Branch get together was Armed Forces Day 2019. Usually, we don blazers and berets and man a stall in Centenary Square organised by Birmingham City Councils. However, the ongoing redevelopment of Birmingham city centre, for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has hampered both AFD and the City’s Remembrance Sunday parade for a number of years. Therefore on AFD 2019,

was the meeting up with our old friend that made The late Frank Hone with flat-hat and rucksack in hand

the occasion truly memorable. Ray Gaffney (ex A Coy 3RGJ) was one of the original veterans 18

The Royal Green Jackets Association

we chose to adopt a more relaxed day in the blinding sun and frequent one of the city’s fine pubs near to Corporation Street. A busy, bustling thoroughfare that gets congested most days, and this Saturday proved to be ‘uber’ busy. The Shakespeare is a nice P/H and one gets to meet some interesting characters there. To the delight amongst our ‘blue nose’ supporters (aka B’ham City FC) were one or two of the infamous members of the ‘Zulus’. Fans of those Football Hooligan TV documentaries will be familiar. It was a great afternoon and there was plenty of banter and the craic to be had by all. The event eventually retreated to a pub in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield with some of us flaking earlier than usual – probably as a result of too much sun!!

some fantastic prizes in the raffle and the money tree of £400 being won by Mick Masnuick.

At this time of year, we present the CEB Regimental Cane to the person deemed most helpful to the committee and beneficial to the branch members. It was a difficult choice as there were two people nominated. Gavin Brittain and Marc Penson - both deserving candidates, but with only one cane to present the award went to Marc.

Because of the late Frank Hone’s unstinting support to the CEB, it was decided by the committee to change the name from “Rifleman of the Year” to the “Frank Hone Memorial Award”. A toast to Frank and other departed members was made.

Chairman Mark Picken duly handed over the CEB Regimental Cane to Marc.

There was a lull in our events calendar between AFD and the September NIVA Service Of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum to allow for summer holidays to be taken.

Remembrance Day 2019 was a small gathering due to larger nationwide events drawing members to other Remembrance Sunday parades. However 12 branch members paraded at Birmingham City’s Remembrance Sunday service held in the Cathedral Square.

Finally, we have a busy 2020 and the opportunity for RGJ or Rifles veterans wanting to join our merry band of brothers. If anyone wishes to find out more information about us, you can contact any committee member via our Facebook page:

December is always a great social occasion anywhere in life but to our members it means a bit more. The Christmas gathering is a wellattended function and very reminiscent of a Sgts/ Cpls Mess type party. The past two have been fancy dress, which have been well received and thoroughly enjoyed by all. I’m always amazed at the sense of occasion and imagination displayed by the attendees.

2019 was no different.

Minworth Social Club the venue, 1970s/80s theme, hot food, disco and a drag artiste!! What could go wrong? It was that well organised by Guy Mynett It was a great night, plenty of party games and silliness was had by all. There were

Central England Branch RGJA. Alternatively contact Branch Secretary, Pete Page,

petepage71@hotmail.com or 01922 694733

19

The Royal Green Jackets Association

OXFORD BRANCH The past year has been yet another busy one for the Oxford Branch.

In November the Branch participated in the Remembrance Parade in St Giles and laid wreaths on behalf of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets.

A small band of members continue to meet on “1st Tuesday” in the Volunteers Club of Edward Brooks Barracks the home of A Company 7 Rifles and the Branch continues to hold a variety of events throughout the year. Two Lunches (Spring and Autumn), the Oxford Reunion, Band Concert and occasional visits make up the normal activity.

Inevitably these tend to attract mainly the retired, but numbers for our lunches normally approach capacity.

The Branch once again attended and participated in the Turning of Pages Ceremony on the 11th November, where the event took place in the Cathedral and following the main Remembrance Service the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire ( Tim Stevenson) and The Rifles Colonel – Oxfordshire ( Mike Montague) laid a wreath in the Regimental Chapel.

We said goodbye to Mike Marr in mid-2018, the support he gave to the Branch and wider Association cannot be underestimated; we continue to find things that he did and we have forgotten about!

There are now additional Books of Remembrance thanks to the efforts of our President, Brigadier Robin Draper and our Chairman Terry Roper that were installed this year. These new books now incorporate the names of the Royal Green Jackets and Rifles from 1966 until the present day.

The Annual Band Concert continues to be a success and was well attended. We can always do with more people to attend and the weather has not let us down yet. The Waterloo Band are always excellent and deserve our support.

The former barracks at Cowley has been the subject of much discussion, for following the departure of British Telecom who had occupied most of the site since the 1960s, a redevelopment into student accommodation has taken place. Considerable local efforts and negotiation ensured that an unveiling of memorials to the 43rd & 52nd at the development of the former Cowley Barracks took place.

The Branch also sponsor the Reunion on the Saturday evening before Remembrance Sunday.

While this grew out of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Reunion it is now a focus for the RGJ Association and because of being held over the Remembrance Weekend now attracts interaction between A Company of 7 Rifles and the Veterans.

A good number of veterans together with representatives of Unite Students and the University attended to watch a plinth unveiled at the new halls of residence for students for Oxford Brookes University where 885-rooms have been created.

The increased tasking given to the Waterloo Band and health and safety rules, have restricted their capacity to support the reunion, but we are grateful to have secured the Corunna Band of the Oxfordshire (Rifles) Battalion Army Cadet Force who provide a musical display. They prove there seems nothing wrong with today’s youth and are a superb advertisement for their battalion.

It is hoped that the links created between Unite and the University will be of benefit to the current Regiment going forward. (An article covering this event is included in S&B - Editor)

20

The Royal Green Jackets Association

We had our annual pilgrimage to Major John Howard's Grave on 6th June where Brian Cox laid a wreath on behalf of us all.

appeared on TV ! The word about the event is growing as we also had a reporter from BFBS at Brize Norton and a small American contingent from RAF Croughton, a US signals base near Banbury) In August Geoff Day and Andrea Isham organised a trip to the National Memorial Arboretum and what an enjoyable day it was with over 30 members and friends travelling to visit. The weather was hot and sunny and the place is magnificent A visit to the Arboretum is a very moving experience and when the young trees planted around the memorials become fully mature, the memorials will appear to be hidden in glades within a forest, so that future generations may then appreciate the special landscape even more. .

Our Branch and linked WW2 veterans number nearly 100 and they all continue to receive three copies of the Branch Newsletter Lightbob during the year.

We are keen to extend a welcome to any ex Royal Green Jackets and Riflemen seeking to join and are looking forward to yet more activity in the forthcoming year. We are also grateful for the ongoing help and support from A Company 7 Rifles in whose Reserve Centre we are based.

It was expected that the numbers might be down given that some members were making the pilgrimage to Normandy, but it was not so. We were again joined by members from Milton Keynes, Paddy, Pop and Scotty who then took part at the unveiling of the memorial in Normandy Crescent to D Day by The Lord Mayor of Oxford and even

This obviously well maintained and looked after and dare I say it cherished van was spotted at a hospital in Oxford recently.

Quite clearly the driver hasn’t really got to grips with parking in the allotted spaces.

However, all is not quite what it seems. Later in the journal all will be revealed.

21

The Royal Green Jackets Association

LONDON BRANCH Another very successful year in the history of the London Branch which has now been running for 24 years. The membership is at 215 and still increasing. There has been a slight change in the committee with Colonel George Smythe OBE stepping back from an active role as the branch President but will still remains as the Honorary President. And Neal Smythe, who has been running the branch merchandise for many years, has decided to retire due to his regular job becoming much busier. We are hoping to replace him with a volunteer in the near future. We all thank Colonel George and Neal for the dedication and commitment that they have given over the years. They shall still remain as members of the Branch and will attend future events when they can.

events that are not written down on our annual forecast of Events. On this occasion in February we were again delighted to be invited into the Club Bar of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, to join our three ‘In Pensioners’ (and London Branch members) who are former Royal Green Jackets, Patrick Cody, Joe Shortall and Fred Boomer Hawkins, and one of the hospital’s staff, Jim Clarke. These evenings with our pensioners are always a great night and this one proved to be again a great success with a large turnout of members and wives who mingled not only with our own Pensioners but a great many others present. We look forward to the opportunity of arranging a guided tour in the near future, as the hospital has so much history to learn about, including its own museum.

In January a memorial service was held in St Paul’s Cathedral, to mark the 210th anniversary of the death of Sir John Moore who died in Jan 1809 at the Battle of Corunna, Northern Spain. The short service took place following the Evensong service, at Sir John Moore’s memorial. Sixteen London Branch members attended the service along with members of the KRRC Association and serving soldiers from the Rifles. The service is quite short, consisting of a wreath laying followed by the Last Post and Reveille from Buglers of the Buglers Association of the Light Division. To finish off the evening our branch members found a nice quiet pub to have a few drinks, before departing for home.

This year’s Ladies Dinner Night in March was a very special one, as we formally dined out our President Colonel George Smythe OBE. Colonel Smythe had been the President of the London Branch for the past 23 years.

This annual service remains to be a memorable experience for those who attend. The St Paul’s Cathedral authorities reserve seats in the nave for serving soldiers and members of our regimental associations. All serving and former Riflemen and Regimental Association members and their families and friends are welcome. Details for the 2021 service will be published in December. Our ‘Black Button Club’ is the name given for all spontaneous

Colonel George Smythe's Presentation

We had 104 people in attendance. We hold this annual event in the Victory Services Club in Marble Arch in London. We began the evening with reception drinks in the EL Alamein room where a photographer was available to take photos that guests could purchase later in the evening. The 22

The Royal Green Jackets Association

guests were greeted by uniformed cadets from the Kings Royal Rifle Corps ACF who were on ‘Usher Duty’ directing guests towards the reception. A bugler from the Bugles Association joined us to countdown the final dinner call. During the reception there was five short presentations of farewell gifts to people who had helped our committee at various events, including three of the Presidents’ grandchildren Millie, Josh and Daniel Smythe who had been very supportive over the past five years in running the Branch shop, selling regimental merchandise to our members at past events, such as Andy McNab presentations and book signings as well as on Remembrance Sunday. Other presentations were made to Neal Smythe who had been an active member of our branch committee representing the honorary members. He was also the person who was responsible for the ordering and stock taking of the merchandise. The branch shop plays a big part in gaining funds towards the various donations that the branch has given to various regimental charities over the years. Regretfully, owing to the increasing demand on his time working in the engineering industry, Neal had to retire from the Branch Committee. Neal’s wife Jodie was also presented a gift for her support towards our branch over the years. On receiving the final dinner call from the bugler, we all headed to the Carisbrooke Hall for dinner. The hall had recently been refurbished and was a fantastic venue in which to hold our annual Ladies Dinner.

The food at the VSC is of an extremely high standard and the staff were, as always, very professional and added to the evening.

Marches of the Rifles and the Royal Green Jackets. Having the Buglers present really made our evening very special, and we hope that they will continue to entertain us at this event in the future. The Secretary then thanked the buglers and the staff at the club before introducing our president Colonel George Smythe. Colonel Smythe formally announced his retirement from his presidency but said that he would remain a member of the Branch. He thanked his committee for all their support over his 23 years in the chair and all the London branch members for their continuing support, which without there wouldn’t be a branch. The Secretary then returned to the stage and gave a speech about Colonel Smythe’s very long military career. A career that started at the age of 15 when he enlisted into boy service as a Junior Leader and then as an adult joining the Rifle Brigade. He was the first non-para sergeant to pass the Platoon Sergeants Battle course at Brecon, which had originally been a course solely for paras. Following his speech, the secretary then presented Ruth Smythe with a gift in appreciation for all of the times she had been asked to host and entertain the wives of many of our special guests over the years and for her patience and understanding when Colonel Smythe was meant to be retired! The last presentation was for the president himself, which was a replica Baker Rifle mounted on a mahogany plaque. Although Colonel Smythe had now retired and was no longer our active president, he would remain as a member and lifelong honorary president and will be available for advice when called upon. We thank him for his great leadership and support over the past 23 years and wish him a happy retirement.

During the dinner we listened to the sounds of an RGJ regimental band (albeit on MP3 tracks) which helped to add to the atmosphere of being at a regimental dinner. We were also entertained by six buglers from the Buglers Association.

The QVR/KRRC/RB 2nd World War Memorial Service took place in Calais on 22nd May. The pick-up point at Liverpool Street proved

Following dinner, we took coffee and port to the sound of High on a Hill followed by the Regimental 23

The Royal Green Jackets Association

successful, and despite it being a midweek event, we managed to again muster enough RGJ Association members to support the QVR/KRRC/RB Associations by helping to fill the coach.

James’ Street and St. James’ Palace. The building is also known as Mark Masons Hall and is owned by the Freemasons. It’s a great venue and a perfect setting for this type of occasion. Those who wished to carry on socialising went on to Union Jack Club in Waterloo.

The 20th July is the anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Regents Park. The London Branch held the annual wreath laying ceremony at the RGJ Band Memorial in Regents Park. We met in the café in Regents Park at 10:30am for a catchup with friends/comrades/family, ready for the start of the service at 11:30am. This year 45 members and their families attended. We were joined again by the Buglers of the Light Division Bugles Association and were very grateful for their sounding of the Last Post, and to the Royal British Legion for providing us with Standard bearers, without either of which the service would not be so poignant. At next year’s service it is planned to add a short display of regimental marches performed by the Bugle Association, followed by a concert from the Royal British Legion Central Band. The date for the next service is Sunday 19th July 2020.

Calais Memorial Service Dave Negus and Gary Driscoll

As in other years, we met up with the rest of the association for a three course lunch followed by a short speech and toast to the Fallen Riflemen, before taking our places for the Memorial Service.

It is uncertain how many more years this service will take place, but as for now it appears to be very well attended the London Branch will continue to support it.

This year’s date is Wednesday 27th May 2020.

We were fortunate to be joined by forty London Branch members on our 2019 Battlefield Tour which took place on the weekend of 27th to 29th of September. We had two pick up points, members living closer to Liverpool Street Station joined us there and the remaining attendees joined us at Ashford International Station. After

45 members attended our annual Veterans Day lunch which was held on 21st June at 86 St. James’s, St James Park, London. As usual, we met in the bar from 12pm for reception drinks and sat down at 1:30pm for a three course carvery lunch in the Euston Room. This room looked out onto St. 24

The Royal Green Jackets Association

a quick channel crossing via the Eurotunnel we visited the La Targette Military Cemetery. This is where the great uncle of our branch member Eddie Byrne’s partner, Diane Saunders, was buried.

The aforementioned, Private W.E. Rimmer of the Middlesex Regiment, was killed there in 1918 at the age of 22. His niece, Diane, placed a poppy wreath at his headstone. It was the first time that any of his family had visited the grave which in itself made it a very moving experience for Diane and indeed all of us present. We arrived at our hotel in central Arras by early Friday evening, which allowed plenty of time for everyone to settle in and have dinner and drinks in the local area.

south of the village of La Boisselle in the Somme département.

We then visited the Australian Division Memorial in Pozieres. The memorial commemorates the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the First Australian Division who fought in France and Belgium in 1916, 1917 and 1918. The commemorative tablet on the memorial lists the battle honours for the 1st Australian Division.

Many of the large battalions of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps fought throughout the battle of the Somme, notably in High Wood and Delville Wood.

A visit to the Memorial in Thiepval was next which commemorates more than 72,000 men of British and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave, the majority of whom died during the Somme offensive of 1916. On the high ground overlooking the Ancre River in France, where some of the heaviest fighting of the First World War took place, stands the Thiepval Memorial. Towering over 45 metres in height, it dominates the landscape for miles around. It is the largest Commonwealth memorial to the missing in the world. It was at this memorial that we laid our regimental poppy wreath and held a minute’s silence.

The tour began the following morning where we visited the Somme 1916 Museum of Albert, situated at the heart of the Battle of the Somme (1914/1918.) The Museum traces the lives of soldiers in the trenches during the Franco-British offensive in 1916. At 10 metres below ground and 250 metres in length, you discover realistic and gasping scenes of the daily lives of our soldiers.

Mannequins are brought to life through 12 realistic scenes transporting you to the past. Time passes but the memory remains.

The Lochnagar Crater was next on the itinerary, and was created by a large mine placed beneath the German front lines on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, it was one of 19 mines initiated by the British section of the Somme front, to assist the infantry advance at the start of the battle. The British named the mine after ‘Lochnagar Street’, a British trench where the Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers dug a shaft down about 90 feet deep into the chalk; then excavated some 300 yards towards the German lines to place 60,000 lbs (27 tons) of ammonal explosive in two large adjacent underground chambers 60 feet apart. Its aim was to destroy a formidable strongpoint called ‘Schwaben Höhe’ (Swabian Heights) in the German front line,

We then drove on to Duisans British Cemetery at Etrun where the grandfather of David Driscoll one of our ex 4 RGJ members is buried. Gunner Alfred Dudley of 163 Battery Royal Artillery. It was another very moving moment as David and sons Patrick and Tim and other members of his family laid their poppy wreath at Alfred’s gravestone.

On the second day we visited the Wellington Tunnels in Arras. The Wellington Quarry - la Carrière Wellington was opened in 2008. It is an underground museum which has been carefully

25

The Royal Green Jackets Association

and sensitively created in a section of the many kilometres of tunnels dug by the British Army in the 1914-1918 war. The World War 1 tunnels connect with original tunnels and quarries dating back to the middle ages and Roman times underneath the city of Arras. The museum is founded to the memory of thousands of men of the British Army and Dominion Forces who lived under the city during World War 1. In particular work of the tunnellers of the New Zealand Division is commemorated. The New Zealand Tunnelling Company was based in this part of the underground tunnel system during the build-up to the Allied offensive, the Battle of Arras, which was launched in the early hours of 9 April 1917.

then refused to re-join his unit during a German attack. He was brought to trial and charged with desertion. Found guilty and with his previous record he was condemned to death. Was he suffering from PTSD? We shall never know.

A big thank you to Tony Beach who assisted the Secretary in selecting the Itinerary, and for providing the history for the tour.

We look forward to our next battlefield Tour in September 2020 where we plan to spend a long weekend in Normandy discovering more military history.

Every year on the nearest Thursday before Remembrance Sunday, a service and memorial parade takes place in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. It is known as the Field of Remembrance. For two weeks of the year thousands of poppy crosses are placed in the ground to remember all servicemen who have been killed from the beginning of World War 1.

Every regiment has its own plot displaying their cap badge. This includes the many regiments who have long since disbanded or amalgamated into other regiments. For our regiment it includes The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Rifle Brigade and the many territorial or reserve battalions such as the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, Queens’s Westminster Rifles and the London Rifle Brigade. A member of the Royal family officially opens the Field of Remembrance by laying a wreath on behalf of the Queen. The Royal Green Jackets were represented this year again by the London branch secretary Gary Driscoll. Gary has been attending this service for over twenty years. Over the years the Royal family have been represented by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother until she passed away in 2002, then followed by Prince Philip until he retired 2nd August 2017, aged 96 and this year was honoured to be visited by HRH Prince Harry,

Our final stop off on the tour was at Roclincourt Military cemetery, where we visited the grave of a soldier who was shot at dawn. We laid a small cross of Remembrance at the grave of Rifleman Harry Williams who was executed by firing squad.

393923 Rifleman Harry Williams, 9th Battalion London Regiment, Queen Victoria’s Rifles, his crime desertion.

He was executed 28th December 1917 and is buried in grave II. F.4. His age is unknown, Son of Mrs Isabella Hitchcock of 22. Colville Road, Acton, London. Harry was a volunteer who had joined in 1915. In November 1917 he was under a 15-year suspended sentence for desertion when he refused to go into battle. He absented himself and 26

The Royal Green Jackets Association

which was a complete sell out. The evening started with a reception bar and a chance to view what is on offer of the various regimental prints that members had kindly donated for the charity auction, plus a chance to buy tickets for the raffle.

and the Duchess of Sussex.

There was another great representation of 170 marchers for the Royal Green Jackets Association at the Cenotaph this year. However, we were left with 30 unused passes from our allocation of 200, therefore, it is anticipated that next year the application process will begin a lot earlier in the year to give everyone more time to apply and hopefully will be able to reach our target of 200 marchers.

Our compere and interviewer for the evening was Charlie Bailey, a London comedian and actor.

Over the years we have covered everything that Andy has experienced while serving in both the Royal Green Jackets and the SAS. So this year we decided to talk about more current topics such as “Soldier F” and what Andy has been up to more recently. After the interview we held a short Questions and Answers session which was followed by the Book Signings. The raffle was called and the auction was a great success. The sum of £3,000 was raised from the ticket sales, raffle and auction, of which a donation will be made to a named regimental charity. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event.

In November we held another ‘Audience with Andy McNab’ event at the Union Jack Club in Waterloo,

Our Christmas lunch was held at 86 St James’s, overlooking St James’ Palace in London, on Thursday 12th December 2019. This was well attended by Branch members and their families.

This proved to be a great social gathering, and the food was of a very high standard again. We look forward to next year’s occasion which will be back to its normal day of Friday. Everyone had a lovely lunch which put us all in a festive 27

The Royal Green Jackets Association

mood ready for Christmas.

The venue for the annual Rifles Band Concert and Choir Service was changed this year from St George’s Church in London’s West End, to St.Botoph’s Church in the City. Although the event was organised by The Rifles, all members of the RGJ Association were, as always, welcome to attend. The reception was held in the church hall, where Mulled wine and mince pies were enjoyed, prior to attending the Band Concert in the church next door. The number in attendance seems to be increasing each year and the new location is very close to Liverpool Street Station which is very handy for the over ground and underground as well as several bus routes.

answers to 4 rounds of general knowledge questions, with the winning team eligible to compete for the show’s cash jackpot. Alan and Laura won their round and went on to win the final of the last series and winning the Jackpot. Alan kindly donated his share of the winnings to Care for Casualties.

Congratulations to Ex 2nd Battalion boxer Alan Varrier (aka ‘Skin’) and his daughter Laura for winning the final of the BBC’s TV quiz show Pointless.

The show was hosted by Alexander Armstrong. In this and other episodes, 4 teams consisting of 2 contestants attempt to find correct but obscure

In 2020 we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary from when the London Branch which was formed in 1995.

The Royal Green Jackets Association Committee meeting Winchester November 2019

28

The Royal Green Jackets Association

WINCHESTER AND DISTRICT BRANCH Or Are We In Or Are We Out Yet - Part 2 Its early January 2019, a year ago almost to the day I was sat on this same chair facing this same computer screen, the same as I am today and completely at the mercy of ‘writers block’. In the background a variety of political pundits on the radio were endlessly waffling on about the possible outcomes of Brexit. I do remember at the time thinking, and later mentioning in our piece for Swift and Bold that our parliament was as constipated as my ‘writing block’, and if it all went pear shaped and we ended up with Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister with Diane Abbott as his Foreign Secretary you would find me flying out to Outer Mongolia where I would live out my remaining years in a mud hut – or a yurt as my wife pedantically informed me. Anyway the good news is that on the morning of the 13th December 2019 I cancelled my flight to Outer Mongolia and no longer have any desire to live in a yurt! My wife is of course delighted. Hurrah!

other people’s dining was clearly a success as the remaining months of 2019 was to later prove.

There is no doubt in our collective branch minds we consider ourselves pretty lucky in so many ways to be co-located in what we all consider to be our ancestral regimental home. Not least of course we, unlike all other branches, have a convenient place to hold both our meetings and other events we organise on behalf of the Regiment. I am of course referring to Sir John Moore Barracks, or ATR Winchester as it is generally called in modern military parlance these days. Anyway our user relationship with the ATR is not all one sided by us by any means. No, in fact it's quite the opposite – we, or certainly a number of our members are now so much part of the ATR it’s a wonder they are not on the payroll and adding to their personal

I know I have mentioned it before in previous articles we have submitted, but we in the Winchester Branch do try our hardest to give our members a varied and interesting slant to everything we do.

To that end ‘Der Management’ (thank you Hale and Pace) consisting of our President, Vice President, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Activities Member, and anyone else who would like to tag along met up on a freezing evening in early January at a local hostelry to discuss and plan our year.

Even after many years of this practice in so many different watering holes around the Winchester area I still wonder what goes through other customer’s minds when Roy’s booming voice reverberates around the room causing diners glasses to gently tinkle in time with his every utterance! Anyway our evening of planning and disruption to

pensions! I am of course referring to Messrs John Harper, Derek Randell John ‘Geordie’ Scott, and lastly Pat and May Low who between them all accrue a considerable amount of unacknowledged goodwill on behalf of the regiment. How? Well 29

The Royal Green Jackets Association

between the 3 fella’s almost working full time painting and maintaining the armoured vehicles and other memorials around the site and ensuring the plant holders around the chapel are always in seasonal bloom, and with Pat and May Low (now in their early 80’s) constantly out in all weathers keeping our Light Division Memorial Garden in tip top condition.

absolutely true) tales we like to entertain one another with. As you can imagine both evenings went down an absolute storm.

In early January the branch had an amazing and informative tour of Winchester Cathedral.

You know the old saying ‘never being able to see the wood for the trees!’ well that maxim had really applied to us because despite the branch supporting the monthly “Turning of the Pages” in considerable numbers over the years, we never really took the time or indeed the opportunity to have a real nose around the place as it was always a question of just ‘do the job and go’. Plus much of the cathedral over the last year or so had been under renovation anyway with many areas AOB’s and under scaffolding and tarpaulins so there wasn’t much of interest to really see. Finally of course all the work was complete and the builder’s equipment was eventually removed which gave Brian Scott who is also a part time Cathedral Guide the opportunity to organise a fully guided tour for members of the branch, family and friends. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day which we will definitely do again.

The place would undoubtedly be less smart and welcoming to all who visit the ATR. However I am pleased to say their loyalty, care and dedication to the overall site is not lost on the landlords of the ATR as all are held in great regard by every member of staff. Anyway back to the task in hand of bringing you the reader up to-date with what the Winchester branch has been up to over the past year. As always it really got underway with our branch AGM in February where Major Roy ‘Kinda Stuff’ Stanger was once again re-elected as our Branch Chairman together with Peter Andrews as Treasurer. In truth - to say Peter was re-elected is a bit of a misnomer because he had on that evening just taken over from Brian Scott who had held the treasury fort for the past 3 years whilst Peter who had previously held the post for goodness knows how many years took a financial sabbatical break!

Anyway you get my drift I am sure.

“If you want something done well use a busy man” and that’s certainly true of our Activities Member Tiny Adams who in addition to running his successful chauffer business still manages to find the time to organise lots of interesting trips for the branch. On this occasion in May it was a day out to the Imperial War Museum at RAF Duxford Cambridgeshire, and what a great day it turned out to be.

Despite having a really organised Activities Member for the branch in the form of Tiny Adams, the Chairman decided to get in on the act by personally announcing there would be 2 additional social nights to our annual calendar of events which he would run personally.

The first would be a Quiz Night with questions on anything with a tenuous military flavour whether ancient or modern.

The weather for once was on our side and the journey there and back in our hired minibus was trouble free. As for the museum itself – well what can I say other than ask “who isn’t interested in big strange flying things” with some even looking as they were leftover props from the Star Wars movies – but of course they are

The second of his ideas was to have an Anecdote Night. This of course is every Rifleman’s perfect dream to be given the opportunity to regale a captive audience with those ever so slightly exaggerated and seemingly improbable (but 30

The Royal Green Jackets Association

all very real! If anyone is thinking of going please consider doing so as you will be assured of a fantastic day out.

wonderful lunch afterwards which was organised to perfection by the Central England Branch rounded off a superb day out!

As the Autumn really began to set in, we like every other branch around the country found ourselves once again heavily involved with Remembrance. I should imagine we are not totally unique in our Remembrance activity, aside from London that is, but being where we are we do tend to stretch ourselves more than most branches I guess. For example did you know we take the lead very early in the morning (9am) for the KRRC Service of Remembrance at the 60th Memorial outside the main entrance of the Cathedral. This is always well attended (300 plus) and usually lasts about 20 minutes or so.

Then it’s either straight into the Cathedral for the main Service of Remembrance or a quick dash to the ATR where they hold their own Drumhead Service. This year however the ATR did something quite different, which I thought was a nice touch, and that was instead of holding the service in the barracks as normal, all the recruits and staff (including our own honorary members of the ATR) went out to a number of nearby villages to support their individual services. However once all the mad activity of the morning was finally over, we all converged on South Winchester Golf club to enjoy a superb 2 course carvery lunch organised by Brian Scott.

In June Tiny Adams together with a small contingent from the branch of Andy Gray and Stephen Horsley represented the RGJA at Lepe Beach on the edge of the New Forest for the 75th anniversary of the D Day Landings on the 6th June 1944. Although a bit of a backwater these days Lepe was the main construction and launch site for the floating concrete ‘mulberry harbours’ used during the invasion. Although the Regiment wasn’t involved in this particular part of Operation Overlord it was nevertheless felt the right thing to do to support such a momentous military event in the history of our island.

Before we knew it the Summer was upon us, and once again we found ourselves involved in organising the Veterans Reunion in July under the guiding hand of his Royness; And of course attending the NIVA Service of Remembrance in mid-September at the NMA Alrewas I hope everyone who attened enjoyed the occasion and will come again in even bigger numbers in 2020. As far as the latter is concerned – well what can I say other than the number of green blazers on parade were and are truly indicative of our dominance of that particular campaign. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Aside from that it was also a mini reunion too with the icing on the cake (or should I say curry?) being the

Also late in the year, I think it was about November time, a little story emerged involving one of our oldest members John ‘Geordie’ Scott.

John was always slightly put out by the fact that he had never been awarded the LS&GC due to his conduct sheet being as long as his service! A situation made even worse on so many occasions when typical Rifleman like banter highlighted his lack of a medal in that department. It was compounded even more when the SNCO’s of the ATR Mess in which John is an Honorary 31

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Member joined in too. During one of these banter sessions when John was wearing his medals it was noticed that his first operational Kenya campaign medal depicted the Queen without a crown (pre Coronation), and his second the GSM for Borneo & Malaya depicted the Queen with a crown (post Coronation). Anyway what initially started off as a

moaning about his lack of a LS&GC – Nah! And finally - with Christmas only a few weeks away it was time for our annual Christmas Dinner which was again held in the South Winchester Golf Club. Roy seemed to run the place (as he seems to do everything else) we thought we would give it a try - and what a success it has turned out to be. Every function we hold there is exclusive us, the food is second to none and above all it’s very affordable. In other words a winner!

As for our Christmas Dinner we sat down with 68 diners in splendid surroundings with all the Christmas poppers, crazy hats, crackers and general seasonal razzmatazz you could wish for including everyone having a 1 in 2 chance of winning a raffle prize! I wish we could have the same odds on the lottery!

Blast from the past! Brian Scott (M-F) circa early 20th century, diffy his BD top it is noticed

John FD

*************************************** Winchester Formal/Informal Branch Meetings for 2020 Unless otherwise stated all branch meetings commence at 19.30 and are held in the WO’s & Sgts Mess ATR Winchester.

In addition to our formal/Informal branch meetings we do of course hold many other activities and visits throughout the year. For further information on these or if you are interested in joining the branch please contact the Secretary whose details are on the contacts page.

John Scott Receiving his QCM

bit of fun soon turned to sympathy for the poor medal-less man and before you could say ‘Swift & Bold’ a 1953 Queen’s Coronation Medal (wearing a crown) was found by the ATR staff and presented to John by Col Michael Duff Comd SED at one of the recruits POP’s. Despite that - has he stopped 32

The Royal Green Jackets Association

WILTSHIRE BRANCH The branch has yet again survived another year.

We are only a small branch and most of our members are still in the working age group so to try to get anyone to volunteer to do anything can be a challenge. However in spite of this we continue to carry out a number of tasks that assist the local community and in particular the Royal British Legion.

Armed Forces Weekend was big in Wiltshire this year which is the main national effort was focused on Salisbury still getting over the effects of the Novichok incident and the clean up of areas contaminated by this dastardly attack. Overall a good turnout for the event yet again. The Armed Forces church service at the Chapel of St Lawrence in Warminster was also well attended on the Sunday.

The year started off with the AGM in January, as expected there were no nominations for the posts of Chairman Secretary or Treasurer and so these remain unchanged and the positions of Entertainment and Internet remain unfilled from previous years. The treasurer Bill Tyson has kindly taken on the task of organising the entertainment and the chairman is looking after the social media Facebook page.

The annual get together in Winchester on the 6th saw a good turnout from the branch and it is always a great event for catching up with old mates that we haven’t seen for years or in most cases, last year. Well done to the Winchester branch yet again for all the hard work in making it a great day and the committee for organising the event.

The annual branch BBQ was held at the home of Phil and Val Ashby and it was a good turnout for this now well established branch event. As in keeping with previous years the event was fancy dress with the hosts deciding on the theme which this year was “countries of the world� a great turnout and many lateral thinking people made for some very interesting costumes. Well done to all.

In March members attended the Warminster Civic Council annual gathering in the Minster church.

This involves a church service where all the various organisations in Wiltshire attend including the local MP the Rt Hon Andrew Murrison and the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton among other dignitaries. It is well attended and keeps the badge in the public eye.

The next event is to be held at Richard and Jax on the 8th of August.

The annual gathering at the NMA in September saw a huge turnout from the Lt Div, it was the 50th anniversary of the start of troop deployment in NI in which many of those attending had served many tours. Good to see the Officers on parade and so many Generals amongst them.

November saw the annual Poppy appeal and as is the case every year we showcase the branch at Waitrose with a collection over the preceding Fri33

The Royal Green Jackets Association

day and Saturday. This year the Chairman was unavailable due to overseas commitments and the event was well managed by Brian Darvill and Phil Ashby ably assisted by other members of the

Corner” and as in previous years they met up afterwards in the conservative club for a beer or two. On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day the Exhortation is read from the steps of the Chapel of St Lawrence and again many members were on parade.

November was supposed to be the annual skittles night for the branch but other commitments meant that we had to reschedule it and it will now take place on the 1st of February at the Organ Inn in Warminster.

This is normally a well attended event and every one is looking to winning the wooden spoon.

December was a busy month but many of us still managed to meet at the conservative club for pre Christmas drinks as has happened in previous years. In line with attempts to “save the planet“ there was not the abundance of Christmas jumpers as in previous years, don’t nobody say we don’t do our bit.

branch. Well done to all that stagged on over the 2 days for such a worthy cause. A total of £1266.69 was raised.

Remembrance Sunday was held at the Warminster War Memorial at the normal time for Warminster which is 1500hrs. The branch were in attendance at what is now known locally as “Green Jacket

LIGHT DIVISION AND RIFLES BAND ASSOCIATION The Light Division and Rifles Veterans’ Band continues to be a great musical asset for the Regiment. This year our veteran bandsmen came together again at Shrewsbury at the LI Reunion on 1st June 2019 to perform a band concert under the baton of Tex Carlton. Given the limited rehearsal time, their musical ability was second to none and the programme was enjoyed by all. The combined Veterans’ Band and Bugles provided a wonderful finale to the Reunion with High On A Hill sounding better than ever. Managing a Veterans’ Band is not easy but hopefully this second band concert will maintain the momentum for the future.

We wish to congratulate Tex Carlton and the Band Association for their achievement so far. If there are any former Light Division or Rifles bandsmen who wish to join, especially those from the RGJ Band association, they should contact: Colin Cranswick Rifles – Light Infantry - KOYLI Regimental Association Secretary (Yorkshire) Office: 01977 703181 Mob: 07778663925 E-mail: assnsecyorkshire@the-rifles.co.uk Website: rifles-li-koyli-assn.wix.com/assn

34

The Royal Green Jackets Association

YORKSHIRE BRANCH We continue to meet at the T.A. Centre in Wakefield on the fourth Tuesday in the month from March to October inclusively.

the distinctive name of Paul Squirrel which may not be the correct spelling. He served with 2RGJ during 1966-71 before transferring to the Pay Corps. His father, Squirrel Senior, had been a good friend and fellow comrade of Rod Ball. Paul now lives in Ipswich and is (a) a football fan and (b) a long distance runner in the over 70s category.

The Branch Officers are: President : Capt. A B C (Kit) Dollard 3RGJ Chairman : Thomas (Charles) Conlin 1 RGJ Treasurer: John (Ebeneezer) Woods KRRC

On Saturday 14th September the Secretary accompanied by Valerie set off for the Arboretum from Selby to take part in the NIVA Service of Remembrance. We were to meet our fellow Branch member Hugh Goudge and Julia who journeyed from Wakefield. We also hoped to be joined by Ernie Blanchard ex 3RGJ and Light Infantry.

Secretary : Stuart Anderson RB The Branch remains financially secure despite a paucity of members. I am delighted to report that we have lost no one in 2019 and pleased that there are more of us than at the start of the year, an increase of one to be precise. Hugh Goudge, a stalwart member, in now the Membership Secretary of the Association. Next year he will appear as an officer of this branch, promotion indeed.

As Valerie and I reached the entrance to the car park Hugh and Julia were emerging. Valerie had to be pushed in her wheelchair down the long road to the Arboretum entrance.

In March the Treasurer and the Secretary attended the funeral in Huddersfield of Doreen Ball the widow of Rod Ball KRRC who had been a founder member of the Yorkshire Branch. At Rod’s funeral we had a guard of honour of branch members through which the coffin was carried followed by Doreen who inspected us as befitted the wife of a senior NCO. This time it was their daughters, Cheryl and Adele, who led the mourners by the honour guard, reduced by time and fate to 2, namely the Treasurer and myself. I have to report that we each received a kiss on this occasion.

It was another very hot day and there were Green Jackets and Light Infantry veterans everywhere.

Those wearing green seemed to be in the majority. All milled about outside the main Arboretum Centre which included the Chapel into which only invited guests could enter. When the service ended there was a general movement down a slope to a road that led to the Ulster Ash Grove. I believe this causeway is called Millenium Avenue and upon which the marchers formed up. Valerie, pushing her own wheelchair, and Julia ambled towards the Ash Grove. I joined a large squad of members of the RGJ and stood next to a young man of 40 who was scarcely half my age. He had provided himself with a flask of whiskey and thoughtfully shared it with those close at hand which included myself. He wore a hearing aid and I assumed correctly that he had been in a mortar platoon as I had been. Hugh Goudge, once known as Albert, was in command as he was a former

During the service, which was a most moving and friendly gathering, we discovered that Doreen had been introduced to her future husband by her sister during the playing of Glen Millers’ String of Pearls. The sister went onto marry Lewis Austin KRRC who was also a founder member of our Branch. There was a final Green Jacket connetion still to come because at the reception afterwards we were introduced to a slim gentleman who bore 35

The Royal Green Jackets Association

RSM and his parade ground voice was heard for the first time in over twenty years to my disbelief.

He was assisted in his duties by an ex Light Infantry RSM and between them we rehearsed some of the forthcoming manoeuvres. Finally, Hugh drew forth with one of the buglers who had been pressed into beating the drum in the absence of the regular drummer. This man, who is known to me, told me later that he had never played the drum before. I thought he did quite well but those, more pernickety, may have disagreed.

The Secretary was informed by the Rifles Office at Pontefract of the funeral of a Green Jacket at Great Houghton near Barnsley on 18th November.

The deceased was John Sparks who had served with 2RGJ and had died on 3rd November aged 40. The Branch member David Broomfield who accompanied me to Great Houghton was by chance was another former 2RGJ member, although a good number of years older than John Sparks. David is able to walk short distances but otherwise uses a mobility scooter which would not fit into my car. Neither of us had been in the area before and we arrived in the vicinity of the church at the last possible minute and parked in the grounds of a café.

Whatever the merits of the substitute drummer we set off in good order and to my relief soon got to the Ash Grove where we fell out for the very moving Act of Remembrance during which General Pascoe gave a brief resume of the campaign in Northern Ireland.

As we made our way up the hill to the church, we could see a crowd of mourners gathered outside.

We assumed they were trying to get as close as possible to the entrance as the inside was crowded to the gunnels. Close to the porch stood the bugler, Kevin Fawcett, who was in the KOYLI/LI. He said he had been asked to play at the grave side. The Standard Bearer, Colin Cranswick, who was also a KOYLI veteran, was inside.

We then formed up again and marched smartly back towards the Green Jacket Memorial saluting on the way the General and the Staffordshire Vice Lord Lieutenant. There was another ceremony there during which all the Green Jackets who had lost their lives during the Troubles were mentioned including Bandsman Powell and his comrades at the Bandstand Bombing in Regents Park.

On both sides of the road stood other mourners most of whom were dressed in black, and in memory almost all were short in stature and sturdily built. There were few women outside so perhaps they had had priority for gaining places in the church. I said to one man that judging by the number willing to wait outside in the cold that John Sparks must have been well-liked. ‘John was a lovely man’ he replied. In the distance Barnsley could be seen with the Town Hall and Hospital visible on the skyline.

We said farewell to Ernie Blanchard and made our way to the Rugby Club at Lichfield a few miles south for our lunch. All this time the sun shone brightly from a clear sky. There was a large marquee set up by the clubhouse and we four luckily found a table for eight by an open flap of the marquee which allowed a pleasant cooling breeze to flow in. We shared a table with the Green Jacket and his wife. The man had served at the same time as Hugh and knew him. The other couple were dressed alike as Paramedics and were man and wife. The lunch buffet that followed, curry and other Indian dishes, was the best I’ve experienced.

Another man spoke to me and said that he had served in the Green Jackets as had his father before him. The latter had been RSM in the 3rd Battalion in the 1980’s. The son, whose name was Stuart Le Couillitard, had served in the 2RGJ between 1994 and 2018. I thought later that he

The Central England Branch deserve the highest praise 36

The Royal Green Jackets Association

must have served with John Sparks and I could have asked him what John was like. We couldn’t hear anything that happened inside save at one point we heard clapping which I guessed later was for a tribute by John’s daughter Leonie. The singing of ‘Morning has Broken’ also drifted out to us.

I enjoyed talking to some of the others including a woman who had come over from Benidorm especially. The man next to me lived in Doncaster but knew a lot about the locality. He said that in the Thatcher era Houghton Main was often mentioned on TV and the radio during the coal strike.

That probably explained the number of short sturdy men at the funeral.

David decided he needed a sit down in the café so we went down together and were enjoying some excellent coffee when a throng of mourners passed by following the hearse to the cemetery which was on the outskirts of the village. Colin Cranswick who was in the front carrying a standard later said that it was a mile away. David was unable to walk any sort of distance so instead we followed some of the stragglers across the road into the Houghton Arms where the reception was to be held. It was lucky that we did because when the crowd returned from the cemetery, they formed a queue at the bar stretching out of the back door. Unfortunately, because we were inside, we failed to hear the bugle calls over the village.

David needed to get home so we departed before the buffet was opened. Colin and the bugler still hadn’t been served when we took our leave. I couldn’t help noticing that most of the men at nearby tables had two or three pints lined up in front of them, Australian style.

Stuart Anderson Hon-Sec.

HAPPINESS IS “PERMISSION TO CHECK THE BELT” IN THE NEW

37

The Royal Green Jackets Association

THE BUGLERS’ ASSOCIATION THE LIGHT DIVISION & THE RIFLES The Buglers Association, a fully constituted Rifles’ Regimental Association, is now well established and has earned a sound reputation for its bugling excellence, something which we are all extremely proud of. The programme of events each year is extensive nationwide and continues to grow, along with our status and diversity of events. Our constitution and rules ensure that our Buglers adhere to the highest regimental standards.

ral, and has become a very accomplished bugler and proud member of the Association. In fact, he is now teaching others to do the same! Pete is a former KOYLI bugler and proud Yorkshireman who has played continuously since his youth and is a regular attendee of events across Yorkshire and beyond. Pete joined us on Horseguards Parade in 2016 where he doubled off the square with us as a youthful 76 year old and we are certain that he will outlive most of us!

On 16th January 2019, our Buglers once again had the honour of sounding the calls to mark the 210th anniversary of the death of our founding father Sir John Moore, held at his memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral. This year, it was the turn of Barry Dixon and Jake Pugsley. Barry travelled down from the North East for the honour of sounding the calls and was joined by Jake, who is a serving member of The Rifles based in London. This event and attendance at choral evensong that precedes it is a very special event.

On 1st June, the Association supported the LI Reunion in Shrewsbury as we have done for the past 6 years, but this year was different - there was no band! Unfortunately, the Rifles Waterloo band was committed to Georgia so our Buglers had to stand in for them rather than support them as we usually do. Our Buglers spent the day playing along to our recently acquired, powerful sound system. This was a very credible alternative and provided a good marching sound but this was no substitute to a live band. However the day ended with an excellent concert, when our Buglers were joined by the Veterans Band of the Light Division and the Rifles under the direction of Tex Calton for an excellent concert. Once again a great celebration of veteran music!!

Another unique event took place on Anzac Day 25th April 2019 when the chalk downland emblem of the Map of Australia (originally created by Australian Forces in 1917) at Hurdcott Farm in Wiltshire was officially opened by the Australian Deputy High Commissioner, in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton. David Mence and Kirk Richardson sounded Last Post high on the Wiltshire Downs to the acclaim of all who attended.

All the events that our buglers attend are significant to the organisers, but there are the ones that are significant to the Association. Such an event at the Featherstone War Horse Memorial in Yorkshire saw our newest recruit, Kev Fawcett, a former CSM of 2LI, sounding the calls alongside our oldest member, Pete Bate, who will be 80 next year. Kev had never played while serving but wanted to give it a go in later life. He was a natu-

Another annual Association favourite is the RGJ Gathering held in Winchester. Once again Buglers sounded the calls at the memorial service in the 38

The Royal Green Jackets Association

In August some of our Buglers were the guests of 5 Rifles, who celebrated Salamanca Day with a really enjoyable families day and we helped to entertain them with a concert performance alongside the buglers of 5 Rifles under the direction of their Bugle Major Gary Freeland.

KSLI and DLI memorials: the latter marking the closure of the DLI Officers’ Dining Club on 9th June.

Kirk Richardson played here. One significant new memorial is in memory of Corporal Derek Wood and Corporal David How, members of the Royal Signals who were brutally murdered by Republicans who were part of a funeral cortege in Belfast, March 1988. Six of our buglers had the honour of sounding the calls at the unveiling of this poignant memorial – Don Somers, Stan Wilkinson, Peter Noble, Norman Smillie, John Vernon and John Strong.

On 14th September 2019, the Association participated again in an event that is very close to its heart namely the Northern Ireland Veterans Association Memorial Service, held at the National Memorial Arboretum near Stafford, which this year commemorated 50th Anniversary of OP BANNER. Our Buglers have participated in this event for several years and the pride of marching our Light Division comrades down to the Northern Ireland Memorial is very special, especially this year with Craig Rosser playing the bass drum with great style. After sounding the Last Post at the Northern Ireland memorial service, the Buglers marched to the LI and RGJ memorials and after a short service and wreath laying at each, they sounded the calls for our Light Division comrades who never came home. After the commemoration, many joined comrades at the Lichfield Rugby Club for refreshments and an excellent lunch generously hosted by the Central England Branch of the RGJ Association and listened to an excellent bugle concert. A great Light Division occasion.

Given the continued reduction in military bands and the difficulty in sustaining bugling within the Regiment, it is clear that the role of the Buglers’ Association in maintaining our bugling heritage and supporting the wider Regimental family will continue to be increasingly important. Moreover our new sound and amplification systems will help develop the Light Division sound. Any former buglers from antecedent regiments, the Rifles or the Rifle badged cadets who would like to join the Association, please contact our Chairman Alan Tamblyn (alan.tamblyn@buglers.co.uk).

Finally, we would like to thank all those who contribute to the Association so generously, in particular the RGJ Association and the KOYLI Trust. The Association is extremely grateful for your support and we look forward to supporting the Regiment in the years ahead.

Buglers also attend the National Memorial Arboretum regularly throughout the year at both the unveiling of new memorials and attending memorial services at existing ones, including this year the 39

The Royal Green Jackets Association

NORTH WEST BRANCH The branch has had a busy year during 2019.

stations, and factories, from whence they came/ worked/educated and where they transported to

The year started with our AGM and the usual committee meetings. Various members of the branch attended the following during the year Regimental Reunion, The National Arboretum, Liverpool Rifleman's dinner Remembrance Sunday, Rifles recruiting stand, Armed Forces Day, Local Parish Church Service for Liverpool pall's 100th anniversary and again at the Parish Church for the Parachute Regiment Arnhem 75th anniversary.

So, bring on 2020, we as a branch are ready for more of the above On 8th September 2019 the branch President (Sean McEvoy) and Chairman. (Dave Judge) attended a service at the parish church Liverpool, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the return from Russia by the 17th Bn Liverpool Pals The 17th Bn the Liverpool pals were sent to

and from during mobilisation.

A very informative day. From the European front to the Russian tundra. And getting home a year after the end of WW1. Pals indeed.

The Northern Ireland (NI) Veterans Association Service of Remembrance to Commemorate OP Banner 50th Anniversary Commemoration took place at the National Arboretum, Staffordshire on Saturday 14th September 20194

Liverpool Pals inspection 1915

Russia as WW1 was ending in 1918. they returned to England in 1919 one whole year later.

The Liverpool pals have been placing plaques in various locations. Such as schools, railway 40

The Royal Green Jackets Association

The North West Branch paraded 25 members on the day. This included our President Sean McEvoy, Vice President Ken Potter, Chairman Dave Judge, Secretary Mark Lydiat, Treasurer Ray Gerrard and Entertainments officer Stu Donoghue

A huge thank you to the Central England Branch RGJ Association for organising the events at the Arboretum and the excellent lunch and drinks at the Litchfield Rugby Club 2019 also the North West Branch hold their annual Riflemen’s Dinner which continues to go from strength to strength with all 120 places filled and more places requested. The evening started at 17’00hrs with a meet and greet seating at 1830hrs , and for the diehards drinks till 02.00hrs approximately in the adjacent hotel bar and SGT Peppers . For those that are not aware the venue has now moved to a more prestigious location this being the Hard Days Night Hotel situated in the centre of Liverpool and adjacent to the worldfamous Matthew Street

It was with great pride that we formed up for the march on with approximately 200 RGJ veterans which consisted of Officer’s and other ranks. We were by far the biggest contingent on parade. Behind us were the Light Infantry and behind them the Rifles. After all the other cap badges had marched on to Parade to the NI Memorial. The Light Division led by the Bugle Association of the Light Division marched on at Regimental Pace General Sir Robert Pascoe KCB MBE, the President of the NIVA, led the Service of Remembrance, General Pascoe was Ken’s first company commander on joining 2Green Jacket’s (KRRC) in Malaysia in 1965

The guest speaker for the evening was none other than are very own General Sir Patrick Saunders

After the central service each cap badge marched off parade to their own Regimental’s Memorial and their own service of remembrance and wreath laying. Each Rifleman who had lost their life as a result of the NI troubles were read out

Having spent approximately 7years in NI with the UDR and RGJ, I found this to be very emotional but extremely important day Both regiments had far too many people killed and injured and we must never forget them 41

The Royal Green Jackets Association

KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen yet another 3rd Battalion Rifleman. The evening also saw a very talented and witty comedian delivering the entertainment that at times sailed close to the wind, but all banter was taken and given in good spirit

This years’ 2020 dinner night will be held at the same venue 19th September and all members of the RGJ Association Branches are welcome to attend Finally, a big thank you to Steve Donoghue and Dave Crossley for all the Hard work they put in organising and delivering a well-attended dinner and evening

Riflemen from all over the UK, four being serving or retired colonels, thirty ex or serving Rifles Riflemen of RGJ descent, and the McCrieth clan attending the evening

South East Kent Branch The Branch has continued to be very active throughout the whole year. All Committee and Branch meetings were held in our Dover HQ (Dover Sea Angling Club) throughout the year, June, September and November with the Annual General meeting being held in March.

The Branch held its Annual BBQ at the Cricketers in River, Dover. The event was very well attended by all ages, ranging from 1 month to well over 70 years old. People came from all over the country to meet up with fellow riflemen. Beside the food and of course some fluid, there was face painting for the young ones, a raffle and an auction, with all the money raised at the auction going to our designated charity ‘Lest We Forget and Dover Shelter’. A cheque for £400 was handed to ‘Lest We Forget on 2nd September 2019.

Wimbledon Tennis 4th July The Branch managed to obtain 7 tickets for Number 1 court at Wimbledon for 4th July. Those who attended said, ‘it was a lovely day and a very nice opportunity. It is planned to try to obtain tickets again for 2020.

compliments of ‘Lest We Forget Association and the River Project’. A mini bus took the party from Dover up to the venue and back. This was enjoyed by all, so much so that it will now become an annual event for the Branch.

River Thames Cruise 2nd September

Branch Church Service – Dover Castle

A group of 12 members were invited to lunch whilst cruising on the River Thames with

Twenty members of the Branch with their families joined the local congregation, attending 42

The Royal Green Jackets Association

the Church Service held in Dover Castle Church.

The service was conducted by our own Padre, Sean Sheffield. This has now become an annual event.

memory of our absent friends. A wreath was laid by the Branch’s President.

Christmas Party Dover Town Hall

After the service the local congregation open their doors to their reception room for coffee and biscuits. Afterwards everyone proceeded down to our HQ, the Sea Angling Club for a curry lunch.

Remembrance Day Parades Members of the Branch joined the Dover Town Remembrance Day parade, marching through the town to the Town Hall where the service was performed.

This was a major success again with well over 200 people attending. Food, drink (a beer or two), raffle, dancing, auction and a lot of chatting. Riflemen travelled miles to come and enjoy the festive time and catch up with brothers in arms.

After this parade, approximately twenty members of the South East Kent Branch, accompanied by many wives and friends formed up at the 60th Rifles Memorial, where Reverend Sean Sheffield, the branch’s own Padre held a full service in 43

The Royal Green Jackets Association

VETERANS REUNION 6TH JULY 2019 WAS IT A GOOD DAY? Here I am indoors in December, not quite wearing a raincoat but almost, having just received a Warning Order from our S & B Editor ‘Hurry up with your Reunion article please’. That instruction seems to come round ever so quickly, and what can I write to make this article interesting for you as our Reunions tend to have a ‘samey’ feel about them? ‘Have a cup of tea and think damn it BoothMason’.

and after a good breakfast (which was somewhat ‘different’ from what I had experienced in the 1970’s) I strolled out towards the main marquee.

It promised to be a bright sunny day which was a good start. The area was a hive of activity with stands being set up and public address systems being connected together at the Information tent, Garden of Remembrance, parade ground and even in the marquee itself. All trying to be ready for ‘General’ Stanger’s risk assessment at 1130 hrs.

O.K., let’s start with my 2018 article which ended ‘was it a good day and did we achieve all that we set out to do?’ I certainly hope so, and if we did not, I am sure you will let me know’.

The immediate aftermath, I recall, was favourable with not too many grumbles. The 2019 Reunion took place as is our wont in early July and was followed in the late autumn by a general feedback questionnaire to our Branch members about their views on the structure/compositions of our future Reunions. The catalyst of the questionnaire arose from a combination of topics ranging from the cost of the day (£48,000 gross), reducing attendance and the uncertainty regarding the future of Sir John Moore Barracks. The replies were very interesting - but more of that later.

This is always a slightly nervous period as nearly a year’s work has gone into laying on this event and one hopes no last minute hitches suddenly occur?

Thanks to the well organised team on the ground all proceeded according to plan. This year’s theme was the 50th Anniversary of Northern Ireland’s Op Banner which was duly recognised with a special stand which will I comment on later.

I usually set aside the Friday preceding the event for a recce of the site and to touch base with Roy Stanger, the hard working 4 Rifles work party, the bar staff, key Winchester branch personnel and a visit to the camping area which was beginning to fill up with cars and caravans. I do have to remind myself that much of the physical preparations began 4 days previously with the marquee erection, grass cutting in the camping field, the placing of signage, the gate party set up and countless other tasks to be implemented.

As the 1400 hrs opening deadline approached I felt confident that everything was up to scratch and on schedule and we were in for a good day.

But the key question was ’how many Riflemen would turn up?’ which is one area outside our control. The Rifles Army Cadet Force (Winchester) arrived in force to direct traffic to the designated parking areas. Our Reception area under command of our RGJA Secretary (Jan-Dirk von Merveldt) and our Treasurer/Membership Secretaries (Michael Leeming & Hugh Goudge) were ready and waiting to check membership status

As the day of the event dawned on the Saturday 44

The Royal Green Jackets Association

As the day got underway the sun continued to shine, due I am sure in no small measure to the presence of the Senior Chaplain ATR (Winchester) Padre Norman McDowell who again took our Service of Thanksgiving at the well maintained Light Division Garden of Remembrance. There was some lusty singing from the attendees, plus the usual support from the Winchester Military Wives Choir who sang their solo beautifully aided by a Rifles Band and Bugles Brass Ensemble plus our own Buglers Association. It is only proper that we hold this short service to remember some of our fallen. This year 5 names from the Roll of Honour years 1987-1996 were read out by the Deputy Chairman.

highlight of the day for many of us, the words of the Parade Adjutant ‘Bugle Major – Sound the Advance’. Chests out, shoulders back, loads of smiles, shouts of ‘get in step’ as we marched around the Square to the accompaniment of the combined Bands of 6 & 7 Rifles. Then finally into the finishing straight and being greeted by cheers, handclapping, and smiles from the seated spectators before the Salute and ‘Eyes right’ to our President. I was also pleased to see that the Parade dress was adhered to by most of the marching Riflemen which is as it should be.

As the Romsey Old Cadet Band were unable to perform this year we asked our Buglers Association to give us a short Bugle display which was excellent. As bugling is our frontline showcase to the general public all credit must go to their President Alan Tamblyn who has ensured our Regimental bugling skills are being maintained for the future as well as encouraging cadets to become interested in bugling. The bugle display also gave our RGJA President the opportunity to present them with 6 RGJ silver bugles that the Association had restored. The accompanying photographs demonstrate how well the restoration has been undertaken.

Unfortunately the Rifles Band & Bugles were unable to join us for this year’s Reunion due to a prior commitment, so our B&B this year came from components drawn from our Reserve Bands of 6 & 7 Rifles who had travelled a long way to undertake this reunion task for us. Their performance and marching was excellent and all credit to them.

Bugling is very much part of our DNA and it was both pleasing and extremely pleasurable to listen to those familiar and unique sounds together with our bands. They are to be encouraged and cherished. Following on from our parade, they together with our Association Buglers, performed Sounding Retreat, the National Anthem and Sunset as our flag went down (JMB please note!). I would also like to thank DOM Major Lawrence Sale for his contribution throughout the whole afternoon.

So ended our Main Square programme.

As mid afternoon approached we all eagerly awaited our Parade Adjutant Gary Driscoll ‘s voice change from his usual singing voice to an RSM voice for Riflemen to fall in for the Battalion Parade and March Past. The Regiment was called to order for a short address by our President Maj General Jamie Gordon who informed us that the Association was in good health, some information about the 6 restored silver RGJ bugles and a little encouraging news about the future of SJMB which was safe until at least 2024. AND then that moment we all had been looking forward to, and a

However the Main Square events were not the only attractions. 4 Rifles, quite apart from being 45

The Royal Green Jackets Association

stands to mark this occasion. The ‘Soldiers of the Queen’ (a 1970’s re-enactment group) set up a very good and popular stand that attracted many of us to view what they had on display. Their stand had an excellent display of arms, ammunition and equipment all so familiar to us from those years ago. A trip down memory lane as we handled again those long forgotten pieces of equipment. There should have been a 6 wheel Saladin vehicle on display but unfortunately it broke down on its inward journey – regardless of that our sincere thanks to the SOTQ. Running in parallel with our theme the RGJ and Rifles Museum with excellent help from Rocky Gates had collected many NI photos which were then cleverly displayed on a continuous loop via monitor to provide a running display for all to view. This was no mean feat and congratulations to all involved.

Even I was seen in one photo in case anyone wondered if I had ever served in the Regiment! In addition, the sides of the marquee also had NI photos.

not forget our ‘Compere extraordinaire’ Brig Nicholas Prideaux who tirelessly kept us informed throughout the afternoon of events taking place and details about the participants themselves.

And so after a busy and enjoyable afternoon it was time to RV at the marquee for a networking session with our old mates and a few bevvies before the evening’s entertainment started. This has for several years now been undertaken by those 3 wonderful singing ladies from ‘The Melodic Belles’. As usual they gave us all much enjoyment in 2 x 30 minute sessions. Their singing resonated inside the marquee and foot tapping and audience participation was much in evidence. To round off the evening a 2 course dinner with choices had been laid on costing only a £5. Great value!!

The Museum also had their own specific stand selling some of their wares which was an adjunct to the Museum itself in Peninsula Barracks who also were well supported by Riflemen and their families visiting over the weekend. For 2020 our Reunion theme will be BAOR so please send any photos to the Museum.

Lastly, while on the subject of the Reunion, I thought you would be interested in my summary feedback received from branches on future Reunions:

We usually like to have a couple of charities involved. Naturally The Rifles C4C (Care for Casualties) under Pam Perry (Assistant Regt Sec The Rifles) and Capt. Ian Foster kindly obliged. The second charity was ‘Veterans Support Agency’ under a former Rifleman John Joyce also attended. For the second year running we had the electronic clay pigeon shooting on the sports ground behind the marquee. Being very much interactive which are what people ask for – it’s not for some reason that well supported. We will continue this for 2020 and then reassess its popularity. We should

Summary/conclusions 1.

To remain at Winchester ATR for the foreseeable future on same current basis was strongly supported with tweaks like improved camping facilities/wives area/buggy/bus service which are being incorporated for 2020.

2.

Any possible move to Worthy Down requires investigation but no outright enthusiasm.

Winchester itself remains and holds the main attraction- pubs/historic home etc rather than any 46

The Royal Green Jackets Association

other location.

3.

and to everyone – great and small- from the Reunion Sub Committee, The Winchester Branch and all those helpers and volunteers who contributed in any way towards our Reunion.

Other unnamed Branches not specified here spoke at November 2019 Branch meeting and supported (1) above.

Our thanks go to CO ATR Lt Col R Noott PWRR for allowing us to hold our Reunion in his barracks

Simon Booth-Mason Chairman RGJA Reunion Sub Committee

Comments/View

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 3

Remain/Continues at SJMB/ATR

Yes

Yes

Yes

Food/drink below par

Yes

Share with Rifles gathering Fallow Year

By larger Branches/ another Branch

2 x No Response No 1 X no

No

2 x Yes

Reduce Footprint at SJMB/ATR

4 x Yes

Bus Service

2 X Yes

Branch 6

Yes

Branch 7

Branch 8

Total Responses

Yes

Yes

6

Yes

2

No

No

5

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Rename to Rifles Gathering

Branch 5

Yes

Include lunch Change Entrance fee

Branch 4

no

7

N0

6

Yes

1

Yes

2 2

No Response

No Yes

More Info re RGJA ring

6 Yes

Yes

Yes

5 1

Ladies area

Yes

1

Dinner food amend

Yes

1

Disco

Yes

1

Yes Yes

1 2

Interactive stands/ Family Attractions

Yes

Earlier March Past

Yes

1

Invite Rifles Associa-

Yes

1

Worthy Down as a venue

1 X No 2 X Yes

No Response

Museum Factor

No Response

Yes

No Response

7

Yes

1

Better Officer Attendance

Yes

1

Better Campsite Facilities

Yes

1

47

The Royal Green Jackets Association

OP BANNER 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Start of Operations in Northern Ireland The 12th September was a fine day as over 300 members of the Light Division and the Rifles gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire. For the sixth time, the RGJA has paraded alongside our Divisional brothers from the Light Infantry within the framework of the NIVA Service of Remembrance. The NIVA is made up of all Arms, Corps and Regiments of British Forces who served in Ulster. The Light Division contingent normally makes up 60% plus of those NI veterans on parade, hence it is very much a green beret event. It was good to see veterans from the Rifles, like Kelvin Price who saw operational service in both 2RGJ and 4Rifles, attending with his wife. Kelvin – now the Reverend Kelvin Price, Rector of St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow - officiated at the Service of Remembrance at both the Ulster Ash Grove and at our Regimental Memorial.

shaft of light across a wreath in the centre.

The Armed Forces Memorial was dedicated in October 2007 by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of HM the Queen.

The 2019 annual NIVA gathering, organised and hosted by The Central England Branch in whose ‘patch’ the NMA happens to be, had special significance for all attending given that the MOD only officially commemorates the finish of specific op-

The Arboretum contains 30,000 trees, with more being added each year. There are more than 350 memorials for the Armed Forces, civilian organisations and voluntary bodies who have played a part in serving our country.

erations. So, few of us will be around in 2057 to commemorate the official 50th anniversary of the end of OP BANNER. It was great to see many branches and individuals attending. The NW Branch came down in strength from Liverpool as did the Warminster, Winchester and SE Kent Branches - along with Major Mike Gleeson and members of the Rifle Brigade Association, from

At the heart of the Arboretum is the Armed Forces Memorial, which is a tribute to over 16,000 service personnel who have lost their lives in conflict or as a result of terrorism since the end of the Second World War. At 11 am on 11 November each year the sun shines through two slits in the outer and inner walls of the memorial, casting a 48

The Royal Green Jackets Association

the south. It was good to see such a strong turnout and we were rewarded with a fine sunny, early autumn, day.

Having taken part in the Service of Remembrance at the Ulster Ash Grove, where our wreath was laid by Maj Gen Nick Cottam, we all then march

back to our own respective Regimental memorials to remember, in our own personal way, fallen and injured comrades. The RGJ Association wreath was laid by Gen Sir Nick Parker.

Senior Officers attended in goodly numbers, which is always greatly appreciated by Association members. In addition to those pictured below, Gen Sir Bob Pascoe took the salute along with James Leaversley, the Vice Lord lieutenant of Staffordshire. It was good to see Maj Gen Jamie and Carolyn Balfour and Brig Mike Smith.

Following the Services at the NMA, 200 Association members, their partners and families, took advantage of the complimentary lunch that was arranged close by, at Lichfield Rugby Club. It was a good day all around

BITS AND PIECES Part 1

John Fritz-Domeney (Winchester Branch) on fire fighting duties 1977 looking like he hadn't slept for a few weeks, but he looked like that on the RIT in 1972 as well .

49

Who remembers the weapon training sheds in Peninsula Barracks? I was informed they were turned into homes and sold for the staggering price of approx ÂŁ250k each

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Finding Cpl “Aussie” Fewell 1GJ Winchester and he started finding out some more information.

He spoke to his old OC Mark Scrase Dickins whom spoke highly of him and did say he was known as 'Aussie' but no one knew where the name originated. He also found that his name is inscribed at the National Arboretum in the Midlands.

Fewell Norman John 23883023 Cpl 1GJ (43rd & 52nd) DoD 12th Aug i964

Late last year the RGJ Association was contacted

by Mrs Anthea Prentice as to her former Fiancée Cpl Fewell who tragically died in Borneo, she wanted to find out any information and where he was buried, as back in the mid sixties the MOD did not share a lot of information due to the troubles in Borneo.

The Colonel’s preliminary inquiry was with the JCCC (Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre) Innsworth, Glos who indicated that he was cremated, and his ashes are in the Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore.

I committed myself to find out what I could, as I thought it was going to be a mission.

I contacted Ex Cpl Keith Kneller who I knew from 1RGJ as I remembered he had served in Borneo and actually knew Aussie.

He gave me some very useful information as at that time he was doing entries in the Battalions news magazine book and explained what had happened that fateful day.

Cpl Fewell was in the Recce Platoon and was on Patrol in Sarawak- Kuching District, they had some form of contact and had to withdraw quicklysomewhere along the withdrawal Cpl Fewell tripped and fell forward, his SMG self loaded on impact with the ground and fired a 9mm round through his torso, the Recce Platoon Serjeant Bernie Hickmott formally from 3GJ (RB) and the section carried him out but he was already dead.

At that moment in time the Colonel was waiting for Innsworth to get back to him with more information and a certain lady kept her word. She had done some excellent research and found out that back in the 1970's, the Government of Singapore redeveloped an area containing the Military Cemeteries of Ulu Pandan and Pasir Panjang. As a result, graves located in these two cemeteries were to be relocated to Kranji War Cemetery.

After passing on this news to Anthea , she asked if we could locate where he was buried.

I contacted Lt Col J-D von Merveldt at RHQ 50

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Families of those involved were contacted and given options on what they wanted for their loved ones: 1.

exhumed and reburied at the new site.

2.

the remains cremated and scattered at the new site.

3.

the remains cremated and returned to the family in their country of origin.

wrong note completely, as he talked about when we were in the jungle we should feel that butterflies were Aussie's spirit, forever with us etc. etc.

Most of the congregation walked out and went to the bar, where we felt that Aussie was more likely to be with us.

Anyway, a long time ago and far, far away, there was a small war on the island of Borneo.

Nobody remembers and nobody cares much, except for those of us who were there.

Records indicate that Cpl Fewell's family opted for his remains to be cremated and returned to them in the U.K. thereafter we have no records to show what the family chose to do with the ashes and sadly the family never contacted Anthea as to the location of Cpl Fewell's remains,

I was in the 1st Bn's Recce Platoon at the time although I wasn't on the patrol where Aussie died. The Platoon had six Iban soldiers from the Malaysian (previously Sarawak) Rangers attached to us, at least two of whom had served with British and Commonwealth troops in Malaya during the Emergency. They were expert scouts, able to tell you not only how many people had passed along a track and how long ago, but often the weapons being carried, whether they were moving in a way that suggested tiredness or carrying heavy loads including casualties and so on.

Anthea is now married to Michael an Ex Para who pushed her to contact the Green Jackets to find out what happened to her Ex, and hopefully a lot of questions have been answered.

The story doesn’t quite end there though as Dick 'Sam' Muskett came forward with further information regarding Aussie’s death. He wrote; “Hello Mark, I can maybe help a bit on the Aussie Fewell story though there are a few details I am unsure about. I've set it out below as the memories occur to me, and there are some aspects that are probably not repeatable in a non-regimental setting - Aussie's insistence of carrying an SMG, the decision to tell the two patrols to move quickly through the jungle at night when there was no immediate risk to any of our positions, the difficulty that command had in accepting that Aussie was clearly dead and insisting on pushing on with his body was not a smart decision settle, so joined the Army hence the name. A familiar story....

The Platoon was based outside Kuching and we had two main operational tasks. We carried out out patrols of two to four days duration along the border with Indonesian Kalimantan, mainly looking for evidence of hostile troop movements, regularly used camp areas where Indonesian incursions into Sarawak could lie up, either on their way in or when they were returning. We also usually had a patrol on standby so that if a Rifle Platoon had a contact or one of our border forts was attacked overnight, the standby patrol were choppered out and either dropped on the contact area, or between the fort and the border in order to hopefully intercept the raiders returning back across the border, or dropped at the fort to help the resident Rifle Platoon clear the immediate perimeter, and using the skills of the Ibans, form a picture of the numbers involved, what casualties

As a Green Jacket finale, some little while after he was killed and they'd taken his body to Singapore for burial, they organised a sort of memorial service for him, in the mess tent in the Kuching camp.

The presiding padre just managed to strike the 51

The Royal Green Jackets Association

they had taken and the speed they were retreating at. And like every other platoon, we also sat in night ambushes on tracks, if there was reason to believe that a raid was planned.

barrel, would improve its quality in a short range encounter. He was persuasive bloke and convinced someone in the armourers to make and fix this forward grip.

On the days we are talking about, we had two patrols out, operating independently in two sectors on our side of the border and looking for any evidence of enemy movement in the area. The Pl Comd, Mark Scrase Dickens was the I/C of one patrol, with Aussie Fewell that unit. I'm not sure who commanded the second patrol as we had two Sergeants, Bernie Hickmott and Ross Grainger, but I'm pretty certain Ross was in charge of the third patrol back in Kuching, where I was. As I remember, each patrol would have had six to eight Recce men plus two Iban Rangers. The significant factor in the unfolding events as I understand them is that the second patrol included a Fijian rifleman Ratu 'Pepe' Racanate (sorry, I've spelt Pepe's family name wrongly but he had the honorific Ratu as he was from a significant family) and Peter Yeo, a rifleman of Chinese family. The story as it got parlayed after it was all over was that the patrol that included Pepe and Pete, and that would of course had two Iban Rangers, was seen by a local Land Dyak man out hunting.

So the Land Dyak out looking for something edible to take home for tea saw a group of soldiers, wearing a range of non-uniform clothing, carrying a selection of weapons including parangs/goloks on their belts, all dirty and in some cases with camouflage face paint on, one of them was Chinese, another over 6 feet and Black plus two others looked local. The Dyak legged it as fast as possible to a longhouse where Border Scouts with a radio were based. The message that got back to Kuching was that an Indonesian incursion force had cross the border and was moving fairly fast in a northerly direction.

Base broke radio silence and alerted the two Recce patrols to the presence of raiders who had crossed the border and seemed to be heading in a direction that would offer several possible targets.

It was now late in the day but it was decided that both patrols would keep moving and aim to rendezvous, if neither had run into the Indonesian raiders in the meantime. The patrols pushed on into the dark and at some point while they were negotiating a narrow track along a hillside, Aussie slipped down the bank and his weapon went off.

His comrades got him back up to the track but it was clear that he was dead. A discussion ensued about the practicalities of continuing the pursuit of the reported Indonesian unit, whilst carrying Aussie's body but there was a school of thought that he wasn't dead and that if he could be got to a clearing where a night-flying helicopter could get it, he could be saved. One of the rifleman in the patrol told me afterwards that rigor mortis was starting to set in and it was absolutely clear that Aussie was dead. And that's about it really.

He was a good guy.

Recce Platoons of the British Army, in every active service theatre they found themselves, have always cultivated a slightly 'informal' image. Riflemen wore clothes and carried kit they felt comfortable with, personal weapons were also subject to choice to some extent, so long as appropriate ammo was available - so there were at least a couple of US Armalite rifles in the platoon, as well as SLRs and the usual mix of long-barrelled Browning automatic shotguns and short Remington pump action guns. Aussie had decided that the SMG had an unfairly bad press and it was a practical close range weapon, if it was kept clean and the mags were regularly emptied and re-filled. However, he was also convinced that a forward grip, under the

We finish with Message from Anthea to All. 52

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Having started out trying to locate any information regarding the death of Cpl. N.J. "Aussie" Fewell, I was very fortunate to find Mark Adams also late of the Green Jackets. The information he and his colleagues found about "Aussie" for me, was amazing. Though, of course, harrowing, but all wars are harrowing for the men and women taking part, and my heart goes out to all of them, including the families of those killed during any action. I am also so grateful to Dick "Sam" Muskett, for providing such in depth detail, of this "forgotten war". However due to the hard work of many people involved with the GJs, Cpl N.J. Fewell is no longer a forgotten soldier, who fought in a war many 1,000s of miles away, and is rarely if at all, mentioned.

As a result of this information I was able to dedicate a "Poppy Cross" on Remembrance Day at our local RBL Remembrance Garden, which helped me a great deal, and I will continue to do so every Remembrance Day. I have also to thank my husband Mike for pushing me to put my mind at rest, as to the whereabouts and the manner of his death. I am deeply grateful, and if anyone else who knew him would like to get in touch, Mark has my email address.

With good wishes to all.

Anthea

HOW NOT TO PARK YOUR VAN !

Photographed from a different angle it can now be seen that he has really not got any idea about parking. Amazingly he managed to reverse back over the curb eventually, accompanied by a lot of screeching and grinding before puttering away in

a cloud of smoke presumably for the nearest scrap yard !

I do wish I could remember what the note on his windscreen said though…………...

53

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Operation Banner 50th Anniversary Northern Ireland A small contingent of RGJ association members flew to Belfast to take part in the service of remembrance at Wallace Park in Lisburn on Saturday, 17th August 2019, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of Op Banner.

the boys! It was great sharing some time with and chatting to him as an equal during the weekend, he is a true regimental legend.

The parade itself was well attended by various regiments but not surprisingly the Irish regiments where there in large numbers, and the watching crowds were 5 deep for the entire 2 +mile march, the reception we received in the province was a stark contrast to the one I remember getting in 1987. A thoroughly enjoyable weekend was had by us all and it was great to represent the regiment.

It was the first time back in the province for us for over 30 years, we headed to the Royal British Legion in Lisburn and made that our temporary home for the duration, we visited and was welcomed in to several Orange halls during the day which was an experience having only wondered what went on in them in the past, we made a few new friends too, including the NI Veterans Association President, fellow Green Jacket General Sir Bob Pascoe who as it turns out is just one of

Jason Olding 54

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Act of Remembrance for 23883510 Rifleman A.R Land 2 GJ (KRRC) Guyana (Formerly British Guiana)

By CSjt Glenrory Low 2nd Bn The Rifles none of his immediate family were present, something that would be unthinkable today. He was, however, given a full military burial with members of his platoon present, the escort commander was Peter Clarke and the funeral commander was Paddy Egan .

This year commemorates the 56th anniversary of the 2nd Green Jackets (2GJ) Battalion (King’s Royal Rifle Crops) deployment to British Guiana (now Guyana). On the 4 July 1963, 2GJ was given the order to move by air to British Guiana, 2GJ was the first ‘Spearhead’ Battalion to do so. The objective was to provide much needed support to the police, during a period of unrest. By account Rfn Alan Land had been in the country for just over a week when he died in Georgetown. His death was the result of a confrontation with two local policemen. The coroner's inquest found that the two policemen in question had used excessive force and were criminally responsible for his death. Rfn Alan Land, originally for East Ham, London was only 19-years-old.

On the 15th Oct 2019 an act of remembrance was held at the Commonwealth War Graves, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Guyana in honour of Riflemen Alan Land. In attendance was British High Commissioner to Guyana and Non-Resident Ambassador to Suriname H.E Mr. Greg Quin, Col (Retd) Brian Chin (USMC), CSjt Glenrory Low and a Guard of Honour provided by the Guyana Police Force.

As a regiment that values our regimental history and contribution of our predecessors. This simple act of remembrance helps, to reinforce and maintain our strong regimental ties and shared ethos.

In remembering, those riflemen who are buried

Rfn Land was buried soon after his passing as was the custom in British Guiana, due local laws which demand burial in less than 48 hours. As a result, 55

The Royal Green Jackets Association

on foreign soil. Below is an extract from a poem that was recited during the short service in memory of Alan, entitled ‘the Soldier’.

active interest and contributing his time and liaising with the Guyana Police Forces as a matter of protocol.

“If I should die, think only this of me:

CSjt Glenrory Low was born in Georgetown, Guyana. In 2000 he left his homeland to join his parents in London and in 2001, he joined the 1st Bn The Royal Green Jackets now 2 Rifles

That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England’s, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home….”

Rupert Brooke.

Guyana, (Formerly British Guiana) officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. It is the only English speaking country in South America, and is culturally considered part of the AnglophoneCaribbean sphere. In addition it is one of the founding member countries of the Caribbean Community organization. Guyana is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to the south and southwest, Venezuela to the west, and Suriname to the east. With an area of 215,000 square kilometres, Guyana is the third-smallest sovereign state on mainland South America after Uruguay and Suriname.

As a small token of appreciation, a KRRC journal was presented to H.E Mr Greg Quinn for taking an 56

The Royal Green Jackets Association

The Unveiling of the Regimental Memorials at “Parade Green Campus” On The Old Cowley Barracks Site Oxford Unite Students and Oxford Brooks University have developed the old Cowley Barracks site into a most impressive campus with study bedrooms for 867 students, aptly named Parade Green. This impressive new building occupies the area which old regimental recruits will remember well, with its austere Victorian ‘Moore’ and ‘Napier’ barrack blocks and parade ground. What they will not recognise and may well dismiss is the luxury in which modern students will live in Parade Green.

members of the Regiment who passed through Cowley Barracks, who won the Victoria Cross, CSM Edward Brooks VC and L/Cpl Alfred Wilcox VC in WWI, and Lieutenant John Rayburn VC (att 2 Para) in WWII.

The Unveiling The ceremony on the 15th August 2019 began with the Regimental Assembly Call sounded by the two buglers, from The Rifles. This was followed by an opening address by General Sir Robert Pascoe KCB MBE.

Cowley Barracks was the Regimental Depot of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd & 52nd) from 1876-1958. In this new development, it was agreed to place a memorial to the regiment at the entrance to the university campus with a mural depicting the continuum of the regiment from 1741 to todays county regiment ‘The Rifles’ in the reception area.

Brigadier Robin Draper CVO OBE then recounted the story of the continuum of the regiment from its founding in 1741, through Quebec in 1759, the Peninsular War, the rout the Imperial Guard at Waterloo and the World Wars, including the defeat of the Prussian Guard and Nonne Boschen in 1914 and Pegasus Bridge on D Day 1944. He concluded with the post-war operations and the founding of its successor regiments, The Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles.

This means that as they enter the campus, hundreds of students will become familiar with the sacrifice made by generations in the county regiment to maintain the freedoms they enjoy and of its outstanding record and that its successor is, The Rifles.

The new memorial was then unveiled by General Sir Robert Pascoe together with senior representatives of Oxford Brookes University, Unite Students and Corporal Reg Charles Legion d’Honneur,

The Regimental Memorial is in the form of an altar shaped plinth with an inscription on top. On the front are three plaques commemorating the 57

The Royal Green Jackets Association

who landed in Normandy in June 1944 with the 43rd and served in France, The Netherlands and Germany. Captain Robert Drummond Hay, then delivered the Act of Remembrance:

The last of many of the bugle calls of the afternoon sounded by Bugle Major Phillip King of the Oxfordshire (The Rifles) Battalion, Army Cadet Force, and Rifleman James Howard of the 7 Rifles Bugles Platoon, was appropriately “No More Parades”.

Veterans then visited the small plaque mounted on the original boundary wall retained in the campus development, on Holloway. This was placed to remind passing citizens of Oxford of their connection with this historic site and their regiment and the sacrifice of so many of local soldiers who gave their lives to safeguard the freedom that they enjoy. Thus, ended a memorable and evocative day, especially for those veterans who had experienced the rigours of basic training in Cowley Barracks. Hopefully, the memorials and the mural will also attract the interest of generations of students in the regiment’s history and indeed in the possibility of serving with The Rifles.

“This day we remember all those who served in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry since 1741; those who passed through their basic training on this site and in particular the 5,878 soldiers of the Regiment who gave their lives in the First World War and the 1408 in the Second, as well as those who fell in other conflicts and with its successor regiments, The Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles”. A wreath was then laid by Corporal Reg Charles.

Former Corporal Roy Bailey then gave a lighthearted but very faithful recollection of his time as a National Service Recruit at Cowley Barracks in the 1950s, prior to deploying on operations during the Cyprus Emergency.

Finally, great credit is due to Major Terry Roper MBE TD, who initially had the inspiration to commemorate the regiment at its old Depot and then the drive to bring it to fruition.

58

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Fire up the QM 2 (Again my apologies to Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes) Another gritty roller coaster ride of action.

Don’t cha just love surprises? Well maybe only the nice ones which this one was as the love of my life sprung one on me one morning “We need a break - so pack your bags we are sailing to New York for Chrimbo on the good ship Lollipop or the Queen Mary 2 as its known these days”. The 2nd surprise which was considerably less nice than the first, was that we would be going in just a few days’ time! Jeez! The deviousness of the fairer sex can be breath taking!

luckily no as a quick massage from security proves I am not carrying anything untoward and we are let through.

At last we get on board and find that our cabin is ok if you don’t have a cat to swing about. Whilst unpacking we hear the ships horn giving it like an elephant with colic which means that at long last we are on our way. Whey hey! Unfortunately it’s going to be a long 7 day journey, icebergs permitting of course.

Fortunately we (or I should say me) can pass the time watching all the dancing girls in the shows along with the odd singer, and I do mean odd if you get my drift, and of course eating and drinking and then more eating and drinking.

In between one of our eating sessions we decided to have a limp round the deck. I’ve taken to having to use a walking stick as the old legs have started to play up but hey! even Rolf Harris had an extra leg but let’s not dwell on that as his name is as toxic as Gary Glitter’s!

On Sunday the 15th December we arrive at Southampton docks only to find our departure delayed by strong winds blowing the air bridge about. Of course the old fashioned gangway from the quayside to the ship could have been used but as the tide comes in you need crampons, ice picks and ropes just to get up the steep incline. And let’s be honest that’s not a dignified way for a QM2 passenger to embark is it?

We are now in the North Atlantic, its bloody cold with heavy snow and windy enough to blow my wig off! Having trouble even standing due to the strength of the wind and I think my eyeballs are about to freeze. Even the brass monkey has gone in for a brandy, yes folks its damn cold.

Walking around the ship I bump into Simon Weston (Falklands Campaign) and have a few words with him. The following day I find he is giving a talk as part of the ships ‘entertainment’ about what happened to him in the Falklands and what he has been up to since - all very interesting.

Two day later he gives another talk about the same thing. This gives me the idea that there must

After handing our bags over to a porter it was off to passenger check-in. Hand luggage and anything metal into a tray and through the Xray machine.

Its then my turn and would you Adam and Eve it the bloody thing goes “Errrgghh! Errrgggh!

Errrgggh! as I walk through. The thought goes through my mind “is it rubber gloves time?” but 59

The Royal Green Jackets Association

be a few other veterans on board the old tub. So I organise a meeting via the ships ‘activities system’ in one of the bars. About 25 turn up, the eldest being in his late 80s so it’s a case of pull up a sand bag and tell war stories for the evening – a good night all in all. I then ask Cunard if they can put out a memo to the whole ship that there will be a Veterans Group photo by the ships Christmas tree. Unfortunately good old Cunard managed to time it at the same time as guess what? Yep! Simon Weston giving yet another talk about you know what. Unfortunately therefore only 4 turned up including me but that’s a Brick and we told a few stories and had the photo taken.

for almost an hour for our ‘pre-arranged’ cab. Not a good impression or start to our holiday when you are in the business yourself!

The hotel is ok, just, and we are put on the 26th floor where we can see aircraft going by. At least I hope they are! We had asked for two single beds in our room but find it’s a double so I have to limp to reception to tell them why I had requested this.

In the telling they suss me out and ask if I’m a veteran. Yes I am say I and we end up with a bigger room, two king sized beds, mini bar and free Wi-Fi! This wasn’t the only act of kindness to veterans I found during our trip. In fact the marvellous thing was that despite being a UK Limey I was treated with the same respect as their own veterans. Wherever we went throughout our trip we were thanked for the service to our country and to America and found many of the tourist hotspots are free entry for us old farts, sorry Veterans. I wish it was like this back home.

Anyway Times Square is just a short walk away and also the Rockefeller Building so we decide to do the TOP OF THE ROCK TOUR. I’ve still got my Green Blazer with badge and regimental tie on so its ‘assistance’ all the way and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR!

After a coffee and scoff, its back to the hotel, unpack a bit, find the tea bags and a welcome brew then it’s off again to discover the BIG APPLE That’s if the lift can make it to our floor!

Walking about and shopping is a treat (not), police all over the place, winos, crack heads and the down and outs all over the place. Day 1 done!

On one of the ships shows was Bernie Flint the comedian from Opportunity Knocks who I thought had died years ago. Anyway it turns out he had been in the Navy with one of my drivers - well that little nugget really made my trip worthwhile – not!

Up early on day 2, coffee and a bun in a local coffee shop on 7th Avenue and we are set for the day, they really do big buns here! Then it’s off to the Empire State Building to see if there was a big ape hanging from it. This particular building has featured in over 250 films since 1931 but King Kong was undoubtedly the best. We then decide

At last and after a week on this floating café I’ve had enough but there in sight at last is Noo York!

We made it and not an iceberg anywhere in sight!

We disembark, find our cases, talk to a nice customs guy (not) and out we go. At last the BIG APPLE but yeah what a let-down as we have to wait 60

The Royal Green Jackets Association

a quick scoff in an Irish bar, a brew and a gonk till morning.

Christmas Eve is just another day in New York and we are up early (some kinda holiday this is). Today we are off to see the USS Intrepid an aircraft carrier that is now a floating museum. We decide to walk there by using the map but yet again a potential officer gene (not) kicked in and once again we got lost. However on the way we come across a fire station where we met a number of guys involved in the 9/11 shout. They had lost several members of their crew in the Twin Towers collapse, but firemen being firemen were still willing to pose for a photo in front of the plaques on their station wall in honour their dead work mates.

Ground Zero and Survivor Tree

to walk to Ground Zero the site of the Twin Towers to pay our respects. I take the map but have one of those officer moments and get lost so it’s a cab instead. This is one of three visits to the site we do in our short time in New York because it’s way too much to absorb in one go.

The actual memorial itself is based on the footings of both towers and when told how many people had died there I can understand perfectly why America declared open warfare on terrorism in general. Surprisingly one tree survived the carnage (Callery Pear) and was taken away and kept healthy until it could be replanted back into the soil of Ground Zero in 2010. Its name is now known as The Survivor Tree.

We stumble on our way and taking our lives in our hands trying to cross small roads the size of the M3 finally make it to the Intrepid. My wife has to pay, but yet again as I’m a British Veteran there is no charge. I won’t bore you with all the details of what’s on the ship as you can see it all on the inter -web on your computer thingy. However I have to say it’s very well presented and extremely well looked after. There is even a small bit of England is there in the shape of a British Airways Concorde.

God bless her!

From here we take a boat trip to Liberty Island to see what all the fuss is about with this extremely large green woman with a torch. We return as night time falls and we get off the boat only to find we have got over an hour wait for our coach to take us back. No way were we going to wait that long in the cold so we get the local state run ferry back at a fraction of the price. We get off and are close to Wall Street so we have a quick coffee and decide to go back to Ground Zero for a night visit as it kinda takes your breath away in darkness. After that short train ride back to our hotel,

We stop at an Irish bar for a scoff and a brew and then it’s off again to our 3rd visit to Ground Zero 61

The Royal Green Jackets Association

where this time we go into the museum. It’s very well done and takes you through the events of the day from initial phone calls to the fire service, radio messages between fire departments, civilian phone calls and TV reports of the day. Some of the film footage we didn’t see here in the UK and its harrowing watching it and listening to all the calls for help. The museum is set over the foundations of the Twin Towers and behind one wall are the reposed remains of some of the people that had perished - their bodies never to be found. A stairway is still there where a lot of people made it out also the wreckage of a fire truck where its crew were killed. In total 2605 people died of which 343 were fire fighters and 71 police officers. Correct me if I’m wrong but it’s all from memory.

but I’m sure he knew I was there, and I WILL visit it again.

The Lincoln Memorial is a sight to see as is all the war memorials in and around the cemetery. A whole day could be spent visiting this place alone.

Today I have decided to wear my green blazer with badge. A passing American Marine stops me for a chat, it turns out he has just come back from Tokyo on a posting. What in hell he is doing there God only knows but I thought it best I didn’t ask.

After a quick photo and another THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY we part.

Different countries, same job, just soldiers.

As a soldier you more often than not expect this to happen to you but not to an office worker never to go home and see their family again. RIP all of them.

For us the day is now at an end, tomorrow is the day an old fat guy with a white beard dressed in red tries to squeeze down your chimney. Yes it’s Father Christmas and like me only c**es sorry visits once a year!

Up at ‘sparrows’ on Christmas morning as we have a coach to catch at 7am for a tour around Washington. During our slow walk to where we catch the coach we quickly realise that in New York it’s just another day. Everything is open so we decide to have another quick coffee and a scoff and then catch the coach for the 3½ hour drive to DC.

One of the memorials that did haunt me was the Korean War Memorial which depicts a patrol of American GIs. No matter which angle you are looking at this memorial one of the guys is looking at you. Bit spooky that but so cleverly done.

Our first stop on arrival is Arlington National Cemetery where the remains of over 400,000 military and other high profile dignitaries from a Private to a President from the USA and 11 other countries are buried. I have been to many war grave cemeteries all over the world but this one has to be the largest I have ever seen. Because it was an official tour I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to pay my respects to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We also take in the White House but can’t get round the front for security reasons. Around the back there is a new stronger fence being installed.

The place is guarded by loads of police as you can imagine. I find me a quiet spot where no tourists are to get a photo. After a few minutes I am approached by a big guy in sun glasses dressed in a dark suit. No he’s not from the film Men in Black but a special agent assigned to guard the Presi62

The Royal Green Jackets Association

dent. It seems his attention was caught by the way I was dressed with a regimental badge on the blazer. “I’m a veteran from The Royal Green Jackets, British Army mate” I inform him. He had surprisingly heard of the Regiment and after a bit of a chat he like everyone else had done thanked me for my service. He then says something to a little guy who seems to be up the sleeve of his jacket and without a shot being fired he bids me a safe journey. Nice guy but wouldn’t want to upset him.

American style, After enough burger to choke an elephant it’s back on the coach for the long journey back to the hotel. It’s been a good day and Arlington will stick in my memory for a long time.

We near New York and it’s packed like the M25 on a Monday morning, not like Christmas day at all.

Hotel, brew, pack ready for our flight back to the UK in the morning and sleep!

Fire up that Boeing 747!

Anyway as we have time on our hands we decide to have a little more scoff before we get our coach back to the BIG APPLE. We stop at the Hard Rock Café which is almost opposite where Lincoln died. ! I decided I would like to try a burger

Tiny A.

BITS AND PIECES Part 2

MARCH THE NEXT ONE IN SERJEANT MAJOR!

SWIFT AND BOLD TANKER

Support Company 1 RGJ Girdwood Park 1977.

Mutley (as we in the Int Section named him) walked in one day and stayed.

The tanker was spotted at Southampton docks.

Swift & Bold Transport Ltd is owned and operated by Dean Lawrence ex 2RGJ.

Mutley was a very friendly dog and useful to have around. When Company Commander, Major Nick Jenkins, went on R&R he stood in for him.

63

The Royal Green Jackets Association

THE LOOTED CAMERA A story from World War 1 A picture a World War One German soldier took with a camera he stole from a dead British soldier has been discovered after more than 100 years.

'I think Ernst served in the Reserve-InfanterieRegiment 213, a reserve infantry regiment in the German army, which was in Flanders at the right time at Corporal Town was killed.

The Model A Kodak Vest Pocket or Model A VPK was given to historian Robin Schaefer by Mr Behnke's relatives and now he is trying to reunite it with its original owner 'He must have acquired this camera somehow.

The camera is a Model A Kodak Vest Pocket or Model A VPK - and they were produced between 1910 and 1912.

German veteran Ernst Behnke is pictured smiling with his comrades and a military historian is trying to return the camera given to him by Mr Behnke's relatives to the family of its original owner.

German soldier Ernst Behnke took a camera from the body of Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town, from Dagenham, East London Mr Schaefer is appealing for relatives of tragic Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town to come forward and claim it. Robin Schaefer has begun trying to reunite the Model A Kodak Pocket Camera, which still works, with the late squaddie's family.

'It is quite rare today and it is a physical link to all the soldiers, from all warring sides, who still lie out there in the fields of Belgium and France.

Ernst survived the war and the camera, which bears L/Cpl Town's name, was handed down through his family.

'The camera was and is a powerful tool to connect children with the past. As such it as done a wonderful and valuable job over the last few years. it still works like charm, and we have actually used it several times. Now that the centenary is over I wondered if we could try to reunite the camera with the family of the previous owner, in case they do care about it as much as we did in the past.'

L/Cpl Town was killed on September 20, 1917, and his body was never recovered, although Mr Behnke may have come across it which would explain how he acquired the camera.

Mr Schaefer, who is also the historical editor at Iron Cross Magazine, said: 'Ernst returned home after the war but his family today don't really know anything about him or the camera and they were not particularly interested neither, which is why they gave me his war memorabilia in 2013.

Do you know the family of Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town?

64

The Royal Green Jackets Association

Seven Metre Bell Target Air Rifle League

By Ed Massey cleanly, or the pellet goes in but leaves a mark on the out side of the hole is scored as a 5. If a pellet impacts the plate between the hole and the first

Back in 1995 I joined the Bridgend and District Air Rifle League, a .177 Air Rifle 7 Meter Bell Target rifle league that was established 112 years ago.

The object of this format of shooting is to put a .177 pellet through a 9.525 millimetre hole on a 5 inch metal plate, from seven meters, (twentyone feet), the face of which is painted white. The centre of the plate stands 5 feet vertically from the ground and level with the firing line. The plate is marked with concentric rings at 1 inch, inner, 2 inches, Magpie and 3 inches, outer. Set in a black painted metal box with a light running a 100 watt pearl bulb. With an aperture in the front measuring 6 to 8 inches in diameter and a bell behind the plate, (bell target). The “bell� is usually a rotary saw blade.

ring, but does not enter the hole, this is a 4 and as the shooter hit’s the plate further out from the centre then the scores decrease accordingly, 3, 2 and outer or 0. If any part of the pellet straddles the line by any amount then that shot is marked up, from example, from a 3 to a 4 and so on. Each match is shot between two teams with maximum of 10 shooters per match, each member shooting shoulder to shoulder, (one shooter at a time on the firing point), with an opponent. Each shooter is given 7 scoring shots and a sighter. The sighter is the first shot and does not count. It is basically for the shooter to know his / her rifle is working properly and the sights are properly adjusted. Yes, we have lady members as well. In fact every team has at least 1 lady member. We also cater for younger members starting as young as 10 years old. The maximum points that can be scored from any individual shooter is 35.7, that is 7 clean shots of 5.1. Only 5 people have achieved this in the 112 years and, amazingly, 2 of them have achieved it twice. Any scores of 35 to 35.7 is called a possible and that shooter is applauded by all present.

These rings indicate what is scored. Straight through the hole, with out leaving a mark on the plate, is scored as a 5.1, the maximum single score from one shot. Not going through the hole

Each shot is painted out once the score has been recorded. Each match has a score caller from the away team and a painter from the home team.

Both teams make a written record of these scores on a scoring sheet and this is then passed on to the fixtures secretary whom correlates these in a permanent record and each league and competition has its own table showing a teams progress in the form of a news letter.

To the right, myself and my pairs partner Simon Williams, of St Brides ARC centre, with Kevin McNally, of Tondu Cricket Club, the league chairman at the time, left. Collecting our Handicap Pairs runners up commemoratives

I am a member of a long established club. We shoot on a regular basis between September and 65

The Royal Green Jackets Association

April. Monday evenings are league matches.

lowed by the presentation of cups, trophies and other awards. When all awards have been presented we can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening with a live singer and dancing and, of course, copious amounts of alcohol. The presentation evening is usually on a Saturday evening in July. Starts at 19:00 for 19:30 to eat. The turn out is very good, with more that 100 people in attendance. The festivities usually finish around 01:00 .

A

Best 7 from 10, a 6’s and a Handicap 7 from 10.

We also shoot a competition that involves Pip. This is where the little pip that appears in the centre of the pellet mark on the plate scores and not the hole of the pellet mark left on the painted face of the plate.

Our club is 1 of 6 in the Bridgend area, but ours is the only one with a dedicated range building. Converted from an old sheep shed many decades ago and recently extended to give more room. All the teams shoot in or near pubs and clubs. In fact the other five teams shoot in social or sports clubs. It is not unusual for two teams to share a venue.

All new members are instructed in the safe handling and use of an air rifle, regardless whether they have handled an air rifle before, they are also instructed in range and safety protocols along with the scoring formats. Each new member must enter a no fewer than six and up to ten scores to be eligible to shoot for a team in all competitions.

This is to give them a handicap and an average to work from. When not shooting competition on a Thursday evening, we practice going should to shoulder with another member of the team.

These evenings allow us to reset our sights, experiment with changes to our stance. Trying to find that little advantage that will help us to achieve a better score and feel more comfortable in the aim. The rifles we use are, as I mentioned earlier, .177 calibre piston or CO2 pre-charged types, to a muzzle pressure of no more than 8 feet pounds.

We also have rifles available to new members who can be aged from as young as 10 years old. In fact, as long as they can point the rifle safely down the range and shoot the target then they can join, although height is a contributing factor. We have club junior rifles for the younger members. We can lend club rifles to older members, but most members prefer to purchase their own rifles as soon as possible because there may be in a situation where other people are using the club rifle and the sights not zeroed to any one person or constantly being re-zeroed.

Ours is St Brides Air Rifle Club. Situated, up the hill, behind the Fox and Hounds pub in St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, just south of Bridgend and not far west of Cardiff.

The league season starts in September and finishes in April. Matches start at 20:00 Mondays and Thursdays. There is a break through Christmas.

Our team organise our own Christmas gathering for an informal shoot using very old, antique, air rifles. Other teams organise their own. We also break for Easter Monday.

There are, usually, many rifles available for purchase throughout the league most of the time and

At the end of each season the league holds a presentation night. With a three course meal fol66

The Royal Green Jackets Association

advise to which type, make and model as well as the form of rifle, is always available for any one looking to purchase their own rifle. It is also a practice that any member may try some one else’s rifle, with the owners permission of course, to get a better feel to help with their personal choice.

Once a member has their own rifle their scores usually improve once he or she has settled in to it and found the right stance and grip that suits them. Practice is a big factor in achieving these factors. Getting the rifle zeroed, their stance sorted and the way they grip their rifle is important too. much the same as you would have done while enlisted. Once all this has been addressed and they are happy with how they are shooting.

Then the 5.1’s will start being hit on a regular basis, but unfortunately, like myself, not every one can hit them that regularly, if at all. Give it a go, you might like it.

So, happy shooting.

Ed Massey

FORGOTTEN D-DAY PLAQUE UNVEILED IN OXFORD A memorial plaque left forgotten for many years has been unveiled to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day which took place on 6th June 1944.

. Staff who work for highways and engineering at Oxford Direct Services, came across the plaque during an office move.

With the backing of city councillors, it was agreed the tribute should be erected in Normandy Crescent, Cowley today, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Lord Mayor Craig Simmons said: 67

“It is right and proper that we remember the fallen despite the passing years.” The plaque features the words

‘So named to commemorate the landings of the allied forces in Normandy 6 June 1944, The memorial plaque should have been erected when Normandy Crescent was named on 17 December 1956. Major John Howard led the

The Royal Green Jackets Association

The successful capture of the bridges meant that the German armoured divisions were prevented from attacking the eastern flank of the Allied landing at Sword beach.

Allied troops also landed on Utah, Juno, Omaha and Gold beaches in Normandy on D-Day and this plaque commemorates all these successful landings. Councillor Pat Kennedy, Ward Councillor for Lye Valley said: “It was an honour to have helped organise this commemoration of the people who took part in these events 75 years ago.�

troops of the Second Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who were the first allied troops to land in Normandy on 6 June 1944.

Their objective was to capture the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne, later named Pegasus and Horsa respectively, near the village of Benouville.

Former members of the Armed Forces, the Royal British Legion, councillors, residents of the local neighbourhood and the head teacher and pupils of St Francis School were invited to attend the short ceremony.

D DAY 6TH JUNE 1944

68

The Royal Green Jackets Association

In Memoriam 2019 For the Fallen “They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun and in the morning; We will remember them.”

Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Frank Dicker

1 KRRC

Anthony “Tony” Brookes

1 OBLI1

Capt John Philip Trower

January 2019 January 2019 th

RB

9 January 2019

John Butler

2 KRRC

19th January 2019

E R (Nebby) Bacon

1 KRRC

February 2019 th

T/Maj EH (Teddy) Burn

Bucks Bn, OBLI

6 February 2019

Pte Albert “Tug” Wilson

OBLI WW2 Coup de Main

16th February 2019

4 & 5 RGJ

24th February 2019

Int Corps/OBLI/4&5 RGJ

27th February 2019

Cpl Roy Starkey Major John Arthur Smith TD

OBLI

7th March 2019

Oxf&Bucks,1GJ,1RGJ,1/2GR,4(V)RGJ

16th March 2019

Capt John James Walters

KRRC

22nd March 2019

The Rev Sir Timothy Adam

RB

22nd March 2019

Lcpl Geoffrey W Dunstan Major BEA Pascoe

Sgt John (Sheriff) Smith

3RGJ

April 2019

Cpl Frank Hone

3RGJ

8th April 2019

RB

17th April 2019

Frank Moss

3RGJ/1RGJ

23rd April 2019

Maj John David BENDIT TD

RB & LRBR

26th April 2019

MBE 2RGJ/2RIFLES

28th April 2019

LCpl Philip Thornton

R Coy 3RGJ

28th April 2019

Capt Alan (Trigger) Rogers

3RGJ & 3LI

9th May 2019

Cpl Roy Flint

1RGJ/3RGJ

11th May 2019

Maj Jeremy Vincent Keyte

KRRC/RGJ

12th May 2019

Niall Riddell

RMO 3RGJ 1978/1979

8th June 2019

Micky Booth

2GJ/RGJ

21st June 2019

Sir Clive Rose G.C.M.G.

Lt Col Gerald “Eddie” Edwards

69

The Royal Green Jackets Association

WO2 Kenny Emerson

1RGJ

27th June 2019

WO Brian Harrison

1KRRC, SASC & Beefeater

5th July 2019

Rfn Charlie Carter

7th Bn RB

6th July 2019

Ken Ballard

2GJ/2RGJ & AAC

8th July 2019

Alan Souter

1GJ/1RGJ

1st August 2019

KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ

10th August 2019

David (Charlie) Hill

RB

22nd August 2019

Brian Griffiths DCM

RB

30th August 2019

Bdsm Michael Murphy

Rfn Michael Henry Farrell

KRRC/2GJ

7th September 2019

Capt Peter J R Spira

KRRC/OBLI

8th September 2019

Cpl Pete ‘Lil’ Lamont

1 RGJ Band

9th September 2019

Capt CGN Campbell

KRRC

17th September 2019

Roger Vivian

2 GJ

9th October 2019

Ox & Bucks Band

14th October 2019

RB & QRR

19th October 2019

Jack Thompson Sgt Frederick ‘James’ Whittle Field Marshall The Lord Bramall, KG,GCB,OBE,MC,JP,DL

KRRC/GJ & RGJ

12th November 2019

Sgt John Cowan

OBLI/1GJ/1RGJ

17th November 2019

Clive (Curly) Robinson

KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ

December 2019

3GJ

December 2019

2/12 KRRC

December 2019

Rfn Dave Caston Don Puttock Legion d’Honneur

1 RGJ

1st December 2019

3GJ, RGJ & SAS

13th December 2019

RB & Parachute Regiment

15th December 2019

Capt J R (Rod) Tillard

KRRC

16th December 2019

Maj JC Dancy

8 RB

28th December 2019

Philip Andrew Evans Maj AR Turle MC Gen Sir Thomas Pearson KCB, CBE, DSO

70

71

72