The Craftsman - November 2022

THE CRAFTSMAN

Magazine of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

ARE YOU A VETERAN FROM A MINORITY ETHNICITY?

We are conducting a research study to explore the impact of serving in the UK Armed Forces on veterans from minority ethnicities. Our aim is to generate sustained change to improve the lives of this group of ex-Service personnel and their families.

Can you help?

We are looking for veterans from minority ethnicities to take part in an online questionnaire which will take 10-15 minutes to complete. A paper version is also available.

To find out more about the research team behind this study click here.

If you’re interested, would like more information, or to request a paper version of the questionnaire, please contact the research team at:

veterans@chester.ac.uk

Or scan the QR code to go straight to the questionnaire.

We want to hear from you!

Corps Formation: 1 October 1942

Corps Motto: Arte et

Forces

Farewell to the President of the REMEAssociation Caravan & Camping Club 43 Medieval Normandy andD-Day Landings Rally 2022 44 REGULARS

REME Museum-The REME Locomotives 20 Letter to the Editor 34 Corps Notices 45

Corps Calendar 2022/23 47

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 4506 Civ: 01249 894506

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.

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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.

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THE 6TH (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION

The 6th Division sets out a new approach in an era of strategic competition. It does this through unconventional operations, seeking and gaining advantage in partnership with other Nations’ forces. It uses appropriate military skills, intelligence, information, cyber and electromagnetic activity. The 6th Division acts in concert with Army and Defence units, governmental partners, and allied forces.

The role of the Division: The 6th Division is optimised for discreet and unconventional operations in competition, and to deliver information manoeuvre capabilities to the Army and Defence. It exists to constrain adversaries below the threshold of direct armed conflict through the conduct of Special Operations and Specialist Information Activities. It optimised the Land Component with an array of unconventional capabilities. Our aim is to:

“Contest potential adversaries, denying them unconstrained freedom of action and imposing actual or potential cost on them.”

We will operate primarily through partner forces but will retain the ability to act independently. We will develop exploitable opportunities through intelligence and targeting, and we will be prepared to conduct the exploitation ourselves if appropriate. We will operate throughout the spectrum of conflict, using or synchronising a wide range of capabilities. The Division will act in concert with Army and Defence units, governmental partners, and allied forces in either a supported or supporting role, and in line with permissions.

How the Division operates: The 6th Division integrates personnel and capabilities from two Brigades:

77th Brigade delivers targeted information activity and outreach; and the Army Special Operations Brigade commands the Ranger Regiment and the Joint Counter-Terrorism Training and Advisory Team. (Commanded by Lt Col Tim Turner REME). The Division also draws on other specialist areas from across Defence. These forces are brought together to deliver unconventional operations in an ever more volatile world. The Division conducts intelligence, information, cyber and electronic warfare activities. It operates from the UK, and with partners around the world. Forward elements are built around multi-disciplinary Ranger Teams, drawn from volunteers from across the Army and trained together to a high standard. The Ranger Regiment is optimised for working alongside and enabling partner force operations. Team Members are trained to understand and operate in complex, high threat environments. To be successful, they must possess emotional intelligence, and have the physical fitness to be capable of operating in austere conditions. Their training helps them learn from partners to improve the Army’s understanding and shape its actions. In addition to learning and specialising in new skills, they remain ready to rapidly adapt to changing situations. The Ranger Regiment are being equipped with the latest technology and communications equipment; which enables them to reach

back to capabilities in the UK. These are delivered through a network of UK Operations Centres which monitor and control operations and provide capabilities such as access to wider intelligence networks, support to Information Operations and the use of cutting-edge data capabilities to conduct cyber and electronic warfare activities. This integration of modern, digitised, persistently engaged forces means that the 6th Division is uniquely optimised to defend the UK’s people and interests.

What Readiness means to the Division: The 6th Division establishes partnerships and builds platforms outside of crisis which can then surge when required. This ability to dial up and reinforce extant partnerships and information operations is achieved through persistent engagement, pre-established platforms and agreed dissemination channels both in the UK and abroad.

REME Personnel in 6th Division

Operations in Africa – working with partners on Non-Standard Pattern Weapons

Scribe: Colonel Dan Scott CEng, FIMechE, MIET – Deputy Chief of Staff, 6th Division

Colonel Dan Scott (DCOS)

6th Division, a summary…

“Corporal Finch and Lance Corporal Rawson deployed to Abuja in Nigeria in June 2022 for a 2week period to conduct Mandatory Equipment Inspections (MEI) across 43 white fleet vehicles including Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAV). Concurrent with this task they completed the engineering assurance on the local maintenance facility and undertook repairs on a Field Electrical Power Supply (FEPS) Generator that had been out of service for over 2 years. Conducting the assurance with partner forces required a diplomatic and sensitive touch. Corporals Finch and Rawson highlighted considerable concerns for both Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and MoD vehicle maintenance. Without their tactful and professional intervention using sound engineering principles of good assurance there was risk to life for the vehicle users. Their actions alleviated this.”

Training assistance to Ukrainian Forces, using NonStandard Pattern Weapons. Armourers from The Rangers deployed in support of 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade as the only source of trained and competent Engineers.

REME Soldiers supporting the Rangers a vignette:

Cpl McCracken working on Non-Standard Weapons in support of the Rangers and a Partner force

Armoury image of AK47s

Op INTERFLEX the training of Ukrainian soldiers, REME Armourer (Cpl from 4 Ranger) and Canadian RCEME soldier working together

Op LONDON BRIDGE – REME support to Her Majesty’s Funeral

On the 8th September 2022, it was with announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had sadly passed. The planning of Her Majesty’s Funeral was titled ‘Op LONDON BRIDGE’. Here, in this Craftsman Article, we wanted to highlight to the wider REME Family, the involvement our people had in paying their final respects to Her Majesty.

REME soldiers honour HM The Queen during the Lying-in-State (Scribe: Capt Wayne Eynon)

Captain Wayne Eynon (REME) is a member of the Kings Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard and along with the members of the Household Division, Gentlemen at Arms and Gentlemen Archers stood vigil over the Queen 24 hours a day for five days from D+5 to the state funeral on Monday 19th September 22.

Capt Eynon, a REME Reserve officer, has been a member of the Kings Body Guard, formally the Queens Body Guard, since 2020. He has completed various state duties, such as Investitures, Maundy Service, State Visits and Royal Garden Parties but by far the proudest moment of his career was to stand vigil next to the coffin of our late Queen. Capt Eynon Said “just witnessing the emotion and out pouring of grief from members of the public as they streamed past the late Queen will stay with me forever”

Providing medical support for those who stood vigil was 4th Medical Regiment. This included 2 REME soldiers, LCpl’s Ben Moffat and James Gardiner, who were employed as stretcher bearers and general medical support throughout the Lying-in-State. Although not visible on the TV coverage, both LCpl’s Moffat and Gardiner stood in the Great Hall off to a flank ready to provide immediate medical support should it be needed. LCpl Moffat said, “never in my wildest dreams did I think that when I joined the Army that I would be supporting such a prestigious event in our history, it is something that will live with me for the rest of my life”.

The Lying-in-State inside Westminster Hall

Yeoman Eynon and LCpl Moffat

8 Training Battalion REME – Maj Marc Wilding OC Normandy Coy

Maj M Wilding – Officer Commanding Number 15 Half Company

Capt D Nolan – Officer Commanding Number 16 Half Company

Lt B Walbrook – Officer Commanding Number 17 Half Company

On the sad news of Her Majesty’s passing, those 8 Trg Bn personnel aligned to Op LONDON BRIDGE were swiftly informed of their likely and imminent deployment. The Household Division provided immediate direction that D-Day was Fri 9th September and highlighted the subsequent 10 day plan. With deployment to the Concentration Area (CA) in Pirbright planned for D+3, the initial few days in Lyneham were spent sizing personnel off for their Service Dress and conducting drill refresher training. Fortunately, we had a clutch of drill instructors, who, under the watchful eye of the Bn Provost, Sgt Steve Hunt, delivered drill lessons on the familiar (rifle drill such as the change arms on the march) to the not so familiar (lower arms reverse). This time was also vital for the three designated Half Company Commanders, Capt Daz Nolan, Lt Brad Walbrook and I as we were all a little bit rusty when it came to sword drill too.

Uniform proved to be a major constraint during this period. Where we had a large contingent warned for BRIDGE, we burnt through a large number of those as uniforms could not be tailored to fit. As such, the list of those personnel to deploy remained fluid throughout but there was no shortage of volunteers ready to join in at late notice. Cfn Cerin Mason, on hearing that we still required female soldiers to form part of the deployment, returned from leave to deploy showing the type of selfless commitment that we would expect from a more seasoned soldier or JNCO.

During this period, support

agencies under the watchful eye of Maj Stu Kitchen (GSU) worked tirelessly to ensure that we were all ready to deploy in good order. Thanks goes to the tailor, Jonathan McIntyre (Scots Guards) and ESS staff (Hannah Woods and Tracey Floyd) who ensured not only that we had the right kit, that it was sized correctly but also how it was that we should wear it! I had no idea how to correctly fit a sword to a sword belt… but I do now.

At D+3 the main body deployed to the CA to be met by the Real Life Support team from 27 Regt RLC. RSOI and booking in to accommodation followed whilst the Half Company Commanders moved to Wellington Barracks for the initial brief from GOC London District, Maj Gen Chris Ghika CBE. During his brief the scale and complexity of the task in hand became apparent to all attending. It took 15 minutes alone to read the list of sub-unit commanders in attendance. He signed off stating that this would be the largest scale parade the Army had ever conducted and that the whole of the World would be watching. No pressure then.

REME Soldiers lining some of the route

Ensuring our kit is at the highest of standards

Capt Nolan and Lt Walbrook on The Mall Pirbright Drill practice

period of rehearsals

Post brief afforded us the opportunity to walk the ground, vital for Lt Walbrook as it was his first ever visit to London. We would be deploying as three Half Companies, responsible for lining the route of the funeral procession and would be situated on Horse Guards Parade and Horse Guards Avenue.

For the next six days we threw ourselves into the Drill – Prep Kit – More Drill - Sleep cycle. Thankfully we would not have to learn as many drill movements as the processional troops (who would march in the Reverse Arms position which was new to everyone), however, lining the route meant that we would be stood still, under the gaze of all, for around two hours, no mean feat in itself. We conducted a full-dress rehearsal in London overnight on D+6 (Thurs 15th Sep) which left the Officers underwhelmed with their own performances and concerned that they wouldn’t be able to anticipate the correct words of command (as many would be delivered whilst stood in the Lower Arms Reverse position when looking at your own feet) but further coaching and some clearer direction alleviated concerns.

At 0100hrs of D+10 we set off from the CA for the last time and into London. We were afforded a blue light escort from Police outriders from Wandsworth to Embankment and our assembly destination of MoD Main Building. This was great fun and hugely appreciated by us as every minute saved in travel meant another sleeping on the floor of Main Building! Along the way we got to witness the growing crowds around Parliament Square and Whitehall. The sight of thousands of people added to the excitement and nervousness of the soldiers and officers alike.

At 1030hrs each Half Company assembled outside of MoD Main Building, in preparation for deployment at 1103hrs. That 33 minutes seemed to pass incredibly quickly and soon we

Maj Wilding and Capt Nolan meet the Chief of Defence Staff

Cfn Carter Lowered Arms

Trying to get our heads down after a long

were away, marching through Horse Guards Arch, on to the Parade which was bathed in glorious sunlight. As we hit the gravel on Horse Guards, we were given our first sight of the crowds that had assembled there to see the funeral procession pass; thousands of people all hushed, respectfully but keen to watch us at that point and our involvement.

As the procession groups passed through our position, we were thankful that, in the daylight, it was easier to make out which units were passing by and so, on seeing the Household Cavalry pass, we knew that it was time to Present Arms for the Royal Procession.

And just like that, our part in this most sombre and professional of military displays was over. As we returned to three ranks and turned to march back to Main Building the assembled crowd, who had almost to a person remained in place, broke out into spontaneous applause for our Half Companies. This was an incredible gesture and one that I am sure those participating in will never forget.

Each soldier present performed to the very best of their abilities, acutely aware that they would be conducting their very last duty to

4 Medical Regiment LAD

4Medical Regiment were responsible for providing medical support to the thousands of military personnel that were involved in Op LONDON BRIDGE. As part of this medical plan, seven REME personnel from the LAD were chosen to support this huge undertaking. Their job was to provide real life support as stretcher bearers and Battlefield Ambulance drivers to get service personnel needing further medical care to Medical Treatment Facilities (sometimes 200m away). Dressed in ceremonial uniform, their days were long; stood ready at several sites around London including Westminster Hall for the Lying-in-State and rehearsing for the funeral procession well into the early hours of the night. Completely professional, when called into action they helped those in need and maintained the decorum of the event.

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The REME Contingent at HM State Funeral

Preparation before lining the route for the funeral procession. L-R: LCpl Moffat, Cpl Federico, Cfn Schofield, Cfn Jeanes, Cpl Sinclair

Numbers 17 and 16 Half Companies

The Queen and their very first duty to The King. The NCOs and Craftsmen were a credit to the Corps and for the Officers present; a great honour to command. They did themselves, the unit, the Corps and the Country proud.

5 Force Support Battalion REME

Scribe: Maj Woodhouse (Officer Commanding) and Sgt Andison (Platoon Sgt)

Ihad the enormous privilege of commanding 5 FS Battalion REME and 242 Signal Regiment soldiers’ contribution to Op BECOMPASS supporting Her Majesty’s funeral arrangements and ensuring the security of the route to her final resting place. The news of Her Majesty’s passing created a weird atmosphere; there was a palpable sense of loss throughout the Battalion on the Friday following the announcement which was hard to articulate. It was therefore a complete surprise to be called upon to generate a company to support Op BALLAM, then subsequently BECOMPASS, on the Saturday following Her Majesty’s death. Within the Battalion everyone was forward leaning to force generate and hold soldiers on an extremely short notice to move. Togetherness was a theme throughout our time on call and when deployed; the sense of everyone working together from civilian stewards, other military units, and our colleagues in the Police Force to ensure Her Majesty was honoured fittingly was strong. Deployed, 5 FS Bn REME’s subunit was TACOM to 22 Signal Regiment as one of 9 subunits. We were selected for, and given the privilege of, supporting our Police counterparts in providing control and security to Sector 1 of Her Majesty’s final journey through Queen’s gate. 5 FS Bn REME also commanded 242 Company 22 Signals Regiment for this task bringing a total of 164 soldiers and officers deployed. Every soldier and officer I spoke to, felt a sense of duty and pride to be given this honour. Alongside the Police, the REME and Royal Signals soldiers conducted themselves with the highest professionalism and discipline, doing themselves, the REME and more importantly Her Majesty proud.

8 Para Field Coy REME

Scribe: 2Lt Adam Woodyear

On Sunday 18 September, a Sub-Unit from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC (13 AASR) were deployed to London to assist with the Queen’s funeral. 8 Para Field Coy REME provided a Platoon in support of the Regiment’s task, with most trade groups represented by the REME contingent.

After lots of refinement in barracks, we arrived in London to conduct the RSOI package and final phase of preparation, eventually learning our role for the funeral itself.

On the day of the funeral, we deployed to a section of the processional route between Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle. Platoons were given a segment to marshal and 13 AASR worked closely with the West Yorkshire and the London Metropolitan Police throughout to assist them to ensure the safety of the crowd and to

provide protection for the procession.

It was impressive to see the amalgamation of Platoons work so competently despite being formed just the week prior. Soldiers interacted with the public in a very positive manner and were humbled to be involved in Her Majesty The Queen’s final journey.

Corps Adjutant and Equerry to HRH The Countess of Wessex

On Saturday 17th September I received a call to attend the State Reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday 18th September. Tasked to receive HRH The Countess of Wessex and be in attendance with her through the evening was a huge honour, particularly so due to the high-profile guests who had been invited. After an evening reception, the Equerries and AssistantEquerries were called to a briefing for the following days’ details - a highly detailed movement plan to coordinate hundreds of individuals to both Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle for Her Majesty’s Funeral.

An early start for many, I was tasked to coordinate Members of the Royal Family (MRF) from St James’s Palace to Westminster Abbey where upon arrival at Westminster Abbey, Equerries stood immediately next the entrance. At the end of the service, the Equerries escorted their principles outside to their vehicles. MRF embarked the coaches which took them to Windsor Castle and we escorted them in. We were able to watch the Procession in the Equerries Office in Windsor Castle, five of us watched in silence as we had a moment to pause and watch the slow march.

Our next RV was approaching, we escorted the MRF through to the West Door at Windsor Castle and into St George’s Chapel where we took our seats for the committal service. After the service, we all departed the Chapel, individually walking back to the coaches… just to have a final moment to ourselves to reflect on the day.

For completeness, also attending Her Late Majesty’s funeral in Westminster Abbey were:

Maj Gen (Retd) Mitch Mitchell CB MBE – Deputy Grand President of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League.

Maj Gen (Retd) Tim Tyler – Chair of the Royal Star and Garter.

LCpl Moffat with Yeoman Warders

LCpl Gardiner rehearsing for his next stag at Westminster Hall

Potteries and District REME Association Branch Newsletter – September

Amonth that produced a total mixed bag of activities from reunions and lunches, thanksgiving services for the late Queen, to funerals and the Corps 80th birthday service at our National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) Memorial.

The month’s events started on Sunday the 4th September with our Branch’s ex-Arborfield Apprentices Major Gordon Bonner and Maurice Hope gathering with around a hundred others at the NMA for their annual service at the Apprentice’s Memorial, with a march past of Old Boys led by our own branch standard bearer, Gil Mould.

On Wednesday 14th we held our monthly lunch event at a pub, “Charlie Bassetts” in the Staffordshire countryside village of Dilhorne. This was the first time that our newest Branch members Lt Col John Edwards and his wife Rosemary were able to join us, he is now “Back Home” in his Mother branch, and we are all very pleased to have him on board ... (as long as he doesn’t keep winning the Maltesers)

We had a branch presence at The City of Stoke-on-Trent’s service of commemoration for our late sovereign Queen Elizabeth II at Stoke Minster on Sunday the 18th which lasted an hour from 7pm prior to the

congregation moving outside to the city’s cenotaph to observe the national minute’s silent vigil at 8pm.

We heeded the word, and request from RHQ to pay our respects at the funeral of Col Dennis Hugh Wheatcroft TD, C.Eng, MIMechE, FIMarE, at St Giles Church in the village of Haughton near Stafford on Monday 26th September. The Corps was represented by Branch Standard Bearer Gil Mould and Maurice Hope in attendance along with the Corps welfare Officer WO2 Kelvin Redshaw. The family were over the moon to see us there.

The following evening saw our monthly branch meeting take place at which it was proposed that Lt Col John Edwards be appointed as our new branch Vice-President, which thankfully he was delighted to accept.

The varied month of activities was rounded off with another visit to the National Memorial Arboretum on Thursday the 29th September for our Corps 80th Birthday service at the REME memorial. Once again, our branch standard was paraded by Gil Mould, with several of the branch members in attendance. Sadly, several of the young soldiers and a Standard Bearer fainted, hopefully with no lasting problems.

Scribe: Maurice Hope. Photos by John Hubbert

Lt Col John Edwards with his raffle prize

Lt Col John Edwards and his wife Rosemary

Remembering Colonel (Retd) Dennis Wheatcroft

Ex IRON STORM – 1 MERCIAN LAD

Ex IRON STORM was the combination of six-months hard work from 1 MERCIAN BG LAD in order to support a successful Battlegroup (BG) Combined-Arms Training exercise. The LAD provided effective ES throughout three testing and challenging phases of the exercise. The three phases were;

Combined Staff Tactical Training Exercise (CSTTX) in Sennelager, Live Fire Tactical Training Exercise (LFTTX) at Castlemartin Ranges (CMR), Wales, and the final Field Training Exercise (FTX) on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA).

CSTTX in Apr 22 utilised the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT/Combined Arms Staff Trainer (CAST) facility in Sennelager, testing the planning skills of the LAD HQ and the ability to provide in-mission effect by executing the repair/recovery plan within the simulated environment. AQMS Paton stepped up ably as the acting EME within the BGHQ during the initial absence of the incoming OC LAD, Capt Sandoe. SSgts Rickman and Langdon also deployed as Fitter Section Commanders where they executed numerous missions over two weeks of training. This phase provided a vital opportunity to trial different tactics and to cement SOI’s in preparation for the LFTTX and FTX. The welcome addition of German culture also helped to forge new bonds and relationships across the Battlegroup! Meanwhile back on home soil, members of the LAD continued to prepare the Fleet in preparation for the next phase.

On deployment to CMR, the LAD was unfortunately hit with a major obstacle due to the FFE Safety Notices via Email (SNvE). This put an immediate halt to the use of the Warrior and Bulldog fleet required for the LFTTX/FTX. To combat this, the OC and ASM were heavily involved with 12X, 3XX and Project Teams to find a solution to this poorly timed engineering hurdle. The solution resulted in multiple late nights in the workshops by all ranks, stripping out countless FFE’s and replacing them with FFE’s within the acceptable parameters of

Work often continued well into the night throughout all phases of Ex Iron Storm

Scribe: 2Lt T Wilson

WARRIOR Turret Lift during CMR

the SNvE. It is suggested that Cpl Beman is now a strong contender for the world record of most FFE’s stripped and fitted; if only Guinness does such a record! Both SSgt Langdon and SSgt Jeffery oversaw the cross-service process and ultimately ensured the vehicles were Mission Ready for the LFTTX. Due to the hard graft of the LAD, the start state for LFTTX was reached just in time for the Late Queens Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday, giving the LAD some much needed time off to reenergise in time for the next phase.

On return from their break, the live firing missions commenced. A Coy and Dragon Coy Fitter Sections were put through their paces and provided valuable ES alongside the fighting callsigns. The LAD also had plenty of practice in performing pack lifts and turret lifts throughout, which acted as a great development opportunity for the newer members of the LAD. The LFTTX was a success for both the BG and the LAD, the high fleet availability driven by the LAD allowed the BG to meet their required training objectives.

Relationships with the other Sub-Unit Fitter Sections within the BG were further improved, and SOP’s were refined in time for the FTX.

On return from CMR, the HandOver/Take-Over of the remainder of the BG fleet required more late nights and dedicated work to deploy the BG onto SPTA. It was testament to the efforts of the LAD that the CO of 1 MERCIAN visited the LAD as he was keen to hear all about the issues the LAD had faced from the most junior Cfn all the way to the top. Fittingly, his visit coincided with his own vehicle arriving last minute from another unit,

which highlight the issues faced in a tangible form. The CO thanked all he interacted with for their efforts; noting the LAD had gone above and beyond to maintain the fleet and get to an effective start state so that the BG could exercise sufficiently.

Finally, it was time to deploy onto Salisbury plain for the FTX. Throughout the exercise, the Fitter Sections worked tirelessly to upkeep the REME’s principle of repair forward. AQMS Paton commanded the Equipment Collection Point (ECP) calmly and effectively, especially during a frantic DELAY mission which saw a stretched ECP forced to collapse and extract numerous vehicles in a significantly constrained timeframe. Once the new ECP was established, within 12 hours all vehicles had either been repaired or backloaded to the 4 REME Equipment Collection & Coordination Point (ECCP) for 2nd line repair, a great achievement from the Fitter Sections and noted by the observer mentors.

One highlight of the exercise was during a no-drive day where Cpl Taylor, leading a patrol comprising of himself, LCpl Formoso, LCpl Evans and Cfn Fraser, went to diagnose a vehicle forward of their position. In doing so their patrol was contacted and they successfully destroyed the enemy through speed, aggression and an outstanding application of fire and manoeuvre principles. A great example of the ‘soldier first, tradesman always’ ethos the REME expects of all its soldiers.

As testament to the LAD’s efforts, fleet availability during the exercise stayed at circa 91% throughout, giving the CO the freedom to utilise all his resources to best effect. The LAD was ably supported by 9 Armd Coy from 4 REME, whose FRTs were instrumental in reducing the ES burden, to allow the LAD to best concentrate its forward assets.

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Cpl Taylor’s Patrol to diagnose and repair that turned into a successful contact with the enemy

CRARRV towing a CR2 back to the ECCP during the DELAY mission

102 Bn REME

Driving Local Engagement

Nothing is closer to the heart of the Bn and Corps than its responsibility to professional engineering, dedicated service and engagement with the local populace. A large part of that is ensuring continued support and drive for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities, as well as Esprit de Corps –right from the lowest level. As such the Sub-Units of 102 Bn REME take their associations with their local communities and Army Cadet Force (ACF) detachments seriously; routinely supporting the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) in the conduct of military training and hosting Cadets and college students to look at life events in their local Army Reserve Centre (ARC).

As all good stories go, this one began with coffee and a chat. The result of which was a new affiliation between the local Holywood RLC ACF Detachment and 157 (DS) Coy REME. To put the story into context, Maj Brian Cuthbert-Imrie (OC 157 (DS) Coy) was approached by Lt Col Scot Rankin (Cadet Executive Officer 2nd (NI) Bn ACF) to gauge if there was any interest between 157 (DS) Coy and the local Cadets getting together. Over the coming months internal meetings were held within 2nd (NI) Bn ACF to discuss the viability of a move from their RLC affiliation to REME.

Subsequently OC 157 met with Lt Col Rankin over Skype (on New

ACF building bridge structures

Year’s Eve no less!) to discuss plans on how to best approach the layout of the event, plus the added G4 responsibilities. Later that afternoon and happy on how we were to proceed, Capt Kelly Sharratt (2IC 157 (DS) Coy) and WO2 (CSM) Johnston met with Lt Col Rankin and his SSM in Kinnegar Logistic Base to conduct a visual walk-through talk-through of the upcoming event. It was to be presided over by Lt Col M Leach (CO 102 Bn REME) and WO1 (RSM) Pearson with VIP guests such as: Col J Rollins MBE (Chief Executive, Reserve Forces and Cadets Association NI), Col D Kane OBE (Col Cdts 38X), Col S Anderson (Comdt 2nd (NI) Bn ACF), and three ACF Padres.

On the night of the event, 157 (DS) Coy were prepped and ready to go at 1900hrs.The Cadets in attendance were looking both a bit nervous and excited but all were extremely well turned out and a credit to their unit. CO 102 Bn REME warmly welcomed the Cadets into the REME family and presented each Cadet with their new REME cap badge. To bring the evening to a close, the Cadets were taken over to the main workshop and introduced to the REME trades within the Company.

A thoroughly good evening was had by all in attendance, and 157 (DS) Coy will continue to engage with the new REME Cadet Detachment to drive and grow within the community both interest in STEM and strong relationships with the Corps.

Youth Engagement at 153 Coy

157 Coy welcome a new group to the REME family

(Scribe: Capt Sharrott)

Cadets with cap badges

REME Reserves. The Cadets and members of the youth group had a fantastic time as always and left the engagement team with many a heart-warming comment, a snippet of some of the feedback received was:

“The uniforms were amazing!” from James.

“Was fun and learned a lot” from Allan.

“Very interesting” from Dina.

“Amazing!” from Charlize

“I enjoyed the Pipes & Drums - especially the drumming bit” from Callum.

Cadets from Scunthorpe partake in a look at life

visit to 146 Coy

(Scribe: SSgt Ruvino)

It had been some time since the Cadets last visited Budd VC Barracks; due to Covid it had taken a lot of planning to get them there and so it was a concerted effort to make sure the Coy provided a fun and informative event. Several stands were set up for them, one being led by LCpl Morrisroe with assistance of Pte Patchett on the various pieces of kit that are used in the field on exercise and the vast contents that can be magically squeezed into a bergen!

Afterwards and more on the fun side, to break up some of the more serious stands, LCpl Lenton asked them to build a bridge of their own design using dried spaghetti and marshmallows. There were some very interesting constructions and some clear early engineering talent in the audience, but I think the highlight of this for the majority was that they could eat the marshmallows afterwards!

Sgt Croot then gave them an informative insight into layering systems and dressing for outdoor activities, so not just their parents were telling them to put on a hat when it’s cold or to protect themselves in hot weather! This lesson got them thinking more than the previous two on the seriousness of climatic conditions and provided good food for thought to end the evening on.

A great evening was had by all, with the CFAV Instructors saying it made a nice change to observe them being taught by someone other than themselves and they looked forward to making this a routine occurrence again post Covid-19.

Local Cadets and Youth Group enjoy a fun excursion to 153 Coy

(Scribe: Sgt Swan)

Approximately 40 Cadets from Glasgow & Lanarkshire ACF and local youth group (with many a tag along visitors - probably due to the renowned “lovely lunch” provided by the military chefs on strength!) attended a one-day excursion to visit 153 Coy. Viewing various stands on the multitude of kit and equipment utilised within the

Durham Cadets put through their paces at 124 Coy

(Scribe: WO2 Downs)

102 Bn REME offers various opportunities for REME affiliated Cadets, to attend organised trips to their local REME Reserve unit to undergo a round robin of stands. Recently 124 Coy were please to host Belmont School (Durham) Cadets on one such event, with the day including a host of command tasks, military stands with equipment, a vehicle stand with our Service Vehicle Recovery (SVR), and an insight into cooking for troops

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Durham ACF learning about field kitchens

ACF Leaderless Task

with a field kitchen. These practical leadership and STEM events help further develop their skills and open their eyes to new pathways and essential attributes such as teamwork and critical thinking. Imparting important skills which will be invaluable to them in later life.

Cadet forces are nationally recognised, so joining is a great way to impress universities and prospective employers in the future. These bright young individuals are a credit to their organisations and demonstrate a very good motto which is appropriate to all to remember – it is never too early to be prepared!

as the representatives of Her Majesty the Queen for each county in the United Kingdom. Each Lord-Lieutenant is appointed directly by Her Majesty, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

102 Bn REME were honoured to host the 2022 Durham Lieutenancy Awards Ceremony at the Newton Aycliffe Army Reserve Centre; especially as one of our own, WO2 (RQMS) Kev Mumford, was due to be presented with his own award by Mrs Susan (Sue) Snowdon Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant (HMLL) for the County Durham. The event was exceptionally well organised and ran by 124 Recovery Company personnel, predominantly by the outgoing Permanent Administrative Staff Officer (PSAO), Captain Kevin (Kev) Yarker, who was imminently due to retire after an astonishing 48year career in uniformed service! In recognition of his hard work in organising a spectacular event and for his long and dedicated service, HMLL gladly agreed to surprise Kev by presenting him with his Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal miniature at the event; highlighting his unique situation in being one of only a few people in the country to have received all four Jubilee medals.

The biggest surprise perhaps of all though was that the Adjt managed to get through reading out all 21 award citations on the evening without losing his voice! The entire night was enjoyed by all and was a great example of how to recognise outstanding achievements and dedication across the whole spectrum of service.

102 Bn host Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Durham Awards Ceremony

The annual Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards for Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs), Cadets and employees of the Reserve Forces and Cadet Organisations of the Armed Forces are also recognised with additional laudatory honours throughout the Ministry of Defence. These awards are intended to supplement the Honours bestowed by HM The Queen in the New Year and Birthday Honours Lists, and, in precedence, rank after such awards. Each year, these awards are presented by the relevant regional Lord-Lieutenant

Durham ACF bashering up

Post re-badging group shot

Durham Cadets at 102 Bn REME

Capt Yarker presented with his fourth Jubilee Medal

REME in REMEMBRANCE

In November each year our thoughts naturally turn towards the fallen of the two world wars and conflicts that have occurred since. Less obvious but equally important, we also remember those who died not in conflict but during their service to the Crown.

The REME Museum and Archives maintain the REME Died in Service Database which theoretically lists all those who have died whilst serving in the Corps. The database contains 4,242 entries of which about half are listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website. The remainder died in the socalled small wars or through accident or illness.

In May the Museum initiated a project to gather images of gravestones of the REME soldiers who died in service. We have received a couple of hundred images, mostly from the UK but also from the France and Germany, the Oman, Malaysia and Singapore. Images have been submitted by serving and ex REME personnel, their relatives and friends and the CWGC.

We need your help to gather the images and ask that perhaps, as part of your Remembrance, you capture images of REME gravestones

Craftsman George Hunt’s record

whenever you can. Most mobile phones deliver images of a usable quality and we just need the location of the gravestone and a short statement to the effect that it’s your image and you give the REME Museum and Archives permission to store and use the image to overcome any future copyright issues.

Please send images to me at historian@rememuseum.org.uk All will be acknowledged.

Scribe Steve Colling - Corps Historian

Serjeant L.J. Crawford

Craftsman C.A. Pearce’

Unknown REME Soldier

Ex DEVONIAN LAMASSU

In mid-June, soldiers from 101 Bn REME deployed on Ex DEVONIAN LAMASSU, a trade camp based at RMB Chivenor supporting Commando Logistic Regiment (CLR) LAD. The mission was twofold: to complete as many ITRs (Individual Training Requirements) as possible while providing Equipment Support (ES) to the CLR.

On arrival, the Devon weather was on show with sideways rain challenging the construction of tents and cam nets. Of course, as soon as these were put up, beautiful sunshine presented itself. The Company position was established at the end of a disused airfield. This provided excellent routes in and out as well as hardstanding on which production could effectively take place. Shortly after the position was established, the tactical phase of the exercise began and the Company was attacked; testing the soldier’s readiness and defensive fighting power. The tactical phase continued for the next

48 hours with the troops refreshing themselves in camouflage and concealment, section attacks, and conducting ES in a tactical environment.

On completion, several ITRs had been fulfilled and the attention was switched to production. The exercise saw a total of 312 trade hours and 39 tasks completed. Work was carried out across two locations, RMB Chivenor and Instow, with soldiers from across three trade groups working on Land Rover, SV and BV 206 platforms. The hard work of the Company enabled the CLR LAD to clear longstanding pieces of work from their shop floor, allowing them to focus on higher priority tasks.

In addition to production, the Company enjoyed a capability demonstration from the Additive Manufacturing Platoon from 5 FS Bn REME. The speed and accuracy of which they were able to replicate common spares from platforms impressed all, not to mention the cupholder made, which proved to be very useful for the return journey back to Manchester.

The exercise culminated with an afternoon of adventurous training. Soldiers were taken coasteering on the North Devon coast. This involved a combination of swimming in open water and climbing up the cliffside before jumping back into the sea; testing everyone’s courage and endurance.

Ex DEVONIAN LAMSSU was a great success. Being able to maximise the opportunity to combine both military readiness training and delivering production hours was a great display of what the REME Reserves are able to achieve. The opportunity to give our Reservists access to equipment and capability rarely seen in the Bn whilst also widened their perspective and providing them with a glimpse into the future of ES.

The Bigger Picture

In the West of England, 101 Bn REME waits, ready and able, to support your units. With an experienced workforce of ex-regular REME soldiers, vocational Vehicle Mechanics, and keen

101 Bn SP congregated and captured after a productive two-week exercise

Scribe – Lt Matthew Roberts

Soldiers from 101 Bn REME have their military skills put to the test

tradespeople we want to help you.

We are able to mobilise elements of our workforce to seamlessly integrate with your own soldiers, providing an extremely motivated and competent uplift in workforce for short periods of time. This has been demonstrated numerous times: on the above Ex DEVONIAN LAMASSU; during Ex DRAGON POWER, where 127 TS Coy completed 700+ hours of work significantly contributing to the success of the exercise; and during 159 TS Coy’s deployment to BATSUB on Ex CARIBBEAN REHAB 21 where, over a nine day period, 66 tasks where completed across 274 total hours resulting in a final availability of presented vehicles increasing from 84% to 97%; effectively preparing the fleet in Belize for the exercise season.

101 Bn REME covers the West of England and Wales. If you think we can help you and your unit please contact the Battalion Training Officer to look at potential opportunities.

101 BTO: Stephen.atherton941@mod.gov.uk

Join us

The REME Reserves are always looking for keen individuals leaving the Regular Army to join us. With a minimum commitment of 27 days a year, which is easily achieved through weekly training evenings, occasional weekends and a two-week exercise or development course.

You’ll be paid a daily rate which increases with rank and experience, and you can also earn an annual taxfree bonus. You will earn days of paid ‘leave’ and will be eligible for allowances and discounts as a member of the Armed Forces.

To enquire about joining the REME Reserves contact the Regimental Headquarters REME: REMERHQ-jobs@mod.gov.uk or telephone: 01249 894506

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101 Bn SP explaining to 127 Coy CSM Barnes and former REME Eccy (last remaining?) the finer points of trailer servicing requirements

Sunrise at the start of a long day on Exercise

Sunset after a hard day’s work

The REME Locomotives

This is the third article in a series focussing on the history of the locomotives associated with the Corps. The subject this time is 43070, ‘The Corps of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers’.

43070 was a class 43 locomotive, better known to many as an InterCity 125 (a class is a group of locomotives with specific characteristics associated with the purpose for which it was originally designed). Introduced in 1976, their striking “wedge” design (created by the industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange), iconic yellow and blue livery, and reliable performance ensured the 125s were a feature of the UK’s railways for many years. They were also at one time the fastest diesel locomotives in the world.

Bearing this in mind, it is ironic that the 125s were never intended to have a long-term presence on Britain’s railways. Although they superseded and improved upon an aging and increasingly inefficient group of diesel locomotives, they were never intended to be anything more than an interim upgrade before the next generation Advanced Passenger Trains (APT) began running.

The APT was developed in the 1970s and 1980s, and was designed to tilt as it traversed a railway line’s curves and

125 original livery. A restored Inter City 125 in its original yellow and blue livery. Credit: Photo © Geof Sheppard (cc by-sa 4.0).

2.0).

corners. The theory was that a vehicle that accommodated the course of the line would be able to maintain a higher average speed and thus shorten journey times, and the prototypes did indeed run at record velocities. However, a number of design issues meant they were not ready for general use, even after many years of development. Their eventual introduction on the London to Glasgow line in December 1981, a decision made under significant pressure from the government of the day, was accompanied by numerous problems and the locomotives were withdrawn only weeks later.

This situation ensured the 125s took on an importance they were never intended to have, as British Railways had no choice but to rely on them as their main passenger vehicles. This proved to be a wise choice, as a number of the UK’s nationalised railway companies were still using 125s as recently as 2021. Mass withdrawals began in only 2017, over forty years after their introduction.

43070 was built in 1977 (construction finished on 15th December of that year), probably at British Railway Engineering Limited’s Crewe works. Its subsequent history and ownership is quite well known. It initially worked in the North East around Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Heaton, but also operated out of the Landore depot near Swansea. It was acquired by Virgin Rail in May 1998 and was based in Laira near Plymouth until 2003.

The next owner was Midland Mainline, and it was this company that gave 43070 its first name. From May 2003 until September 2004, this company operated an hourly service between London St. Pancras and Manchester Piccadilly. The service was named Project

Scribe: Richard Davies, Curator, The REME Museum

Mr. Andrew Haines, the MD Rail of First Group, opens proceedings Credit: Reproduced by permission © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix.

APT - The Advanced Passenger Train. Credit: Photo © Phil Sangwell (cc by

The Duke of Edinburgh talking with In Pensioners Vaughan, Skirrow and Newbould. Credit: Reproduced by permission © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix.

Rio, a name that was somewhat surprisingly taken from the footballer Rio Ferdinand, who had basically followed a similar journey: he transferred from West Ham to Leeds in the year 2000, and then crossed the Pennines by signing for Manchester United two years later. A total of twenty trains were named with the prefix Rio, but history does not appear to record Mr. Ferdinand’s opinion of this initiative.

43070 was formally named Rio Pathfinder on 26th August 2004. Following a short period from 2005 to 2006 during which it was owned by Cotswold Rail, the name was removed on 30th September 2007 when 43070 joined the First Great Western Railway

The unnamed 43070 was renamed as ‘The Corps of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers’ at a formal ceremony held at Paddington Station on 16th October 2007. Appropriately, given his links with the Corps and his love of engineering, it was the late Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Philip, who led the formalities.

Buckingham Palace officially recorded the event as follows, “His Royal Highness, Colonel-in-Chief, this afternoon named a First Great Western Railway locomotive after the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Paddington Railway Station, London W2.“

‘The Corps of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers’, 43070, continued operating until June 2019 when it was taken out of service. Along with four other locomotives, it made its final journey via Long Marston, Worcester, Cheltenham and Lydney, and was ultimately driven to the Sims Metals company near Newport Docks in Gwent, where it was scrapped in early 2022.

The Corps Museum acquired a replica of the nameplate in 2008, and an image of it appears in this article. It remains a valued part of our permanent collection and takes its place alongside the other material that tells the story of the locomotives associated with REME.

My thanks are due to my Museum colleagues, Zoë Tolman, Archives Assistant, and Fiona Redmond, Front of House Assistant. I am also grateful to the Great Western Railway company, IconicPix and Gareth James.

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The REME Band awaiting the arrival of HRH Prince Philip for the 2007 naming ceremony. Credit: Reproduced by permission © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix.

WO1 (ASM) Walker-Corps ASM, Cfn Armstrong, Cfn Mortimer, Cfn Warder and Cfn Metters stand next to the newly-named locomotive Credit: Reproduced by permission © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix.

Prince Philip with Andrew Haines and the presentation copy of the nameplate that now forms part of the Museum’s collection Credit: Reproduced by permission © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix

This poignant image captures the final journey of 43070, as it nears Sims Metals near Newport Docks where it was scrapped in January 2022. Credit: Photo © Gareth James (cc-by-sa/2.0).

fleet.

Another view of the nameplate. Credit: The REME Museum.

Norman Irwin’s Story

Scribe: Major (Retired) Geordie Wright-Rivers

Presentation in Cloonavin marks 103-year-old Norman Irwin’s contribution to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

In August this year, the REME Northern Ireland branch alerted the REME Association of a special presentation taking place near Coleraine to honour a founder member of the Corps. 103-year-old Norman Irwin was welcomed to the event in Cloonavin by Mrs Alison Millar, the Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry, together with, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ivor Wallace. Also present was a small delegation from REME Headquarters led by Col REME and the Corps

Secretary supported by members of the REME Northern Ireland Branch, 157 Field Company REME and the Brigade Artificer 38 Irish Bde, WO1 (ASM) Coops Cooper.

Norman joined the Coleraine Battery in 1939, before the outbreak of war, then served throughout the war, being transferred from the Battery to join REME upon its formation. Norman explained that his transfer to the Corps was brought about following an enquiry from his Battery Commander who asked why Norman’s Anti-Aircraft Gun

Norman takes a moment with his hosts

Col REME presents Norman with a Corps watch

Norman captivates the audience with his tales!

was so much cleaner than any of the others. Norman informed him that he had designed a bespoke gun cleaning kit after which the Battery Commander responded that they were on the lookout for bright soldiers with a mechanical aptitude to join a new Corps – the rest is history!

Norman left for war in November 1939 and would not return for six and a half years. This period away from home saw him transit through postings to Scotland, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Italy before returning home to Scotland and completing his service in 1945 in the rank of Sergeant.

After returning home, he married his beloved Wife Margaret who he met while in Hawick, Scotland in 1947, and they went on to have four children while Norman enjoyed a long and successful engineering career in Coleraine prior to retirement.

Col REME was very pleased to present Norman with a REME watch as a mark of gratitude for his service and to mark his lifelong commitment to the Corps since its formation.

Chairman of the REME Association Northern Ireland Branch, Mr William McNaul, expressed appreciation to the Mayor and the Borough Council for their support in honouring Mr Irwin saying:

“The reception to honour Norman was initiated by the Northern Ireland Branch, but really, Norman honoured all the guests by his presence.

“It was our privilege and joy to be in the presence of such a distinguished member of our Branch, being a founder member of our Corps in 1942 while serving in North Africa. Norman represents the epitome of REME Craftsmen the world over, ever inventive in solving mechanical problems, necessity being the mother of invention. We offer our good wishes to Norman.”

The trip also provided Col REME and the team the opportunity to spend a morning meeting the team at 5 Regt AAC Wksp before paying respects to the late LCpl Darren Flowers in Portstewart cemetery and visiting the REME Association Memorial at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn.

Arte et Marte

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Grave of LCpl Darren Flowers in Portstewart Norman taking it all in

Norman and the visitors

REME Association Memorial

Colonel-in-Chief Visit to MoD Lyneham

Wednesday 28 September 2022

HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO visited MoD Lyneham, the Home of the Corps on Wednesday 28 September 2022; her first official visit as our Colonel-in-Chief. Enjoying a full and varied programme, she learned about the Corps’ technical training at the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME), then witnessed how the technical skills learned are utilised in the Field Army at 5 Force Support Battalion REME. Her visit finished with time in the REME Museum speaking to a wide cross section of the Corps Family about Welfare Support and the REME Charity.

After a period of wet and windy rehearsals for The Countess’ visit, the home team were praying for a sunny spell to welcome her to the Home of the Corps. Happily, a sunny day and light winds prevailed as The Countess arrived in The King’s Flight. Upon landing, The Countess was welcomed to Lyneham by our Master General, Lt Gen Paul Jaques, before being escorted through a lined route of armoured vehicles and a superbly presented Honour Guard. Comdt DSEME Col Paul Johnson then took over hosting duties escorting HRH through some of DSEMEs technical training facilities. Along the way, The Countess talked to numerous REME junior soldiers, learning about the technical training provided to our Vehicle Mechanics in DSEME as well as our Avionic Technicians and Aircraft Technicians within the School of Army Aeronautical Engineering. She witnessed how interactive technologies were playing a vital part in the delivery of this training.

Scribe: Captain Rayner Shelmerdine-Hare

HRH The Countess of Wessex being welcomed to MoD Lyneham

The Countess talking to junior soldiers undertaking training

The Countess’ next stop was the airfield to take a look at our Recovery Training area and what better way to get there than in an SV(R). Once in situ, The Countess assisted in a recovery scenario before meeting some Armourers and Metalsmiths.

After a farewell to DSEME, The Countess moved to 5 Force Support Battalion REME to learn about some of their ES capabilities. Power Pack Repair had to come first! Understanding the process, from diagnosis through to run-up and out inspection, The Countess saw how these critical battle-winning assemblies were repaired in the field. After this, The Countess witnessed how Additive Manufacturing (AdM) was playing a key role in Defence and how 1 Field Company were continuing to experiment with this technology. Finally, after a demonstration of Augmented Reality and its use in delivering bespoke training, The Countess formally opened the Battalion’s new home in Lyneham; ‘The Countess of Wessex Lines’.

The Countess’ final engagement was at The REME Museum where she learned about the critical 1st Line Welfare Support provided by the Duty of Care NCOs at 8 Training Battalion REME and the 5 and 8 Battalion Welfare Teams. The Countess was also introduced to REME Charity staff to hear about the range of effects they support including the REME Association and REME Museum. To seal the visit, The Countess was invited to cut the REME 80th Birthday cake prior to being presented with ‘The Countess of Wessex Brooch’; a brooch gifted by the Corps and commissioned by The REME Institution. An article surrounding the manufacturing of the brooch will be published next month.

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The Countess assisting with a recovery scenario

The Countess learning about interactive technologies

Lt Jon Laundon presenting additive manufacturing capabilities to the Countess

Lt Col Ed Wigmore and The Countess unveiling ‘The Countess of Wessex Lines’

The Fallen … Friend and Foe

Scribe: Maurice Hope

It is very doubtful that many of the thousands of visitors that flocked to the Midlands for the very successful Commonwealth Games 2022, realised that on Cannock Chase, not a stone’s throw from the venue that held the mountain bike event, there are two mainly World War One War Cemeteries, which are very different from the ones we are all familiar with on the Somme Battlefields and others tended to by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

How did they come to be here on the 30.5 square miles of Cannock Chase, which in 1958 was declared by the government as an area of outstanding beauty?

At the onset of hostilities in the First World War, there were so many young men who volunteered to fight the “Hun”, that they overwhelmed the UK’s peacetime facilities, which meant that

training camps had to be hastily established around the country.

On land given from the Duke of Lichfield’s Cannock Chase estate, camps to hold 40,000 men were rapidly built, alongside a hospital, a training area that even had its own railway called the ‘Tackeroo Express’.

The military hospital was built in nearby Brindley Heath which had twelve wards with a bed capacity of 1,000, serving the local camps as well as acting as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from the Western Front.

The whole area subsequently became a training facility for Commonwealth units; as many as 500,000 troops were trained here over the course of the war.

It also became the base for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, who because of their experience in successfully taking the Belgian village of Messines in 1917, were employed to teach recruits about trench warfare.

The Cannock Chase (Anzac) War Cemetery was established in 1917 for the unfortunate men who died in the Hospital, and has 97 Commonwealth burials from WWl, and three from WW2, the majority being New Zealanders who had succumbed to the influenza pandemic, known as the “Spanish Flu”. Also on the same site are 280 German burials.

In 1917, parts of Brocton Camp were turned into a Prisoner of War Camp and those that died there were buried in the same Cemetery. Nations included German, Polish, New Zealanders and British.

Cannock Chase War Cemetery (Allied and Axis)

The Fallen Warrior

Urell “101758 Boy” grave, aged 16

Graves to look out for are a German Soldier named Frank Worock who died on the 11th of November 1918, also that of a “Boy Bugler” named Albert Edward Urell who died in the Hospital aged just 16.

One of the three Second World War casualties buried here is that of pilot Officer Robert Bowran aged 27, who was killed when his “Defiant” fighter crashed during a low-level practice attack.

Just a short walk along the lane from the Commonwealth War Cemetery is the huge German Military War Cemetery.

The size comes as a surprise to many to see how well laid out it is as it lies in a beautifully tranquil and peaceful setting.

In October 1959, an agreement was reached between the German and UK governments, concerning the future care of the graves of German nationals who died while in the UK during both World Wars, that were not already maintained in plots by the Commonwealth

Arrangements were made to transfer the graves of German servicemen and civilian internees of both wars from scattered burial grounds, to the new cemetery established on Cannock Chase.

Each stone relates to four casualties, containing two names on the front and also two on the other side.

The inauguration and dedication of this cemetery, which now contains almost 5,000 German and Austrian, and Ukrainian graves, took place on the 10th of June 1967.

In the centre of the entrance Hall of Honour, resting on a large block of stone, is a bronze sculpture of a fallen warrior, by the eminent German sculptor, Professor Hans Wimmer.

German graves alongside New Zealanders

The German War Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice War Graves Commission.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers –The charity for bereaved military children

“Scotty’s Little Soldiers helps me feel connected to a wide community of young people who are in the same situation as I am. There are so many people I can talk to and who can talk to me. It’s this community – a big family, really – that help each other out. We’ve all lost a military parent and we’re all in the same boat”.

This is a quote from 20-year-old Alex Thomas, a member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers – the charity for bereaved military children and young people. Alex’s dad, Major David Thomas, served in the REME and died from cancer when Alex was just four years old.

Alex has been a member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers since he was 13. The charity offers a variety of support to children and young people, aged 0 – 25, who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.

“I’ve always known Scotty’s was there to support me, to tell me I’m not alone and that it’s okay to not always be okay about my situation,” says Alex. “I’ve started to understand how I feel about my situation more and see all the different ways Scotty’s can help. I feel like if Scotty’s can help me, then there’s plenty of others out there who will be in the same situation they can help as well.”

What is Scotty’s Little Soldiers?

The charity was set up by Army widow Nikki Scott in 2010, following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, in Afghanistan. After seeing the devastating impact Lee’s death had on their two young children, she wanted to support other young people in the same situation.

The charity’s mission is to provide relief from the effects of bereavement to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served with the Armed Forces of the Crown.

Scotty’s want every bereaved military child and young person to have:

• Access to the very best emotional health and wellbeing support.

• Outstanding development opportunities.

• The chance to smile again.

Who Does Scotty’s Support?

Scotty’s supports children and young people (0-25 years) bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, including Veterans, regardless of the cause of death. Assistance covers tri-service and is available to both Regular and Reserve Forces.

What Support Does Scotty’s Provide?

Scotty’s services are delivered through four Family Programmes:

A young Alex with his dad Major David Thomas, REME

Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan, 2009

The SMILES Programme is all about fun and engagement and includes activities, gifts and group events, which have the purpose of making bereaved military children and young people smile again and reminds them they aren’t alone and are part of a supportive community.

The SUPPORT Programme looks after emotional health and wellbeing and includes information and guidance on childhood bereavement for parents and carers, and 1:1 bereavement support for children and young people.

The STRIDES Programme focuses on the education and development needs of bereaved forces children and young people. This includes promoting a positive attitude to learning and providing opportunities to develop life skills. It also includes a range of small educational grants.

The SPRINGBOARD Programme provides support to young adults ages 18-25 and assists with opportunities to develop their education and learning, build a career and enhance life skills.

How You Can Help

Hundreds of bereaved military children aren’t getting the support they need. Scotty’s has launched a campaign called Help Find Their Children, which is fronted by General Lord Dannatt. You can help reach these children. To find out how, go to www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/veterans #HelpFindTheirChildren

Find out More

To find out more about Scotty’s Little Soldiers, go to www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk

And Finally...

Don’t forget to look out for Scotty’s Little Soldiers at the National Remembrance Parade. Over 50 bereaved military children and young people will be marching in honour of their parent. The group will be recognisable in their yellow and black scarves.

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Scotty’s Little Soldiers member, Alex Thomas

Scotty’s Little Soldiers at Remembrance Sunday

Singapore, as was, part 3

Our final trip to Singapore with Robin…

In 1958 my Wife and I got married in the simple but large hospital chapel. That chapel is now ram jammed, packed with tens of thousands of hospital records, only the altar steps and the original baptism font remain. The clerical staff were fascinated to hear of a wedding ceremony some fifty-five years previously. We were bombarded with questions born of genuine curiosity, mainly what was it like then, in ‘Singapore as was’.

Thinking of Alexandra Barracks evokes so many memories especially if you ‘lived in’. It was a wellestablished place and sat next to the Royal Engineers Barracks, Gillman Complex with a large swimming pool built by the Royal Engineers for themselves in the middle of the jungle, ore-war.

My accommodation block had been occupied by a Japanese contingent who used British POW’s as forced labourers for maintenance. I had befriended an elderly wise, old Sikh who related many stories. He told me that the ever resolute and determined POW’s did something that antagonised the Japanese but equally and annoyingly troubled us to the present day. Each day the POW’s collected bed bugs, (and there were plenty), from wherever they were, put them into match boxes and supplanted them in every Japanese living area. Unfortunately for us Brits in 1955, they still existed almost as a plague, in our sleeping accommodation. Every night of my existence in Alexandra I had to go through a ritual, as some of the bugs were the size of a lady bird. They existed in the welts of your boots, in the folds of clothing, in wooden window frames and most of all under pillows and in the iron frame of every bed. In those days John Player cigarettes were issued by the Army in tins. I did not smoke but I used the empty tins putting paraffin in them and stood each leg of the bed in a tin creating a toxic moat. The pillow, under which body odour and sweat attracted them, had to be lifted and the bugs shaken over the veranda. Once a week we would strip the bed, light newspapers and burn the bugs out of the springs and metal framework. Sadly, it left a uniquely vile smell of scorched blood which took a couple of days to disperse. Thank you, POW’s you did your bit, to deter the enemy – and me! Another example of local livestock that comes vividly to mind was when I was temporarily posted to the North of the island and was the only REME guy in a

RAOC return stores depot. One of the pastimes in this remote camp, surrounded by jungle/bush was card schools. One night we were engaged in an intense ‘high roller’ game (10 cents a throw!). Ginger Smith said, “Hold the deal, I want a leak”, he left briefly and on return was ashen white. Almost speechless with fear he said he had just tripped over a large snake. After a quick discussion we all went to the ablutions – nothing, until someone happened to look up. There, on the insulated dome of a large hot water storage tank, a hefty Python was curled up languishing in the warmth of its new bed. We called the Malay Guard Commander who summoned villagers from across the road who made short

Scribe: WO1 (ASM) Robin Ford (RIP)

Christmas 1955 – author is back row standing, second from right

Robin, on the far left

LAD at 3 Base Ordinance Depot (BOD), Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC)

work of the reptile but the villagers had a long debate as to who was going to have the stripped skin.

My final vivid memory of life in ‘Singapore as was’, occurred one night when we were camping out on the rifle ranges. After a compo supper I strolled down to the bush jungle edging towards the Butts. I sensed, in the dusk, some movement and rustling – there, only yards away, was an evil looking Kimodo Dragon with slime running from its tongue that flicked everywhere. I froze, panicked and as I had no change of underpants, I got control of myself, turned and ran like hell, nobody believed me!

The strange thing about living close to all this natural habitat was on a Sunday morning. Frequently, a wizened old Indian would visit the married quarters with a basket of Cobra snakes, (Punch and Judy on steroids). Families would come out but keep their distance, unwilling to participate to make the snakes dance while he played the flute. Imagine this was taking place in the UK today, there would be an outrage for fifty different ‘woke’ reasons. Prior to courting my new-found love, and subsequent marriage, it might be said that I went native during the first part of my tour. I found the basic Malay language easy to learn (known as bazaar Malay), and in a year was able to converse quite well on a social level. As a consequence, I made many acquaintances and in particular, one with an illiterate Labourer working in the LAD. This simple genuine person turned out to be a local guide and mentor. He continuously invited me to his house to be amongst his family which I regularly declined. However, I did relent and, under his directions, made it to his kampong and to his humble dwelling on a Friday – Islam prayer day. I could not have been more delighted as he lived on the shore in a house on sticks over the tidal mud. Except for the phony tourism display today, how many Europeans have an opportunity to experience this kind of habitat, especially in a real ‘as was’ situation.

The structure was attap mounted on stilts, everywhere was bare boards, no beds, rudimentary furniture at its most abject level. Cooking for his family was, for them, the best, a small LPG double ring burner augmented by a small charcoal burner for satay. In the

corner of the room was a toilet – a square hole which look down to the mud some fifteen feet below, the tide assured a well flushed log but, above all, there was a warm contentment which made me question all my misplaced values. Being invited there was a learning

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Basic Married Quarters, no air con, no fridge but provided absolute married bliss

Sikh Workman

Sunday lunchtime snake charming, (Chinese ayahs in the background)

Stilted House – full of peace and tranquillity

curve; privilege – priceless. I made sure I returned a number of times. There were no demands on me only gifts from them, they asked for nothing, wanted nothing.

The reminiscing in the script could easily go on as it barely scratches the surface of the three years of a Singapore tour in the ‘fifties’ –if a reader could tolerate it, it would have been easier to write a book. Perhaps it’s appropriate to end with a typical trip down town taking in as many of the local sites, briefly described.

Taxis were very cheap and in abundance but my preference was the bus while I was pleased to people watch. Young Malay women in simple sarongs to quite wealthy Chinese in silk oriental patterned Cheongsams, tight fitting hugging dresses, slit from ankle to thigh and were worn without attention seeking or posing, Indians of every caste – perfect for people watching. Before moving on I commend the reader to press “Google Earth” on Singapore City, if you can. There is virtually nothing left of the place ‘as was’. Now a concrete jungle of dozens of skyscrapers to equal New York but is different in that Singapore is a sanitized pristine and litter free existence, don’t spit, don’t chew gum or else!

My Wife and I would get off the bus at the end of Bras Basah Road, (still there), whilst standing there we could see all the iconic colonial buildings (still there), and then look behind to see Rats the size of Cats tracking along the deep uncovered monsoon gullies but giving no threat to pedestrians. Instead of going posh we would go to a modest Chinese café owned by Husband and Wife who gave a better service than any upmarket place, steak and chips for the equivalent of 15 pence in today’s money. Around the corner was the Holy Grail of hotels, Raffles (still there), and I boasted we danced in its palatial ballroom more than once even though we were ‘only’ squaddies. The building, though not colonial, is now an oasis surrounded by the world of high technical and opulent wealth. It was built with British money but by two Armenian Brothers in the late 19th century. Straight opposite is the very British Britannia Club, purpose built in 1953. Everybody went there, military personnel, visiting Royal Navy and American Ships and in the daytime families to use the swimming pool. It was run by the good old NAAFI whose staff did a brilliant, patient and tolerant job. I write this because the Brit Club, whilst a leisure venue, was also a place of unacceptable behaviour. Inter-unit and Inter-service rivalry fuelled by excessive boozing generated sometimes violent brawls, not only inside the base but spilled out onto the streets, in the early hours, after last orders. Tiger beer was a potent fuel resulting in violent and shameful behaviour. Strangely, right adjacent to the club was the promenade of Beach Road, a place for strolling elegant and gentle civilians in a well shaded setting and, guess what, an ice cream man with a mobile ice box, just like home.

Finally, in the Brit Club, if you looked over the South hedge/wall you looked out onto the vast Singapore roads with dozens of vessels laying off waiting for a berth in the docks. Today, on Google, you will see a mass of reclaimed land with sky scrapers blocking the view in every direction.

Tranquillity on Beach Road Promenade – no longer exists

Singapore Prom – Just like Blackpool!

The ever-popular Brit Club

Ex CHURCHILL SPANNER: 36 Engineer Workshops

On the 26th of September, nine members of 36 Engineers REME Workshops deployed to the Isle of Wight to celebrate the Corps 80th birthday. The week consisted of three main elements, a battlefield study, a visit to the factory where Spitfires are still manufactured and finally a visit to a Military & Heritage Museum.

The first day was spent setting up camp and getting familiar with the warmer climate on the island, which is five whole degrees warmer than the mainland. The second day saw us taking a tour of the Airframe Assemblies factory where a large team of Engineers manufacture brand new Spitfire planes. This was a big highlight of the tour as we got a first-hand look into how these iconic masterpieces are built.

On the third day, we were given a unique battlefield tour of a suspected covered up German raid that may have happened during WW2 on one of the islands radar stations. Paul Thompson, our guide, delivered a riveting presentation and then a tour of the ground where the alleged raid occurred. The raid is known as Churchill’s last wartime secret as it is believed the raid was covered up to protect the propaganda that was being pushed out by the Government. This was the famous promise from Churchill that no German would set foot on British soil.

On the fourth day, we visited the Wight Military and Heritage Museum which had many impressive weapons displays and vehicles dating back to before the Boer War to modern day conflicts. We then were treated to a REME birthday cake by the lovely staff members in the adjoining café to celebrate the Corps 80th birthday.

The week was thoroughly enjoyed by all and gave us an incredible insight into a battlefield study which was incredibly unique. Special thanks go to WO2 Reason for organising the Exercise and Paul Thompson for the thoroughly researched battlefield study tour.

Scribe: Sgt Liam Wilson

The group at the Aviation Museum

Celebrating the 80th birthday with cake

Sgt Wilson peeks into the fuselage of an in-progress Spitfire

Paul Thompson’s personal Bren gun carrier

LETTERS to the EDITOR

Fording Trials Branch

Send your letters/emails to:

FAO Craftsman Editor, RHQ REME, The Prince Philip Barracks, MOD Lyneham, Wiltshire, SN15 4XX

Or email: craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk

Dear Editor,

First let me say how much I enjoy receiving my copy of The Craftsman every month. As someone who served in the 60s, 70s and 80s, when The Corps was much bigger than it is now, I am in awe of the breadth and depth of what a much smaller REME is involved in these days. The Craftsman provides a brilliant window on to The Corps’ activities. Under most circumstances I wouldn’t consider pointing out a possible error but, in this case, it involves the title of a unit and I believe that that is sufficiently important to

highlight it. On page 28 of the September issue of The Craftsman, a caption at the bottom of the page refers to ‘Wading Trials Branch’. This is dated 1948-1949. Now, I fully understand that the Unit might have changed its name but I would be surprised. Certainly, in the 1960s (when I visited it as an officer cadet of Nottingham University OTC), it was called ‘Fording Trials Branch’.

Regards, Patrick Derwent (Lt Col Retd)

The Editor replies: After contacting the REME Museum, they have investigated the article further, with the following response.

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the caption in the REME Museum’s article in the September 2022 issue of the Craftsman Magazine. The Museum would like to reassure you that the reference to ‘Wading Trials Branch REME’ is historically accurate. ‘No 2 Wading Trials Centre REME’ was designated in 1942, and was subsequently known as ‘Wading Trials Branch REME’ between August 1947 and 1952; the name changed again in early 1952 to ‘Fording Trials Branch REME’. Published sources including Craftsmen of the Army Vol 1 and official documents held by the Museum’s Archive allow us to clearly trace and date these name changes.’

The photograph was taken from a photo album in the Archives titled ‘Wading Trials Branch REME Annual Activity Report 1948-49’. The mark ‘WTB 9447’ on the original photograph may also refer to Wading Trials Branch.

Please email me if you have any further information.

craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk

Sgt Edem Siawor EngTech MIMechE

Riga Battlefield Studies

As part of the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, 3 Bn REME deployed earlier this year to support the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) and the 1 Royal Welsh Regiment Battle Group on OP CABRIT 10. The team included REME personnel from 20 Armd Coy, a stores section from 18 Fd Coy and 1 soldier from 5Bn REME.

The Platoon was deployed to provide engineering support to maintain and repair a wide range of British Army equipment and fleet in theatre, including the AS90, Challenger 2, and Warrior. The RLC Stores Section were tasked with providing specialist logistical support as well as mission-critical spares support to the Battle Groups. Overall, both teams had to work hand in hand to accomplish their task. During the deployment, REME personnel also deployed on Exercise HEDGEHOG; a largescale NATO training exercise that involved 1,500 British troops, and over 15,000 soldiers in total.

Outside of work, there have been several events that have helped the Platoon to build cohesion, as well as learning about the culture and history of the Baltic states; the latest of these visits was to Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Our journey began early on the 19th of August when we left the Tapa camp in Estonia for Latvia. We begin our day’s studies shortly after finding our hostel in the centre of the city. The Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum were the first places the Platoon visited. During our visit, we learnt about the history of the Holocaust in Latvia and the horrific experiences of Latvian Jews. We learnt that about 40,000 Jews lived in, and were well integrated into life, in Riga. However, following the German invasion and occupation in 1938, the status quo shifted, resulting in most Jews being confined in the Holocaust ghetto. Learning about the Holocaust educated us on the effects of war, racism, and discrimination, as well as the importance of instilling values such as respect for others, social justice, and love for humanity.

The Latvian War Museum in central Riga was our next stop. The museum displays a wide range of exhibits about Latvia’s wars. We learnt about the participation of Latvians in both World War 1 and 2 as well as seeing and learning about various military uniforms, medals, and weapons, together with, their historical significance. Tactical discussions at the war museum stimulated our thinking, and the sacrifices we make every day as professional soldiers in the British Army, as well as the responsibility we bear when it comes to war, dawned on us.

After visiting the museums, the Platoon had some time to explore the city. Riga is sometimes described as the Paris of the North and the fact that almost a third of the country’s population live there, indicates how desirable the city is. The historic centre of Riga was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO and for a very good reason!

At the end of our weekend, it became clear that there was a strong bond between the soldiers from all cap badges in the Platoon. Aside from the great camaraderie built on the trip, all involved learnt valuable and important lessons about the history and culture of the Baltic States.

Scribe: Capt Ben Thorne

Riga Museum

Riga City

Riga group photo

REME Rugby League

REME Rugby League Head Coach Position

The REME Rugby League Head Coach will be employed by REME Rugby to plan and implement a strategy for the Lawson Cup Season 2022/23 and the development of players to feed the Army Rugby League Team. You will work to design and deliver a season plan for REME Rugby for the 2022/23 season specifically directed towards the Lawson Cup 2023 campaign. Working with the DoR and the management team to grow participation in Rugby League at all levels, introduce new initiatives including mental health interventions, skill development and create opportunities for players and management to gain new skills and be part of the REME Rugby family.

About the role:

Initially a two-year fixed term, this role is to ensure that REME Rugby develops and competes at the highest level whilst growing grass roots talent by harnessing the heightened interest of Rugby League in the Army, especially through DSEME Lyneham.

About you:

Be a serving Regular or Reserve REME Soldier or Officer.

You should already have experience within sport and ideally an interest in Rugby League.

You will require previous experience in coaching or working with young soldiers and have experience of building successful teams and developing partnerships with a range of stakeholders.

You will be required to plan, manage, and deliver a detailed season plan and demonstrate excellent communication skills.

How to apply:

Applicants should send their CV to explain their suitability and experience, making specific reference to the specifications detailed above. Please send CV’s along with your proposals to Maj Lloyd Morgan, DoR REME Rugby league Lloyd.morgan879@mod.gov.uk

Applicants wishing to have an informal discussion about the role may contact Maj Lloyd Morgan, DoR REME Rugby league Lloyd.morgan879@mod.gov.uk or WO2 Andy Fyles, Secretary REME Rugby League Andrew.Fyles531@mod.gov.uk

E X RACING ICE I

Try bobsleigh, luge or skeleton with the Army. It will be an experience you won’t forget in a hurry!

This is an annual event run in order to introduce novices to the ice sports of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. It provides an excellent opportunity to afford soldiers the chance to experience one of these three exhilarating disciplines.

These activities demand concentration, courage, physical 昀tness and decision making under pressure.

Ex BIRDIE 22

After months of preparation and planning by WO2 (AQMS) Lee Wright, the day finally arrived on 26th June for 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Golf Society (13AASR GS) to depart the UK for Portugal on Ex BIRDIE 22. This would be the first Golf Tour in the history of 13AASR, which combined with the social limitations due to COVID, I would say meant excitement amongst us was an understatement. The transport was packed and after a swift document check, we embarked on our journey from Colchester to Stanstead airport. Check in and bag drop was smooth and there were no queues at security which gave us plenty of time to grab a breakfast before the flight. We finished breakfast and grabbed a drink, only to find out the flight had been delayed for three hours!

After a light snooze during the flight, we arrived in Faro airport, met with our transfer driver, and headed towards the hotel. The delay at Stansted had a knock-on effect with timings for our first team bonding event. With no time for a shower, we dumped our

bags into our allocated rooms and headed towards Golfland for food and our first round of golf to practice on Trackman simulators, playing the world-famous St Andrews course.

Day 2. Reveille 0800hrs for a light run along the beach before the first match, held at Silves Golf resort. At Silves Golf, most holes have mountain views overlooking palm trees and olive groves; making for superb scenery with authentic Portuguese smells coming from the local cork factory. As our first round out on a course, this was more a practice round to shake off the cobwebs rather than a strict competition. The match was won by WO2 (AQMS) Matt Baron with a stableford score of 30, closest to the pin was Lt Oli Measey and longest drive SSgt Lewis Haddon. A few refreshments later, bouncing between watering holes, we soon arrived at Golfland for our 2nd team bonding event – mini golf.

Day 3. Tee off was scheduled for 1106hrs at Vale de Pinta Golf. Eager and raring to go, 13AASR GS commenced a pairs competition. A technical, challenging narrow course led to multiple lost balls and one frustrated officer, Capt Joseph Jenkins, who lost a total of 15 balls in a single round of golf; mainly in the water on hole 5. Overall winning pairs team was WO1 (ASM) Guy Sargeant and Lt Keiran Garroway scoring a combine stableford score of 80. Closest to the

Capt Yann Gwynn-Cousins setting up on the simulator

WO2 (AQMS) Matt Baron hitting out the rough

Pre-match putting practice at Silves

WO2 (AQMS) Matt Baron enjoying his round

Lt Oli Measey digging out the rough

pin was again Lt Oli Measey and longest drive WO2 (AQMS) Matt Baron.

Day 4. Tee off at 1048hrs at Alto Golf, 13AASR GS vs Golfland GS. Alto golf has long rolling fairways that provides plenty of forgiveness which suit big hitters however most holes are situated on elevated greens, making it challenging to finish unless you are on top of your short game. The scoring system used was Stableford, allowing our golf team to finish ahead of the local players by the smallest of margins - thanks to WO1 (AMS)

with his handicap of 40!

Day 5. Back to Vale de Pinta for our final round against Carvoeiro Golf and Country Club, again using the Stableford system. The Captain of the club, Ian, happened to be retired RAF who organised a team of retired Army and RAF members who now live Portugal. This led to good conversation and competition throughout the day which ended up in Ian’s privately-owned villa situated on hole 3. Whilst enjoying his excellent hospitality with BBQ food and drinks, short speeches took place as well the prizes. Overall 13AASR GS lost to the local veterans but this was expected due to their local knowledge of the course and years of playing!

Day 6. No more golf. Everyone was exhausted from walking the hilly courses in the midday sun and welcomed a relaxing day by the pool as we waited for our evening flight back to Stansted. Overall

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Guy Sargeant for carrying the team

SSgt Lewis Haddon catching up with emails on the 19th

Some members of 13AASR GS and Carvoeiro Golf and Country Club

SSgt Lewis Haddon teeing over the lake on hole 5

Lt Keiran Garroway and WO1 (ASM) Guy Sargeant looking for another lost ball

Speeches and presentations on hole 3!

Capt Yann Gwynn-Cousins fetching a ball

results for the combined golf between members of 13AASR GS were:

• Closest to the pin won by Lt Oli Measey x 2

• Longest drive won by WO2 (AQMS) Matt Baron x 3, SSgt Lewis Haddon x 1

• Overall winner (Stableford) won by WO1 (ASM) Guy Sargeant

• 2nd place Lt Keiran Garroway

• 3rd place Lt Oli Measey

• Pairs winners WO1 (ASM) Guy Sargeant and Lt Keiran Garroway

Ex BIRDIE 22 was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who took part. The team bonding events provided a structure for the evenings along with and some golf practice with the simulator and mini golf. The four rounds played at picturesque golf courses with ideal weather conditions have set up members of 13AASR GS ready for the remaining Corps events for this 22/23 golf season and beyond.

Armed Forces Parachute Championships 2022

July saw the return of the annual Armed Forces Parachuting Championships (AFPC) hosted by the Army Parachute Association, Netheravon. This Tri-Service event allows all Regular and Reservist Skydivers to represent their Service and Corps. This year the Corps team entered the following categories: Formation Skydiving. Teams of four Skydivers fall ‘belly to earth’ and attach themselves to one another by grabbing each other’s limbs or ‘grippers’ on their jumpsuit. The aim is to complete as many pre-determined formations as possible within the allotted time. Freefly. A Skydiving discipline which includes the traditional ‘belly to earth’ positions but extends into vertical flight where the flyer is in an upright position (falling feet first) or in an inverted position (falling

headfirst). These positions increase freefall speeds and make new types of formations and routines possible.

Canopy Relative Work. Called CReW for short, teams of two open their parachutes very quickly after leaving the aircraft to remain in close proximity to each other. The goal is to repeatedly create canopy formations by ‘docking’ their parachute onto the legs of the other jumper.

Sport Accuracy. An individual and team event held over four rounds with five jumpers on each team. Competitors exit the aircraft from around 4,000ft. Upon landing, their score is measured in meters from ‘dead centre’ of a pre-marked target. The best score for each round is 0 meters, with other possible scores being zones of 1,5,10,15 or 20

REME FS Single A Team in action

Scribe: Maj Steve Murfin

REME Sport

Picturesque views at Pinta Golf

metres. Scores for each round are added together, and the scores count both as individual scores and as part of the team score.

With little chance to get together prior to the competition for specific team training, the Corps team brought home:

• Formation Skydiving AAA (SSgt Sei Hughes with Army Voltage) - Gold

• Senior individual accuracy (SSgt Sei Hughes) - Bronze

• Wingsuit rookie (Maj Murfin as RLC camera flyer) - Gold

• Rookie accuracy (Cfn Owen Alyward) - Bronze

• Formation Skydiving A team (Maj Murfin, SSgt Glass, SSgt Hughes, Sgt Cordery, Sgt Nuttall) – Silver

• Freefly rookie team – (SSgt Glass, Sgt Nuttall) - Silver

• Senior team accuracy (Maj Murfin, SSgt Glass, SSgt Hughes, Sgt Cordery, Cpl Sharman) – Silver

• During the competition Cpl Will Lawrence completed his 200th jump and Cpl Rob Mears completed his 500th.

Cfn

Aylward and the TEE experience

Owen

Having been posted to 75 Engineer Regt, 23 Sqn LAD in Minden, Germany working alongside NATO forces with the M3 Amphibious Rigs, I came across a once in a lifetime opportunity to work at the Joint Service Parachute Wing (Netheravon). This is a 13-month Temporary Employed Elsewhere (TEE) assignment, in my case from Nov 21 – Dec 22. As soon as our new batch of TEEs arrived, we were shown how the parachute system works, and introduced to parachute packing. After achieving my packing certificate, the following week we were straight on Ex KIPROS FALL which was a very intense condensed week long Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course - the end result being me gaining my A licence which allows me to safely free fall through the sky on my own. Cyprus is a beautiful drop zone; the landing area is a ploughed field which at the time had hay bales all over the place which were causing some issues on landing. Half of the TEE landed inside the hay bales at some point, fortunately I wasn’t one of them. The weather was a little bit hit and miss the winds did slow us down.

We flew back to the UK with 9 out of the 12 of us gaining A

Licence. The AFF course would cost a civilian £2k - £3k and we got to do it for free, in Cyprus whilst still being paid our wage! On return to Netheravon, we learned the duties of a TEE and enjoyed a good amount of wind tunnel training prior to going on Christmas leave.

Being a Junior Assistant Parachute Instructor is a privileged job, you get to watch students going from knowing absolutely nothing about parachuting to jumping out of an aeroplane on their own within 24hrs. The majority absolutely love it, the less enthusiastic are coached and mentored through their fears by the staff. AT really is challenging when it comes to parachuting; you need to remain calm & controlled under an extreme amount of pressure and then go up do it again and again.

The other TEE staff and I quickly obtained Formation Skydiving (FS) 1 & Tracking (TR) 1 qualifications allowing us to jump safely with others. B licence soon followed which enables you to dispatch jumpers out of the aircraft and wear a full-face helmet.

I can’t recommend joining the wing enough, it’s a great opportunity and shouldn’t be missed.

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AFPC REME Team 2022

Cpl Lawrence and the FS Rookie Team in action

Cpl William Lawrence First AFPC with the team

This was my first opportunity to take part in the Armed Forces Parachuting Competition. My team mates and I, Cfn Owen Aylward, Cpl Robert Mears & Lt Jamie Oliver had never flown 4-way Formation Skydiving together. This meant that there was a very steep learning curve for the team. Our first jump together was round one of the competitions where we attempted to fly a ‘stair step diamond’ formation which immediately collapsed upon exit. Despite this we broke apart and reformed into our first point of the competition. Throughout the week we bonded as a team, grew together, learned from each other and improved our flying skills as we progressed through the competition. Once the FS competition had finished, we moved onto sport accuracy.

On my first accuracy jump I noticed other competitors falling sort of the target and adjusted my flight path accordingly, unfortunately I over corrected and overshot the target. On my second attempt I modified my flight path once again and fell just short. On my third attempt the winds had drastically changed meaning my flight plan had to change. This led to me once again just overshooting the target. On my fourth and final attempt after seeing other competitors falling short, I extended into wind leg and just before touching down in the centre on the target I flared my canopy a little too aggressively and glided over the top of the target landing just outside the 15 metre zone.

Cfn Paige Smith - First year of skydiving

I heard about skydiving at my old unit where I thought it would be a great opportunity to put myself out my comfort zone. I had never even been in an aeroplane before, let alone jumped out of one!

I started in May 2021 with a basic course at Joint Service Parachute Wing (Netheravon) (JSPW(N)) where I did three static line jumps. Following that I applied for an intermediate course the week after where I completed another seven jumps. After getting in touch with the REME parachute team I also started to get involved

with the REME Lightning Bolts Army Parachute display team. In 2021 I entered my first Armed Forces Parachuting Championships where I won gold in rookie accuracy.

Fast forward to 2022 I continued my progression towards being a licenced Skydiver. I switched from static line to Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) to gain faster progression and completed AFF and gained my A licence in Cyprus. I competed in novice accuracy at the AFPC in July however as I had moved from a student canopy to a smaller, more experienced canopy, I narrowly missed out on medalling again.

I have now completed my B licence and I am working towards my C licence, being a display jumper for the REME Lightning Bolts and gaining coaching and instructor ratings.

Cfn Smith ‘spotting’ the landing site for an aircraft full of skydivers

Cfn Ayleward in Cyprus

Farewell to the President of the REME Association Caravan & Camping Club

Scribe: Club Chairman, Lloyd Le Tiec, Club Chairman

It is not every day that we say farewell to a long-standing member of the REME Association Caravan & Camping Club. Jim & Rosemary Keen started camping in the 1970’s with their young family. After his military service, having slept in ‘shell scrapes and Bivvies’, Jim introduced his family to the delights of camping but this time in a campervan, he also recruited his Son Martin to the club. They travelled extensively and camped in Europe visiting the family and was also very active with the Swift Owner’s Caravan Club.

In 1984 they joined the newly formed REME Association Caravan & Camping Club as founding members and started camping with the club for the next 38 years. Then in 2002, Jim joined the club’s committee and over a long period undertook all the committee appointments, but never the Treasurer’s job.

In 2016 he took over as Chairman and in 2018 took on the appointment of club President from Frank Robinson and continues to

undertake this role to this very day. So, over all those years, Jim & Rosemary have been loyal, committed, and dedicated members of the club. This same year 2016, Jim received the REME General’s Commendation Award for his services to his local Shropshire REME Association Branch and to the club. Last year Jim & Rosemary received our club plaque for having attended 150 rallies over a 38-year period; a feat not likely to be repeated by anyone else.

Some time ago, they decided, it was time to hang up their camping ‘boots’ and sell their ‘Tardis’ campervan and will now take on new adventures while still fit to do so. At the recent club rally at Ullswater, which was to be their last rally, during the Saturday Bavarian themed BBQ the committee had decided to celebrate their membership and in recognition of their dedication to the club, we presented them with gifts. We hope it brings joy and fond memories of your time with the club and we love you both dearly.

Club Chairman presenting their gift

Vice Chairman presenting Rosemary with a bouquet of flowers

Medieval Normandy and D-Day Landings Rally 2022

On 26 June 2022, eight families from the REME Association Camping & Caravan Club started to meet up in Portsmouth in readiness to embark to Northern France. The aim of the rally was to look at both the Medieval history and the D-Day landing sites of Normandy. Whilst waiting for the members to arrive, the early birds visited the Mary Rose Museum at the Historical Dockyards and the D-Day Museum at Southsea and it’s famous “Overlord Embroidery”.

With a 5.00am reveille to catch the early morning ferry for Caen, we camped overnight on Portsmouth Docks, which reminded many of us of the famous “Crash outs” or “Hurry up and wait” times in Germany. A quiet sailing was followed by a short trip to the lovely Chateau de Martragny near Bayeux, our home for the next two weeks.

Bayeux is a medieval town, which hosts an annual medieval carnival. It is also the home to the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery, the main Normandy Museum and the worldfamous Bayeux Tapestry depicting the 1066 invasion and battle of Hastings. Whilst visiting the British cemetery, our Honorary Secretary laid a wreath on behalf of the Club. Then individual members sought out a REME soldier’s grave to lay a Poppy Cross. A further wreath would be laid by the Club Chairman at the new British Memorial overlooking Gold beach.

There are many cemeteries, memorials, museums, and sites of interest to be found, so we split the landing sites into four sectors. To reduce the emotional stress, which these visits can inflict on one’s mind, we took two days off

Club Members at Le Monte St Michel

Scribe: Joe Dixon-Haxby, Honorary Secretary & Rally Marshal

Craftsman T Anderson’s grave

REME Association Caravan & Camping Club

between each visit. This we hoped would provide us with a reasonably good balance and permit individual families to do their own thing. Each evening we would all meet up for “Sundowners” get together and a glass of port.

The four sectors visited were:

• Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery.

• Utah Beach, St-Mere-Eglise, American Cemetery, German Cemetery and Omaha Beach.

• Gold Beach, Arromanches Port Winston’s Mulberry Harbour, and the new British memorial.

• Canadian cemetery, Radar Museum, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach.

On the 13 July, five families moved on to Dinard near St. Malo for nine days. From there they visited Monte-St-Michelle, one of France’s top tourist attractions. During its 1,000 years, it has been a Monastery, Castle, Prison, derelict and now a major tourist attraction and Abbey. Although the weather at times was excessively hot 40 OC+, the rally was a success. We paid tribute to our fallen comrades and learnt so much about two different chapters in our history. Now for the next rally. If you would like to join the Club, please contact our Honorary Secretary Mr Joe Dixon-Haxby on 07805460665 or remeccc651@gmail.com

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Club Chairman with wreath at the new British memorial overlooking Gold Beach

Club Hon Secretary laying wreath at the British CWGC Cemetery Bayeux

Extracts from the London Gazette

06 September 2022 No entries 13 September 2022 No entries 20 September 2022

REGULAR ARMY

Intermediate Regular Commissions (Late Entry)

Warrant Officer Class 1 Kevin Richard PACKARD 25068049 to be Captain 9 August 2021 (Belated Entry)

27 September 2022

REGULAR ARMY

Short Service Commissions

Officer Cadet Hursh Singh ANAND 30304719 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Emily Kate ATTFIELD 30287412 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Oliver Cameron BUDD 30224102 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Richard Christopher BUTLER 30303637 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Samuel Charles CLEGG 30282770 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Matthew DIGHT 30282765 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Oliver Ronan HEATH 30304558 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Kenton Peter John HENLEY-ROUSSEL 30311322 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Harry MCCAUGHEY 30269139 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Jed Francis MCGUINNESS 30305271 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Harry James NICHOLSON 30305276 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet George Philip SHIPTON 30304342 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Oliver George TOMLIN 30304354 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

Officer Cadet Benjamin James TWYMAN 30307445 from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to be Second Lieutenant 13 August 2022

The following have been awarded the 3rd Clasp to the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal SSGT, N. J. COOPER, REME, 24947071

The following have been awarded the 2nd Clasp to the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal SGT, S. P. TYRRELL, REME, 25150320

The following have been awarded the 1st Clasp to the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal CPL, J. BLENKINSHIP, REME, 30017883

The following have been awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal WO1, N. J. LEES, REME, 24856815

WO2, M. L. PEARSON, REME, 24791839 04 October 2022

COMMANDS AND STAFF REGULAR ARMY Colonel E. R. B. HEAL OBE 528889 retires 1 October 2022

Officer Assignments

NOVEMBER 2022

Lieutenant Colonel Unit assigned to

Date of Assignment SETH AKM D CAP PfO AH PLANS – SO1 C4 ISTAR PLANS 01 Nov 22 STUART APD DCTT – SO1 PROJ 1 01 Nov 22

Major VANCE J HQ 20 ARMD INF BDE – DCOS 28 Nov 22

Death Notices

REDMOND – Lt Col (Retd) WDJ Redmond passed away on 13 February 2022 aged 95. Dates of service 1947-1970.

WOTHERSPOON – Maj (Retd) David Colin Wotherspoon, known as Spoon, passed away on 03 September 2022 aged 86. Dates of service 1959-1976.

The REME Charity

Donations

From Amount 10/09/2022 Broxhead Club Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£380 13/09/2022 Ex WO2 Ian Witney Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge £140.20 20/09/2022 Mrs Sheila Cook £3,000

Date sent to Craftsman 30/09/2022 Total Donations (Sept) £3,520.20 Total £'s paid in Grants (Sept) £18,212.02 No. Grants (Sept) 28 Average Grant (Sept) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£650.42

If you would like to see how your money is spent, we welcome one or two observers at The REME Charity meetings. The meet ings 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 person nel 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 serv ing. 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

The Trustees of The REME Charity acknowledge with sincere thanks the donations received during the month of SEPTEMBER 2022. They also wish to acknowledge the regular subscriptions received from the Officers and Soldiers of the Corps and retired members of the REME Institution: