Wiltshire Branch report

Wiltshire Branch Report

Greetings from the Wiltshire branch. Well 2018 was quite an eventful year as we commemorated the 100 years since the end of the 1st World War. The branch was involved in a number of events for this and it was great to see the support given by the local population for this great occasion. We have a number of set engagements with the local community each year and these help to keep the badge in the public eye.

We started off the year by attending the Warminster Council Civic Service. This is a church service in the Minster church and is attended by a number of local dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and our local MP along with a good number of organisations both civilian and military. It’s amazing the amount of people that come up to us and say things like “I remember you bloody lot in Celle/Minden/ Munster/Osnabruck” to which we all feign innocence and say “I was on leave when that happened”

The next event was with the RBL support to the Forces March which was held in May. This is a distance of 137 miles and it follows the route of the legendary ww2 training march from Ilfracombe to Bulford over 5 days by Major Howard and his company from the 2nd Bn Ox and Bucks, later immortalised for his commanding the glider force which attacked and captured the Caen canal bridge, later renamed Pegasus bridge. This march/ marathon is open to all and is the equivalent of 5 marathons in as many days. We take no part in this strenuous exercise mainly on doctors orders, however we do man the vitally important water stop outside the Red Lion pub in Heytesbury. After the last runner/group has passed through we then refresh ourselves in the said pub and sit down to a lovely Sunday dinner.

The County Armed Forces Weekend was a great success and whilst we didn’t have a stand ourselves we were there as spectators or assisting the RBL with their display. A number of us attended the annual church service for the Armed Forces day in the Chapel of Saint Lawrence in Warminster. This year the main national event is taking place in Salisbury so it should be good day.

The annual Veterans Day at SJM Bks was attended by many in the branch and whilst it was never going to outdo the previous year it was enjoyed by all that attended.

August was a busy month. On the 6th Mike Walsh the chairman departed for France and Belgium to take part in the RBL Great Pilgrimage 90. This was a massive event and thousands of members and representatives helped The Royal British Legion recreate the

1928 Battlefields Pilgrimage to mark the centenary of the launch of the ‘Hundred Days Offensive’. A decade after the end of WW1, the British Legion (as it was then known) organised for 11,000 veterans and war widows to visit the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres before marching to the Menin Gate in Ypres on 8 August 1928. In 2018, exactly 90 years on, Great Pilgrimage 90 saw 1,150 branches and thousands of members and representatives from the UK and abroad help The Royal British Legion recreate their original pilgrimage. It was a truly humbling experience to be part of it and to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This year it was the turn of the chairman to host the annual branch BBQ and this was held on the 11th and a good time was had by all those that were there. The weather wasn’t the best but the wet weather programme worked well. The theme was dead celebrities and there were some “incredible likenesses”.

Greenstock was supported by the branch with many members and their partners/wives having a great time. Credit to Pete and his team from CEBRGJA for a great and well organised do, see you in 2020.

September saw the NIVA meeting at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. A long journey up there but well worth it. There was a tremendous turnout from the Light Div yet again and with 4 Generals on parade including General Pascoe who is President of the Association it can only get better. Yet again Pete and his boys from the CEBRGJA had it well organised and a good buffet was provided at a local pub with entertainment provided by the Lt Div Buglers Association, well done.

October the 6th was the dinner night organised by the Treasurer Bill Tyson. (The post of Entertainment member being still vacant). The venue was the George at Longbridge Deverill and whilst we are not a big branch over 32 sat down for a good meal and entertainment which included the Wiltshire Toastmasters Mark Wilding and Roger Unsworth who ensured the evening went with humour and without a hitch. We also had a serving Bugler perform for us in the form of Rfn/Bgr Elliott Hayward from 4 Rifles who did the honours in full regalia. It was good to hear the bugle calls again and the RSM’s old favourite “Stand for your Regimental March!!” We also held a raffle, the proceeds of which, together with funds produced by other default activities throughout the evening were presented to Jan Maddocks in support of her “Trek the Rockies” 50 mile challenge in memory of Bob who had always promised to take her there one day.

November saw us collecting in Waitrose in support of the Poppy appeal. We

raised about £1200 over the 2 days, down on previous years but the RBL have got their act together and have more collection points in the popular places so whilst we are down the overall total looks to be up on previous years. Thank you to all those that came and “stagged on”

The branch was invited to take part in the Annual RBL dinner in November and this was held in the Warrant Officers and Sgts Mess in Waterloo Lines, better know as the School of Infantry to some of you old sweats. It was a good night, and whilst the wine was free flowing, sadly the same could not be said about the beer.

The year ended with our, now traditional Christmas Eve meet up at the Conservative club having a few drinks, eating the sausage rolls and swapping Christmas cards.

We look forward to 2019 with maybe a little bit more trepidation than previous years but hopefully all will be fine.