Oxford Branch report

Since the last edition of Swift & Bold the period has been full of mixed emotions and events. The sadness felt by us of the passing of several of our WW2 Veterans from the 43rd & 52nd who were members off the branch. In particular Vernon Jones, Sam Langford, Albert Quainton and Henry Harris. All will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with their families.

We have enjoyed our well attended Spring and Autumn lunches with our wives and partners at Edward Brookes Barracks, Abingdon ably organised by Andrea Isham and Phil Evans swelling our funds by running a raffle. Our thanks to them both and also to A Coy 7 Rifles who allow us the use of their facilities.The Vets lunch in May attracted 62 attendees who paid homage to our dwindling Band of WW2 Veterans.

In July we had two separate visits to the BMW Mini Plant and were given a guided tour to see this iconic car being assembled. Those who attended were well looked after and could only be impressed by the German efficiency. BREXIT? No change at Cowley! It's ironic that the factory was where Spitfires were repaired during WW2.

Branch members and guests again mustered at Major John Howard’s grave to remember those from the 52nd who took part in Pegasus Bridge on June 6th 1944. On 9th June a service was held at former RAF Harwell, now a science campus, the departure point of those who were among the first to land on D Day. wreaths were laid on a memorial stone.

Several members of the branch made the pilgrimage to Winchester for the annual reunion to meet old friends and fellow Riflemen. I must say the Bakers Arms is getting a bit pricey! But a good day was had by all.

The Turning of The Pages ceremonies in the Military Chapel in Christ Church Cathedral continue to attract many ex service men and women as well as families of those remembered and the general public. The November 11th service was incorporated into the Cathedrals Evensong and centred on the Armistice in 1918. The Cathedral was packed with representatives from the Military, Army Cadet Force, USAF Croughton and many members of the public. It was a very moving experience. Names were read from November 1914 and 1915 Cadet Cpl Sionainne Holiday from November 1916 and 1917 by Cpl Dave Phillips A Coy 7 Rifles and from November 1918 by 95 year old Reg Charles OBLI.

Reg was awarded the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur that he wore with pride along with his campaign medals. Reg read the names with passion and clarity giving the feeling he knew these young men who fell as he remembered his own experiences in WW2. After the service Cadet Sinead Holiday laid a wreath in the Chapel for The Rifles County Colonel Mike Montague. The 239 College members who died in WW1 were also remembered. As were those from the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

This brings me on to the Roll of Honour to The Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles that are recorded in a new book housed for safekeeping in the Chapel. The credit for this must go to our President, Brigadier Robin Draper whose dedication, tenacity and attention to detail has made this possible with I must add no financial support from the two Regiments. The hope is that those from the County Regiments who gave their lives post WW2 wil be remembered in the future and the book maintained..

The branch reunion held on November 10th was well attended and again the Oxfordshire ACF Band entertained us to a high standard. The AGM was also held in November with much discussion on how the branch should progress. The feeling is that at this moment in time we are still RGJ Association but acknowledge that in the future we will become and embrace The Rifles as our successors.

Our good wishes to all our fellow branches

Terry

REG CHARLES’ TRIP TO HOLLAND - SEPTEMBER 2018

On the afternoon of Saturday September 15th my daughter Sheila and I arrived at Amsterdam Schipol airport and were soon on our way to the Van Der Valk Hotel in Uden to join the rest of the 20 liberators of the Netherlands for a nine day visit to Holland. This visit was to commemorate, to remember to celebrate and to pass on 74 years peace and freedom in the Netherlands.

It was a very full programme and each day we were taken by coach to various towns, memorials and places of interest which had been liberated in 1944. On Thursday September 20th we visited the Cemetery at the Reichswald Forest and I had the honour of reciting the Exhortation during a very moving service conducted by Marcus Vanken, a Dutch Roman Catholic Priest.

This was my first visit to the Reichswald since February 1945 and it brought back memories of the many casualties suffered at that time. I was in A Coy, 1st BN OBLI and with Major Percy Hardman DSO when he was mortally wounded, I treasure many memories of a superb army officer who was a true English Christian Gentleman.

On Thursday September18th we shared dinner with members of the Fire Brigade at Oirschot and I met two of their firefighters who had spent time training at the Fire Service Training College in Moreton-inMarch, Glos: I was a part time member of the AFS during 1941 and I visited the Moreton College about 25 years ago and was made most welcome.

Other visits in the Netherlands included the Royal Military Academy in Breda, a boat trip through Rotterdam Harbour, a morning with 600 children from the city of Meierijstad answering questions in small groups of 20 at a time, a visit to the Museum ‘Wings of Liberation’ at Best, a large Liberation parade

of many different organisations at Eindhoven followed by a reception with the Eindhoven Mayor.

On Saturday September 20th all the veterans, seated in a 1940’s bus led the ‘Race to the Arnhem Bridge’ parade, we drove around the streets of the city waving to the crowds who lined the streets –needless to say our arms ached afterwards! Towards the end of our week myself and another 53rd Welsh Veteran were taken on a trip to the s’hertogenbosch area and city, we visited the 53rd Welsh Memorial and whilst there we were presented with a specially commissioned medal to commemorate our part in the liberation of that area.

On our last day myself and another liberated of the Leudal area were taken on a jeep ride around the town and again presented with specially commissioned gifts by the Mayor.

We returned home on Monday September 24th with many memories of our visit to Holland and I am grateful to have had the opportunity of sharing in this well organised programme and I hope to return to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland in September 2019.

RUN PEGASUS (75 th

ANNIVERSARY OF D DAY)

in Support of the Veterans Charity

On 4 th

Jun 2019 around 186 volunteer

runners will set off from Tarrant Rushton Airfield in Dorset and run 62 miles to

Portsmouth. There they will board a ferry to Normandy and run the final 3 miles

along the Caen Canal towpath to arrive

on the legendary Pegasus Bridge

precisely 75 years since the original Assault. On the afternoon of 6 th

June 2019, the Charity will

be unveiling a memorial plaque dedicated to the men of 22 Platoon whose glider landed 10

miles away near Varaville forcing them to battle for almost 24 hours to re unite with their

comrades. Immediately after the unveiling the group will recreate the arduous journey that 22 nd

Platoon faced by marching on back to Pegasus Bridge - a further 10 miles.

Around 8 Reserve personnel from A, F and G Company in 7 Rifles are taking part in this event to honour Major John Howard and the incredible achievement of those men who served in 2 nd

Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and furthermore raise funds for Armed Forces veterans in crisis today.

Each runner must raise a minimum of £1000 for The Veterans Charity.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/7RiflesRuntoPegasus