Rifles Presentation Lunch

The Regiment’s Care for Casualties Appeal is a ring-fenced appeal within The Rifles Regimental Trust (Charity number: 1119061). It has been going since February 2010 and I am writing at the end of August, eighteen months later, and we have now had news of the death of our 58th Rifleman Killed in Action since the formation of the Regiment in February 2007. Our regimental service in Afghanistan continues. Over £1,000,000 has been raised via the appeal by serving members, Associations, those with connections to our antecedent regiments either personal or thorough relatives, and by generous individuals and organisations with no connection to The Rifles. The Regimental family has been magnificent in showing its support to those in need and we thank you all. £1million sounds a huge sum; it is, but when you think of it in terms of supporting a continuing need, we still have a long way to go. In 2010 alone over £100,000 was spent by the Regiment on our casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts over the past 4 years. This is in addition to the £328,000 spent in 2010 by The Rifles on 694 cases which arose from requests for help and support on behalf of veterans and their dependants from our founding regiments. Historically the regiments that made up The Rifles have always looked after their family – old and young - and it is on this foundation that The Rifles’ desire to continue to help those in need is based. So, how are we spending the money? Money raised is spent on direct and indirect support and grants to help individuals, on recuperation breaks, funeral support and casualty packs for those who arrive back at hospital in the UK and for rehabilitation at Headley Court. Where we can we work with the MoD and other charities such as ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Help for Heroes, Combat Stress, SSAFA. However, we step in alone to help where not to do so would mean what we consider to be an unacceptable delay in reaching the need or where restrictions on who can benefit from funding means that a need is not being met. Our main aim is to enhance the quality of life of the casualty. These examples illustrate the point: • adaptation of houses – especially funding for the extras not covered by government grants, such as kitchen equipment and units that are adaptable for use by either a disabled or an able-bodied person, so that a husband and wife can occupy the same living space with minimum disruption, thus enhancing their quality of life; or paying for a stair lift to be put into the home of a sibling of an injured Rifleman for whom it is his home at present. • adaptation of cars or the provision of quad bikes in certain circumstances to provide mobility. • paying for retraining and re-skilling and education. Injured Riflemen are now undertaking MA degrees, attending College and completing Diploma Courses, all funded, at least in part, by Care for Casualties. An example of this is a recent payment of £2,500 to help towards the costs of an MA, which will be an on-going annual cost for the duration of the course. • marriage guidance counselling for a double amputee and his wife, mental health courses for a number of (mainly TA) Riflemen and also for a spouse. Counselling for a mother and siblings of one of our Fallen Riflemen. • approximately £40,000 has been spent on rehabilitation and recuperation breaks for our wounded and bereaved. These give our casualties a sense of self-belief and optimism, the restorative benefits of which are incalculable. • driving lessons for amputees to give them independence; driving lessons for the carer of a Rifleman who is now epileptic having been shot on operations, and, similarly, driving lessons for the fiancée of a blinded Rifleman. • support for the expenses of our Regimental Casualty Officer to allow him to better oversee the care of our casualties. To date, The Rifles now has 29 amputees, including two who have taken the decision to have a lower limb amputation in order to improve their mobility. This gives us an insight into the quality of prosthetic limbs available to our soldiers. They are extremely technical pieces of equipment and with their help our Riflemen are now learning to ski, climb mountains, row across the Atlantic and take part in marathons. What we are not sure of is whether the NHS will provide this level of prosthetic care once they have left the Army. At present it will not and it seems unlikely that this situation will change. We wish to be able to support them in their desires to fulfil their ambitions, with or without limbs. Our injured soldiers are generally between the ages of 18 and 26, they have many years of life ahead of them and it is the intention of the Regiment to be able to support them, their families and the bereaved families at any stage, should they need it for the rest of their lives. With that in mind, please continue to support our Care for Casualties Appeal HERE and find a Gift Aid form HERE. We have set ourselves a target of another £600,000 by February 2012 which would bring our overall total to £1.6million and we will need to keep going thereafter. Every penny counts, so please continue to give and thank you for all that you have already done. For more information, please contact me, Rebecca Maciejewska, Appeal Coordinator, at c4c@ the-rifles.co.uk. ************** “I am writing at the end of August and we have now had news of the death of our 58th Ri- fleman Killed in Action since the formation of the Regiment in Febru- ary 2007. Our regimen- tal service in Afghani- stan continues”. All Are Supporting

The Rifles Charities

One of the highlights for me this summer was to watch The Rifles Band and Bugles Sounding Retreat on the square at Sir John Moore Barracks during the Annual Reunion of The Royal Green Jackets Association, Veterans’ Day as it is now termed, on 9 July. This performance by the band and bugles was second to none, certainly as good if not better than I have ever seen. It brings home to me, that our heritage is being well looked after. Bandsmen and Buglers of old, and the many Riflemen of the antecedent regiments should be reassured that their dedication and expertise is still being carried on. Then just a few days later on Friday 15 July, I attended the Rifles Regimental Award’s Luncheon at Bulford Manor. This was a superb occasion hosted by General Sir Nick and Lady Parker with the majority of those receiving Regimental Awards and the Colonel-in-Chief’s Commendations present. In discussion both Ken Ambrose who was also there and myself, were of the opinion that the occasion was worthy of it being shared in a wider arena, hence this article. I cannot remember in my career such an occasion as this and the Awards and the Commendations were given in such a way as to surely be remembered by those who received them for a long time to come. “I cannot remember in my career such an oc- casion as this and the Awards and the Com- mendations were giv- en in such a way as to surely be remembered by those who received them for a long time to come”.

THE REGIMENTAL AWARDS FOR 2010 and 2011.

Presented by General Sir Nick Parker K.C.B., C.B.E., Colonel Commandant THE RIFLES

Champion Shot for the Regular Army This is awarded to the Rifles Regular soldier who scores highest in the Army 100 (Queen’s Medal) Match. The winner for 2010 was: Sjt White of 1 RIFLES The winner for 2011 was: Rifleman Chambers of 4 RIFLES

Champion Shot for the TA This is awarded to the Rifles TA soldier who scores highest in the TA Queen’s Medal Match.

The winner for 2010 was: LCpl Chapman of 7 RIFLES The winner for 2011 was: Rifleman Carter of 7 RIFLES

The Prince Philip Bugle

This is awarded to the bugler who is the winner of the Annual Bugle Competition and is appointed as the C-in-C’s Bugler for the coming year. The winner in 2010 was: Rifleman Clark of 4 RIFLES

THE RIFLES Cadet Bugle This is awarded to the Rifles Cap badged Cadet who wins the bugling competition at the Rifles Cadet Bands and Bugles concentration The Rigby Award This is awarded to the Rifles Corporal who scores highest on the Corporal to Sergeants’ Promotion Board. It is presented in memory of Corporal John Rigby who was KIA in serving in 4 RIFLES in Iraq in 2007 The winner in 2010 was: Cadet Bugler Feeney of Cornwall ACF This is awarded for 2010 to: Cpl Grater of 2 RIFLES The winner for 2011 was: LCpl Merchant of 3 RIFLES

This is awarded for 2011 to: Corporal Wilmot of 4 RIFLES

The Rifles Presentation Lunch was held at Bulford Manor, the home of General Sir Nick and Lady Parker

THE COLONEL-in-CHIEF’S COMMENDATION Colonel-in-Chief’s commendations may be awarded to any individual or, exceptionally, a team, section or group of eligible personnel, in recognition of an outstanding act or meritorious service. The Commendations for 2010 were presented by the Colonel Commandant General Sir Nick Parker deputising for Field Marshal the Duke of Ed- inburgh, Colonel-in-Chief, The Rifles. Serjeant Stanton 1 RIFLES The commendation is for dem- onstrating considerable forti- tude in the face of life changing circumstances having been severely injured in a car accident in Lydd in 2007. By his actions he has returned a veritable asset to the Battalion, but it is the less quantifiable effect of his behaviour that has been most impressive. Displaying tremendous ‘Rifles’ spirit, he has set a sterling example to others in a similar, unfortunate plight. By courageous example, he has instilled belief in others where it may have been lacking. In 2010 he made the final steps in an astonishing recovery and was upgraded, making him fully de- ployable in any environment, CSjt Morgan 1 RIFLES The commendation is for dedi- cation throughout his Colour Service to his job with the Motor Transport Platoon and latterly with 1 RIFLES. It is no exaggeration that the Battalion would have suffered without his presence throughout this period. LCpl Matthews 1 RIFLES The commendation is for providing exceptional service as a medic in the battalion Medical Centre on both medical and extracurricular fronts. He has been obliged to assume responsibilities above and be- yond his rank and role. In camp and in the field he has consist- ently performed in a role one or two ranks his senior and has excelled on every occasion. He has enhanced the stature of The Rifles in both 160 and 3 (Cdo) Brigade. Note: The above three were not able to collect their commendations for at the time they were in Afghanistan. Corporal now Serjeant Wilmot receives the Rigby award from Serjeant Will Rigby the brother of the late Corporal John Rigby. Captain Horsfall receives his commendation from General Sir Nick Parker