The Craftsman - March 2023

THE CRAFTSMAN

ScanforSupport

In 2020, REME launched the Lifting the Decks initiative, with a focus on the mental wellbeing of serving REME personnel and veterans.

We are in the process of re昀ning Lifting the Decks, increasing accessibility with an added emphasis on reminding our REME Family to speak out about ‘what’s on their mind’ and that, whatever stage in their life, we will always be here to listen to and support them.

If there is something on your mind troubling you, big or small, whatever the cause, we are here to listen and to help. If you wish to get in touch regarding yourself or concern for someone else, please don’t hesitate to contact woym@remecharity.org

Corps Formation: 1 October 1942

Corps Motto: Arte et Marte

Corps Patron Saint: St Eligius (Celebrated 1st Sunday in December)

Editor: Mrs Katie Tarbard + Corporate Communications Officer

RHQ REME, The Prince Philip Barracks, Lyneham, CHIPPENHAM, SN15 4XX

 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk (preferred method)

 subscriptions@reme-rhq.org.uk (for changes of address) ( Mil: 95481 4529 Civ: 01249 894529

SUBMITTING ARTICLES

TEXT: should be submitted in MS Word and name saved as per the article. No formatting, columns, power point etc. Articles to be cleared by CO/OC/EME or appropriate REME CoC, or nominated substitute and should be submitted as soon as possible.

PHOTOGRAPHS: MUST be submitted separately, in jpeg format and be at least 500kb preferably 1mb or more. Only photos over 3mb can be considered for the front/back covers and please remember captions.

FILESHARE: websites, such as dropbox are ideal for submitting larger files.

EMAIL: The ONLY email address which should be used is: craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk. Not MODnet. Please use the article title not ‘Craftsman Article’ as the email title.

TIMINGS: The latest submission date is the first day of the month prior to publication. This does not guarantee the article will be published in that specific edition.

Births, Engagements, Marriages and Deaths: These will be inserted free to all past and present members of the Corps.

Contents:

The contents of The Craftsman are strictly copyright and all rights are expressly reserved. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Editor, the Corps or the MOD, therefore no responsibility for these will be accepted. Whilst including an advertisement we are not necessarily endorsing the product and as a result, the publisher and its agents do not accept responsibility for any transaction between the reader and the advertiser. Whilst we take all precautions with regard to advertising, readers are advised to take professional advice before entering into any commitments. Letters concerning reproduction, contributions or any other matter should be addressed to the Editor.

© Published by RHQ REME. Funded by The REME Charity. www.remecharity.org.

Advertising All communications regarding commercial advertising rates should be made direct to the Editor.

Sustainably produced on paper sourced from responsible sources using vegetable based inks.

Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd www.jamprint.co.uk info@jamprint.co.uk

01249 823 950

© Crown Copyright General Handling: This publication contains official information and should be treated with discretion.

REME Strategy: Succeeding on Operations

As the Global context continues to evolve and Defence sets more ambitious targets, the Field Army is working to maximise every opportunity to enhance the equipment programme, develop our relationship with industry and exploit the whole force approach. The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) and Commander Field Army (CFA) want to ensure the British Army can fight and win wars on land; this means their staff are focused on delivering the modernisation programme and Mobilise the force.

It is an exciting time, but there are challenges we are all facing across the full spectrum of equipment from DCC to armoured vehicles. Mobilise is focused on in service equipment and meeting the AOO commitments, in line with Defence Tasks, whilst Modernise seeks to address the future challenges anticipated later in the decade and beyond.

Equipment Branch personnel are involved in supporting operations, training, routine activity, Granting in Kind (GiK), ‘How We Fight 2026’ (HWF26), the New NATO Force Model (NNFM) planning and Improving Defence Outputs (IDO).

The British Army currently has just over 11,000 personnel deployed on non-permanent commitments across 104 countries. c.4,700 of these are deployed outside of Europe representing nearly 25% of our deployable force. Activities include those captured in the graphic.

Additionally, the British Army currently has c.6,500 personnel deployed across Europe, rising to c.10,000 at the end of 2022. This equates to just over 75% of the British Army’s activities taking place in Europe currently.

With circa 1,000 REME personnel deployed at any one time, it goes without saying that our Corps continues to deliver against our primary purpose, to deliver success on operations as per the newly released Corps strategy.

Support to GiK

Equipment Branch are continuing to support Ukraine by means of Granting in Kind (GiK) of Mission Ready (MR) platforms; complete with weapon systems, sustainment packages, technical training and technical reach back for some of the more complex platform systems. To date, we have granted over 350 platforms from our own inventory, as well as supporting the assurance for commercially provided platforms. This has required significant work from the ES community from both Field Army and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), and will likely continue throughout 2023 and into 2024.

To enable the generation and sustainment of a deeper and broader selection of UK in-service equipment as GiK for Ukraine, HQ Field Army Equipment Branch, through the Land Operations Command (LOC), have been informing a number of ministerial requests. Details such as availability of platforms, ES Materiel and consequences for our own commitments have been fed into TF KINDRED in MOD to enable key decisions. Field Army force elements, especially REME and Babcock personnel have worked tremendously hard to prepare the equipment provided so far. Work continues to consider more equipment to GiK, to gear up and fund the supply chain to replenish material already consumed in support of GiK, and to minimise any ongoing impact on our own capability.

Our ES Plans team are actively working on the NNFM to understand the implications for ES across the Army. Op LYNOTYPER will be used to test assumptions and potentially reset (or prove) Field Army equipment capability to ensure the British Army can meet its NATO commitments.

In addition, HQ Field Army is focusing on supporting the ‘How We Fight 2026’ work that is being driven by CFA. This raises fascinating

questions for the ‘Support Enterprise’ especially whilst trying to blend equipment from the modernise programme into the mobilised force. Focus areas will consider some of the following:

From Enterprise to Alliance

Most of our support arrangements are linear and hierarchical, driven by efficiency yet often ridden with bureaucracy. For too long we have confused efficiency and agility. Therefore, as the Field Army move to a world described by HWF26, we must move towards an alliance approach, where joint decision making, shared acceptance of risk and coherent activity is better delivered. We must have more commercial agility. A key enabler for the enterprise approach is the evolution (or pragmatic application) of Government procurement rules which are currently too rigid to deliver what we need. We must shift the dial in Army and DE&S scrutiny and commercial areas to allow a faster procurement chain; that work is ongoing right now.

Embedding Data

We must, and are, becoming better informed by data. By embedding data in our performance, the Field Army can better steer scarce resource onto the most important priorities. Key for the support arena is the ability to model supply/demand risks in order to mitigate in advance rather than continually react to issues that affect operations and training. Being able to look forward in time (modelling); and backward in space (enterprise approach) will be a game changer. #OneTeam #OnePlan #OneNumber.

We must also get much better with technology as an example the Field Army needs to make better use of advanced manufacturing

Scribe: Colonel Nick Doyle - Equipment Department Field Army

Col Nick Doyle

techniques to buy out supply chain risk. This must also be supported by a skills review of our people to make sure we have the mindsets and behaviours to be creative in combat (all part of the HWF26 work).

SPTC Reframe

Alongside all this is the critically important SPTC Reframe work. The current 10-year contract with Babcock to provide in-barracks ES, depth repair and the inventory and repair management of our material, and much more, runs out in 2025. The future programme to deliver support and wider equipment improvements (LIOS – the Land Integrated Operating Services) is not expected to deliver immediately in 2025, therefore, the bridge between the current contract and LIOS - a reframing of the SPTC - is required to provide improvements to the services we rely on. This is a major commercial undertaking which requires HQ Field Army to reset the requirement provided in 2013 to reflect the changed landscape of Future Soldier, our commitments and the imminent replacement of many of our major platforms.

Safety Focus

Another major focus within the HQ is safety. As part of the changes brought about by last year’s AOM review, AHQ is transferring their ownership/responsibilities for the safety of in-service Land equipment nearer to the user. Facilitated by a newly forming organisation, the Capability Safety Group (CSG), HQ Field Army are now reviewing the first tranche of safety responsibility transfers. A comprehensive transition period will be necessary, and the safety system will need to be suitably managed throughout. The premise of moving safety responsibility for in-service capability nearer to the point of use remains sound, but the scale of effort to achieve this in good order is significant. Although much of the effort associated with this change will fall to staff in HQ Field Army, for certain specialist equipment or kit with a well-defined user community, there will be a greater role for users to play in managing capability safety.

Programme GAUNTLET

And most recently the AHQ, DE&S and Field Army has launched

Programme GAUNTLET. An enterprise approach work strand commenced on the 17 Jan 23 consisting of Field Army, Army HQ, DE&S, Babcock & RBSL to develop innovative ways to overcome the support challenge of CR2 ensuring that all outputs (GiK, FE@R, FE@S, UK BAU & Future) continue to be met.

The programme is a step change in collaboration and truly is an enterprise approach. The staff are sprinting to investigate GiK support requirements, which is a materiel challenge both in volume and velocity, but the focus is on UPKEEP activity only (within Field Army).

The NNFM in 2024+ is both a supply and engineering challenge so will focus on both UPKEEP and UPDATE activity. Finally, the programmes team are also looking at the Modernisation challenge that will cover UPKEEP, UPDATE and UPGRADE activities – from now until CR2 OSD and the arrival of CR3 the team are looking at ways to improve availability, readiness as well sustainability in the future. If successful it will form a blueprint for future support arrangements under LIOS.

Stored Fleet

And finally, the Stored Fleet which many will recall required significant investment. Following the discovery of asbestos at Ashchurch and the re-positioning of significant elements of our fleet to Germany, work has intensified to deliver storage facilities to meet the Army’s future demands. As a result, SOF readiness has increased from a low bar of c.25% in 2020 to a more acceptable c.75% across all SOF areas. In addition, demolition/construction has begun under the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme to deliver improved buildings in Ashchurch with down-stream plans for Monchengladbach taking shape for improved storage facilities in Europe.

In sum, the Field Army Equipment Branch is at the helm of some significant change. Wrestling with current Mobilise challenges and balancing with longer-term Modernisation issues keeps us busy, as well as supporting the current Main Effort; the conflict in Ukraine. With new responsibilities and authorities under the AOM – not least a forensic review and focus on safety - the Branch is very well served by our incredible staff to meet the challenge of both today and tomorrow.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover 5

Ride to the Wall

Ride To The Wall (RTTW) is an unique motorcycling event, which gives the motorcyclist an opportunity to gather together at a place of Remembrance in a spiritually uplifting arena located in the heart of country, Staffordshire. It enables bikers to pay their respects to our serving and fallen servicemen and women, and in doing so raise funds solely for the purposes of perpetuating their memory and recognising the sacrifices made.

This year approximately 9,000 bikers (and a 16,000 gathering) descended on the National Memorial Arboretum to pay homage. An annual event taking place on the first Saturday of October, bikers riding from all over the Kingdom and Europe rekindling friendships. A truly beautiful environment, with 30,000 maturing trees and over 300 magnificent memorials, set in many acres of immaculate and humbling surroundings. Without doubt a world class lasting tribute to those who have served their country and to the fallen in conflict.

This year’s anniversary coincided with the Corps 80th, many ex Corps members greeting each other with “Happy Birthday” with many actually understanding the greeting!

Scribe: Former REME Chief Clerk - WO2 (SQMS) Tony Lord

A small gathering or possibly a “Chapter” of serving and ex Corps members. I’m in the blue jacket, having ridden over from Dortmund. Arte et Marte

Ex MAPLE FORGE

Scribe: Capt Newbery

4ACS Bn REME recently ran Ex MAPLE FORGE, a two-day exercise which marked the Battalion’s reformation to the Future Soldier structure, St Eligius Day, and incorporated Op TEAMWORK. Day one consisted of a parade where the Bn reformed to its’ new structure, with 17 Field Company becoming 17 HQ Company, followed by participation in Op TEAMWORK. Day two was formed of a formal parade and church service led by the RSM to mark St Eligius Day, followed by a sporting competition and technical challenges where the companies competed against each other.

Wednesday morning kicked off with a well drilled showing on the parade square under the RSM’s command (after a rehearsal the previous day where the Bn practiced marking time). During this parade, the Bn was reformed under the Future Soldier Structure, where 17 Field Company became 17 HQ Company. The Bn was then privileged to welcome Brigadier Cornwell OBE, Commander 12 Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), to then address our soldiers before awarding Sgt Benton and Sgt Sakong Commander’s Coins for their contributions to the Brigade.

On completion of the parade, the companies proceeded to present readiness demonstrations to Commander 12 ABCT, followed by lunch and Op TEAMWORK where group discussions were held on multiple topics.

The following day the Bn again formed up on the parade square, this time in No 2 Dress, welcoming both Maj Gen Eastman MBE (Corps Col Comdt) and Col Williams (Comd ES 3XX). After a photo with AJAX and BOXER platforms, the soldiers marched to the

Garrison Church accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment where the Padre hosted a church service marking St Eligius Day. In sharp contrast to the earlier dignified activities, the Bn then partook in an inter-company sports competition. This competition was fiercely competitive, comprising of a large-scale football match followed by Tugof-War. 17 HQ Coy came out on top of this competition, having defeated both 9 and 10 Armd Coys in the tug-of-war.

In the afternoon, the technical side of St Eligius Day was marked with an inter-company technical challenge. This contest included challenges relating to all the different trades represented in the Bn, including a Chef’s challenge which consisted of cooking omelettes using eggs fired by catapults the teams had previously constructed, a Technician’s challenge completing a circuit board to fire off a confetti cannon, a Supplier’s challenge involving forklift driving and many more. The results of the technical challenge were combined with the sports competition to decide who were the winners of the inaugural 4 REME St Eligius Day Trophy. This year 10 Armd Coy won after cruising through the various technical challenges. The two-day extravaganza culminated in a BBQ and drinks to celebrate the various victories and occasions marked.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover 7

CO Inspection No2 Parade

RSM standing in front of a Boxer on parade

Giant Football Match!

Go-Kart Maintenance

7 Avn Sp Bn REME – Integrating, Planning and Executing Combat Service Support to 1st

Aviation Brigade Combat Team (BCT)

Commanding Officer: Lt Col MA Jones REME RSM: WO1(RSM) R Strydom REME

Scribe: Capt W Milligan-Manby, RSO, MTO & Media Officer

7Aviation Support Battalion (7 Avn Sp Bn) has been re-energised by Future Soldier. Moving beyond a specialist Equipment Support Battalion, the Battalion has re-organised to deliver organic Combat Service Support to the British Army’s new Aviation BCT. In-barracks the Battalion continues to provide Level 3 Equipment Support to Attack Helicopter and the BCTs Land Equipment fleet. However, deployed, the Aviation Support Battalion Integrates both Regular, Reserve and second line Single service Combat Service Support (Ss CSS) (Log, Med & ES) capabilities to deliver the BCT Support Group (BSG).

BCT Support Group HQ

Battalion 2IC – Maj S Bass REME

To deliver a BSG, 7 Aviation Support Battalion has had to develop a deployable Headquarters capable of planning, commanding, and controlling a large, diverse and complex capability. Ex CERBERUS 22 provided the perfect opportunity to deliver the BSG HQ in support of the warfighting Aviation BCTs validation Initial Operating Capability

(IOC). The success of the exercise helped prove the Aviation CSS concept and highlighted the key role of the Aviation Support Battalion within the larger 3rd Division CSS laydown. The BSG successfully conducted five planning cycles covering routine CSS activity, BSG Moves and the rehabilitation of the three Aviation Task Forces (ATFs). The ability to train the BSG HQ in such an environment was critical, as the Battalion now enters the BSG HQ validation year. Throughout, the BSG HQ has experimented with a number of different infrastructure options for its deployed Command Post; focusing specifically on improving survivability, enabling mobility and maintaining functinality.

Land Equipment Support

OC 70 Field Company – Maj P Douthwaite REME

In what has been a busy yet rewarding period, 70 Field Compan (70 Fd Coy) have fully transitioned to a highly proficient L3 ES organisation, supporting the whole of 1 Avn BCT. In the last 12 months the Coy deployed overseas in support of Ex PINION OMAN, conducted a rehab of the Land Training Fleet for Ex WESSEX STORM, supported the Commando Helicopter Force vehicle fleet activation for Op CLOCKWORK and the highlight, a two-month deployment to BATUK on Ex ASKARI PHOENIX 2. Whilst in Kenya, 70 Fd Coy aided BATUK

In Barracks Formation

71 GS (Avn) Coy conduct aviation repairs on exercise

Deployed BSG formation

Recovery Mechanics from 70 Fd Coy demonstrating their recovery capabilities

Wksp in achieving a significant uplift in vehicle availability but there was also the opportunity to conduct safaris, community engagement with local schools and some well-earned adventure training including a perilous rafting expedition down the River Mathioya.

70 Fd Coy delivers the full range of land ES trades, we are at the forefront of several new capabilities. In particular, the Recovery Section are pioneering tactical aviation recovery. Working with 8 Trg Bn REME and the Joint Aircraft Recovery Transportation Squadron (JARTS), the Recovery Section have begun to develop the capability for REME Recovery Mechanics to deliver in and inter-mission recovery effect within the Aviation environment. This includes the integration of joint service airframe transportation and Aircraft Technician trades. More recently, the newly formed Tech Elec Section within the Coy has begun to develop a muchneeded BOWMAN repair capability for the BCT and will begin to explore wider electronic repair within the Aviation environment.

There is no doubt that the frenetic activity of the last 12 months has validated the requirement for the Aviation BCT to have an organic land ES Coy and has laid the foundations for exciting future development.

Aviation General Support

OC 71 General Support (Aviation) Company

– Maj B Thomas REME

Future Soldier radically changed the Aviation Company ORBAT with 71 Close Support Company rerolled into a General Support (Aviation) Company (71 GS (Avn) Coy). This creates an ES capability able to deliver a wide spectrum of GS effect to the BSG. Whilst still in its infancy this could cover scheduled L3 maintenance packages, theatre reserve and setting, a small depth maintenance capability, component repair, (main rotor blades, ECU etc.) and specialist, pan-platform, niche skills such as composite structural repair or support to in-mission aircraft recovery.

Presently, 71 GS (Avn) Coy is tasked to deliver AH64E Engineering Acceptance, receiving the air systems from the US DoD at a UK airhead and inducting the air systems into the Defence Air Environment (DAE) on behalf of the AH Mil CAM. This process sees electronic data capture, functional testing and a full 5M air test so we can deliver a flight ready aircraft to the Attack Helicopter Regiments. To date 28 air systems have been accepted, which has allowed 71 GS (Avn) Coy Technicians to lead the technical and process development of the AH64E programme.

In parallel 71 GS (Avn) Coy has established X Platoon as the centre of innovation and experimentation within Avn ES. X Platoon has been empowered to liaise, innovate, experiment and identify opportunities to develop Avn ES for the challenges war fighting within the Avn BCT. To date X Platoon has conducted CBRN maintenance assessment, engaged with the additive manufacturing

working groups and the Military Aviation Authority future technologies regulation branch. Alongside capability development, X Platoon is working with the Chief Air Engineer (Army) on the delivery of Pj TITUS, and has recently received the first 13 Aviation Mechanics, trained by Resource Group to civilian Civil Aviation Authority A license standard. Aviation Mechanics are platform agnostic and, by cutting down the training time of traditional Aircraft Technicians, will deliver an enhanced technical workforce to the frontline workshops much faster.

Logistic Supply

OC 132 Aviation Supply Squadron – Maj S McHugh RLC

In-barracks, 132 Aviation Supply Squadron (132 Sp Sqn) continue to deliver ES Material (ES Mat) to support the Attack Helicopter (AH), delivering one of the largest accounts in the British Army. Central to the transition to the AH64-E, 132 Sp Sqn are key to the disposal of AH Mk1 whilst concurrently growing a new account to support the new AH-64E.

When deployed, 132 Sp Sqn become the core of the BCTs logistical capability. Tasked to deliver a more generalised RLC Supply capability the Squadron will provide a BCT Log RV, manage the storage of CSUPS, and accountancy of all classes of material across the BCT. Reinforced by a Reserve sub-unit (294 Sqn RLC), 132 Sp Sqn will lead a Regular-Reserve hybrid Sqn capable of supporting the large complex demand of the Aviation BCT.

Sustainment

OC 72 (Headquarter) Company – Maj M Taylor RLC

Quartermaster – Maj B Shaw REME

The newly established 72 (Headquarter) Company (72 (HQ) Coy) is a hybrid sub-unit made up of personnel from the REME, RLC, AAC, the RAMC, and the Military Guard Provost Service. 72 (HQ) Coy incorporates the Quartermaster & Quartermaster Technical Departments, reinforced by a Catering Support Department, a hybrid

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover 9

70 Fd Coy enjoying some AT while deployed in Kenya

Recovery Mechanics from 70 Fd Coy supporting 71 GS (Avn) Coy delivering aviation Equipment Support

Members from 7 Avn Sp Bn enjoying the sea around Cyprus on Ex DRAGONS SAILING 23-1

Members of 158 Regt RLC(Res) visiting 7 Avn Sp Bn REME to increase interoperability

Command Troop and Motor Transport Section. The establishment of these Depts under 72 (HQ) Coy will enable the deployed Coy to deliver invaluable sustainment and Real Life Support to the deployed BSG in support of 1 Aviation BCT activity. As the Coy begins to focus on its new deployed role it has seen the arrival of Maj M Taylor RLC as the newly established Officer Commanding. Maj Taylor and the Coy are working hard to develop and deliver sustainment to the deployed BSG, learning to recce and sight the BSG as well as coordinating its own protection.

The congested period hasn’t inhibited the opportunity for AT with large portions of the Coy conducting a plethora of AT throughout the last year, culminating with Ex DRAGON CHALLENGE 23-1, a Type 3 Offshore Sailing expedition around Cyprus, for six novice sailors to experience offshore sailing in the Mediterranean Sea.

Warfighting Capabilities

To deliver Aviation CSS, 7 Aviation Support Battalion is supported by 158 Aviation Support Regiment RLC (a Reserve RLC Regiment) who will deliver three Close Support Transport Squadrons and reinforce 132 Squadron RLC from the Reserve 264 Supply Squadron RLC. 158 Regiment will deliver the capability to deliver bulk material, including fuel and ammunition, across the deployed BCT. Integrating Reserves is not going to be without its challenges, but in October 2022, the Battalion hosted an orientation weekend for 158 Regiment to start building the foundations that will make the partnership successful and Staff from the Regiment are already fully integrated into the BSG HQ training and validation. In addition to Army CSS capabilities, JHC’s Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) will add the critical second line aviation fuel storage and transport capabilities to the Aviation BSG by integrating its Tactical Fuels Squadron. Finally, 250 Medical Squadron from the Reserve 254 Medical Regiment RAMC provides a General Support Medical Squadron to the BSG. Delivering deployed Health Service Support (HSS) and an Evacuation Troop adds critical medical capability to the BSG

Future Soldier has given 7 Aviation Support Battalion a clear purpose and, as such, it has undergone significant change. The focus has shifted from niche aviation equipment support to the integration of Regular, Reserve and Ss CSS capabilities. By 2025, 7 Aviation Support Battalion will be able to integrate, plan and execute CSS operations in support of the 1st Aviation BCT and in doing so it will have set a new standard in the delivery of Combat Service Support.

LCpl Glover receiving congratulations from the CO following being crowned Army Champion in his weight class

132 Sqn setting the conditions for successful ES Mat support to ATF4

70 Fd Coy conducting a rehab for the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF)

REME Founder Members

Craftsman Jack Riley – Légion d’Honneur

Scribe: Major (Retired) Geordie Wright-Rivers

At the end of last year, we had the enormous pleasure and privilege of driving to Lancashire to meet 99-year-old exRecovery Mechanic, Jack Riley. He had recently been bestowed with France’s highest order of merit, the Légion d’Honneur, and the accompanying rank of ‘Chevalier’ (Knight), for his part in the D-Day landings on Normandy Beaches. He spent the remainder of the war travelling through France, Belgium and Holland before finishing in Lubeck, Germany, prior to his return home at the cessation of hostilities. The French Consul’s citation finished with the following statement:

“Today, your story opens a window on a collective history. Indeed, we know that our two Nations have a longstanding friendship bound in blood from the battlefields of World War One to the beaches of Normandy and to the final Victory of World War Two. Our two countries have stood shoulder to shoulder to defend and promote the values of freedom and democracy, and today again we are shoulder to shoulder to fight other crimes.

Mr Jack Riley, many thanks for what you did alongside all your fellow

Brothers in arms. May your commitment, your bravery and your spirit of fraternity continue to act as an example and a source of inspiration for all of us. Long live to United-Kingdom. Long live to France. Long live to Franco-British friendship. I wish you, your family and friends all the best.”

Particular thanks go to the ‘Veterans in Communities’ (VIC) hub at Haslingden, especially Ray Sharkey, who made us aware of Jack’s inspirational story.

Thanks to all Corps members who continue to connect us with Founder Members. Throughout the year we have visited and met some amazing people with incredible tales of exploits and adventures spanning the globe (and as you might imagine, a few of which are not quite suitable for publication!). We remain very keen to find all of our Founder Members and Senior Veterans so please continue to keep us informed if you meet or know of anyone out there that may not yet be on our radar.

Once REME, always REME.

East Kent REME Breakfast Club – it’s nice to catch up!

RAF Manston History Museum, NAAFI, welcome one and all to the East Kent REME Breakfast Club, from newly serving to retired, all are welcome for a brew and a natter with likeminded individuals. Our current group is quite small and we would like to invite other ex-REME to join us.

If you have any questions, please contact paulprice1960@live.com for our next meet up morning, it is generally the first Saturday of the month at RAF History Museum, Manston Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5DF.

Bob Fletcher top right, Tels Tech joined in 1958, Mike Mills, bottom right, old “C” mech joined 1975, Mick Twyman bottom left, “B” Mech joined 1985 & Paul Price, “B” Mech joined 1978

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover 11

Jack Riley 2022

Jack Riley 1942

Jack’s Legion d’Honneur

The Princess Marina Brooch

Many of The Craftsman’s readers will know that the late Duke of Edinburgh was the Corps’ Colonel in Chief for fifty years. He was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 9th June 1969, and remained in the role until he passed away on 9th April 2021.

However, HRH Prince Philip was not REME’s first Colonel in Chief. That honour belonged to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and Princess of Greece and Denmark.

Princess Marina was born on 13th December 1906 in Athens. She was the third and youngest Daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirova of Russia. Princess Marina’s Grandfather was King George I of Greece.

The Danish element of her titles came from her Father’s links to the German House of Oldenburg, branches of which ruled Denmark for about four hundred years. Marina’s Mother was the only child of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a Grand Duchy in Northern Germany. Both of Marina’s parents were first cousins of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia who was killed along with his family following the 1917 Revolution.

Marina spent most of her early life at Tatoi Palace, a large royal estate about twenty miles from Athens. She was brought up as a devout member of the Greek Orthodox Church, something that was encouraged by her Grandmother, Queen Olga.

Marina and her family often travelled outside of Greece. Her first recorded visit to Britain was in 1910, when she met her Godmother and future Mother-in-law, Queen Mary.

Her idyllic life came to an end in March 1913, when her Grandfather King George was assassinated in the Greek city of Thessaloniki. A period of great political instability and social unrest followed, and the Greek monarchy was eventually overthrown in 1924 as a result of their loss in the Greco-Turkish War that ended in 1922. Marina and her family were forced into exile.

While in London in 1932, the Princess met Prince George, the fourth Son of King George V and Queen Mary. He was thirty when they met, as he was born on 20th December 1902 in Sandringham, Norfolk. They were actually second cousins through their mutual connections to the Danish royal family.

The betrothal was announced on 9th October 1934, with the date

of the wedding set for 29th November of the same year. Prince George was created HRH Duke of Kent three days after his betrothal to Marina was announced, and the Princess became the Duchess following their marriage. Two ceremonies were arranged for the 29th: a formal Anglican one, and another conducted according to the tenets of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The former was the large, traditional

Scribe: Richard Davies, Curator of The REME Museum

Princess Marina in her wedding dress, taken on the day of the ceremony (image in the public domain)

A close-up image of the brooch (REME Museum)

The Duchess outside the Sergeants’ Mess in Arborfield with Regimental Sergeant Major and Mrs. Sheila Beere, and Major General Redman on 17th June 1966 (REME Museum)

ceremony at Westminster Abbey we have come to expect from a royal wedding. Marina chose to wear a gown created by the designer Edward Molyneux (1891 – 1974). It was made from white and silver brocade and was said to have shimmered in the bright lights illuminating the dim November day. The Princess requested that it be made in part by Russian seamstresses, as she wanted to show solidarity with those affected by the Revolution in her Mother’s home country. Some of the gown’s embroidery included English roses in recognition of her new life. It was the first royal wedding to be broadcast on radio so many, many people heard the couple exchange their vows. The control room was situated beneath the tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

The second ceremony was a much smaller affair that took place in Buckingham Palace’s private chapel, which was converted into a Greek Orthodox chapel for the occasion. The King and Queen, as well as all the Bridesmaids and the Groom’s Brothers, were in attendance.

The Duke and Duchess moved into 3 Belgrave Square, very near Buckingham Palace, soon after their marriage, and Marina began her support for many charitable organisations, something that was to characterise the rest of her life.

They had three children: Prince Edward (b.1935), Princess Alexandra (b.1936) and Prince Michael of Kent (b.1942), but very sadly, the Duke was killed in an aircraft accident on 25th August 1942 while on active duty with the RAF.

The Duchess continued her work as a Patron of numerous charities, but she also took on a number of honorary military roles; one of which was as Colonel in Chief of REME. Her Majesty The Queen made the appointment in October 1963, on the occasion of the Corps’ twenty-first birthday. Two years after this, REME’s senior officers decided to present a jewelled brooch to Princess Marina in recognition of her ongoing support for the Corps and its activities. The wellknown jewellers Asprey was commissioned to produce the brooch, and it was to be paid for by subscriptions from all REME serving personnel.

Asprey was founded in Surrey in 1781. They began as silk printers, but soon gained a reputation for selling luxury goods. They moved to London’s New Bond Street in 1847, and were awarded their first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria fifteen years later. A further Royal Warrant was awarded by King Edward VII in 1889. Apart from REME, Asprey has had many other famous customers. George Harrison commissioned a chess set for Ringo Starr based on the Drummer’s hands in 1973, and the Maharaja of Patiala ordered five luggage trunks, one for each of his wives to use, in 1930.

The brooch takes the form of a REME cap badge, an inch and a quarter high. A document in the Museum’s Archives describes the jewel in the following technical terms: “The crown is set with brilliant cut diamonds and cut rubies. The title banner is set of blue sapphires with the letters “REME” in platinum carved and brought on. The Horse is brilliant cut diamonds with a ruby eye and platinum chain. The globe is a cabochon sapphire with the map in diamonds; the lightning flash is of calibre cut yellow sapphires.”

It was collected from Asprey on 27th April 1965, and presented to the Duchess at an informal ceremony held at Kensington Palace on Tuesday 18th May 1965, by Major General R.B. Stockdale, Lieutenant General Sir John Hackett, Major General D.A.K. Redman and Major General L.H. Atkinson. The Duchess was

delighted to receive the gift, and she always wore it on the many visits she made to REME until she tragically passed away in 1968.

The brooch was returned to the Corps by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent in 1970, and on 20th February 1970, the Corps committee decided “the brooch should be held in London in the vaults of Glyn Mills and worn by the Wife of the serving DEME(A) at important social functions. An explanatory note giving the background to this decision is to be published in ‘The Craftsman’.” (Glyn, Mills & Company was a private bank founded in 1753, but it became part of the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1969). The note, and an accompanying photograph, appeared in the October 1970 issue of the magazine.

The recent appointment of Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex as REME’s new Colonel in Chief led the Corps to decide to commission a new brooch, and this was presented to the Countess during her visit to MOD Lyneham on 28th September 2022. It was made by the firm G. Collins and Son, which has been based in Tunbridge Wells since 1985; they have also looked after the Queen’s personal collection of jewellery since 2000.

As a result of these developments, Princess Marina’s brooch was loaned to the Museum for display and we are delighted to have included it in the exhibition devoted to the Corps’ Colonels in Chief, where it can be enjoyed by all our visitors.

The author is grateful to his splendid Museum colleagues Celia Cassingham (Archivist) and Zoë Tolman (Assistant Archivist), for their help with images and copyright matters, and also to Fiona Redmond (Museum Front of House Assistant) for proofreading the first draft.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

A view of the display including the case purposely built to display the brooch (REME Museum)

A view of the brooch presented to Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex in September 2022 (REME Museum)

The Duchess speaking with Colonel H.G. Frost during her visit to the School of Electronic Engineering at Arborfield on Thursday 9th May 1968. The brooch can clearly be seen on her lapel (REME Museum)

Project CONVERGENCE 2022

From September 28th to November 13th , ten members of 3ACS Bn, two members of 5 FS Bn and a small team from Army HQ Mil Cap Plans consisting of Lt Col Reith, Maj Shand, Capt Burns, 2Lt Champion along with Mr Andre Crawford and Mike Holman were in California supporting and testing new equipment for Project CONVERGENCE 2022 (PC22) at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Fort Irwin. This was the first time British and Australian troops have been invited to participate alongside American troops on their primary technology experimentation exercise.

Leaving the UK at 2am on a very cold morning we made our way to London Heathrow airport to get an 8-hour flight to Newark airport and our first taste of what was to come – Heat! When we first arrived in Newark it was only around 20 degrees and little did we know that five hours later when we arrived at Las Vegas Airport, the temperature would be a shocking 35 degrees; which according to locals, wasn’t too hot. Many of the troops jetlagged and carrying heavy bags, were surprised by the news that this would be our new average temperature. Over the following three days we would attempt to climatise ourselves just in time for the REME’s birthday. We struggled to find a cake that was red, blue and yellow so we settled for a very American

red, white and blue but with no vehicle and 40-minute walk in the heat, ice cream cake was off the menu.

The following week we prepared for Scenario A, where five soldiers would travel down to Camp Pendleton near San Diego. Our purpose during Scenario A was straight forward and relatively easy; to set the conditions for Scenario B and to test the Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D printing equipment. In true REME style however, we stole the show by 3D printing the first ever US part using a British printer (which gained a lot of attention; particularly from the US (Gen Daly, Comd US Materiel Command). This showcased our interoperability and compatibility with US troops and equipment.

Upon completion of Scenario A, we returned back to Fort Irwin, by which time our equipment had arrived from the UK and we set about prepping all of our vehicles and equipment for scenario B. 5 FS Bn brought their Makerspace 3D printing shop to showcase their Additive Manufacturing capabilities with two very impressive printers and a sizeable workspace. Towards the end of the preparation week, we had the opportunity to go on a Blackhawk helicopter flight, sadly, after all preflight safety briefs we were told that the flight clearance had been cancelled at the last minute. We did however get to have a look around the helicopter with an opportunity to take photos.

The team also took the opportunity to travel to Las

Scribe: Cfn Hankins

Exchanging of flags (PC 22 team working alongside our American counterparts)

Corps Birthday (Celebrating with red, white and blue cakes!)

Vegas for a short but well-deserved break before Scenario B started. Cfn Hankins demonstrated his artistic flare and painted the 20 Brigade and 3 ACS BN Insignia onto one of the rocks on the Fort Irwin Rock pile; marking their presence at Fort Irwin and PC22. A smaller 20X rock was presented to the Brigade Commander to be placed outside of his home (and Cfn Hankins was awarded a Brigade Commanders Coin for his excellent skills).

Starting Scenario B, the team was faced with multiple tasks in terms of Additive Manufacturing. The 5 FS Bn tech team were hard at work with the Makerspace, whilst 3 ACS BN Metalsmiths were hard at work recreating the same if not better results out of metal machining. This provided a great opportunity for interoperability. In order to source the steel for the projects the Metalsmith team had to travel to two different parts of Fort Irwin and in the process got to meet and work with their respective counter parts within the US ARMY.

A large part of Scenario B was creating Augmented Reality maintenance guides to test their capabilities and potential use in future ES tasks. The first guide was a simple maintenance task on a Landover Defender and was tested on US ARMY troops. The second guide saw two members of 3 ACS BN conduct a similar task on American equipment. All in all, the new technology was widely praised by both groups and has a large potential in future ES tasks and training. Upon finishing the Scenario, the troops took all the equipment out in the field for Distinguished Visitors (DV) Day where they were visited by multiple VIP’s including DCGS and several US ARMY Generals (throughout both scenarios there were an estimated 225 stars that visited). The Deployable Machine Shop (DMS) and Makerspace 3D printing equipment were of keen interest and very well received by the VIPs.

In the closing days of PC22, the remaining soldiers in Fort Irwin took the opportunity to get a photo and have a Remembrance Service; which was attended by both British and American troops with a reading by an American Padre. The team then took the time to reflect on their experiences here and excitedly pack their bags to come home. Although

only six weeks had passed, the team has faced some difficult challenges, four birthdays and multiple lifelong memories having had the opportunity to travel to San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas whilst meeting and engaging with multiple US and Australian ARMY service personnel. Overall, it was an amazing opportunity which will be remembered by all troops involved.

The star of the show aka (the face of PC 22) LCpl Smith-Preston working out Augmented Reality

Cfn Shanks hard at work or hardly working?

3 ACS Bn REME “Legacy stone” created by Cfn Hankins

Ex NORDIC BLUEBELL –103 FS BN REME

What happens when you throw the REME at a big icy hill and tell them to Ski down it like the Norwegian team, expecting complete novices to not fall after a few days of practise, and even looking for potential competition winning candidates? Where teamwork is forged (or frozen) in testing environments, building cohesive skills and endurance in -20 degrees?

The answer is the aptly named Exercise NORDIC BLUEBELL.

The aim of NORDIC BLUEBELL is to introduce REME officers and soldiers to Nordic Skiing, in an arduous but profoundly beautiful environment, to develop teams and build the physical ability that will enable them to compete at REME and Army Championships.

The exercise will also give participants the opportunity to gain Ski qualifications, with the aim of students returning each year to become Instructors. Prior to NORDIC BLUEBELL I had neither been to Norway nor attempted cross country skiing, but after just a week I am well versed in Nordic Ski techniques with a Level 2 proficiency certificate.

The exercise started out at Derby Army Reserve Centre (ARC)

on a Thursday night, checking kit, loading the van, and of course the inevitable paperwork check before we left. Two combi vans departed with various ranks from Cfn to CSM, we picked up two more SP on route to the Euro Tunnel, which was booked for the next day. That night we stopped at St Martin’s Plain Camp to enable us to catch an early crossing. We swapped drivers every couple of hours to give everyone some experience of driving in different environments during our road trip across Europe in sun and snow. We had a planned overnight break in Sennelager and an opportunity to try some German street food whilst visiting the Paderborn Christmas market. The next phase was Sennelager to Kiel, a relatively short drive before boarding the ferry to Oslo. On the ferry we met personnel from different units travelling to the exercise and all had a great time socialising. The boat docked at 1000hrs and we departed on a beautiful 3-hour drive from Oslo to Sjusjoen.

Some of us had experienced Alpine Skiing but had never tried Nordic Skiing before, and after putting the skate skis on the difference was a massive surprise to many. They told themselves it can’t be that hard, within 100m many had already fallen over at least twice. After getting split into groups the Instructor asked

Scribes: Cfns Jeffery & Kilby, OIC: Maj L Rosie

Team ready for a day’s Skiing in Sjusjoen, Norway

Preparing for a day of Skiing

what we wanted to achieve from this week, and one said they just wanted to be able to Ski, which at the time seemed near impossible for them! The next couple of sessions we were taken through some basic drills to build our confidence on the skis; a must when it feels like wearing two giant skinny clown shoes.

We progressed through the week learning the different skate techniques, Skiing through some amazing scenery with undulating terrain testing our different Ski methods. Fri afternoon the whole group setting out for a Ski at your own pace focusing on your technique, it was amazing to see how far everyone had progressed from the first day, most notably now many stayed upright! It was a great moment after we all finished, and we attended the awards evening that night where one of us won an award for having a positive attitude.

The second week we changed from skate technique to classic. For some this is much harder as it was more about technique and a lot less natural. However, for all the Jeremy Clarkson’s out there, this was a great excuse to shout POWER and brute force through the more physically demanding Ski style. This really happened to me, as I watched our Senior Permanent Staff Instructor (SPSI) stomp his way up a hill in a

fast march even the Green Jackets would be proud of. It is a completely different movement to skate, and it makes you work muscle groups you never normally would. By lunch time on the Tuesday, we were feeling it and had to stretch off a couple of times. During the afternoon we went out for a Ski to put together the techniques we had learnt that morning and it was brilliant. We gained confidence going downhill, despite a few falls along the way watching each other’s mishaps brought us together as a group along with developing our teamwork by helping each other overcome obstacles. Even when the obstacles were us, normally on a blind corner, where one of more of us had “stacked it” (our term for finding the ground unexpectedly and often in groups!). On occasions it was utter carnage but hilarious at the same time.

Overall, it was a fantastic exercise, experience and some of the best parts weren’t even the Skiing. Being in a cabin with different ranks was great as we all took it in turns to cook, clean, prep skis and sitting down together for meals was always entertaining. After all it’s not every day you watch your boss cook or wash up after you! Operating in these testing conditions has made us better soldiers and improved my confidence, stamina, and resilience. Most of us would love the opportunity to go next year to continue building knowledge and experience of Skiing and would encourage anyone who hasn’t considered it too.

Relaxing in Oslo airport prior to flying back

Posing after a hard days Skiing

Team members posing enjoying a break

28 Engr Regt (C-CBRN) LAD –Exercise FRIGATE VAPOUR

Scribe: Capt Swingler, OC LAD

Exercise FRIGATE VAPOUR was a CT-C level exercise aimed at validating a multicomponent C-CBRN Sqn and allowing the Regt to declare Full Operating Capability (FOC). Due to the nature of the unit being split over three geographically dislocated locations and the nature of the equipment, deploying a Fitter Section to support this multicomponent Sqn for the first time since the formation of the unit was a full LAD effort. Bringing together FUCHS and Pinzgauer for the first time from three locations to STANTA, the ES requirement for the exercise was significant and bringing together personnel from the three locations produced challenges which had to be quickly overcome. Overall, the exercise was a success with the Fitter Section working tirelessly to

ensure validation and experimentation could take place; including the conduct of ES in a CBRN environment, a task unique to this LAD due to the nature of where the unit operates. Moving forward, this year the unit will once again conduct a CT-C exercise this time in Cyprus which will allow the Regt and the LAD to learn the lessons from Ex FRIGATE VAPOUR and project overseas for the first time.

Scribe: Cfn Evans, Class 3 VM

As a new Craftsman, Ex FRIGATE VAPOUR gave me the opportunity to get experience on new equipment that I’d never seen before, for example the FUCHS C-CBRN vehicle. During the exercise phase, I was involved in conducting ES within a CBRN environment, providing pack lifts whilst wearing 4R and Tyrex suits for protection. As our LAD within 28 Engineers is split between multiple locations the exercise played a part in building team cohesion allowing us to get to know other members of my unit and helping each other out with tasks. All together I enjoyed the exercise as it provided me with an opportunity to improve and therefore develop towards making each exercise after this one better, meaning we can work more effectively.

Scribe: Cfn Baumber, Class 2 VM

During Ex FRIGATE VAPOUR the REME took part in a C-CBRN ES phase. This was new challenge for some of the Cfn on the exercise and a new experience for me as a Cfn working in my respirator and suit. Conducting ES whilst wearing a respirator for an extended period becomes very uncomfortable. Alongside the respirator and suit, we wear Tyrex suits over the top to prevent any oils and lubes contaminating the CBRN suit layer. The Tyrex suits themselves felt like wearing a sweat suit. Once completing ES tasks within the CBRN environment, we assisted and conducted our own full decontamination drills utilising the guidance from Falcon Sqn. Decontaminated of personnel plus tools and equipment was something new I learned and enjoyed taking part in.

CBRN refresher training

FUCHS Pack lift in CBRN environment

FUCHS Pack lift

Living outdoors

Scribe: Cfn Johnston-Smalley, Class 2 VM

Exercise FRIGATE VAPOUR was a great experience for me. I got to do things that I do not usually get to do in my normal day to day working life. It was great for cohesion within both the LAD and the Regiment more widely, as we were able to work together rather than just in our separate locations where we live and work in camp. As this is a C-CBRN Regiment, we were able to carry out a CBRN phase scenario’s, working on the FUCHS. This was interesting for me because this is the only unit that can work within deeply contaminated conditions. This not only made me take more pride in my work, but its unique nature made the exercise far more exhilarating. Working on the FUCHS was an experience like no other, as this is the only Regiment in the British Army working with them. I was also supporting the Recovery Mechanic within the SV(R).

As a VM it was enjoyable to work with our Recovery Mechanic as I do not get to do this sort of work in my daily role. As the Commander, I had to navigate the Driver to the casualty location whilst in a high-pressure scenario which is also something I also have had limited experience with. As well as doing the recovery phase and ensuring the task was done efficiently and accurately, we then had to take the casualty vehicle to our camp. This meant that I had to navigate the Driver from the casualty location back to base. This was a challenging task as it was nightfall by this time, another barrier to an already intense scenario. This made the exercise feel realistic, as

reality naturally never follows a set plan of action – being able to adapt is key. As a LAD, we worked well together overall, and we ensured all the vehicles were fit for purpose for the entirety of the exercise; which led to the smooth-running of Ex FRIGATE VAPOUR. During some quieter periods, we proactively engaged in refresher training consisting of map reading, CBRN drills, Camouflage and Concealment, Voice Procedure and Engineering Hygiene.

Tech Elec conducting work on a FEPS

Working in 4R

Working on FUCHS at night

Life at 7 Para RHA Workshop

Iam currently posted to 7 Para RHA Workshop working as a Class 1 Vehicle Mechanic. I was posted into 7 Para RHA in October 2021.

The Unit is held at high readiness, so it is very busy and fast paced; this is exactly what I wanted, and it has not disappointed.

In the past 12 months, the Workshop has deployed on numerous large exercises including Ex CYPHER DEVIL in America and Ex SWIFT RESPONSE in North Macedonia. These deployments were incredibly successful and vehicle availability on the home bank continued to meet readiness standards. Even with all these taskings going on, as a Workshop we have still managed to get away on adventurous training and several sporting events.

Day to day life within the Workshop is very busy. We remain at

high readiness which means we can deploy out the door at a moment’s notice; the vehicle fleet must be kept at the highest standard. I personally prefer this way of life as it keeps me on my toes and very much on top of vehicle knowledge and repair skills. There is a great work-life balance at this Unit.

7 Para RHA love to represent in all sports. There are countless opportunities to get involved in all areas such as the Football and Rugby teams to the Cross-Country and mountain biking teams. There is even a regimental parachuting team which is open for the soldiers who have passed BPC; the parachuting jumps course. Every week there seems to be new and exciting opportunities for a range of different sports.

Scribe: Cpl White

Workshop Football REME 7s

Workshop Cross-Country run: 3rd overall minor unit

Workshop Photo 2022

Ex CYPHER DEVIL saw four members of the Workshop deploy to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for an interoperability exercise with American Airbourne forces. The intent was to learn how they operate and work together in readiness for future operations and NATO exercises. There was also time in the schedule for some well-earned down time seeing the Workshop visit places such as Nashville Tennessee, Washington DC and Atlanta.

Ex SWIFT RESPONSE saw six members of the Workshop deploy to North Macedonia for a NATO multi-national exercise hosted by the American Army. This was the biggest multinational exercise in recent history. The Workshop helped maintain the vehicle fleet allowing the Artillery gun Battery to deliver effective firing throughout.

The Workshop has also sent a few members on other tasking such as Op ELGIN, supporting the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and to Jordan on a Short-Term Training Team deployment for an interoperability exercise; delivering equipment care lessons to the Jordanians.

The Workshop deployed to Ortez, Austria for Ex EAGLE SPANNER for a well-earned week of adventurous training. This saw the whole Workshop take part in mountaineering, mountain biking, white water rafting and canyoneering. Our ASM and OC are always very keen for the Workshop to deploy on some AT every year, so I am excited to be involved in next year’s opportunity, whatever it entails.

Other members of the Workshop have also managed to get away on several courses such as Mountain Bike Instructor Level 3, Mountain Bike Maintainers, Pinzgauer Maintainer, 118 Light Gun Maintainer which will all benefit the Workshop in the Engineering side as well as AT and sports.

Physical training is an important part of 7 Para RHA as members of the unit aspire to pass the All Arms PreParachute Selection Course (AAPPS). On arrival, there are opportunities to start training through the unit’s pre-para training; it involves having extra PT sessions throughout the week to help get soldiers ready for the challenge that AAPPS entails. Once both the individual and chain of command are content that they are ready to attempt the course, an 8-week pre-para conditioning package is conducted; developing physical endurance and mental robustness. After this a screening day occurs where you will have to pass an AFT within 2 hours and a 1.5mile run in under 9:15. If successful you will then head up to

Ex CYPHER DEVIL

Ex CYPHER DEVIL

Ex SWIFT RESPONSE

Ex SWIFT RESPONSE

Catterick to complete 3 weeks of AAPPS. I went through the process myself when I turned up to the unit and was successful. I can honestly say that the QMSI and his team of PTI’s do an amazing job of building everyone up gradually, so they peak once they get to Catterick. Gone are the days where soldiers were ‘beasted’ for 8 weeks potentially being sent up with injuries.

Looking to next year I am looking forward to all the potential opportunities that are ahead including a skiing trip to Austria in January where I and three other members will be completing our SF2 and SF3 qualification. In March we will enter a team for the Commando speed march up in Scotland. Next year we also have deployments to Kenya for a CT4 Brigade level exercise and to America to further improve our interoperability skills and improve relations in preparation for future operations. A great place to work and a great team to be a part of, I thoroughly recommend 7 Para RHA as a posting.

Ex SWIFT RESPONSE

AAPPS

Cpl White

AAPPS

Workshop Charity Event

RAJA Careers and Employment Support Event

Open to all REME service leavers currently in the resettlement, REME reservists, and veterans are also invited to attend.

A fantastic opportunity to engage with companies that have an Engineering and Technical focus.

For service leavers, this is an excellent networking opportunity to assist with the transition into civilian employment.

The event will be heldin the REME Museum, MOD Lyneham, SN15 4XX.The majority of exhibitors attending are national companies and have vacancies available across the UK.

If you are interested in attending this event, please contact info@rajareme.org

DBoarding Section

CSection

Section ASection BSection

AO Mairi Bogan Mairi.Bogan750@mod.gov.uk

POC –Armr / Art Wpns / VM H-M

AO Ashley Paterson Ashley.Paterson305@mod.gov.uk

POC –Armourer POC –Transfers &Re-joins

POC –All VM PPP collation Cfn –SSgt POC –See sheet in detail for list of units

Marion Ferguson Marion.Ferguson154@mod.gov.uk

–Tech Elec Cfn –SSgt, MDSS

AO Mark Nicolson Mark.Nicolson960@mod.gov.uk

–FRI

POC –Class 1 course loading, ALDP Cpl & Sgt (MT) course loading

AO Tracy-Ann Mullen TracyAnn.Mullen218@mod.gov.uk

AO Linda Crossan Linda.Crossan984@mod.gov.uk POC –All VEngapplications POC –1 Med Regt, 1 Mercian, 1 R Welsh, 1 Regt RLC, 1 Sig Regt, 10 QOGLR, 14 Sig Regt, 15 Sig Regt, 2 Scots, 2 Sig Regt, 2 Yorks, 21 Sig Regt, 27 Regt RLC, 255 Sigs, 3 Bn REME, 3 Regt RLC, 3 Rifles, 3 Scots, 3 Sig Regt, 4 Bn REME , 4 Med Regt, 4 Regt RLC, 5 Med Regt, 6 Bn REME, AJAX ATT, ATD U, 5 Scots (BKA Coy), HCR, LD, MIV ATT, REME WG RSA, 11 Sig Regt (RSS), RTR, Scots DG

AO Max Crumlish Max.Crumlish100@mod.gov.uk POC –All Vehicle Mechanic PPP collation Cfn –SSgt POC –1 Bn REME, 1 NATO Sig Bn (280 Sqn), 1 Regt RMP, 1 RRF, 1 Scots Gds , 1 Yorks, 101 Bn REME, 103 Bn REME, 17 P&M Regt RLC, 2 Bn REME, 2 Rifles, 21 Engr Regt, 22 Engr Regt, 22 FdHosp, 26 Engr Regt, 28 Engr Regt, 29 EOD & S Gp, 3 Med Regt, 3 Regt RMP, 32 Engr Regt, 32 Regt RA, 34 FdHosp, 36 Engr Regt, 3 9 Engr Regt, 4 Scots, 42 Engr Regt, 5 Regt RA, 5 Rifles, 6 Regt RLC, 7 Regt RLC, 75 Engr Regt,9 Bn REME, ARMCEN, CSS TDU, FALCON Sqn,HQ 170 Engr Gp, HQ Brunei Garrison, HQ Reg’l Comd, Joint Air Dispatch TportUnit, KRH, LEAT, LTF (S), NATO HQ Naples, QDG, QRH, RDG, RMAS, Infantry Battle School, DSEME, DSEME RAS

GAPPED –(temp POC SSgt Thorpe) Mark.Thorpe693@mod.gov.uk

POC –VM Basic course appointments

POC –All CEGs overseas temporary staff appointments POC –1 AAC, 1 Cold Gds, 1 Gren Gds, 1 Irish Gds, 1 Lancs, 1 MI Bn, 1 PWRR, 1 Ranger, 1 R Ang, 1 R Irish, 1 RHA, 1 Rifles, 1 Welsh Gd s, 2 Mercian, 2 MI Bn, 2 Para, 2 Ranger, 2 R Ang, 3 AAC, 3 Para, 3 Ranger, 3 RHA, 4 AAC, 4 MI Bn, 4 Regt RA, 4 Ranger, 5 AAC, 5 Bn REME, 6 MI Bn, 7 AAC (

Section C

When: Thurs 30th March 2023,1800 hrs

Where: Princess Marina’s Officers’ Mess, MoD Lyneham

Tickets: On sale through REME Connect—Please see events page

POC: Capt H Tharme howi.tharme100@mod.gov.uk

Lt H B Hall hannah beth.hall105@mod.gov.uk

Accommodation: donna.savage104@mod.gov.uk

Closing date: REME Connect link closes 16th March 2023, after this please email POC for space.

REME in the Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Centre

Scribe: Sgt Simpson

RAF Waddington in Lincoln is home to the Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Centre (JEWOSC). A Tri-Service unit whose job is to deliver assured, high-quality, and timely Mission Data and Electromagnetic Intelligence to Defence, Partners across Government, and International Allies.

The JEWOSC comprises of over 250 tri-service and civilian personnel, with the Army being represented by the smallest cohort with under 20 personnel made up of the Royal Signals, Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps and three Electronics Technicians from the REME. SSgt James Green, Sgt Ally Irvine and I are the lucky individuals representing the REME at the JEWOSC.

As the change coordination manager SSgt Green helps to enable and support effective facilitation of project delivery which enhances the JEWOSC’s capabilities. Working from Mission Data Operations (MD Ops), Sgt Irvine is responsible for orchestrating and project managing all Mission Data tasks. Mission Data is made up of small re-programming teams who produce assured Mission Data in support of a number of platforms, across all three services for Worldwide Operations, exercises, trials and training.

Air platforms which depend on Mission Data produced by the JEWOSC include A400M, C130J, Wildcat, Merlin, Chinook and the Apache. Surface Units include the Type 23 Frigates, Type 45 Destroyers and the Landing Platform Dock, Sub-Surface Units include the Vanguard Class, Trafalgar Class and the Astute Class. My current role is the Apache RFI team leader, managing the production, timely output and assurance of mission data in support of the Apache AH-64D RFI capability and the new Apache AH-64E Gen 2 RFI capability.

Although being hugely outnumbered by RAF and Navy personnel the small Army contingent make every effort to represent the service at any given opportunity. On the 9th November 2022, myself and Sgt Irvine represented a team

of four from the JEWOSC which undertook the famous 4x4x48 David Goggin’s challenge, which involves a 4-mile run, every 4 hours for 48 hours. This was a very physical and emotionally draining challenge but for an amazing cause, with the team raising over £6,500 for our chosen charities. Sgt Ally Irvine was fundraising for the NSPCC whilst I was fundraising for the KIDS charity and after seeing Ally’s morale at 0400hrs on the penultimate run, it is safe to say that we enjoyed crossing the finish line a few hours later and greatly appreciated every donation we received for the challenge. Members of the JEWOSC, including Group Captain Andy Ross (Director JEWOSC), lined the finish line at 0845hrs on Friday morning to clap the team in after a gruelling 48 miles over 48 hours.

Although not being a Regular Army unit, the traditional REME celebrations of St Eligius Day are still at the yearly forefront. This year we opened the invite to the Royal Engineers

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

The 4x4x48 team, Sgt Irvine, Sgt Simpson, Cpl Stephen and Flt Lt Ware

St Eligius Day outside Lincoln Cathedral

personnel within the JEWOSC on one condition, they wore a REME pin badge, this was surprisingly taken up by LCpl Estill, the things people will do for some time out of the office! We started the day with a visit to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, which is home to an abundance of military and engineering history.

It was only fitting to visit the White Hart Hotel after the museum which is the birthplace of the British “Fighting Tank”. We got to see the Yarborough room within the hotel where William Tritton, the boss of William Foster & Co Ltd and

Walter Wilson, an Engineer, used to go in the summer of 1915 to escape the distraction of the factory. It is here where they sketched blueprints of the prototypes upon which future tanks were based on and it is argued these drawings, which led to the invention of the tanks, revolutionised warfare and the company was credited with breaking the stalemate of trench warfare and for shortening the war. The hotel has been commemorated with a Red Wheel Heritage Plaque, which states due to Tritton’s and Wilson’s invention of the British Fighting Tank, that 400 tanks were subsequently built by Fosters of Lincoln. The days celebrations were then concluded with a visit to Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle.

I would like to take this opportunity to bid farewell and the best of luck to Sgt Irvine who is leaving the JEWOSC to take up his new post at 5 Rifles LAD.

St Eligius Day – 3XX TDS serving at Land Readiness Fleet Sennelager (LRF(S))

Scribes: Cpl Church 3Bn REME (LRF(S) PP&C SNCO) and LCpl Robinson (First Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers LAD) (LRF(S) Tech Elec JNCO)

INTRO

On the 1st of December each year, all REME Soldiers and Officers look to mark St. Eligius Day, including those members of 3XX TDS serving at Land Readiness Fleet Sennelager (LRF(S)). The purpose of the day is to celebrate the Corps Patron Saint, St Eligius. To do this, the Corps seeks to challenge soldiers mentally and physically in order to develop Esprit de Corps and team cohesion.

THE TEAMS and Competition

This year at LRF(S), three teams were created to compete in the activities of the event and were made up of the departments working at LRF(S). Light A Vehicle Repair Line, B Vehicle Repair Line and Heavy A Vehicle Repair Line.

The teams would be judged against three main areas:

1. Collective sporting effort – Triathlon and Kart Race

2. Ingenuity of engineering concept – Kart development

2. Effective outcome – Kart Race and Firing of Armaments

THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

The week prior to the St. Eligius Day event, the participating teams were charged with designing, testing and then fielding a push powered kart (soapbox) that could complete a pre-determined race

Sgt Irvine at the finish line, thanking members of the JEWOSC for the support

The Red Wheel Heritage Plaque outside the White Hart Hotel

Light A Repair Lines’ SSgt Jones anxiously waiting to feel the burn

route and reach the firing point from which a projectile would be fired on target. The teams had seven days, £100 of funding and their ingenuity to bring their ideas to life; and test their submission for competition as thoroughly as possible.

Work commenced quickly following the announcement of the event, with teams scavenging for scrap and salvage; many of the Workshop ‘hand me down’ bikes becoming sacrificial at this point. As the carriage of karts began to take shape, the teams switched fire (no pun intended) and put their minds towards the weapon attached to the kart that would need to be able to launch a small projectile (potato) as far as feasibly possible.

THE DAY

The event began with an early start as the Commanding Officer and Wksp SNCO’s and officers delivered breakfast and gunfire to the junior ranks in their accommodation; priming the troops for the day ahead.

The teams then moved towards their first task, the Triathlon. Composed of three events, a 5-kilometer row, a 15-kilometer ride on the Watt-Bike and a 1-kilometer relay. Each team could use as many members as necessary for the first two events, before selecting 4 for the relay race at the end. Each team worked hard, and fierce but healthy competition was evident from the start.

Post Triathlon it was back to the accommodation for personal admin before being transported to Normandy Barracks Garrison Church for a key part of the day; the church service dedicated to REME and St. Eligius. This church service was a welcome break for the troops but also served to ground the event; reminding the participants of the purpose of the day and allowing time to pause for reflection. With the service complete it was back to Athlone Barracks for lunch in the Warrant Officers and Sgt Mess in the form of a classic curry lunch where all REME soldiers and officers sat together for the duration of lunch.

The afternoon’s events began with a safety inspection of the soapbox karts. Following the inspection, teams were given a chance to adjust their karts and fix any identified issues. The karts were presented pre-race to Commander NFS in front of the Workshop. At this point teams were able to explain their ideas and give reason to their karts design; the build concept as well as giving the names of their karts.

Once the presentation was complete, it was time for the race! Each team allocated five members to participate, a Driver, 4 pushers with one later acting as a gunner for the latter half of the challenge. With the race teams confirmed, and set on the start line, the race begun. Each team pushing hard to take the lead early on, remaining relatively close until the teams reached the first mince pie station where they were required to consume 5 mince pies before moving on. This allowed the Light A department (given their considerable eating skills) to achieve a substantial lead as the race continued, and ultimately, take first place on the race.

It was then onto the launcher competition. The three teams were each designated a firing point and 15 small potatoes to launch via

their mounted armament, with the furthest ten being counted and then compared to give a winner. With that, the teams began firing to varying degrees of success, whilst being spectated by the same judging team from earlier who observed the race. With the launching complete and the karts (mostly) intact the teams withdrew to the Athlone Barracks Pub for the final speeches and prize giving.

Following the judging, it was Light A who took the win for the Triathlon, kart-race and launching competition followed by B line taking second and Heavy A in third. After the prize giving and closing speech by Comd NFS, the teams were allowed to retire for the evening after a challenging but rewarding day.

Every person involved walked away feeling confident and proud in their abilities to compete and manage challenges given to them within an engineering and military environment. All of this was set against a backdrop of humour, fun, humility and competition; whilst paying respects to the Corps’ heritage and traditions.

WIDER LRF(S)

St. Eligius day is significant to the Corps and is an important aspect of paying respect to our traditions and heritage, and for this reason it is commendable that LRF(S) took time out of its heavy schedule of outputs to provide and manage a day dedicated to the Patron Saint of REME.

Alongside the planning and participation of St Eligius Day, LRF(S) was still required to provide output as a key enabler for Military activity in Europe (the ROTO1 overlay on the next pages provides oversight of all activity we undertook). A large volume of equipment is continually handed over to exercising units or sent to European operations. It is at the forefront of this activity that our REME personnel prove their worth in ensuring equipment is engineered to the best condition possible; allowing units to operate at their maximum capacity whether in Estonia or the Sennelager Training Area. So even as the St Eligius Day teams prepared their karts and the event was coordinated, all LRF(S) personnel remained committed to ensuring their primary role was fulfilled.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

Light A Vehicle Repair Line leading the initial charge

Light A Vehicle Repair Lines’ Cfn Rickman prepared at the helm…

The Craftsman talks to former REME Corporal Karl Simons OBE

Karl Simons

Karl served 13 years in the REME. He has over 30 years of employment experience, having worked across all continents and in numerous safety critical industries including defence, oil, gas, minerals, rail, roads, construction and utilities.

He is an Electrical & Mechanical Engineer, holds a Post Graduate Master’s degree in Environmental Management, Safety & Health, is a Chartered Occupational Safety & Health Practitioner, a Member of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at Windsor Castle.

Karl’s advice is regularly sought by Government, and he has been appointed as Advisor to the Prime Ministers Cabinet Office for the UK Government. He is a lecturer at the University of Cambridge and holds a position as Non-Executive Director on the Board of the international organisation ‘Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor’.

In 2020 Karl was awarded an OBE by HM The Queen for Services to Mental Health Policy and in 2019 was voted ‘The Most Influential Person in Health & Safety’ by the 600,000 global readers of SHP

So Karl when and for how long did you serve?

I began life at Arborfield in September of 1990, seems like an eternity ago now, but I still remember some key moments like leaving Swansea for the first time at just 17 with a very emotional Father at the platform, arriving at the Train station and suddenly hearing someone starting to bark commands at me and of course going through 13 weeks of hell with my fellow recruits from across the UK.

After 13 years, most of which were served overseas in Germany and the Balkans, my latter years were in the UK. My Wife and I finally decided we wanted to have children and thus it was time to move into civvy street. At 30 years old the Army was all I knew so the thoughts of the big exit was very scary indeed after so long.

How

was the transition at the time?

The transition didn’t go too well at all. It was great to have a year’s notice period, during which I was offered a promotion to stay in, however my mind was made up. There was a resettlement programme at the time but in truth it was pretty awful right enough, the good thing though was the Army provided money to do some courses so I knew I wanted to continue protecting people in some form and I decided to undertake my NEBOSH General Certificate which is a foundation level course in Health & Safety. I recall at that time the Army was just beginning to move us in the Mechanical Engineering workshops onto some very basic electronic systems for our daily job cards, so it was a transitional period on many fronts, but I had only heard about the term Health & Safety mentioned on a few minor occasions.

Where did you start?

Following a tonne of applications sent out I had four job interviews, an Undertaker, the AA, the Police Force and a Health & Safety Officer for a construction company. Well, I was told I was too smiley and happy to be in the Undertaking business and the AA was fine but it was shift work which I was trying to avoid and the Police was always a back-up option, but I received an offer for the H&S Officer job which is the one I really wanted so accepted immediately and went for it. I recall taking a pay cut from my existing Corporal wages of £26k per annum down to £18k due to lack of experience; which was a real struggle given we had bought our first house at £78k in Glasgow and I was faced with a mortgage, and all household bills in

full for the first time. But my lovely Wife and I we managed and were happy together beginning our journey into our civilian life.

Any advice for REME personnel beginning that transition journey?

Absolutely, get set up well before you leave, whilst you have an Army wage and the security it provides. Don’t leave everything till the moment you leave as borrowing money is tough. Also research so that you use your resettlement money wisely. And finally, follow your dreams, this may sound odd but figure out what you want to do, then do the right courses in it and secure a job doing it. Your military training will then kick in and your ability to stand out and do well will be evident to any employer; as it was for me.

So explain what’s happened since the early transitioning days?

It’s been quite a ride, but I guess in the early days I knew my ability to climb the corporate ladder quickly would come from two things, firstly me having the courage to move jobs and secondly becoming more qualified.

I spoke with my employer and was really happy that they agreed to fund my University course which was an undergraduate programme in Health, Safety & Environmental Management at the University of West of Scotland. I was amazed at the time, but now have come to realise that employers are very happy to fund degree and post grad courses.

It’s not to be taken lightly though, as whilst beginning a new career in a new role, having children and going to University twice a week was incredibly heavy going. Fast forward six years though and I

walked out with an undergrad and post graduate Master’s Degree with Distinction, which I am still amazed at now looking back. I wasn’t afraid to move around and went from construction to Rail and then I was offered a position in the Middle East, so with the kids at 1 and 3-year-old, Amanda my Wife and I packed everything up and moved to Oman. I worked and we lived in the desert for six years in countries like Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia; the work was incredible but tough on the family and I recall the day Amanda said “I’m going home, you join us when you can.” At the time I was offered an opportunity to move into Oil and Gas, so took on a mobile role looking after seven countries across the world including Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, Qatar and the UAE. The job was overwhelming and incredible as I was exposed to working in the mining Industry of New Caledonia, in refineries and on oil & gas rigs of the Philippines, in steel foundries across India, on the ferries of Sydney, the busses of Adelaide, on railways across the nullable plains of Australia, in electricity plants in New Zealand. However, being an electronic Dad for seven out of eight weeks at a time was the toughest part of that two years of my life as I missed my family terribly.

So tell about the recognition by HM Queen Elizabeth II

This came following what has been an incredible decade working in the London as Group H&S Director at Thames Water. The role was extremely challenging as the Water sector is very intense due to the aging infrastructure. However very early on I realised from all my experience gained working with so many diverse teams that the link between physical injury and psychological health was intrinsic and couldn’t be broken. However, this was being missed by organisations and certainly leadership teams nationwide

I set about in the very early days building a team that would take the company into a very different direction than others traditionally were going in. Articulating this to the Executive at the time needed

to be done in a very different way too, however my military training had always taught me that taking calculated risks was the right thing to do if you needed to get results in a challenging environment, so I wasn’t afraid to do just that. During my time at Thames, I presented Mental Health in Business to circa 500 external organisational leadership teams in many different sectors. This wasn’t part of the day job, but I felt it was important to share the learnings and outcomes we were achieving in the organisation.

I also started to share what we were doing with those in Government and began building relationship with those in influential positions within the House of Lords and House of Commons undertaking many presentations and discussions, which culminated in finally getting in front of the Health Secretary and then Prime Minister to show how Government could begin making a substantial change in the way business went about their approach towards mental health management.

In September 2020 I received a note explaining the then Prime Minister had recommended me to her Majesty the Queen for award of an OBE for Services to Mental Health Policy, which I was truly floored by and was incredibly humbling indeed.

Any final words for REME Soldiers reading this?

I loved my time in the Military, so cherish it as the memories never leave you and I still laugh when I think of all the crazy things we got up to in the fun 1990’s; which I shan’t mention in text for obvious reasons, but I still love reminiscing over a beer. I’m a regular at the Union Jack Club in London as I base myself from there for work regularly when in London, and I’d recommend to any soldier to definitely visit there if you’re staying in London as it is great value for money and the atmosphere is always good fun. Finally, I believe the training, culture and leadership skills developed in the Military are extremely transferrable and will stand any soldier in great stead for their journey in civvy street, as it did me.

Thanks for allowing me to share my brief story and to those of you for reading it.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

REME in Oman with 22 SAS – 1961, Part Two

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in July 1961 and recently edited and re-submitted by Bill, now a retired Lt Colonel. This is part two of a two-part article.

Phase TwoOperation STATURE

After three days for replenishment and servicing, the troops deployed towards the Saudi frontier to prevent mines being brought in from Saudi Arabia on Camels.

I was deployed to Fahoud, a former drilling site about 75 miles from lbri with 15 men as a supply base, with two Land Rovers, a 3ton winch and a water bowser. The visiting patrols replenished with food, and fuel, which came in on a Twin Pioneer carrying 5 x 40-gallon drums. I had to send the water bowser and escort to the nearest waterhole each day, an 80-mile round trip. The VM’s were kept busy but no major faults occurred.

One problem was that men on Camels could hear a vehicle a long way away, and seek cover. The SAS therefore occasionally left two soldiers in a shell scrape for days under a camouflage net to observe and hope somebody would come past. One morning I was standing

outside when I saw two figures approaching from a distance. They were two SAS men who had missed a pick up and had run out of water and food. The elder a Cpl of about 28, told me the young Trooper with him said in the small hours that he could not go on and laid down. The Cpl kicked him to get him to his feet and moving again, as he thought they may not survive another day exposed in the hot desert without water. The Camel Troop of the NFR also took part patrolling the frontier.

Another problem was that vehicles of ARAMCO, the Saudi oil company came over the frontier to take soil samples to assess the likelihood of there being oil. These were powerful 6 litre Dodge Power Wagons that could easily outrun our K9’s. We had permission from the Foreign Office to machine gun these vehicles! The Sultan also approved.

At the end of this phase the Camels had to be ridden the 75 miles back to lbri, I was detailed to do this with two SAS men, and four Arab soldiers on eight Camels, one producing milk. This took three days, a memorable experience.

Phase ThreeOperation STATURE

Phase Three was foot patrols on Jebal Akhdar where tribes supporting the rebels lived. The troops drove to Wadi Miaidan and Wadi Halfain near Nizwa and parked up, and next day climbed up the Jebal to Saiq, the main town at about 6,000ft. An NFR company was

Scribe: 2Lt WGV Kenney REME

On patrol with Sultan Armed Forces (SAF), 2Lt Kenney centre, note bandolier with 5 rounds around waist

Camel patrol SAF camel troop from Fahud to Ibri

based there. That day a 3 tonner at lbri hit a mine within half a mile of the camp. Luckily it was under the rear wheel and the occupants were only given a shaking. It was possible to fit a wheel back onto the vehicle and drive it back to camp. This was done after the ground around the vehicle had been probed. Subsequently another mine, which would have been underneath the vehicle whilst it was being recovered was set off by an NFR Land Rover. At Rostaq, a RE Land Rover was blown up with fatal casualties. The SAS returned to their vehicles and drove back to lbri.

Packing up and return to Aden via Dubai

During the operation, nobody had been paid. The canteen supplied by the NMFI had sold everything on tick, and there was no local currency. I was flown to RAF Sharjah in a Twin Pioneer to collect a large sum escorted by the pay SSgt and two SAS Troopers armed with SLRs! We entered the bank; no notice was taken of the weapons as many adult males there carried a rifle. The currency was the Bahraini Dinar.

After handing in kit and vehicles the main body of the SAS flew to Bahrain on two Beverley’s on 25 March. The rear party then took down the camp and after a Beverly had taken the tentage we were ready to leave. As a final benefit to the locals who had no way of storing water except in earthenware containers: we used the welding kit to cut the top off many 40-gallon drums. Loaded them on a lorry and took them down to the to the town square. We dropped the tailboard; the drums were gone in minutes. The convoy moved off at dawn on 3 April for Sharjah. Buraimi Oasis, just over a hundred miles was reached by midafternoon. The convoy refuelled at the picturesque Fort Jahili, where a Squadron of the TOS were based. We pushed on towards Sharjah until dusk when camp was made for the night. We moved off again at dawn and due to a heavy dew and some

rain a few days previously the usually challenging sand sea was crossed with little difficulty, and Sharjah was reached about three o’clock. The next day was spent stripping the 3 ton and 1/4-ton vehicles of their valuable mine plates, so they could be used by the TOS.

We sailed on the Empire Guillemot late on 9 April, after a brief stop at Muscat, we arrived in Aden on 17 April. Everyone agreed that they had had a really amazing and memorable three months in an unspoilt and beautiful country.

Reflections

Out of the 31 vehicles we had taken to Oman, four were blown up by mines; also, three vehicles of other units were blown up by mines within half a mile of our camp!

It was an amazing experience for a 21year-old 2Lt to have the leadership challenges and responsibilities that occurred during the operation. I later served two years commanding a Squadron of local troops in Abu Dhabi. I enjoyed serving in Arabia.

2Lt Bill Kenney leading a convoy packet with national serviceman Cfn Sanderson, pay 25/- a week, now £1.25! Note steel armour plate under Driver in a bid to protect crew

Our Bedford winch attempting to tow an SAS patrol vehicle back to camp. Cpl Fox in the foreground, a real character

2Lt Kenney on a 75-mile camel patrol

Reflections by a retired REME Major on the highlights of a career in the Army during the period 1946-1955

Scribe: Anonymous

Iam now 91, born during those difficult days of the early 1930s, into a family finding it difficult to make ends meet. No indoor loo, just a trip down the garden to the “thunder box”. I hope readers will appreciate that after reading this article that it is possible for a person of similar circumstances to carve an interesting and rewarding career in our Corps of REME. Of course, it requires effort by the individual, a degree of good fortune and encouragement from their superiors.

I wore the Royal Artillery cap badge until REME Phase 2 was implemented. An Instructor at the Armament and Electrical Trades School at Bordon on that cold day in October 1952 when we paraded and changed our cap badges.

Prior to joining the Army as a boy soldier, I had secured a place at a grammar school following a period as an evacuee in a mining village in South Wales. Life at this school was not easy. The teaching staff were very old as many younger ones were away fighting. I recall that my arts Teacher was 80 years old. The maths Teacher was my favourite, he was in charge of cricket!! Despite it being a grammar school, the syllabus was uninspiring compared to that of today. For

instance, Biology - “10 questions on birds’’. Not a word had ever been spoken about birds!! I usually scored 0-2 ! So much emphasis was given to remembering historical dates instead of discussing historical events. Fortunately, I had access to illustrated history books held by my Uncle.

Living in South East Kent, our studies were often interrupted by the VI “doodle bugs” and later the V2 rocket. Homework was frequently interrupted by air raids.

At my grammar school I was deemed good enough to captain the under 14 Cricket team but not identified as an academic genius destined for fame in the world of law or politics! I might point out that in those days being left handed was a disadvantage for those keen on a career in such professions. We found great difficulty writing with pen and ink. The ball point pen had not been invented! We “sinistrals” were not welcome for employment in offices.

And so, in June l945, just after the end of the war in Europe, it was decided by my parents that I should go to an Army School for a 3 Year Apprenticeship. You should note that at the tender age of 14 I was not a party to that decision.

My lofty Headmaster was horrified at the idea that one of his boys wanted to join the Army and refused to give me a reference. My village Vicar did so to save the day.

On the 10 February 1946 at the age of 14 years and 8 months, I left home and travelled for about 8 hours to reach my destination, Beachley Camp near Chepstow. There followed the inevitable documentation and the issue of uniform and kit. Upon entry into my assigned barrack room I was immediately presented with a broom and ordered by a boy corporal to clean the toilets! For my bedding I was loaded down with a mattress consisting of three filled bags known as ‘biscuits’, four rough blankets and two pillows. At that time, I was but 4 feet and 10 inches in height and weighed 5 stone and 13 lbs. No linen for my first year at that school! I was so tired and bewildered at that point that I crawled into my new style bed. The next morning, I got out of bed into a very cold room with no heating (it was February) and told to light a stove situated in the middle of a room approximately 30 yards long. No central heating in those days! Within a few hours I had been made aware of my place in the pecking order! So that was my introduction to life in the Army!

The next morning, we marched to the dining room with our one-pint mug and utensils behind our backs for our first meal. I did not like the taste of the tea. Later I discovered that bromide had been added. I will leave the reader to figure that one out!

During our first year we were paid 12.5p (2s 6p) per week out of which we had to purchase our cleaning and toilet needs. Some money was held back for periods of leave. When I joined the school my issued greatcoat nearly reached my ankles and my Mother cried when she first saw me in uniform!

Slowly I adapted to my new life of technical training, parades and coping with being the smallest boy in our group. I enjoyed playing cricket for the school for two seasons. I recall that dreadful winter of

Barrack room (taken from https://armyapprenticecollegechepstow.co.uk)

Beachley Barracks (taken from https://armyapprenticecollegechepstow.co.uk)

1947 when we had to clear the snow towards Chepstow in order to obtain our supplies of fuel and food. However, I survived the experiences at that school and in retrospect, it must have developed my character.

Soon after leaving that school in early 1949, I joined a Royal Artillery unit at Exeter under orders to go to Hong Kong as the Korean threat was looming. The song “A Slow Boat to China” was a hit at that time. Much to my annoyance I was considered to be too young to go as I was under 18 years old. So, I was sent to a remote camp in the middle of Salisbury Plain, miles from anywhere and with live shells being fired over the camp by units on exercise! After some months agitating to leave, I was moved on! At least I learned to drive whilst in that area, so my time was not entirely wasted.

During the period 1949 until the beginning of 1954 I spent the time gaining experience in England attending various courses, passing exams, earning promotions and lecturing National Servicemen, some keen others really reluctant, on various engineering subjects associated with heavy armaments. It was during this period that I transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

So, February 1954 is really the beginning of my travels to ‘exotic’ places overseas when I boarded the troopship Dunera destined for Pusan the Southern port of South Korea. At this stage the fighting had stopped and an uneasy truce had been signed between North Korea, China and the United Nations Forces. My journey took me via Port Said, Aden, Colombo Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong. To my delight I was informed when the ship left Hong Kong that I would not be disembarking at Pusan but was to join the Commonwealth Forces Workshop located in Kure in Southern Honshu, Japan.

Several miles out at sea on our approach to Pusan we detected a nasty smell which persisted until we were well away from that place again. It was many years later that I discovered that that smell was human excrement which local farmers used to fertilise their fields! My first introduction to those romantic and exotic far Eastern lands! However, all was well when I disembarked at Kure; setting foot on the hull of a Japanese battleship which had been sunk during the latter stages of WW2.

My task at the military workshop in Kure was to supervise a Japanese workforce; completely overhauling the Centurion MK 3 MBT and its variants together with a few other armoured vehicles sent back from the Korean war zone. It was interesting to observe

how adept and hard-working the Japanese worker can be at the various tasks presented to him. Never use brute force when there is the overhead crane available! An additional task was for me to visit the Commonwealth Battle School located some l0 miles away at Haramira to ensure that equipment was functioning efficiently.

It was during one of my visits to Haramira, I accidentally clipped the end of a local farmer’s bicycle with the Jeep that I was driving and his box of fish scattered across the dirt road. It was my fault but he, bowing very low, insisted on apologising to me for the incident! This just explains the deference of so called “low class” people in Japan in those days. No cases of road rage in that country!

This Battle School was run by the Australians and was established to give ‘green troops’ experience of operating under live ammunition conditions before going to the Korean war zone. I understand that the course allowed for up to 10% casualties! It was there that I was stupid enough to sit on the cupola of a centurion tank to observe tracer shells being fired into the distant hills. I did not realise that the recoil blast from the gun muzzle had damaged my hearing. There were no health and safety rules in those days and I had not put on hearing muffs. In fact, such things were not available in those days. Perhaps just a piece of cotton wool would have helped!

The workshop consisted of British, Australian and Canadian personnel commanded by an Australian. My boss was also an Australian.

The main task for our workshop at Kure was to completely overhaul the Jeep and Bedford 3-ton QL. Output was 7 Jeeps and 3 Bedfords per day. Engines, gearboxes and axles at Kure and the assembly lines at Hiro a few miles from Kure. The building at Hiro was previously an aircraft factory used by the Japanese during the war. Kits, known as “Jap Packs” contained

Exterior of HQ British Commonwealth Base Workshops, REME building (taken from awm.gov.au)

Exterior of the Machine Shop building at Britcom Base Workshops, REME Building (taken from awm.gov.au)

Japanese civilian employees repairing engines from trucks at the fitting shop of Britcom Base Workshops (taken from awm.gov.au)

the anticipated spares needed to overhaul major assemblies.

During my one year stay in Japan, I had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima, situated about 12 miles from Kure; which included a visit to the atom bomb memorial building. I visited the nearby ancient island of Miya Jima (real name ltsuku-Shima known to the Japanese as the island where God dwells) with the impressive water Torii, a red painted wooden structure built at the entrance to the island’s small harbour. Later I went to Setoda on the small island of lkuchi where I visited the lovely Kosan-Ji Temple which houses the multi-armed figure of Kannon, Goddess of Mercy and many other interesting objects. I was able to spend a very interesting and informative week in Tokyo visiting the many tourist sights. I developed a keen interest in photography at this time but found the hobby too expensive for my limited finances. Unfortunately, and much to my regret, I was unable to visit Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan.

However, during my year in Japan I was invited by a local evening School Principal to coach his students in the idiosyncrasies of the English language and at the same time they could listen to our language spoken by an Englishman with no dialect! I do recall that the classroom

had no heating system and it was damned cold during those lessons! I remember that the Japanese had great difficulty sounding the letter ‘F’ as it does not exist in their language. A very interesting and rewarding experience.

On Christmas Day 1954 we decided to play a Test Match between us British and our Australian colleagues. All wrapped up against the cold and not looking at all like cricketers we played our game on a concrete surface during which time we lost a number of balls in the adjacent harbour situated by our camp. Nobody volunteered to dive in and retrieve the lost balls!

Much to my frustration whenever I attempted my limited knowledge of Japanese the locals would always reply in English! Such was their enthusiasm to learn our language.

Despite the awful atrocities committed by the Japanese during WW2, I can but say that my lasting memories of the people are very favourable. They were always polite, respectful and kind. War can corrupt minds. However, it was difficult to really penetrate the Asian mind.

I can go on and on about my enjoyable one year stay in Japan but it is April 1955 and I was to board the troopship Asturias and travel to my next posting to Egypt and the delights of life on the Canal Zone at Fayid. I was far from being enthusiastic at the prospect!

Australian Army soldiers talk with members of REME (taken from awm.gov.au)

BRITCOM workshop in Kure, 1950s (credit: REME Museum)

BRITCOM workshop in Kure, 1950s (credit: REME Museum)

BRITCOM workshop in Kure, 1950s (credit: REME Museum)

Potteries and District REME Association – January 2023 Monthly Newsletter

Farewell to 2022 and welcome to 2023, and at the time of writing all our Branch members have survived the festive season and the illnesses that plagued them in the past twelve months.

The beginning of January saw our most mature Branch member reach the birthday milestone of 98 years young. Mrs Margaret Paling was one of the very first ladies to be badged to REME during the dark days of the last war; serving in the Middle East/Mediterranean theatre of operations at their HQ in Caserta Palace in Italy. She witnessed the surrender of all Italian forces in 1943, (and subsequently heard the sounds of summary execution of several high-ranking enemy Officers). We wish Margaret continued good health during the year ahead.

The Palace of Caserta is the largest former royal palace in Europe, originally built in the eighteenth century for the Kings of Naples. It has five floors accommodating 1,200 rooms, and between 1923 to 1943 was the home of the Italian Air Force Academy. It was the Allied Forces Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander and in 1945 was the site of the unconditional surrender of between 600,000 and 900,000 German troops on the Italian Front Line. ln1997 it was designated a UNESCO Heritage Site.

It seems very unlikely that our Branch Committee elected for the 2022/2023 year will see many changes this time round. Like most other Branches and groups it is very hard to get volunteers to come forward to fill posts. The additions for this year are the very welcome appointments of not one, but two retired Lt Cols as Branch Vice Presidents, Lt Col (Retd) John Edwards OBE has now relocated back home to Staffordshire and his beloved Stoke City in the latter months of last year. Arborfield Branch loss is our gain. Lt Col (Retd) Gary Feek has also accepted the appointment as a Branch vice-President. Their combined experiences and ideas should hopefully give some new impetus to the branch.

Most Branches have an unsung hero or two who can be counted on to go above and beyond for the good of the Branch, and one such is our very own Branch photographer Mr John Hubbert, who has taken it upon himself over many years to record our activities and indeed supply many pictures for inclusion in the pages of The Craftsman.

It would be unfair at this time not to mention his Wife Joan who is a godsend to the Branch, and provides us at our monthly Branch meetings with trays of sandwiches, and is a staunch supporter of all Branch activities.

Our main Branch targets for this year have to include retaining and increasing our Branch membership, and also

of strengthening our interaction and ties with the LADs within the everenlarging Stafford Garrison. Hopefully our Branch member, and man on the ground, retired Lt Col Gary Feek can be the key to this with his frequent visits to the garrison as a uniformed retired Officer.

With this years Armed Forces Day being on Sunday 4th June, we as a Branch will be supporting the City of Stoke-onTrent’s Armed Forces Day which takes place in Longton Park and attracts several thousand people annually. We will no doubt be supporting several annual events at the National Memorial Arboretum parading our Branch Standard at the Arborfield Old Boys Association and National Army Apprentice Day services as well as the Corps Day service.

We had our usual four or five Branch members in London in November for the annual Remembrance March Past Parade.

We are now sorting out our monthly lunch date venues for the year ahead with a mix of new places, as well as a few returns to those we have enjoyed in months passed.

These once a month social gathering give some of those members who cannot join us for whatever reason at our evening Branch meetings an opportunity to get out and about for one day a month, to sit down and have a meal and a chat with likeminded people, and help to keep the REME family together.

Hopefully our social life this year will not see a repeat of the nine funerals we attended during the year.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

Scribe: Maurice Hope. Photos: John Hubbert

Branch Photographer John Hubbert

Joan Hubbert

Branch Committee

A year in the life of the Doncaster and District REME Association, 2022

Scribe: Wendy M Lloyd - Branch Social Secretary and Welfare Officer

Iam sure that Branches across the country have experienced some difficult times especially during the last three years, Covid-19 for two years and then the chance to catch up or not with everyone in 2022.

It is with some gratitude that we have a good strong thriving Branch here in Doncaster with a good team to support all the members. I expect most Branches will have some form of communication with their members, we here in Doncaster are now using technology in ways we never expected to. We have telephone calls, Zoom meetings, the use of text messaging and of course emails. Covid was not going to get us down! Then thankfully we were able to meet up face to face again, though with care.

Suffice to say 2022 has been a very good year for all of us here. Our members have enjoyed getting together each month and the numbers are rising too. Sadly, we have lost a few through ill health and old age but thankfully not to Covid! However, despite this we have grown and keep everyone in the fold with regular contact and action when required. Monthly welfare calls have been useful in identifying any difficulties and ensuring the correct support is given with the right resources.

Our group has had a very busy and eventful year. People were starting to re-emerge once again.

We moved back to having our monthly meeting at the Doncaster Rugby Club where we used to go for many years previously. It was due to the Covid restrictions that we had to leave the Scarborough Barracks as it was important that the serving personnel there could remain safe.

Our first major function was the 30th Anniversary of our Branch. At this time, we have only two original members who are still attending regularly. I’m sure some of you will have heard of them, Barry Woodward and John Lloyd. They both remain very active in the branch and have fulfilling roles to play. The committee organised a splendid dinner at the Rugby Club here in Armthorpe. This was really well attended by branch members, invited guests from other armed

forces branches, West Yorkshire Branch, the South Yorkshire Veterans Breakfast Club, Coldstream Guards Association whom we have a good relationship with as well as local dignitaries and of course representation from the REME Association HQ, through Colonel Dave Harris. Despite the Branch having a great time we were very aware of what was going on in the world around us. To this end all who attended raised and donated an amount of money to support the Ukrainian Appeal here in Doncaster. Several of the ladies were making things to sell to fund raise too for this cause. This was very helpful as we have had a large Ukrainian community right here in Doncaster for over 70 years now.

Another occasion where we get together annually is the Branch BBQ. After the death of a previous chairman Charlie Cartwright it was agreed that this tradition would continue. This has been the case for over 20 years now. Sadly, again due to Covid-19, we had a two-year break. With things having changed this year, it was held on 11th June with 22 members attending. Most of them have been themed. It is a chance for the members to show their talents and ability to slip into this role play for some hilarious fun. Over the years we have had various local dignitaries along with branch members, guests from many other Branches and independent groups too. However, this year was a special year. It gave us all time to reflect and remember all that had happened to stop this annual gathering. It was the right time not to worry about fancy dress, rather that we just get together and meet up and enjoy the company of one another. This BBQ had been arranged at my home as in previous years and as Covid-19 was still in the media, we were very respectful of keeping each other safe. It was also a chance to celebrate the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, so despite not having a theme we all joined in with red, white and blue.

As we are very social group we are often invited to join in with Coldstream Guards Association. This has in the past included activities from games evenings to rifle range shooting. This year on 11th September was no exception as we were invited to join the group to Eden Camp for the annual parade. Sadly, the actual parade did not happen due to

30th Anniversary Dinner at the Rugby Club

Flags for HM The Queen’s Jubilee

government restrictions. Nevertheless, there was a good number of folks who made the effort to turn out and we all had a great time. This was a very enlightening day, and as it had been a while since we last went we could see that a lot of work has been done to improve all of the exhibits. It was a smashing day out with a lovely group of people.

On the 1st October we held a buffet celebration at the Doncaster Rugby Club with live entertainment. This was to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Corps as well as the birthday of our Patron Saint Eligius. Once again, we had members from several branches as well as members of the REME Caravan and Camping Club. These folks are regulars at our functions as the others are too.

It is also with some pride that our Chairman, Major Adie Hunt DL, is also active in the community as a Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and is his role he has spent time around the area making speeches etc. and upholding this dignified role in support of our armed forces across the country and the world. As he is still a serving soldier he has excellent insight into what is going on all over. We are fortunate that thanks to him we have the occasional visitor who comes to our monthly meeting to give us updates on the REME Corps. I know that these are welcomed by all our Veterans and they enjoy the Q & A at the end.

On 13th November Remembrance Sunday saw a good gathering of members attend the cenotaph in Doncaster. The Standard was paraded and a wreath laid at the memorial on Bennetthorpe.

The last actual function of our year has been an annual trek to St Mary’s Church in Wotton just North of the Defence School of Transport based at Normandy Barracks Leconfield.

This is a service of remembrance for our Patron Saint Eligius. We listen to powerful and meaningful sermons and sing traditional

REME Sport

hymns. This is organised by the Humberside Branch and is supported by the Beverley Brass Band and the ladies of St Mary’s Church. They provided a lovely spread of mince pies, sausage rolls, cakes etc. and tea and coffee as it is a long journey for most of the congregation. They open this church every year for the REME Association. Along with other branches we have been attending for many years, it has now become a tradition. There were 14 of us in our group and we went for a lovely hot lunch in Walkington before travelling home across the country.

If you would like any further information on the Doncaster & District Branch, please contact the Branch Secretary: Joe DixonHaxby Mobile: 07805460665 e-mail: remeascdonbr@gmail.com

REME Athletics Corps Championships

Calling all potential athletes!

Do you have a med ball throw or a broad jump further than your friends? A quick winger on the football pitch? Fancy swapping the cold, wet cross-country routes for a shorter run in the sun and working on your speed?

With athletics, there’s an event for everyone. Whether you’re a complete novice and want to try a new event or you’re a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome.

Wed 3 May 2023 – REME Corps Championships – Tidworth Oval Track, SP9 7BQ.

All battalions should aim to submit at least one male and female team. Minor units – do what you can but aim to be involved! Individuals are also welcome if your unit cannot fill a team. This competition is all about participation, fun, and building the Corps Team.

An AI with more details will be sent out to all units shortly. Athletics OICs, please get in touch with Capt Laura Clark for any further info in the interim.

Laura.Clark130@mod.gov.uk

Platinum Jubilee Barbecue

REME Mixed Netball Team

Scribe: Cpl Chez Cherryholme, 6 Bn REME

On Tuesday the 18th October 2022, the Corps entered a team in the Army Inter Corps Mixed Netball event held at Aldershot Garrison Sport Centre. “Mixed Netball” you might be thinking, yes this is not a misprint, Netball is now being played by men across the Army and wider sporting community all around the world.

I got into Netball during a recent posting to Brunei where I was attached to 2RGR, my Wife started playing for the local expat team “Belait Flyers” coached by a female AGC SSgt also posted to Brunei. As she started taking along her Husband (an exSoldier himself) I was begrudgingly dragged along to even up the teams. I had the same mindset that Netball was a female sport, but after my first session I was hooked. it is physically and mentally a challenging game, having to learn rules and roles of the different positions was the first obstacle but after a few sessions of game play this starts to come naturally.

When my posting was sadly coming to an end in Brunei I noticed in the Craftsman magazine a picture

for trials for the “Army Men’s Netball Team” when I emailed WO2 Armitage to express my interest, he told me about the REME Mixed Team and invited me to the next Corps training session. The session was delivered by Capt Jenny Thomas REME and from this, the Corps squad which consisted of seven female and four male players was selected to play in the Inter Corps competition.

Although having never played together as a mixed team, and with only one training session together, we started the tournament in blistering fashion with two hard fought wins against the AAC and Royal Signals; playing some brilliant Netball in both attack and defence. The lunch break seemed to have a negative affect on the team as on our return to the court we suffered three narrow defeats

in a row to the RLC, AMS and Royal Artillery. This meant we did not progress from our group, but spirits remained high as with more time on the court together I am sure we will be contenders for next year’s title.

I strongly encourage anyone who has never tried Netball to give it a go; it is such a fun sport, and is physically demanding. It is one of a few sports that allow mixed genders to play together, which makes it even better. I subsequential attended the Army men’s team trials and was fortunate enough to make the squad, we train and have a competitive match two days a month at Aldershot, with the Army Coach Lt Col L Ellis REME.

The Corps team are always looking for new talent and they encourage any new male or female players to attend the training sessions that are held at Lyneham normally once a month, the Admin Instruction for this can normally be found on the REME Defence Connect page or by reaching out to WO2 Glen Armitage on Glen.Armitage627@mod.gov.uk

Don’t be scared by the stigma attached to Netball, give it a try I am glad I did as represent the Army at any sport, is a great achievement. The squad for the mixed tournament was as follows.

Lt Col Ellis, Capt Thomas, SSgt Langdon, Sgt Squire, Cpl Cherryholme, LCpl Brown, Cfn Brooker, Cfn Wright, Cfn Hempell, Cfn Johnson, Cfn Hamuza.

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front cover

Helmand Cup competition

Scribe: LCpl Rumsby

Wednesday 26th October saw Helmand Company, 8 Training Battalion, commemorate the 8th anniversary of the handover of Camp Bastion with its inaugural Helmand Cup competition.

Over 3,000 British troops arrived in Helmand Province in April 2006, initially to help reconstruction efforts. Based out of Camp Bastion, this was a strategically located area close to the provincial capital Lashkar-Gah. Camp Bastion grew into a military fortress that eventually became home to 28,000 soldiers.

MoD Lyneham’s unique ties to Helmand Province began in Spring 2007. Over a five-year period, the local market town of Wootton Bassett gained international media attention as it marked the repatriations of 355 service personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. Carefully orchestrated by the local Royal British Legion branch, hundreds, then latterly thousands, turned out to pay their respects. This informal tradition continued up until the 167th and final repatriation in August 2011. As an “enduring symbol of the nation’s admiration and gratitude”, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted the title ‘Royal Wootton Bassett’; the first English town in more than a century to receive this designation.

Following a service of remembrance, Helmand Company undertook an arduous Gun Run, with 5 Platoon being crowned overall winners. We thoroughly enjoyed the Helmand Cup event as it served as a reminder of what it means to serve in the British Army; whilst also giving us an opportunity to pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Op HERRICK.

Obituaries

Staff Sergeant (Retired) Anthony (Tony) Morris William Neave, 24083485

Anthony (Tony) Morris William Neave was raised as an Orphan, with his siblings, in various foster homes in Liverpool. He joined the Army at 18 years of age and enlisted into the REME as a Vehicle Mechanic. Originally as a ‘H’ Mech and later as a ‘U’ Mech.

He met his Wife of 49 years, Susan Neave, while stationed in Shoeburyness and went onto have two Sons. Anthony born in Berlin in 1976 went onto become an ASM in the REME and Christopher, born in Hanover 3 years later went onto become an Electrical Engineer in industry, but sadly also passed away in September 2022.

Soon after discharge from the services in 1988 Tony was diagnosed with a medical issue from service life, which resulted in him being registered disabled and receiving a war pension. He did continue to work in various ways including setting up and administering an online REME contacts page. He remained in contact with a number of REME friends including Phil Veitch and Pete Hutchinson. He is also survived by his four Grandchildren one of whom is serving in the Royal Navy as a Weapons Engineer.

DoD: 17th December 2022

Enlisted: February 1966

Discharged: October 1988

Trade: VM

Op Tours: Op BANNER (Five tours) & UNFICYP (One tour). Postings: Shoeburyness, Berlin, Hohne, Bordon, Waterbeach, Falkland Islands, Osnabruck, Cyprus, NI and Nuneaton.

Woolwich, for Military Cadre and Electro-Medical training. It was from here that he was detached to the Red Sands Fort in the Thames Estuary for maintenance of the No.10 Predictor/Tracker and 3.7” Gun Control Equipment.

In August 1955 he embarked on troopship HMT Lancashire to Singapore on posting to REME District Workshop in Ayer Rajah Road and subsequently to 1 Singapore Regt RA LAD. Later he was attached to CMED (Command Medical Equipment Depot) RAMC, in Pasar Panjang. He recalls in his Army bio ‘ these were the most enjoyable three years of my young Army life for work and play, with the diversity of peoples, cultures, and camaraderie of thirty British Other Ranks (BORs) serving amongst 350 Malay soldiers on Blakang Mati, a selfcontained tropical island off the coast of Singapore (now a resort island renamed Sentosa)’. Malcolm has many pictures and told many stories of his time spent in Singapore and Malaya.

He returned to the UK on board the troopship Empire Fowey in 1958. He was taken on strength of REME Depot in Arborfield and granted nine weeks paid leave before being posted to the School of AntiAircraft Artillery at Manorbier in South Wales. It was in Carmarthen that he met and married his lovely Wife Anne in 1960.

After training on the Guided Weapons Thunderbird ‘Red Shoes’ Missile at Arborfield he went back to Manorbier to work on the Thunderbird SAGW Missile System for the Royal Artillery.

In 1962, Malcolm was selected for Artificer training (Electronic Control) and completed the course in Bordon and Arborfield in 1964. Postings then followed to 7 Armoured Workshop REME in BAOR at Fallingbostel and then to REME Wing Trials Establishment RA (TERA) in Anglesey as Assistant to the EME GW. The work involved reporting on REME aspects of live firing trials of SAGW2 missiles. In 1971 he went back to the School of Electronic Engineering (SEE) in Arborfield and after completing a Guided Weapons Surface to Air Rapier Course at BAC Stevenage, served at SEE as an Instructor on Rapier and Swingfire anti-tank missile systems and was later appointed Chief Planner in the Course Planning Department. During this time he also attended A1 and A2 day release courses at Reading Technical College and was awarded a Higher National Certificate in Electronic Engineering in 1974.

Former WO1 (ASM) Malcolm George Heppolette

Scribe: John Worrall, Secretary REME Association, Arborfield and District Branch

It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of former WO1 (ASM) Malcolm George Heppolette who passed away on 3 December 2022 after a battle with cancer, which lasted long past the medical prognosis.

Malcolm was born on 18 September 1935 and joined the Army in February 1951 at the Army Apprentices School in Chepstow, intake 51A, aged 15, where he trained for three years as a Soldier and an Electrician CE, AA & CA (Control Equipment, Anti-Aircraft and Coastal Artillery). On completion of his training, he was posted to 5 Training Battalion REME in Arborfield for further equipment training and trade upgrading to Electronics CEM (AA & CA). Postings then followed to 1 AA Group Workshop REME,

Malcolm was a keen sportsman from his early days at Chepstow, playing Hockey and Squash throughout his Army life. At Hockey, he represented the Corps, BAOR, the County team of ‘Anglesey and Caernarvon’, and then North Wales; not to mention the unit teams of every unit he served with. At one time this led to a written comment by his SO2 in Arborfield which stated ‘while performing his military duties with his usual calm efficiency there is no doubt his spiritual home will always remain the Hockey pitch!’

In 1975 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1 (Artificer Sergeant Major).

In April 1976 he was posted to Weapons Branch, REME Support Group, Woolwich, as the adviser on the maintainability of electromedical equipment for the Army. At this time Malcolm was on a Limited Continuance engagement and after receiving an offer of civilian employment from Racal-Milgo Ltd in Reading, he left the Army in October that year after 25 years’ service.

About his Army service Malcolm, writes in his bio, ‘Did I enjoy every minute? probably not, but pretty much. It certainly set me up for a very successful second career of 20 years in high technology international sales of data communications equipment and systems with Racal-Milgo Ltd; RacalChubb Security Systems Ltd; and finally Racal-Datacom Ltd; six years of

Tony Neave

Malcom Heppolette

which was as the resident manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for sales of computer network systems to the banks, the oil company, and private establishments, around the kingdom’.

On retiring from full time work with Racal-Datacom in 1996, he continued keeping busy through a variety of part time work; finally ending his working life of 65 years after being employed as the Pictorial Archivist at the REME Museum in Arborfield for five years until the museum moved to Wiltshire in 2015.

Always a family man, he will be greatly missed by his beloved Wife of 62 years Anne, his loving family of three children, 10 Grandchildren and 9 Great Grandchildren, and his friends in the Corps and outside it.

SSgt (Retd) Chris Dennis

Scribe: Mike Dennis

Dad finally lost his battle with cancer on Monday 23rd January 2023.

Dad was born 29th July 1950 and was a proud member of REME from joining as a Boy Soldier in 1965 and passing out from A Company, Carlisle (Hadrian’s Camp) in August 1968.

He ended his Army service in 1991, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, but continued to serve Queen and Country by becoming the Force Armourer to West Mercia Police, where he remained until his final retirement in 2017.

He continued his links with the Armourers by being a longstanding member of the Armourer’s Association, serving as both Association Secretary for a number of years, before finally becoming President, a post he held until his death.

Death Notices

BIRD – Former Cpl (Acting Sgt) Stuart Alan bird passed away on 02 February 2023 aged 47, after a long battle with cancer. Dates of service 1993-2007.

BRADE – Former SSgt Norman Brade passed away on 30 December 2022 aged 89. Dates of service 1951-1961.

BUSH – Capt (Retd) Colin Albert Bush MBE passed away on October 2022 aged 78. Dates of service 1959-1984.

NEAVE – Former SSgt Anthony (Tony) Morris William Neave passed away on 17 December 2022 aged 74. Dates of service 19661988.

Death Notice Requirements

In order to publish a death notice we require the following information: Surname, first name, rank, full date of death, ages and dates of service. An obituary with additional career and life information is welcome. To inform us of the death, please contact Ms Bev Bate, Corps Welfare Manager on ( 07936 902415 or  welfare@remecharity.org

Officer Assignments

London Gazette February 2023

17 January 2023

No entries 24 January 2023

No entries

31 January 2023

REGULAR ARMY

Short Service Commissions

Officer Cadet Alejandro BOTTOMER 30234977 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet King David Bulanga DEOSO 30266850 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Louis Jack FICE 30371125 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 17

December 2022

Officer Cadet Ross Nathan FORRESTER 30375775 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Joseph Steven GRIFFITHS 30378404 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Henry William James HOMAN 30367787 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Christopher Frank HURLFORD 30220087 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Samuel Philip JONES 30214098 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 17

December 2022

Officer Cadet Laurence John KIRK 30363483 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 17

December 2022

Officer Cadet Jamie Matthew MCCORMICK 30350660 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet David George NALLY 30305565 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 17

December 2022

Officer Cadet Matthew Jack NORMAN-BALDOR 30370082 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet James Alexander Ingledew PARIS 30368420 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant

17 December 2022

Officer Cadet Thomas WILSON 30306145 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 17

December 2022

The following have been awarded the 2nd Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military)

WO1, F. CHALMERS, REME, 24755098

SSGT, S. B. RAINSLEY, REME, 24634709

MAJ, G. J. SMITH, REME, 24725723

The following have been awarded the 1st Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military)

CAPT, S. J. DRAWBRIDGE, REME, 25062654

WO1, L. DUNCAN-PAGE, REME, 25055742

LT COL, T. M. HOLMES, REME, 546527

LT COL, P. G. OWEN, REME, 546564

CAPT, D. P. PERRATON, REME, 25062649

MAJ, S. R. WOODS, REME, 25166166

The following have been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military)

WO2, D. N. G. AMOS, REME, 25164157

CPL, R. M. CARTER-RIGG, REME, 30013550

SSGT, K. M. COOK, REME, 25223344

CPL, S. P. CROOKES, REME, 25143144

SSGT, J. A. FAULKNER, REME, 25077503

CPL, B. W. FOREMAN, REME, 30013571

SGT, M. GOODALL, REME, 25157595

LCPL, A. J. HAINES, REME, 30013277

CPL, B. D. HALL, REME, 30018589

SGT, P. L. HELLENS, REME, 25161726

CPL, L. C. HOLDEN, REME, 25085676

SSGT, B. D. LOCKYER, REME, 30013568

SGT, P. OULTRAM, REME, 25191222

SGT, J. G. ROBERTSON, REME, 30018032

CAPT, I. A. RODGER, REME, 25175179

MAJ, S. C. THOMPSON, REME, 30011002

CPL, L. A. WATSON, REME, 25156603

WO2, F. S. YASSIN, REME, 25101142

The REME Charity

The Trustees of The REME Charity acknowledge with sincere thanks the donations received during the month of JANUARY 2023. They also wish to acknowledge the regular subscriptions received from the Officers and Soldiers of the Corps and retired members of the REME Institution:

If you would like to see how your money is spent, we welcome one or two observers at The REME Charity meetings. The meetings are held midweek, approximately every three weeks. If you would like to observe a meeting, please contact The REME Charity Secretary on ( Mil: 95481 4527 or Civ: 07936902415 in the first instance.

The REME Charity is here for both veterans and serving personnel in times of hardship or need. Contact via SSAFA ( 0800 731 4880 www.ssafa.org.uk or The Royal British Legion ( 0808 802 8080  www.britishlegion.org.uk or your Unit Welfare if serving. All enquiries and information is dealt with in the strictest confidence.

If you wish to discuss any benevolence need you can contact us on ( 07936902415,  welfare@remecharity.org.

Anyone wishing to leave a legacy to The REME Charity, which is exempt from inheritance tax, can add a codicil to their will. Our registered charity number is 1165868

Before submitting an article you are requested to read the guidelines on the inside front

Corps Calendar 2023

More information regarding Corps Mess Functions can found by scanning the QR Code, or by accessing the ‘REME Connect’ website or alternatively email; REMERHQ-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk for all general enquiries. Dates are accurate as at the date of print - refer to the monthly Craftsman for any changes.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

REME Reunion Weekend 2023

Friday 14th – Monday 17th April 2023

staying at the Delta by Marriott Hotel Warwick

YOUR WEEKEND PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Half Board en-suite Accommodation

Drinks Receptions ⚫ Gala Dinner ⚫ 1940s Theme ⚫ Live Entertainment ⚫ Casino Standards Parade & Band ⚫ Church Service

Association Conference with Tea & Coffee

10% Off Bar Prices All Weekend ⚫ On Site Car Parking (complimentary)

Saturday Coach Trip – Stratford-upon-Avon

Sunday Coach Trip – National Memorial Arboretum

2 Night Package £179pp □

1 Night Package £115pp □

Extra Night Sunday £59pp □

Double Room (Sole Use) Supplement £20pn □

Saturday Trip – Stratford INCLUDED on 2 night bookings □

Depart Hotel 1000 / 1100 / 1200 Return 1430 / 1530 / 1630 (please delete)

Sunday Trip – National Memorial Arboretum £7.50pp □

Your Details: REME Branch: …………….……………….

Name ………………………………………………………………………....................... ...............

Address ...………………………………………..…………………………....................... ............... ………………………………………………………………………....................... ...............

Post Code …………………….......... Phone Number…………………………………………………….

Email ...………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Names of other persons on this booking form: Number of Persons………

Rooms Required: Double….……... Twin…………. Single…..……. (£20pn limited)

Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate all special requests this will be done on a first come first served basis and are not guaranteed. There are limited walk-in showers at this venue and are not guaranteed.

Special Requests i.e. diet requirements, walking difficulties etc.

GDPR Consent: Contact By Phone □ Contact By Email □ Contact By Post □

All prices are inclusive of VAT. Book Now to avoid disappointment, places are limited.

Cheques to be made payable to Mount Pleasant (IOW) Ltd - IOW TOURS.

By Making a Booking with IOW Tours you agree to our Trading Charter (our T&Cs) - details can be found on our website iowtours.com and will be sent with your confirmation. iowtours.com •

DEPOSIT

A non-refundable BOOKING FEE of £20.00pp is required with this booking form by 17th January

PAYMENT

Full payment is due by 17 February 2023

Payment Plans/Staged Payments accepted contact us for more details

Call IOW Tours on 01983 405116 (MON – FRI 9am to 5pm) to make your booking and pay by Card

Pay Direct into our Bank Lloyds Bank

Sort Code: 30-90-09

Account No: 58799768

Please use your POSTCODE as reference

CANCELLATION

Cancellation charges apply as follows:

14 day or less 100%

15 – 27 days 50%

28 – 42 days 30%

More than 42 days –Booking Fee Only

We

01983 405116