RGJ E-Zine Jun 2011

The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association

Ezine NEWSLETTER

15 June 2011

Ezine Page Summary Page 1.

Title Forword Forecast of Events

2.

1 Rifles CO`s Update A Coy, 1 Rifles, PB4

3.

Green Jacket `Quigley`

4.

Association Blazers Ride of Respect MCTC Colchester

5.

RB Veteran Alf Arnold Australian Branch

6.

North East Branch North West Branch

7.

Suffolk Branch Book - By Darren Ware

8.

Crime Prevention RGJ Flags fo sale

9.

C4C Appeal

10.

Wiltshire Branch The Broach `thank you`

11.

`Otherwise Occupied` HM Bodyguard

12.

RGJ (Rifles) Museum Lt Col RB Littledale DSO Allan Reinthals C4C run

13.

Have You Seen......?

Minutes & Accounts Faces from the past

14.

C4C Retreat 8 July 2011

15.

Forces March & C4C 100km in 24 hrs C4C Yanks at Saddleworth

16.

The Falklands Obituary Notices

Swift &Bold Page 1

Volume 3 Issue 1

Welcome to the 7th edition of the RGJRA Ezine Newsletter published on 15th of June 2011. To ensure that you get your copy make sure you keep your email address up to date and empty your mailbox frequently. Current distribution for this issue is to 3154 of 5735 database users.

FOREWORD And so we commence the third year of publication for the Ezine magazine.

I have to say that in regard to receiving articles this has been the best year so far and it seems that my request for bigger and better photographs has not gone unheard because they are coming in thick and fast and hopefully will continue to do so.

As already mentioned the number of articles I have received so far has exceeded my best expectations and the only

thing I can say is thank you for as predicted in last years Swift all your efforts and Bold magazine, apart from the Rogues Gallery being temThe good news is that the porarily unobtainable, some change over of servers for the strange messages asking fo a Association database is near password and a temporary into completion with the final ability for the database to acswitch from old to new ex- cept new members during the pected very soon. By the time transition period there was you read this you could be ac- and will continue to be no nocessing and using the new da- ticeable changes to the side of tabase. the database that members use.

This change over has been managed by Bill Shipton with- Our support for The Rifles charout too much obvious disrup- ities continue with branches tion to the user interface that and individuals making every most of you who access the effort to ensure that donadatabase are now familiar with. tions continue to come in.

You will be glad to know that, I hope you enjoy the Ezine. KCA

Forecast Of Events June 2011 - sept 2011 June 23 23 23-3 25 25 25 26 26 July 1 1-17 4 4-10 6-21 7 8 9 20

July 21 Celer et Audax Club Regimental Lunch 01962 828598 22 23-6 Royal Week Unveiling of Rifles Plaque Wallingford 01235 548018 25-29 30 Armed Forces Day Monte Cassino Dinner 01208 72810 Aug Rally Day The Keep, Bodmin 01208 72810 5-27 11 Armed Forces Day - see Winchester Programme HERE 6-30 25 Event

An evening talk by General Lord Dannatt. Details HERE

Cheltenham College Rifles Charity

01452 311116

Salamanca Band to Washington USA

RGJRA Veteran`s Day Reunion

Sept 2 6 01913 865496 9-10 10 01296 853680 11 01235 548018 12-18

Regents Park Mem` Service

0207 4914936

Armed Forces Memorial Naming Alrewas Regt Support Week - Rifles Band Cleveland ACF Annual Camp Warcop SOR 4 Rifles Sounding Retreat - in aid of C4C St Cross

Event Rifles Officers Club Dinner RCH

01962 828598

Salamanca Day - Regimental Day Durham ACF Annual Camp Warcop

01913 865496

Normandy Battlefield Tour

01823 333434

Rifles Freedom Parade Dewsbury

01977 703181

Edinburgh Military Tattoo Somerset Bristol ACF Camp -Visitors day 01823 333434 Rifles Band Leave Rifle Brigade Birthday

ABF Concert ABF Concert Rifles Golf Meeting

01962 828598

Officers Northern Dinner

01823 333434

DLI Reunion

01913 865496

The Rifles - Regimental Support Week

News from A Coy, 1 Rifles in afghanistan 20 May 11.

A Company’s week has been dominated by our first big Company operation, a helicopter assault deep into insurgent territory in the North of our Area of Operations. 60 Riflemen from the Company took part in the operation, moving back to Camp Bastion for rehearsals the night before and deploying by helicopter early in the morning.

The initial landing went without any major problems, although Lance Corporal Ingram will probably never forget getting bogged down in waistdeep mud the moment he stepped off the tailgate of the Chinook helicopter and having to be dragged out by the OC! The first task of the day was to search a series of compounds in conjunction with a Royal Engineers Counter-I ED team, which was achieved in typical A Company style – quickly and efficiently. By this time, the insurgents were well aware of our presence and the Riflemen on sentry quickly spotted the scouts they had sent out to locate and keep an eye on our movements.

After searching and clearing the compounds we were interested in, patrols began to go out to visit some of the surrounding villages, and at this point the insurgents began to make their intentions known with a direct attack onto our defensive positions. This set the tone for the rest of the day, with a running battle between the Company and insurgents

lasting from early morning until after dark. Despite the difficulty of identifying where the enemy were shooting from because of the lush foliage covering the Green Zone during the summer months, the Riflemen of A Company acquitted themselves superbly, and working in conjunction with mortars, Apache attack helicopters and Fast Air Jets, they were able to destroy several of the insurgent positions.

The Company’s marksmen, earned their money for the day by constantly spotting and targeting the enemy from their rooftop positions, but sadly one of our number, LCpl Cain, was struck by a stray insurgent bullet while he was trying to locate an enemy sharpshooter.

The men around him immediately gave him first aid and an emergency medical helicopter was called in, and he was in the Camp Bastion hospital within the hour. Fortunately, the injury he received was a minor flesh wound, and we fully expect him to be back in action in no time at all .

After a long and exceptionally hot day’s fighting, the Company “dug in” for the night, and waited for the helicopters home. Unfortunately, the insurgents had tried to block the way out by opening sluice gates to flood the fields, so the “tab” out to the helicopter landing site was a long, wet slog up an irrigation ditch at 0300 hours.

LCpl Ingram, not the tallest man in the Company, again had all sorts of fun as the water came up to his chin!

But having got safely to the extraction point our Air Controller, Cpl Admans, quickly called in the helicopters to extract the Company back to PB4 for bottles of chilled water, bacon sandwiches and some wellearned sleep in the knowledge that the Riflemen had done an excellent job in some of the toughest and most trying of circumstances. The OC commented: “A great day in Helmand!”

“........our Air Controller, Cpl Admans, quickly called in the helicopters to extract the Company back to PB4 for bottles of chilled water, bacon sandwiches and some well-earned sleep..”

Rifleman Viener Gaston, 2 Platoon, writes “I’m Rifleman Viener Gaston, and I am the point (or lead) man in my Multiple – which I love! This is my first tour of Afghanistan, and for most of the boys it is, but it’s nothing like what I pictured it to be. We have been in to some of the villages and the locals were very friendly, which made me feel good about myself because I feel like I am doing something to help the people here.

The kit we are given is among the best, and is great for troops on the ground here in Afghanistan, so I feel safe and secure stepping outside the front gate of the Patrol Base. The sun and heat here plays a big role when we go out on patrols but some of us just aren’t used to working in these temperatures yet!

Lt Col James de Labilliere DSO MBE delivers a briefing to the Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards GCB, CBE, DSO on the 18th May 2011.

Handover Ceremony fom the Paras

The PB gives you some feeling of being at home. Some of us do get homesick sometimes, but we have a good gym and a great welfare tent, which helps In theatre training before deployus a lot, and so far I am really ment to patrol bases gets the audienjoying my first tour of Af- ence’s undivided attention. ghanistan.”

Page 2

Green Jacket sniper scores a `quigley` in afghanistan The book “Dead Men Risen” is written by Tony Handen and features the Welsh Guards Battle Group to which the Green Jacket sniper team were attached. Published by Quercus Publishing, 400 pages, ISBN13 9781849164214.

On sale at Amazon from £9.75.

“Within 40 days, the two marksmen from 4 Rifles, part of the Welsh Guards Battle group, had achieved 75 confirmed kills with 31 attributed to Potter and 44 to Osmond.“

The L96 Sniper Rifle

Operating from a remote patrol base in Helmand, two British snipers were responsible for killing 75 Taliban fighters in just 40 days. In one remarkable feat of marksmanship, two insurgents were dispatched with a single bullet.

The arrival at the newly-established Patrol Base Shamal Storrai (Pashto for “North Star”) in late August 2009 of *Serjeant Tom Potter and *Rifleman Mark Osmond marked the start of an astonishing episode in the history of British Army sniping.

Within 40 days, the two marksmen from 4 Rifles, part of the Welsh Guards Battle group, had achieved 75 confirmed kills with 31 attributed to Potter and 44 to Osmond. Each kill was chalked up as a little stick man on the beam above the firing position in their camouflaged sangar beside the base gate – a stick man with no head denoting a target eliminated with a shot to the skull.

Osmond, 25, was an engaging, fast-talking enthusiast, eager to display his encyclopedic knowledge of every specification and capability of his equipment. He had stubbornly remained a rifleman because he feared that being promoted might lead to his being taken away from sniping, a job he loved and lived for. Potter, 30, was more laid back, projecting a calm professionalism and quiet confidence in the value of what he did.

The Sniper Team on the motorcycle that carried the two Tali- Potter had notched up seven ban that were killed with the confirmed kills in Basra in 2007 `Quigley` shot. and 2008 while Osmond’s total was 23. Both were members of the Green Jackets team that won the 2006 British Army Sniper Championships.

On one occasion they killed eight Taliban in two hours, ‘I wasn’t comfortable with it at first,’ said Osmond, ‘you start wondering is it really necessary?’ But the reaction of the Villagers inspect the bodies af- locals soon persuaded him.

‘We had people coming up to ter the `Quigley` us afterwards, not scared to

Page 3

talk to us. They felt they were Potter and Osmond’s working being protected’. day would begin around 7 am Most of the kills were at a range and end a dozen or so hours of 1,200 metres using the 7.62 later at last light. Up to about 900 metres, they would aim at mm L96 sniper rifle. an insurgent’s head, beyond The snipers used suppressors, that at the chest. reducing the sound of the muzzle blast. Although a ballistic Often, Potter would take one crack could be heard, it was side of a compound and Osalmost impossible to work out mond the other. Any insurgent where the shot was coming moving from one side to the from. With the bullet travel- other was liable to be shot by ling at three times the speed of the second sniper if the first sound, a victim was unlikely to had not already got him. Each hear anything before he died. used the scopes on the rifles to Walkie-talkie messages re- spot for the other man, identivealed that the Taliban thought fying targets with nicknames to they were being hit from heli- do with their appearance. copters. The longest-range shot taken was when Potter A fighter wearing light blue was killed an insurgent at 1,430 dubbed ‘the Virgin Mary’ and metres away. But the most cel- one clad in what looked like ebrated shot of their tour was sackcloth was referred to as

by Osmond at a range of just ‘Hesco man’, after the colour of the base’s Hesco barriers. Both 196 metres. the Virgin Mary and Hesco man On September 12th, a known were killed.

Taliban commander appeared on the back of a motorcycle Others were given a nickname with a passenger riding pillion. because of their activities, like There was a British patrol in Hashish man, a Taliban who the village of Gorup-e Shesh doubled up as a drug dealer.

Kalay and under the rules of Occasionally, insurgents got engagement, the walkie-talkie posthumous monikers. If one the Taliban pair were carry- target presented himself, both ing was designated a hostile snipers aimed at him simultaact. As they drove off, Osmond neously in a coordinated shoot. fired warning shots with his “Everybody you hit they drop pistol and then picked up his in a different way,’ says PotL96, the same weapon – serial ter. ‘We did a co-ord shoot on number 0166 – he had used in to the one bloke and he just Iraq and on the butt of which looked like he just fell through he had written, ‘I love u 0166’. a trap door. So we called him Taking deliberate aim, he fired Trapdoor Man.” a single shot. The bike tumbled and both men fell onto the Major Mike Bader-Simpson, road and lay there motionless. their company commander, When the British patrol re- describes Potter and Osmond turned, they checked the men as the “epitome of the thinkand confirmed they were both ing riflemen” that his regiment dead, with large holes through sought to produce. “They know the consequences of what their heads. they’re doing and they are very The 7.62 mm bullet Osmond measured men. They are both had fired had passed through highly dedicated to the art of the heads of both men. He had sniping. They’re both quiet, achieved the rare feat of ‘one softly spoken, utterly charmshot, two kills’ known in the ing, two of the nicest men in sniping business as ‘a Quigley’. the company, if the most danThe term comes from the 1990 gerous.” film Quigley Down Under in which the hero, played by Tom *Sjt Potter and R Selleck, uses an old Sharps rifle KƐmond are identified by to devastating effect. ƉƐĞƵĚŽŶLJŵƐ for security reasons.

nEW SUPPLIER FOR RGJ ASSOCIATION BLAZERS Within the first three months of the year we were informed that the supplier for our Association blazers, Harvey Malcolm, of Liverpool was to shut down when existing stock had been exhausted.

A round robin email to inform everyone of this has produced a new supplier of our blazers at a slightly higher cost but individually tailored to fit by a company called Barrington Ayre, who are based at 11-

17 Market Place, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2PB. Telephone 0845 300 9014 or 01285 689 431 and mobile is 07511 794 702. You can also email them at info@barringtonayre. co.uk .

costing £195 for 14oz and £220 for 19oz. These prices include VAT but there will be a separate charge for delivery.

I would be obliged if anyone who makes use of this company could supply me with You will find instructions for feedback as to the service they measuring on their web site receive. at www.barringtonayre.co.uk/ measure/ An alternative supplier is of course The Rifles shop who can Two materiel weights are avail- be found by clicking HERE. able in 14oz and 19oz barathea The Editor

Mark Adams of Teal Photography goes out of his way to support the Association by supplying the London branch with excellent pictures of all its events. He has also been responsible for helping with Association publications. The front cover picture on the 2009 Journal came from Mark. If you need a pro photographer contact Mark. Tel:0208 786 8880, Mob:07973 293795, Email: info@tealphoto.co.uk, www. tealphoto.co.uk

Bikers pay tribute to wootton Bassett with `ride of Respect` Today I went on the Ride of The sight of all those motorcyRespect through Wootton Bas- cles completely filling the main sett. runway was spectacular and one which I am never likely to The idea behind the Ride of see again. I don’t think anyone Respect is for motorcyclists, counted the bikes but estimany of whom are ex services, mates have been given at beto demonstrate the strength tween 12000 and 15000. of support for our servicemen and women, to respect the fall- The Marshalls then separaten who are repatriated through ed out groups of around 100 the town of Wootton Bassett, bikes who then rode in conto thank the people of that voy through the surrounding small town who always show countryside and several small their respect to each coffin as it villages, guided by Police mopasses, and to raise money to torcyclists, to Wootton Bassett. help the wounded through the charity Afghan Heroes. Each Along the way all the villagers rider has to pre register with lined the route waving flags, Afghan Heroes and pay a do- cheering and applauding. That nation of at least ten pounds, alone was a remarkable sight following which everyone re- and one which will remain with ceives a wrist band and vehicle me for the rest of my days, but registration sticker. Only vehi- the most amazing site was on cles displaying that sticker can entering Wootton Bassett. The gain access to the assembly town was packed to bursting point at the RAF airfield at Hul- point with spectators overflowlavington near Swindon. ing the footpaths until the road was only wide enough to allow I was with a group that arrived two bikes alongside each other. at about 09.30 to find that the main runway was already Many flags were being waved, packed with thousands of bikes much applauding was heard of all makes, types and sizes, but the thing which amazed and they kept arriving through- me more than anything else out the day. were several signs thanking us for riding through their town,

when in fact it was us thanking them for the dignity which they have shown to our fallen.

Having passed through the town many people stopped and used the local shops, pubs etc, so much revenue was generated.

“I don’t think anyone counted the bikes but estimates have been given at between 12000 and 15000.”

This was the last Ride of Respect because of the future closure of RAF Lyneham and all repatriations will be made through RAF Brize Norton.

The end of an era! At the age of 74 I was not the oldest ‘old fart’ on the ride by any means, and many veterans badges were being displayed proudly Ted Strawson at the Assembly Point by us wrinklies.

My own day ended with a pleasant 80 mile ride home, except for the last 50 miles when the heavens opened with a downpour of tropical proportions, but hey!! Who cares?

It’s only water.

Sunday, April 03.2011 Ted Strawson Things started to get a bit cramped on the main runway.

DOES THE MENTION OF MCTC Colchester BRING BACK MEMORIES? Carole McEntee-Taylor – wife of David Taylor, 2RGJ, is writing a history of the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester from 1947 onwards and would love to hear from anyone who has any memories of this period.

Maybe you were a member of staff, a detainee or a member of the forces who escorted someone here? Perhaps you came to visit someone or have some other connection? However small or irrelevant you think your memory might be

please contact Carole on: saahera@tiscali.co.uk or phone 01621 869567. All information will be treated in confidence; your name will only be mentioned if you want it to be.

Carole McEntee-Taylor Page 4

Rifle Brigade Veteran returns to normandy Kesgrave Royal British Legion chairman Alf Arnold who has been awarded a Big Lottery grant to re-visit Normandy and visit the grave of his best friend Cyril Chugg who was killed in action in World War II

THE REGIMENTAL SHOP OF THE RIFLES We can Provide RGJRA Members with OBLI/KRRC/RB/RGJ Cap Badges, Cufflinks, Tie Slides, Lapel Pins, Ties, Umbrellas, Rifle Green Berets, RGJ Hat Ribbon, RGJ Plaques, Blazers, Book ‘Swift & Bold’ View & order online at: www.riflesdirect.com or telephone 0845 6434584.

Rifle Brigade Veteran Alf Arnold

The 85-year-old veteran is going to visit the grave of his best friend Cyril Chugg, who died the day the pair were separated on the beaches of Normandy.

Mr Arnold, who lives in Llewellyn Drift, Kesgrave, is taking the trip with his grandson Ian Hicks, in May, after being awarded a grant of £875 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return 2 scheme.

He is planning a route around northern France to trace the

steps he took 67 years ago, in and Cyril was killed.”

August 1944, following the DDay landings.

Mr Arnold said when he discovered he was being given the “When I first joined up in 1943, grant, the first thing he wanted I was too young, at the age of to do was find Cyril’s grave, so 17, to go into the regular Army, he could visit his friend to pay so at first I was in the Home his respects.

Guard and spent a year training,” Mr Arnold recalled.

“I will also be going back to Caen. The last time I was there “I had never been out of my lit- it was just a pile of rubble, so it tle village in Surrey, but had to will be interesting to see what get the train from Kings Cross it’s like now,” he said. to Retford, in Yorkshire, for the training.

“I stayed with the regiment for the rest of the war as part of “When I was standing on the the Armour Division, we were train platform, I noticed an- the ones who were sent in to other lad in his Home Guard help the tanks out when they uniform – it was Cyril. got into trouble. It all becomes a bit of a blur.

“We palled up and spent all of our training together. Then D- “I do remember the freezing Day came and with the 1st Bat- conditions of the particularly talion, The Rifle Brigade, on the bad winter. We were staying in August bank holiday we sailed a town where all the civilians from Newhaven. had been evacuated and it was so cold we had to find a barn “When we got to the Norman- and huddle down with the catdy beaches, just outside Bay- tle to keep warm.” onne, the regimental sergeant put his arm between Cyril and The Heroes Return 2 proI and told Cyril to go one way gramme has so far awarded to join I Company, and he told about £1million in East Anglia me to go and join A Company. to more than 1,400 Second There was a shelling that night World War veterans.

AUSTRALIAN bRANCH NEWS

Australian Branch Members 2011

This Branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association turned out again for Anzac Day 2011 on 25th April, unfortunately some of our members due to age and ill health are now getting to the stage where they are unable to march. However we still managed to attract two members from Sydney and one from New Zealand, to take part. With a total of 21 marching and later meeting for Lunch and drinks after the ceremony on the esplanade, a good day was had by all.

2011 has been a challenging year for us as our Secretary Karla is busy studying, the events coordinator, Jeff is now too busy with his business and Australian Branch members take part the chairman, Chris who has in the Anzac Day Parade 25 April 2011 just finished nearly 3 years in

Page 5

Afghanistan has now started a new job on Barrow Island off the WA coast as Emergency & Security Superintendent on the Gorgon Project (Oil & Gas), so our Branch social life has diminished slightly. We are still attracting new members constantly some recently emigrated from the UK after finishing service with the Rifles, and some ex Green Jackets that have turned up living “anonymously and previously undetected” in Australia.

Looking forward, we hope to identify some kind of military type meeting place that the Branch can use for Branch functions such as an Army Reserve Mess somewhere central in Perth. That maybe difficult to arrange but we do like a

challenge!

As this article is written, I am hoping that the new tour for 1 Rifles in Helmand is successful and without the carnage in KIA and life changing injuries that has accompanied the Rifles on their tours in Afghanistan since the new Regiment was formed in 2007. They have now already lost more in Afghanistan than the Green Jackets lost in nearly forty years in Northern Ireland , it goes without saying that they are completely different theatre’s and that the former Green Jackets watching from afar are keen to see their sons come home safely as they left Brize Norton for what is arguably one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

Chris Mcdonald

North East Branch news from Malcolm Donnison It is time to put pen to paper again and write another page of our brancheǭs escapades and achievements since November 2010.

We had a fantastic turnout on Remembrance day with our numbers being swelled by a bus load of Riflemen from the Midlands branch, who stayed with us over the weekend attending our charity branch function on the Saturday night.

They presented the North East branch with a plaque honouring our formation, to Brigadier N Prideaux and Jake Cheetham , which will take pride of place in our new home in the British Legion club in Sunderland.

In January, Geordie Oates and I attended the inauguration ceremony of the two buglers swords at the Armed Forces Arboretum in Staffordshire along with about another thirty Riflemen from the 1st Battalion RGJ. It was a great pleasure to meet some more of the RGJ

family on what was quite a moving ceremony. The swords were escorted over by serving buglers, one of whom was Scott Barrs, Trevor’s serving son in The Rifles.

June will also be another busy month for the Association as the events organised for Armed forces day and Help For hero’s begin to come to fruition. Full details will be made available at the branch meetIn April we held another char- ing and sent out by e mail for ity function for the branch as- those that cannot attend on sociation in the form of a pig the night.

Brig`Nick Prideaux and Jake racing night and all who attended had a great time. Our In July, I am sure that the city Cheetham accept a presentaion from the Midlands branch branch was also invited to at- of Winchester will again be the tend The Rifles passing out pa- centre of attention for our RGJ rades on the 24th of April, so veterans day and a weekend of all in all April ,was once again, celebrations will be enjoyed by a rather busy month. many. Our Branch president, Brigadier Nick Prideaux has Our next branch meeting is on once again extended his and June the 3rd at the RBL club, Amanda’s kind invitation to wives and partners are wel- attend their house for brunch come to attend the social side and drinks before the long of the meeting, which com- journey home. Don’t forget to mences at 7pm for 7.30 pm. take plenty of photographs of the reunion so that they can be The membership of our branch sent to Ken Ambrose for inclunow stands at nearly 100 and sion into our Swift and Bold Anthis is a marvellous achieve- nual Magazine. ment in our second year of being reformed. We are still reMalcolm Donnison Keith Weedy, standard bearer for the cruiting so please continue to RGJR Associationǭs North East branch pass the word around.

North west branch The annual dinner held at the Royal Hotel in November 2010 was a great success with 50 people attending. I think that a 4 course dinner with a free bar costing £33 per head is good value for money. No decision has yet been made for this year but with this last function being such a success we may again go to the Royal Hotel.

As I have mentioned over the past year, one of our members, Andy Norris, is going to cycle from the Spion Kop at Anfield football Club to the Spion Kop in South Africa. I will not bore you with the same details again but he plans to try to raise as much money as he can for the Royal British Legion, Care for Casualties (the Rifles own Charity), Help for Hero’s and the Army benevolent fund. He now plans to start his ride on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of June 2011. Exact times

and date will be sent out when finalised. I am now trying to raise his profile by contacting the local newspapers and TV. I am also contacting Liverpool Football club to ask them to donate a Liverpool FC plaque to be laid in South Africa.

Andy has asked me to administer any money raised. Therefore in helping to achieve his goal I sent round to all branches a sponsorship form (click HERE to download and print your copy) and I am asking you on behalf of Andy if you could try to get as many people as possible to sponsor him by sending round these forms to you members. Any money collected can be forwarded to me, cheques made out to Royal Green Jacket Association NW Branch, and the money will be distributed amongst these charities once he has finished his ride. Please return all the sponsorship forms to the North

West Branch, the address is above. As an added incentive for you to sponsor Andy, the North West Branch will give £25 to the person who is nearest in estimating the cycled milage.

“Andy Norris is going to cycle from the Spion Kop at Anfield football Club to the Spion Kop in South Africa in support of various military charities.”

It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Joe O`Hanlon on the 9th March 2011 after a long illness. Our thoughts go out to his family.

EVENTS 2011.

Weekend of the 4th and 5th June 2011. Andy Norris starts his bike ride.

Andy Norris on the road

13th November 2011. Remembrance Parade in Liverpool.

26th November 2011. NW Branch annual dinner.

Ray Jerrard

Andy Norris (right) with a fellow traveller.

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tHE Suffolk BRANCH Suffolk Branch Loss: “It is with great sadness that we report the death of our former Chairman, Suffolk Branch member and friend Fred Edwards who passed away on Wednesday the 2nd of February at 21:35hrs.”

Suffolk Branch has had another very good year with our membership continuing to grow with 4 new members so far this year.

Suffolk Branch Loss: It is with great sadness that we report the death of our former Chairman, Suffolk Branch member and friend Fred Edwards who passed away on Wednesday the 2nd of February at 21:35hrs. Our heartfelt condolences went out to Lally and her family. Fred was a great guy and we know he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

The years’ Annual Ladies dinner dance, held on Saturday the 19th of March 2011 which was possibly our best ever dance being very well supported with 119 sitting down on the night ages ranging from 2 to 92 . The Rifles band and Fred Boomer-Hawkins, seen here in bugles played for us during Virginia, USA paid a visit to Johnny the meal and we were very Mac a few weeks back pleased that they could attend.

We had much written praise including a letter from our guest of Honour Lt. Col JJV McEvoy BEM stating that it was one of the best and most enjoyable regimental functions they had ever been to. This has set the bench mark for next year’s dance which we are going all out for, it being our 25th and for those that would like to attend the date is Saturday the 17th of March. Details from Suffolk branch member John Davis- the secretary Gordon Pilcher.

Mcmullan in his Trophy Room at `Brierfield`

During the dance Dave Marsh went round selling for “care for casualties” The Rifles wrist band and we are pleased that

he managed to collect a grand sum of £ 187.84. We have been sent the certificate from the Rifles charities which is a big thank you to Dave and all members who contributed.

Our raffle this year was also one of the best we’ve had taking £510.00, we had some excellent prizes and thanks again to all who contributed.

Throughout the year we have been working very closely with June Nursey from Suffolk Social Services over the health and well being of one of our members” Brian Pepper” and have been given by her over £300.00 which she has raised by carrying out various events at the Ipswich Hospital including a craft stall and Christmas card donations.

June asked us to donate on her behalf to Help for Heroes, we were hoping to carry out the presentation of the certificate at our dinner but unfortunately she had to cancel out at the last minute. Much thanks and appreciation go to Frank Moss and Jim Hitches who have been steadfast in their efforts in looking after Brian’s interest and over the months travelling many hundreds of miles visiting him at home and in hospital. We are pleased to advise that Brian is well and in a nursing home in Felixstowe which is conveniently (for us) next to a pub and the lounge has a great view over the sea.

ing our dinner and taking into consideration the growing cost for their attendance we have agreed to leave our membership subscriptions at £12.00 and increase the cost of our dinners which have remained at £25.00 per person since our first dance some twenty five years ago. Increased cost will be notified to all members as soon as agreed at the June meeting.

Dates: The Rifle Brigade dinner Saturday 27th August 2011 Venue Orwell Hotel Felixstowe please contact Gordon if you would like to reserve seats and get menu choices.

Annual BBQ 23rd July venue Larry & Julie Lamb 9 Church Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 9NF. Remembrance Day parade and lunch Sunday: 13th November 2011 25th Anniversary Ladies Dinner dance Saturday 17th March 2012 Monthly meetings are held at the Royal British Legion Club, Mill Lane Felixstowe on the 1st Friday of the month, 19:30 for a 20:00hrs kick off.

Sword Sponsorship. We are pleased that the sword sponsored by the Suffolk Branch has been presented to The Rifles.

For any information with regards to the Suffolk Branch Cost of dinners for the future, please contact the secretary: with the Suffolk branch voting Gordon Pilcher gordon.pilchunanimously to have a regi- er@ntlworld.com mental band playing for us dur-

Gordon Pilcher

Book - A Rendezvous With The Enemy - £13.97 at Amazon As a Section Commander in one of the British Army’s toughest Infantry regiments, Darren Ware spent a decade with the Royal Green Jackets and fought a vicious border war with the Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland. In the 80s and 90s Northern Ireland was a bloody battleground that claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers. Shortly after joining the army he was sent to Northern Ireland days after he turned 18 and in the prime of his life was sent to confront terrorists. Within 18 months of returning from his first tour he was sent back to Northern

Page 7

Ireland, this time on his 20th birthday, to be confronted with the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the day he arrived and a two year tour of operations and close encounters that followed. He was awarded a Mention in Despatches in 1992 having disrupted a terrorist attack in Strabane. But, it was in the sniper-strewn streets of the cities and fields of the countryside of the border region that he began a journey that would make a man of him – in the staunch IRA stronghold of South Armagh – ‘Bandit Country’ – where his brother’s life was taken in a massive unpre-

dicted terrorist attack in 1991.

At the time, his brother Simon was serving with the Coldstream Guards. The murder of Simon by the IRA reinforced his determination to continue his commitment to serve in Northern Ireland and to assist the RUC in the defeat of terrorism in killing or capturing the terrorists, which he achieved with success in 1992. . In 1998 a change in operational commitment led the author to pursue a career elsewhere and Darren Ware is now a Police Firearms Officer dealing with armed and violent offenders on the front line.

POLICE HORSE 110 ALAMEIN AND cRIME prevention advice well made. Good solid quality and chunkiness is a general indicator of a good clamp.

Make sure that it can not be undermined by deflating the clamped tyre.

This spring saw Alamein engaged on Royal duties, the wedding of Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton ensured that the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch were not idle this April! Alamein was one of the horses responsible for escorting the Semi-State Landau carriage containing the Prince of Wales the Duchess of Cornwall and Mr and Mrs Middleton.

Many weeks of preparation work went into making sure that Alamein and his equipment were spotless for the big day. With fetlocks neatly trimmed and his mane and tail pulled and banged to the Met Police Mounted Branch regulation lengths, his wonderful bay coat gleamed like a buffed conker. Alamein also had to follow a careful exercise routine leading up to the wedding to ensure that he was not over excited but also not tired and sluggish. PC Paul Looker who is Alamein’s newly issued PC spent many hours bulling his saddle and head kit (or bridle in civilian parlance) You could have used his kit as a shaving mirror with the depth of the shine. This is hardly surprising when you consider that PC Lookers previous career was in the Household Cavalry .

5) A good quality alarm system can prevent a theft. You will have to consider who is going to respond to the alarm or if you can afford a monitored alarm and tracking system. Also vans in storage may need a power source if the van if not to be used for weeks at a time.

Royal Wedding - On duty at the Mall walk down

All the officers engaged on duty on this day had a memorable and enjoyable day. Despite many hours in the saddle the horses and riders had a terrific time. After the demonstrations and hostility directed towards the police and their horses in the preceding months it was an absolute pleasure to deal with friendly happy and helpful people. It was the very best of British.

7) There are a number of tracking systems available that are highly effective once activated. Again the difficulty arises when there is a long gap before the theft is discovered.

Monitored systems can be expensive but are worth it if your van is very valuable.

around the site. Ask about CCTV security patrols and any alarm systems. Ask how often the vans are checked and how the owner knows who is in or out. If you alarm your caravan ask if it will be attended to if it 8) Window etching and propis activated. erty marking. Etching parts 2) If you store at home apply of the caravan can assists in the same rules to yourself. If its identification if it is stolen you are lucky enough to have and recovered. If a thief thinks a big area make sure that it is that the caravan may be idenproperly secured. If the van is tifiable it may deter a theft in parked on your drive there are the first place. Many Police a number of devices that can Constabularies now have helisecure your pride and joy. Your copters. Large legible identifilocal police, the Home Office able marks on the roof of the and The Camping and Cara- caravan can be invaluable if vanning club can all provide the theft is discovered quickly good ideas and more specific enough. The quicker the return of your property the less details of the best products. damage is likely to have been 3) Hitch locks. A good quality caused. all encompassing hitch lock will provide deterrent value 9) Register your caravan. This on sites and during road side can be done through most stops at services etc. To be ef- good caravanning clubs and fective it must cover the bolts some insurance companies. or they will be cut through. Your caravan has unique idenMake sure you follow the tifying chassis marks that you manufactures safety advice. should record and store seThe vehicle should not gener- curely along with any other ally be driven with these de- identification and proof of ownership documents. vices fitted.

Quite how I will roll this into our crime reduction piece I have no idea, I’m sure it would not be proper to make a link between the Queens Carriages and caravans, but as it is now In addition the Grey Escort holiday session here are a few police horses were stabled at caravan security tips: Great Scotland Yard. Officers were still awake during the Caravan security can best be small hours cleaning and pre- described in two parts. Prevenparing for the next day. Follow- tion and recovery. As I always ing an early start and a good say prevention is better than breakfast officers and horses cure. were deployed at various locations along the route to provide 1) If you store your caravan on security and assist with crowds a site do some research into and general police duties. Spe- the crime rate on the site and cially selected officers formed speak with the site manager the Grey Escort leading and or owner to satisfy yourself bringing up the rear of the pro- that it is as secure as possible. cession. The greys are decked Look for robust and padlocked out in full ceremonial kit and entrances and exits with high 4) Wheel clamps. Wheel they did look magnificent. banking or other barriers clamps should be sturdy and PS Metropolitan Police

Jon Taylor

RGJ Flags available for purchase at £83 incl vat & postage UK As a result of frequent requests for Royal Green Jackets Flags from RGJ Association branches and individuals for branch and private events and for use at funerals etc we have had a set of RGJ flags commissioned.

These flying flags are now available for purchase by RGJ Association branches and individuals.

They are priced at £83.00 incl.

VAT & UK postage (Europe & Rest of the World postage on application).

The Rifles (London Office) [RGJ Flags] 52-54 Davies Street London W1K 5HR

The flying flags are 4ft 6in x 3ft, See flyer attached HERE. Tel: 0207 491 4936 with the RGJ badge on both sides & a rope and toggle.

Cheques payable to: The RGJ E-mail: london@the-rifles.

Association co.uk

Page 8

The Rifles’ Care for Casualties Appeal Walking Wainwright

The Regiment’s Care for Casualties Appeal is a ring-fenced appeal within The Rifles Regimental Trust (Charity number: 1119061). It has been going since February 2010 and I am writing at the end of May fifteen months later and we have just had news of the death of our 55th Rifleman Killed in Action since the formation of the Regiment in February 2007.

Our regimental service in Afghanistan continues. Over £1,000,000 has been raised via the appeal by serving members, Associations, those with connections to our antecedent regiments either personal or thorough relatives, and by generous individuals and organisations with no connection to The Rifles. The Regimental family has been magnificent in showing its support to those in need and we thank you all.

John Cohen needs £40 to meet his target of £600.

On 12 May I set out from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast to walk the second part of Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast walk, having completed the eastern part last October--see December’s edition of the Ezine.

Carrying my essentials for the week, I traversed the Lake District National Park going over Black Sail Pass, Hay Stacks (where Alfred Wainwright’s ashes are scattered), Helm Crag, Helvellyn (England’s 3rd highest peak), Patterdale, and Shap; then I crossed The Pennines where it is common for walkers to sink waist deep in bog, and on to Kirkby Stephen and Swaledale finally reaching the Yorkshire village of Reeth. I completed the Reeth to Robin Hoods Bay (85 miles) section in October so I £1million sounds a huge sum; have walked the whole route it is, but when you think of it of 192 miles for C4C. in terms of supporting a continuing need, we still have a Fundraising target is £600 and long way to go. In 2010 alone £40 more is needed! over £100,000 was spent by the Regiment on our casualPlease help me reach my tar- ties from the Iraq and Afghaniget! Just call me on 07766 stan conflicts over the past 313047 or go to www.justgiv- 4 years. This is in addition to ing.com/JohnCohen the £328,000 spent in 2010 by <http://www.justgiving.com/ The Rifles on 694 cases which JohnCohen> where you can see arose from requests for help pictures and the whole story. and support on behalf of veterans and their dependants from our founding regiments.

Historically the regiments that made up The Rifles have always looked after their family – old and young - and it is on this foundation that The Rifles’ desire to continue to help those in need is based.

hospital in the UK and for rehabilitation at Headley Court.

Where we can we work with the MoD and other charities such as ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Help for Heroes, Combat Stress, SSAFA. However, we step in alone to help where not to do so would mean what we consider to be an unacceptable delay in reaching the need or where restrictions on who can benefit from funding means that a need is not being met.

Our main aim is to enhance the quality of life of the casualty.

These examples illustrate the point: • adaptation of houses – especially funding for the extras not covered by government grants, such as kitchen equipment and units that are adaptable for use by either a disabled or an able-bodied person, so that a husband and wife can occupy the same living space with minimum disruption, thus enhancing their quality of life; or paying for a stair lift to be put into the home of a sibling of an injured Rifleman for whom it is his home at present.

• adaptation of cars or the provision of quad bikes in certain circumstances to provide mobility. paying for retraining • and re-skilling and education.

Injured Riflemen are now undertaking MA degrees, attending College and completing Diploma Courses, all funded, at least in part, by Care for Casualties. An example of this is a recent payment of £2,500 to help towards the costs of an MA, which will be an on-going annual cost for the duration of the course.

optimism, the restorative benefits of which are incalculable.

• driving lessons for amputees to give them independence; driving lessons for the carer of a Rifleman who is now epileptic having been shot on operations, and, similarly, driving lessons for the fiancée of a blinded Rifleman.

• support for the expenses of our Regimental Casualty Officer to allow him to better oversee the care of our casualties.

To date, The Rifles now has 26 amputees, including two who have taken the decision to have a lower limb amputation in order to improve their mobility. This gives us an insight into the quality of prosthetic limbs available to our soldiers. They are extremely technical pieces of equipment and with their help our Riflemen are now learning to ski, climb mountains, row across the Atlantic and take part in marathons. What we are not sure of is whether the NHS will provide this level of prosthetic care once they have left the Army. At present it will not and it seems unlikely that this situation will change. We wish to be able to support them in their desires to fulfil their ambitions, with or without limbs.

Our injured soldiers are generally between the ages of 18 and 26, they have many years of life ahead of them and it is the intention of the Regiment to be able to support them, their families and the bereaved families at any stage, should they need it for the rest of their lives. With that in mind, please continue to support our Care for Casualties Appeal. We have set ourselves a target of another £600,000 by February 2012 which would bring our overall total to £1.6million and we will need to keep going thereafter.

Every penny counts, so please continue to give HERE and thank you for all that you have already done. For more information, please contact me.

• marriage guidance counselling for a double amputee and his wife, mental health courses for a number of (mainly TA) Riflemen and also for a spouse. Counselling for a mother and siblings of one of So, how are we spending the our Fallen Riflemen. money? Money raised is spent approximately £40,000 on direct and indirect support • and grants to help individuals, has been spent on rehabilitaon recuperation breaks, funer- tion and recuperation breaks al support and casualty packs for our wounded and be- Appeal Coordinator, for those who arrive back at reaved. These give our casualties a sense of self-belief and at c4c@the-rifles.co.uk.

Rebecca Maciejewska,

On the route, stepping stones over the Swale River

Page 9

tHE WILTSHIRE BRANCH Our year started on January 6th with the AGM, all Branch committee members were willing to continue in post and were all voted in for another year, no surprises there then!

We held a ladies dinner night in February, our venue for this was The Weymouth Arms Warminster, this was our first time at the pub, and proved to be ideal and a very good meal was had by all, with guests local and from Portland, once again our entertainments expert Phil Ashby with wife Val laid on a very good evening including a raffle and football card, with the Chairman Brian Darvill clearing £5 on the football card, and along with wife Blanche, daughter Hazel, and son-in-law Bryan all winning in the raffle, Phil knows who to look after.

Our next event was again a first for us, Clay Pigeon Shooting, followed by Lunch at The Snooty Fox, this took place on Sunday May 8th, after meeting up in Warminster we tried our convoy discipline, and drove to Larkhill Garrison Clay Target Shooting Club, on arrival we found a well set up organi-

sation including tea, coffee and bacon banjo’s, after the briefing we had a gun line of five shot guns, four 12 bore, and one 20 bore, we shot for about two hours starting off under one to one supervision, and later on all five guns firing at clays coming from up to seven traps at the same time, the weather was kind and went from overcast to full sun with a strong breeze which made the clay flights interesting!

We then made our way back to Warminster for a very good lunch, where Gwyneth Massey, Al and Lesley McCoy, joined us, once again a big thank you to Phil Ashby, also those who took control of firing the clays, Val Ashby, Bill Tyson, Dan Keene,

in a wreath laying ceremony at The Menin Gate. Kev with his RGJ beret and badge were well on display in the photos.

Phil has been up to his old tricks again, and since our last meeting in March, most of us are now in possession of RGJ Wiltshire Branch rugby shirts, complete with names just in case we are not already known!

“Phil has been up to his old tricks again, and since our last meeting in March, most of us are now in possession of RGJ Wiltshire Branch rugby shirts, complete with names just in case we are not already known!”

At the time of putting this together (May 16th) our Branch web master Lee Massey is in Salisbury hospital and has been since late March, and is likely to remain so for another 5 weeks, he is on the mend but and Brian Darvill. The event ended it is going to be a long job, delate in to the evening with one of tails can be found on the main two members having a pub crawl Association web site.

Wilshire branch and family members home. `watch and shoot` We have meetings booked We have made the local paper for June 16th and September or at least one of our members 22nd, both in the Warminster has, Kev Chambers, who is also Conservative Club starting at in the Wiltshire Squadron of 20:00 hours, we are always the Royal British Legion Riders looking for any Royal Green Branch, and has just taken part Jackets in our area to look in in a tour of First World War and join us.

Battlefields, the highlight of which was to be invited to join Branch clay shoot group

Brian Darvill

THE REGIMENTAL BROOCH and a `THANK YOU` Thank You. You will note that the C4C fundraising coordinator has also written on the subject of C4C so if donating please find the same donation form HERE.

By Maj (retd) RD Cassidy MBE

Recently so many of you made an offer for the Rifle Brigade brooch which helped to take the total to £13,500, yes thirteen thousand and five hundred pounds all of which has gone to Care for Casualties (C4C). I am in no doubt as to why people were so generous; helped because the donor of the brooch having read the appeal by the Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, General Sir Nick Parker decided that all monies raised must go to C4C. On behalf of the donor a Thank You to all who took part in the raising of £13,500. I am also pleased to be able to tell you that an unsuccessful bidder for the brooch has since sent £500 to C4C, another

1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets which became 2 RIFLES between 2005 and 2007; this command included commanding the 2 Rifles Battle Group in BASRA Palace in 2007.

“In my view we as Green Jackets must do what we always did with the Rifleman’s Aid Society since 1883; that is to look after our own.

I am aware there are many charities helping to support all who suffer in conflict but charity in this case must begin at home, for us C4C is home.”

Please, whatever event you may be organising or are involved in, or wish to make an individual donation, do so with C4C in mind. Individual donations if you are a UK tax payer can be increased by 25% because C4C can reclaim the tax you have already paid on the amount you give. Rebecca Maciejewska can also be contacted at Rebecca Maciejewska The C4C fundraising coordina- c4c@the-rifles.co.uk. tor is Rebecca Maciejewska wife of Brigadier Justin Ma- As a matter of interest many ciejewski D.S.O., M.B.E. who Green Jackets have been commands 12th Mechanized helped by those who in the Brigade; many will recall his past left a legacy in their wills service in the Regiment. He for future riflemen and their joined the Royal Green Jackets families who might find themin 1985, served on operations selves in straitened circumin Northern Ireland, Kosovo stances, if you wish you could and Iraq, was Adjutant and do the same.

Company Commander with 2RGJ and then Company Com- Best wishes to one and all, mander, Second in Command Ron Cassidy This and finally commanded the In my view we as Green Jackets must do what we always did with the Rifleman’s Aid Society since 1883; that is to look after our own. I am aware there are many charities helping to support all who suffer in conflict but charity in this case must begin at home, for us C4C is home.

broach was auctioned within the Association and fetched £13,500 for the C4C charity

Page 10

Book - `OTHERWISE OCCUPIED` BY mICHAEL hOWARD

WHEN the curtain finally fell on six years of fighting at the end of the Second World War, the thoughts of most soldiers immediately switched to returning home.

But for a young officer awaiting his first posting, the surrender of the German Army marked the start of an important mission to aid the UK’s recovery and neutralise future threats from central Europe.

After joining the ranks of the Rifle Brigade, Michael Howard found himself posted to TForce, a small unit tasked with stripping crucial assets from Germany and transferring them to the miIitary ranks at home.

His account of this vital work has been brought to life in Otherwise Occupied, a narrative of his time in the Ruhr that is vividly captured in the letters he wrote to his mother while serving.

“We were involved in the business of removing machines, equipment, documents, blueprints, patents and personal ities. We were only there for a short time and wanted to do

something interesting and use- While the accounts described ful while we had the chance.” unravelled more than 60 years ago, Howard has endured a “Initially we were looking for long wait for the story to be the means to continue waging printed. war against the Japanese at a He made his first attempt to time when nobody knew about write the book in 1966. He apthe atom bomb.” proached the War Office, and asked if he could count on their “But a great deal of what we cooperation. He got a pretty did was also aimed at helping po-faced replay saying ‘we the engineering industry at can’t stop you but you need to home.” show us it first’.

Howard explains that Germany was way ahead of its rivals in terms of military capability and that removing technology, as well as the brains behind the developments, was a huge boost to Britain’s Armed Forces.

“The Royal Air Force benefitted more than any other Service,” he added. “By the end of the war they had superior jet aircraft and wind tunnel testing was well advanced.

ten account of an often-overlooked post-war period.

The letters to his mother form interesting starting points for the author to expand on his experiences in Germany and tell the story of what his job entailed.

Military historians seeking a thorough analysis of the work of T-Force may yearn for greater depth, but Howard has inHowever, all the documents sisted this was never his aim that would support such a his- for the book. tory were still held under secret embargo or were in the proc- Instead, he has written an eness of being destroyed. As they joyable social history that comwere restricting and disposing bines his unique role in the of the files they were not about Service with the wider obserto cooperate with his desire to vations of a young soldier durwrite a book. ing his first posting.

He tried again in 1984/85 and the situation was pretty much the same. Of the 249 tonnes of documents that came over from Germany, less than two tonnes remain. What survived “There was no gunner in the was released into the Public British Army who would not Records and National Archive have given their right arm for in 2007. the German 88 as an anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun. It Howard’s refusal to abandon was better than anything we the project has certainly paid had.” off as Otherwise Occupied offers an intriguing and well-writ-

Hardback on sale at Amazon at £17

Her Majesty’s Body Guard of Honourable Corps of Gentlemen RGJRA

Ezine-Editors Notes Tel: 01296 711967

e: ken.ambrose1@btinternet. com

Please remember that this publication is only intended for on screen viewing and that attempts to print out these pages are not likely to be successful.

We aim to draw the attention of all former members of the regiment to forthcoming events on a quarterly basis covering not only the main Association annual forecast but also news at officer club and branch level.

To make this Ezine a success all branches and individuals are asked to contribute whenever possible. Please send articles for inclusion to the email address above before the 1st of the publication month.

Page 11

“Among Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms on duty for the Royal Wedding, and having changed in the Royal Mews, were the Lieutenant (Lt Col Peter Chamberlin - 5th from right) and Harbingerdesignate (Col Mike Robertson - 2nd from left). Other currently serving RGJ Gentlemen, but not summoned for duty that day, are Lt Col Peter Browne and Maj Jeremy Russell. Travel to the Abbey was by motor coach rather than the vehicle shown!”

The Royal Green JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM WINCHESTER

In the last Ezine and again in the 2010 Association Journal I referred to a MOD study of army museums. The aim of this study has been to examine the justification for continued MOD part-funding of museums. This has naturally concerned trustees since most army museums are cash-strapped and any reduction in MOD part-funding, say, of The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum might have significant impact. Rumours abound, but until the study is complete and the outcome for individual museums is determined, we will not know how badly, or otherwise, the Museum will be affected. Meanwhile, for the Museum staff, it has been business as usual, and that means very busy.

still in progress. It is too early to judge its impact. A more vigorous approach to marketing is already in play with a new brochure close to completion.

It is an interesting fact, though, that 35% of our visitors state their reason for visiting to be word-of-mouth recommendation. So, please recommend a visit to the Museum to your friends. You may also like to invite them to visit the Museum website, and if you have any comment on its content, do please let us know.

One former member of the Regiment recently told us that he was disappointed that the website lacked any mention of the RGJ free-fall team that used to function 30 or so years ago. It was a good point, so we asked him to contribute At the end of February Trus- some material including photees approved a new Audience tographs. We look forward to Development Plan, the aim of receiving them. which is to raise the Museum’s profile, broaden its appeal and Visitor numbers during the first market it proactively and cost- five months of the year have effectively in order to increase fluctuated, as they often do. the number of Museum visi- The number of paying visitors tors and users, and the income and the income they provide they generate. has increased, while there has been a fall in the number of free Implementation of the plan is visits. Total visitor numbers are

down 2%. However, we hope for a good summer with a highprofile exhibition running from 15 July to 17 September, titled ‘The WI in Hampshire in Peace and War’. Click HERE for poster

The exhibition involves a rather different and unusual partnership for army museums and is probably a first. It features a magnificent 54 square feet replica of the ‘Women’s Work in Wartime’ wall hanging which, designed in Winchester in 1946, required two million stitches and took 400 workers four years to complete.

Planning with the Hampshire County Federation of Women’s Institutes has been in progress for nine months. We hope the exhibition will attract national interest and bring many women through the door of the Museum who might otherwise never enter.

Finally, I am especially pleased to report the donation to the Museum of a number of very welcome medal groups. They include the Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded during the First World War to Riflemen J.E. Beasley RB, E. Bridge KRRC

and G.S. Buckle KRRC. The Museum has also received the medals of Sergeant J.E. Rowling KRRC awarded for his service on the North-West Frontier in the 1890s and during the South African War(1899-1902).

The medals of Sgt J.E Rowling with a hankerchief map of South Africa

The medals are accompanied by a most interesting silk handkerchief with a map of South Africa printed on it, the only one of its kind that the Museum has.

CBQ Wallace To contact the Museum, telephone or e-mail the Curator, Christine Pullen.

Tel: 01962 828549 or e-mail: curator@rgjmuseum.co.uk www.rgjmuseum.co.uk

£33,000 paid for medals awarded to Lt Col R.B. Littledale d.s.o

A DSO medal group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R.B. (Ronnie) Littledale of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps was auctioned in London on 18 May 2011 by Dix Noonan Webb for £33,000 (hammer price). The medals were sold by a private collector.

Ronnie Littledale was detached from 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps (2 KRRC) as the Transport Officer of 30th Infantry Brigade when he was captured at Calais on 26 May 1940. Thereafter he escaped four times, each time being recaptured, before being imprisoned at Colditz (Oflag IV-C) in July 1942. From there he made a daring escape with three others during the night of 13/14 October 1942, crossing the border into Switzerland on 20

October. He eventually reached England on 24 May 1943.

Littledale was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry in seeking repeatedly to escape and, in particular, for his successful ‘home run’ from Colditz (London Gazette, 4 May 1943). He is one of only two ‘escapers’ in the Second World War known to have been awarded a DSO for a successful ‘home run’.

LT Col R.B Littledale DSO

Allan Reinthal SuppoRts C4C WITH HALF MARATHON Just to let you know that I will be doing a fundraising run for the ‘Rifles’ charity ‘Care for Casualties’, the Rifles is the largest regiment in the British army and as such rotate on worldwide operations more frequently than any other unit,

as a result there have been more than 56 riflemen killed in action in the last three and a half years and over 250 seriously injured.

of soldiers who have been killed or wounded in action, unlike ‘Help for Heroes’ who only provide for infrastructure, i.e. to build swimming pools etc. Please click on link below.

Allan-Reinthal Please support this well worth cause.

Many thanks This charity provides financial support direct to dependents http://www.justgiving.com/ Allan

Page 12

SUPPORT THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS MUSEUM SHOP HAVE YOU SEEN............?

We are looking to trace members. of 11 Platoon Training Company.Peninsula Barracks, September 1971.

The Training team was, Platoon Comd, on Formation J-D von Merveldt. Sgt Charlie Haymen then took over.

The Section Comds were George Humphreys, Don Duncan, Chippie Carpenter and Cpl Belcher. Sadly George Passed away some years back.

Can you please get in contact?

My Phone No`s Home 01386 840348.

by clicking on the link below.

Mobile 07736 735229.

John Helbert [Herbie]

Accounts Commentry by the treasurer, Mike Marr IMPORTANT NOTICE Outstanding Minutes and Accounts for the RGJR Association are now available for all full members of the Association to read, download and save by clicking on the `here` below.

HERE You will only gain access to these documents if you are (a) A fully paid up member of the Association and (b) Have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer.

Page 13

The 2010 audited accounts are shown below. Specific comments on the P&L statement are: Income • Some of the monies received to support the production of the Swift & Bold magazine relate to the 2009 appeal and some to 2010; • Charitable monies for CBA The Rifles & the Wallingford C4C day passed through the account at no cost to the RGJA; • Of the potential £10k grant from the RGJRA £9,660 was received in line with the policy agreed at the AGM; • The Rifles Officers Club

membership contribution for 2009 (£4,930) was received at the start of 2010 and is shown in the accounts along with the contribution for 2010 itself.

• Takings at the reunion increased by about 50% due in large part to £5 being charged to members but covered less than 50% of the reunion costs.

• Swift & Bold costs relate to the production of the 2009 edition as the invoices were received on completion in February 2010. Costs have been reduced year on year by approx 40%; Although the balance sheet shows a healthy balance of £16.8k compared with £6.8k the previous year it should be borne in mind that income will remain fairly static but that costs will continue to increase year on year particularly those related to the reunion.

Expense • Reunion costs had increased by approx 7% year on year. At £25k this is the major expenditure for the RGJA. • Reunion staff costs include management of the event and bar staffing. The gate Mike Marr, Treasurer. is manned on a voluntary (unwaged) basis;

do you recognise anyone in this photograph?

Can you help?

Did you serve in any of the former regiments between 1949 and 1953?

The photograph on the right shows Roy Turner (centre) with two friends who he would like to get in contact with again. The picture was taken in Palestine but due to a recent illness Roy has lost a large part of his memory and cannot remember dates and names. Welcome to the club mate!

In the regiment Roy was known as `Cockney Bill` and the name `Bill` is still used by all who know him today.

If anyone has any information or thinks they can help please contact Bill`s daughter, Emma Turner, on 07960582960 or by email at emmaturner2009@ live.co.uk

Reception and sounding retreat - 8 July 2011 The Rifles` Care for Casualties Appeal RHQ The Rifles Penninsula Barracks Winchester SO23 8TS Tel: 01962 828523

May 2011

Reception and Sounding Retreat - Friday 8 July 2011

The Rifle` Care for Casualties Appeal (C4C) supports the Regiment`s many Iraq and Afghanistan casualties and also supports our bereaved families. The Regiment has suffered over 290 serious battle injured and C4C assists these wounded soldiers and their families in their difficult lives ahead, be it providing a stair lift for a young man who has lost his legs or funding further counselling and care for those suffering psychological trauma.

The Rifles is a Regiment close to our hearts and we have a wonderful opportunity to support the C4C Appeal on Friday 8 July 2011 when we host a Reception on the Cricket Ground at St Cross in Winchester followed by a Sounding Retreat by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles. We do hope you will be able to come along to support this very worthwhile cause and please bring your friends too - let us know if you need extra invitations.

The evening will start at 6.30pm with a Reception in a marquee at St Cross and the Retreat will start at 7:45pm and last about 35 minutes. We are very grateful to Winchester College who have so generously sponsored our use of the Marquee and also to the River Test Smokery and to John Robinson, Butchers of Stockbridge for their generous support. Car parking will be available in the St Cross Hospital Park adjacent to the cricket field.

At the conclusion of the Sounding Retreat the salute will be taken by Councillor Barry Lipscomb, Mayor of Winchester and Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker KCB, CBE, Colonel Commandant of The Rifles.

In addition to raising money for the Regiments casualties we also hope this event will provide an opportunity to bring together the wider regimental family and recognise too the long association of the Regiment with the City of Winchester.

We very much hope you will be able to join us for this wonderful evening. To apply for tickets, please fill in the form downloadable from HERE. Queries to me please on 01962 853680 or to Rebecca Maciejewska on 01962 828503 or via email at c4c@the-rifles.co.uk.

Yours sincerely

David Innes The Rifles City Colonel Winchester

Supported by: Mike Dunning, Mike Robertson, Hugh Dumas, Tim and Pamela Jones, Hugh and Jane Powlett

1965Í&#x2022; 1st GREEN JACKETS WIN bRIGADE swimming championships It may not be possible to clearly see the faces in the faded picture on the left which was, incidently, scanned from an old newsletter but perhaps the mention of the names of the 1GJ team that won the Brigade Swimming Championships 46 years ago will help?

Back row left to right Rfn G Da Silva Rfn C Hutton Rfn G Bailey Rfn F Walton Rfn V Gallagher Cpl N Ham Rfn D Brown Rfn S Vuetibau

Middle row left to right Rfn P Newbold Rfn P Jobson Sjt F Varney Bdsm P Martin Rfn D Greenhalgh Rfn A Horsley Rfn G Young Rfn J Keeney Front row left to right Rfn J Duhig Rfn A Hewitt Capt NJR Sale Rfn F Redding Cpl N Smith Photograph sent in by A rthur (Steve) Horsley

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The Forces March supporting `Care for Casualties`

number of ‘one-day’ entrants for the 27 miles through Sutton Veny, Heytesbury, Chitterne, Shrewton and Larkhill to the finish at Bulford. The first runners finished soon after 1430, the last marchers made it in the dark at 22.10 (10 hours and 10 minutes on the road) to deserved applause.

One disabled entrant proThe March was started sharp RBL Salute a runner pelled a hand operated tricycle at 10.00 by Mr John Swan, at remarkable speed; another deputy Mayor of Ilfracombe. (lady) entrant completed all The first day’s route starts five sections aged 83. with a 12-mile climb through The money for the MemoCombe Martin to Challacombe The March was therefore a rial was raised by a 65 mile success. Our teams of volon the southern edge of sponsored run from Tarrant unteers (almost exclusively Exmoor. The first night’s stop Rushton to Portsmouth and was in a camping site outside ex-RGJ) carried collection thence up the canal bank to Exford. The fine weather broke buckets into all the towns and the bridges. As a result of and we had a wet and windy this, Project 65 was asked to villages on the route, raising arrange another Charity Event, night. By morning, there were over £2000, part of which will L/Bdr Ben Parkinson leads the final and last year arranged a 5-day many with long faces, damp be given to The Rifles Care for clothes and soggy sleeping sponsored march from Ilfra80 yards to the Finish combe in North Devon to Bul- bags. However, thereafter Day Casualties charity.

IN SUPPORT OF 2 was fine and warm. Day 3 ford over 5 days. This March We are already planning the re-enacts a training exercise by started with a vicious climb THE RIFLES `CARE FOR the same battalion in August through the Quantocks, and a Forces March for late May half way halt in the Town Hall, 2012. Watch this space!

1942 (as part of the newly CASUALTIES` formed 1st Airborne Division) Bridgwater. Day 4 took us to and the Event (now annual) is Maiden Bradley after passing Michael Massy-Beresford through Castle Cary where the entitled “The Forces March”. town, as usual, set out tempt- Trustee ing stalls of refreshments. The Project 65 The Forces March 2011 ran last day we were joined by a successfully from 25 to 29 Project 65 was set up in 2008 to arrange for the setting up at Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, Normandy a new memorial to the 180 ‘Men in Gliders’ (of whom some 136 were from 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry) who so successfully seized the two bridges in the early hours of D-Day, 6th June 1944.

May. This year there were about 69 participants at the start, some marathon Runners, the others Marchers, some military, others civilian.

There was an Army team from 5 Medical Regiment and two entries from the Royal Air Force.

Dave DEE - 100 km in 24 hrs and `the yanks` support c4c THE YANKS ARE BACK IN SADDLEWORTH Now in its 11th year “The Yanks Are Back In Saddleworth”was originally called “The Yanks Event”, and is open to all Allied, Axis and military and civilian vehicles from 1914 to the Gulf war, military reenactors, 1940’s civilians and dancers.

He’s off again! Dave Dee (4RGJ & 5RGJ) has signed up for the “Belgium Death March” on the 12th August 2011. Also known as the “Dodentocht”.

It is a circular route of 100km starting in Bornem, just south of Antwerp at 21;00 hours.

Finishers arriving by 21:00 on the 13th receive a medal with a skull and crossbones embossed on it, a piece of paper confirming times through the various checkpoints and a pineapple!!??

Friday night’s Hawaiian dance with every one appropriately dressed in sailor’s hats, Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts with the theme being “ Pearl Harbour” starts the weekend off. For the curious there is a web site: www.dodentocht.be Saturday starts bright and choose the English option! early when the many vehicles booked in start turning up. The aim of course is to raise Everything from a 1932 Hercules peddle bike to a 13 ton money for “Care for CasualMACK US Army Truck is there. I ties”, we know that 2 Rifles are have counted 70 vehicles, with ham Pipe Band followed by others still arriving and coming the Normandy Veterans, men from the four corners of the and women of the Royal BritUK. ish Legion with Standards. `Mr Churchill` in the lead vehicle Allied and Axis camps are on with police outriders leading the field and some excellent the convoy though the villages displays and dioramas. of Delph, Diggle and on up to the carriage house some 10 Sunday is the day we all look miles away, where refreshforward to. Starting at 12 noon ments are enjoyed. The convoy the Military Parade and Con- then continues via the village voy which is led by the Old- of Dobcross where the film

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off to Afghanistan in September and that on the previous tour The Rifles sustained more fatalities than any other regiment. The monies raised will help to provide support their families, for those injured and their families.

Many of you may remember that I completed the Project 65 sixty five mile run to Pegasus Bridge in 2009 in which I managed to raise £2,500.00 for Help for Heroes and various other service charities. This time I’d like to exceed that amount for our very own specific riflemen’s charity. Some of you may even have been on that run with me; Hi guys!

You don’t have to join me, but spread the word and help me

raise as much money as possible for our fellow riflemen!

I have completed the Nijmegen Marches for the last few years, this looks like a bit more of a challenge!

I have a “just giving page”: www.justgiving.com/DaveDee to which donations can be made, or cheques can be sent payable to “Care for Casualties” c/o Dave Dee, 28 Furzedown Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5QE I’ll do a full report afterwards, meanwhile there’s training to be done: Swift and Bold!

Dave Dee

The organising team of 5 is led

by Paul (Dog Tags) McGrath When the convoy returns to known as Mac formerly 1st Bn the field the public have al- RGJ PTI 78-85 and each year ready gathered and some we pick a charity.

7-10,000 people enjoy the entertainment including battle This years chosen charities are re-enactment which is always the RBL and The Rifles (Care entertaining. The final of the for Casualties). day is the low level fly past by a Dakota of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Paul McGrath `Yanks` was made in 1978.

Remembering tHE falklands war The year was 1982 and look- in South Georgia. God Save the ing back now it is hard to be- Queen.” lieve that so much happened in such a short period of time! On 2 May the vintage Argentine light cruiser ARA General The Falklands War started on Belgrano was sunk by The nuFriday, 2 April 1982 and only clear-powered submarine HMS lasted 74 days. It resulted in Conqueror resulting in the the deaths of 257 British and death of 323 of the Belgrano’s 649 Argentine soldiers, sailors, crew. and airmen, and the deaths of three civilian Falkland Island- On 4 May, two days after the ers. It is the most recent exter- sinking of Belgrano, the British nal conflict to be fought by the lost the Type 42 destroyer HMS UK without any allied states Sheffield to fire after an Exocet and the only external Argen- missile strike. She was struck amidships, with devastating eftine war since the 1880s. fect, ultimately killing 20 crew As of 2011, and as it has since members and severely injuring the 19th century, Argentina 24 others. shows no sign of relinquishing its claim. The claim remained On 14 May the SAS carried out in the Argentine constitution a raid on Pebble Island, where the Argentine Navy had taken after its reformation in 1994. over a grass airstrip for Pucará The retaking of the Falkland Is- and T-34 Mentors. The raiders lands was considered extreme- destroyed all the aircraft. ly difficult: the main constraint was the disparity in deploy- Given the threat to the British able air cover. The British had fleet posed by the Etendard34 Harrier aircraft against ap- Exocet combination an SAS proximately 122 serviceable jet reconnaissance team was disfighters, The U.S. Navy was of patched to carry out preparathe opinion that a successful tions for a seaborne infiltracounter-invasion was a`military tion to Tierra del Fuego on the Argentine mainland. A impossibility’.

Sea King helicopter carrying By mid-April, the Royal Air the assigned team took off on Force had set up an airbase at the night of 17 May, but bad Wideawake on the mid-Atlan- weather forced it to land 50 tic British overseas territory of miles from its target, and the Ascension Island and a small mission was aborted. force had already been sent south to recapture South Geor- On 21 May the British began the amphibious landing on gia. beaches around San Carlos The British Task Force was Water on the north western shadowed by Boeing 707 air- coast of East Falkland. The bay, craft of the Argentine Air Force known as Bomb Alley by Britduring their travel to the south. ish forces, was the scene of reSeveral of these flights were in- peated air attacks by low-flying tercepted by BAE Sea Harriers Argentine jets. outside the British-imposed exThere followed a series of clusion zone; losses for the Task Force. On The South Georgia force under 21 May HMS Ardent was sunk the command of Major Guy and on 24 May HMS Antelope Sheridan RM, consisted of Ma- met the same fate followed rines from 42 Commando with on 25 May by Atlantic Conelements of special forces. All veyor along with a vital cargo were embarked on RFA Tide- of helicopters, runway-building equipment and tents. Also lost spring. on this day was HMS Coventry, On 25 April Major Sheridan de- whilst in company with HMS cided to gather the 76 men he Broadsword. HMS Argonaut had and make a direct assault and HMS Brilliant were badly that day. After a short forced damaged. However, many march by the British troops, British ships escaped terminal the Argentine forces surren- damage because of the Argendered and the following mes- tine pilots’ bombing tactics. sage was sent from the naval force at South Georgia to Lon- To avoid British air defences, don. “Be pleased to inform Her Argentine pilots released their Majesty that the White Ensign ordnance from very low altiflies alongside the Union Jack tude, and the bomb fuses did

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not arm before impact.

From early on 27 May until 28 May, 2 Para, (approximately 500 men) with artillery support from 8 (Alma) Commando Battery (Royal Artillery), approached, attacked and occupied Darwin and Goose Green.

17 British and 47 Argentine soldiers were killed.

Obituary Notices Please click on name Seymour Maj GR

06

Oct

Hills Ron RB

09

Nov

Edwards Brian

13

Nov

Cleaver Bill

14

Nov

Bateman Norman

24

Nov

Chessum Edward

01

Dec

Bines Phillip

03

Dec

Mitchell Brian

10

Dec

Cormack David

22

Dec

Conlon George

25

Dec

Wilmott George

03

Jan

Kearl Capt DV

08

Jan

10

Jan

Gillespie Hill Maj AB

12

Jan

Hills Ron KRRC

?

Jan

Wynne Capt ORW

22

Jan

English Edmond

22

Jan

Dowden Lt Col RSC

23

Jan

Riley James B

24

Jan

Riley David

24

Jan

Webb Jim G

24

Jan

Mann Capt John L

29

Jan

Edwards Frederick R

02

Feb

Haines Robert (60th)

07

Feb

Burke James J

10

Feb

Gyue Ken

11

Feb

The Battle of Two Sisters

Pontifex Brig David

19

Feb

The Battle of Wireless Ridge took place on the night of 13 and 14 June.

Royle Ken (60th)

18

Feb

Hind Major John

23

Feb

OHanlan Joey KRRC

09

Mar

Also on the night of 13 – 14 June the assault on Mount Tumbledown began and succeeded in driving Argentinian forces from the mountain.

Parkin Eddie

09

Mar

Lendrum Bill

09

Mar

Cyster Martin

?

Mar

Matless Trevor R

08

Apr

Lowther, Sir John

11

Apr

Welsh PM, Maj Gen

17

Apr

Scott Major F

?

Apr

Brieley, Fred

26

Apr

Walsh, Micky J 2GJ

08

May

Pozzoli, Frank KRRC

08

May

Bower Massey, Robin 19

May

Fortuna C/Sgt KC KIA

23

May

Gault (Jock) Joseph

24

May

Overy David

31

May

Sands JA (Paddy)

04

June

Lamb Rfn MJ KIA

05

June

McCraken Peter

06

June

On 31 May, the Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre defeated Argentine Special Forces at the Battle of Top Malo House.

By 1 June, with the arrival of a further 5,000 British troops of the 5th Infantry Brigade, Major General Jeremy Moore had sufficient forces to start an offensive against Stanley.

During this build-up, on 8th June the Argentine air assaults on the British naval forces continued, killing 56. Of the dead, 32 were from the Welsh Guards on RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram.

On 11-12 June three battles took place in a brigade-size operation on the same night.

These were: The Battle of Mount Harriet The Battle of Mount Longdon

A cease fire was declared on 14 June and the commander of the Argentine garrison in Stanley, Brigade General Mario Menéndez surrendered to Major General Jeremy Moore the same day.

Researched and compiled by the Editor, Ken Ambrose.

,Maynard Tony