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
