The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association
Ezine NEWSLETTER Volume 4 Issue 1
15 June 2012
Welcome to the 10th edition of the RGJRA Ezine Newsletter published on 15th June 2012. To ensure that you get your copy always make sure you keep your email address up to date and empty your mailbox frequently. Current distribution for this issue is to 3187 of 5852 database users.
Contents Page Title 1. Foreword 2. Forecast of Events 3. A Message from the Chairman Applications and Renewal of RGJRA Subscription 4. HM The Queen RGJRA - Contact list 5. Reports from the Branches 8. Veterans Welfare Service Armed Forces Day 9. UKNDA 10. Reunion 14 July 2012 Financial top ps 11. Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme 12. Stanford Hall 30th Anniversary of Regents Park Bombing 13. The Armed Forces Covenant in Ac on? Bri sh Forces News 14. 2 RIFLES 2012 RGJ Officers’ Club Dinner 15. 4 RIFLES War Pension Veteran`s Status Card 16 Combat Stress Milestone for Poppy Appeal 17. Veterans’ Homelessness 19. Care for Casual es 22. Swi and Bold 23. Royal Albert Hall 8 October Charity Concert in Winchester 24. Napoleon and The Rifles 25. New Books 26. RGJ Museum 28. Suffolk Branch’s Dinner Dance 29. The Gurkha Welfare Trust 30. Calais War Memorial 31. Rifles Direct 32. Memory of Lt Paul Mervis 33. Did you serve with Peter Hamilton? 34. In Memoriam
FOREWORD Welcome to the first E-Zine of 2012. It is hard to believe that we are already half-way through the year! This year is the one for me to spread the load a little more as far as our publications and the Photographic web site are concerned. The Photo site can be still be found at www.rgjphotos. org.net and has been running for a few years now. As time has gone on I have found increasingly that because of other priorities I could not spare the project the time it deserved for the complete rebuild that it badly needed. As if to answer that need Seamus Lyons, formerly KRRC and 2RGJ 1963-77, has found himself at a loose end and approached me looking for something that would make use of the considerable skills and experience he has acquired in web site creation and maintenance. When I asked him if he would be willing to take over as Photo site Webmaster he agreed straight away. That was several weeks back and Seamus is now heavily involved in rebuilding the Photo site and it should not be too long before he is ready to launch it. Watch that space! I have seen a sample of the new design and I think you will like the result. As far as publications are concerned most of you will be aware that since it started three years ago I have been editing and building the pages for the E-Zine and more recently
the Swift and Bold magazine. Unless you were in receipt of the annual KRRC Journal you will probably not be familiar with the name Arne Bergsand. He used to live in London for a number of years and worked as a publisher there but Arne did not serve in the regiment, however ever since becoming a member of the KRRC Association he has been a great Green Jacket enthusiast. He has also been the man behind the design and production of the KRRC Journal for the last 18 years but his health problems have dictated that he needs to take things a little more easily and following his doctors’ advice he moved out from London and returned to his native Sweden. He has now offered to use his publishing experience to assist me. The editing and distribution of the publication can be quite time consuming, and Arne`s assistance with the production of the E-Zine will lighten my load considerably. Please be aware that the Publications and Web Site Team are all volunteers who use their skills and give up a lot of their free time for the benefit of the Association and its members. I thank you in advance for your appreciation of the work they do on your behalf and hope that you will enjoy this issue of the RGJ Regimental Association E-Zine. KCA
E-Zine Newse er is published by the Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on on 15 June, 15 September and 15 December each year. Editor: Ken Ambrose Deputy editor: Major Ron Cassidy MBE Design & Produc on: Arne Bergsand Copyright 2012 © Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on.
RGJRA E-Zine 15 Jun 2012 Page 2
CALENDAR Forecast Of Events June 2012 - Sept 2012 Date June 15 16 16 16 17 21 21-22 23 23 29 30
Event
Contact
Sounding Retreat Shrewsbury Bligny Church Service Shrewsbury LI Associa on Reunion Shrewsbury D and D Officers’ Club Lunch Larkhill RIFLES Freedom Parade Poole, Dorset Celer et Audax Club, Regimental Lunch at Cavalry & Guards Club, London The Farmers Boys (DERR) Golf Mee ng, Erlestoke Sands RIFLES Freedom Newham, Newham, London Monte Cassino Dinner Newquay 5 RIFLES Medals Parade Paderborn, Germany Armed Forces Day, Na onal event in Plymouth
Shrewsbury Office Shrewsbury Office Shrewsbury Office Exeter Office Exeter Office London Office Salisbury Office 7 RIFLES Bodmin Office 5 RIFLES
01743 262 425 01743 262 425 01743 262 425 01962 492 435 01962 492 435 0207 491 4936 01722 414 536 0207 491 4936 01208 72810
Salisbury Office Salisbury Office Pontefract Office Salisbury Office
01722 414 536 01962 828524 01977 703181 01722 414 536
Salisbury Office
01722 414 536
Salisbury Office
01722 414 536
Oxford Office Shrewsbury Winchester Salisbury Office RHQ London Office London Office Salisbury Office
01235 548 018 01743 262 425 01296 828 549 01722 414 536 01962 828 524 0207 491 4935 0207 491 4935 01722 414 536
Gloucester Office
01452 311 116
Salisbury Office
01722 414536
25 27
RIFLES Cricket Week (Includes Inter Bn T20 – 6 Jul) St Cross RGBW Officers’ Club Lunch Salisbury Rifles Freedom & Homecoming Parade Doncaster The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Associa on All Ranks Reunion – Dinner & Dance South Wiltshire Golf Club The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Associa on All Ranks Reunion – Drumhead Service and Lunch Salisbury Unveiling and Dedica on of RGBW Regimental Memorial Na onal Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffs RGJ Reunion & Sounding Retreat Veterans Day Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester RIFLES Sounding Retreat and CTP Hereford Talk and Book Signing By Vic Gregg, 1100hrs RGJ (Rifles) Museum LI Club Lunch Salisbury Salamanca Ba lefield Tour Spain 30th Anniversary of Regents Park Bombing, Regents Park KRRC AGM AT 1400hrs 52-56 Davies Street, London The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Associa on All Ranks Reunion – Maiwand Service & Dinner Brock Barracks, Reading WOs & Sgts Past & Present Reunion (Gloster) The Gables Hotel, Falfield, South Gloucestershire Salamanca Day – Regimental Day The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Associa on All Ranks Reunion – Service & Parade at the Cenotaph - Brock Barracks, Reading Celer et Audax Regimental Dinner Cavalry & Guards Club, London Olympics – Opening Ceremony London
RHQ
01296 828 524
Aug 3 12 25
Slasher’s Golf Mee ng Brickhampton, Gloucestershire Olympics – Closing Ceremony London The Rifle Brigade Regimental Birthday
Gloucester Office
01452 311 11
Sep 1 7-8 7-9 8 8 12
C4C Gala Evening Hereford RIFLES Golf Mee ng St Enodoc. DLI Reunion Weekend Durham DLI/RIFLES Northern Dinner Durham Rally Day LI/DCLI Bodmin RGJA Oxford Branch Lunch Edward Brooks Bks, Abingdon
Shrewsbury Office Bodmin Office Durham Office Durham Office Bodmin Office Oxford Office
01743 262 425 01208 72810 01913 865 496 01913 865 496 01208 72810 01235 548 018
July 3-8 7 7 7 8 12 14 14 14 15 18-23 20 20 21 21 22 22
RGJRA E-Zine 15 Jun 2012 Page 3
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN (DESIGNATE) BRIGADIER HUGH WILLING
I am very honoured to be taking over as your Chairman of the Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association from Colonel John Poole-Warren who has provided a very firm hand on the tiller for the last ten years. He has done a wonderful job in that capacity as well as being the Regimental Secretary before, during and after the formation of the RIFLES at a time of huge change for the Infantry. On your behalf I would
like to offer Colonel John our gratitude for his wisdom and guidance, and the time he has devoted to making the Association so vibrant and active during his tenure. The Association is flourishing in all corners of the United Kingdom, and if you are reading this and are not a member, then you need to sign up immediately! My tenure as Chairman will start after the RGJ Veterans’ Day at Sir John Moore Bks, Winchester which takes place on 14th July and will be John P-W’s last occasion in the chair. Please come along to support him and your fellow Riflemen on this most enjoyable Regimental occasion. For those who do not know me I served with all three Regular Battalions and at the Rifle Depot during the period 1971 to 1995 retiring in 2007. And my elder son is currently serving with 2 RIFLES as Operations Officer,
recently back from Afghanistan, so I can still be kept in touch with the current generation of Riflemen. The worthiness of our successor Regiment in following those strong Riflemen’s traditions that were so distinctive during our time as Green Jackets is clearly evident. I was recently in Ballykinler with 2 RIFLES and I can assure you that a fitter, leaner and smarter group of soldiers serving the Queen in this her Diamond Jubilee year would be hard to find. Our Association can only be as strong as it is because of the many dedicated and selfless former Riflemen who do so much for the Regional Associations and as Members on your Management Committee. I look forward to working with them and to seeing you at one of our many events in the future. HCGW
Applications and Renewal of RGJ Regimental Association Annual Subscriptions by Card Payments With immediate effect anyone wishing to apply for or renew their annual Association membership subscription will be able to pay over the telephone by debit or credit card transaction. To pay your subscription in this way please call the Membership Secretary, Mike Marr, on 01235 548 018 between the hours of 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. He is available to receive payments on most days.
Editor Notes Tel: 01296 711967 email: ken.ambrose1@btinternet.com Please remember that this publication is only intended for on screen viewing and that attempts to print out these pages may not produce good results. 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.
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HM The Queen Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Green Jackets This year Her Majesty The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. Only one other British Monarch in history, Queen Victoria, has reigned for 60 years or more. The Queen is the second longest serving monarch. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. They are: • Victoria (63 years) • George III (59 years) • Henry III (56 years) • Edward III (50 years) • James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years) The Queen’s real birthday is on 21st
April, but it is celebrated officially in June. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular audiences to 12 Prime Ministers. They are: • Winston Churchill 1951-55 • Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57 • Harold Macmillan 1957-63 • Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64 • Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76 • Edward Heath 1970-74 • James Callaghan 1976-79 • Margaret Thatcher 1979-90 • John Major 1990-97 • Tony Blair 1997-2007 • Gordon Brown 2007-2010 • David Cameron 2010 - present
1961, 1963, 1968, 1983 and 1999 when she was either pregnant or overseas on an official visit. The Queen has been at the saluting base of her troops in every Trooping the Colour ceremony since the start of her reign, with the exception of 1955.
The Queen has laid her wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday every year of her reign, except in 1959,
Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association Contact list as at 1 June 2012 President Chairman Secretary Treasurer RGJRA Webmaster Database Manager
Maj Gen J Balfour CBE DL Lt Col J Poole-Warren Lt Col J-D von Merveldt Mr Mike Marr Mr Kevin Stevens Mr Ken Ambrose
admin@rgjassocia on.info regsec@the-rifles.co.uk london@the-rifles.co.uk oxford@the-rifles.co.uk webmaster@rgjassocia on.info membersdatabase@royalgreenjackets.co.uk
Branches Australian Branch Aylesbury Branch Band and Bugles London Branch East Midlands Branch Midlands Central Branch Milton Keynes Branch North East Branch N. Ireland Branch North West Branch Shropshire Branch Suffolk Branch Telford Branch Winchester Branch Wiltshire Branch Yorkshire Branch
Mr Chris McDonald Mr Alan Grant Mr Dave Timms Mr Gary Driscoll Mr Mar n Coates Mr Peter Page Mr G Brewer Mr John (Jake) Cheetham Mr Len Cook Mr Ray Gerrard Mr Tom Fairclough Mr Gordon Pilcher Mr John Brown Mr John Harper Mr Gary Byrne Mr Stuart Anderson
cvmcdonald@bigpond.com alanrgrant@aol.com secretary@rgjband.com rgjldn@ntlworld.com mar nswi andbold@yahoo.co.uk petepage71@hotmail.com g_brewer@b nternet.com rgj.nort.east@b nternet.com lenny.cook@b nternet.com ray.gerrard@talktalk.net tomfairclough@fsmail.net gordon.pilcher@ntlworld.com rgjtelford@talktalk.net johnh2395@fsmail.net glm1114@b nternet.com paulcors@hotmail.co.uk
Note: With effect 15 July 2012 the new Chairman, Brigadier Hugh Willing, will be in the chair. His details below should replace those of the outgoing Chairman, Lt Col. John Poole-Warren on that date; Chairman Brig HCG Willing CBE hugh.willing@gmail.com
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RGJRA North East Branch Report 2011-2012 The Branch is still recruiting in the North East. We recruited 3 new members in the last few months, 30 members plus attend our meetings. The next meeting will be on 11 May where our President Brigadier Nicholas and Amanda Prideaux will be in attendance. Our aim this year remains to contact and recruit ex members of The Royal Green Jackets and Rifles. We believe there are over 100 future members still to be become Riflemen again. Since the last RGJRA meeting the Branch had a busy social time in Sunderland: Army v North East Boxing night. Brother in Arms Memorial Parade followed by a Black tie dinner at the Stadium of Light. The memorial cost £130.000.00 and has taken 2 years achieve this amount. 180 members and families attended the North East Reunion and 85 members turned out for the Remembrance Parade. The Mayor of Sunderland had Lunch with our Members and was presented with a framed Regimental Badge. The Chairman attended the Mayor of Sunderland Veterans Lunch at the Mayor's Parlour. Sunderland will hold a Tattoo for this year’s Veterans Day. Many members are travelling down to Winchester for the Veterans Day on 14th July. Members will be attending the Rifles Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Our Reunion for 2012 will be on 10th November at the Roker Hotel in Sunderland. The 2012 Remembrance Parade in Sunderland (the largest outside London) will have the RGJ contingent leading all Veterans on the Parade. The Committee are planning a Christmas or New Year’s party at The Stadium of Light.
Royal Green Jackets Association Winchester Branch Well we started 2012 at the County Arms on the 1st Jan to celebratethe founding of the Royal Green Jackets, the bar stayed open all day for members and their families also a free buffet was laid on, some members stayed for an hour, others stayed all day. The members all enjoyed themselves. The first formal meeting we had was on the 10th Jan. at the SGT &WO Mess in St John Moore Barracks, this was so we could formulate what we would be doing as a branch for the coming year. In Feb we had our AGM when we elected John Harper as thenext branch Secretary there was no takers for the other offices, so that was the only change. March we had a quiz night which was won by Del Milam and Alan Low but there was no prize. A good evening
was had by all that attended. In April it was our formal meeting where one of the subjects that was brought up and talked about, was the Memorial Gardens, within St John Moore Barracks which our branch has taken on.Del Milam who is head of the project hopes to have it ready for the Veterans Day in July, so far the weather has been against us, but will probably change for the better.
is when we look forward to seeing old friends. After Veterans Day the branch has a break until September. In September Pete French is organizing this branches battlefield tour to Dover and Chatham Historic Dockyard with lunch on board HMS GANNET, photos and report in the next issue of the magazine.
May is a busy month for the branch on the 15th we had a social evening where the war stories were abound. On the 30th we are going to take on the Sgt & WO mess St John Moore Barracks at clay pigeon shooting more about that in the next issue of the magazine. Our next meeting in June is when we do our Veterans Day planning, which
Battle Field Tour Ypres 2011.
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Royal Green Jackets Association Wiltshire Branch The Wiltshire Branch held its last meeting of 2011 on December 1st, and then on Friday the 9th helped at the Hunters Moon with a carol concert, in aid of H4H, this event raised over £1,500 we hope to help again in 2012, and if so will ask for 50% to go to C 4 C, Phil and Val Ashby put in a full day preparing the venue, our last event of 2011 was our Christmas Eve very informal drinks party and a surprise 50th for Al McCoy, a very good afternoon was had by all with many staying on into the evening! We held our AGM on January 5th in Warminster Conservative Club, and as the committee all said they were willing to stay in post no one else volunteered to take over, so we stay as we were. Chairman Secretary Treasure Entertainments Webmaster
Brian Darvill Gary Byrne Bill Tyson Phil Ashby Lee Massey
Our social events for the year got under way on February 11th with a ladies dinner night held in the Weymouth Arms, Warminster we had a total of 40 members and guests sit down, it was good to see Billy Hughes along with his wife up from Poole, another good evening was had by all. Early March brought the sad news that 3 Yorks advance party had lost 6 soldiers in Afghanistan, this saw our Chairman on local TV and radio in his other post as Vice Chairman of Warminster Royal British Legion, We were then on parade on the 16th, with Brian Darvill, Bill Tyson, Kev Chambers, Tom Willoughby and others with our Banner for The Duke of York who took the salute in Warminster's High Street for 3 Yorks pre-deployment parade. Also in March we had the sad news that Francis Attwater had died, although Francis was not a member of the Branch he paraded with us at the war memorial each November, he was also Brian Darvill's first platoon commander in 1 Green
Jackets 43rd & 52nd, Berlin 1965, Many Ox & Bucks, and RGJ ties were in the Minster Church for his Service of Thanksgiving, not many people could fill this large church but Francis did, he will be missed in November. April 22nd saw us again in the Hunters Moon for our St Georges Day lunch, which went on late into the afternoon. May 27th we had The Regimental flag, Branch Banner, and rugby shirts out, with members and wives, Phil and Val Ashby, Val's sister Pat, Kev Chambers, Lee and Gwyneth Massey, Brian and Blanche Darvill, Chris Byrne, this time we were in Heytsbury village, near Warminster giving assistance to The Royal British Legion, with a water point for the Forces March Ilfracombe to Bulford, on a very hot day it was good to see so many runners still in the event as they came through on day five, it was also good to see many Ox & Bucks and Royal Green Jackets among the support staff, Rifle green was the colour of the day! Photos of our events can be seen on the main Association web site, can any one identify the RGJ Poppy? Events coming along: • June 3rd will see us in Warminster park for a Picnic in the Park for HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. • July 5th Meeting at 20:00 hours in Warminster Conservative Club. • August 11th Glam rock BBQ. As we go to print we have to report that Al McCoy is in Salisbury Hospital, we wish him a speedy recovery. Brian Darvill PS We wish our member from Poole, Billy Hughes, good luck as he departs on his seven day cycle ride in aid of C4C. God speed and a safe return home to Billy, and his support team. (See article on page 22.)
Royal Green Jackets Association North East Branch Welcome once again to the North East Branch of the RGJ association and its entry to the Enzine. On Saturday 26 May 2012, the City of Sunderland gave the freedom of the City to HMS Ocean and its crew, Sunderland’s adopted warship. They marched through the City accompanied by the RRF Regimental band to receive their freedom certificates from the Lady Mayor. Sadly, none of us were able to attend this event due to prior commitments. These included the booking of our standard and bearer who attended the funeral of Nick ”Butch “Butcher in Perth on the 28 May 2012. Our deepest sympathy goes to all his family and friends and I believe a group of Rfn from all over the country were attending to give him a true RGJ (To be con nued on next page)
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(Con nued from previous page)
send off. A list of the Northeast’s forthcoming events are noted below. If anyone wishes to attend, please contact the numbers shown to obtain your required tickets. 2 June 2012: Durham Cathedral • 11:00 - 12:30 Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service • 19:30 - 21:30 The Tallis Scholars. A musical feast spanning the centuries. Tickets from the Gala Theatre Box Office 0191 332 4041 3 June 2012: HM Queen’s Jubilee Thames River Pageant 12 June 2012: Diamond Jubilee Service - St Paul’s London 30 June 2012: • Armed Forces Day, Sunderland Tattoo. Tickets are available online from Ticket Source at Washington Centre the Tourist Information Centre, Fatfield, Washington. £10 for Adults and £5 for under 14s. R Holman will be our Standard Bearer with S Bonallie as escort. • Freedom of the Town Spennymoor ‘ D’ (RIFLES) Company, 3 Rifles will parade through Spennymoor. Overseas Events: 14 July 2012: Veterans Day – Winchester annual pilgrimage hotels and other accommodation are fast being booked up, if you wish to go get booked up asap. 18-23 July 2012: Rifles Battlefield Tour - Salamanca, Spain if anyone wishes to go contact RHQ. 18 October 2012: Rifle Musical Extravaganza - Royal Albert Hall once again these tickets are going fast so if you wish to attend contact the Royal Albert hall. November: Remembrance Branch Functions. Our usual location for this annual function has had to be changes due to circumstances beyond our control. However, we have located a new venue and negotiated a good deal with the new venue, the Roker Hotel, and with the kindness of D Nichols who is sponsoring this event. Huge thanks to you Dave for this gesture. I must stress that the change of venue means that all tickets must be booked and paid for prior to September 2012 and no entry to the function without a prior booking or ticket will be allowed. You cannot pay on the night to gain entry. There are to date a number of rooms at the Roker Hotel still available to book but do not book online, just ring the hotel and tell them you are a Northeast member of The RGJ association to obtain the discount they are providing. Failing this, there are numerous Premiere Inns and Travel Lodges close by with rooms for as little as £19.00 per night if you book early enough. The programme of events for the remembrance weekend is laid out below: 10-11 November 2012: Remembrance Night at the Roker Hotel. The event is being sponsored by Nichol Associates making the cost £7.50. The tickets include: - female singer & disco, auction raffle (Sunderland Shirt & Ball), grand draw, buffet, buglers to play at some point during the night. The Sunday parade 0915hrs at civic centre. A wreath will be laid by K Wilson for 25 years service. I Longworth will lay the wreath in 2013. Lunch & Singer will commence 12.45 onwards at the Roker Hotel. Afterwards we will retire to the Queen Vic Hotel a few hundred yards away to finish off the night. NEW YEARS EVE GALA BALL: Stadium of Light £59.95 per person. Includes: Champagne reception, five course meal, coffee, band and disco. Countdown and live piper at midnight with bacon rolls served at 12.30 am. Each table holds 10 people - if you would like to attend please let Naomi Loftus know as soon as possible – 07709 167 196. Congratulations Bob Coulson & Tommy Suggitt on reaching 60. Eamonn & Naomi Loftus on becoming grandparents Just a little note of history from Tommy Suggit. Tommy came across a story concerning Rfn Chris Marsant who was shot and and killed accidently by an unnamed Rfn in Ireland during the early 20th century. The story relates that on the 18 May 1921, Rfn Marsant had left camp and had one or ten too many pints of ale at the local hostelry, returned to camp, forgetting the pass word, subsequently was tragically shot dead by a Rifleman on guard duty. Rfn Chris Marsant was serving with the 2nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade. Well gentlemen, that about wraps up our Enzine entry for this period. May I wish you and yours the best of health and I shall look forward to seeing lots of you in July. Swift and Bold. Malcolm Donnison Editor North East Branch
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Veterans Welfare Service The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Veterans and beneficiaries of SPVA pensions and compensation schemes, and all their dependants. It also focuses upon providing support that will enable the seamless transition from Service to Civilian life, assist bereaved families or respond to key life events that present welfare needs. It achieves this by adopting a single central coordinating role that facilitates access to all appropriate services. The VWS provides a caseworker approach that offers professional help and guidance through either telephone contact or a dedicated visiting service, Under Veterans UK the VWS works in collaborative partnerships with the tri-Services, ex-Service charities, statutory and non-statutory bodies, local community service providers and Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee’s to deliver a quality welfare service that promotes independence, maintains dignity and provides continuous support through life. How to Contact the Welfare Service
Norcross (based near Blackpool) Tel 01253 333494 Email SPVA-VWSNorcross@mod.uk Kidderminster (based in Worcester) Tel 01562 825527 Email SPVA-VWSKidderminster@mod.uk Centurion (based in Gosport) Tel 02392 702232 Email SPVAVWSCENTURION@SPVA.mod.uk Imjin (based in Gloucester) Tel 01452 510825 Email VWS-innsworth@spva.mod.uk Glasgow Tel 0141 2242709 Email VWS-Glasgow@spva.mod.uk If you are supporting a veteran and need further advice, it might be worth contacting our Welfare Service to see if we can help too. To locate your nearest Veterans Welfare Centre call the free helpline on 0800 169 2277
The SPVA Veterans Welfare Service has five Welfare Centres, providing advice and support across the UK. The contact details for each office are:
ARMED FORCES DAY (NATIONAL EVENT) 30 June 2012
Plymouth has been chosen to host this year’s Armed Forces Day national event and is organising a spectacular day of exhibitions and displays on land, on sea and in the air. The day will be centred on Plymouth Hoe and there will be a packed programme of activities for families to enjoy, as well as late afternoon and evening entertainment on the Hoe and the Barbican. The city will play host to many important guests and thousands of visitors from home and abroad. The full programme of events, activities and entertainment will be published here soon. In the meantime please see our ‘Plymouth promises a first class programme for Armed Forces Day’ news story. For more information about the Armed Forces Day initiative and celebrations taking place across the UK visit the Armed Forces Day website at http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/Listing.aspx There is also an Armed Forces Day page on Facebook and you can follow the latest news on Twitter.
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The United Kingdom National Defence association The purpose of the UKNDA is to campaign for sufficient, appropriate and fully funded Armed Forces that the nation needs to defend effectively the United Kingdom, its people, their security and vital interests wherever they may be.
of these requirements, and not in isolation. Britain and British interests worldwide are constantly at risk from international terrorism as well as from rogue states. This means we need a strong commitment to collective security with other democracies.
Britain’s Armed Forces – Under-funded and overstretched Over the past 25 years the percentage of the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) invested in defence has been remorselessly reduced (from over 5% to barely 2.2%). This under-funding results in inadequate numbers of personnel and equipment.
If we are to maintain our leading international role (UN Security Council), uphold our Treaty obligations (NATO) and play our full part in the world community, alongside the US, we need to enhance our military capability, not reduce it. After years of chronic under-funding, during which time the UK has been forced to ‘punch above its budget’, defence funding must be increased to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Politicians of all parties chant the mantra that “Defence is the first priority of Government” – but the evidence shows otherwise. Defence is low and getting steadily lower in the nation’s list of priorities. All three Armed Services have been repeatedly reduced in size and capability so that they are now chronically over-stretched for the tasks they are given.
Failure to do so will inevitably lead to a significant reduction in Britain’s international influence, as well as irreparable damage to our ability to defend ourselves and secure our borders, our trade routes, our energy supplies and our vital economic interests around the world. What the UKNDA proposes:
Despite the Government’s in-depth Strategic Defence Review twelve years ago (SDR ’98) our Armed Forces’ commitments have not been properly funded, leading to successive further reviews in which recommendations have been excessively ‘adjusted’ or abandoned altogether. The recommendations of SDR ’98 have all but vanished from sight. In judging the necessary requirements of all three Armed Services it must be remembered that for the past twelve years – uniquely among the major government departments – the MoD received virtually no increase in its budget in real terms, i.e. what that budget could buy. This is because the cost of equipment has increased 6% to 8% a year, far in excess of general inflation. Hence the Services were starved of necessary resources while having six unforeseen conflicts to fight (Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq). So the starting point for considering general cuts across the public sector needs to allow for the fact that the scope for defence cuts is small to non-existent. Britain could of course abandon its historic roles of protecting its global interests and its major commitment to global peace and security but this would be at a terrible price to defence of the realm. No other nation or alliance would be obliged to protect our interests, and the many and growing threats would remain. Defence policy is inextricably linked to national and international security and to the nation’s foreign policy. Funding for defence must therefore be seen in the context
We urge politicians of all parties and persuasions to support and commit to an immediate and sustained real increase in the percentage of GDP allocated annually for defence from its current 2.2% to at least 3%; this would represent an increase of 35-40% over present levels of funding. For more than a quarter of a century governments of all persuasions have constantly cut defence funding and lowered defence in the nation’s list of priorities. Money ‘saved’ from the defence budgets has been poured into the big-spending departments – health, education and, above all, ‘welfare’ in all its many forms. The UKNDA contends that the severe over-stretch and under-funding of our Armed Forces, and the adverse effect this has upon the nation’s defence, dictates that it is now ‘payback time’. We must stop the salami-slicing of the Armed Forces. Instead, year on year, we need to take just a penny in the pound – 1% – from the inflated budgets of the big-spending departments and reallocate the sums saved to the defence of the United Kingdom. Put truth back into the oft-repeated claims of all politicians that: DEFENCE IS THE FIRST PRIORITY OF ANY GOVERNMENT.
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TIMINGS FOR THE WINCHESTER VETERAN`S DAY REUNION 14th JULY 2012 1400hrs 1800hrs 1815hrs 1850hrs 0100hrs
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Gates open at Sir John Moore Barracks1400hrs - 1745hrs Bar open and Static Displays Form up for Parade Parade Service (Drum Head)1830hrs Chairman`s Address followed by March Past Sounding Retreat 1930hrs Bar and Restaurant re-open Closes
Please note that at the Winchester reunion a £5 entrance fee will be charged for members and a £10 entrance fee will be charged for none members. The £10 fee will be recognised as one year’s annual subscription to the Association.
Financial top tips for Service personnel A DEFENCE POLICY AND BUSINESS NEWS ARTICLE Jan 2012 A series of 'top tips' offering Service personnel practical advice on financial issues has been produced by the Government and representative bodies from the financial sector. within their membership of the unique nature of life in the Armed Forces and of the need to avoid disadvantage.
As part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the MOD is working with several organisations to improve the ability of Armed Forces personnel to gain access to a wider number of commercial products and financial services, and reduce associated difficulties that are often experienced because of their unique lifestyle. Many serving personnel continue to experience difficulty in accessing commercial products and services, due in part to their mobility and time spent outside the UK on overseas postings. The Government has worked with representative bodies from the financial sector (including the UK Cards Association, the British Bankers' Association, the Finance and Leasing Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Building Societies Association) to raise awareness
They have produced a series of 'top tips' offering practical help for serving personnel applying for secured (mortgages) and unsecured (mobile phone contracts, motor finance, credit cards) loans. The guidance notes offer advice as to which information Service personnel should have available to allow a lender to best assess their application for credit, and ways of improving credit applications, such as registering to vote. The aim of the top tips is to highlight some of the common difficulties faced by the Services' mobile population in acquiring credit and provide guidance on how to overcome or minimise these difficulties. The top tips are the first step in a programme of work that will be rolled out during 2012, including improving the way in which credit reference agencies maintain credit profiles for Armed Forces personnel, and better enabling fair access to sources of credit such as
mortgages. The MOD is also working with the Standard Life Charitable Trust and the Royal British Legion who are developing a new financial education programme to be implemented in Spring 2012. All of these initiatives will help members of the Armed Forces to gain the same access to products and services as the general public, despite the demands of Service life, and the mobility that is a part of it. The MOD will continue to work with banks and building societies on improving lending to Service personnel. The Defence Discount Scheme is already in operation and enhanced access will be available next year. The Community Covenant may encourage local businesses to offer further tailored support to Armed Forces personnel in accessing public and commercial services. Finally, we expect to see the rollout of a new system, in Spring 2012, to help overcome difficulties in maintaining a credit rating whilst living at British Forces Post Office addresses.
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Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme gives politicians a taste of military life For many, the machinations of the Westminster village may seem a world away. But, like it or not, the decisions made there affect us all. So, when Parliament is moulding our future, it would be nice to think that those expressing their views at least know what they are talking about.
commit to spending 22 days on the scheme in the first year, and 20 days each year if they come back for the second and third level. The MPs attach themselves to a Service of their choice and at some stage during the year embed with their chosen unit for five consecutive days:
Yet for the more active among us, leaving such things to chance is not an option. Which is why, 24 years ago, philanthropist Sir Neil Thorne founded the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS):
For people whose diaries are groaning with engagements, signing up is a huge commitment. But it is clearly considered to be worth it. Even politicians who have direct and recent experience of Defence.
One problem facing MPs who want to learn about what makes the military mind tick is getting access to troops at a working level. When they do have contact with the Armed Forces, for example, as a member of a select committee, the opportunities for MPs to get a good understanding of what life is like for the troops are rare:
The public, too, are pushing the defence agenda and Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards has encouraged every peer and Member of Parliament to sign up to the scheme. After the last election, when MPs were quizzed on constituency doorsteps about Afghanistan, 74 MPs said they wanted to sign up to the AFPS:
So, from the outset, the idea behind the scheme was to give politicians from all the main parties a chance to get access at an appropriate level. This means getting MPs into a uniform sweating alongside soldiers, sailors or airmen. Over the last two decades the AFPS has expanded to include Members of the House of Lords, MEPs, and even the occasional flash of pinstripe can be seen:
With the well being of those who comprise the Armed Forces ever close to his heart, Sir Neil sees another equally important role for his initiative: “I always say to the MPs on the scheme, ‘look, the Admirals, Generals and Air Marshals always have avenues they can follow to make their points - it’s the soldiers, sailors and airmen who haven’t got a line to the Secretary of State, that are relying on you to speak up for them’.”
Each year a two-day introduction to Defence is held at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham where MPs get to experience the nuts and bolts of military life. They learn about the role of the military in a democracy, the strategic context for defence, and how forces are generated to achieve military strategic objectives. Discussions are mixed in with practical sessions where attendees get to handle equipment and have their knees buckle under the weight of a Bergen. Those who want to carry on must
Sir Neil Thorne, Chairman of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
(This arƟcle is taken from the April 2012 ediƟon of Defence Focus the magazine for everyone in Defence.)
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STANFORD HALL TO BECOME THE DEFENCE AND NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRE IN THE MIDLANDS Britain's richest landowner has bought a historic Leicestershire estate and wants to turn it into a rehabilitation centre for wounded servicemen. The Duke of Westminster is the proud new owner of Stanford Hall, the 360-acre country estate, near Loughborough. for the past couple of years. This property has been acquired to test its suitability as a potential site. If so, it is the Duke’s intention to donate the site to the project in addition to making a further major contribution to the cause.
Duke of Westminster
With an estimated £6.7 billion to his name from an inherited fortune including real estate in central London, the Duke has purchased the grade II-listed hall, gardens and grounds from businessman Chek Whyte for an undisclosed amount. The 59-year-old aristocrat wants to create a “clinical rehabilitation” centre for military personnel and civilians. A spokesman for the Duke said: “Stanford Hall has recently been bought for the express purpose of housing a potential charitable project focusing on the future of clinical rehabilitation in the UK, both military and civilian.” The Duke has been working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on a feasibility study into setting up a Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre in the Midlands. The spokesmen said: “He has been personally involved in this project
“As part of the project, a planning application will need to be developed and submitted to the local authority for approval. “The project team will be working closely with the local authority to agree a programme for a community consultation, which will include a public exhibition of the proposals and the opportunity to comment on the emerging scheme.” Stanford Hall was chosen due to its proximity to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Royal College of Defence Medicine in Birmingham. Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox told Parliament on Thursday that Stanford Hall could be the first of 14 regional rehabilitation centres, with a further two in Germany. He said: “The initiative was his (the Duke’s) from the outset and it was he who generously funded the feasibility study. “His generosity has extended to the acquisition of the site so that,
as a first step, a dialogue with the planning authority can take place to explore the site’s potential.” The project is supported by the Royal British Legion (RBL) and Help for Heroes charity. Jim Rowlinson, chairman of Leicestershire and Rutland RBL, said: “Stanford Hall would be an ideal location for such as prestigious project. Such rehabilitation centres are in short supply and the Duke should be commended for his actions.” The move has also delighted residents in neighbouring villages Rempstone and Wymeswold who have campaigned against alternative proposals for the site, the last of which were plans, since withdrawn, to use it as a venue for music festivals. Wymeswold resident Robert Waterfall, 69, said: “A rehabilitation centre would be an ideal use for the hall – certainly better than flats or a festival venue.” Frances McKim, chairman of Stanford-on-Soar Parish Council, said: “I’m sure villagers will be absolutely delighted, especially as it’s for such an excellent cause.” Stanford Hall was built between 1771 and 1774 for Charles Vere Dashwood. In the past 100 years, it has been used as both a college and an agricultural holding.
30th Anniversary of Regents Park Bombing The 30th Anniversary of the Regents Park bombing will be held on 20 July at the Bandstand at 1130 hours for a brief ceremony and the laying of wreaths and flowers. We will remember those who died on that fateful day in 1982. Two buglers from Winchester will sound “Last Post”.
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Report: The Armed Forces Covenant in Action?
Part 1: Military Casualties
The Government must show how the excellent medical care being delivered to injured service personnel will conƟnue long aŌer the memory of the Afghan OperaƟon fades, says the Defence CommiƩee in its report, published today (15 December 2011), enƟtled: ‘The Armed Forces Covenant in AcƟon? Part 1: Military CasualƟes’. Concerns The report, which gives praise to the first class medical treatment provided for the Armed Forces, questions whether the support for
injured personnel will be sustainable over the long term. In particular, the committee is concerned about the number of people who may go on to develop severe and life-limiting, physical, mental health, alcohol or neurological problems. There is still a question mark over whether the Government as a whole fully understands the likely future demands and related costs. Chair of the committee, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot says, “We, as a committee, have seen how determined our injured servicemen and women
are to achieve the fullest possible recovery from their injuries. They see it as duty to get better and to return to their units if at all possible. And we have been impressed by the brave and skilful personnel, both military and civilian, who are providing the medical care that our Armed Forces need. But we need to have the confidence that such specific treatment, for injuries hardly ever seen in the general NHS experience, will continue long after an individual’s retirement and into old age.” Ministry of Defence In addition to providing first class medical treatment and rehabilitation both in theatre and back in the UK, the MoD also provides other support for severely injured personnel in their journey to health and return to
duty or to civilian life. It is too soon to say whether the individual service recovery pathways and the transition protocol with health authorities are working well but they represent steps in the right direction. Service charities The report also notes that the charities and Families Federations are making a significant contribution to the support of injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans and their families but fear that their contribution may be constrained if the level of charitable donations reduces substantially. The committee urges the charities and the MoD to work even more closely together and explore ways of ensuring that new capital projects provided by charities can be sustained into an era when current levels of donations may no longer be relied upon.
British Forces News Now available to watch in the UK
News presenter Kate Gerbeau
The British Forces Broadcasting Service's (BFBS's) flagship TV news programme - British Forces News - is now available to watch in the UK. British Forces News is currently transmitted in 17 countries every weeknight at 1830hrs CET (Central European Time) on BFBS1 and to Royal Navy ships through Navy TV. But now it's also being broadcast every weeknight at 1830hrs UK Time on Information TV, via Sky Channel 231 and Freesat Channel 402. British Forces News brings the latest stories that matter to British troops all around the forces
world, as well as to their families and friends and to veterans. Presented by Kate Gerbeau, the 30-minute news magazine features the latest stories from Afghanistan, Germany, Cyprus, the Falklands, and the many other locations worldwide where British forces live and work. British Forces News covers issues of warfare, defence policy and military strategy, and runs in-depth reports on matters relating to welfare and family life wherever British forces and their loved ones are located around the world. The British Forces News team operates 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week from its studios in Buckinghamshire, with regular live international reports from Afghanistan, where BFBS is the only broadcaster with two journalists based permanently at Camp Bastion.
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2 RIFLES TAKE OVER BRIGADE ADVISORY GROUP TASK Change of command 3 MERCIAN to 2 RIFLES The bulk of 2 Rifles has deployed as the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG), developing Afghan National Army (ANA) capacity and capability by supporting and enabling their operations in Helmand Province. ANA development is at the forefront of operations in Afghanistan and will be the main effort until the withdrawal of combat troops in Dec 2014. Working as the BAG will be hugely rewarding and extremely important in achieving the mission, as ISAF transition security responsibility to the Afghan National Security Forces. A and C Coy will be doing an equally important job, partnering ANA units, while under command of 5 Rifles, who will deploy as a Ground Holding Battlegroup. Finally, all elements of the battalion should be back in Ballykinler by May 2012.
Flag change has now taken place and the 2 Rifles Battlegroup has taken over the role as 3/215 Brigade Advisory Group. The main headquarters works out of the ANA Brigade headquarters in Camp Shorabak and Camp Tombstone.
2012 RGJ Officers’ Club Dinner The annual RGJ Officer’s Club Dinner again took place successfully at Davies Street on 13 Apr this year. Maj Gen Jamie Balfour was in the chair and 147 officers sat down to dinner. The format of running battalion group/ peer group/interest group tables has caught on and definitely brings in the punters and makes for a happy evening. Now that most of those attending are not still trying to climb up the greasy promotion pole it makes the seating
plan arrangements much easier. This year for a change we did not have any father and son combinations attending but the dinner was graced by the presences of two ladies who by virtue of having either held a commission in the RGJ or served on a long attachment qualified to attend in their own right. The fact that both subsequently married Green Jackets officers was neither here nor there! Catharine Trustram Eve and Melissa Shipton however insisted that they
wanted to sit nowhere near their husbands during dinner – their wish was granted. So it was not too difficult to do their seating plan as quite a number of officers requested to sit with them! As usual one officer turned up a week before and another the day before. Pictures were not taken on the evening as there is a general reluctance to admit to greying temples, thinning heads of hair and expanding waistlines! J-D v M
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4th Bn The RIFLES winners. The Bn Football Team and Rugby Team both reached the semi-finals of their respective cups. The culmination of our sporting success has resulted in 4 Rifles being awarded the GOC’s Challenge Cup for the best results in overall sport, fitness and adventurous training events. More information on 4 RIFLES is at http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5975.aspx 4 RIFLES in Bulford have ceased their 7 month period on high readiness as SLE and are about to rotate coys through BATUS (Canada) supporting other 1 Mech Bde BGs in Canada. B Coy Gp has deployed with 1 RRF BG on Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 1, while A and R Coy Gps prepare to deploy with 2 RTR BG on Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 2. All three coys will be augmented by Recce, FSG, Snipers and Mors. A Coy will re-role as Mech Inf for the exercise; battle grouping with BADGER Sqn (2 RTR) to operate in Bulldogs.
Major B. Hope-Hall OC A Coy
From the summer our Mission Specific Training starts in earnest for Op HERRICK 18 on Mar 13; preparing to fulfil the main effort as the Brigade Advisory Group. Recently the Bn reached the semi-finals of the Army Boxing Championships losing to the eventual
War Pension Veteran`s Status Card For those of you in receipt of a War Pension and not aware, you can now obtain a Veterans Status Card which is issued by the Veterans Agency. It is similar to an ID Card for Veterans, but there is no requirement for a photograph. In accordance with PLG Directive 48/2008 Status Cards are covered under Article 30412 and are supplied by the VA. It displays the SPVA Logo, the Cardholders Name, the status of the card holder i.e. this person is a War Disablement Pensioner, National Insurance Number, Date of Birth, Date of Production and a unique number. It also shows the SPVA contact details on the rear. To get one, telephone 0800 169 2277 but don't use your mobile
as you will be paying Mobile top rate, use a BT line. The SPVA will require you to give them your National Insurance Number and/or Pension Reference Number. You will get the usual security questions from the VA and then they will send you out the card. There are no costs involved. It comes as a handy card that easily fits into your wallet. This is instant proof that you are War Pensioned ex-service. A friend of mine flashed it to his doctor last week and he was immediately put on the Priority Treatment List for a knee op on the NHS. Also for those who visit London do you know you can obtain an Oyster Card for free travel in the London Transport area
Memory Lane Coronation 1953 The KRRC were stationed at Muster, Westphalia in 1953. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Pennant determined that all men should be on parade to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen. Nervous orderly room clerks were on parade - the last time they had been on the parade square was passing out at Winchester. Store men covered their eyes unused the bright sunlight. Cooks shivered away from their warm kitchen (the food was good cooked by German ladies). Even the RPs were markers. The Bugle Band played Lutzow's Wild Hunt. I'm ninety five and during the inspection inevitably Green sleeves/with rifles at the trail the battalion marched and doubled past (it took longer to double than march). There was only one man not on parade. Some one had to drive the colonel from the officers mess to the saluting dais. It is a hard life but somebody got to do it. I was the Co's driver. L/Cpl S Hale 22726028
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Services for personnel and veterans with mental health problems families.
Further funding for the Combat Stress helpline and changes to the Defence Medical Assessment Programme have recently been announced. These measures, announced in the past month, are part of the concerted effort to de-stigmatise issues around mental health and promote awareness of the professional medical care and support available for troops. The vast majority of Service personnel make the transition to civilian life successfully, but a small number suffer problems as a result of their service. The National Health Service (NHS) is responsible for delivering veterans’ healthcare needs, and services are available which cater specifically to veterans’ mental health needs. 24-hour Combat Stress helpline The MOD is working with Service charities, including Combat Stress, to promote awareness of veterans’ issues and, last year, the Department of Health, along with Combat Stress, launched a free 24-hour helpline, run by charity Rethink, to offer support for veterans and their
The helpline is based on the principle of lifelong care and offers support to veterans of any age and at any stage in their lives. Families may also contact the helpline, both for themselves and to talk about a loved one. It allows both groups to receive targeted support from people trained and experienced in dealing with often complex mental health needs. Big White Wall In addition to the Combat Stress helpline, The Department of Health and the MOD are funding a one-year wellbeing network pilot. The ‘Big White Wall’, is an online social network for serving personnel, their families, veterans and the general public that allows people with mental health problems from every walk of life to engage with others who have similar problems. The anonymity of the network allows for a free and frank exchange of experiences, with a view to generating a wider sense of support, and it is staffed by professional counsellors. Don’t suffer in silence – talk to the Helpline on 0800 138 1619, text 07537 404 719 (standard charges may apply for texts) or email: combat.stress@rethink.org
MILESTONE REACHED FOR POPPY APPEAL The annual Poppy Appeal has raised more than £1 million in the North East. It is the first time the Royal British Legion`s fund-raising drive in the region has passed the mile-stone. The UK`s largest armed forces charity is also celebrating an increase of 20% on last year’s donations making the North East the most generous region in the UK. Andrew Drake, county manager of the Royal British Legion in the North East, praised all who donated. “it’s brilliant news and we are absolutely delighted to achieve this mile-stone. It`s a tremendous support to the military community.” The Poppy Appeal was launched in the November of the same year that the charity celebrated its 90th anniversary and runs until the following September. The figure raised at the time of this report was
£1,017,972.99 compared to £845,668.15 during the same period last year.
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Veterans’ Homelessness Homelessness means not having a home. It is not just rough sleeping. Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless. This is because you may not have any rights to stay where you live or your home might be unsuitable for you. In law there are slight differences between the definitions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England and Wales the Housing Act 1996 states that people are homeless if any of the following apply: • There is no accommodation anywhere in the world in which they have a right to live; • They have accommodation but cannot gain entry to it; • Their home is moveable, such as a houseboat or caravan, and they have nowhere to place it; • They have accommodation, but it is not ‘reasonable’ to continue living there, for example, in cases of violence; • There is nowhere for the whole household to live together. In Scotland the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, states that people are homeless if there is no accommodation they are entitled to occupy. Entitlement means having: • either an interest in it (i.e. they are the owner or the tenant); or • an express or implied license to occupy (in Scotland, a right or permission, or an implied right or permission to occupy); or • some other enactment or rule of law giving the right to remain in occupation or restricting the right of another person to recover possession. Further, in Scotland a person is also considered to be legally homeless if they have accommodation but: they cannot secure entry to it; or • (in the case of, for example, a caravan) they have nowhere they are entitled both to place it and live in it; or • it is probable that occupation will lead to violence, or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out; or • it is overcrowded and may endanger the health of the occupants. What to do if you are homeless: First, seek advice from experts so you are aware of your rights and options as early as possible before you speak with your council or local authority or social housing landlord. In addition to the SPVA’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (for Service personnel, Service Leavers and those still occupying Service Families
Accommodation as Irregular Occupants) Tel: 01980 618925 or visit www.mod.uk/jshao and SSAFA Forces Help Housing Advice Tel: 020 7463 9398 (for veterans) there are specialist ex-Service or specialist homelessness charities have important expertise in this field. (Ex-Service charities with specialist housing support roles are listed on the Help for Service Leavers & Veterans page.) Veterans could also get advice from Housing Aid Centres, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and Shelter UK etc. Second, when you have the necessary advice, go to your local council and tell them that you wish to apply under the provision of the Housing Act/Homeless Order for an assessment as a homeless person. You must ensure that you have any important papers with you - Court Order, Notice to Vacate etc. Never give false information as it will not help and may be an offence. If you are homeless or likely to become homeless within 28 days you can make an approach to your council. If you are a Service leaver facing eviction from Service Family Accommodation and hoping to obtain social housing (council or housing association), ensure that you send a copy of the 'Certificate of cessation of entitlement to occupy a service family quarter and of impending homelessness' to the Homeless Persons Unit or council/local authority. The certificate is obtained from Defence Estates. Note 1 of the certificate states "This certificate provides evidence of cessation of entitlement to occupy Service Families Accommodation. Authorities should not insist on a Court Order or possession to establish a threat of homelessness." What council should you approach? Quite simply, the one with which you have a 'local connection' (see guidance below). If the council or local authority feels that you do not have a local connection, it can contact the local authority/council where you do have a connection and verify if they are prepared to help. If you (or your partner) do not have a connection to anywhere in Great Britain, you can approach any local authority/council. Do you have a 'local connection'? You have a local connection if you, either: • Are normally resident in the area, at present or in the past (6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of five (To be con nued on next page)
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(Con nued from previous page)
give you 'appropriate advice and assistance'.
years). Legislation has been changed in England and Wales to enable service personnel to establish a local connection with the area in which they are serving or have served. This will give parity of treatment with civilians already living in the area to service leavers wishing to access social housing. This amendment is expected in Scotland in the next few months. If you are homeless, eligible for assistance, have a priority need and are not homeless intentionally, a local authority could look into whether you could be referred to another local authority, if: • Nobody in your household has a connection with the first council, and • Someone in the household has a connection with another council, and • There is no risk of domestic violence in the other council's area. When the council has decided that the conditions for referral are met, it must notify you in writing of the reasons for the decision, and your right to a review. If you are homeless, and not intentionally homeless are in a priority need and have no local connection with any area, the council to which you applied has a duty to find you accommodation.
Help for Service Leavers & Veterans
Could the council refuse to help? Yes - if it feels you do not fall into any of the categories or are homeless 'intentionally' e.g., you have rent/mortgage arrears or have given up accommodation voluntarily which it was reasonable for you to occupy. Yes - if you turn down any accommodation which it offers you temporarily or which it finds for you with another landlord. If the council says that they are not going to help you, or they are going to refer you to another council, they must tell you the reasons for doing so, in writing. As an applicant, you have the right to request a review within 21 days of being notified. If it is decided that you are not in priority need, the council must still
Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) provides Service Personnel, Service Leavers and ex Service Personnel still occupying Service Family Accommodation as Irregular Occupants with comprehensive advice on housing options including civilian housing information, advice and where possible placement into social housing. It educates and encourages Service personnel to make civilian housing provision throughout their Service career. MOD Referral Scheme provides a route into lowcost, social housing for Service leavers, married or single. It is administered by the JSHAO. Service leavers can apply through the JSHAO to go on the waiting list for social housing for when their entitlement to Service housing ends. The Scheme should be considered as an additional route into social housing, not as a replacement for other options such as direct applications to local authorities/ councils. There is no guarantee that suitable housing will be available on discharge through this scheme. Personnel from all three Services who are within six months of their discharge date, who are occupying Service accommodation or substitute Service accommodation including irregular occupants, are eligible for the Scheme. Applications are also accepted from separated spouses of Service personnel who are resident in Service families’ accommodation or hostel accommodation provided by SSAFA-Forces Help or by the Service Cotswold Centre. To apply to the Scheme you will be asked to fill in a MOD Referral Application Form and you will need to provide evidence of when you will need to leave your Service accommodation (normally a Defence Estates certificate or MOD 1166). For further information or an application form contact JSHAO: tel: 01980 618925 e-mail: LF-JSHAO-mailbox@mod.uk fax: 01980 618068 website: www.mod.uk/jshao
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Walkers put best foot forward for forces charity “I am proud of what we have achieved and raised, and we will continue to raise as much as we can for this very worthwhile cause. Just to know that we are helping a little means a great deal to me.”
CASH BOOST Walkers with the Mayor and Mayoress, Jim and Rosemary Sewell, centre.
CHARITY walkers in South Tyneside have given another big cash boost to fallen war heroes. The March for Heroes group has raised almost £18,000 for the Rifles Regiment and the Care for Casualties organisation. Many of the walkers have close links with the regiment, which has suffered 60 deaths and 250 serious injuries in recent conflicts. In 2010, the charity walkers raised £10,700 in a sponsored trek from South
Shields Town Hall to Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, Scotland. Another £7,000 was collected in a charity walk last year from Sunderland to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. The march to Edinburgh was for 3 Rifles, while the walk to Catterick was for the Care for Casualties charity. The latest £7,000 fundraising total was handed over during a reception at South Shields Town Hall in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside,
Councillor Jim Sewell and his wife, Rosemary. Later this year, the March for Heroes group will tackle a three-day walk from South Shields to Edinburgh. Organiser Steve Williams, 41, of Hedworth, Jarrow, said: “I have taken part in both of the walks, and although they are hard on the feet, and it takes a while for them to heal, it is nothing compared to what our lads and lasses are going through over in Afghanistan.
“My stepson, Darren, has been over to Afghanistan, and although he came back safe and sound, the outcome could have been different, and it might have been me looking for the support that Care for Casualties gives to the injured and the families of the fallen.” The charity walkers say they could not have raised so much money without the support of South Tyneside Council, Raines Transport, Whiteleas Taxis, Stagecoach Busways, The Barbour Foundation, Executive Travel and 251 Medical Squadron, based at Seaburn, Sunderland. Anyone wanting to take part in September’s charity walk can call Steve Williams on 0790 346 6613.
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Second Charity Dinner Party and Other Events Raise £1079.84 in Support of C4C Not content with their early success last year when they collected £605 from the generous residents of Pendeen in Cornwall at a charity dinner party held by kind permission of the landlord of the North Inn village pub, Mr John Coak, Bev and Fred Strick have been busy raising money locally for the C4C charity again this year. On Saturday, 31 March 2012 they held a second charity dinner party at the North Inn, Pendeen and combined the generosity of the local villagers and the landlord of the North Inn with a raffle and other activities, including collecting from the foyer of their local Morrison’s to raise a total of another £1079.84 which has now been sent to the Care for Casualties charity at Rifles RHQ, Winchester. The breakdown of money raised by their activities is as follows; Personal Donations £380.00 Raffle £135.20 Collection at Morrison`s £302.64 Sale of Wristbands £250.00 Sale of Tee Shirt £ 12.00 Total £1,079.84 Fred, formerly a WO2 with the regiment, served in 3 and 4 RGJ as well as at the Rifle Depot is well supported as always by Bev, his wife, and we wish to express our sincere thanks to them both and all the good people of Pendeen and the surrounding area who have so generously supported the Care for Casualties Charity.
The residents of Pendeen support C4C at another charity Dinner Party held at the North Inn by kind permission of the Landlord, John Coak.
Organisers of the charity Dinner Party Bev and Fred Strick.
Guy Harris in the Dutch Powerman Guy Harris, completed the Dutch Powerman, 15km run followed by a 60km cycle ride finished off by a 7.5km run. Guy took part in the same race last year again in support of Care for Casualties, and this year despite being hit by the same calf problem that he had last year after 3km, Guy battled through the pain and finished in 4 hours 30 mins. He is now suffering from the after effects and ligament problems but has nevertheless raised over £1,500 for C4C. He tells me that he is planning on the Marathon des Sables next year!
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Berkshire Golfers raise £45K for our soldiers Engineers and the Rifles who later had the opportunity to play the renowned Red course.
Rifles Organising Committee Left to Right: Henry Hughes, Julian Byng, Jack Francis, Peter Littlehales and Hugh Dumas.
ABF The Soldiers Charity and The Rifles’ ‘Care for Casualties’ Appeal are better off to the tune of £45,000 following a golf day held at The Berkshire Golf Club on Bank Holiday Monday. The brainchild of a team of retired officers of the Royal Green Jackets Regiment (one of the regiments merged to form The Rifles in 2007) who are members
of the club, the day began with eighteen teams of four teeing off to tackle the Red course. Each team was aided by serving Afghanistan veterans, all keen golfers, from regiments including the Grenadier Guards, the Irish Guards, the Royal Engineers, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Lance Corporal Scott Blaney of the Grenadier Guards, who lost a leg in Afghanistan in 2007 and has since not only returned to duty but completed several gruelling physical challenges and was the first amputee Guardsman to stand on Queen’s duty at the Tower of London, put the event into clear perspective as he was introduced to The Berkshire’s Captain Martin Shuker. He said: “I’m the reason you’re here” and as Mr Shuker responded: “There couldn’t have been a better introduction.” After lunch thanks were proposed by Colonel RoddyWinser, Chief of Staff, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst who stressed the importance of support for our troops
£8,500 for C4C from the London Branch The London Branch for The Royal Green Jackets Association presented Rebecca Maciejewska with a cheque for £8,500 for the Regiment’s Care for Casualties Appeal at their annual Ladies’ Night Dinner which took place at the Victory Services Club, London on Saturday, 25th February. They have been consistent supporters of the Regiment’s efforts to look after the wounded, bereaved and the families of the wounded and we are very grateful to them. Once a Rifleman always a Rifleman!
both through provision of vital financial assistance for injured soldiers and their families and for serving soldiers, for whom support from the community plays a vital role. The prize for the best team went to stalwart Soldiers’ Charity supporter Kiren Sharma and team members Amal Sharma, Paul Freeman and Tony Wilmott who finished on a score of 98 pointsto win the Two Best-Ball Stableford. The event was generously supported by principal sponsors Savills, Cazenove Capital Management, First Growth Bordeaux and Ellis of Richmond with a host of prizes kindly donated for the live and silent auctions and raffle. Kiren Sharma also very generously donated an additional £4,800 at the end of the day so that, in his words, “we would have a nice round total of £45,000”.
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Billy Hughes The Cycle Challenge 1 – 7 June in Support of C4C By the time you read this Billy Hughes will hopefully have completed the Cycle Challenge he has set himself to raise money for The Rifles Care for Casualties charity. His route, totalling 766 miles round the UK, will have followed the daily programme as listed below. Billy, see attached photographs, who will have been easily identified by the event shirt he was wearing tells me at the time of writing that his training schedule has not gone according to plan due to heavy work commitments but that he has managed to cycle the 33 mile to work and the same distance back every day within 1 hour 45 minutes. I hope you were able to see him pass by if you live on or near the route. Friday 1/6/2012 Saturday 2/6/2012 Sunday 3/6/2012 Monday 4/6/2012
Billy Hughes in the Cycling Vest
Poole Chepstow Liverpool Haltwhistle
Chepstow (QM 1Rifles) via Dorchester The Keep Liverpool (Gareth ‘Ginge’ Dixon via Gloucester, Shrewsbury Haltwhistle (Maj Danny Hunt) via Preston Lancaster, Penrith, Alston Harewood House, Leeds (Maj Laxmi 10GR) via Blaydon, Gateshead, Chester le Street, Durham, Darlington, Nth Allerton, Ripon Tuesday 5/6/2012 Harewood House Nottingham (Lt Col Bertie Martin) via Doncaster, Mansfield Wednesday 6/6/2012 Notts Milton Keynes (Ginger Starkey RQMS at TA Centre) Thursday 7/6/2012 Milton Keynes Winchester RHQ (Finish) via Windsor, Camberley As at 23 May he had managed to raise a total of £660 in support of his epic efforts, but was hoping that this would be increased considerably by the donations to collection boxes from towns, villages and hamlets as he passed through. If your home town was not on his route or you missed him for some other reason there is still time to contribute by going to his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/ Billy-Hughes1 Rear of Cycling Vest
Swift and Bold In 1759, MajorGeneral James Wolfe (1727-1759) gave the Motto “Celer et Audax” to the 60th Rifles (60th Royal Americans) at Quebec. The English translation Swift and Bold became the Regimental Motto of The Royal Green Jackets in 1966. Swift and Bold has been adopted as the Motto of The Rifles.
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SWIFT AND BOLD AT THE ALBERT HALL 8 OCT 2012 TICKETS NOW ON SALE This event is open to the general public who are most welcome to attend. Please forward this information to anyone you think may be interested in attending.
Tickets are now on sale for Swift and Bold - The Rifles at The Albert Hall, a regimental celebration of 200 years of history and 5 years as The Rifles which is in support of Care for Casualties. Featuring the massed bands and buglers of The Rifles with guest artists including world famous tenor Wynne Evans, the Ghurkha Pipers and the Fijian Choir; this is sure to be a memorable occasion and is a wonderful opportunity to stage a first reunion of The Rifles by gathering the serving regiment and all our supporters in the inspiring venue of the Albert Hall. As the programme firms up more details of the event will be published on the website at www.riflesevents.co.uk. To make a booking go to http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/the-rifles/default.aspx. This site uses software components that do not work on DII so it is best to use an up to date browser on a non DII system to make your booking.
Charity Concert in Winchester by The Bands and Bugles of The Rifles The Band and Bugles of The Rifles performed in Winchester Cathedral on Thursday 29 March in front of an audience which included HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, Royal Colonel of 6 RIFLES and was hosted by TV presenter, Alastair Stewart OBE. The evening was promoted by the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Barry Lipscomb, to benefit the charities which he had chosen to support, including The Rifles Care for Casualties appeal.
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NAPOLEON AND THE RIFLES by John Bendit
did the original regimentsof of The The Rifles to the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte? How How did the original regiments Riflescontribute contribute to the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte? What, if any, was Napoleon’s legacy to Europe and the World? What, if any, was Napoleon’s legacy to Europe and the World? Why did Portuguese troops become part of Wellington’s élite? Why did Portuguese troops become of Wellington’s élite?Generals? Who was the German Legionnaire who became one part of Wellington’s most valued Who was the German Legionnaire whoinbecame one of in Wellington’s What happened South America 1806/7? most valued Generals? How did Sir John Moore make his mark oninThe Rifles? What happened in South America 1806/7? Where, when and why did six thousand troops parade before Victoria? How did Sir John Moore make his mark on TheQueen Rifles? Where, when and why did six thousand troops parade before Queen Victoria?
Not only does this book answer these and other intriguing questions but it sets The Rifles in the context of our History.
All profits from the sales of this book will go to The Rifles Care for Casualties Appeal Dear Brother Rifleman, You may remember that an email was sent out on 27 February advertising a book that I had just launched which comprised ten articles which had been written for various Regimental Publications. I thought I should give you a short update on progress made since that date. On 4 April, I was able to send a cheque to the Appeal for the Care for Casualties for £1000 and another cheque for the same amount was sent on 26 May. Although not a large number of books have been ordered to date, members have been wonderfully genereous by donating sums in excess of the proposed price of the book of £10. Of this figure, only £3.25 is paid to the printer for printing, packing and postage. All you need do, if you want to order a copy or copies, is to write a cheque for not less than £10.00 (anything more would be most welcome, of course) made out to JDB Book and send it to J Bendit, 5 Goodacres, Arundel Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0SF, with a little note saying how many copies you require if more than one. I need not remind you of the worthiness of the Appeal and this extract from the Appeal website will give some indication of the problem which our Regimental Benevolent Fund has to tackle. Since our formation in 2007, the Rifles have seen almost continuous action in Iraq and Afghanistan. This commitment has come at a cost. In 5 years we have seen over 60 Riflemen Killed in Action, around 30 have lost limbs, 2 Riflemen, who have been blinded, and two are in neurological units and will remain there for the rest of their lives. Our very seriously injured are aged between 18 and 26 and have many years of active life ahead of them. We have approximately 300 other soldiers with serious injuries and the psychological problems that we are warned of have yet to manifest themselves. Our Battalions continue to deploy to Afghanistan and the need for our help from their regimental family will continue for many years to come. With best wishes John Bendit
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New Books
SIR, THEY’RE TAKING THE KIDS INDOORS
This is Ken Wharton's eagerly awaited new book chronicling the Northern Ireland troubles from the British soldier's perspective. His finest book to date, surpassing his 2011
work The Bloodiest Year Northern Ireland 1972, looks at the bloody period of 1973/4 and features many contributions from those who were there besides superb and painstaking research. 'Sir, they're taking the kids indoors' was a cry heard by most if not all of the British soldiers who served either the 4 month emergency or the 2 year resident battalion tours of Northern Ireland. It refers to the IRA tactic of warning the civilian population in Republican areas of the impending arrival of one of their gunmen. Clearly, as witnessed by the number of civilian deaths among the Catholic population directly or indirectly at the hands of their 'protectors' in the IRA, they were not averse to killing or causing the deaths of Catholics. Once the 'jungle drums' had warned mothers of the approaching death at the hands of the 'widow maker' they would bring
A Summer in Antarctica by John Jones John Jones was formerly 3RGJ, 1978-1986, and has recently written and had published a book about the time he spent as a construction operative in Antarctica during the austral summer of 1994/95. He was part of a team of 30 workers constructing accommodation / research buildings for the scientists who work from Rothera Station, Adelaide Island Antarctica. The experience of working on the Antarctic continent was truly amazing and although well travelled with previous employments, nothing compared to the sights that he witnessed from leaving the Falkland Islands until he reached Adelaide Island at 67 degrees South, 68 degrees West in late November 1994. John Jones now divides his time between England and Turkey and can be contacted through the Association database. The book can be bought at www.amazon/books.co.uk. The ISBN number is 978-1-4678-8008-4 and it is currently on sale for £11.66. Donations from the sale of the book will be made to the following charities; • The Rifles - Care for Casualties • RCDM - Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Selly Oak, Birmingham.
their offspring indoors and thus give the IRA the 'moral high ground' of not shooting their own supporters. Once a soldier had called out these words to comrades, the patrol would know that the angel of death was in the area, never far away at the best of times. It would alert them to the fact that they had to be ready for something more lethal than the aimed bricks, Molotov cocktails, dead animals, dog excrement and used sanitary towels which the women of the Republican areas so charmingly saved for the optimum moment. It would herald the approach of a gunman or gunmen and the locals, especially those who revelled in the prospect of 'shooting a Brit' or adherents to the Provisionals' line of killing a soldier a day would have their sadistic hatred sated for a day at least at the sight of British blood staining the streets. By focusing exclusively on the 1973-74 period, Ken has been able to write in greater detail than hitherto possible about the British Army and their experience during this bloody and important period of 'the Troubles'.
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THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM 2012 has begun in similar vein to the manner in which 2011 ended with visitor numbers during the first five months of the year up by 12%, admission income up by 26% and shop turnover up by 36%. This is all hugely encouraging but, in truth, the upward trend in visitor numbers is unlikely to be sustained during the remainder of the year as there is no equivalent attraction this summer to last year’s highly successful WI exhibition and as counterattractions such as the Olympics draw visitors away. The Trustees continue, therefore, to stick to their forecast of 12,000 visitors this year, a drop of 10% on last year. We will not know until the end of September whether or not the Trustees’ caution is justified. The last five months have featured many of the usual events in the programme. Additionally, an evening talk given by Field Marshal Lord Bramall reflecting on the Falklands War, 30 years on, was held in the Guildhall, Winchester, on 2 April. The talk was attended by 150 people and raised over £2,000 for Museum funds. The Museum also mounted a much-praised temporary exhibition over Easter about the lives of Sir Harry and Lady Smith focused around the loan to the Museum of Sir Harry and Lady Smith’s orders, decorations and medals and other items. Although the exhibition did not attract as many additional visitors as hoped, it did result in much useful research being conducted during the exhibition’s compilation.
The Mayor of Winchester signs the visitors’ book after opening the Harry Smith exhibition on 30 March.
number of other events listed on the Museum website’s ‘What’s On’ page at www.rgjmuseum.co.uk Association members are especially reminded that admission to the Museum over the Saturday and Sunday of the Veteran’s Reunion Weekend, 14/15 July, is free on presentation of a valid Association membership card. This year we hope that Association members will make a special effort to arrive at Winchester and be at the Museum by 11 am on Saturday 14 July in time to listen to Vic Gregg, a 92-year old Rifle Brigade veteran of the ‘Snipe’ action at El Alamein in 1942, talking about and signing copies of his best-selling book Rifleman. His story is absolutely remarkable and not to be missed. Free coffee and biscuits will be available from 10.30 am. The Museum staff look forward to welcoming you.
The orders, decorations and medals of Lt-Gen Sir Harry Smith of The Rifle Brigade.
Looking ahead, the annual programme continues with participation in Winchester’s Military Museum Armed Forces Sunday Fun Day on 1 July and a
Finally, you may like to know that the Museum has recently introduced a secure on-line payment system on its website so that you may pay for shop items at the time you order them. You will, too, soon be able to use the same on-line payment system to pay for items such as tickets to attend evening talks and to make donations to the Museum. Do please take advantage of this facility and support the Regimental Museum whenever possible. It is your Museum and one of which to be extremely proud.
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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 OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last entry 4.15 p.m.) Sundays: The Museum is open on Sundays from 1 July to 9 September 2012. It is closed on other Sundays and over Christmas and the New Year. Visits to the Museum’s archives are by appointment only.
RGJ MUSEUM SHOP NOW ‘ON LINE’ The Museum Shop is now able to take payment on line for any transaction you want to make – gone is the need to telephone and place an order, your purchases are just a click (or two) away! There is a wide range of stock held by the shop and some excellent books in particular. Go to the Museum website (www.rgjmuseum.co.uk) and follow the link to SHOP to see what is available. As an introductory offer from 1 May – 30 June anyone buying a copy of ‘Swift and Bold a Portrait
of The Royal Green Jackets’ will receive, free, one of the very popular Regimental Tea Towels worth £4.50p. ‘Swift and Bold’ covers the history of the Regiment in 192 lavishly illustrated pages; it is a book that every member of the Royal Green Jackets should have and in which you are certain to find some memories either in words or pictures. If you haven’t got a copy get one now while stocks last. The cost is £23.50p incl p&p (UK only) - but why not order one for £16.50p and avoid postage by paying for it and collecting it from the Museum
shop on Veterans day 14 July? If you want to do this then place your order by emailing curator@ rgjmuseum.co.uk; the book and tea towel will be waiting for you on the Museum Shop stand at Sir John Moore Barracks on 14 July. Sales from the Shop are a valuable source of income for your Regimental Museum; do support it and make it your ‘first stop shop’ for Regimental items and other gifts. Vere Hayes
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The 25th Anniversary of the Ladies Dinner and Dance of the Suffolk Branch, The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association, 17 March 2012 the team like Tom Evans and Mick Burtenshaw who over the years contributed so much. He looked back to when 3GJ, RB first arrived at Felixstowe in 1964; leaving there for a one year unaccompanied tour of Hong Kong, Malaya and Borneo, marrying no less than forty-one local girls. He spoke of the achievements of too many to recount of that battalion but mentioned George Caldwell as an internationally acclaimed author; John Powell the first Green Jacket awarded the Royal Victorian Medal, the total of those commissioned from the battalion, those who had been chairman of the branch such as Joe Mills, Fred Edwards and John Bevan, John McMullan for travelling from the U.S.A. to be with us, the sixty plus members who had contributed such readable stories for The Last Campaign of The Rifle Brigade, some amusing, some sad but historically a book of some worth, the lasting friendships of members, wives and their families. Bugle-Major McCann and L/Cpl Brockman with Rebekha Jones granddaughter of Joe and Fee Mills on the left and Jessica Macleod granddaughter of Del and Pom Hemsley on the right, greet the guests on arrival. The girls helped with selling raffles tickets and it is no wonder that the purchase of tickets went so well!
It all began on the morning of Sunday 20 March 2011 when members of the committee were adamant that for the dinner and dance in 2012 that Gordon Pilcher who had been secretary of the branch since its fruition should be recognised as such. The president of the branch (Ron Cassidy) was ‘instructed’ by the committee to carry on! This he did, writing to all members and suggesting a donation for the cause, the response was overwhelming and generous. Immediately after the dinner Ron thanked Serjeant Salisbury as the leader of the quintet of clarinets from the Waterloo band for their selection of music, which had been most enjoyable. He went on to praise Rachel Salisbury for her composition of High On The Hill, not normally played on the clarinet, it was first class and the quintet were encouraged later in the programme to provide an encore, it was every bit as good. He was later to find out that the Bugle-Major had only about twenty minutes of rehearsal before he and his fellow buglers sounded their bugles with the quintet, they too were first class. Both Serjeant Salisbury and the BugleMajor are commended for their expertise. In his speech to the 146 after dinner Ron reminded all how the Suffolk branch came into being with a meeting of Joe Mills; Gordon Pilcher, Sid Jarman, Barry Gilmore and Larry Lamb, so many more joined
Larry Lamb supervised by George Caldwell cuts the cake, which had green, red and black piping along the top and the same colours but in dots along the base. The inscription on the top of the cake in green was: 25 Years and Onwards. The smiles on the faces of Larry and George are an illustration of how the evening went. Ron Cassidy continued by asking the chairman to accept the print, ‘The Light Division repulse the 66me Grenadiers, Coa Bridge 24 July 1810, he also asked that at the Ladies Dinner in future years, it should be hung to remind us all of this 25th anniversary. He continued by saying that behind every man there has been a woman who assists, guides and gives council, Janet Pilcher is such a person. He asked Joe Mills to present to Janet a potted plant with a proviso that annually as the flowers start to turn red; it is time for you to start assisting Gordon to prepare the Ladies Dinner Night. He spoke on behalf of every member of the Suffolk Branch in thanking Gordon Pilcher, as our Secretary, for his dedication, commonsense, wise counselling, good humour and understanding over the last twentyfive years, long may it go on. The branch committee of John Bevan, Joe Mills, Frank Moss and Larry Lamb then presented Gordon, amid tumultuous applause, with the figurine of the Rear Guard, as a token of sincere thanks from the members of the branch.
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Nepali warriors who have loyally served in the Gurkha regiments of the British Army. For nearly 200 years the Gurkhas have helped to fight our wars and keep our peace. 13 Victoria Crosses They have won 13 Victoria Crosses and served in most of Britain's conflicts during that period and continue to do so today.
The Fighting is Over Now Comes the Real Battle Crucially, some Gurkhas did not serve the 15 years needed to qualify for a British Army pension - for example, many of the oldest soldiers we help were demobbed at the end of the Second World War. In their beautiful but impoverished Nepalese homeland, these old soldiers or their widows would face a life or destitution if not for their Gurkha Welfare Trust pension. Our welfare pension is the crucial lifeline that pays for food and the basics of life. It is a daily reminder that we are still grateful for all that they did tor us. The Gurkha Welfare Trust is the longest standing and leading Gurkha charity. Supporting The Gurkha Welfare Trust is your wily to let the Gurkhas know that we remember them, and that we are ready to repay our debt of honour. In 1969 people realised that a growing cohort of retired Gurkhas and their dependants in Nepal faced poverty. The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established to prevent this, by providing financial, medical and community aid to alleviate hardship. The Trust enjoys the Patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales. When you support The Gurkha Welfare Trust you help repay our debt of honour to the courageous
If there was a minute's silence for every Gurkha casualty from World War 2 alone, we would have to keep quiet for two weeks. But silence will not help the living, the wounded and disabled, those without military pensions following World War 2 service or redundancy, or those left destitute by ill health or natural disasters. With their dependants, they number many thousands. They live in conditions we can hardly imagine, with no national health service, no public housing and no unemployment benefit.
HRH The Prince of Wales Patron of the Gurkha Welfare Trust
The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established in 1969 for the relief of poverty-stricken Gurkla exservicemen of the British Crown and their dependants. As a part of the Gurkha Welfare Fund it enjoys the Patronage of HRH the Prince of Wales. The trust's remit is to provide financial, medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkhas and their families when they leave the British Army. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. A tiny landlocked country in the Himalayas, its only natural
resource is its scenery, its only significant export, its fighting men. The men we call the Gurkhas. A regular gift of just £20 per month will ensure that a welfare pension is paid to a named individual on your behalf perhaps from a regiment or corps with which you have a special affinity. Each welfare pension we are able to get sponsored enables more of our hard won charity funds to go towards providing additional help, such as medical treatment and special grants when disaster strikes. £20 provides food for a month. £240 sponsors a veteran or widow for or a whole year. Our commitment Each month 9.000 old soldiers and widows rely on the arrival of their Gurkha Welfare Trust pension, The money is distributed through our 20 Area Welfare Centres, each run by a Nepalese ex·Gurkha officer, who is in daily contact with the needs of our aging veterans
With your Generosity The Battle for Survival Can be Won. GWT now accept debit and credit card payments over the telephone on 01772 323955. The Gurkha Welfare Trust P.O. Box 18215 2nd Floor 1 Old Street London EC1V 9XB Tel: 020 7251 5234 Fax: 020 7251 5248 e-mail: secretary@gwt.org,uk website/ donate-on-line: www.gwt.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1103669 Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5098581 Registered in England at the above Address
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The 72nd Anniversary of The Defence of Calais A Commemorative Service at the Green Jackets War Memorial on 23 May 2012 Reverend B D Burbidge CF conducted the Service at the Greenjackets Calais War Memorial on Wednesday 23 May 2012. Some 80 members of the Rifle Brigade, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Queen Victoria’s Rifles had come from mainly London and Winchester to commemorate those who fell defending Calais on 23-26 May 1940. Present were also French representatives.
“The Defence of Calais, May 1940”, by Terence Cuneo.
The wreath laying was followed by the Act of Remembrance before two Buglers sounded Last Post and Reveille.
I have said this armored scythe-stroke almost reached Dunkirk - almost but not quite. Boulogne and Calais were the scenes of desperate fighting. ... The Rifle Brigade, the 60th Rifles, and the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, with a battalion of British tanks and 1,000 Frenchmen, in all about four thousand strong, defended Calais to the last. The British Brigadier was given an hour to surrender. He spurned the offer, and four days of intense street fighting passed before silence reigned over Calais, which marked the end of a memorable resistance. Only 30 unwounded survivors were brought off by the Navy, and we do not know the fate of their comrades. Their sacrifice, however, was not in vain. At least two armored divisions, which otherwise would have been turned against the British Expeditionary Force, had to be sent to overcome them. They have added another page to the glories of the light divisions, and the time gained enabled the Graveline water lines to be flooded and to be held by the French troops. Prime Minister Winston S Churchill The House of Commons 4th June 1940
Reverend B D Burbidge CF, 7 RIFLES (Ret´d)
RGJ AssociaƟon Minutes and Accounts To download the Minutes and Accounts of the meeting held on 13 April 2012 full members are asked to click here.
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Welcome to Rifles Direct The Regimental Shop of The Rifles
Rifles Direct is owned by the regiment - managed and run by the regiment - for the benefit of the regiment - with all proceeds returned to the regiment to support benevolence and welfare. Inside our shop you will find a comprehensive catalogue of Rifles uniform accoutrements and a good selection of Rifles branded general merchandise including a small selection of regimentally branded products from its forming regiments. All of our products have been extensively sourced, sampled and authorised by the regiment to comply with the Regimental Dress Code and Rifles brand with regard to quality, durability and design. You may find some similar products cheaper elsewhere - but not many. More importantly by purchasing from your own regimental shop you are assured that not only is your purchase everything it should be regimentally, but is also helping to support our Riflemen for which we sincerely thank you. 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’. Telephone order:0845 6434584 or view online at www.riflesdirect.com
Teal Photography 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 or visit www.tealphoto.co.uk
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A New Torah Scroll is Dedicated to the Memory of Lieutenant Paul Mervis, KIA Afghanistan June 2009 The dedication ceremony commenced with the standing together of a unique congregation, largely made up of Jewish serving members of the British armed forces in memory of Lt Paul Mervis, of Second Battalion, The Rifles, who died in an explosion in June 2009 while trying to protect his platoon during a foot patrol in Afghanistan’s Northern Helmand province. Paul’s family were seated in the front row of the assembly. At the time of his death Paul was carrying the War Office issued Jewish Servicemen’s prayer book which was formerly carried by Sgt Dave Newman (2 Rifle Brigade) when he was decorated with the MM at the action of Snipe. This was later presented to General Sir Nick Parker by the Newman and Mervis families to be handed to the Regiment. Brigadier Simon Bell receives the Torah scroll from the escort.
committee for HM Forces. It was left to the Commander of British Land Forces, General Sir Nick Parker to give a most heartfelt eulogy. General Parker is a former colonel commandant of the Rifles and personally selected Lt Mervis for his position in the Regiment. He speaks eloquently about the infinite promise he showed as a young infantry officer and the popularity and respect he gained from the men he commanded. The ceremony was concluded by Rabbi Livingstone’s recital of the Memorial Prayer and the Chief Rabbi’s Prayer for the Safety of our Armed Forces which was appropriately enough recited by the Chaplain General, Rev Jonathan Woodhouse. Last year three scrolls were found in different locations but only one found in Guildford was in a fit state to be refurbished. ‘Thanks to the Mervis family, who have sponsored the scrolls refurbishment, it will now be used at
The scroll is escorted into the chapel under the diection of WO2 Lionel Zeffertt (RIFLES).
This ceremony was just part of a weekend that takes places annually at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at a large manor house with decorative gardens, tucked away in the village of Amport in Hampshire. It is a ceremony that brings together, if only fleetingly, Jewish members of the armed forces to spend time together to explore and cement their Jewish heritage. Words of welcome were spoken by Brigadier Simon Bell followed by Col Martin Newman, Chair of the Jewish
Col Martin and Lisa Newman pictured with Jonathan and Margaret Mervis with the prayer book presented to General Nick Parker for the Regiment.
(To be con nued on next page)
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(Con nued from previous page)
future Jewish military gatherings. With a new mantle in green and silver, the colours of the Rifles, it also carries the Armed Forces Community Crest. It is a truly fitting tribute to Paul. During the war 60,000 Jews served in the British armed forces and later many thousands were conscripted as National Servicemen. The Jewish tradition for military service extends back to the Battle of Trafalgar. Supporting the UK Jewish military are the Friends of Jewish Servicemen and women. They send parcels to Jewish men and women serving away from home during the religious Holidays and festivals, they provide an on-going support network so they always have contact with their own community; they support Jewish chaplains and help obtain religious books and accoutrements for groups or individuals when required. They also help to fund events and visits of cultural importance. Wally Sacks
Padre (Rabbi) Reuben Livingstone with Jonathan and Margaret Mervis.
Did you serve with Peter Hamilton?
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Would anyone who served in A Company 1RGJ with Peter Hamilton between 1971 – 1975 please get in touch with him. He would like to hear from any old friends who knew him in those days. You can contact Peter by email at petehamilton.2422@googlemail.com
Soldier Magazine on Line Click Here
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RGJRA E-Zine 15 Jun 2012 Page 34
In Memoriam
Obituaries Please be aware that our publications, Swift and Bold and the E-Zine carry brief details of all those members of the regiment who have died regardless of circumstances. Deceased members of the former regiments and The Rifles are included within the published Obituary lists. The degree of detail shown in both Swift and Bold and the E-Zine is limited by the space available and only brief details are posted but with direct links, as is the case with the E-zine or, as in the case of The Swift and Bold Journal, the Internet address showing where the full details can be seen on the web site Bulletin Board at http://63196.activeboard.com/forum. spark?forumID=63196. All such occurrences, even those with the briefest of details, are recorded on the Association database. The amount of information available on a deceased member of the regiment is also dependent on the information received about the individual concerned from those people who knew him taking the time to add their memories and condolences to his entry on the In Memoriam Board.
LEST WE FORGET “They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun and in the morning; We will remember them.”
Anderson, Fitz A water, RHF Blanks, Patrick Booth, David Maj Bradford, A Brain, Leonard Brandy, Kenny Bristow, Mike Brown, Robert Brown, WA Carlyle, Clarke Carrington, C Dalton, Mick Dartnall, Fred Dixon, Ron Dougherty, S Doyne, PR Farquhar, PGP Fox, George Gill, Brian Hardy, MJ (Michael) Hopkins, GDB (Geoffrey) Houghton, John Hulbert, John Hyde-Thomson CBE DL, PC Jones, Thomas I Lt Marshall, JEA Moore, Jim Pavi , Henry S O`Hara, Mick Opoku, Frank Lt Col Owen Parry, Ian Reading, D Shaw, Ted Sturgess, John Capt. Taylor, FJB Twitchen, D Twyman, F
Rest in Peace
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