October/November 2016
Clara Morris, aged 9
What’s inside?
Opening of Montgomery’s
Ex-Venerable Gauntlet
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“The exercise will allow the attending NATO partners to test and demonstrate their ability to be interoperable with each other and show the unique capabilities that they provide.” Capt Rick Newman, SO3 Media Ops 20x
Regulars
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p18 ALIS (Library) p 21 WRVS p 24 Chaplains p 26 Community Projects p 30 Education p 34 Sport p 42 Unit Updates
Montgomery’s has had a full refurbishment and now includes a food service and flat screen TVs.
If you want your story included in the December/January edition of Punchlines, please send it to punchlines.magazine@gmail.com (or using the contact details on the opposite page) by Wednesday 16 November
Commander BFG address
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Ex SnowSummer
“It’s been great to get back on the board in such an easy going and enjoyable competition.” Lcpl Dan Greenway, 3 cs Bn REME. SnowSummer Champion Copyright: PUNCHLINES is published bi-monthly by kind permission of the Commanders of 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade and Westfalen Garrison. It is not an official publication and the views expressed, unless specifically stated otherwise, do not reflect MoD, Army or Garrison policy and are the personal views of the author. It is self funded through advertising revenue. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers. The Garrison Information Office reserves the right to omit, amend or edit any advertisement, article or picture at their sole discretion, without liability. Produced and edited by the Garrison Information Office. Printed by Druckerei Egeling Werbetechnik. 05253 940565 info@egeling.com
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Commander 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade All of us in 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade continue to train hard to ensure that we are ready to assume the responsibility of being the British Army’s Vanguard Armoured Infantry Brigade from January 2017. 2017 will also see the Brigade form the core of NATO’s spearhead force, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) or VJTF (L). Accordingly, the last month has seen the Queen’s Royal Hussars just return from a very successful collective training exercise on the Prairie. The Royal Dragoon Guards (our Catterick based Armoured Cavalry Regiment) have since followed them out to Canada. For the remainder of the Brigade the focus has been on the VJTF (L) and Exercise VENERABLE GAUNTLET. The exercise saw over 3,000 troops drawn from the 14 nation VJTF (L) deploy onto the Sennelager training area. The weeks that followed allowed us to work through numerous human, technical and procedural interoperability challenges to ensure that we can operate as a cohesive and capable multinational brigade. The training was excellent and the commitment of the force absolute. I can therefore report that due largely to the efforts of the innovative and hardworking breed that serve in 20 Brigade the exercise was a resounding success. Our next major exercise waits for us at the end of November and I have every confidence that we will be ready for January. The New Year will mark a departure from what has gone before in the recent past. The Brigade will not deploy on programmed operations but instead will stand ready – with all of our equipment - for the call to action. It is an exciting time for all of the soldiers of 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade and I will explore what readiness actually means for us all in the next edition of Punchlines.
Commander Westfalen Garrison As Autumn approaches, it is important that we look back and reflect on the busy but exciting time we have shared in Westfalen Garrison. Lots of exciting and diverse events are happening within the community at the moment including a Cultural Awareness Day provided through the AEC, the Hunter Trials at the Paderborn Equestrian Centre, plus Exercise SnowSummer BA(G) and indoor Ski and Snowboard Championships at the Bispingen Snow Dome. Finally, I want to bring to your attention the on-going projects that are being delivered across the Garrison including the opening of a cinema on Mansergh Barracks, the development and relocation of Butterflies Nursery in Bielefeld, the refurbishment of many of the Junior Ranks Clubs, the distribution of the picnic benches around barracks in the Garrison and the investment in Coffee Forums. There is more still to do, particularly in the Paderborn area, there is more still to do and ideas are welcomed by either the Garrison or Station Headquarters. We will continue to improve the facilities that we offer the Garrison to ensure you have the most enjoyable experience here in Germany. For the remainder of 2016 and into 2017, we look forward to lots of events in and around Westfalen Garrison including Oktoberfest, Halloween, the Garrison Bonfire Night, the Remembrance Service and many Christmas festivities. I very much look forward to seeing you all there.
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Brigadier Mike Elviss
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E x V ene r ab l e G a u n t l e t
Sennelager Training Area in Germany came alive recently with approximately 3000 personnel from 14 NATO Troop Contributing Nations taking part in Exercise VENERABLE GAUNTLET. This was the United Kingdom’s national evaluation Exercise for the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) 2017 (VJTF(L)17) Headquarters based upon the United Kingdom’s 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade. The lead element to the Task Force from 1 January 2017 will be 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade (The Iron Fist), based in Paderborn, Northern Germany, and is part of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. Soldiers serving with the Brigade wear the insignia of a white mailed fist with a blue background a symbol of the hard punch that this armoured formation gives the enemy. Each of the 14 Troop Contributing Nations attended the Exercise and some brought with them elements of the personnel and equipment that they would deploy with the VJTF(L). The Exercise allowed the attending NATO partners to test and demonstrate their interoperability with each other and the unique capabilities that they provide; from the Spanish Legion working with the Romanian Military in the Urban Training complex to artillery and men from 26 RA based in Gütersloh conducting live firing using the powerful AS 90, operating alongside the Spanish artillery and so demonstrating their ability to fire on targets identified and co-ordinated by British and Norwegian reconnaissance patrols.
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“It is a great privilege to command a multi nation task force which is the tip of the spear of the wider NATO response force.”
Members of 1 PWRR, under the command of Lt Col Mike Cornwall, worked with Danish and Polish infantry to ensure that the Armoured, Mechanised and Light Role Battle Groups can communicate and operate together supported by a multinational engineer group, reconnaissance patrols and attack helicopters. The demonstration day was attended by Comd ARRC Gen Tim Radford and Mins Lord, Lord Howe and the GOC 3rd Div Maj Gen Saunders. Throughout the Exercise multi-national logistic support was provided by the Combat Service Support (CSS) Group, demonstrating the interoperability of sustainment, maintenance and recovery assets. The 20 AI Bde Commander Brig Mike Elviss said: ”The Exercise has been a great success and went extremely well. It brought together 14 nations which tested our interoperability and showed that we are ready, credible and looking forward to leading VJTF in 2017. “ Written by Capt Rick Newman, SO3 Media Ops 20x
20 Al Bde Commander Brig Mike Elviss
E x V ene r ab l e G a u n t l e t
ARMY WELFARE SERVICE
SUMMER ROUND UP
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his year’s summer activity programme proved to be a massive success, with children all over Westfalen Garrison taking part in summer activity programmes. The summer activity programme was supported and delivered by HQ Army Welfare Service BFG, Gütersloh, Bielefeld and Paderborn Community Support teams. The youth centre programmes boasted a host of unique events such as; Camp Adventure, Wolves Football Camps, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League, Multisport Cheerleading Camps as well as a week long adventure residential trip to Austria. These activities ran alongside individual AWS location events which included family trips to Hanover, Osnabrück swim park, Münster zoo and many more! 11
Booking Out Sober! 5th Battalion, The Rifles, can finally unpack in their new home in Bulford after saying farewell to Alanbrooke Barracks. Alanbrooke Barracks was first built for a Prussian Infantry Battalion that moved into the camp in 1898. The north German brick work is a famous feature of the buildings, many of which today are listed. The camp remained a military base until the end of Second World War when it was used to house Displaced Persons. As the Cold War began to ‘heat up’ after the Berlin Airlift, in 1950 a new Division in the British Army was formed; 11th Armoured Division, based in Herford. Consisting of two brigades, one of them, 33 Armd Bde was based in Alanbrooke Barracks, which was named after Field Marshal The Viscount Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1941 until the end of the War. The first unit to use the barracks was 44 FP RE, and in 1970 they were replaced by 5 Royal Anglian, followed by 2 RRF who were then succeeded by a medium reconnaissance Regiment, 15/19 Hussars. There then followed 1 QLR (1984-1990) 2 LI (1990-1997) 2 RGJ (1997-2001) 1 LI (2001-2007) and finally 5 RIFLES from 2007-2016.
Alanbrooke Barracks has also been home to: HQ 33 Armd Bde 1950-1957 44 FP Sqn RE 1957-1970 3 R ANGLIAN 1970-1975 2 RRF mid 1975-1977 15/19H 1977-1984 1 QLR 1984-1990 2 LI 1997 2 RGJ 1997-2001 1 LI 2001-2007 5 RIFLES 2007-2016
Alanbrooke Barracks through time: Left, during the Nazi era with an extremely large eagle sited directly above the sentry box. Upper right, MT Park for 44 Sqn. Lower right, the Parade Square, with the Corporals’ Mess to the rear.
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Into The Record Books...
Fire-fighter Bernhard Börnemeier is the longest serving member of staff in the history of the Defence Fire & Rescue Service at Sennelager, after celebrating 43 years and 7 months of unbroken and meritorious service. This record will not be beaten! He joined the Army Fire Service in 1973 at the Army Fire Station in Sennelager, which was his station up until the day he retired. His career grew from strength to strength and after achieving the necessary qualification, he was appointed as Watchkeeper in 2004. Herr R Husemann, Station Manager, said, “Firefighter Börnemeier is an enthuiastic individual who has brought a wide range of secondary skills to his job, initially as an operational fire-fighter and in recent years as a highly effective watchkeeper. His experience in operational communications and incident control, gained during his volunteer service, coupled with his ready manner make him a valuable asset to DFRS Sennelager and the DFRS in Germany as a whole.” During his service, he was awarded the Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2010. His farewell was celebrated with a surprise barbeque in the Commander’s garden, together with his crew
“Fire-fighter Börnemeier is an enthusiastic individual who has brought a wide range of secondary skills to his job as initially, an operational fire-fighter and in recent years, as a highly effective watchkeeper.”
and some already retired colleagues. He was presented with an exact replica of the watchkeeper’s office as a symbol of appreciation for his hard work (as shown below). The celebrations did not stop there as on his last official working day he was presented with a certificate of service by Col J Connelly, Commander Westfalen Garrison (as shown above), and a letter of appreciation from the Chief Fire Officer DFRMO was presented by Area Manager Fleming. Bernhard lives in Westenholz with his wife Marlies and his two children. In his retirement, he said he was looking forward to travelling around the country in his new mobile home. Celebrations continued Crew Manager Schwarze has completed 17 years of unbroken service with the Defense Fire Service. He joined in 1999 at the Defence Fire Station in Gütersloh and then moved to Sennelager for his promotion to Crew Manager in September 2010. Crew Manager Schwarze is a keen individual and his operational experience and skills make him a real asset to DFRS Sennelager. He is a highly professional Junior Officer who leads from the front and these characteristics have served both him and the wider service well. He resides in Soest, where in lives with his wife and two children. He volunteered initially at the Local Authority Volunteer Fire Service where he obtained wide experience, skills and qualifications. These proved invaluable for his chosen profession in Sennelager. In his spare time, he has an invested interest in cycling and spends a lot of time on his bike.
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Auf Wiedersehen, Kiel
ormer Chief of the Defence Staff, Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, participated as British Forces said farewell in style to the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the city of Kiel. Local German dignitaries also attended a sunset ceremony for the presentation of the Federal Fahnenband – one of the Federal Government’s highest military honours - to Kiel Training Centre.
Lord Richards, the Admiral of the British Kiel Yacht Club, and Brigadier Ian Bell, the Commander of British Forces Germany, were invited to the Rathaus for a civic reception hosted by Dr Ulf Kämpfer, the Oberbürgermeister of the City of Kiel, before moving to the Government of SchleswigHolstein to meet Torsten Albig, the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein. At the Rathaus, Stadtpresident Hans-Werner Tovar said: “An era is coming to an end with the British Armed Forces leaving Schleswig Holstein. It’s an especially important chapter for the Landeshauptstadt Kiel, a chapter in the city’s history that can be described as exemplary; a tale of how friendship can rise under unfavorable circumstances.”
military sailing. Not least because the British Kiel Yacht Club was established directly after the arrival of British Forces in SchleswigHolstein in 1945.
“As we now leave Schleswig-Holstein, I can assure you we take fond memories with us and the legacy of sailing in the Baltic Sea will always be remembered as a great testimony to British-German friendship,” said the Brigadier. “Hopefully it will be ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ and not farewell.” Gifts, including an aerial photograph of the Kiel Training Centre, from the representatives of the Centre were presented to the German authorities to thank them for their support over the years. Brigadier Ian Bell and Lord Richards also signed the guest book of the Land Government of Schleswig-Holstein.
Speaking in German, Brigadier Ian Bell, Commander British Forces Germany said: “Lord Richards and I are honoured to be here with you to mark the official end of the presence of British Forces in SchleswigHolstein. We began this very special, historic day this morning in the Rathaus. It is apparent to us all that Kiel and the Land of SchleswigHolstein have such long standing AngloGerman history which dates back to the late 19th century and it is through the medium of sailing which our two great nations have bonded together.” For the past 71 years Kiel became the home of the British military sailing in the Baltic Seas. Following the establishment of an advanced Watermanship Training Centre by the Royal Engineers in the 1960s, Kiel Training Centre soon became a centre of excellence for British
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“As early as 1946 British military families came to Kiel to accompany their spouses during their time of service. One of the lasting Anglo-German activities became the famous Ice Breaker Regatta and our regatta in the summer which Herr Bruno Splieth initiated. He is remembered today by all of us with a warm heart and fond memories. Our regatta held in his name – the Splieth Regatta – is not only a personal tribute to him but by and large a testimony of the excellent Anglo-German relationship here in Schleswig-Holstein and Kiel. “The Schleswig-Holstein Fahnenband des Ministerpräsidenten from 1987 and the presentation of today’s Fahnenband des Bundespräsidenten are visible signs of how much our military training and sailing in Schleswig-Holstein has contributed to an outstanding partnership and friendship. “We are all very grateful for this. Training military personnel here in Kiel and at the same time providing the opportunity for military families to experience sailing has been a key part of our time in Germany.
Following the signing of Stadt’s official guest book, the British entourage were escorted by the German Civil Police to the official reception house of the Schleswig-Holstein Government. In his welcoming address, Torsten Albig, the Minister President, said: “The British brought democracy to Kiel and the people here. That changed history. Without the British contribution there would not have been the change and end of Nazi terror and the foundation of a new and democratic Germany. We are thankful for this very very important gift that we got from our British friends. Without the British 71 years ago, everything would have been different.”
outstanding sailing opportunities in the Kielerförde.
The events also marked the closure of the British Kiel Yacht Club, which was established in June 1945. Brigadier Bell hosted a reception in the Kiel Yacht Club in the presence of German dignitaries including the Minister President, senior politicians and representatives of the German armed forces. Lieutenant General Bashall, the Commander Home Command, and Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, Chief of Defence Personnel, attended as senior serving Defence personnel. Speaking to the crowds, Brigadier Bell said: “This is truly a very special and historic day for all of us as over the last 71 years SchleswigHolstein and the city of Kiel has become the home of British military sailing in the Kielerförde and the Baltic Sea. The founding of the British Kiel Yacht Club and the sailing at Prieser Strand in summer of 1945 were the beginning of a great success story for British military sailing and Anglo-German relations. Tens of thousands of British soldiers, officers and military families have enjoyed the
“Now it is time to say goodbye. On behalf of the British Forces in Germany and the entire British military sailing community, I cannot thank you enough for the many years of cooperation and friendship here in Schleswig-Holstein and especially Kiel. Without your support and understanding, our military sailing would not have flourished in such a way. Today marks the official and final departure of British forces from Schleswig-Holstein and Kiel.” Following the reception, a sunset ceremony took place on the road between the Yacht Club and the quayside. During the ceremony, the Fahnenband of the German Federal President was presented to Major Adrian Pery, the Officer Commanding Kiel Training Centre. The Fahnenband was taken to a yacht decorated with bunting, before sailing away into the sunset. After the lowering of the national flags, a folded Union Flag was presented to the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein. The Band marched off past the saluting dais, with the salute taken by Lord Richards and the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein. The British Kiel Yacht Club boats will move to their new home at the Joint Services Sail Training Centre, Gosport, where they will continue to provide adventurous sail training opportunities for service personnel. Written by Army Press Office
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Commander British Forces Germany Reception
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parrenburg Castle, Bielefeld, came alive to the wonderful musical sounds of the Band of the Irish Guards as they entertained both guests and a large crowd during the British Forces Germany annual reception. Against the stunning backdrop in the grounds of the historic castle the reception, hosted by Brigadier Ian Bell, Commander British Forces Germany, provided the perfect location to engage with the wider German community, who continue to support British Forces personnel living, working and training in Germany. The guests included representatives from the Lord Mayor’s Office and Staatssekretar Dr Horzetzky, representing North Rhine Westfalia. As well as the Band of the Irish Guards, who played famous tunes such as Gaelforce and Sunset, musical accompaniment came from HQ BFG’s Piper, Davie Moir, who
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played the lament with the stirring notes resounding down from the Sparrenburg Tower. Whereas in the past this event has been held inside Barracks, Brigadier Bell was keen to expand the event to include the people and officials of Bielefeld and the surrounding areas. As to be expected for many of the watching spectators, the highlight of the evening was the Band’s performance and the ‘Beating Retreat’. Something that local residents Grete Schmelter and Gunther Neumann were keen to express their thanks for. Günther Neumann said: “I have seen them once before in London at Buckingham Palace. When I read that they were coming to Bielefeld, I was very excited. We had a wonderful time. It was a great concert - a real treat.” Grete Schmelter was overwhelmed to see the Band of the Irish Guards at such
close proximity. While performing, the band marched directly towards her more than once. “This night is something I will treasure. It was lovely to see such a fantastic band here in Bielefeld.” In fact, immediately after the performance many members of the public approached band members to express their gratitude for the magnificent performance. “Thank you so much for coming here,” said Angelika Schuster. “I had goose bumps when you played the national anthems. Your performance was amazing. Really, thank you so much.” The band members appeared to enjoy this close contact with their audience and some posed with local residents for photographs. From high up in his position on the castle tower Piper Davie Moir played Auld Land Syne to bring the evening’s celebrations to a close.
“I wanted to say thanks to all those who continue to support the British Forces personnel living, working and training in Germany – central to that are public officials and local businesses, but also critically the public who have welcomed us into their communities. Doing so in such an iconic location made it particularly special. I am immensely pleased that the Band’s perfomance was enjoyed by so many.” Brigadier Ian Bell Commander British Forces Germany
Army Library and Information Service
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Book Review Autumn 2016 by Sarah Edwards Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
‘…when I was fifteen, an extraordinary and terrible thing happened, and there was only Before and After.’ A horrific family tragedy sets Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Armed with his inherited collection of unique and chilling photographs, he explores the mysterious mansion and discovers its weird yet wonderful residents- one of which used to be his Grandfather. It appears that these children live secluded from the rest of the world for a very good reason… Quirky, creepy and unnerving are all words that perfectly describe this teen fiction novel. The book itself is full of vintage photographs of unusual children that have been perfectly intertwined into the story. These are from the authors very own collection, developed overtime through his interest in unusual phenomenon. Don’t be misled by the front cover, this is not a classic horror story that will have you hiding behind your cushion and switching all the lights on in the house! It’s more Voldermort than Freddy Krueger but his spine-tingling book is perfect for this spooky time of year! Released in September as a major film, this sets to be a popular book choice as the nights draw in. It is available to borrow from your local Army Library.
Bielefeld Autumn Event Children and parents attended an Autumn Event where they got the chance to enjoy free cakes, coffee, pears, apples and pumpkins. The children took part in handicrafts where they made stickmen, hedgehogs and spiders using beechnut, chestnut and acorns. The day was enjoyed by all with the staff of Bielefeld library giving a special thanks everyone who attended. The Bielefeld library has more than 8000 books for loan. We can organise inter-library loans from Sennelager, Gütersloh, UK, and Cyprus. We research literature for courses and support our customers with research on books about any subject from Science to Crime, from Biographies to Junior Fiction, from Military Warfare to Cookbooks. If you have a book wish list - you’re welcome to hand them to us. Becoming a member and borrowing books is free. Our catalogue of audio books is very popular, as well as our hundreds of books for children of every age.
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Spotlight On Our Community The GIO team popped into the WRVS on Normandy Barracks (located above the NAAFI) to see all the excellent facilities they provide. We spoke to the Service Welfare Officers, Mindy Wood and Michelle Foldvary to find out more.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves Mindy: I started with WRVS in October 2012. My UK postings include Pirbright, Winchester and Blandford. I came over to Germany in May 2015 and spent 6 months in Barker Barracks before moving to Normandy in January of this year. I love to travel but home for me is Chichester in West Sussex. Michelle: I started with WRVS in May 2012. My UK postings have included DSPG Southwick Park and DST Leconfield before moving to Normandy Barracks here in Germany in March 2014.
What do you both do at WRVS? We are WRVS Services Welfare Officers and run the WRVS Centre on Normandy Barracks. We run and maintain the centre to ensure that it is as comfortable as possible for the soldiers to relax in whilst they are here in Germany, whether they are here permanently or just for training. Our most important role is being a neutral listening ear outside the Chain of Command.
What inspired you to take the role? Mindy: I loved my previous job as a Housing Support Worker in the mental health sector but the government changed the way we could provide the support, so it was time for me to move on and find something else I believed in. I saw this job advertised and thought it sounded brilliant with fantastic opportunities to work abroad. Applied. Got it. Never looked back!!! Michelle: Having 2 sisters with husbands who have had a long military career, I have always been aware of WRVS. I have always felt when the time was right (and my twins had flown the nest) I would apply and hopefully I would be successful, to give it a go. We get to meet so many different personalities on a daily basis and there are not many jobs that truly make you smile like this job.
What do you find most rewarding? Being able to provide such a facility to the soldiers where they can relax and just be themselves. We describe it as their extended living room, but a whole lot better – I mean how many living rooms have snooker tables, cinema screens (and more) in them?
What is the importance of your job and why? As well as providing a relaxing facility we believe that having a neutral listing ear outside the Chain of Command is the most important service that a WRVS Services Welfare Officer can provide. There can be a stigma around welfare and talking about your issues, but if you don’t it could have a huge effect on your work….or worse! We’re here to listen and signpost you on to the relevant service and we can provide you with ongoing support through the whole process. ‘Sharing is caring’ – You share, we care!!!
What is your favourite thing to do in Westfalen Garrison? Mindy: Eating...there are so many restaurants to explore. Michelle: Visiting my favourite spa to unwind and chill under the stars.
Tell us a little fact about yourselves that people might now know. Mindy: Walked the Moselle River from Koblenz to Trier and met many characters along the way with whom I still keep in contact with now. Michelle: Just a few years ago I completed a 12 Thousand Feet Tandem Skydive for charity and raised a lot of money. That was an amazing experience for me!!!!
Ian Grant Former SLO Paderborn Former Services Liaison Officer (SLO) for Paderborn, Ian Grant, died on 20th August in hospital at Salzkotten at the age of 66. Ian served as SLO, the appointment responsible for contact between the British military and the German authorities and community, from 1988 until late 2004. He continued to live in Sennelager after his retirement with his German-born wife, Marlies. He was an exceptionally well known figure in the Paderborn area and was particularly known for his bow ties, or “die Fliege”, without which he was rarely seen. The respect in which he was held in the area was underlined in comments made in the German press by Landrat Manfred Müller, the elected head of the Kreis (County) of Paderborn. “Ian worked like no-one else for the German-British friendship,” said Herr Müller. “He was always a sincere and reliable interlocutor, including when there were difficult matters to discuss.” Ian, who was born in north Wales in December 1949, commissioned into the Royal Signals and served in Northern Ireland, Bahrain, Cyprus and Italy during the course of his military career. He was stationed at Krefeld before leaving the Army and taking up his appointment in the then British Forces Liaison Organisation (Germany) in 1988. His two daughters, Robyn and Jennifer, both live in the UK. A farewell church service for Ian took place in the Marktkirche in Paderborn on 30th August. It was conducted by the Senior Chaplain at HQ BFG, Fr Ian Stevenson, who, in a mark of respect from the Catholic Diocese of Paderborn, was assisted in the service by Bishop Matthais König. Also participating were Commander 20 Brigade, Brigadier Mike Elviss and Commander Westfalen Garrison, Colonel John Connelly. A tribute was paid by Landrat Müller. Ian’s successor as SLO, Alan Patterson, has also spoken of his sadness. “Ian was a friend and colleague for 15 years. He was a man for whom his position as SLO was more a calling than it was a job and he spared no effort in everything he did with the aim of creating and maintaining a situation in which British Forces could live and train in Paderborn. His personality was such that while he looked after the interests of BFG he also made many, many friends across the whole of the Paderborn community. On my arrival in post I found only open doors wherever I went – all down to Ian’s engagement.”
German War Memorial Information Tablet Col J Connelly represented the British Forces at the dedication ceremony for an Information Tablet at a German War Graves Cemetery at Boddeken, near Buren. The 1 September 2016 was chosen as the date as it marked the 77th anniversary of the start of World War II. Locally the area is known as the ‘Tal des Friedens’, which directly translates as the ‘Valley of Peace’. According to the German War Graves Commision, the cemetery is the last resting place of 472 people who lost their lives in war. There was significant fighting in the area south of Paderborn in the final weeks of WW2. It cost the life of the US 3rd Division Commander, Maj Gen Maurice Rose, who was the most senior US officer to die as a result of enemy action in Europe during the war. The cemetery was dedicated in 1953, at which point it contained the bodies of 298 individuals. The Volksbund continues to improve the cemetaries in its care and it is in the course of this work that the Information Tablet is now being erected. The Information Tablet was unveiled by Landrat Manfred Muller, Herr Buckhard and Col J Connelly.
Normandy Barracks Service of Remembrance IN FRONT OF 20 ARMOURED INFANTRY BRIGADE AND HQ WESTFALEN GARRISON, ANTWERP BARRACKS, SENNELAGER
13 NOVEMBER 2016, 9:30AM - 12:00PM ALL BFG ENTITLED PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDANTS WELCOME
PARKING WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ANTWERP AND NORMANDY BARRACKS
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Churches in Paderborn Station St Christopher’s
St Peter’s
Sunday Worship @ 0900hrs including Junior Church
Sunday Worship @ 1100hrs including “SPLAT” Junior Church
(Dempsey Barracks)
(Barker Barracks)
Our Lady of Lourdes RC (Normandy Barracks)
Sunday Mass @ 1100hrs including Children’s Liturgy
For further information please contact any Chaplain
HQ 20 Armd Inf Bde
HQ Westfalen Garrison
Revd Mike Thomason CF
Revd Heather Rendell CF
Office: Mob:
Office: Mob:
05254 982 2051 01735 103404
20X-G1-CHAP-SNR@mod.uk
WestfalenGar-HQ-Chaplain@mod.uk
The Queen’s Royal Hussars
35 Engr Regt & 3 CS Bn REME
Revd Justin Bradbury CF
Revd Daniel Critchlow CF
Office: Mob:
Office: Mob:
05254 982 2966 01722 086315
QDG-RHQ-PADRE@mod.uk
05251 101932 01735 205861
35ENGR-RHQ-PADRE@mod.uk
1st Bn Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
Army Scripture Reader
Revd Neil McLay CF
ASR Ray Hendricks
Office: Mob:
Office: Mob:
05251 101274 01722 086347
1PWRR-HQ-PADRE@mod.uk
26 Royal Artillery Revd Graeme McConville Office: Mob:
05251 101559 01722 578097
26RA-PADRE@mod.uk 24
05254 982 2033 01722 086348
St. Peter’s Church 01756 280663
www.sasra.org.uk
The Chaplains are here to support those of all faiths and those who have none. If your Unit is not listed above, please contact the Garrison Chaplain.
New Chaplain at 26RA ‘Make a good first impression…’ Type this phrase into your favourite search engine and you will discover that it wants to finish the sentence with…at an interview…on a date…in a new job…with your neighbours…and so on. Lots of advice on how to strike the right tone on the first experience of a new thing. It will not, however, give any tips on how to make a good first impression…when writing an introductory article for Punchlines magazine!! I’m Padre Graeme McConville and have very recently taken up post as the new Chaplain to 26 Regiment Royal Artillery, based in Mansergh Barracks, Gütersloh. I’ve moved most recently from Bulford, Salisbury, where I served my first tour of duty with the 3rd (UK) Division Signal Regiment. I don’t travel light, however, as I come accompanied by my wife, Beth, and our 4 young children aged, 8, 7, 6 and 3 (and yes, before you ask…we do now own a TV!). Prior to life in the military, I had an academic background in Psychology, worked as a Youth Pastor in Dublin and then ministered in a number of civilian churches near Belfast in Northern Ireland. Whilst, in my younger days, I was very much accustomed to taking a beating on the rugby pitch, I now enjoy watching Ulster play rugby properly on TV and am probably more suited to taking a beating on the golf course. When I do manage to get a free moment to myself these days, I enjoy a good book, good beer and ONLY good coffee!! We are hugely excited as a family to make the most of the many opportunities that are available to us here and more importantly to share life, in all of its highs and lows, with the military and civilian community that continues to have a footprint in Germany. I joined the British Army as a Chaplain 2 years ago, almost to the day, and haven’t regretted it for a second. As an ordained Christian minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, my heart is set on helping people of all ages and every background deal with and work through issues of an ethical, pastoral and spiritual nature. It is such a privilege to have been led and called by God into the Army and I hope if our paths cross over the coming months that we will have an opportunity to talk about life – and as we do we will remember that although first impressions do count, lasting impressions count more. God Bless, Padre Graeme
Have you ever attended a confirmation service? They’re perhaps more interesting than you would think! For a start, they have to be led by a Bishop rather than a priest, and rather than being sprinkled or dunked in water, like at a baptism, the confirmation candidate is filled with the Holy Spirit instead! Because the service has to be administered by a Bishop, they tend to be not as common as baptism services, but for the people involved, they can be very special. Whereas babies are often baptised, those being confirmed are usually teenagers or adults. Whereas baptism is often a decision made on someone’s behalf, confirmation should be the choice of the person getting confirmed. It has three primary roles: Firstly, it’s a way for the individual to ‘confirm’ the promises that were made on their behalf in baptism. It’s their way of saying, “Yes, this is the direction I want to walk in.” Secondly, it’s also the rite needed to be taken before the bread and wine can be received during a Communion Service (according to the Church of England tradition). Thirdly, and most excitingly, when the Bishop lays his hands on the head of the confirmation candidate, he prays that he or she will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the blessing of God. It might sound rather strange, but it can make a real difference in someone’s life. If you want to know more, why not come along to our Confirmation Service at St Peter’s Church, Barker Barracks at 1100 on Sunday 6 November. Hopefully we’ll see you there! Padre Daniel Critchlow
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Bielefeld
g n i n e p O I PR
September 27th saw the opening of the new PRI shop in Bielefeld. The shop is based in the amenities centre, building 8, on Catterick Barracks and provides Bielefeld station and community the opportunity to buy luxury tax free items, including, Yankee candles, a vast array of perfumes and colognes, household goods and much more. The PRI also offers customers the chance to order goods such as Pandora bracelets and charms, Trek road and mountain bikes and outdoor gear such as North Face. Commander Westfalen Garrison Col JC Connelly stated: “The aim of moving in a PRI shop into Bielefeld station was to provide the Bielefeld community with same facilities as those in Sennelager and Paderborn. Lt Col T Christie and his team have been fantastic in getting the shop up to scratch and huge thanks goes out to Kappe for providing the shelving and merchandise.”
GOC
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Another project from Westfalen Garrison’s community action plan was the refurbishment of Monty’s Bar on Barker Barracks. The aim of the refurbishment was to create a centralised hub on the barracks that could provide a friendly and relaxing place for all based in Paderborn. Major-General R J Æ Stanford MBE, General Officer Commanding Support Command, alongside Commander Westfalen Garrison Col JC Connelly and Paderborn Station Commander Lt Col J Mateer had the honour of unveiling a plaque and officially opening the bar. The newly named Montgomery’s has had a full refurbishment and now provides a comfortable environment for all. There has been a full replacement of furniture, a newly installed Costa coffee bar, food service and the installation of flat screen TVs and a projector. Major-General R J Æ Stanford MBE praised the work that had been completed: “Refurbishment work being competed in line with Westfalen Garrison’s Community action plan has delivered truly firstrate facilities throughout. “The renovation of Montgomery’s bar provides tangible proof that the Army is still investing in soldiers in Germany with fantastic facilities for all.”
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On Friday 9th September a crowd gathered outside Mansergh Hall in Gütersloh to witness the grand opening of the new cinema. The results of the refurbishment were simply fantastic with the fitting of 197 seats, a ticketing booth and some high tech projectors for behind the scenes. All of these came to together to give a fantastic cinematic experience for everyone in the Garrison to come and enjoy. The cinema was opened by Commander Westfalen Garrison, Col J Connelly who said, “The completion of the Mansergh Hall facility signals the culmination of a series of betterment projects in the barracks and across the garrison. HQ Westfalen Garrison and HQ BFG will continue to invest with projects like this to ensure the community is well served.” It was not long before the fantastic facilities could be put to good use as Disney’s Pete’s Dragon was aired on the following day. Many children and their parents flocked to Mansergh Hall to watch the film with great positive feedback being received. It was free entry for everyone and the children took part in a raffle for a chance of winning some Pete’s Dragon merchandise. One of the children said the film “was really good”. So if you’re thinking of ideas of what to do, head down to Mansergh Barracks for one of the viewings. Don’t miss out!
enin p O s e i fl r Butte
As part of a range of refurbishments across Westfalen Garrison, 12th of September marked the grand reopening of the SCE Early Years Foundation Stage Nursery on Catterick Barracks. Butterflies Nursery has moved from Rochdale Barracks to Catterick Barracks, with the aim of making it easier for serving personnel and working parents to access provision closer to their place of work. The drop off and collection for parents with children in the primary school and the nursery will be much less rushed. Lt Col Christie was delighted to open Butterflies new home and said, “It is with great pleasure that I open today the relocated and newly renovated Butterflies Nursery. A huge thank you to Mr Trevor Elliot – Senior Early Years Manager, Mark Amabile DCOS Westfalen Garrison, and the Nursery Manager Mrs Sarah Branch for all their efforts to get this project completed in time with opening for the new school term.” Butterflies Nursery is located in Block 42, next to the Station Chapel on Catterick Barracks. This quiet and serene location is ideal for children to play and learn, and is in stark contrast to their previous home on Rochdale Barracks. Parents also commented on the ease of getting to the new location, and the closer proximity to home, work and surrounding schools made it an ideal setting for the new nursery. Butterflies Nursery Manager Sarah Branch added, “The children really enjoy their new setting. The increase in numbers has allowed the children to really interact more with each other, which is lovely to see. The new location has made it significantly easier for parents to utilise this fantastic facility, and we hope to see more children in the future!” The new nursery is open during term time between 0830 and 1530 and offers sessional early years care and education. More information is available by calling the nursery on 0521 201 7251. Sarah and the nursery team look forward to hearing from you.
M I L I T A R Y W I V E S C H O I R S 28
Hitting all the right notes On 26 September 2016, the Kultur Raume Theater in Gütersloh came alive as three choirs came together for a very special occasion. The ladies of the Paderborn, Gütersloh and Bielefeld Military Wives Choir joined together to form a vocal force to record a song for a Christmas album. The title of the single is a secret so we look forward to the grand reveal! BFBS radio presenter, Milly Luxford, met some of the ladies and asked about their experiences so far. It was clear that the choir meant more to the ladies than just singing - it was a way for them to get out of the house, socialise with friends and meet new people. There was a real family feel. Just standing in the theatre, you could really feel the excitement (and nerves!) building as they prepared for the recording. The ladies got a chance to warm up their vocal chords before they started! Time, effort and commitment were key elements in making this work. This included the ladies, the organisers, the conductor and the sound engineer who flew out from London. The Military Wives Choir now has a network of over 75 choirs supporting the British Military communities in the UK, Germany, Cyprus and more! All of the choirs will be singing the same song which will then be cleverly edited together. We hope that you put this album on your Christmas list – let’s support them and get them to number 1!
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Army Educational Services - 41 AEC Group Looking to learn a language? Or become a master at cake decoration? The 41 AEC have a whole host of courses that you can get involved in and it’s open to both military personnel and dependents within British Forces Germany (BFG).
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? 41 Army Education Centre recently delivered the Phase A course with all students successfully passing with Distinction. The Phase A is two week intensive German course that is ideal for beginners with a basic knowledge of the language. The tutor, Ingrid Stein, said “The course gives a more structured approach to the language and ideal for people who would like to learn more German than just ordering food!” One of the students on the course, Lois Taylor, said “This course is an excellent opportunity for those who want to progress their German from the essential ‘ein Bier, bitte’, to have the confidence to converse in everyday situations. The two week course certainly was intensive, but Ingrid is a fantastic teacher and breaks the grammar into manageable chunks. With so many language courses on offer through 41 AEC, brushing up your German skills couldn’t be easier!” 41 AEC will be offering the Phase B and Phase C courses this term plus one week intensive Introduction to German courses for absolute beginners. For more information, please contact the PCDL Coordinator.
European Day of Languages Monday 26th September 41 AEC and Bishopspark School came together to celebrate the European Day of Languages. Parents, students and friends were invited to come along for the assembly and some refreshments afterwards. The assembly alerted everyone to the importance of language learning while promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. Lots of interest was then generated to the language courses provided through 41 AEC.
German Cultural Awareness Day
Wednesday 14th September
The workshop, held at 41 AEC, provided the class with useful advice and guidance on how to integrate successfully into German society whilst also providing practical information on living and working in Germany. Moving to a new country can be daunting but with classes like this, all the students learnt about cultural dos and dont’s, so they are well informed about the country they are living in.
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What course did you decide to take part in? The German course was the most appealing to me. As we’ll be living in Germany for a while, I want to be able to speak and understand the language – so I can order food etc when we are out and about. I work during the day so the evening class was perfect for me.
How have you found the course so far?
Feeling inspired? Sign up today!
PCDL Coordinator Nicola Long Military 94879 4018
I absolutely love it. The teacher is really good and keeps the pace going. She makes everyone feel welcome and the environment is friendly. I can’t wait for the next lesson.
Civ 0049 5254 982 4018
How did you sign up?
Email 41AEC-PBA-PCDLCoord@mod.uk
I contacted the 41 AEC by email and completed a simple form. That was pretty much it.
BFG Dance School The BFG Dance Academy, based in Paderborn, have a huge group of very talented young people within the Garrison. Mrs Andrea Hannon runs the academy which currently has over 90 children registered. They have recently been looking for sponsors to carry on improving the facilities on offer at the academy. Taunton School have kindly offered to sponsor them and are now in the process of buying each student a dance uniform. This will make such a huge difference to both the school and the young dancers. The Queen Royal Hussars have also shown their generosity by providing them with a new sound system, which was very much needed for the school. Andrea is married to one of the Sgts and approached the QRH to see if they could help her out. As well as performing at the SSAFA Fete, the Elite Team also opened the Paderborn’s Got Talent show. Due to this performance, they have been invited to perform at Alton Towers in the October half term, as part of their Scarefest production. This is such a fantastic opportunity and everyone is looking forward to the performance. In addition to this, they are also heading to the Ultimate Dance Championships in Paris to compete. Due to their previous amazing performance, they have been invited to audition to perform in the Pre Parade on the main street of Disneyland. The whole school is now preparing for the December Showcase, which is themed ‘A night at the Movies’. All the students are working hard to raise funds for this. The school would like to thank the students for all their hard work and commitment as well as the genorisity of the sponsor and QRH.
Thank you!
Model Mum Takes The Catwalk Army wife Andrea Hannon has had early success entering a beauty contest in her home county that she hopes to become Mrs Galaxy UK next year. The mother of three, who lives in Schloss Neuhaus, currently holds the title of Mrs Worcestershire UK and has her eye on going to America for the International Galaxy pageant. She sent in a portfolio of her modelling photos to be judged, and was successfully selected as Mrs Worcestershire UK for a chance to take part in the national finals. The Mrs Galaxy UK finals will be held in Lancashire in March 2017. They will consist of four rounds; interviews, swimwear, fashion and eveningwear. “The interviews I’m totally happy with as I don’t mind public speaking and I don’t tend to get nervous,” says Andrea, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved to Worcestershire when aged 13. “It’s the swimwear round that I’m most apprehensive about. So I’m definitely trying to get in better shape before the finals. Luckily, I teach dance so I am pretty much forced to exercise.” Andrea, 27, is married to Worcestershire native Sgt James Hannon of Sennelager-based the Queen’s Royal Hussars. Their children are Ryan, six, Peyton, two, and Parris, one. She added: “Of course, I do hope to win the national pageant but I can imagine there are going to be so many amazing ladies there, it’s going to be a close call. “I would love the opportunity to represent the UK in America, especially since a Brit took the crown in this year’s World Finals in Florida.” Andrea and other finalists’ images can be viewed at www.galaxypageantsuk.com
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Paderborn Equestrian Centre - Hunter Trials
Paderborn Equestrian Centre held its annual autumn hunter trial on Saturday the 10th of September. Around 30 British, German and Polish competitors enjoyed a newly mapped out cross-country course with excellent footing, under dry and sunny conditions. The hunter trial was held under British Eventing rules, with both the Pre-novice (maximum fence height 70 cm) and Novice (90 cm) having an optimum time to match, with penalties for rounds too fast or slow. The Pre-novice class was won by Daria Niemeier riding Fini with only a quarter time fault, followed by Judith Sommer with Hansi. Anno Krevet and his mare Letizia took first place in the Novice with a clear round and no time faults, followed in second place by Mrs. Nicole Gillard riding Harvey. It was an excellent day of sport and good horsemanship for competitors and spectators alike. Paderborn Equestrian Centre is a British military riding stables offering lessons, stabling and superb facilities for British and German families alike. For more info, please visit at facebook.com/pec. paderborn, telephone 05254 9304255 or visit at Thuner Weg 1001, Sennelager.
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Ex Snowsummer BFG 30 degrees, blazing sunshine and not a cloud in the sky, the perfect day for a ski and snowboard competition. Ex SnowSummer BFG was run at Bispingen, one of the biggest snow domes in Europe. Individuals from across British Forces Germany and the United Kingdom came together to enjoy what proved to be a successful event. Event organiser WO1 Darren Titley HQ BFG, commented: “Bispingen is a fantastic location to start off the new season for all those involved in Army Snowboarding. This competition provided the riders from BFG and UK with a chance to show their potential with a view to going forward to the UK championships and, later on, the Army championships.”
The competition was run as a jam format, giving competitor’s unlimited runs during a 45-minute period. Contestants used these 45 minutes to show judges their technical ability on challenging boxes, rails and jumps, but also to show their individual style. The standout competitor and British Forces Germany snowsummer champion was Lcpl Dan Greenway 3 cs Bn REME, who remarked, “It’s been great to get back on the board in such an easy going and enjoyable competition. It’s a fantastic feeling to have won Ex Snowsummer, but the biggest takeaway is the introduction to other snowboarders in BFG.” To conclude, Commander Westfalen Garrison and event chairman Col JC Connelly said, “ Ex SnowSummer BFG, the BA(G) and BFG Snowboarding championships was a superb day of competition at the Bispingen Snowdome. Army snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport in the Army and is a physically demanding sport, therefore getting your legs dialled in early in the season is imperative to compete strongly. “Bispingen Snowdome is a fantastic venue, and the competitors have really enjoyed one of the best indoor snowparks in Europe. It has also been a fantastic opportunity to use some for the 10 snowdome passes purchased by the Garrison. The passes are available for any BFG entitled personnel, and with the season fast approaching, it is an excellent way to get the ‘snow legs’ in before heading down to the Alps or to pick up a new sport. Ex Snowsummer was a hugely successful event, testament to the hard work and dedication of WO1 Daz Titley the event organiser.” More information on the free passes to the snowdome can be found by contacting the Paderborn Community Support Team: Westfalengar-Pad-Stn-CS-Mailbox@mod.uk
WO1 Darren Titley HQ BFG , LCpl Alex Saunders QRH, Lcpl Dan Greenway 3 cs Bn Reme, SSgt Graeme McIlmurray 35 Engineers, Col JC Connelly, Commander Westfalen Garrison.
Paderborn Sports F.C. Paderborn United R.F.C. Paderborn United
Paderborn snatch win in Bad Lippspringe in last minute thriller.
A great start to the season for Paderborn United Football Club.
Following promotion last season into Bundesliga 2, RFC Paderborn are proving that their promotion was thoroughly deserved and that competitors should be prepared for serious competition. The opening match was played on home soil at the pitches in Bad Lippspringe and proved to be a real thriller. It was touch and go until virtually the very last minute of the match, when RFCP converted a try to take the lead by one point, winning 16-15.
In true club spirit and in spite of a mad couple of weeks at the start of the season, the club is now in full swing and training hard. Indeed this is probably the best start for the club as a whole for some time with all teams performing well and most sitting midway in the tables of their respective age groups. For the Under 9s (or F1s as they are known in Germany) however, they have managed to win every game they have played so far in a commanding and distinctive style. They have scored an amazing 31 goals whilst conceding only 3 and all that without any subs!
From there the team headed to Hanover where they displayed confidence and professionalism. With good discipline and excellent ball skills they commanded the game virtually throughout the 80 minutes, beating the home team by 28-11. President John Pluckwell said,
“The coaches and club committee have worked hard to get the team ready for this new level of competition. The Club continues to grow and the players are thriving under the direction and leadership of Head Coach Woody Nai.� If you are interested in joining the rugby team, please contact Zac Bredin on 01525 3473251.
RFC Paderborn take on RFC Kiel in a challenging scrum
As the season progresses we hope to welcome new players and coaches within all age groups. There is great team spirit at every level from the youngest club members (aged 4) to the male adult team. So, if you love football and want to be part of this successful club please get in touch now by emailing paderbornunited@gmail.com
Interservice Champions - Army Ladies Rugby League The Army Rugby League Women’s team has had a busy and successful 2016 season. Recruiting a large amount of new players, with representitives from 1 MWD, QRH and 6 Regt RLC, into the team and receiving some high quality coaching from various professional clubs within the UK. The team had a fantastic run within the Rugby Football League’s civilian Challenge Cup competition making it through to the semifinal but narrowly missing out in the dying seconds against one of the league’s top teams. This is only the second time in ARL history that the women’s team have made it this far. The season concluded in September with them defending their Inter Services title against the RAF and Navy. As a result of their success, the 15 ladies were called up to represent Great Britain Armed Forces (GBAF) in the Associations cup and on the back of some excellent performances one of the ladies has been called up for England selection. A further two members have been selected to represent Yorkshire in the ladies County of Origin match with Sgt Chris Abel acting as head coach and Lcpl Toni Thimpkins selected into the 20 player squad.
Community Engagement The team has worked closely with the wider rugby league community this season, taking part in a joint training session with York ladies and trained by the head coach of the York City Knights. They have also been shown the ‘professional ropes’ from St Helens’ academy coach.
Widnes Vikings also worked closely with the team and allowed a community coach to take a session with the ladies. The Widnes Viking Storm Cheerleaders came and supported the team when they played Thatto Heath Crusaders and this all culminated with a visit to the Vikings stadium where the team was asked to escort a local community club for a lap of honour at half time of a Superleague game. For pursuit and achievement of excellence, for leading, playing, training and representing by example, for actively developing the potential of others and being outstanding representatives of the Army, the Ladies Army Rugby League Team, winner of the British Army Sports Team of the year 2014, has been put forward for the British Army Sports Team of the Year Award 2016.
British Forces Germany Representatives Sgt Chris Abel - Head Coach (1 MWD) Cpl Jodie Lewis (1 MWD) Pte Siobhan Hitchins (1 MWD)
Pte Sarah Ashton (1 MWD)- GB Armed Forces women’s team Lt Leah Bertram (QRH) Pte Elychia Watson (6 Regt RLC)
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Paderborn United Football Club Join Us Now! Paderborn United is looking for new talent. Whether you are new to the game or have lots of experience we want to hear from you. The club continues to be a strong competitor within the local Kreis Paderborn league and for the 2016/2017 season we have registered 8 youth teams and 1 male adult team. The Club is privileged to have several FA Level 1 and 2 trained coaches who can help you develop your skills and work on individual fitness levels. We are particularly keen to recruit more young people aged 12 and over, as well as more adult players and helpers. If you don’t live in Paderborn but are interested in joining the club then please get in touch as with the support of the Army Welfare Service we may be able to accommodate players from Gütersloh and Bielefeld Stations, as well as Paderborn Station.
Interested? Call the Chairman: John Pluckwell on 05254 982 2338, or email at paderbornunited@gmail.com Training is already underway. Matches start on Saturday 3rd September.
Don’t delay, get in touch today!
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the QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS Welfare Team
Office Opening Times
UWO: Capt Neil Rudd UWO SNCO: Sgt Les Wareham UWO Cpl: Cpl Paul Gallagher UWO Clerk: Mrs Sarah Drapper
Mon - Thu: 0830 - 1700hrs Fri: 0830 - 1300hrs
Contact Details Office: 05254 982 2344 or 2425 Out Of Hours Emergency: 05254 982 2428
QRH Join the BATUS Party
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he Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) (QRH) Battle group has joined Ex Prairie Tempest, part of Ex prairie storm 3, at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) Canada. This exercise is a combined arms integrated Battle group Tactical Effects Simulation (TES) exercise, with Challenger 2 tanks and Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle. It includes dismounted troops fighting in trenches, urban environments and conventional armoured warfare. In support of QRH and their Challenger 2 tanks was B Company from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) and 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES).
They provided the armoured Infantry companies and combat Engineers from 35 Engineer Regiment (35 Engr Regt) with obstacle clearing and bridge laying capability. This is for heavy vehicles and assisting the dismounted troops. Various elements from The Royal Regiment of Artillery (RA) were in support of the battle group, with many different capabilities.
capability using Dessert Hawk 3, an unmanned aerial vehicle. The TES phase of the exercise will take place over 10 days and is the final test for the battle group. The prairie is the British Army’s largest training area. It is seven times larger than the training area at Salisbury Plain.
Fire support was provided and controlled by 26th Regiment Royal Artillery (26 Regt RA) using AS90, a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece. 16th Regiment Royal Artillery (16 Regt RA) conducted air defense using Stormer firing High Velocity Missiles (HVM). 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery (32 Regt RA) provided search
FUNdraising
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he QRH UWO (Capt Neil Rudd) and a number of QRH wives have decided to boost this years QRH SSAFA Big Brew efforts by running the Gütersloh Half Marathon. Karen Comiskey, Sarah Meenan, Michelle Crumley and Joanne Payne-Faulkner will all join Neil on Sunday 6th November to run the 21km event around the streets of Gütersloh. If marathon training was not enough, throughout the month of September and early October the QRH Welfare team offered an interior car cleaning service. With the majority of the Regiment currently deployed either on Prairie Storm 3 or Ex Venerable Gauntlet it is a chance to let someone else do that chore and raise money for SSAFA at the same time. Visit their Justgiving page to donate: QRH-SSAFABIGBREW
Families Day
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n Sunday 11th September the QRH UWO hosted a families BBQ at Happy Hussars on Athlone Bks. With the QRH BG currently deployed on Prairie Storm 3 it was an ideal opportunity for wives and kids to get together and also give mums a day off from cooking the dinner. Around 60 (30 adults and 30 children) attended the event and those that did had a great day. Fortunately the weather was kind and we were able to make the most of the UWO bouncy castles and the toddlers were able to make the most of the indoor play area. As always, the chefs provided some excellent food and there was plenty for those that wanted seconds. Thanks very much to Cpl Pun for his hard work preparing and serving the food. The day was a huge success and the welfare office looks forward to seeing you all again soon.
35 engineer regiment Welfare Office Opening Times
Mon - Thu 0900 -1400 Fri 0900 -1200 Mon - Thu 1400-1630 (Appointments Only) Out of Hours: Barker Barracks Guard Room: 05251 101 243
Unit Welfare Team
UWO Capt Mark Brookfield UW SNCO Sgt Craig Broomhall CLERK Miss Marion Graham
Telephone
Ex Venerable Gauntlet Highland Games Contest
05251 101 213
On 10 September 2016, 35 Engineer Regiment hosted a Highland Games Contest in support of Ex Venerable Gauntlet. Lt Col G Boxall welcomed guests and competitors to the contest. The aim was to promote competition between the various units and nations as well as providing overall entertainment for the participants. We saw Spanish, British and Danish competitors come together to take on the six gruelling events. Each event tested their physical strength, agility and team cohesion as crowds gathered to cheer on the teams. The events consisted of a Kettle Bell Toss, a Medicine Ball Shot Put, a Tyre Toss, a Farmer’s Walk, a Tug of War and an Improvised Gun Run. The Tug of War really highlighted comradery and sportsmanship, as it was nice to see different nations cheering on other participants. Capt Patrick Campbell said “The Highland Games and the good natured competition it provided was the perfect way for 35 Engr Regt to cement the great working relationship it shares with its engineering partners from Denmark and Spain as part of the wider VJTF(L) construct. Well done to the mighty Danes for claiming victory overall!”
On behalf of 35 Engineer Regiment, we would like to wish Lt Col G Boxall good luck in his new post. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 35 Engineer Regt Wives organised the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning at Bridges on Barker Barracks. The event was hugely successful and they would like to thank everyone who helped out, baked and came to support and raise money for Macmillan. The organiser, Cheryl Calder said, “It was a fantastic turnout and we raised €412.36 which is amazing.” Congratulations ladies!
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1 ARMOURED MEDICAL REGIMENT Welfare Office Opening Times
Contact Telephone Numbers
Mon-Thu: 0900-1230hrs & 1300hrs-1600 hrs Fri: 0900 - 1300hrs
Unit Welfare Officer - 05254 982 2417 Unit Welfare SNCO - 05254 982 2904 Unit Welfare Clerk - 05254 982 2436
Find us on Facebook - 1AMR Welfare Dept
Fax - 05254 982 4832
Gate Guardian
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FV606 Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier, used by medical regiments as an armoured ambulance, has been painstakingly restored and now stands in Dempsey Barracks as 1 Armoured Medical Regiment’s Gate Guardian.
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Major A’lee unveiled the Saracen, which was in service between 1954 – 1985, and highlighted how it represents the first time the medical regiment has had the chance to mark their position at the Barracks with a Guardian since their relocation from Hohne Garrison.
Out of hours (Dempsey Barracks’ Guardroom) - 05254 982 4126
1ST BATTALION THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S ROYAL REGIMENT Welfare Office Opening Times Mon - Thu Fri
0900 - 1500 0900 - 1300
Tigers’ Den Opening Times Mon - Thu Fri
0900 - 1600 0900 - 1300
Proud As Punch On 6 September 2016, boxers LCpl Nihell and LCpl Marvin PWRR gave their all in their bouts for England Titles. LCpl Nihell won and is now the National Champion, while LCpl Marvin narrowly missed out. The Battalion are very proud of their boxing stars, who are both full members of the British Army and England boxing teams. They’ll continue to train hard and we want to congratulate them both on their dedication and success.
Say Cheese! 1 PWRR have submitted an entry to the Army Photographic Competition 2016. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony at the Imperial War Museum on 26 October 2016. Judges will be looking for high quality photographs which can be used to promote the Army’s work and maintain the strong reputation it has among the general public. The competition is open to all Regular Army and Army Reserve personnel, cadets of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Army Cadet Force (ACF), University Officer Training Corps (UOTC Army) and Ministry of Defence civilians who work directly for the Army. We want to wish them good luck!
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1st military working dog regiment UWO Contact Details Unit Welfare Officer: Capt John Heath Unit Welfare SNCO: Sgt Alex Wood Unit Welfare Clerk: Mrs Vanessa Newton
Contact number: Mil 953617633 Civ: 01780 727633 To contact the UWO out of hours, call the 1 MWD Regimental Orderly Officer on 0049 (0) 1722 566290
Commanders Challenge Shield This years Commanders Challenge Shield was hosted by 104 MWD Sqn at North Luffenham. It pitted teams from across the Regiment and The Defence Animal Centre against each other over two days. Day one tested individuals military skills on various stands over a six mile round course. The teams then entered day two where they put their MWD handling and training knowledge and skills to the test. The two days were challenging and enjoyable for all soldiers and dogs involved. The Commanders Challenge Shield helps enhance soldiers skills and develop team building and unit cohesion. The the overall winners of the Shield were the team from the Defence Animal Centre; they will be hosting the event next year.
Ex Ravens Challenge 1 MWD Regiment provided 2 x Arms Explosive Search Military Working Dog (MWD) teams to provide UK MWD search capability for Exercise RAVENS CHALLENGE. The Exercise was based at Satsop Industrial Estate in Washington state USA. Ex RAVENS CHALLENGE was an excellent opportunity for UK MWD teams to carry out interoperability training with US EOD and MWD teams sharing knowledge and valuable experiences. In attendance, was a wide range of departments from all around the US such as Police, ATF, EOD, Boeing, Coast Guards, Military, FBI and homeland security. Throughout the exercise the UK MWD teams were attached to search teams which had a mixture of personnel from the different departments and deployed on various scenarios. They also had days with the various US dog teams working on different searches and discussing different training and handling techniques.
LCpl Alex Farquhar shines on Road Cycling Championships LCpl Alex Farquhar (1 MWD) was a member of the Army Team that took part in the Inter-Service Road Cycling Championships on 21 Sept. The Army Team won the competition and LCpl Farquhar finished in an excellent second place individually.
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Bielefeld station Bielefeld Station Welfare Office Station Welfare UWO: Anne Lewis ( Ext 3357) Station Welfare SNCO: Sgt Prem Rai (Ext 3208) Station Welfare JNCO: Lcpl Mark Slinger (Ext 3208) Station Welfare SA: Nobby Clarke (Ext 3208) Welfare Clerk: Julie Davies (Ext 3302)
Contact number: 0521 9254 + Ext To contact the UWO out of hours, contact the Guardroom on 0521 9254 3252 Facebook Group: Bielefeld Station Community Support
Community Support Coffee Morning in Aid of MacMillian Cancer Support On Friday the 23rd of September, Bielefeld Station welfare office hosted a coffee morning in the aid of MacMillan cancer support. Cake was enjoyed by all, with an estimated 250 people attending this fantastic day and an incredible €582.00 was raised for MacMillian. Community Support Welfare Officer, WO2 Ian Lewis and the team were extremely thankful to all those who baked and supported the event.
26 Royal artillery Mansergh Barracks Welfare Office Unit Welfare Officer: 05241 84 2228 Unit Welfare Clerk: 05241 84 2209 Out of Hours (Guardroom): 05241 84 2203
Opening Times Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 08:30-12:30 13:30-15:30 Wednesday, Friday 08:30-12:30
Think Information, Think HIVE! The HIVE at Gütersloh has extended its opening hours to enhance service delivery to serving personnel, entitled civilians and their families in the Station. Tracy Cooper, HIVE Information Support Officer at Mansergh Barracks since the start of the year, is excited about the opportunity this provides. She said, “The new office hours means customers have the chance to come into the HIVE during lunchtime if they themselves are working.” Tracy has been joined by a new colleague, Justine Beeley. Justine, although newly arrived in Gütersloh from Cyprus, is no stranger to BFG or to HIVE. Justine has previously lived and worked in Fallingbostel and Bielefeld and whilst she was in Cyprus she worked for HIVE. Justine said, “I have recently moved back to Germany and I am really excited to be back! I am looking forward to discovering Gütersloh and all it has to offer the soldiers and families living here. I look forward to meeting you all in the near future.” The HIVE is open from 0900 and 1400 Mon-Thu and 0900-1300 on Fri. It is located in the Amenities centre in building 6. Please call in and see us and sign up for our blog at www.guterslohhive.blogspot.com to receive daily alerts about what’s on in the area.
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3 ARmoured close battalion reme Welfare Office Opening Times Mon , Tue & Thu 0800-1700 Thu 0800-1330 Fri 0800-1200 Tel: 05251 101713 Fax: 05251 101799 Email: remebn3@hotmail.com
3 Reme Test Their Mettle As part of NATO’s Exercise Venerable Gauntlet, not only are the troops learning to inter operate on the battle field, but also testing their resilience in the gym (and gruelling heat!). SSgt (SMI) Yates from 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME pulled together a challenging and dynamic event that tested the mettle and physicality of all participants. The event was won by the Spanish Legion with a combined score of 5074, 3 Armoured Close Battalion Reme came a respectable 3rd with 4682 points.
Unit Welfare Team UWO Capt Wayne Bruce UWWO WO2 Bri Cook WELFARE SNCO Sgt Luke Scully WELFARE CLERK Telephone
Mrs Sarah Patterson 05251 101 713
PRI Shop Opening Times Mon, Tue & Thu 0900 - 1400 Wed & Fri 0900 -1300 Tel: 05251 8728785 Facebook: Barker Barracks PRI Shop Fully stocked with Yankee candles and gifts!
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Paderborn Anglo-German Club The Club’s main purpose is the furtherance of friendly relations and mutual understanding between the British and German communities of Paderborn and the surrounding area. Contrary to popular belief, membership is open to ALL military personnel and civilians. An elected committee, for the good and benefit of all club members, manage the Club. Activities are chosen that are of equal interest to both the British and German members, the more that club members put in, the more the Club can give out. If somebody has an activity that they would wish to see included in the programme of events, they can propose it at the Annual General meeting, which is held in February. Most if not all club members speak English, so communication is not a problem. The Club is open to anyone of any age, race, rank or religion as long as they share the same principles of the Club founders in wanting to further the friendly relations and mutual understanding between the British and German communities of Paderborn and the surrounding area. For further information, please contact:
John Greaves, Treasurer: 05293 475
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WESTFALEN GARRISON
From 1000 Tuesday 06 Dec NATO Officers' Mess Winning Presentation: 1230
COMPETITION CATEGORIES Pte LCpl & Cpl & civilian chefs SNCO & executive chefs Novice (non-caterers only) Service children Schools/ nurseries and pre-schools ID for access to camp is required