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The Royal Green Jackets Association

Volume 8

E-zine

September 2016

FOREWORD by Brigadier Hugh Willing CBE Chairman of the RGJ Association Welcome to this Ezine which marks our 50th Anniversary since the formation of the Regiment in January 1966. The wonderful turnout at Winchester on 9th July by so many Riflemen and their families clearly illustrates that there is a desire to celebrate these milestones as well as to gather together to share in our unique heritage. Over three thousand were present this year at our Gathering at Sir John Moore Barracks and a thousand were on parade to march past our most senior serving Rifleman and Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter. It was a great day in all respects and our thanks are very much due to Simon Booth-Mason and his organising committee for putting the packed weekend programme together, with all the logistics masterminded by Major Roy Stanger and the Winchester Branch of the Association. They did a superb job. It took a year to plan but what an occasion it proved to be with the largest number of former Riflemen ever gathered since 2007. Well done one and all who came to Winchester to take part and make it such an enjoyable event. And just in case there are still rumours circulating that this was the last such Gathering, I can assure you it will not be. We shall be holding our Gathering next year, as every year at Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester on the second Saturday in July, which next year falls on 8th July. Make a note for your diaries now and let’s repeat the success of this year’s Gathering, albeit on a smaller scale.

We are also saying a fond farewell to our retiring President, Major General Jamie Balfour who is stepping down in November after ten years in post. He has led us forward since the demise of the Royal Green Jackets in 2007 and his sound judgement and diplomacy has ensured a well-founded Association governance and commitment from many individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to manage our business. He is handing on his role to Major General Jamie Gordon who represents the new generation of Riflemen who have served in both the RGJ and the Rifles. We welcome him warmly and look forward to many years of his leading the RGJ Association Council who make the key decisions in dispensing our money and deciding our management policies. There are also other changes in the Association Committee as we say farewell to Mike Marr our Treasurer and Membership Secretary who is handing over after ten years in post to Major Michael Leeming. Mike Marr has been a stalwart of the Committee during those busy years since the hand-over to our successors The Rifles back in 2007. He has played a key role in the organisation of the Association and since he never served as a Rifleman himself, we are even more grateful to him for his commitment and hard work. Many of you will know Major Leeming from his time in 1RGJ and 3 RGJ and we are very fortunate to persuade him to join the Committee on his retirement from a very senior Director’s post with JCB. He will be a great asset.

There are lots of other events still to come in 2016 taking place across the regions, many of them organised by the Association’s Branches, so please check out the Website to see where and what these are. We want your involvement and participation. Last year we saw the largest turnout ever of Riflemen at the Remembrance Day parades and services across the country, and not just in London for the Cenotaph Parade. Let’s keep up the momentum and wear those old green berets with pride wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Looking ahead to January 2017 I note that it will be 10 years since the formation of The Rifles, who have proved to be more than worthy successors to the Royal Green Jackets. There are now young Riflemen leaving the Army after a significant period of operational service who have never served as Green Jackets, but are looking for a Regimental home which is naturally provided by our Association Branches across the country. Last year it was agreed unanimously by the Association Council that we should encourage them to join our Branches, until such time as The Rifles Association decides to set up their own, if indeed they ever do. It will be a natural progression in the course of time for us and them to join together, and whilst that moment has not yet arrived we should have no hesitation in welcoming those who have served in The Rifles into the RGJ Association if they wish to do so. We are one family and now is the time to make them feel welcome members of the great retired community of Riflemen which we represent.

Continued on next page

E-Zine 2016

Volume 8 ¦ 3

My very best wishes to all our fellow Riflemen, and thank you again for answering the call to mark our 50th Anniversary in such style and numbers at Winchester this last July. You did well.

Hugh Willing

4 ÂŚ Volume 8

E-Zine 2016

EDITORIAL

Contents 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 20 27 29 32 33 34 36 39 40 41 44 46 48 51 53 54 56 57

Foreword Editorial Association Contacts External Addresses GJ & RGJ Bn Locations Address Christmas Reunion Forthcoming Events Redcoats to Riflemen The Earl of Feversham The Gathering E-mail Addresses Cyprus Memorial RGJ Boxing Camel on Parade Memories I’m Lost Too! LRB Memorial Cross Golden Boy Appeal for Photos E-Zine 2009 to 2015 Museum Thinking Rifleman National 3 Peaks Challenge North West Branch Oxford Branch Wiltshire Branch South East Kent Branch North East Branch Members Database In Memoriam

________

Welcome to the Autumn edition of the e-zine and I must first of all thank Seamus Lyons who has edited this edition during my absence on family business and holidays.

2016 has been an interesting year with the 50th anniversary celebrations which I hope those who attended enjoyed. Next year is the 10th anniversary of our regiment standing down and merging with the other regiments to form the Rifles. The questions have to be asked – where have the years gone and secondly have the Rifles carried on our traditions as we hoped they might? To the first I have no idea, as I get older the years get shorter and pass quicker, and to the second – most definitely.

In just a few short years there will be no one serving within the ranks of the Rifles who also served in the Royal Green Jackets and it is therefore important to keep our Regimental Association going increasing in numbers rather than the opposite. We are all getting older with many of our members now at or beyond retirement age and regrettably we are losing members as they move on to the final RV. It is therefore important that those of us left maintain our Association to the best of our abilities.

Although the 2016 reunion is covered in this edition I am planning on also using the same article again with additional material in the Spring edition of Swift & Bold to ensure that those who are not on the internet are able to read about it, and of course it gives us all a permanent memento of the occasion.

One final point, there are amongst our members quite a few unable to access the database as their details have not yet been verified by Roy Baillie the database manager. Roy is working on this problem but it is proving difficult to resolve at this time. We will get the database functioning properly as soon as we can.

My thanks as always go to my team of Ron Cassidy, Roy Baillie, Mark Adams, Tony Williamson, and of course Seamus Lyons without whose freely given time neither S&B or the E-Zine and other numerous items would be possible. My grateful thanks go also to Arne Bergsand who has finally been forced by “Starlight” Sweden ( who amongst you is now reaching for book of callsigns?) to retire, for all the hard work he has put in on behalf of the association over the years.

Kevin Stevens

Editor

Editor

Kevin Stevens

Publisher Seamus P Lyons

Applications and Renewal of RGJ Association Annual Subscriptions available by Card Payments. Contact Mike Marr for details.

_________

Copyright 2016 ©

Front Cover:

Members of 1 RGJ 1976 Boxing Team Nigel Hurley, Glen Harrison, Tom Williams, Davey Donnison, Horace Miles Rocky Arnott, Jake Cheetham, Jimmy Mathews, Mike Marsh

E-Zine 2016

Volume 8 ¦ 5

Contact List as at September 2016 President

Maj Gen Jamie Balfour CBE

01962 828524

admin@rgjassociation.info

Chairman

Brig HCG Willing CBE

01962 828524

admin@rgjassociation.info

Vice Chairman

Lt Simon Booth-Mason

01962 828524

admin@rgjassociation.info

Secretary

Lt Col J-D von Merveldt

0207 492 4936

london@the-rifles.co.uk

Treasurer & Members Secretary

Mr Mike Marr

01235 548018

oxford@the-rifles.co.uk

Webmaster, RGJ Association

Capt William Shipton

01256 895719

bill.shipton@btinternet.com

Editor

Mr Kevin Stevens

01865 452813

admin@rgjassociation.info

Photo History & Branch Sites

Mr Seamus P Lyons

01279 723908

seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info

In Memoriam Board

Mr Mark Adams

01442 380713

mark.adams@rgjassociation.info

Database Manager

Mr Roy Baillie

01488 658681

rgjadatabase@btinternet.com

Deputy Database Manager

Mr Tony Williamson

07891 367429

rgjadepdatabasemanager@gmail.com

Branches Australasian Aylesbury

Maj Gen Andrew Pringle CB CBE

.

Mr Chris Stewart

+61 (0)416 763 512 chrispstewart@hotmail.com

Mr Alan Grant

01296 426765 alanrgrant@aol.com

Band and Bugles

Mr David Timms

Mr David Timms

01304 820910 secretary@rgjband.com

Central England

Maj Michael Leeming

Mr Peter Page

01922 694733 petepage71@hotmail.com

Mr Martin Coates

01623 239299 martincoates53@yahoo.co.uk

East Midlands

.

London

Col GF Smythe OBE

Mr Gary Driscoll

01708 442662 rgjldn@ntlworld.com

Milton Keynes

Brig MR Koe OBE

Mr Gary Brewer

01908 218715 g_brewer@btinternet.com

North East

Capt James Ramsbotham DL

Mr John Snell

01915 238472 snell3653@sky.com

North West

Brig David Innes

Mr Mark Lydiat

01512 830391 melydiat@yahoo.co.uk

Oxfordshire

Brig Robin Draper CVO OBE DL

Maj Andrew Bowes

07773 200085 a.bowes@btinternet.com

Suffolk

Maj RD Cassidy MBE

Mr Gordon Pilcher

01394 270844 gordonpilcherrgj@yahoo.co.uk

South East Kent

Lt Col R Gray OBE TD

Mr Glenn Ternent

01843 297069 geordie_t@btinternet.com

Wiltshire

Brig G d-v W Hayes CBE

Mr Gary Byrne

07545 966826 gasa102@gmail.com (Mike Walsh)

Winchester

Capt John Fritz-Domeney

Mr John Harper

07733 215810 johnharper1rgj@hotmail.co.uk

Yorkshire

Capt ABC Dollard

Mr Stuart Anderson

01757 618081 valerieanderson41@outlook.com

Any amendments to the above contact information should be sent to Seamus Lyons.

6 ÂŚ Volume 8

E-Zine 2016

ABF THE SOLDIERS CHARITY

Mount Barrow House, 6-20 Elizabeth Street, London, SW1W 9RB. Tel: 0207 901 8900 Fax: 0207 901 8901 Web: https://www.soldierscharity.org/need-our-help/individual-grants/

ASSOCIATION BLAZERS

Barrington Ayre Tailor Tel: 01285 689 431 E-mail: info@barringtonayre.co.uk Web: https://www.barringtonayre.co.uk/

VETERANS UK

Ministry of Defence agency responsible for veterans’ affairs, including war and service pensions, service records, military graves, medals and welfare issues.

Tel: 0808 1914 2 18 Web: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk

SECRETARY KRRC ASSOCIATION

Mr Richard Frost MBE, 52-56 Davies Street, London, W1K 5HR. Tel: 07770 226937 E-mail: krrcassn@hotmail.com

SECRETARY RB ASSOCIATION

Mr Geoff Pain, 75 St Catherines Road, Winchester, SO23 0PS. Tel: 01962 856249 E-mail: rba.hon.sec.g.pain@talktalk.net

SSAFA HELP

Tel: 0800 731 4880 Web: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/help-you/veterans

THE RIFLES BENEVOLENT TRUST

The Secretary, RHQ The Rifles, Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hants, SO23 8TS. Tel: 01962 828526 E-mail: secbenev@the-rifles.co.uk

THE UNION JACK CLUB

Sandell Street, London, SE1 8UJ Tel: 020 7928 4814 Web: https://www.ujclub.co.uk/contact/

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA. Tel: 0808 802 8080 From overseas: +44 (0)20 3376 8080 (full rate) Web: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

E-Zine 2016

Volume 8 ¦ 7

LOCATIONS OF GJ AND RGJ BATTALIONS 1GJ 43rd & 52nd Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus Warminster Warminster Penang Penang, (Borneo) Berlin Berlin

2GJ KRRC Tripoli Libya N. Ireland Ballykinler N. Ireland Ballykinler Berlin Berlin Colchester Colchester Penang, (Borneo) Penang, (Borneo)

1RGJ

2RGJ

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Berlin Berlin, (Cyprus), Tidworth (Cyprus), Tidworth Tidworth, (N/ Ireland) N/ Ireland, Celle* (Germany) Celle*, (N. Ireland) Celle* (N. Ireland) Celle*, (N. Ireland) Celle*, Dover (N. Ireland) Dover Dover, (Cyprus) Dover, (N. Ireland) Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hounslow Hounslow, (Aldergrove), NI Aldergrove Aldergrove Tidworth Tidworth, (Falklands) Tidworth Osnabruck*, (N. Ireland) Osnabruck*, (N. Ireland) Osnabruck* Osnabruck* Osnabruck*, (N. Ireland) Osnabruck* Disbanded

Penang Munster* Germany Munster* Germany Munster* Germany Munster* (Ballykelly) NI Ballykelly N. Ireland Ballykelly N. Ireland Ballykelly, Catterick Catterick, (N. Ireland) Catterick, Gibraltar Gibraltar, Tidworth Tidworth, (N. Ireland) Tidworth, (N. Ireland) Tidworth, Minden Minden* Minden*, (N. Ireland) Minden* Minden* Minden* Minden*, (N. Ireland) Minden*, Warminster Warminster Warminster, Dover Dover, (N. Ireland) Dover Dover, (N. Ireland) Omagh, N. Ireland Renumbered 1st Bn Omagh, Cyprus Cyprus, (Falklands) Cyprus Cyprus, Bulford, (Bosnia) Bulford* Bulford* Bulford*, Belfast Belfast Belfast, Preston Preston Preston, (Iraq) Preston, (South Armagh) Preston, (Kosovo) Preston 31 JANUARY RGJ ENDEX

N.B.

Brackets around place name indicates emergency tour.

1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

8 ÂŚ Volume 8

3GJ RB Tidworth Wuppertal Germany* Wuppertal Germany* Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus Felixstowe Hong Kong, Borneo Malaya, Felixstowe

3RGJ Felixstowe Iserlohn* Germany Iserlohn* Germany Iserlohn*, Celle Celle*, Tidworth (Cyprus) Tidworth, (Cyprus,R Coy NI) Shoeburyness (N.Ireland) Shoeburyness (N. Ireland) Shoeburyness (N. Ireland) Shoeburyness, Berlin Berlin Caterham, (N. Ireland) Caterham, Londonderry Londonderry, Oakington Oakington, (Cyprus) Oakington Oakington, Celle* Celle* Celle*, (N. Ireland) Celle*, (N. Ireland) Celle* Celle*, Colchester, (Falklands) Colchester, (Falklands) Colchester, Gibraltar Gibraltar Gibraltar, Dover, (N. Ireland) Dover Renumbered 2nd Bn Dover Dover Dover, Belfast Belfast Belfast, Paderborn Paderborn*, (Bosnia) Paderborn*, (Kosovo) Paderborn* Paderborn*, (Bosnia) Paderborn, Warminster Warminster Warminster, Ballykinler Ballykinler, Bulford Bulford

* indicates mechanized role in AFV432, Saxon or Warrior personal carrier.

E-Zine 2016

ADDRESS by General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC (Gen) Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, late The Royal Green Jackets at the 50th Anniversary Celebration Field Marshal, fellow Riflemen.

I’d like to start by thanking Simon Booth-Mason, Roy Stanger, John Fritz-Dominey, Ron Frampton and the Winchester Branch for all their hard work in setting up today. Thanks also to Lt Col Andy Cox, CO of ATR Winchester for his support.

It is testament to the success of this extraordinary Regiment of ours that fifty years on so many of us have gathered here today to commemorate that moment when the three former regiments came together to create the Royal Green Jackets. To what do we attribute this success? I think first and foremost it is to do with brand. We are different and we have always celebrated that difference.

We don’t have colours, we rally to the battle honours inscribed on our cap badge, we take great pride in fighting in extended order, in concealment, in wearing a sensible coloured uniform, and we occupy the privileged position of not being included in the serried ranks of regiments in the British Army’s Line. We place great emphasis on marksmanship, sharpshooting, and sniping. We communicate with the bugle and we manoeuvre in double time – as we are about to see ...

Second I think success has come from an attitude that espouses the ‘thinking Rifleman’. Our philosophy has always been about unlocking the potential of every Rifleman so that fleeting opportunities on the battlefield are instantly seized. And training is designed to set high standards and allow honest mistakes to be made in the pursuit of development.

Although I’m not sure I was entirely convinced of the advantages of low level initiative when I had to answer up for two members of my surveillance platoon in Celle (Riflemen ‘Legs’ Peters and ‘Jelly Tot’ Curtis’) who had been busted for a pre-deployment raid on the cookhouse – they would have got away with it if they had not left a trail of sausages all the way back to S Company block.

But joking apart our extraordinary operational record speaks for itself. There has barely been a day since its formation when the Regiment has not been committed to operations, in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Africa; operational success has always been the hallmark of the very best Green Jacket battalions and there is not a brigade commander that I have come across who would not want a Green Jacket battalion in his brigade on operations.

We have always espoused a forward-looking attitude. We have never allowed tradition to deaden our sense of the present, nor the opportunities presented by the future. This open mindedness, combined with enlightened leadership is probably one of the reasons why we have always produced so many senior officers. The so-called ‘Black Mafia’.

And this forward-looking attitude has been very much in evidence, as we have established the Rifles. In just the same way as the three Colonel Commandants of the former regiments within the Green Jacket Brigade came together to create the Royal Green Jackets, the current generation has established a legacy of which we can all be immensely proud.

We have also embraced a sense of style about what we do. ‘Never be dull’ was the advice given to Dick Fyffe before he assumed command. ‘Cock it a bit’ was the advice given by the Colonel in Chief to the Quartermaster when referring to how his hat should be worn. And that probably explains why the beret has been worn over the left ear from time to time.

Continued on next page

E-Zine 2016

Volume 8 ¦ 9

For me what stands out about this wonderful regiment that I joined, down the road in Peninsula Barracks in 1977, is the relationship that all of us - as Riflemen - have with each other. That spirit is entirely obvious from what we see today and see every year at our Association Reunion.

It comes from leaders who place the care of their Riflemen at the forefront of all that they do. Joining the 3rd Battalion as an 18 year old - with Christopher Dunphie as my Commanding Officer and George Smythe as my company commander there was no chance of my not learning what this meant – often the hard way.

So to my mind - the reason we are all here today celebrating the success of the Royal Green Jackets – is because it is a very special family.

Swift & Bold

Tom and Jan Dooner invite you to their last Greenjacket Christmas Reunion on

SATURDAY 10th DECEMBER

The Railway Tavern Hotel - 131 Angel Lane - Stratford - London Tel: 020 8534 3123 - Email: railwaytavern@btconnect.com Rooms are available on a first come basis and are limited

Why not turn up at Lunch time and introduce yourself to Tom and Jan then go and enjoy some Christmas shopping in Westfield shopping complex?

The majority turn up from 7pm onwards so you’ve got plenty of time!

10 ¦ Volume 8

E-Zine 2016

The Oxford Branch Reunion will take place on Saturday 12th November 2016 at Edward Brooks Barracks, Cholswell Road, Shippon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6HW. 1900hrs Bar opens 2000hrs Oxfordshire (The Rifles Battalion) ACF Band 2030hrs Public Address 2100hrs Curry supper on payment 0030hrs Bar closes 0100hrs EBB closes

All Association members and their guests welcome. Non-members are charged £5 admission.

The Oxford Branch and Club Luncheon will take place on Thursday 12th January 2017 at Edward Brooks Barracks, Cholswell Road, Shippon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6HW. 1230 for 1300 hrs.

Contact Mike Marr for details.

The Suffolk Branch will be holding their 30th Birthday Celebrations on Saturday 11th March 2017 at the Great Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe Booking ref: BK70468 They will be celebrating in style and extend the Invitation to all Green Jackets and their Partners.

Contact: Gordon at gordonpilcherrgj@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

REDCOATS TO RIFLEMEN is a newly produced and colourfully illustrated 24 page Short History of the County Regiment of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It traces the continuum of the Regiment from 1741 to The Rifles and is a ready reference for both the heritage of the Regiment and its current presence in the counties.

Copies can be obtained from the RGJ Museum or from the Oxford Branch of the RGJ Association. The cost is £3:00 + 80p for p&p. To order, please send a cheque made payable to RGJ Association Oxford Branch for £3:80 with your name and address to Geoff Day, 88 The Phelps, Kidlington, Oxon, OX5 1TL. Please telephone 07775981088 for any queries or email direct to geoffday@gmx.com.

Copies are also available through the Milton Keynes and Aylesbury branches of the RGJ Association.

E-Zine 2016

Volume 8 ¦ 11

Lieutenant Colonel The Earl of Feversham 21st KRRC Charles William Reginald Duncombe, Viscount Helmsley, was Member of Parliament for Thirsk and Malton from 1906 until he succeeded to the title. At the outbreak of the First World War, he was a Major in the Yorkshire Yeomanry Hussars, but was quickly promoted to command, when his predecessor was passed unfit for war service. In April 1915, he took the Hussars to France, but the regiment was soon broken up into Divisional Cavalry, leaving him with no command.

He returned home, and accepted an offer to raise a battalion of Yeoman Rifles formed of farmers and yeomen of Northern Command. This became 21st Kings Royal Rifle Corps (Yeoman Rifles) and recruited from the three Ridings of Yorkshire, and Northumberland, Durham, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Norfolk. He followed the example of the Pal’s battalions, and the companies’ Riflemen largely all came from the same counties. It is thought that A Company was manned almost entirely from his own estate employees.

The battalion was assembled at his home, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, and accommodated in a camp in the Park and reached full establishment of some 1100 men by December 1915. In January 1916, they moved to Aldershot, becoming part of 124 Brigade.

On 4th May the battalion crossed to France, and within three weeks went into the line at Ploegsteert, which after 1914, was a relatively quiet area where new battalions to the front were “introduced” to the battlefield, carrying out patrolling duties and acting as Divisional reserve. They remained there until the middle of August, at the end of which they were moved to the Somme. After a short time, the battalion was formed up on the Eastern side of Delville Wood, near Longueval, to take part in a long planned attack on Flers-Courcelette, which after several postponements, was launched at dawn on 15th September. The attack had three objectives, the furthest of which was the village of Flers, nearly two miles from the start point, and the trench line beyond this village was the objective of 21st KRRC. 18th KRRC was in the same Brigade, and had, (what the record calls) an “unfortunate” start when the Commanding Officer, his Adjutant, Signals Officer and Trench Mortar Officer were all killed by a single shell just before H hour. Notwithstanding that tragedy, the first objective was taken by 6.45am. It was an interesting attack, because it was the first time that tanks had been used in battle, and the Germans, having not seen them before, did not stand, except for the machine gun posts, which inflicted heavy casualties, particularly on the Officers. Seven out of ten tanks had crossed the front line, and four reached the objective two minutes before the Riflemen. The attack was continued behind a barrage, but was slowed by German artillery, and uncut wire, but the remaining tanks were able to make gaps in it with relative ease. By 8am, the second objective had been taken, and after consolidation on the outskirts of Flers, the village was taken and cleared by 1020am. Feversham collected together as many men as he could muster, and advanced and took his objective, the trench line beyond Flers village. 21st KRRC and 9th Rifle Brigade held this trench for some time and withstood more than one counter attack, but during one of these, Feversham was killed aged 37. After this the two battalions were withdrawn, and established defence on the east side of the village. This was the greatest advance made by any division in the course of the day. The battalion had suffered 394 casualties, killed, wounded and missing.

About a month later, a returning gunner patrol reported to the Adjutant, Anthony Eden aged 19, and who 40 years later was to become Prime Minister, that it had come across the body of a Lieutenant Colonel from a rifle regiment. That night, Eden led a small patrol, including his pioneer Sergeant, Jim Dale, who had been brought up on the Feversham estate, and three other Riflemen, and found and buried their Commanding Officer. Sgt Dale had made a wooden cross, and had carved the Colonel’s name onto it. After the war, the Earl of Feversham was reburied in the CWGC at Flers. The wooden cross now lies at the entrance to Rievaulx church, in the centre of the Feversham estate. There is a memorial to the battalion on the wall of the Town Hall in Helmsley.

Alastair Stewart 12 ¦ Volume 8

E-Zine 2016

50th RGJ Anniversary 9th July 2016

The Gathering To me there was only one Gathering in 2016 worth recalling and that was our 50th RGJ Anniversary at SJMB on Saturday 9th July and what a wonderful day that turned out to be. As I sit on the beach in Cornwall in brilliant weather writing this article I find it hard to believe that the planning for this special day began well over a year before the actual event and where a Sub-Committee was formed to plan the whole event; only this time because it was an Anniversary Reunion it was to be far bigger, more interesting, with lots of fun, and very much family orientated. The only, though not insurmountable, problem was because we planned these additional elements it would be far more expensive to lay on.

As you can imagine there were many good and innovative ideas suggested; from reforming the old RGJ Para Display team, a flypast by an Apache helicopter, wall climbing for the kids and a variety of static stands covering past military events like Pegasus Bridge and the Cockleshell Heroes. These were all considered and discussed at length and decisions made accordingly.

We are lucky that the basic infrastructure requirements were already in place from our usual Annual Reunions under Roy Stanger, John Fritz-Domeney and the Winchester Branch.

All of whom put in an immense amount of time and effort throughout the year in preparing the groundwork for the day.

Some of which might not appear at first glance to directly benefit the Association Reunion, but in terms of fostering good relations with the current landlords of the site paid back enormous dividends for our Anniversary Reunion which will hopefully continue well into the future.

For example if you took the opportunity to have a close look at the armoured vehicles displayed around the site you would have found that all had been renovated to an exceptional high degree. This was achieved by Del Milam, John Harper, Derek Randell and a number of other ‘armoured experts’ from Bovingdon who over the previous 12 months had power washed every one and then meticulously painted them. Not being satisfied with that they even emgineered missing parts including making the most realistic wooden machine gun you have ever seen and mounted it within the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle outside the Sergeants Mess.

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In addition to that the Memorial Garden team finally completed its most ambitious project todate with a rustic oak and tiled lych gate to the entrance of the garden. Did Colin Fox ever look more saintly under its eaves with the backdrop of the Military Wives Choir and Buglers at his Service of Thanksgiving?

And finally not forgetting the days when we were part of the Light Division Derek Randell spent days fully renovating the Light Infantry Memorial dedicated to those killed at Ballygawley in 1988. The Memorial is situated adjacent to the gymnasium and consists of chairs, plaques and trees laid in memory of 8 of her regiment by HM, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Anyway I digress. The outline programme preceded well during the year pulling together all the logistics of organising bands and their accommodation, singers, re-enactment groups, audio system, work parties, static stands, filming and photographer, marquees and catering, 1st Aid, and toilets etc….all eventually contacted and booked with any special administrative requirements they needed. These had to be booked up to a year in advance in some cases. However one element we couldn’t plan for was the weather which as we all know frequently lets us down. Plan B (if there ever was one) for torrential rain was to hire a tractor to tow the caravans up the hill to the camping field! As it happened and knowing God favoured Riflemen (because Colin Fox told us so) Saturday dawned overcast but with relief that no rain was anticipated.

It has to be remembered that SJMB is now an active training regiment with all that entails. As a consequence we found we had a recruits POP scheduled for the Friday before our reunion but being efficient and flexible Riflemen it hardly slowed our preparation and planning at all. However a considerable amount of time still had to be spent by Roy Stanger liaising with SJMB to ensure we achieved our requirements whilst at the same time being considerate to theirs.

By 0715 hrs on the day the audio engineer was setting up the PA system and the various stands commenced their preparations as everything had to be in place and completed by 1030 hrs when a risk assessment had to be carried out. Bear in mind that in the previous 4 days the huge marquees had to be erected and furnished, water and power laid on, the bar and dining room area all completed…..not an easy logistical exercise even with good advance planning.

The first two events took place in Winchester itself. The Turning of The Pages in the Cathedral was carried out by Col George Smythe and Maj Gen James Balfour plus 2 buglers and was well attended. The second event at 1200 hrs was the unveiling and dedication of the Second Tribute Chair outside the Museum in Peninsular Barracks which was organised by Julie-Anne Rosser and Steve Barrett on behalf of MAP Ltd with the unveiling of the chair by Jason Salkey (aka Rfn Harris of the Sharpe TV series) with buglers. This was also well attended.

While these events were taking place in Winchester the focus of the day then moved back to SJMB itself where the RGJ VRN photo shoot had begun under the auspices of John Fritz-Domeney. Although a last minute change in authorisation meant the main square couldn’t be used over 70 vehicles were photographed in two sessions on the smaller muster square at the rear of the barracks.

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The SJMB gates and bar opened at 1200 hrs leaving just 90 minutes before the first major attraction took place on the Main Square. The entrance Reception group together with the ACF 60th Cadets (under Major J Collett from London) worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon to ensure both car parking and entry proceeded smoothly. It is worth mentioning that over 3,000 people turned up.

The first event on the main square was the Romsey Old Cadet Band dressed as French musketeers who were brilliant, unconventional, and incredibly amusing with their audience participation which the kids loved. This was followed by a battle segment from Waterloo which consisted of 150 re-enactors with their rifles and cannons creating an incredible screen of noise and smoke. All accompanied with a very informative commentary. It was great to see The Rifles and 52nd producing the coup de gras at the end and Napoleon fleeing the battlefield.

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Next on the Square was the Quirinius Band and Bugles, The Association’s affiliated Band and Bugles, all the way from Germany, having arrived the previous evening after an all day coach journey,. This band is made up of German civilians trained by our own former musicians. To all intents of purposes this was a ‘Green Jacket band’ both in dress, music ability and marching speed. Fresh from Sounding Retreat at Horseguards the previous month they gave us a wonderful display of music and marching. They were much enjoyed, very professional and we hope we see more of them in the future.

Our Service of Thanksgiving then took place at the Light Division Memorial Garden under the auspices of our Regimental Padre Colin Fox and assisted by the Winchester Military Wives Choir and Buglers. Colin gave us a moving and sensitive address with emphasis on thanksgiving and together with audience singing it was an uplifting service.

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The March Past was next on the agenda and what an event that turned out to be. The parade formed up in Battalions including riflemen of the original R Company.

Estimated numbers on parade ranged from over 900 to 1,000 + and all nearly correctly dressed in sea of green blazers and ties which must be a basic future requirement.

Such were the numbers on parade that this required some quick thinking by Parade RSM Jake Cheetham and his assistant Gary Driscoll to ensure we all could form up on the

Square and hear the address by Gen Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC (Gen), Col Comdt The Rifles, our most senior serving former Royal Green Jacket.

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Our March Past was led by Brig Hugh Willing, our RGJA Chairman, with the salute taken by Gen Sir Nicholas Carter and Maj Gen Jamie Balfour CBE DL, President of RGJA, who chose to march with his old mates in R Company. Such was the popularity it was impossible to clear the Square quickly afterwards (R Company take note!!).

The last event at the end of the afternoon was The Sounding Retreat by The Rifles B & B together with the Association Buglers and the Quirinus B & B under the supervision of the DOM Major Jason Griffiths BA (MUS) LRSM CAMUS. Again another fine display of Regimental music and marching was shown and was much enjoyed by all those attending, since nothing stirs the embers of Regimental pride more than a good Sounding Retreat. The National Anthem followed to finalise the Main Square proceedings together with the intended lowering of the flags.

The action then moved over to the large marquee where we were right royally entertained in three singing sessions by The Melodic Belles who had people dancing up by the stand and our very own crooner Gary Driscoll. They both went down a treat with the audience.

The bar and food outlets were busy all day and evening, even to the extent that the beer supplies ran out earlier than anticipated. The £5 dinner based around your favourite compo rations proved to be very popular with over 500 meals being served by the QDG cooks from Catterick. We should not forget those organizations which produced static stands like SSAFA Hampshire/C4C /regimental clothing/ the Museum and the military vehicles from Spt Coy 4 Rifles. The hiring of an ‘uprated’ audio system proved well worth the expense which enabled Brig Nick Prideaux to keep us fully and superbly informed of events going on plus a background summary of the participants involved.

The intent of the day was to produce a happy, interesting and fun environment for you and your family/guests to enjoy and reconnect with many of your past Regimental friends. From what I witnessed there was indeed a lot of catching up being done? It was a very special and successful day from every aspect and even the weather held for the campers in the field.

I would like to mention that many still photographs were taken and are available on Fraser Portraits website ( www.fraserportraits.com ) for you to purchase. And also I would like to mention that we are very much indebted to Kelvin Crumplin, a former rifleman and now a film director, who brought down a fully professional film crew to record the whole day’s events. We aim to produce a DVD of the day and for this to be ready for purchase before Christmas. Details will be on our website shortly.

As our Chairman has already mentioned in his Forward the next Annual Reunion will take place on Saturday 8th July 2017 at SJMB. While this will be smaller in scale we will endeavour to make it a fun Regimental family day. I hope you will come again and support it so please put this in your diary now. This date also co-insides with The Rifles Freedom of Winchester Parade in the morning.

I would like to especially thank all the members of the Sub-Committee who gave up much time and effort to produce this happy and enjoyable day as well as those who contributed/assisted in various forms to make this day a success. Bookings for 2017 have already been activated so please show your Green Jacket support.

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I am sure all of you will have your own special memories of the 9th July this year but mine will be to remind oneself what a truly great Regiment The Royal Green Jackets was. We can be rightly proud of this. However, amid all our euphoria of the day, we should spare a thought of those we knew and were not present.

Riflemen, be there next year.

Simon Booth-Mason Chairman RGJ 50th Anniversary Sub-Committee

RGJ E-mail Addresses They look like: your name@rgjassociation.info

We currently have just under 1000 RGJ e-mail addresses available to paid up members of the Association.

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If you would like one of these which come with full instructions on how to add it to your own e-mail client, please e-mail: admin@rgjassociation.info with your name and regimental number (which will be used for the password) and I will send you your own RGJ e-mail address within 48 hours.

Kevin Stevens

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UNVEILING OF THE CYPRUS EMERGENCY MEMORIAL AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM, STAFFORDSHIRE

The dedication of the Cyprus Campaign Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 21st August 2016 was a moving and highly-successful event. Some 600 people - service veterans, police officers, families and friends - gathered to pay tribute to the memory of those who died during the EOKA campaign between 1955 and 1959.

The party of 18 from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, which included a dozen veterans who had served in Cyprus during that time, gathered at Redbridge Park-and-Ride, Oxford at 0800hrs, but our departure was somewhat delayed by the Oxford Mail photographer. Geoff Day had organised a 15-seater mini-bus to be driven by Andrea Isham, so three members had to follow on by car.

We made very good time, arriving at the Arboretum after a 2-hour journey, and were joined by John and Pat Forrester from Shropshire.

We were directed to the area where the parade of standards was assembling. Some followed the parade on foot to the Memorial, which in on the right of the long avenue known as ‘The Beat’, while others took advantage of the little shuttles.

As the Memorial is, inevitably, sited among trees, it was difficult for everyone to get a good view of the proceedings or to take good photographs, but as I was charged with laying the Regiment’s wreath I managed to insinuate myself into a reasonable position. Some seating was organised for dignitaries, which did not include anyone in our party!

After the standards of the various units had been marched in, the proceedings were opened by David Littlemore (ex-RMP), who had been the driving force behind the campaign. He pointed out that while there was a memorial to the fallen of the campaign in Cyprus, it was appropriate that there should also be one in the UK, and the NMA was the obvious location for it. He paid tribute to the help given

by Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, who had organised the transport by the RAF of the four-ton rock from Cyprus.

The service followed as in the attached programme, with Sir Michael Graydon dropping a cylinder containing all the names into a hole drilled into the rock at the back after the unveiling. The weather was better than expected, with just a light shower of rain at one point to bring out the umbrellas. Those of us who attended the very wet unveiling of the Light Infantry Memorial in June 2011 were thankful for that.

After the laying of the seven formal wreaths, the various regimental and county police wreaths were also laid on a rather ad hoc basis, and after the standards were marched off everyone then gathered around to inspect the memorial and take photographs.

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Tea, coffee and biscuits were available in the marquee, so many of the Lightbobs party gathered at a table to talk and look at photographs. We were hoping to meet the relatives of Gerald French and Michael O’Carroll, but couldn’t locate them. Several of us later went to inspect the Light Infantry Memorial.

We left at 1700hrs, and Geoff had organised a visit for refreshments to an unspecified location. After negotiating some very narrow country lanes in rural Warwickshire, we found ourselves at the Church End Brewery Tap in Nuneaton, where we were able to sit in the garden and raise our glasses to the memory of our three former comrades. At this point I was phoned by a reporter from the Oxford Mail and interviewed for 14 minutes. Inevitably, the subsequent report in the paper was not exactly what I said!

Apart from a detour into Banbury to avoid an accident on the M40, it was an uneventful journey home. Congratulations to Geoff for organising the bus and the beer, to Andrea for doing the driving, and to everyone else for taking the time and effort to honour the victims of the Cyprus Emergency.

The Dedication.

The Standards on parade.

The Memorial after all the wreaths had been laid.

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The Memorial after all the wreaths had been laid.

The closing address by the two ministers.

Close up.

Some of the veterans at the Light Infantry memorial, (left to right) Tony Barson, Brian Cox, Malcolm Gray, Malcolm Boyes, Roy Bailey, Geoff Day, John Forrester, David Humphries.

Article and Photo’s from Roy Bailey, RGJ Association Oxford Branch

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RGJ BOXING In the 50 years since the RGJ was formed there are two sporting achievements which stand out.

In 1969 in Celle, Germany 3RGJ beat the Kings Regiment in the final of the Army Inter Unit Boxing final. This was the first time the Regiment had won this title. It rocked Army boxing at the time, the Kings being the most successful boxing team in the Army and the reigning champions. 3RGJ had stormed to the final that year beating everybody in their way. They had also beaten the reigning BAOR champions The Gloucestershire Regiment in the BAOR final trouncing them 9-2.

This was the start of some wonderful boxing triumphs for the Regiment. Later on that season both Roy Treacy and Jimmy Matthews won individual Army titles and Treacy went on to reach the final of the ABA Championships.

After the disbandment of 3RGJ a number of the boxers went to 1RGJ. The boxing team was reformed and again became a force in Army boxing. Reaching two Army finals being beaten narrowly in both by the Kings and 10 RCT. They also won the BAOR title again.

Individual RGJ boxers during that time were very successful. Dave Donnison, Jake Cheetham, Glen Harrison, Ray Brennan, Brian Ewin, Mick Oswald and Jimmy Matthews all represented the Army team. That is a fine record. Jimmy Matthews went on to win 5 Army and Combined Services titles and was an England International. He captained the Army, CSBA and the England team.

After the disappointments of previous finals 1RGJ finally, in 1976, became Army Champions. On the way to the final that year they were unstoppable. They beat an RA unit and some Donkey Wallopers 11-0 on two wild nights in the gym in Dover.

They beat the Kings in the semi-final and 10RCT in the final.

Those two teams had ruled since 1969.

Individuals in that team also did well. Tom Williams went on to win an Army and Combined Services title and was narrowly beaten in the ABA finals that year. Horace Miles also won an Army and Combined services title and later earned an England vest.

Two other Riflemen who should be mentioned are Tony Velinor an ABA champion and Billy Taylor also an ABA champion who represented Great Britain at the 1972 Olympics before joining up.

Not bad at all at boxing RGJ.

Jake Cheetham

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CAMEL ON PARADE During one early morning ‘O’ group in Company headquarters one day, Richard (my peerless Company Commander who had a tremendous sense of fun), explained that we were to have a Battalion Muster Parade the following month. The Colonel; Regimental 2ic, and all the Company Commanders would be expected to be mounted. So we had to find Richard a horse. This caused some amusement as Richard was not a keen horseman. He didn’t know one end from the other. But Richard himself had other ideas. After the ‘O’ group, once everyone had gone off to get on with the day’s business, he called me into his office, and closed the door.

“I’ve had an idea. A Great idea,” Richard confided. He sounded very excited. “This muster parade, next month. You know how the company commanders are expected to be mounted?”

“Yes,” I replied, “go on.”

“Well, the Colonel didn’t say on what.” I looked blank. “I’m not going to ride a horse,” explained Richard.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m going to ride a camel,” he said triumphantly.

Apparently, he’d dreamt up this mad idea as soon as he’d heard about the mounted parade. No-one was to know about it, apart from me. He’d looked at a local map and discovered that we weren’t that far from Longleat. Longleat had camels. He was going to telephone them and ask to borrow one for the morning.

“Oh yes. Just like that?” I put my spoke in. “Really.”

“Oh come on,” begged Richard. “Do say you’ll help. It’d be fantastic. Such a scream to turn up on parade on a camel. We won’t let anyone else into the secret. Promise you’ll keep mum.”

I could see that it would be a huge laugh if we could pull it off. And thinking about it I was sure we wouldn’t get into much trouble. After all, the Colonel was such a good sport, a wonderful man, (typical of everyone in 2RGJ). So the idea did have its appeal……

“OK,” I agreed. “Let’s ‘phone Longleat this morning. Just to make sure that we really can borrow a live camel.”

So later, when all was quiet, Richard called Longleat. Afterwards he came rushing through to my office, closing the door behind him.

“We’re on,” he said excitedly. He was dancing round the room. Grinning from ear to ear. “This is going to be great!” He explained that we had been invited to Longleat the following week. They had just the right sort of camel apparently - a ten-year old female called Ivy who was used to crowds, as she often gave rides to the visitors at the park. Apparently good natured too.

Oh good. So, we looked forward to meeting Ivy, and getting to know her prior to the parade.

The following week, as per the invitation, Richard and I had a wonderful secret morning at Longleat getting to know Ivy, and finding out all her little foibles from her keeper. She really was a wonderful character, and thankfully very biddable. (Although, she did stink. To high heaven). Richard and I were beside ourselves with excitement. All the arrangements were planned. Ivy would be delivered to the barracks in a special trailer early on the morning of the parade. Her keeper would come with her, and fit her with a halter, with a long rope. Just as the parade was about to get started I would lead Ivy out of the trailer, Richard would mount her, and I would then lead the both of them onto the parade ground. To the stunned amazement of officers and riflemen alike. We wriggled with excitement when we secretly imagined what it would be like.

We could hardly bear waiting for the day of the Muster Parade.

Our efficient Adjutant was very careful about making all the arrangements, and every time he rang to check that A Company was getting properly prepared I was almost beside myself with glee. Richard and I would huddle secretly in his office, to go over our plan. Like two small children planning a raid on the sweet shop.

At last the day dawned. I was up with the lark, and rushed over to A Company Headquarters. Richard had been there practically all night so excited he couldn’t sleep, and preferring to wait at the scene of the crime-to-be-committed rather than in his bed. “ All set Gilly?” he asked unnecessarily.

“All set,” I replied. And then we saw the large trailer draw up at the guardroom. The guard knew nothing of the contents, but Richard had ordered them to let it straight through and direct it around to us.

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We went outside to await their arrival. The keeper greeted us and we three conspirators went inside the large box to say good morning to Ivy. She seemed perfectly calm and rather aloof from our excited exchanges. But she did smell. I had to hold my nose. I kept wondering if it might be worth popping quickly to the stores to grab a gas mask.

Richard kept asking me to go and check what was happening on the parade square.

“Nothing much yet,” I reported. Then, next time, “a bit more activity now.” Then, “yes, everyone’s beginning to line up.”

At last, it was time to get Ivy out of her box. I dusted myself down, and put on my cap. Hoping I was smart enough in my “Number Twos”. I helped Ivy out, leading her by the rope. Richard, with some difficulty, mounted her, and with much giggling, and great anticipation I led Ivy towards the parade square. As a clever dramatic touch Richard had already asked the BandMaster to play the theme music to “Lawrence of Arabia” at the appropriate moment. I could just hear it. But, as we approached the square I suddenly saw a scene of great chaos. Instead of the ordered smartness of lines of officers and riflemen ready for inspection, I saw horses bolting in every direction. Their riders struggling and failing to keep control. The Adjutant’s horse was galloping at top speed towards the fields below Battlesbury Hill. The Adjutant himself, now hatless and looking totally astonished, was screaming something inaudible as he disappeared from view. A most unusual sight. By now all the riflemen were rendered helpless with astonishment and laughter. Ivy continued to follow my lead, seemingly an old hand on the parade square, and rather proud, as if she was above all of this nonsense. None of the mounted officers were to be seen anywhere. Only the Colonel had managed to recover both himself and his horse. He was still bravely attempting to take the parade. Although his horse refused to face the camel, so that the Colonel had to turn right round in his saddle, and we just saw his head above his horse’s hind quarters, he still managed to return Richard’s smart salute as we “marched” past him.

As I led Ivy off the parade square and back towards her box I was aware that we had rendered the Muster Parade a complete shambles. Everyone remaining was dismissed, although it took some time for the square to empty. Everyone loudly discussing the morning’s antics. Lots of “did you see……….?” And “what about…………?” Some of the soldiers rushed round to A Company to get a closer look at Ivy. Apparently the Adjutant’s horse had still not returned him to the barracks.

Goodness knows where they’d got to. We should have been concerned, but we were far too wrapped up in all the attention.

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It was only now that Ivy’s keeper gave us some rather vital information.

“Camels have a very strong and very distinctive smell you know,” he said to his captive audience. I had noticed that actually.

And then he added, “horses are absolutely terrified by it.”

Richard and I looked at each other. So that’s what had happened. “Ooops.” We hadn’t planned for that. But then we both agreed that even if we had known we would still have gone ahead. It had definitely been worth facing the inevitable music.

And there were a few well-chosen words from several quarters to be faced before the day was out, which we just had to face stoically. Although it was a bit difficult to look too shame-faced. It had, after all, been such fun.

Captain Gilly Wright, WRAC.

Soldier Magazine On Line Click Here

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MEMORIES As a Regimental Policeman in Wuppertal in 1960 I was escorting a Rfn on CO’s one morning and after we were marched into the CO’s office the colonel saw a ‘L’ shaped tear in the Rfn’s shirt and said to him; “ is that your best shirt” to which the Rfn replied; “no sir I don’t have any favourites”.

Hong Kong 1965, as a Sgt I appeared to be the only senior rank in camp and was tasked by the Adjutant to do the CO’s orders for him. One of the Rfn on orders was a shaven headed individual from the Recce Platoon named Bond; the same name as the colonel. We were dressed in bare buff (no shirt) and on marching in the colonel read out the charge and started to lay into Rfn Bond. All of a sudden Rfn Bond leaned forward and looked under the Colonels desk. As he had no hair or shirt on there was nothing to grab hold of to make him stand up. The Colonel stood up and leaning over his desk asked Bond what he was doing to which Bond replied “ I’m looking for some justice sir, as there isn’t any coming over the top”.

Hong Kong 1965, Sgts Jim Pevalin, Tony Martin and I were having lunch in the China Fleet Club sitting by an open window when three Rfn came into the restaurant and asked if they could sit at our table, we said yes. They ordered their meals and were served, the infamous ‘Punchy’ Mitchel came over to our table and did his trick of flicking his dentures out into someone’s beer only this time he flicked them into one of the Rfn’s meals. The Rfn didn’t bat an eyelid he picked them up and threw the denture out of the window into the harbour. The expression on Mitchel’s face was a sight to see. Apparently he would do this into someone’s beer so he could get a free drink.

Dick Hayes

In May 1963 I joined 3GJ/RB as an incredibly young, 19 years and 3 months and terrified, officer straight from Mons OCS. Everyone, and I mean everyone was incredibly kind, making me feel “at home” right away. In that idyllic summer of 1963, before Cyprus erupted at Christmas, we worked from 0630 until lunchtime and unless you were training outside Alexandra Barracks or on duty as Orderly Officer, you could do what you liked in the afternoon.

Andrew Festing, one of the four sons of FM “Frankie” was in the Battalion and used to go off “into the hills” in his (I think) Fiat 500 to paint. Some of us thought this rather strange under the burning summer sun, when we were much happier swimming or kipping on our beds. Andrew used to return with his “daubs” as he called them; I can clearly remember seeing them with bright red and orange colours. I don’t think we considered them worthy of great artistic merit and I guess Andrew consigned them to the waste paper basket.

Now Andrew, after a distinguished career at Sotheby’s, is a very successful and much sought after artist, with commissions of hundreds of famous sitters including HM The Queen. I always enjoy seeing his paintings of memorable English cricketers from the past 60 years, which hang in the pavilion at Lord’s. Andrew was President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters from 2002 to 2008 and was awarded an MBE, which many of us thought was scant recognition for his very considerable talents.

As we march on, in my case the seventh decade, the past is full of opportunities missed, but I guess that is true of everyone.

When I see Andrew’s group paintings of the cricket heroes of my youth, like Trueman, Statham, Cowdrey and May (and I saw them all play at Lord’s) I am reminded of his returning from painting expeditions 53 years ago and our somewhat philistine attitude to what he had produced, though I suspect early Picasso’s suffered the same fate.

Did you keep any of those “daubs” Andrew?

Simon Toynbee

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DON’T FOLLOW ME - I’M LOST TOO !

(Malaya 1956) We were patrolling along the edge of the jungle, with the rubber plantation on our left, at platoon strength of about twenty men and spaced well apart in column formation.

We had to descend this steep bank, wade through a river, and then climb another steep, slippery bank on the other side. Over the ridge ahead of us the Rifleman in front of me followed those in front of him and turned sharp right into the jungle. When I reached the ridge I couldn’t see where the column had gone and passed that point with the rest of the platoon following me.

With my experience of tracking at that time I recognised some tracks going into the jungle. Thinking these were the head of the column I followed them and had only gone a few yards when my foot was caught in a pig (wild boar) trap snare – a tree sprang up and there was I hanging upside down with my backpack hanging over my head and still clutching my rifle across my chest! Then my Officer arrived – “Taylor!

What are you doing?” You can guess what my answer was – “Just hanging around – Sir!” After I had been kindly released by my colleagues and recovered my dignity (by which time the head of the column had regrouped with us) we continued our patrol following the tracks as we realised now we were following terrorist tracks as the pig trap was one they had set to trap food.

MIXED EMOTIONS We continued tracking slowly with our patrol knowing the terrorists were probably just ahead of us. Then we heard the rapid firing of the rifle shots and we now moved forward swiftly to the area and came across the aftermath of a jungle ‘kill’. Another platoon were also patrolling this area and were ahead of us and consequently just beat us to the action so when we arrived it was all over.

After the burst of activity all the usual sounds of the jungle wildlife ceased, the peaceful silence was eerie now – we could relax after the tension we had been under. One poor Chinese lad about the same age as myself (19) looked so young as he lay there. I felt so very sad and my thoughts were for his parents.

We tried out a variety of weapons in jungle warfare including the M1 Carbine, No.5 Lee Enfield, pump-action shot guns, Patchets , Brens and Owen guns. We finally settled for the FN automatic rifle and shotgun.

LIGHT RELIEF Apart from Jungle patrols we were also involved with ambushes. On night ambushes our usual visitors were large ants about an inch and a half long which snarled at us with their big pincers snapping to try to frighten us off, and also the leeches out for their evening meal. The leeches were about the size of a small garden slug; they would get inside our clothing or our jungle boots, bury their heads into our skin and fill up with blood. To avoid infection you had to wait until they had had their fill before removing them.

On one occasion we were taken to the jungle by lorry. We were all blacked up (faces and hands) and even wore socks over our boots so that we didn’t leave footprints. We had to drop off the lorry whilst it was still moving, then double into a monsoon ditch at the side of the track – it was very dark and we had to lie throughout the night in the ditch. We were about five strong, including the sergeant, and had laid a trip wire along the bottom of our feet attached to a flare behind us, the idea being – in the event of terrorist activity – any one of us could kick the trip flare into action, floodlighting the whole area. We had a torch attached to our FN rifles zeroed at 25m to the point of aim.

The night was pitch dark as we stared over the ends of our rifles into the blackness. All that could be seen were fireflies that looked like cigarette ends floating in the darkness. Midway through the night I was dying for a pee but was unable to move a muscle until daybreak.

After a long night without any action, with the dawn sky just starting to light up the sergeant told us quietly to prepare to move out. By now I was desperate, turned to go into the bushes behind me, tripped over the wire, off went the flare and all my mates startled into action pointing their rifles everywhere looking for the terrorists. They weren’t too pleased when they realised it was only ‘fearless Fred’ rushing for a bit of light relief.

MEMOIRS OF FRED TAYLOR London Branch RGJA Rifle Brigade, 1955 - 1958

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LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE GOES TO MEMORIAL CROSS RE-DEDICATION AT ST BOTOLPH’S St Botolph’s-without-Bishopsgate Church in the City of London is a very special church for the London Rifle Brigade. Hemmed in by the modern glass structures of the financial district, it somehow manages to hold its own with its Georgian tower, handsome church hall, and small garden with an incongruous open door in the middle of it. It is LRB’s regimental church and has for many decades been a focus of remembrance and thanksgiving for the many volunteer Riflemen who work in the City. It is also the regimental church of the HAC and 7th Bn the London Regiment (City of London Rifles).

Step inside the church and you will see a simple but striking tablet commemorating the lives of Riflemen from the London Rifle Brigade lost in both World Wars. Underneath stands a glass case containing a large opened book with their individual names neatly inscribed in columns. Thousands of them.

This was my first visit to the church, but I had come for another reason. Peter Hart, Tim Holt and I were there because LRB had been invited to attend a service of remembrance and ceremony of re-dedication for the Memorial Cross standing outside. HAC Veterans and the Royal British Legion were well represented.

100 years ago to the day, on 4 August 1916, a service of commemoration had taken place on the Cross’s erection. It was an unusual event because the War was still being fought and Kitchener’s Volunteer Army, many of whose members wore the badge of the London Rifle Brigade, was slogging it out in the trenches in France. Most memorials are built after the end of wars, but this, the first in London, was built one month into the Battle of the Somme with no end in sight.

It was the Battle of Jutland two months before that prompted the Cross to be built. 16 year old Jack Cornwall is remembered; a sight setter on

HMS Chester, he remained at his post until the end of the action despite serious wounds. He was posthumously awarded the VC, the youngest person in the Royal Navy ever to receive the honour. The Cross also commemorates the death of Kitchener who a few days later with 643 crew of HMS Hampshire was killed when the ship struck a mine off the coast of Orkney. These events occurred against the background of unprecedented losses on the battlefield.

But there was more to it than that.

Conscription had recently been introduced and while patriotism and a determination to protect the British way of life were strong, there had been a backlash of protest which strengthened the pacifist movement in the country. So, as the Bishop of Stepney said in his address to us, the erection of the Cross had been a bold statement. It had been his predecessor who 100 years ago had taken the service, even though Bishopsgate was outside his Continued on next page

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patch; the Bishop of London had been pre-occupied elsewhere.

Peter, Tim & I enjoyed the service, and the Cross re-dedication outside.

Office workers looked on as Bishop Adrian Newman and the HAC’s Padre emeritus David Reindorp took the service. Although there had been no mention of the LRB we had been warmly greeted on arrival in our distinctive blazers and ties, and chatted with others afterwards. We even persuaded the Bishop & Padre to pose with us to mark the event for our own record.

There must be many Riflemen, like Peter who attended Regimental Remembrance services when the pages in the Book of Remembrance were turned, who know St Botolph’s well. For me, it was a valuable and moving new experience. We shall be looking to see how we can work with St Botolph’s more closely to commemorate other events of significance for the LRB. John Cohen OBE Chairman London Rifle Brigade Veterans Association

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‘Golden Boy’ is a chapter from Cleve Edmonston’s forth-coming second book, Tales of a London Soldier. His first, Tales of a London Poacher was published in 2010 and is available on Amazon Kindle.

GOLDEN BOY During this time with Major `AT` and the introduction of `friends` from 22 SAS we were taught Combat Survival. The art of concealing various survival items that might aid a soldier should he ever be captured on the battlefield. These are usually small items that are hidden in your combat suit that would be missed by the enemy when `frisked` after you had been relieved of your weapon and webbing yet before having been taken to some facility and stripped before new clothing issued, for the longer you leave any chance of escape, the harder it is to escape.

This is where I came into my own and was `recognised` as I had managed to conceal no less than 28 different items in my combats.

I had a `silk map`, a simple map drawn on a handkerchief , waterproof matches, part of a hacksaw blade (ground sharp to a blade at one end). Snare wire running down the zip of my coat, money sewn into my coat, a button compass, safety pins, fishing line, and 25 feet of para-cord running from one ankle to the other up and over the crutch of my combat trousers as well as many other things secreted about my person.

I thought that I had just done what was expected of me but was then suddenly called upon by Major `AT` and praised and used as a manikin to show off to the others of `A` Company as they were told that this is how it should be done and how you the men should be thinking. Yes, I was feeling good that day.

Of course, this had not all been for nothing and we soon found ourselves on a jaunt to Scotland and the Glentrool Training Area where we were to undergo an `escape and evasion’ exercise.

Fox and Hounds they called it, where the Company was to be split in half and half would be the foxes and go on the run whilst the others became the hounds and go and catch them. It all sounded innocent enough and I was on the side of the hounds for the first few days of this game. How naïve was I? With about 30 men on the run in small groups and having to move from one point to another some three days apart, as well as having to cross a loch, kill a chicken and cook up fresh vegetables and all the time being looked for and hunted by many, it was inevitable that they would all, every last one of them, be caught and then interrogated to the point where some of them openly cried at the suffering they were put through. They were stood in freezing cold water, beaten, whipped with nettles, allowed to `escape` only to be caught again as what is called a `sickener`. Blindfolded and tied up, in fact they suffered just about everything but `waterboarding` which back then had not even been heard of.

After a short recovery and time to enjoy a dance with the local Scottish lasses and a few beers it was then time to swap over!

Now, having seen at first hand just what my comrades had been put through for the past few days which was nothing short of torture, my mind was locked into the fact that I was NOT going to suffer the same or perhaps worse and therefore was determined to put all my `escape and evasion` knowledge into being and so I began to form a `plan`.

Quickly assessing the situation and seeing that not one of the previous group of `foxes` had escaped, I put it to the other Rifleman that was part of my group to be dropped off the following morning in the wilds of Glentrool, that we should try and persuade the other two members of the team, a Lance Corporal and a Sergeant that it would be better to travel, not as one group of `four`, but rather two smaller groups of two. To this Rifleman JM agreed and so when the helicopter had left us I happened, almost casual-like to mention this and then waited for the answer to my idea.

“Good idea!” replied Sergeant DG, “ you (me) can hang back and travel with Lance Corporal PG. and Rifleman JM and myself will set off ahead of you.”

What? No! This was not the plan! I had secured things with Rfn JM, not L/Cpl PG ! He would never agree to my plan and only drag me into pain, torture and oblivion! Sgt DG and Rfn JM set off and L/Cpl PG decided to give them an hours head start.

The basic terrain in which we were expected to move over and travel from A to B was a vast valley with a mountain (cairn) on the right and some miles to our front a loch which we were supposed to cross in a canoe or dinghy.

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After the experience of the previous group, even a blind person could have seen that the whole thing was a trap and that we were supposed to be caught, captured and then interrogated and I was just not willing to play this game.

The hour passed and L/Cpl PG stood up and said, “It`s time to go.”

Reluctantly, I began to follow, very slowly, falling behind almost from the off. “Come on! Keep up!” called the L/Cpl and all the time I was thinking of just how I was to get out of this.

After a time we began to enter a pine plantation, the trees not much higher than five or six feet and these were growing tight together and in ground that had been raised around their base much in the way that potatoes are grown with furrows between each line of trees.

The day was hot with big black flies in their hundreds flying all about me. I could hear the L/Cpl`s voice fading as he continued to shout my name telling me to keep up when I suddenly just fell to the ground, lay in one of these ditches and covered my head with my combat jacket.

“Edmonston, I know you are there!” he called over and over again as he then began to move in a circle around me, his voice sometimes sounding close and at other times far away.

I remained still, hugging the ground, thinking that he might discover me yet hoping he would not. I knew that he had the compass although I had the map and also knew that if he continued on he would soon catch up with the others and if not, then he would get caught by the `hounds` and his time would be over anyway.

At long last his voice trailed off and all was quiet but for the buzzing of the flies. I finally emerged from my makeshift hide and with my brain thinking that I was free of him, I searched out the map and studying it, saw that we had covered about five miles from the helicopter drop off point. Five miles further back from that there was marked a railway line that led all the way around the training area but on the other side of the cairn looming on the right.

So that was it! My plan would be to return to the drop off point, continue to go backwards, hit the railway line and then follow that left around the cairn on the far side and reach the base camp rendezvous by my own route rather than the one that presented itself as a trap. I had three days in which to accomplish this and set off at a good pace.

The day was hot; I was dressed in full combats with belt order and carrying my SLR rifle. I had water but no food and it was mid-afternoon by the time I reached the railway line marked on the map. The only thing was, when I climbed the embankment, there was no line, only the wooden sleepers remained, the steel track having been taken up many years before.

Undeterred, I began walking left, stepping from sleeper to sleeper making my way to the station that I knew now would also be derelict. It was summer and the sun blazed down upon me and all around was bird song and buzzing insects. Tiny lizards scurried between the stones that bedded and separated the sleepers and I continued to walk quietly as my rubber soled boots just stepped from one to the other.

I had not eaten since breakfast and with hours of walking I was now feeling pangs of hunger and thinking that I could really do with something to eat, something very strange and moving then happened. One of my feet suddenly scuffed the shingle that lay between the wooden sleepers and the sound it made startled a covey of partridge that had been off to my left and down the banking hiding in the long grass.

The sound of the birds suddenly whirring up startled me as much as I had scared them and before I knew it five birds, parents and three young ones, took to the air with rapid wing beats fast flying up and across the raised embankment just feet in front of me. The cock and hen birds led the way with the three smaller ones in tow. They passed up and over and through a three wire galvanised wire fence that ran along the line parallel to me. At least the adults and two smaller birds did, then, `twang`!

The third and last bird had failed to navigate the space between the wires and had hit it head on and hard and it dropped dead , almost at my feet.

Now I am not a religious man and never really have been despite my Mum having attended a Church of England school as a girl and then sending us kids to the `Tent Mission`, a local bible class and sing-song session on Sunday mornings when we were very young . But at that moment in time, in fact for long moments as I picked up and held that tiny dead bird, I almost saw it as a `sign`.

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I gently eased it into one of my ammo pouches and with renewed strength thought that I would make a meal, meagre though it would be, once I arrived at the deserted railway station.

I continued on reflecting on what had happened and in due course finally arrived at what I only recently discovered to be

the old station of New Galloway and the tiny hamlet of Mossdale, that was sunk into a cutting just beneath a road bridge.

Venturing up to the road, I emerged from the abandoned station to see a small row of cottages on the other side of the road and to my right a Post Office stroke convenience store.

I was wearing the combat suit that I had rigged just weeks earlier with all manner of hidden items which we, as a Company, had been told might help in a combat survival situation, and here I was, virtually in that kind of situation. Obviously, the snare wire that ran the full length of the zipper was not of much use as were several other things, but the £8 in paper money I had sewn into the lining was very handy in purchasing some supplies from the shop I now found myself entering.

I remember there was a young girl working there, she was thin, very fair skinned with the reddest hair and a very strong Scottish accent. I cannot remember the conversation we had but I am guessing I must have explained to her that I was on a training exercise. I remember I bought a box of fire lighters along with some tins of mixed beans and sausages and possibly a drink and then, making my way back to the station, I cooked myself an evening meal on the platform. I did not cook the dead partridge though and so discarded it, although if there had not been a shop by the station I would have cleaned and eaten it without a second thought.

What with the heat of the day and the walking and ground I had covered, some 12-15 miles by my reckoning, sleeping on a hard railway platform was not a hardship, after all, I was only 18 years old and fit. I probably used my webbing belt order as a pillow and I most certainly slept with my rifle secured by its web sling to my body I am guessing too that I arose early and making my way up to the road once more I saw an old man standing at the gate of one of the cottages just over the way.

I went and spoke to him, introducing myself and he too did likewise. His name was James (Jim) McKlintock, and I related what kind of an army exercise I was on and gave him some details. With that, he invited me indoors and through to his garden and using an old pair of brass binoculars we then looked up and at the rear of the hill, Cairn Edward; the hill that had an OP (observation post) on it and troops looking down the other side for me! I remember also that he got out some old black and white photographs and showed me pictures of himself when he was young fishing for mussels in the loch, which must have been Loch Ken, using a glass bottom coracle. We chatted for a good time and when I mentioned the name of the barracks I was stationed at back in Hampshire, England., he said that he too had been stationed there many years before when he was in the Cavalry.

Well, we finally parted and it was either him or the girl at the shop that gave me directions and bus times for the next leg of my journey in getting me back to base camp.

I travelled by a single decker bus (coach) to Castle Douglas and had breakfast dressed in full combats and of course, still with my rifle, in a cafe before getting a mini cab, using some more of the money I had sewn into my combat suit, to take me to, or so I hoped, base camp. I showed the cab driver the map I was carrying and said that I need to be here, and pointed to the spot marked. He, in turn, pointed out that a river separated the road we were travelling from the camp and he could only take me close to that!

I had no option but to accept what he was saying and so was dropped by the the river and on the wrong side of it.

Crossing the river was something like one sees in an old war film. I waded into it, first thigh high, then waist high then chest high with my rifle held above my head and moved slowly through green slimy weed, feeling the bottom with my feet until I emerged on the other side where I saw that the other men of my Company were all busying themselves rolling up their tents and sleeping bags and stowing them on the 4 ton trucks ready for the long journey back to Hampshire.

I walked amongst them unnoticed and sitting down, began to clean my rifle. When the first to spot me was the Company Sergeant Major, Mick Brown who, taking a double take, looked at me and then away, and then looking again physically jumped on me shouting out; “Arrest this man!”

I was brought back to Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth both under escort and in handcuffs and finally marched in front of my Company Commander Major `AT` where I was charged with failing to comply to Company Standing Orders, in that I did indeed travel from `A` to `B`, but via `my way` and not `their way`.

Standing there in `AT``s office with a guard each side of me and belt and beret off having been marched in at the double, made to mark time and then brought to the halt, I stared straight ahead as the Company Commander spoke in his usual casual monotone way.

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“Edmonston, you have been charged with failing to comply to Company Standing Orders, how do you plead?” he asked.

“Guilty Sir!” I sang out, staring directly ahead.

“Do you accept my punishment in this matter?” he said.

“Sir, yes sir!” I barked.

“Seven days restriction of privileges.” he commanded.

“Yes Sir! Thank you sir!” I replied.

The escorts then came to attention and started barking at me.

“Prisoner, attention, about turn, quick march!”

I had just reached the office door when `AT` called after me.

“Edmonston.”

I halted with my back to him.

“Well done, Edmonston!”

“Yes Sir, thank you sir!” I answered glancing over my left shoulder with a smile.

It appears that during my `time away` and of course unbeknown to me until afterwards, I had caused something of a sensation, for I had indeed escaped and evaded capture by no less than the English police, the Scottish police, the other almost 60 men of `A` Company, two helicopters carrying tracker dog teams as well as members of the SAS and the Recce Unit.

Stories had emerged of me being seen at Waterloo Station in London, also with a girlfriend at Southend-on-Sea and of me driving a car, when at that time I could not drive. My poor mother had been frantic with worry and Major `AT` had called her personally, several times, trying to reassure her that I would be found safe and well after disappearing whilst on manoeuvres.

To be given just seven days restrictions of privileges simply meant that I had to go without a beer for a week and I think that Major `AT` was secretly pleased with the fact that his `golden boy`, the one that had listened and learned and equipped himself with all those tiny items hidden in a combat suit, had actually become the only one of sixty men to have got away and so both escaped and evaded capture.

APPEAL FOR RGJ 50th ANNIVERSARY PHOTOGRAPHS As has already been said, the 9th of July was a fantastic day enjoyed by all. To keep a permanent Photographic record in our Association Archive, I am asking for Photographs of the Day to be sent to me seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info .

What photographs do I want? All of them, every photograph you took. Not just Photographs of Events, but those of you sitting outside your Caravan/Tent - in the Beer Tent - Queing up for Burger and Chips - Group Photos - Family Photos - Photos you may have taken of various places around SJMB - Selfies, etc. I want to be able to record the atmosphere of the day..

How to send them to me? Most Servers will allow you to send a 8 Mega Byte Email without any problems. But, make sure you attach the photos to your E-mail and not Insert them. Attaching means the photo is a copy of the original making it very easy for me to enhance, etc. Inserting the photo into your E-mail reduces its size, etc and makes it a bit harder to work with.

You can do the above or, and this includes total photos over 8 Mega Bytes, compress all photos into one file using Winzip/ WinRAR and send to me via www.wetransfer.com . You can send up to 2 Gb FREE and I strongly recommend it.

I am now looking forward to being totally inundated with Photos in October!!

Kind regards to everyone,

Seamus E-Zine 2016

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In the last E-Zine Lt Gen Sir Christopher Wallace began the short article he wrote with the words ‘This is the last time that I shall contribute to the E-Zine ….’ It was a prophetic opening sentence as he sadly died on 7 January 2016 after a long battle against a rare disease. There is no doubt that after his 16 year tenure as Chairman of the Trustees the Museum is in good shape, on a sound financial footing and with an enviable reputation for excellence. The Regiment has much to thank him for; we should all be proud of the Museum that he did so much to develop and grateful for his dedication to researching, recording and displaying our Heritage. He will be greatly missed.

Regrettably however, although not unexpected, his death was sudden and left a number of loose ends that have taken time to resolve, whilst delivering the Waterloo Exhibition last year was not without cost to the day to day administration of the Museum, in particular the curatorial work that is essential. In addition checking, prior to possible disposal, the condition and provenance of items from the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry collection, predominantly pictures and silver that were not wanted nor able to be displayed by the Soldiers of Oxford Museum, is time consuming but important to complete correctly for the reputation of our Museum.

The principal requirement for 2016 has therefore been ‘consolidation’ before any new major work is begun but there have been two notable additions to the Museum Collection during the year. Firstly, in April 2016, a new case containing the Victoria Cross and associated medal group, including the OBE and MC, awarded to Second Lieutenant G H Woolley, Queen Victoria’s Rifles, the first Territorial soldier to be awarded the VC during the First World War, was unveiled by his son Nicholas Woolley who has bequeathed the medal group to the Museum in his Will.

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A close-up of the medal group of Lieutenant G H Woolley After the Great War Geoffrey Woolley studied Theology at Oxford and was Ordained. He returned to the Colours in 1939 at the outbreak of war and served in North Africa where he was senior Chaplain. The Museum Trustees are indebted to Nicholas Woolley for donating such a significant medal group to the Collection.

Secondly, the Museum was contacted by Mr Simon Jenks who had acquired, 50 years ago, a horn beaker once the property of Lt Hallen of the 95th; the beaker is engraved with the date 1809 and an image of Sir John Moore.

Lt Hallen’s beaker. Did he drink from it on the morning of Waterloo?

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A detailed report on the provenance of the beaker prior to purchase concluded: There is every reason to believe that this beaker – which may well have been one of several made at the time – is a contemporary memento of the retreat to Corunna (Hallen’s first experience of active service), the 95th’s part in that retreat and of the death of Sir John Moore at Corunna. …. A unique and genuine engraved horn beaker with an early date, very competent workmanship and in good condition: they (the Museum) will never find another.

It is a unique addition to the Collection. If you would like to contribute to the purchase price, and help the Museum finances, please visit the Museum website and donate £10 or more by going to ‘Supporting Us’ and then ‘Donating Money’ We are in the process of updating the Museum website and expect the new site to ‘go live’ shortly; we hope that you will find it fresh, easy to navigate and informative. A significant improvement is that the new site can be updated by the Curator without outside assistance making day to day web site administration much easier. When the new site is live individuals will be able to make a donation on line through the ‘Virgin Giving’ page.

Looking ahead there are a number of projects to be undertaken as funds become available. A check of compliance with Fire Regulations noted that doors were required on the first floor emergency exit. As this would have shut off the Band Case from the rest of the Museum it is intended to relocate it to the ground floor and incorporate an audio visual element so that visitors can experience the unique sound of Band, Bugles and Rifles marching pace - and those who are Rifle Regiment veterans can get their feet tapping!

The creation of a Gallantry Trail showcasing the Museums collection of Victoria Crosses and other medals awarded for bravery is an aspiration being considered by the Trustees as is a more wide ranging account of WW2 POWs several of whom were sent to Colditz after being designated as ‘habitual escapers’ and have incredible stories.

Friends of the Museum Have you considered becoming a Friend of the Museum? The present main benefit (there are others) is reduced admission to the annual programme of Evening Talks held in the Kincaid Gallery, something you may feel is of little value if you live at a distance from Winchester. However, there is huge benefit to the Museum from the Friends scheme in terms of having a predictable annual income and a stronger financial basis; to paraphrase the immortal couplet from the Presidential inaugural speech of John F Kennedy ‘ask not what your Museum can do for you, ask what you can do for your Museum.’

You can find more detail of the Friends scheme on the Museum website, in short: Life Membership; a single donation of £500 or more.

Annual Membership; an annual donation of £24 or more.

In July it was very good to see so many visitors to the Museum during the RGJA 50th Anniversary weekend especially on the Saturday morning at the unveiling by the ‘Memorial at Peninsula’ Committee of a second commemorative bench. There is now a handsome ‘Commemorative Bench’ on either side of the Museum entrance thanks to the private initiative of Mrs Julie-Ann Rosser and Mr Steve Barrett, who financed and commissioned them in a well supported project that has run for several years. Thank you to both and the rest of the Committee, the benches are a lasting memorial that will be appreciated by all.

Social Media If you have visited the Museum and enjoyed it do use your social media network to spread the word. We have a Regimental Museum that compares favourably to the very best in the land and everyone should be told about it!

With best wishes for Christmas from all the Museum Staff, we look forward to seeing you in 2017.

G de V W Hayes

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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

IT TOOK A THINKING RIFLEMAN TO PULL THIS ONE OFF Whilst I was posted away from the battalion as a recruiter to the Army Careers Office at Blackheath, in South London, I was a member of the W0’s & Sgt’s Mess of Woolwich Military Hospital. My rank was Colour Sergeant and I was the only Infantry member of the mess, and was certainly the only Green Jacket that most of the other members had ever met.

The other members were mainly from the Royal Army Medical Corps and a few other attached support members from the Army Physical Training Corps and the Army Pay Corps. They held six regimental dinners a year and they were very formal. The mess rules and etiquette were very strictly monitored by the RSM who was from the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Once everyone was seated in their correct order of rank and seniority, the dinner would begin and from then on, no one was permitted to leave the table, even to go to the toilet. These dinners would last for at least three and a half hours. If any person became that desperate to have to break these rules and leave the table to go to the toilet, than on their return the RSM would give that person an on the spot fine, which would usually be five extra duties. This meant that instead of having to be on duty for one Saturday or Sunday every six weeks, they would have to do five within six weeks.

At all of these dinners we were privileged to have the Royal Artillery Band to entertain us by providing background music whilst we dined. Towards the end of the dinner the band would play the different regimental marches of every regiment that was represented by the members present at the dinner. The Band Master would ensure that the band would play the marches in order of seniority of the Regiments rather than by the seniority of the Mess members themselves. The rules were that when the band plays your regimental march you must stand up behind your chair at attention, and then sit down when it ends. This continues with the other members until all of the regimental marches have been played.

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As I was the only “Green Jacket” at these Mess dinners, I would have to stand up on my own. As the tempo of the Green Jackets regimental march is much faster than all of the other marches, it excited the others in a way that they would all bang the table with their hands, along with the beat of the bass drum. One night I noticed that the RSM was also banging the table and was unusually encouraging the others to so.

At the end of one of these dinners I was having a drink at the bar when the RSM came over to me and said that the best part of these dinners is listening to the fast beat of the Green Jackets march. Well as a rifleman I was always taught to “think like a rifleman”, which means thinking very quickly on your feet and never fail to sees an opportunity to get one over on anyone in another regiment.

I said to the RSM that if he enjoyed listening to my regimental march so much, that perhaps that on our next Mess dinner night he might like to see a fast marching Green Jacket demonstration. I suggested that instead of just standing to attention when the band plays my regimental march, I could swiftly march around the whole table at 140 paces to the minute?

The RSM thought that it was a splendid idea. So I did it at the next dinner and it really brought the house down, and it became an expected thing to do at every dinner night like a personal party piece. On the second occasion I had a private word with the Band Master and requested that he got the band to play the tune twice over, which would give me more time and space to march the whole length of the Sergeants Mess and return to my seat at the table. The Band Master agreed but I did not tell him the complete truth to my motive.

After about three hours the time came for me to march to my tune so up I got and like before swiftly marched around the table past where the RSM was seated, but this time I continued to march through the inner mess doors then into the toilet and relieved myself still listening to the music being played by the band, then marched back into the mess and stood at attention back at my chair just before the music ended and the pace changed to the next persons regimental march.

I continued to do this trick at every dinner that followed up until the end of my recruiting posting and the RSM and most of the other mess members were none the wiser. No more full bladder for me mate! And certainly no extra duties..

Colour Sergeant Gary Driscoll 2 RGJ

Rifle Depot 1968

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NATIONAL 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE In June of this year to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Formation of the Regiment in 1966 and to raise funds for the National Arboretum, along with David & Connor, we undertook the National 3 Peaks Challenge.

It is an event in which participants attempt to climb the highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.

Walkers climb each peak in turn and are driven from the foot of one mountain to the next. The three peaks are:

Ben Nevis at 4, 409 ft - Scotland

Scafell Pike at 3, 209 ft - England

Snowden at 3, 560 ft - Wales

We started the Challenge at The National Arboretum with the Royal Green Jackets Wreath and drove up to Fort William where, at 4 pm we started the walk to the top of Ben Nevis, then Scafell Pike and lastly Snowdon, which we achieved in 23 hours and 29 minutes.

Wreath signed by Aylesbury Branch

L-R: Stuart, Connor, David, John, Mark Cpl Randall, Pat Sgt Mellis

Wreath top of Ben Nevis

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Top of Scafell Pike, left to right Mark & Pat

Top of Scafell Pike, left to right Pat, Mark, David, Connor

Top of Snowdon, left to right Pat, Mark, David, Connor

Our last part was to drive back to the National Arboretum to lay the Wreath at the Green Jacket Monument.

Presenting Cheque to (another) Mark at the National Arboretum who was very pleased with the monies we raised.

Back at the Arboretum, Left to right Pat & Mark. Ham & Jam.

The Cheque

Our thanks go to Stuart & John (driver and mission control) and Kim (base camp support) without whose help our mission would have been impossible.

Mark Randall & Pat Mellis Members of the RGJ Association Aylesbury Branch

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NORTH WEST BRANCH Coach Trip to Winchester Just to let you know that the trip to Winchester was a fantastic success! The trip was to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Green Jackets.

We hired a coach and the driver was exemplary and very courteous throughout the weekend. We had great banter on our journey making a pit stop at Cherwell Valley Services for refreshments.

We then continued our travels to Winchester Spa Hotel; once we arrived everyone was allocated their room. The hotel staff were very helpful and made our weekend enjoyable.

We had an early start on Saturday morning and most of us showed our partners around Winchester. We then returned to the hotel to board our coach which took us to Sir John Moore Barracks for the events activities.

I would like to thank all the RGJ, Rifles staff and RGJ committee for putting on a superb afternoon and evening as everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

I would also like to thank all the rifleman and their partners who travelled on our coach and those who attended under their own accord. It was great to have so many there showing support and impeccable behaviour.

Tommy Fairclough Chairman

OXFORD BRANCH The past year has been another busy one for the Oxford Branch and a year to renew old friendships and meet up with fellow Rifleman of yesteryear.

The branch held its September lunch at Edward Brookes Barracks (EBB) that was well attended and as usual we were treated to good food and wines. The OBLI/RGJ/Rifles reunion was held on the eve of Remembrance Sunday with a reduced Waterloo Band performing for us. It transpires that the acoustics in the bar at EBB are such that if the Buglers had sounded many of us “Old Codgers” could have suffered some hearing loss!!!! Elf & Safety and the Nanny State strike again. This did not stop us from having an enjoyable evening catching up with old friends and swapping stories with the lads from A Coy 7 Rifles. Thanks to Phil and Andrea for selling the Curries that were enjoyed by all who scoffed them down.

The AGM in late November discussed several issues that were affecting the Branch and the fact we still had to identify a secretary. The meeting was recorded by John Hudson who was then able to put the minutes together. Modern technology finally arrived in the branch! The sitting Chairman and committee were re-elected on a show of hands and our President Brigadier Robin Draper would preside for another year.

The New Year was celebrated by our joint lunch with The Rifles Oxford Club retired Officers with a good attendance from both the Branch and the Club. It was agreed that joint ventures are the way forward with the interaction being

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enjoyed by all who attend.

At last we have a branch Secretary with Major (Retd) Andy Bowes stepping into the breach. I have known Andrew and his wife Frances for many years during his service with 4/5 RGJ. He is already proving a great asset to the branch.

On 19th May we held a special lunch again with the Oxford Club to honour our WW2 Veterans from the OBLI, many who served on D Day. As you can see from the photos (‘Spring Lunch’) it was a great occasion and one can only wonder how these old sweats maintain their sense of humour, keep the twinkle in their eyes and how modest they are when talking of their experiences. They always say “The heroes were the ones who never came back. Not us” On June 6th we again honoured one of the Regiments most famous sons, Major John Howard of Pegasus Bridge fame. A service was held at the graveside in Clifton Hampden Church and a wreath was laid at the grave on behalf of the branch by Derek Chivers a relative of the great man. Brian Cox laid a wreath at the war Memorial inside the Church remembering those from the Village who gave their lives in conflicts. We also were grateful to Alan Tamblyn of the Bugle association for sounding Last Post and Reveille.

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Many branch members made the journey to Horse Guards to see the Rifles “Sound Retreat”. It was a great event although freezing cold but the spectacle warmed all us Rifleman as we reflected over 20 years ago when the Royal Green Jackets were on parade. I must congratulate the Bugle association members who were immaculate in turnout, drill and Bugling skills also the Cadets Band that were superb.

July 1st as you are all aware was the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme. The branch marked this with a service on the landing of the entrance to Oxford Town Hall where there is a memorial to 4bn OBLI who gave their lives in WW1. The Lord Mayor of Oxford gave an address before the service and our President Brigadier Robin Draper gave a brief account of the Somme and the part the OBLI played, with his usual style. A whistle blast by Andy Bowes signified the “Going over the Top” and the start of the service conducted by our Chaplain Canon Brian Shenton. General Bob Pascoe laid a wreath on behalf of the branch. The media featured the service on local TV and newspapers. Again we are indebted to the Bugle Association for their support. After the service we retired to the Central Conservative Club for a few bevvies with General Bob, Brig Robin and Geoff Day “Swinging the Lamp”.

There was a large contingent from the branch at the RGJ Reunion at Peninsula and SJM Barracks on July 9th. It was great to see so many old comrades especially the many OBLI ties in evidence and to see so many on the march past with Roy Bailey impressing us with his ability to still reach 140 to the minute, although he needed to work up to it as did the rest of us

This period ended with our Annual Band Concert on Sunday 17th with the Waterloo band and Bugles of 7 Rifles treating us to an excellent musical programme. The Bugles were again supported by members of the Bugle Association.

The usual Curry Lunch was devoured after the concert.

Next year we would welcome members and their families and friends to join us in what is a really enjoyable event.

Our thanks to 7 Rifles for the use of their training centre.

We are keen to increase our membership in Oxford so any of you who are living in the area be you ex OBLI. RGJ,The Rifles Regular, TA or Adult Cadets you will receive a warm welcome. Contact our membership secretary John Hudson for details Sadly on 28th July one of dearest members Dennis Vokins passed away. Dennis was a great supporter of the branch having served for many years in 4 & 5 RGJ becoming ORQMS. I have many memories of Dennis in his days as CSM A Coy 4RGJ who “Jailed” a young Rifleman called Roper along with his mate Spence Terry for their outrageous behaviour in Germany. I, along with many others, owe a great debt to Dennis who kept me on an even keel and was always there for advice. Members of the branch formed a Guard of Honour as his coffin arrived at the Oxford Crematorium for his funeral service. This was followed by a celebration of his life in St Mary’s Church, Wallingford. Our thoughts and prayers are with June and the family and will always be part of our branch.

I will end by thanking all the branch officers for their commitment in making the branch so successful and look forward to another year.

SPRING LUNCH The RGJA Oxford branch Spring Lunch, held jointly with the Rifles Officers’ Oxford Club at Edward Brooks Barracks on Thursday 19th May, was a rather special one.

George Elliott, Terry Roper and Tom Shannon.

Vernon Jones and Reg Charles.

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Guests of honour were seven Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry veterans of World War II - Reg Charles (43rd), Dennis Dudley (52nd), Geoff Dunstan (43rd), Vernon Jones (43rd), Arthur Lane (1st Bucks), Albert Quainton (43rd) and Ambrose Wilson (52nd). There should have been an eighth one - Sam Langford (52nd) - but he was unable to attend.

-

Albert Quainton.

Three former Letter ‘A’ Company clerks, Brian Cox, Reg Charles and Roy Bailey.

The attendance by some 66 people was the best yet at one of these lunches, and the veterans, the members and their ladies enjoyed the usual excellent 3-course meal with wine. After the meal a talk on the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry in WWII was given by Professor Gary Sheffield, Professor of WWII Studies at the University of Wolverhampton and the Regiment’s historian.

To mark this special occasion Mike Marr had produced an illustrated menu incorporating a welcome, and afterwards group photographs were taken in front of the statue.

Terry Roper Chairman Oxford Branch

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WILTSHIRE BRANCH I would like to open with the sad news of the passing of Lee Massey who died on the 6th of Aug. He had been unwell and was in Salisbury hospital for a few weeks but had been improving; therefore the news of his passing was a shock to all. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Gwyneth and all the family on their sad loss. Lee was the Internet member for the Branch and he was always cheerful in spite of his medical issues and will be sorely missed. His funeral was well attended by both members of the RGJ and the local community. Lee was a very prominent member at the annual poppy collection in Warminster, this year we are one less. RIP Lee. Another busy year for the Branch. The AGM was held on the 7th of January and the new Chairman and Committee were elected for the upcoming year, the outgoing Chairman Brian Darvill handed over to Mike Walsh, the remainder of the Committee were happy to remain in post for another year.

Brian was presented with a Kenchurch Butler as a token of our appreciation for all his hard work and dedication to the Branch during his time as Chairman. Well done Brian.

The Branch had a night out at the greyhound track in Poole in February and as with all things gambling there were some winners and some losers, however the night was a great success so we were all winners in a way. Well done to Phil Ashby our entertainment member for yet another good night out, it is now a regular feature on our social calendar.

St George’s day was celebrated by the Branch with a fancy dress function where most of the members came dressed as the inevitable St George, some say there was the odd dragon there but I didn’t see any.

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The fund raising event roadshow featuring JJ Jones and Gary Collins from the CEBRGJA Branch arrived in Warminster on the 19th of May. This was day 7 of the 10 mile tyre pull covering 10 cities in 10 days. The Branch assisted by setting up a stand in the mall in Warminster to publicise the event, the Chairman also highlighted the event with a radio interview earlier that morning on BBC local radio.

The tyre pull generated a lot of interest from the locals and the buckets carried by members walking behind JJ and Gary, who took turns in doing the pull, soon got heavy. Well done to JJ and Gary and to the members who took time off to come and support this very worthwhile cause. All proceeds went to Help 4 Homeless Veteran’s charity. Members joined JJ and Gary for a few social drinks in the conservative club later that evening.

Sunday the 29th of May saw the Branch getting up early to support the annual Forces Charity March. The Branch assists the Royal British Legion (RBL) at a water stop on the route. The Forces March is one of the UKs most demanding challenge events. Covering the 139 mile route of a legendary WW2 training march from Ilfracombe to Bulford over 5 days, the event is open to runners and walkers, military and civilians. Afterwards we all ended up in the Red Lion for a few drinks and Sunday lunch, a good end to a good day.

The 50th anniversary at Winchester was an event that had been eagerly awaited and the day finally came when thousands set off on this special pilgrimage to SJM barracks, many Branch members attended and some stayed in various types of hostelry over the 2 days. Sadly a few issues on the day did dampen the fun a bit but overall it was a great day and night. Well done to all those that worked hard to organise this special event.

August is traditionally the month for the Branch BBQ. This year the BBQ was hosted by Gaz and Rosemary Peacock and the theme was Hawaiian. Well done Gaz and Rosemary for a great day and night. Next year the hosts will be Owen and Pet Davies who have decided that as they live by the sea the BBQ will have a nautical theme. They live a bit further away in Devon so this one may go on a bit longer than the normal ones.

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The RBL roadshow commemorating the 100 years since the start of the battle of the Somme came to Warminster for a week in August. Members of the Branch assisted the RBL in helping to man the stand for the week. The poppies were hand made by schoolchildren from the area and each one contained the name of a fallen Wiltshire soldier. The roadshow continues around the county until November so if you do get the opportunity, do go and see this very poignant display.

Plans are well advanced for the annual poppy collection and Branch members will again give up their time for this worthy cause. It will be hard to top last years effort but we aim to try. Full details of the event will be in the next report.

Mike Walsh Chairman Wiltshire Branch

SOUTH EAST KENT BRANCH In this our 50th anniversary of the Royal Green Jackets, we agreed to hold our very first “outing” since forming the South East Kent branch in September 2012. To go where no branch member had gone before, the Rifles Band and Bugles parade at Horse Guards Parade in London on the 2nd June 2016.

After an animated Branch Meeting we agreed, and Fred Barrett purchased a block of 30 tickets in stand E2. We hired a 30 seater coach from our local Coach Company “Carol Peters Travel Ltd” and at our Xmas Party last year Karl of Karllee Contractors, Aylesham (son of John Cowie) very graciously offered to sponsor the coach so the only expense we had was the tickets at £30 each. So 25 of us waited for our coach to arrive on the 2nd only for a brand new 55 seater coach to turn up, Carol Peters had upgraded us at no extra cost. All 30 tickets went, 5 of those to London boys.

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After a comfortable journey with Paul our Driver, we bomb-burst to different pubs but all managed to meet up in the same one prior to our entrance to Horse Guards. Our views were unimpeded with a full frontal view of the parade. It was a cold spring day and our eldest member Jack Perry, an 86-year-old KRRC and 2GJ Veteran, was feeling the cold a bit. Mind you, some of the NE Branch members WAGS were totally wimping out under blankets (No names no pack drill Mrs C).

The whole atmosphere was exciting and yet comfortable since there were so many faces one knew and of course hundreds that you didn’t, but the banter was good and the sport was timeless, like watching officers try to find their allocated seats using the map/ticket provided, they were treated with the utmost respect “Durch” and corrected as to their navigational errors.

Some things never change.

Having been fortified in the pubs and topped up with hip flasks, the grand beginning started soon enough, and what a grand spectacle it was indeed. The Rifles Band looked and played like ours, so all was right with the world. On parade with the Massed Bands and Bugles of The Rifles were The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas, The Band of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry from Canada, The Buglers Association of the Light Division and Rifles, The Quirinus Band & Bugle Corps from Germany, The Army Cadet Force Bands from Durham & Somerset, The Rifles Fijian Choir and The Military Wives Choir. They all performed flawlessly.

The evening was an outstanding success with spectators rising to their feet at the grand display before us, and when it came the end was spectacular with fireworks and marching displays by all.

The coach was waiting for us when we left Horse Guards and we managed to get away quickly, The return to Dover was fast and smooth thanks to the driver’s knowledge of London as he skilfully manoeuvred us out and to our drop off points, We did have a few more people than we started with but they were welcome to share our coach, Everyone was so impressed with the day, and the whole day was such a massive success we are now planning another outing, The NI vets day at the Arboretum in Sept 2017.

Bob Newman Secretary RGJ Association South East Kent Branch

NORTH EAST BRANCH Hello once again to all RGJ members, The North East Branch continues to remain active throughout the North East of England with members of the Branch attending events across the United Kingdom. Some of those events attended are as follows: V.E. Day Sunderland Armed Forces Day The Rifles Sounding Retreat in Durham The Massed Bands of the Rifles, Horse Guards Parade, London RGJ 50th Anniversary Weekend Northern Ireland Association at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire In February the Branch held its Annual AGM at the Royal British Legion in Sunderland which again was well attended by our members. At this AGM / Branch meeting the current Committee was confirmed. During the meeting members discussed a range of items from the Regimental Birthday Celebrations in Winchester, the Massed Band & Bugles of The Rifles event held at Horse Guards Parade in London and the Remembrance Parade Events for 2016.

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In May our Branch President, Colonel The Hon. James Ramsbotham DL and members attended the Rifles Sounding Retreat in Durham Cathedral with the Durham Army Cadet Forces Band and Bugles. The event also saw the attendance of various local dignitary and members of other Regimental Branches. Also in May the Branch held its own celebrations at the Royal British Legion in Sunderland to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Green Jackets. This event was followed by members from the North East Branch attending a commemorative service at the Cenotaph in Sunderland to celebrate V.E. Day and the presentation of Veterans Badges. The Memorial was well attended by representatives from HMS Ocean and Branch.

Also in May, we held a Branch meeting at the Royal British Legion in Sunderland which was well attended by our members, who, it is fair to say, were in high spirits. During the meeting we discussed a range of items from the upcoming event of Massed Bands of the Rifles at Horse Guards Parade in London, RGJ 50th Anniversary Weekend, Branch Functions and Remembrance weekend.

In June, many of us travelled to London to watch the spectacular event of the Massed Bands of the Rifles and allowed all our members and other Branches to rekindle friendships with old and new acquaintances. The North East Branch would like to thank all of those involved in the hard work and planning in making this day a special one. Branch Members also attended various events across our Region to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

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In July, many of us made the annual pilgrimage to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Green Jackets at Winchester.

This event was well supported by all members and their families and cannot be under estimated for the value it brought to all Riflemen, as mentioned previously, it allowed members to rekindle friendships with old and new acquaintances. It was a great weekend had by all and no doubt one that will stay in the memories of us all. The North East Branch once again would like to thank all those involved in planning this event and for the hard work that was undertaken to make such a special event to take place.

In September, members travelled to the annual Service of the Northern Ireland Association at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire where, joining with other Branches, they paid their respects to those who died in the Northern Ireland conflict. Also in September we held our Branch meeting at the Royal British Legion in Sunderland which was well attended. During the meeting we discussed a range of items from the upcoming annual Remembrance Reunion Weekend in Sunderland, the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Green Jackets and our upcoming Christmas function.

The North East Branch and its members continue to support local events around the Region of the North East and now look forward to our Remembrance Reunion weekend in November.

Dave Nichol Branch Chairman

Members Database

It is important that information held on the Database is accurate and up to date. To check/amend your details: Log onto Association website.

In INFO box, click on ‘Search’.

Type in your name.

When your details appear, click on ‘Edit’.

In ‘Edit Profile’ box, amend/insert your details.

Click on ‘Save’.

If you require assistance, please contact Roy Baillie at: rgjadatabase@btinternet.com

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Cpl Frank D Titchener Rfn Arthur D Smith

OBLI RB

Pte Wilfred R Halsey Lt Gen Sir Christopher Wallace KBE, DL WO1 John Henry Stokes MBE, BEM Kevin Plimmer Ray Truscott Dave Porter Maj CG Wemyss Lt Col Henry Worsley MBE Maj Gen David Pank CB

Bucks Battalion 2GJ/2RGJ/3RGJ GJ & SAS 1RGJ 3GJ/3RGJ 1RGJ/4RGJ RB/GJ/RGJ 3RGJ/SAS/1 & 2RGJ KSLI/LI

7th January 2016 10th January 2016 18th January 2016 19th January 2016 23rd January 2016 23rd January 2016 24th January 2016 26th January 2016

LCpl Stanley B Baker Maj Richard M Colvile WO2 (BSM) Dennis White Rev DB Laughton Bruce N Bartlett Pauk Mason

OBLI OBLI/1RGJ KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ Att 1RB 1954/Kenya OBLI 1RGJ Band

February 2016 7th February 2016 10th February 2016 18th February 2016 21st February 2016 25th February 2016

Maj JAG Le Coq John Glenham John Beresford (Chippy Woods) Capt PDL Way Brian Armitage

KRRC 3RGJ 2KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ KRRC OBLI/1GJ

Alan Daly Cpl AD (Bert) Daniels MJL Stow (Jimmy)

3RGJ KRRC 2KRRC

16th April 2016 28th April 2016 30th April 2016

Capt Mark (Blacky) Blackman Alan (Bomber) Burgess Peter Snellin Arthue William Allen

3RGJ RGJ 3RGJ 2KRRC

13th May 2016 14th May 2016 20th May 2016 May 2016

John Leaman Cpl TJ (Terrance) White Maj Gerald John Shipman Ian Gray Capt DJC Weston MC

KRRC/GJ 1GJ/1RGJ OBLI(TA)/4RGJ 1RGJ 2KRRC

June 2016 8th June 2016 15th June 2016 19th June 2016 26th June 2016

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30th March 2015 November 2015 January 2016

6th March 2016 9th March 2016 15th March 2016 30th March 2016 31st March 2016

E-Zine 2016

Frederick C Beach Derek (Danny) Daniels WO2 Dennis G Vokins

RB KRRC/2GJ OBLI/4 & 5 RGJ

12th July 2016 28th July 2016 28th July 2016

Col Michael Kenneth O’Malley DEWAR Lee Massey Pte BJ (Banger) Jackson Lt Michael K Newell Cpl Kevin Edwards Sgt George Washington ALCM, LLCM Sgt Daniel Henry Marsh

3GJ/RGJ 2RGJ OBLI OBLI(TA)/4RGJ 2RGJ 1KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ/ 3RGJ KRRC

Sgt Aubrey Rose

KRRC

12th September 2016

Cpl Chris Sparey

1RGJ

13th February 2016

1st August 2016 6th August 2016 7th August 2016 18th August 2016 21st August 2016 29th August 2016 August 2016

The brief information given above is supplemented by full Obituary entries on the Royal Green Jackets website.

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