RGJ Newsletter 1987 by RGJ Association

T H E ROYAL GREEN J A C K E T S ASSOCIATION

EDITORIAL /

The Present Colonels Commandant of The Royal Green Jackets are: Representative Colonel Commandant and Colonel Commandant 3 RGJ General Sir James Glover KCB MBE Colonel Commandant 1 RGJ Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Pascoe KCB MBE Colonel Commandant 2 RGJ Major General D.J. Ramsbotham CBE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS ROYAL GREEN JACKETS Address RH& RGJ Sir John Moore Barracks Andover Road North Winchester S022 6NQ Telephone: Winchester 885522 Lieut Colonel (Retd) I.G. Elliott (Ext 4218)

Secretary RGJ Association Editor Newsletter Winchester Reunion

Major (Retd) E.W. Leask

Treasurer RGJ Association

Colonel (Retd) I.H. McCausland (Ext 4215 )

Riflemen's Aid Society Liaison with SSAFA, Army Benevolent Fund and Regular Forces Employment Association

Mrs B. Hicks

Assistant Secretary Association Records & Addresses Supply of Chronicle and Association Newsletter Sale of Regimental Badges and other PR1 items

( Ext

4217 )

(Ext 4253)

THE RGJ ASSOCIATION The Association aims to maintain contact and fellowship between members of the Regiment both during and, more particularly, after their service. Activities to meet this end include: Annual Committee and Branch Meetings Annual Newsletter to all Members An annual Reunion at the Depot, Winchester Other Reunions arranged by Branches Maintaining Records and contact addresses of all Members at RH& 'Providing contact with the Riflemen's Aid Society and other Charities for Members in time of need Maintaining contact with the Association of the former Regiments of RGJ

ASSOCIATION BRANCHES The RGJ Association have four active Branches Oxford Cotswold Liverpool London

In 1985 the Association Committee agreed to establish in 1986 additional Branches to the two, Oxford and Cotswold, already in existence. This would be particularly appropriate in the 20th Anniversary Year of the formation of the Royal Green Jacket: Two new Branches have now been formed in Liverpool and London which is quite an achievement. Congratulations to the Association members who have been involved and have been successful in the ground work and laying the foundation from which the Association will grow and flourish in their area. Suitable volunteers have still to come forward to establish branches elsehwere. Tht West Midlands, Tyne and Wear are potential areas and any Association Member willing to start Branch activity will have the Committees support. Please write to the Secretary. MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Membership totals approximately 4,000 of which half are serving members. Subscription for Life Membership is £3. An Application for Membership/Change of Address Form is included at the back of this Newsletter. NEWSLETTER AND DISTRIBUTION All Members should receive a copy of the annual Newsletter, either direct to a Civil/Military address or via bulk distribution to Depot/Bns. Individual Members are asked to keep Mrs Hicks informed of changes of address.

It has been suggested that the Newsletter might be printed and have a more attractive cover. At present we are fortunate that the Newsletter is reproduced for us at no cost to the Association. Production costs for an improved Newsletter would be approximately £1000 annually and the Association funds would in no way meet this cost. The Association Committee feel that the limited funds now availabll are better spent on assisting Branches and in the formation of any new Branch in thl future. However steps are being taken to improve the cover as an initial step. REGIMENTAL CHRONICLE A limited number of copies of the hard-backed book published in May each year is available for sale to Association members. Present cost is £6.75 per book plus postage (£1). RGJ CHRISTMAS CARDS Association members may be interested in purchasing Regimental Christmas cards. They can be obtained from Mrs Hicks. Supply each year is limited and anyone interested is advised to supply by September each year. Estimated cost for 1987 will be £2.75 for 10 cards including postage. REGULAR FORCES EMPLOYMENT ASSOCIATION This Association is part of the Forces Resettlement Service. It exists to help Servicemen to find suitable employment when they leave the Forces. It also takes a long term interest in ex-Regulars, who may use its services as often as they wish

The Association has 40 Branches covering the United Kingdom, and its Employment Officers - all ex-servicemen - are in close touch with employers. It provides all services free.

As a member of the Regiment you know the value and satisfaction of doing a job well. At the end of your engagement you will be seeking the best employment available to meet your qualifications and ambitions. The RFEA exists to help you find that employment and to settle in civil life. You may use RFEA services as often as you wish thereafter.

If you have served with good character in the non-commissioned ranks of the Forces for a minimum of three years, or less if you are being discharged on medical grounds the Association is at your service.

Branch addresses and telephone numbers can be found from Unit Resettlement Officers; Regimental Associations; Job Centres and local telephone directories. THE UNION JACK CLUB The Union Jack Club is situated in Sandell Street, opposite Waterloo Station. Its primary object is to provide a residential Club for the use and benefit of all men and women below Commissioned Rank, serving on the Active List of Her Majesty's Forces. They are the regular membership and are thus entitled to first consideration as it is their own centre when on leave or passing through London. Next in priority of membership are a limited number of elected ex-Service members who are full members of the Club.

Temporary Honorary Membership may however be granted to approved ex-Servicemen and Women in limited numbers and for limited periods. Wives, husbands and children of Temporary Honorary Members temporarily visiting the United Kingdom are accommodat as Overseas Temporary Honorary Members. Widows of Servicemen and ex-Servicemen may also be granted Temporary Honorary Membership.

Further details and Membership Application forms can be obtained from The Secretary, The Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, London SE1 8UJ. (Tel: 01-928 6401). YEOMAN OF THE GUARD

YEOMAN WARDERS

CORPS OF COMMISSIONAIRES

Any Members who are interested in serving in any of the above capacities are encouraged to write to the Association Secretary for details. THE E. HAYES DASHWOOD FOUNDATION This is a Charitable Trust for the provision of accommodation for disabled exServicemen and their families.

Any disabled man, who has served at any time in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army, the Royal Air Force, or the Mercantile Marine, may apply to become a Guest of the Foundation. It is emphasised that the disablement need have nothing to do with military service.

All the properties belonging to the Foundation are situated in two quiet tree-lined streets in Balham, London SW12. Easily accessible are shops, banks, churches, Health centre, library, cinema, cafes, clubs, pubs and the British Rail and Underground Railway stations. Maintenance of the properties and the payment of rate is the responsibility of the Foundation. The Guest is charged 80% of the "Fair Rent", assessed by the local Rent Office. Guests will be advised how they may be able to recoup all or part of this contribution from the relevant authority. Having been accepted as a Guest of the Foundation, it is for life with security of occupation for the Guests's widow. Anyone who is interested in the Foundation should contact the Regimental Secretary.

EX-SERVICE FELLOWSHIP CENTRES The e x - S e r v i c e F e l l o w s h i p C e n t r e s r u n two r e s i d e n t i a l homes f o r ex-servicemen and ex-merchant seamen and t h e i r widows. New B e l v e d e r e House i n S t e p n e y , E a s t London, can t a k e 29 r e s i d e n t s . Hollenden House i n B e x h i l l - o n - S e a , E a s t S u s s e x , can t a k e 52 R e s i d e n t s , who must o r d i n a r i l y be o f p e n s i o n a b l e a g e , have t h e i r own rooms i n c o m f o r t a b l e b u i l d i n g s . They a r e n o t n u r s i n g homes and r e s i d e n t s on a d m i s s i o n must be c a p a 3 l e of l o o k i n g a f t e r t h e m s e l v e s though some h e l p , f o r example w i t h b a t h i n g , can be g i v e n . Those i n t e r e s t e d s h o u l d a p p l y t o : The A d m i n i s t r a t o r Ex-Service F e l l o w s h i p C e n t r e s 8 Lower Grosvenor P l a c e London SWlW OEP ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA Any Member who w i s h e s t o be c o n s i d e r e d f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e Royal H o s p i t a l , C h e l s e a s h o u l d c o n t a c t t h e Regimental S e c r e t a r y . OBITUARY

I t i s w i t h deep r e g r e t t h a t we announce t h e f o l l o w i n g d e a t h s s i n c e t h e l a s t Newsletter: 1 RGJ 2 RGJ 3 RGJ

Rfn D . A . Mulley C/Sgt P . J . Bryant Rfn A . C . R . Chapman L/Cpl R . I . McGowan

RIFLEMEN'S A I D SOCIETY The aim o f t h e S o c i e t y i s t o a s s i s t s e r v i n g and e x - s e r v i n g Warrant O f f i c e r s , NCOs and R i f l e m e n , t h e i r w i v e s , widows o r o t h e r d e p e n d a n t s , who f i n d t h e m s e l v e s i n f i n a n c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s o r a r e s u f f e r i n g o t h e r forms o f h a r d s h i p t h r o u g h no f a u l t o f t h e i r own. The S o c i e t y gave f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o 362 former Riflemen o r t h e i r d e p e n d a n t s , w h i l e p r o v i d i n g accommodation a t Green J a c k e t C l o s e f o r i t s 21 t e n a n t s . I t i s seldom p o s s i b l e t o h e l p o v e r h o u s i n g , and s e r v i n g s o l d i e r s i n p a r t i c u l a r a r e strongly advised t o r e g i s t e r with the l o c a l authority of the area i n which t h e y i n t e n d t o l i v e on l e a v i n g t h e Army. S e r v i n g s o l d i e r s s h o u l d make a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a s s i s t a n c e , t h r o u g h t h e i r Company Commanders. For t h o s e who a r e no l o n g e r s e r v i n g , widows o r o t h e r d e p e n d a n t s , a p p l i c a t i o n s s h o u l d be made by l e t t e r t o t h e C o n t r o l l e r , RAS, RHQ The Royal Green J a c k e t s , S i r John Moore B a r r a c k s , W i n c h e s t e r , o r t h r o u g h any l o c a l SSAFA o r Royal B r i t i s h Legion O f f i c e , o r t h r o u g h t h e o f f i c e s o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l S e c u r i t y . ASSOCIATION WINCHESTER REUNION 1987 9

The Reunion f o r 1987 w i l l be on S a t u r d a y 4 t h J u l y a t S i r John Moore B a r r a c k s , W i n c h e s t e r . T h e r e w i l l be a T a t t o o on t h e Depot P a r a d e Ground s t a r t i n g a t 9 pm and a S t a n d w i l l be r e s e r v e d f o r A s s o c i a t i o n Members, who a r e a d v i s e d t o c o n t a c t Mrs Hicks ( E x t 4235) t o c o n f i r m t i m i n g s a few d a y s b e f o r e . The Reunion w i l l be i n t h e NAAFI a t 6 . 3 0 pm a n d w i l l c l o s e a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8 . 3 0 pm b e f o r e t h e T a t t o o . T h e r e w i l l be t h e u s u a l b a r and b a r f o o d w i l l be a v a i l a b l e on payment. A t t e n d a n c e i s r e s t r i c t e d t o members and c l o s e r e l a t i o n s and f o r s i n g l e members one r e l a t i v e o r f r i e n d . A f t e r t h e T a t t o o A s s o c i a t i o n Members w i l l be welcome a t t h e Bar i n t h e NAAFI and C p l s Club o r , i f e n t i t l e d members, i n t h e WOs a n d S g t s Mess. Members a r e r e q u e s t e d t o c a r r y t h e i r MEMBERSHIP CARDS f o r s e c u r i t y r e a s o n s .

R G J ASSOCIATION DINNER'

It i s n o t planned t o h o l d an A s s o c i a t i o n Dinner a t S i r John Moore B a r r a c k s , Winchester i n 1987 f o r Members and t h e i r wives. Support f o r t h e f u n c t i o n l a s t y e a r was n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y s t r o n g t o make i t worthwhile. T h i s d e c i s i o n w i l l be reviewed a n n u a l l y . LIGHT DIVISION SOUNDING RETREAT HORSE GUARDS PARADE - J U N E 1987 The Massed Bands and b u g l e r s o f The L i g h t D i v i s i o n w i l l Sound R e t r e a t on Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday 9 t h , Wednesday 1 0 t h and Thursday l l t h June 1987. P r o f i t s from t h e R e t r e a t w i l l be s h a r e d by t h e Army Benevolent Fund and Regimental C h a r i t i e s . Each performance s t a r t s a t 1830 h o u r s and l a s t s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 45 m i n u t e s . Bookings f o r s e a t s may be made w i t h HQ The L i g h t D i v i s i o n and p u b l i c t i c k e t a g e n c i e s . A f r e e , d r e s s r e h e a r s a l w i l l be h e l d on Monday 8 t h J u n e . S a l u t e s w i l l be t a k e n by: 9 t h June : General S i r James G l o v e r , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Colonel Commandant R G J 1 0 t h June : Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Colonel i n Chief The L i g h t I n f a n t r y l l t h June : Her Royal Highness The P r i n c e s s Alexandra, Deputy C o l o n e l i n Chief The L i g h t I n f a n t r y . T i c k e t s . Former members o f t h e Regiment w i l l be a b l e t o o b t a i n t i c k e t s f o r s e a t s i n r e s e r v e d b l o c k s . A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r t i c k e t s a r e t o be made t o HQ The L i g h t D i v i s i o n on t h e proforma a t t a c h e d and any q u e r i e s s h o u l d be made t o t h e Parade O f f i c e by t e l e phoning Winchester 885522 E x t e n s i o n 4205. G a t h e r i n g o f A s s o c i a t i o n s , 9 t h J u n e . There w i l l be a G a t h e r i n g o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n s o f t h e 43rd and 52nd, K R R C , RB and R G J on Tuesday 9 t h June a t 56 Davies S t r e e t , London, a f t e r t h e performance. A c a s h b a r , and c o l d s u p p e r c o s t i n g £2.00 w i l l be a v a i l a b l e - Lady g u e s t s w i l l be welcome. I f you wish t o a t t e n d t h i s g a t h e r i n g p l e a s e complete t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s e c t i o n o f t h e proforma and make s u r e t h a t i t r e a c h e s HQ The L i g h t D i v i s i o n n o t l a t e r t h a n 1st May a s t h i s w i l l f a c i l i t a t e arrangements f o r s e a t i n g Branch Members t o g e t h e r . 56 Davies S t r e e t i s j u s t o f f Oxford S t r e e t and i s w i t h i n 200 y a r d s o f t h e Bond S t r e e t Underground S t a t i o n . Refreshments on 1 0 t h and l l t h J u n e . A c a s h b a r , and c o l d s u p p e r c o s t i n g £2.00 w i l l be a v a i l a b l e a t 56 Davies S t r e e t , London, f o l l o w i n g t h e performances on l l t h J u n e . The L i g h t I n f a n t r y A s s o c i a t i o n s w i l l have t h e u s e o f 56 Davies S t r e e t on 1 0 t h J u n e .

R e c e p t i o n i n Banqueting House (RUSI H a l l ) , l l t h J u n e . A r e c e p t i o n h o s t e d by s e r v i n g o f f i c e r s o f The L i g h t I n f a n t r y and The Royal Green J a c k e t s f o r g u e s t s o f b o t h Regiments w i l l be h e l d i n t h e RUSI H a l l a f t e r t h e performance on l l t h J u n e . A l i m i t e d number o f v a c a n c i e s w i l l be a l l o c a t e d f o r r e t i r e d o f f i c e r s and t h e i r wives by HQ L i g h t D i v i s i o n once t h e t o t a l number o f o f f i c i a l g u e s t s i s known. Those wishing t o a p p l y fon a vacancy s h o u l d complete t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s e c t i o n o f t h e proforma. P l e a s e n o t e t h a t an a l t e r n a t i v e i s a v a i l a b l e . Massed Bands Record and C a s s e t t e . An LP Record and a c a s s e t t e a r e b e i n g i s s u e d t o commemorate t h e Massed Bands Sounding R e t r e a t . The r e c o r d and c a s s e t t e w i l l e a c h c o s t £5.00 and may e i t h e r be o r d e r e d from HQ L i g h t D i v i s i o n b e f o r e o r a f t e r t h e R e t r e a t , o r may be p u r c h a s e d a t Horse Guards Parade a t t h e d r e s s r e h e a r s a l and e a c h performance O r d e r i n g d i r e c t from HQ L i g h t D i v i s i o n w i l l i n c u r a n a d d i t i o n a l c h a r g e o f £1.00 f o r packaging and p o s t a g e . HONOURS AND AWARDS

The Queens OBE MBE BEM BEM BEM

B i r t h d a y Ho~o!i?s 1986

L t Col G.F. Smyth Major W.J. T a y l o r ( B e l a t e d e n t r y ) S / S g t J.E.C. C l i f t o n TA S/Sgt B . Edwards S/Sgt M.J. O'Hara 5

New Y e a r ' s Honours L i s t 1986 L i f e Peer GCB

F i e l d Marshal S i r Edwin Bramall GCB, OBE, MC General S i r Roland Guy KCB, CBE, DSO

Mentioned i n Despatches

L t Col G. de V.W. Hayes Major S.R. Stanford-Tuck

2 RGJ 2 RGJ

G O C ' s Commendation

W02 G . A . B a l l S g t P.A. Ashby Sgt P . J . Clements Rfn D. Swords Ex/L/Cpl A . Grears L/Cpl A . B . Ahearne Rfn M.S. Blackman Rfn A . Graham

2 2 2 2 2

RGJ RGJ RGJ RGJ RGJ 3 RGJ 3 RGJ 3 RGJ

T e r r i t o r i a l Decoration Maj T.A. C r i s p Maj J.G. G r i f f i t h - J o n e s Maj N . A . Johnson E f f i c i e n c y Medal C/Sgt T.L. Gundry-White

THE LIGHT DIVISION DEPOT SIR JOHN MOORS BARRACKS

- VINCH'ESTER

The p r e s e n t s i t e o f Flowerdow-, f i r s t r e c o r d e d on 1 8 t h Century maps w a s purchased by t h e '!.jarO f f i c e from t h e Deane Family o f L i t t l e t o n Farm i n 1914, A t f i r s t i t was u t i l i s e d a s a camp by t h e Royal F l y i n g Corps. I n October 1914 t h e 8 0 t h I n f a n t r y Brigade o f t h e 27 I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , c o n s i s t i n g o f 2 KSLI, 3 KRRC, 4 KRRC and 4 RB w a s b i l l e t e d i n t h e :??inchester a r e a p r i o r t o moving t o France. It can be s a f e l y assumed t h a t one o r more o f t h e s e B a t t a l i o n s was l o c a t e d a t Flowerdown. The f i r s t documented Ligllt D i v i s i o n c o n n e c t i o n d a t e s back t o t h e end o f Piay 1915 when t h e 7 t h B a t t a l i o n The Kings S h r o p s h i r e Light I n f a n t r y s t a g e d through Flowerdown on a march from Romsey t o Odihan. Towards t h e end o f t h e Great :Iar it w a s used as a r e s t and t r a n s i t carlp f o r S e r b s , C r o a t s and I n d i a n s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e Crown. A f t e r !;'orld !.:ar I it was c o n v e r t e d i n t o a n ?$-F A p p r e n c t i c e T r a i n i n g College. I n 1930 t h e Royal Navy took o v e r t h e s i t e a s a Radio S t a t i o n c a l l e d ID,1S Flowerdown. It reyiained a IJaval c o ~ m u n i c a t i o ns t a t i o n throughout 'dorld !!ar I1 and u n t i l t h e e a r l y 1960s wk.en t h e ilome O f f i c e t o o k it over a s a Communication and L i s t e n i n g S t a t i o n . The Home O f f i c e were s u p p o r t e d by t h e Royal S i c n a l s . It is of i n t e r e s t t o n o t e t h a t t h e last u n i t t o l i v e a t S u s h f i e l d Camp, which a c t e d as t h e Green Jac&:et Depot on two occasions s i n c e l:orld ',Jar 11, was 223 S i g n a l s Sqn, Royal S i g n a l s who rar! t h e Flol.rerdown Coimunication S i t e j o i n t l y w i t h t h e IIome O f f i c e u n t i l i t was c l o s e d i n 1976. The s i t e lfas l e f t d e r e l i c t u n t i l it r e p o s s e s s e d f o r t h e new L i g h t D i v i s i o n 3eyot i n 1982. Some of t h e s t r u c t u r e s d e n o l i s h e d f o r t h e new b u i l d i n g were of RAF Apprentice College vintage. \./hen t h e p r e s e n t day L i g h t D i v i s i o n l.?iasformed i n 1968 t h e o r i g i n a l . c h a r t e r r e q u i r e d a s i n g l e D i v i s i o n a l Depot i n c o r p o r a t i n g t h e f u n c t i o n s o f b o t h t h e L i g h t I n f a n t r y Depot a t Shrewsbury ar,d The Royal Green Jac!cets Depot at Y i n c h e s t e r . T h i s developmen was not i n i t i a 7 , 1 y pursued f o r a v a r i e t y of r e a s o n s , t h e main one being c o s t . I n t h e mid 1370s t h e s i n g l e J o i n t Depot became a r e a l i t y and t e n d i f f e r e n t s i t e s around t h e

c o u n t r y were s t u d i e d . These v e r e n a i x t u r e of e x i s t i n g 2nd d e r e l i c t Army 2nd X F s i t e s and not a l l v e r e i n t r a d i t i o n a l L i g h t DI7:ision Recrzliting a r e a s . Indeed one s i t e i s now one o f ID< P r i s o n s ! Some of t h e r e a s o n s why n i n e of t h e t e n s i t e s under c o n s i d e r a t i o n were r u l e d o u t I,!&s t h e lac': o f m a r r i e d q u a r t e r s f o r a1.l r a n k s , i n s u f f i c i e n t l o c a l t r a i n i n g a r e z s zxd r a n g e s , remoteness and 1c.c': of r e a l - e s t a t e f o r possib1.e expansion. Flowerdown met a l l t h e s e requirements and i t 1:ns z l r e a d y a vncznt NOD p r o p e r t y .

C o n s t r u c t i o n conrnenced i n 1983 and t h e f i r s t b u i l d i n g , t h e !?Is block b r a s handed over i n October 1985. The c o s t of t h e w!:ole p r o j e c t is s a i d t o 11: ve been 520 mil.lior a t 19P5 p r i c e s .

I n i t i a l l y t h e o c c u ~ a n t sof i'eiiinsula Snrrac!.:~ i n !!inchester moved t o t h e new Sarraclrs i n e a r l y and mid-Secernber 19s5. The f i r s t i n t a l - e o f l 0 5 n d u l t r e c r u i t s a r r i v e d on t h e 2 0 t h J a n u z r g 1986, The O f f i c e r s F e s s was occupied i n 1.krch 19Fl6 and on complctic of t h e t h i r d b u i l d i n c phase t h e J u n i o r S o l d i e r s ~ . n dJ u n i o r Leaders commenced t r a i n i n g i n Au(-ust and September 19% r e s p e c t i v e l y .

The o f f i c i a l opening by 3 e r bIajesty The !yecn took p l s c e on 27th Kovember 1986.

The p r i n c i p l e f u n c t i o n of tile L i ~ h tD i v i s i o n 9epot is t o tra3.n a l l a d u l t , j u n i o r soldiers, J u c i o r l e a d e r s znd bui-lers f o r t h e D i v i s i o n . I n d e t a i l t h i s a c a r s t h a t t h e Depot w i l l t r a i n 306 a d u l t r e c r l ~ i t sa t any one t i n e t c a t o t a l o f 620 a y e a r f o r t h e t h r e e Li,-?lt I n f a n t r y S a t t a l i o n s an6 Green Jscl:et B a t t a l i o n s of t h e 3 i v i s i o n on I ' ~ combined t o t a l o f 200 .tr:?y a i r Sorps and 1:oyal Arny Pay Corps a 20 wee? prograr:me. a d u l t r e c r u i t s 2 y e a r a r e a l s o r e q u i r e d t o be t r a i n e d a t S i r John L ~ o o r eRarrac!cs by a mix of Liyllt ~)ivision/;:i!C and 1aPC s t a f f i n b a s i c mil.ita.ry s l . ; i l l s . t o t a l o f 216 J u n i o r S o l d i e r s , 124 J u n i o r Leaders and 42 3ugl.ers of t h e L i ~ h t D i v i s i o n s r e a l s o recyrired t o be t r z i n e d each ;-ear includin:: 116?, 5':': Pte/I:fn f o r b a t t a l i o n s . Some 100 Light D i v i s i o n r e s e r v i s t s can e l s o be t h e L i ~ h tD i v i s i o n e x p e c t e d t o r e c e i v e r e f r e s h e r tra5.nS.n~at S i r John Noore 3ar.racl:s annual 1.y.

The whole barrac1:s hns been c o n s t r u c t e d t o v e r y h i g h s p e c i f i c a t i o n s w i t h consiZerable l a n d s c a p i n g and t r e e p l a n t i n g t o enilnnce t h e o v e r a l l environment. >illf ~ c i l i t i e s a r e thought f u l l y designed. S i r John I'oore Barracks is t h e l a t e s t and most modern Barrac!-S i n t h e t h r e e s e r v i c e s and on c u r r e n t showing t h e lc,st maSor Army "new b u i l d " f o r s e v e r a l decades. There is no doubt t h a t it p r o v i d e s a most e x c i t i n g and promisin,-: new home f o r t h e Light Division. V/INCHLSTSRIS FLOYPLL DAY THE OFFICIAL OPENIXG OF SIIf 2OHK IIOORL BlLiilu!.CKS

The 27th November 1986 was a day which t h e C i t y o f !.;inchester w i l l not f o r g e t f o r n v e r y l o n g time. flembers o f tl;e Royal f a n i l y Ere f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r s t o t h e C i t y and indeed t h e whole o f Hampshire, Sut t o welcome It'riccess i.lexandra a s w e l l wa.s E t e r r i f i c bonus. I n b r i c h t s u c s h i n e , tile day t u r n e d out t o b e , a p e r f e c t occasion f o r b o t h o f t h e n t o renew t h e i r a c c y a i n t a n c e s w i t h b ' i n c h e s t c r and t o b r i n c h a y ~ i n e s s one cerenozy bein:; t h e Opening of S i r f o r a l l t h o s e i n v o l v e d i n t h e days e v e n t s John tIoore B a r r a c ! ~ : ~ . The p r o s p e c t o f [ ~ r e e t i n gtwo Boyzl v i s i t o r s z t t h e S i r John ?.:oore Bnrrac!:~, t:-ie new home o f t h e Li:.:ht C i v i s i o n a t i;lo~:!crdov.i, g c n c r a t e d fee1iny;s of inmense p r i d e 2nd h a p p i n e s s among t h e thousands g e t h e r e d t h e r e . From s e n i o r o f f i c e r t o t h e most J u n i o r r e c r u i t , al.1 were i : - ~ r n z c u l n t e l gt u r n e d out t h e i r hi{;hly p o l i s h e d bucl.:les, b o o t s 222 ned-als twinl:liny; i n t h e b r i g h t s11nsl:ine o f a p e r f e c t f r e s l i autumn morning.

S t r i n g e n t s e c u r i t y checks ?!ere c a r r i e d out F e f o r e t h e Iioyal p a r t i e s a r r i v e d afid t h e f i r s t e n t o u r a g e t o draw up s t t h e mzin p t e s wcs t h n t o f P r i n c e s s i " ~ l e x r n d r a ,Deputy Colonel-in-Chief o f t h e L i + t I n f ~ n t r y ,~ h loolred o r a d i a n t i n o r o y z l b l u e cont v i t h b l a c k c o l l a r and match in^ blacl- a c c e s s o r i e s .

The Lizlit I n f a n t r y Corruna Band and Royal Green J a c k e t s Normandy Band played with g u s t o a s some 3000 g u e s t s and members of t h e L i ~ h tD i v i s i o n pscked t h e t h r e e s t a n d s j u s t beyond t h e main c a t e s . Soon, t h e r e was sn e x c i t e d buzz as t h e Royal c a r came i n t o view Her Majesty s r r i v i n g from Winchester Railway S t a t i o n where s h e was met by t h e Lord L i e u t e n a n t o f Sampshire, S i r James S c o t t . A s s h e g r e e t e d P r i n c e s s Alexandra, a f a n f a r e 1t:as sounded f o r t h e Royal S a l u t e , followed by t h e N a t i o n a l Anthemo Accompanied by L i e u t e n a n t General S i r . D a v i d Mostyn, Colonel Commandant of t h e Light D i v i s i o n , Her Majesty i n s ~ e c t e dt h e Light D i v i s i o n Bugle Guard, l o o k i n g r e s p l e n d e n t i n t h e i r dark g r e e n uniforms. A t t i r e d i n a darli r e d c o a t with c o n t r : ~ s t i n g r e d h a t w i t h s n upturned brim, t h e C;ueen was t h e n i n v i t e d by General 1.lostyn t o open t h e 522.8 m i l l i o n Barracks.

I n h i s speech, t h e Colonel Commandnnt welcomed t h e two Hoyol g u e s t s , s a y i n g everyone w a s v e r y conscious o f t h e s i n g u l a r honour t h e y hzd bestowed with t h e i r presence and reminding them t h a t t h e Queen L o t h e r , Colonel i n Chief o f t h e Light I n f a n t r y , had ta17en t h e f a r e w e l l s a l u t e a t its former depot i n Shrewsbury. He e x p l a i n e d t h e background of t h e depot w i t h i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s being i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e i r modern form i n 1968 and two y e a r s l a t e r , a Defence 1;iliite Paper promised t h e formation of one home and z t r a i n i n g depot f o r t h e L i g h t Division. "After a wide r a n g i n g view of p o s s i b l e s i t e s , t'& one at Floircrdown was f i n a 7 1 y s e l e c t e d by t h e Army Board i n 1978. It was a hap-y c h o i c e t h ~ it t h a s , s i n c e t h e Napoleonic Yars, been t h e s i t e of p c r i o d i c m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g , " s a i d t h e General. He p o i n t e d out t h e Royal F l y i n g Corps f i r s t occupied i t , wl:ile t h e Royal Array Pay Corps was s i t u a t e d "over t h e h i l l " a t \,/orthy Down. R e c r u i t s from botli t h e Royal !:my Pay Corps and t h e Army A i r Corps w i l l be t r a i n e d a t Flosrerdown. B u i l d i n g began a t t h e B a r r a c k s i n 1983 r n d i n J a ~ u a r yt h i s y e a r , t h e s t a f f s t a r t e d t o move i n w i t h t h e p r o j e c t f i n a l l y completed i n J u l y . The r e s u l t , he s a i d , is "undoubtedly t h e most s u p e r b t r a i n i n g depot i n t h e country.It But because not everyone li!ced t h e name tiFlol;:crd.own", t h e Depot was c h r i s t e n e d t h e S i r John I:ioore Barrac!:~ i n r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e man, 'lunivcrsa.ll.y n.cknowledged sl.mply c s t h e g r e a t e s t t r a i n e r of t r o o p s t h e C r i t i s h iirmy h a s e v e r 1-nov~n.'~ P o i n t i n g t o t h e n i n e f e e t high s t a t u e o f S i r John, General I.Iostyn added: ltThzt was t h e man, who, s i n c e 1803, h a s been t h e i n s p i r a t i o n t o s u c c e s s i v e g e n e r a t i o n s of L,iglit Infantrymen and Siflemen.I1 I n r e s p o n s e , Her F k j e s t y expressed d e l i g h t a t b e i n g a t t!le Depot and loolred forward 1:rith P r i n c e s s f,lexan&a t o s e e i n g it f o r t l ~ e m s e l v e s . "A depot i s t o a s o l d i e r as t h e f a m i l y home is t o t h e travel.lerI1, s a i d t h e Queen. "There a r e , I g r a n t you, a s p e c t s of b a s i c t r a i n i n g which b e a r l i t t l e resembl-&nce t o a mother's t e n d e r c a r e , b u t , even s o , most s o l - d i e r s look bzc!~: on t h e i r e a r l y days i n t h e i r Regiment with a mixture o f a f f e c t i o n < n d pride." T n i s a f f e c t i o n was f o r t h e f r i e n d s t h e y mnde a s t h e y s t a r t e d t h e i r c a r e e r s and t h e p r i d e w a s o f t h e high s t a n d a r d s which were i n s t i l l e d i n them from t h e moment t h e y e n t e r t h e Barracl: g a t e . Those s o l d i e r s t r a i n e d by S i r John IIoore, t h e Queen s a i d , had been d e s c r i b e d as " s o l d i e r s unsurpassable, perhaps unequa? led." Addressinp t h e c u r r e n t Depot s t a f f , s h e concluded: I1You a r e h e i r s t o a c r e s t t r a d i t i o n . Those of you a t t h e o u t s e t of your s o l d i e r i n g a r e f o r t u n a t e t o be launched i n a s e t t i n g of which S i r John Moore himself would be proud. You a r e t h e f u t u r e of t h e L i ~ h tD i v i s i o n , may it p r o s p e r i n your charge." \ l i t h t h a t , s h e u n v e i l e d acommemorativeplaque t o mark t h e o f f i c i a l opening. The :,ueen t h e x met l o c a l c i v i c d i g n i t a r i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e IIigh S h e r i f f of Hampshire, C z p t a i n Fergus Iiughes-m nslow, t h e Bishop o f Winchester, The Right Reverend C o l i n James; t h e );ayor, )lrs Sue S e n t r y ; lilinchester MP M r John Browne and M r IbIaurice J o n e s , Chairman o f Har:pshire County Council and t h e n was i n t r o d u c e d t o Light D i v i s i o n s t a f f , p a s t and p r e s e n t , i n c l u d i n c two h o l d e r s of t h e V i c t o r i a Cross. To end t h e o f f i c i a l ccremony, t h e Bugle Guard marched o f f i n double time i n f r o n t o f t h e Queen. Then t h e g u e s t s were g i v e n a t a s t e o f modern Army l i f e . 'Yhile P r i n c e s s Alexandra was having c o f f e e w i t h p e s t s i n t h e Chapel, t 3 e Queen was t r e a t e d t o a s p e c i a l d i s p l a y o u t s i d e t h e t r a i n i n g wing. There, s h e saw s o l d i e r s l a u n c h i n g a ground a s s a u l t , hsving

jumped o u t o f a Lynx h e l i c o p t e r , w h i l e high above, c i r c l i n g a t 5000 f c e t , was a n o t h e r h e l i c o p t e r , o u t of which came 11 members of t h e T r a i l b l a z e r s , t h e L i g h t D i v i s i o n ~ a r a c h u t ed i s p l a y team,who landed plumb on t a r g e t i n f r o n t of her. S o l d i e r s a l s o showed h e r how t h e Arrny d e c o n t a ~ i n a t e st h o s e talcing p a r t i n n u c l e a r o r b i o l o g i c a l warfare. Also "up i n a i r H were t h e J u n i o r Leaders Company, which mounted a rock c l i m b i n g d i s p l a y o u t s i d e t h e p h y s i c a l ~ n rde c r e a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g centre1 There t o g r e e t h e r were p u p i l s o f Yestgate, Henry Beaufort and Harestocli l l i d d l e Schools, who cheered l o u d l y and waved Union J a c k s . 11 couple of them p r e s e n t e d h e r w i t h p o s i e s of f l o w e r s and eight-year-old James Gibbons of Harestocl; School managed t o hzve a b r i e f c o n v e r s a t i o n . "1 t o l d h e r I l i k e d h e r badge," t h e proud youngster "She s a i d 'I l i k e i t too1". I n t h e c e n t r e , t h e Queen w a s shown a PT d i s p l a y said. by t h e J u n i o r S o l d i e r s Company and t h e n , s h e s a w some s p e c i a l i s e d swimrnin~s l ~ i l l s , i n c l u d i n c s u r v i v a l and ma!ceslii.ft r i v e r e x e r c i s e s , c a r r i e d out by B Company and T e r r i t o r i a l Army r e c r u i t s . Meanwhile, P r i n c e s s Alexandra v i s i t e d t h e Education C e n t r watching j u n i o r l e a d e r s b u i l d i n g canoes and c a r r y i n g out motor mechanics.

The Queen and t h e P r i n c e s s t h e n converged on t h e Depot's NAAFI t o meet Regimental A s s o c i a t i o n members. The P r i n c e s s s t a y e d t h e r e t o t a l k t o m i l i t a r y s t a f f , while t h e Queen went on t o t h e 'Warrant O f f i c e r s 1 and S e r g e a n t s ' Mess. They lunched i n t h e O f f i c e r s 1 Mess a f t e r which t h e Queen t r a v e l l e d t o t h e Royal Hampshire County Hospital. w h i l e t h e P r i n c e s s s t a y e d t o p l a n t a commemorative t r e e , v i s i t t h e p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g c e n t r e and meet c i v i l i a n s t a f f . L a t e r t h a t day a Rifleman r e f l e c t e d : tho' L LIGHT DIVISION DEPOT

'Spot on, but q u i t e some s k i r m i s h beforehand

- WINCHESTER

S i n c e t h e l a s t n e w s l e t t e r from t h e Depot t h e r e have been enormous changes both i n s t a f f and o r g a n i s a t i o n . The much h e r a l d e d move of t h e Depot from P e n i n s u l a Barracks t o S i r John Moore Barracks h a s now talcen p l a c e and although one o r two elements, s u c h as t h e Green J a c k e t s Museum, s t i l l remain i n t h e c e n t r e of Winchester, t h e o l d barrac: is now v i r t u a l l y empty and a w a i t i n g a s e r i e s of d e c i s i o n s a s t o its f u t u r e . S i r John Moore B a r r a c ! : ~ on t h e o u t s l . i r t s of Winchester i s a v a s t i-nprovement on t h e o l d f a c i l i t i e s . S p o r t s p i t c h e s , a l a v i s h P h y s i c a l and R e c r e a t i o n a l T r a i n i n g C e n t r e , r a n g e s , d r y t r a i n & a r e a s , e x c e l l e n t a c c o m o d a t i o n , classrooms and o f f i c e s , a r e cl1 p r e s e n t on t h e s i t e and we a r e r e t t i n g l a r g e nunbers of l:.iyh ran1:in.y v i s i t o r s coming down t o s e e us. The Co~mandingO f f i c e r h a s talcen t o c a r r y i n g a t o u r p . i d e l s u m b r e l l a s o t h a t he can be s p o t t e d i n amongst t h e crowds of t o u r i s t s ! The o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e Depot h a s a l s o changed. There z r e notr two a d u l t t r a i n i n g companies where one e x i s t e d b e f o r e . k l a r g e T r a i n i n g :iine; a r d Lducation !!ing have a l s o been formed t o co-ordinate and c a r r y out s p e c i a l i s t t r a i n i n g and we hsve formed a J u n i o r S o l d i e r s and J u n i o r Leaders Company when o u r s i s t e r Depot i n Shrewsbury c l o s e d i n August. The p a s t s i x months h a s s e e n a p e r i o d o f c c n s o l i d a t i o n a t t h e Depot. The t r a i n i n g s t a f f s f o r t h e J u n i o r Leaders and J u n i o r S o l d i e r s Companies a r r i v e d s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e i r r e c r u i t s , and both have s e t t l e d i n t o t h e new r o u t i n e .

The J u n i o r Leaders a r e r e c r u i t e d b e t v e e n 16 and 17 y e a r s o l d , 2nd 738 of them crossed: t h e t h e s h o l d i n September. They w i l l be with u s f o r 46 weeks, which is v i r t u a l l y one y e a r a f t e r l e a v e i s t a k e n i n t o account. The J u n i o r s o l d i e r s o n l y do 31 weeks, and t o a v o i d them b e i n g under age on p a s s i n g o u t and p o s t i n g t o a b a t t a l i o n , t h e y a r e r e c r u i t e d a t t h e minimum age of 164. l,ie t a k e f o u r b a t c h e s of 54 boys p e r year. Both groups do t r a d i t i o n a l J u n i o r I n f a n t r y t r a i n i n g , b u t t h e Leaders c o n c e n t r a t e more on Leadership development and e d u c a t i o n t h a n t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s . Concern had been e x p r e s s e d t h a t we might have a r e s o u r c e s problem while we t r i e d t o f i n d t h e b e s t f i t of A d u l t s and J u n i o r s , but i n p r a c t i c e , i t h a s been a r e l a t i v e l y e a s y t r a n s i t i o n . The r e a s o n is simple. The Depot h a s o n l y r e c e i v e d 40 Adult r e c r u i t

f o r t h e e n t i r e D i v i s i o n f o r t h e p e r i o d September 86 t o March 87. The r e a s o n is t h a t t h e Regular b a t t a l i o n s a r e approximately 150 men o v e r s t r e n g t h , t h e s t r o n g e s t D i v i s i o n i n t h e I n f a n t r y i n terms of p e r c e n t a g e o v e r e s t a b l i s h m e n t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e C i v i l S e r v a n t s a r e n o t a t a l l happy about having t o pay a l l t h e s e people and a r e t r y i n g h a r d t o s l i m u s down. The s h o r t a g e o f r e c r u i t s could hr,ve l e d t o many bored t r a i n i n g t e a % b u t w i t h c a r e f u l p l a n n i n c , a l l p e r s o ~ ~ n ea lr e e i t h e r on c o u r s e s suc!: as e d u c a t i o n , o r t h e y have r e t u r n e d t o ba' t a l i o n s nild b r i l l be r e p l a c e d when t h e numbers start t o i n c r e a s e again. The Depot was o f f i c i a l l y opened by Her Fiajesty t h e l g e e n on 27 November 1986. The ev i s covered elsewhere i n t h e N e w s l e t t e r . S u f f i c e it t o s a y t h c t t h e day !<as a g r e a t s u c c e s s ~ . n dt h e t r e a t h c r w a s p e r f e c t f o r t h e f i r s t , 2nd l a s t , t i m e f o r several. wee!cs. There is now z p e r i o d o f s t a b l i s a t i o n . There have been s u r p r i s l n s l y few problems w i t h t h e new b a r r a c k s , al though i n t h e b i g f r e e z e o f e a r l y J a n u a r y , tl7.e p i p e s i n t ! ~ e r o o f s - f e v e r y b u i l d i n g f a c i n g t h e Korth C e s t wind f r z c t u r e d . F o r t u n a t e l y throughout t h e c o l d s n a p , t h e c e n t r a l . h e a t i n g k e p t going and t h o s e w i t h o f f i c e s were n o t t o o unhappy. Those on t r a i n i n g i n t h e f i e l d were s l i g h t l y l e s s hapry about t e m p e r a t u r e s o f minus 10 c e n t i g r a d e . We a r e now l o o k i n g forward t o o u r f i r s t s p r i n g and summer a s a f u l l y f u n c t i o n i n g u n i t THE LI'iFT D 1 '.'ISIOFJ DZPOT

, SBRXIJSBURY

The e v e n t s o f t h e l a s t s i x months a t t h e Depot were dominz.ted by t h e A o s u r e i n June b e f o r e r e s e t t l i n g z t t h e new Depot a t \dinchester. The p a t t e r n o f t r a i n i n ? s i n c e A p r i l was d i c t a t e d by t h e need t o p r e p a r e a l l f i v e P l a t o o n s r e a d y f o r t h e f i n a l p a s s i n g out parade. S i n c e two p l c t o o n s Alamein and Kohina ( L t i ~ n g u s~ a c k i e )s t a r t e d i n J u n e 15 and t h e remaining 3 i n Sept 85 k n z i o ( L t P e t e r B a l l s ) , Corunna ( L t John l.!ilson) and Salamanca, a good d e a l o f juggling 5y t h e t r a i n i n g o f f i c e r , Capt Jamie Eowden was n e c e s s a r y . T h i s was s u c c e s s f u l l y e n g i n e e r e d ar,d tlie momentum o f t r a i n i n g !:as a b l e t o be maintained t o t h e end w i t h s u c c e s s f u l b c t t l e ca-:ps a t Sennybridge from l a t e Flay t o Fiid June. C r e d i t must go t o all. members o f t h e t r a i n i n g team f o r l e a d i n g t h e i r p l ~ t o o n sthrough a n unusual y e a r o f upheaval. T h e i r aim w2s t o g e t t h e rnaximum number o f w e l l t r a i n e d young s o l d i e r s t o B a t t a l i o n s and t h i s bras ac1:ieved w i t h 151 j u n i o r s , 14 Bandsmen and 20 B u g l e r s marching o f f t o j o i n t h e i r B a t t a l i o n s a t t h e c l o s e .

On t h e 2 8 t h o f June 1986 o v e r 20G j u n i o r soldiers, b u g l e r s and b?.ndsrnen o f t h e Light D i v i s i o n paraded i n f r o n t o f HI4 The queen Piother a t S i r John Iqoore Barraclcs, Shrewsbury f o r t h e f i n a l parade. A l l Royal Green Jac!.ret j u n i o r r e c r u i t s have been t r a L n e d i n Shrewsbury f o r t h e p a s t It y e a r s , n relatively s h o r t time compared the 150 y e a r s of t h e Depot's e x i s t e n c e . Tlie dzy i t s e l f b r a s a m q n i f i c e n t s u c c e s s and went almost without f a u l t , w i t h t!:e s u n s h i n i n g throughout.

HI4 The Q ~ e e nGothcr a r r i v e d on time a f t e r a wel-coming speech from t h e c o l o n e l of t h e L i g h t I n f a n t r y s h e a d d r e s s e d t h e parnde w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g rernarl.:~. "I am d e l i g h t e d t o be wit!: you a l l h e r e toclay, s a d though tlie o c c a s i o n may be f o r w n y o f you present: I a n s o p l e a s e d t o h e ~ trh a t o u r l i n k s w i t h t h e County of Shropsi2ire w i l l be r e t a i n e d through t h e T e r r i t o r i a l :,rmy, a s t h e y s r e elsewhere i n o u r t r e d i t i o n a l County areas. N e v e r t h e l e s s , f o r t . ; o s e c i v i l i a n worlrers who ha.ve g i v e n such l o y a l s u p p o r t over many y e n r s t o t!le Regiment, it wil!. i n d e e d be a blow: I j o i n General Lane i n thenking jrow f o r your l o y d s e r v i c e and wish you w e l l . I c o n g r a t u l a t e t h o s e on Parade who today complete t h e i r t r a i n i n g : I Vnow t h z t you have done l:re!l h e r e t o a c h i e v e t h a t under some p r e s s u r e , rnc! I wish yol.l a l l t11.e v e r y b e s t o f good f o r t u n e when you j o i n your B a t t a l i o n s . F i n s l l y , nay I c o n g r a t u l a t e a l l t h o s e of you whose tns!: i t is t o t r a i n o u r young s o l d i e r s ; I !.;now tho.t i t is c. dezanding t i m e f o r you and your f m i ?i e s , but t h e reward is s u r e l y t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d t h a t we s e e h e r e t o d a y , r e f l e c t i n g t h e g r e a t t m d i t i o n s o f o u r Regiments."

J S Company under Comm~ndNajor C h a r l i e Hejman paraded i n f r o n t o f some 1200 ?eople i n c l u d i n g t h e Colonel Commandant o f t h e D i v i s i o c , General S i r 3 a v i d ;.;ostgn, and General S i r Roland Guy i l d j u t a n t General. Her E a j e s t y i n s p e c t e d t h e Company ar,d o t h e r s on parade b e f o r e w i t n e s s i n g t h e t r a d i t i o n 2 1 6ouble p: st Following t h e pnradi Her Plajesty c r o s s e d t h e s q u a r e on f o o t t o t a l ' ; t o p a r e n t s znd Depot m i l i t a r y and c i v i l i a n s t a f f b e f o r e moving a c r o s s t o lieet Depot cl151 d r e n and t h e b e s t r e c r u i t s from each p l a t o o n . Her l i a j e s t y t h e n moved t o j o i n o f f i c e r s f o r lunch i n t h e liess w i t h a l a r g e marquee f o r 200 o u t s i d e on t h e lawn. A f t e r reviewing r a n k s o f o l d comrades i n t h e e f t e r n o o n , amongst whom was a c o n t i n g e n t o f e i g h t stalwarts from t h e former regiment The O x f o r d s h i r e s n d Rucl:inghanishire L i g h t I n f a n t r y who d i s p l e y e d t h e i r bowler h a t s i n s t y l e , Her Piajesty toolc h e r l e a v e accompanied by !7ugle f a n f a r e s a l l t h e way from t h e mess t o t h e b a r r ~ t c kg a t e . It had been a memorable day.

It is important t o r e c o r d how w e l l t k e DivSsLonal Depot h a s performed over t h e f o u r y e a r s o f i t s e x i s t e n c e . The D e ~ o ta t c l o s u r e was as happy a s it h a s e v e r been and t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between L i g h t Infantrymen and Rif!enen was one o f humerous legp u l l i n g and genuine f r i e n d s h i p . There s h o u l d be no doubts f o r t h e f u t u r e o f t h e h a r p i n e s s o f a j o i n t 3epot. A s always t h e lklO1sznd S g t s ;-:ess was t h e ltey t o s u c c e s s and Shrewsbury was lucl-y t o hzve s ~ c har, e x c e l l e n t RSFl a s !.i01 Fairclougli RG; t o s e e t h e Depot through t o t h e end. 1: s a d and h i s t o r i c day f o r u s a1 l S u t harpy i n t h e knowledge t h a t t h e two Regiments were t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r c l o s e l i n k s i n t h e t r a i n i c g o f r e c r u i t s and j u n i o r s a t V i n c h e s t e r which had begun f o u r y e a r s b e f o r e s o successfu:

S i n c e o u r last c o n t r i b u t i o n , t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n have moved from Tidworth t o PIercer Barracks i n Osnabruck. 'cie s h a l l be i n Gcrnany f o r t ! ~ e b e s t p a r t o f 5 y e a r s ar-d t ) i e i n i t i a l i m p r e s s i o n s o f deep snow and e x t r e ~ e ' y i c y r o a d s w i l l not ~ c r s i s tf o r t o o l o n g once t h e busy l i f e o f I3slOR s e t t l e s u s dokm.

When t h e N e w s l e t t e r l a s t went t o p r i n t , 1 RGJ had j u s t r e t u r n e d from a 4 month emergency t o u r i n Northern I r e l a n d . A f t e r a s p o t o f l e a v e , we were i n m e d i n t e l y abro, a g a i n ; t h i s t i m e t o S c h l e s v i g H o l s t e i n i n YJorth Geraany, talcin[; p a r t i n t h e United Kingdom Flobile F o r c e e x e r c i s e EOLD GUAItD. The 1st I n f a n t r y 3 r i g a d e cnd UE;FlF ( o f which 1 RGJ w a s one o f t h e 4 I n f a n t r y ~ a t t a l i o n s )has a r o l e i n iJorth Germany and Denmark i n t h e e v e n t o f h o s t i l i t i e s , and it w?.s t h i s r o l e th;:t we p r a c t i s e d through01 September. The B a t t a l i o n s h i p p e d o u t from a nurnbcr o f p o r t s i n m<,~ a i n l yon C i v i l i a n F e r r i e s which was a p l e a s a n t iday t o start, t o a n a r e a n e a r Zzmburg where we t r a i n e d w i t h a German Armoured I n f a n t r y Regiment f o r n e a r l y a week. The R i f l e c e n and t h e Bundeswehr s o l d i e r s g o t on p r e t t y w e l l , swapped s t o r i e s , equipment and much b e e r 1 'die had a f a i r nuaber o f v i s i t s t o and from t h e B a t t a l i o n and h i g h l i g h t e d with two s o c c e r matches. One between t h e O f f i c e r s and S e n i o r Non-Commissioned O f f i c e r s o f 1 R G J a g a i n s t o u r o p p o s i t e German numbers and t h e o t h e r a f u l l B a t t a l i o n s i d e by a combination of g r e a t e r a g a i n s t t h e Geraan B a t t a l i o n . Not surprising!^ 1 R G J s k i l l and p h y s i c a l p r e s e n c e won t h e B a t t a l i o n match. Most s u r p r i s i n g l y t h e O f f i c e r s ; no-one w a s more s u r p r i s e ' and SNCOs b e a t t h e Germans (who played i n a l o c a l l e a g u e ) t h a n 1 RGJ.

Having completed a v e r y e n j o y a b l e weelrs t r a i n i n g and i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , we moved n o r t h and completed a v e r y wet arid q u i t e e x h z u s t i n g e x e r c i s e . \le learrrtmuch about t h e t a c t i c s o f t h e Gerinans and t;le Danes Forward ta!-e no p r i s o n e r s ! A l l w a s w e l l and a f t e r 5 days we packed z p and r e t u r n e d t o Tidworth. O v e r a l l i t was; b o t h i n s t r u c t i v e and f u n a combination t h a t sliould make tiny p r o j e c t worthwhile.

Meanwhile, because o f o u r t o u r i n Northern I r e l a n d and Ex BOLD GUJ.'lD, o u r impending move t o Osnabruck r e q u i r e d a g r e a t d e a l o f c o n c e n t r a t e d h a r d wor!~. A 1 1 tile d r i v e r s f o r t h e Armoured P e r s o n n e l C a r r i e r s and tl-!e o t h e r t r a c k e d v e h i c l e s and t h e i r various; i n s t r u c t o r s hnd t o be traS.ned. A v e r y busy p e r i o d o f t r a i n i n g v a s com2leted by e a r l December and t h e n t h e r a t h e r l e s s i n t c r e s t i n ~t a s l : s o f cleanint.; up t h e B a r r s c k s i n Tidworth, r e a d y f o r o u r IIandover t o t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n The QULSI.Tls Regiment, toolc p l a T h i s was completed i n mid J a n u z r y a z d a t t h e t i m e of w r i t i n c , on1.y t h e Ijuartermnstcr: Plajor 3 a v i d Conwag i s s t i l l i n UX.. The r e s t o f t h e B a t t a l i o n a r e g r a p p l i n g with a l l t h a t i s new i n Germany.

:le nanaged t o f i t a f a i r amount of extra-mural a c t i v i t i e s i n t o our busy l s s t few nonti:s i n Ui;. :: s u c c e s s f u l 2nd v e r y e n j o ; ~ a k l e Slrill. :t i'.rns Xeeting was hel.c! and a ? e:cpedl.tion t~ t h e h i - 3 l a n d s of S c o t l c n d ( i n :iovenber,/~ecember$) proved t h a t even e t t h s t t i m e of y e a r , en;oyment can be e x t r a c t e d from t r a i n i n s . P l e n t y o f s p o r t , ,..-as pl-aged, a::d it is c l e a r t h a t i n S o c c e r , Rugby and Hockey we have some ver; u s e f u l p l a y e r s i t c h i n ~t o g e t going i n Germany. U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e weather and t r a i n i n g c o n s t r z i n t s prevented. t h e B a t t a l i o n from e n t e r i n g nany o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n s , however o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t Arrny level. hockey C a p t a i n s Xic!.- Haddocl: and Pelharn R o b e r t s p l a y i n g 11.rgy and Combined S e r v i c e s n a t c h e s s n d L i e u t e n a n t Ton Thiclrnesse r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e I c f a n t r y zugurs w e l l f o r t h e f u t u r e i n Germany.

:ie loolr forward now t o a busy p e r i o d o f r e - r o l i n g from f o o t s o l d i t r s t o mechanised I n f a n t r y . Our next i n s t a l l m e n t f o l l o w s i n t h e next Flewslett. r. ii Ilappy New Year$

The B a t t a l i o n l e f t Linden i n Gerlnany i n A u p s t 1986 a f t e r 6 y e & r s 1 s e r v i c e , t o ta!;e up i t s new r o l e a s t h e Demonstration E k t t a l i o n a t t h e School of I n f a n t r y , !:arminster, i i i l t s i i i r e . Before proceeding w i t h a s h o r t review of t h e B a t t a l i o n ' s a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g i t s 6 g e a r t o u r , i t i s a ~ p r o p r i a t et o b r i n g you up t o d a t e w i t h our a c t i v i t y since t h e l a s t newsletter.

The S a t t a l i o n l e f t %:OR f o r t h e S p r i n g f i e l d Rocd, S e l f a s t ar,d E 4 month t o u r as t h e Yest 3 e l f e s t Z a t t a l i o n i n t h e f i r s t wee?< o f Noveinbcr 1985. T h i s was t h e B z t t a l i o n ' s t h i r d t o u r a t t h e S p r i n g f i e i d 2ozd, and second from Yinden. Thankfully i t w a s a r e l a t i v e l y q u i e t t o u r o u t k ~ z r d l y , ~*~it!i o n l y one s!~ootiny; i n c i 6 e n t (non f a t a l ) and a n u ~ b c ro f f i n d s of bomb ma2cin~rnd z s s o c i a t e d equipments. N e v e r t h e l e s s , ti:e E i f l e n e n h s d t o r::aintair, a h i s h l e v e l o f p t r o ! l i n g arrl a l e r t n e s s t o d e t e r t h e t e r r o r i s t w;:o i s elways loo!-ing f o r n s o f t t n r g e t . :le b e l i e v e t:;e rneasure o f our succes:: v z s t h e 1;-c!: o f I n c i d e n t s . I n t h e Tiorthi:~:.:: I r e l a n d awards asnounced j u s t b e f o r e Christmas t h e B a t t a l i o n was a !ie:ition i n Despatches f o r t h e Co~mz.ndingO f f i c e r and ?,fajor Simon rewarded \>~.I:'th Staryford-Tuck, and G O C 1 s Corimendations f o r 5!02 G.i'i. B a l l , S g t P.A. !ishby, S g t F.J. Clements a.nd I:fr, Swords. The B a t t a l i o n r e t u r n e d t o i;inden i n t h e f i r s t week o f Plarch ar,d proceeded on a w e l l d.eserved 3 weetrs' l e a v e . On c o n c l u s l o n o f p o s t Northern I r e l a n d l e a v e t h e B a t t a l i o n embar1:ed uFon a c o ~ p r e i i e n s i v esequence o f i n t e r n a l J N C O s , ]..!ortar, PIilan, Land k o v e r , EGV, liPC, CVr?(T) znd S i ~ m l sc o u r s e s , which l a s t e d t o t h e end o f Kay. A t t i m e s t h e RSlI o n l y had a i ~ a n d f u lo f nen t o cover t h e m u l t i t u d e o f B a t t a l i o n z.nd G a r r i s o n d u t i e s which t h e heightened s e c u r i t y s i t u a t i o n , zs a r e s u l t of t h e Libyan bombings, brought about. I n mid J u l y t h e whole B a t t a l i o n went t o t h e ICLznges a t S e n n e l a g e r f o r o u r a n n u a l S i x 1 1 , ' i r m s Ca:-?p. \ : h i l s t t h c r e we & ? s o too?: t h e oy??ortunit.,- t o do z l l o u r Annual hirndatory T e s t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e new I n f m t r y Combnt F i t n e s s T e s t , which r e q u i r e s you t o c o v e r 3 m i l e s i n 33 minutes 1,i~ith35 l b s o f vebbing, helmet and persona! weapon. It was not a n eas;.; t e s t zr_d t o c l s i m a 10@<p a s s r a t e would not be h o n e s t , but s 93: p a s s r n t e is a c r e d i t a b l e performance. On r e t u r n from S e n n e l a g c r t h e f i n a l phase o f t h e 3 a t t a l i o n ' s 5C13 t o u r s t a r t e d ; n a x e l y e : , d l e s s checl S , i n s p e c t i o n s zlld a11 t h o s e t h i n g s one a s s o c i a t e s with hzndoverr By way o f f a r e w e l l t o :.inden both Iiesses gave a r e c e p t i o n f o l l o ~ t i e dby a n impressive Sounding o f R e t r e a t . ,,S tile S n t t a l i o n pccl-ed i t s p o s s e r s i o n s and g r a p n l e d lwith t h e problem o f how t o g e t 6 y e c r s ' 11orth o f new acquisitions i n t o n somel;~hat s a a l l baggage c l l o ~ m n c e , ve had o c c c s i o ? t o r c f l e c t on o u r t o u r i n Germany. S i n c e ~ ~ r r i v ai!n l:inclen i n ilovenber 1980 we hcve had 3 chznges o f Commanding O f f i c e r no l e s s tl:an G Seconds i n Cornmznd, 5 i . d j u t a n t s , 4 RSi.;s, a s w e l l as numerous changes of Company Co~~imandcrs r,d o f i'i c e r a ~ p o i n t n e n t s . Vcry n e a r l y t w o - t ! ~ i r d s o f t ! ~ e

B a t t a l i o n h a s o n l y s e e n s e r v i c e i n a S.OR r o l e . R o u ~ h l yh a l f of t h e B a t t a l i o n l s t i m e was s p e n t away from kinden on o p e r a t i o n s i n Morthcrn I r e l a n d , t r a i n i n g i n i t s mechanised r o l e o r e x e r c i s i n g on t h e Korth German P l a i n , o r i n Conada, o r guzrding some v i t a l i n s t a l l a t i o n o r indeed o u r s e l v e s ; a t o t a l time out of b a r r z c k s o f j u s t over 3 y e a r s . The hPCs we drove f o r some 382,500 m i l e s were a l l , on average, 4-6 y e a r s o l d e r t h a n t h e men who drove o r trave!led i n tl~em. i.!e a r e t o l d we used some 2.97 m i l l i o n l i t r e s o f f u e l f o r our v e h i c l e s . Our Landrovers covered n e a r l y 9GO,OOO m i l e s , w h i l s t o u r 4 t o m e r s drove 1.2 m i l l i o n miles. I n t o t a l our v e h i c l e f l e e t covered 3.1 m i l l i o n m i l e s . !e used about 5.1 m i ' l i o n K'ilT of e l e c t r i c i t y and 4.78 m i l l i o n l i t r e s of o i l t o h e a t and l i g h t o u r b u i l d i n g s and garages. !le drank, washed w i t h , s w a m i n and g e n e r a l l y used 282,660 c u b i c metres of v a t e r . !ire r e p l a c e d 2,400 b o o t s and f i r e d j u s t over 4.1 m i l l i o n rounds o f 7.62mm ammunition. 'tie t r a i n e d a s i n d i v i d u a l s o r as groups i n F r a n c e , Ilenmarl-, I t a l y , Kenyz, B e l i z e and Canada. Over 420 p o s t i n g s i n and o u t of NCOs and Riflemen took p l a c e . The cooks t e l l s u s we a t e some 429 t o n s o f p o t a t o e s , a s w e l l as 86 t o n s of c h i p s , enough s a u s a g e s t o s t r e t c h 564 m i l e s and o v e r 1.25 m i l l i o n e ~ g s l S a d l y t h r e e of o u r number were 1,;il.led on o p e r z t i o n s i n Northern I r e l a n d and one d i e d of n a t u r a l c a u s e s w h i l s t out running. We mourn t h e i r passing. Some 358 b a b i e s were b o r n t o wives o f members of t h e B a t t a l i o n , which included 3 s e t s of twins. We opened f o r b u s i n e s s a s t h e Demonstration B a t t a l i o n t o t h e School of I n f a n t r y i n Warminster on 2 September. 'iiithin a week and a h a l f , over of t h e Battalion w a s deployed o n t o S a l i s b u r y F l a i n as p a r t of t h e f i n a l e x e r c i s e o f a TA O f f i c e r s Course. The week p r i o r t o t h i s t h e Companies, a p a r t from meeting t h e everyday needs f o r s e c t i o n s and i n d i v i d u a l s f o r s n a l l d e n o n s t r a t i o n s a t t h e School, were busy p r e p a r i n g themselves f o r t h i s t h e i r f i r s t non-mechanised. e x e r c i s e f o r over s i x years. One unexpected f a c e t of l i f e as t h e Demonstration B a t t a l i o n is t h e many r o l e s we have t o play. I n one week a company can be a s k e d t o a c t i n an nir-mobile r o l e on l i g h t s c a l e s , charge t o a mechanised r o l e i n mid week, azd p r e t e n d t o b e elements o f a R u s s i a n FIotor R i f l e Regiment a t t h e end of t h e %leek. I f t h a t is not c o n f u s i n g enought i n i t s e l f , t h e n t r y being "A Company 1 '.:arminster I i i f l e s " , i n t h e e x e r c i s e s c e n a r i o when, i n r e a l l i f e , yoa a r e D Company 2 R G J , and your next r o l e is a s a The Riflemen a s u s u a l t a l - e 81.1 t h i s member o f t h e "Orange o r F a n t a s i a n Forces". i n t h e i r s t r i d e , b u t not without t h e u s u a l u n p r i n t a b l e c o m e n t s . I n a d d l t i o n t o t h e v a r i o u s School of I n f a n t r y exercises ~ i l ddemonstrations Ire a r e f r e q u e n t l y i n v o l v e d i n t r i a l l i n g and t e s t i n g new b i t s o f equipment f o r t h e I n f a n t r y T r i a l s and Development Unit (ITDU) and making t r a i n i n d m i l i t a r y s a l e s films. The way Riflemen and some of t h e O f f i c e r s can change from "Guinea P i g t o lictort1 a t a moment's n o t i c e is q u i t e remarkable. One o f o u r major t r i a l s u b j e c t s i n t h e coming y e a r w i l l be t h e new I n f a n t r y Combat Vehicle ll!dARRIOR" f o r which we have ~ l r e a d y t r a i n e d a number o f d r i v e r s , gucners, s i g n a 2 l e r s and co!~manderst o p a r t i c i p a t e i n fortl!coming trials. We a r e due t o g e t some 1 5 of t h e s e v e h i c l e s tovlards t h e middle o f 1987 when we w i l l be expected t o man them on a31 t h e mechanised e x e r c i s e s of t h e School o f I n f a n t r y . T h i s promises t o be a n e x c i t i n g p r o s p e c t as we w i l l be i n t i m a t e l y involved i n developing and, h o p e f u l l y , i n f l u e n c i n g t h e t a c t i c a l u s e of t h i s vehicle. The o t h e r major p i e c e o f e q ~ i p m e n twe a r e involved w i t h is t h e t r i a l l i n g of L A W 80, t h e new B r i t i s h , s h o u l d e r - f i r e d , a n t i tank, weapon f o r which o u r previous 2IC, Tom I l a m i l t o n - B a i l l i e , is t h e MOD P r o j e c t O f f i c e r . For o u r day t o da;: t a s k s we have 72 APCs and 1 8 C?IR(T) i n which we had a l r e a d y covered some 22,500 m i l e s by t h e end o f December 1986.

The two y e a r s o f r e l a t i v e s t a b i l i t y of t h e blarminster p o s t i n g w i l l h o p e f u l l y e n a b l e u s t o f u r t h e r t h e s p o r t i n g t a l e n t s o f our Riflemen which h i t h e r t o h a s been d i f f i c u l t t o do i n Gemany due t o t h e e n d l e s s e x e r c i s e commitments. We have a l r e a d y p a r t i c i p a t i n t h e Cambrian P a t r o l Compet i t i o n , i n 'dales. T h i s was l e d by Lt Tim Kurray T i ~ r e i p l a and. took p l a c e i n mid October. ble achieved. a c r e d i t a k l e f i f t h p o s i t i o n .

Capt James May:an w i t h L t Zdward B u t l e r and t h e B a t t a l i o n Cross Country Team have s o f a r , q n i t e unexpectedly, h2d a very good s e a s o n by winning t h e Swinderby Marathon f o r t h e Army and a r e c u r r e n t l y l y i n g t h i r d i n t h e D i s t r i c t c r o s s c o u n t r y l e a m e . The S o c c e r team, under Capt (@l) Darny Hunt, a r e h e a v i l y involved with A and B teams i n v a r i o u s l o c a l and Army l e a g u e s , and a t t h e time of w r i t i n g is i n t h e semi f i n a l s of t h e Army Cup. The Hoc!-ey team under t h e watchful eye of Capt Tom a y r n e have s o f a r hzd a most s u c c e s s f u l s e a s o n with two of t h e i r number b e i n g s e l e c t e d t o p l a y f o r t h e I n f a n t r y . I n boxing, Rfn L e s b i r e l and Rfn Ruddock a r e i n t h e rul n i n e f o r t h e Army Boxing Squad. posting i n the c e r t a i n l y o f f e r s excellent opportunities f o r overseas m i l i t a r y and advezturous t r a i n i n g . l;!ithin t h r e e wee!:s o f a r r i v a l we had a l r e a d y s e n t a composite p l a t o o n ' s worth of s o l d i e r s t o Cyprus a t t a c h e d t o 7 MA. The S a i l i n g O f f i c e r , Major Nick Chavasse who, f o r t u n a t e l y , a l s o r u n s t h e s a i l i n g f o r t h e I n f a n t r y , o r g a n i s e d a v e r y rough autumnal s a i l i n g t r i p f o r some 30 R i f l e a e n t o t h e Channel I s l e s . The Adventurous T r a i n i n g O f f i c e r , Lt P e t e r B a l l s , h a s a l r e a d y o r g a n i s e d a week's s k i i n g f o r o v e r 100 members o f t h e B a t t a l i o n a t most c o m p e t i t i v e r a t e s i n France. An e x p e d i t i o n t o Greenland is a l s o b e i n g planned f o r mid 1987.

On a r r i v a l i n ;Jarminder we were joined by t h e Normandy Band o f t h e Royal Green J a c k e t s . Although t h e y have a v e r y busy p r o g r a r a e we n e v e r t h e l e s s do s e e and h e a r them marching around camp on t h e i r r e h e a r s a l s . )]hat a p l e a s u r e i t is t o have a Band i n o u r midst again. Our f i r s t Firepower Demonstration, enacted by D Company, t o o k p l a c e on 8 and 9 October and i n s p i t e o f t h e tannoy system causing t h e odd c a s e of h e a r t f a i l u r e t o t h e compere, Major Jeremy R u s s e l l , OC D Company, it went o f f extremely w e l l . On t h i s f i r s t demonstration we even hed a Royal v i s i t o r , I P 3 L i e u t e n a n t The Duke of York = l , who, as we were a l l t o l d tongue i n cheek by o u r compere, was t h e r e t o " r e f r e s h h i s memory on what t h e Army does." 'rle a l s o managed, f o r t h e v e r y f i r s t t i m e on a Firepower Demonstration, t o f i r e t h e new SA 80 R i f l e and L i g h t Support Yeapon i n s p i t e of o u r o f f i c i a l i s s u e not a r r i v i n g u n t i l t h r e e weeks l a t e r . It proved t o be v e r y impressive and we a r e l o o k i n g forward t o re-ecpipping completely w i t h t h i s weapon i n 1987. The r e t u r n t o t h e UK h a s e n a b l e d t h e f a m i l i e s and t>-e b a c h e l o r s t o have a much more a c t i v e s o c i a l l i f e which t h e e x e r c i s e commitments and ] . a n s a g e b a r r i e r i n Germany l a r g e l y prevented. Many htive v i s i t e d l o c a l e s t a t e a g e n t s and some have a l r e a d y bought houses l o c a l l y . The minds of some o f t h e bachelor o f f i c e r s have t u r g e d t o tlze s u b j e c t o f niatrimony and one h a s a l r e a d y " f a l l e n n w i t h i n two weeks o f a r r i v a l i n t h e B a t t a l i o n . T h i s is not an encouraging t r e n d f o r a IIess w!lich t r a d i t i o n a l l y has a l a r g e b a c h e l o r p o p u l a t i o n , but judging by t h e look i n t h e eyes o f some o f t h e l i v e r s - i n a c d t h e i n c r e a s e d number o f speed v i o l a t i o n s on t h e Ilarminster t o Loondon road, "matrimonial f e v e r w may y e t a f f l i c t a few more. S h o r t l y a f t e r a r r i v a l . i n blarminster t h e I ' , d j u t a n t t s O f f i c e f i n a l l y broke w i t h t r a d . i t i o n and f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e Royal Green J a c k e t s employed a female A s s i s t a n t Adjutant. G i l l i a n !:right j o i n e d u s d i r e c t from Sandhurst and zlmost immediately went on a F r e e F a l l P a r a c h u t e Course w i t h t h e Regimental Parachute Display Team. The B a t t a l i o n ' s F r i d a y runs a r e now almost 100%; f u l l y s u p p o r t e d as everyone c a n ' t w a i t t o s e e G i l l i a n i n h e r t r a c k s u i t . G i l l i a n has a d a p t e d remarkably quicl,:ly, a l t h o u ~ hwe a r e a l i t t l e worried about t h e S t a f f D u t i e s t h e y t a u g h t h e r a t S a n d h u r s t , because no one h a s y e t drired t o t e l l h e r t h a t MRS SCHINF is not t h e wife o f a Iiifleman!! A1t:iough 1986 was t h e 20th a n n i v e r s a r y of t h e c r e a t i o n of t h e Royal Green J a c k e t s , it w a s an event wiiich a p p e a r s t o have cone l a r g e l y unrecorded. It aay t h e r e f o r e be of i n t e r e s t t o r e c o r d a few s t a t i s t i c s about 2 R G J i n t h e last 20 years. S i n c e 1966 t h e B s t t a l i o n has had t h r e e Colonels Comnandcnt one of whom r o s e t o be a F i e l d Marsha: no l e s s t h a n e l e v e n Commanding O f f i c e r s , f o u r o f whom have reached two star rank o r above and one who r o s e t o t h e rank of F i e l d 14arshal. Of t h e twenty-two Seconds i n Command, t h r e e a r e c u r r e n t l y two star o r above and t ! ~ r e e cane back t o command t h e

B a t t a l i o n , wililst two s e n t on t o conmand 1 ;.GJ, two t o CO-mand4 R G J and one t o colrn?.nd 5 R G J ; f o u r went on t o commend t h e Depot. So f c r , one of t h e t ; ? i r t e e n former i?d,-jutants commands an Armoured Brigade i n Germany a f t e r hzving comnsnded 3 R G J , w h i l s t a n o t h e r one is our p r e s e n t Commanding O f f i c e r avd h i s s u c c e s s o r as Adjutant commznds 5 R G J . \rle have a l s o had f i v e i i u z r t e r n a s t e r s , twelve RSIis and t h r e e Bugle Majors i n t h e l a s t twenty g e a r s . Our homes hsve been e l e v e n d i f f e r e n t b a r r a c k s i n Penang, 3ilfnster, 9 a l l y ~ ~ e l l yC,a t t e r i c k , G i b r s l t z r ( 2) Tidworth, IIinden ( 2 ) and :!arminster ( 2 ) . S i n c e 1966 tre have s p e n t '13 y e a r s and 4 mont!>s o u t s i d e t h e Vr:. (PenanG one y e a r s i x y o r t h s , i;Unster t h r e e genrs seven n o z t h , B e l i z e s i x months, G i b r a l t ~ z rtit10 y e a r s , Iiinder, f i v e y e c r s n i n e m o ~ t h s ) i". t o t a l of f o u r y e a r s n i n e monti~ss i n c e 1056 have been s p e n t on Operations i n aorneo, B e l i z e a~7.d Korthern I r e l a n d . S a d l y i n twenty y e a r s t h e B a t t a l i o n h z s l o s t e l e v e n of i t s members as a r e s u l t of z c t i v e s e r v i c e wl;ich includes. a Compnriy Cor.iaander 2nd Co!?manding O f f i c e r .

To marl- t h e 20th anniversary z p p r ~ p r i s t e l :end ~ t o b i d a be1 c t e d fsre?>rc1li n t o r e t i r e m e n t t o t h e v e r y f i r s t Cocimanding O f f i c e r o f 2 i l C , J , we "dine? out" F i e l d Fizrs Lord B r a m a l l on t h e 3 1 s t October 1906 t o whom we, ?,S a ? a t t a l i o r ~ , Regiment and :.my owe s o 33!uch. For t h i s we succeeded i n a s s e : i b ! i n ~ 811 surv5viny; ex-Co~lwnding O f f i c e r s of 2 R G J , a11 b z r two of t h a s e sti:l :live vlho 'I- d cotimcrided B a t t a l i o n s of t h e I<EtilC p r i o r t o t h e F i e l d I..ars!~al. 1. t o t a l of F.2 o f u s s c t down t o c'irner - f t e r L f i n e Sounding o f R e t r e a t i n n i s e r a S l e wezther. L t~h e ezd of t!?e y e n r 17e a l s o scic! good5ye t o G e ~ e r a lS i r Fmri': 1 - i t s o n on r e l i n ~ y i s ~ ~ ti hneg ? o s t of Colonel Commc.ndant of t h e -:;,tt,?,lion a f t e r seven s c a r s o f behind t h e s c e n e s vor!,: on our b e h a l f . '.le welcome :,cjor-General. havid h-;sbotham as o u r new Colonel Commandant with e f f e c t from 1 s t of January.

Lle look forward t o an i n t e r e s t i n g and rewarding time h e r e i n ';/arrninster i n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t we w i l l be continua! l y i n t h e pub!.ic eye. I,Iost of olir war?,: w i l l be e x c i t i n g and i n t e r e s t i n s , s o a e of it b o r i q znd r e p e t i t i v e but necessary. I n s p i t e a l l t h i s we would hope t h n t members o f t h e i:sr,ociatior. wlio finc! tl~exseI.vesi n t 3 e 'iJar:!:inster a r e a k r i 3 . 1 have time t o drop i n on u s et B a t t l e s b u r y 3nrrrtcl:s where the27 can be a s s u r e d of a v e r y li:arn welcome, ever, i f we a r e r u s h i n z from one d e a o n s t r a t i c o r e x e r c i s e t o c n o t h e r . ?dho I.:nol.r, we nzy w e l l rope you i n on t h e act!

The 3 r d S a t t a l i o n is a-proac?,ins t h e eed of t h e f i f t h and f i n a l y e a r of i t s t o u r i n C e l l e , \ l e s t Ger?any, a s p z r t of t h e 3 r i t i s h Army of t h e I:hine (B, OR). It has been a busy :;ear, as ~ l w a j r s , v i t h a h e c t i c but pro5resr;lve t r ~ i g j n yc y c l e , of l.~!;icl t h e hi;:hli:;iit :-as our t r i p t o tL:e 3 r i t i s h :'.my 5'raininy Unit Suf Cje! c? (%":7!US) i n A l b e r t a i n w e s t e r n C: P-ada j n t:-.e suqner.

The beginning o f t:-~eg e a r foi:nZ u s on a Corps D e p l o y n e ~ tE x e r c i s e :.n extreriely cold weather. :.:e s p e n t severr:]. d.z.gs i n S:-.o.i coverec! wc.ods wl.t?!. t':e te:ap::rature fLr?ly s t u c k be!.ow t h e -20" C e n t i g r a d e mark. I n t h e s ~ r i ve n ~rnz6.e r e p e a t e d t r s s t o t h e NI!!TC T r a i n i n g C e n t r e a t S e n n e l z g s r t o c1a::sify on our _ncrson;,l !:rcrpons, f o r f i e l d f i r i n g and f o r t?,e 2 i v i s i o n a l S1<ill-~t-!\rms ihieeting. F i e l d f i r i n g v~ass c r i o u s b u s i n e s s ar.6 forrie?. z v i t a l l?&: i n o x \!or"-up t r ~ i r f nf o~r 3:';':!S. i'>.llt h e cornpar ,.. . worked very h a r d end muc? ?!as ac::ievcd. T h i s f o r t n i g h t ci:l.mincted ir! a l i v e i 2 . r l r l F t e s t e:,:crcise f o r e a c ? ccmpzny. Three 105:im i.:''BOT , p n s from T'l~e C!~cstr.~?t Troo? 1 : j o i n e d u s f o r t h e e x e r c i s e t o ::rovide s c n e heav;; f i r e S U : ? ? O T ~v! , jj.cl.: t ' . e g 2.i.d t o such. good e f f e c t t h a t t h e Conms-.ding O f f i c c r , :.rztcj:ln:: proceed-;n:;s f r o n a vontage y o i n t , d e c l c r c d 11-irnself tl:oroug;~I.y . - e u t r a l i s e d . The h i g ; ~ I . i ~ : hsf t o x sever~~ t rli p s I~Ieetin;. ',,ie had bet:.. cl!oser, t o t o Se:>nelsger was t h e 3 i v i s i o n n l S::ill-c'.t-;.rns :'icientl;:. o r g a n i s e i t t::is ;;ear wi,ich Iiz ;'or Jere:.;y T-ni,--ht , OC li(: CO;., d i d :.los",ef T':e D i s l e y Tea,:, und-er tlhe captai:?c~r once 2,rci.n of Cr?'ic?'n 1:oy dtcizger, tool- adv;:nt o f t h e absence of t h e !:elsh Guards i n ITort::i.rc Irela-c?, t o swee!: t:le board. The climsx of t:?e l.';eet?.nz was provi.ded by t h e Fa!.liny: ;[?late Yea :, l e d ?;g S$, ';!il:rinsor., b e a t i n g 1 STLFE'CX1)S i n t h e f i n n l with a ti-~ril!.ing displ-ey of ~cr!:smz.nship, r o a r e d VICE t:le p r i z e c s on by s e v e r a l hunc'.red 2 i f . e : : e n nnonf; t:le s p e c t z t o r s . Bfn ,ii:::ahl.e . .. . -

Cup, which s t a r t e d i n 1924, end has only been won by two R i f l e n e n before: i n 1936 by Rfn Gurr of 1 I?B and i n 1963 by L i e u t Mead of 2 Green J a c k e t s . The B a t t a l i o n s p e n t t h e u s u a l two weeks tit S o l t a u i n June, which provided t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e whole B a t t l e Group (E) t o t r a i n t o g e t h e r b e f o r e going t o RATUS. The BG c o n s i s t e d of t h e B a t t a l i o n , l e s s A Coy, but p l u s C and D Sqns 1 RTR, The Chestment Troop 1 RHA and some engineers. The weather was k i n d t o u s with it r a i n i n g j u s t o f t e n enough t o keep t h e d u s t down but not enough t o t u r n it i n t o S mudbath. Many l e s s o n s were l e a r n e d . OC 7 F1, L t A l a s t a i r Maxwell, was c a p t u r e d with t h e r e s t of h i s f i g h t i n g p a t r o l by /I Coy, who were enemy f o r t h e e x e r c i s e , by making good u s e of t h e i r n i ~ h tv i s i o n devices. A l i n e l a y i n g p a t r o l r e t u r n e d t o BG HL t o r e p o r t t h a t t h e y had d e t e c t e d a n enemy p a t r o l t a p p i n g i n t o t h e i r l i n e . h motley f i g h t i n g f o r c e of s i g n a l l e r s and d r i v e r s was quickly assembled under t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e ARSO, W02 S t r i c k , and i n a g a l l a n t a c t i o n t h e y o v e r r a n t h e enemy y o s i t i o n , only t o f i n d t h a t it was a s e c t i o n of o u r own f i e l d engineers. Sucll is t h e fog of war1 k 1uc::y escape occurred when our G a z e l l e h e l i c o p t e r p i l o t f l e w s o low t h a t he becane e n t a n g l e d i n some wire hung between two t r e e s and crashed. F o r t u n a t e l y n e i t h e r man n o r machine was s e r i o u s l y h u r t . 3y t h e end of BG t r a i n i n g we were c o n f i d e n t and r a r i n g t o go, loolcing forward t o d o i n c i t I1liveu a t B;.TUS. :le deployed t o Canada i n VC 10s v i a K e f l a v i k i n I c e l a n d i n l a t e J u l y . On a r r i v a l a t S u f f i e l d t h e r e w a s l i t t l e time b e f o r e deploying onto t h e p r a i r i e except t o a t t e n d a c o m p l s o r y b r i e f i n g by tile head of t h e l o c a l RlP detachment. Advice was given i n a n unexpectedly amusing m a n e r on a l l t h e llDosffand I1Dontsl1of l i f e on t h e p r a i r i e , ranging from .lhat t o do i f b i t t e n by a r a t t l e s n a ' e , t o \$/hat not t o do i n t h e "Sin Binu i n 14edicine Hat, am! ending w i t h a p o l i t e warning t h a t p r e s e n t s from t h e d e p a r t i n g BG t o t h e RT@ Detachment of bunches of bznanas would not be k i n d l y r e c e i v e d . T!iis e n l i c h t e n e d sp?roach completely won o v e r h i s audience and our s t a y a t BITUS w a s completely t r o u b l e f r e e . There followed a n i n t e n s i v e p e r i o d o f p r o g r e s r i v e f i e l d trainin,.; wor1:ing up t o a f i n a l f i v e day e x e r c i s e s e t a t 53G l e v e l , p r a c t i s i n g every a s p e c t o f modern warfare. Quic!; a t t a c k s were mounted, h t s t y defences conducted, r i v c r s c r o s s e d and m i n e f i e l d s breached. 1,s t h e s i z e and scope of t h e f i e l d f i r i n g e x e r c i s e s i n c r e a s e d s o t h e ccnfidence at a l l l e v e l s o f command grew. By t h e end of t h e e x e r c i s e it was p l a i n t o a l l , i n t h e BG and on t h e S a f e t y S t a f f , t h a t t h e r e Yns n o t h i n g which would t!iroti t h e BG o f f its s t r i d e . A s u s u a l tile R i f l e n e n s t o l e t h e show; t h e i r a b i l i t y t o keep go in^ under t h e most arduous condj-tions w a s remarked upon r e p e a t e d l y by t h e S a f e t y S t a f f . A t t h e end of t h e e x e r c i s e , o u r Brigade Commander, who had come over from BAOR t o observe our performancc p a i d pub! i c t r i b u t e t o t h e Riflemen. A t t h e end of t h e e x e r c i s e , a l l members of t h e DG enjoyed a few deys H and R and some f i f t y were a b l e t o s t a g behind f o r two weeks adventurous t r a i n i n g i n t h e hocky 14ountains. blany members of t h e BG went camping a l o n g t h e R i v e r Bow o r based thems e l v e s on 1 PPCLI i n Calgary. Many o t h e r s went t o Vancouver t o v i s i t Expo 86. The adventurous t r a i n i n g p a r t y c y c l e d , rode, t r e k k e d , canoed and s k i e d i n t h e J a s p e r PIational Park. A f t e r f o u r weeks l e a v e , t h e E a t t a l i o n r e f o r n e d i.n EAOR t o l . a r d s t h e end of September. Ex 2JZI?I.U:L TRIiiNGL'L, t h e 1 ~IrmdDiv F i e l d T r a i n i n g Z x e r c i s e (FIT) was only t h r e e weeks away. It was t o be tile B a t t a l i o n ' s f i n s 1 FTX i n %OH and we were determined t o enjoy it m d , a f t e r f i v e :-ears i n t?.e necilanised r o l e , sl;ow o f f our paces. However, t h e wenthcr arid t h e e x e r c i s e p l a n n e r s conspired a.gainst us. It poured with r a i n f o r s e v e r a l da:,.s which made s e v e r e r e s t r i c t i o n s on our freedom of manoeuvre necessary i n o r d e r t o keep e x e r c i s e damage w i t h i n reasonab1.e l i m i t s . We c r i s s - c r o s s e d t h e Gernan c o i ~ n t r y s i d e , mostly on r o a d s 2nd mostly out of c o n t a c t with t h e enemy, f o r a f o r t n i g h t b e f o r e , a s a grand f i n a l e , condsicting a rnaior a s s a u l t r i v e r c r o s s i n g by a s u c c e s s but t h e I:ifle:.~en were n i g h t of t h e B i v e r 'Jeser. The c r o s s i n g d i s a p o i n t e d t o f i n d t h c t once a g a i n t h e enemy p o s i t i o n s were undefended. l.:&s

T h i s y e a r has s e e n tile S a t t a l i o n enjoy some s u c c e s s i n t h e s p o r t s f i e l d . We won t h e !3i,,CI! I n f a n t r y C r i c k e t and Tennis Competitions. C a r l . i c r i n t h e y e a r , L i e u t Sinlon IIudson and S g t Brown l e d t h e irordic Slri T e a t o second p l a c e i n t h e I n f a n t r y Championships, 5 t h i n t h e Di-visional and 20th i n t h e Army, a n o u t s t e n d i n g achievement 1G

f o r a novice team. I n t h e Judo, we were Runners-up i n t h e D i v i s i o n z l Ifovices Championships and hzve q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e R i d R F i n n l s . T h i s was a tremendous ac!lievement by k;02 F:aher who formed t h e B a t t a l i o n Judo Club only a few months ago. I n A t h l e t i c s we squeezed through t o t h e B, OR P i n z l s w!lere ;:e came f i f t h , o u r b e s t r e s u l t s i n c e 1975. hiuch o f t h e c r e d i t f o r t1:is was due t o LCpl '?!illiams, a b r i l l i a n t a l l - r o u n d a t h l e t e , and Rfn Harwood who caae f i f t h i n t k e J a v e l i n i n t h e Army I n d i v i d u a l F i n a l s . I n Ilovices Boxing !!e a r e through t o t h e D i v i s i o n a l F i n a l s , h s v i n g b e a t e n 1 R IRISH i n a c l o s e match i n t h e s e m i - f i n a l . The t c a o is now being coached by W02 C h e a t h a , , on l o a n from -5 R G J , a r e t i r e d Army Champion, and Cpl I l i l e s , t h e j u s t r e t i r e d Combined S e r v i c e s Heavyweight Chanpion who has b i c n p o s t e d t o u s from 1 RGJ. Our boxing star, o f c o u r s e , is LCpl V e l i n o r , t h e Army, Combined S e r v i c e s and BBA : , ' e l t e m e i g h t Clzmpion. IIe is now t r a i n i n g wit11 t h e ITational Team f o r t h e 1988 Olympics a d was unlucky not t o box f o r Lnfland ~t Ldinburgh i n t h e Co~xnonv~ealth Games. L a s t , S u t by no mezns l e s s t , Cnptain FIic?-y Gleeson won t h e 1 hrmd Div Veterans Squash Chzmpionshipt The y e a r c l o s e d w i t h a v e r y s u c c e s s f u l B a t t a l i o n Review, h e l d i n o u r r e c e n t l y d e c o r a t e d t r i e z t r e . The h i g h l i ~ h t sincl_u?.ec! l3 Coy's t r o u p e of b r e d : dancers, who d e c i d e d t h a t audience p a r t i c i p a t i o n was t h e rsme o f t h e game and dragged s e v e r a l u n s u s p e c t i n g o f f i c e r s o n t o t h e s t a g e , i n c l u d i n g t h e Cocmanding O f f i c e r who, t o everyone's huge amusement, r e t u r n e d a v i r t u o s o performance. The O f f i c e r s f.:ess s!:it, l o o s e l y modelled on t h e '111 s e r i e s "'illlo, 'Allo", won populcr acclaim, l a r g e l y f o r t h e r e v e a l i n g performance o f E a j o r Jamie B a l f o u r ' s nanny a s Yvette. I n 1987, we loo!< forward t o r e t u r n i n g t o Colchester, as p a r t of 19 I n f a n t r y Brigade, a t t h e end o f f.Iarcl.1. A Coy go t o Jamaica f o r a month i n June. The S ~ t t a l i o nis earmarked f o r a n unaccompanied t o u r i n t h e F a l k l a n d I s l a n d s i n t h e w i n t e r but i t remains t o be s e e n i f , i n f a c t , t h e whole B z t t a l i o n w i l l have t o go. Already we know t h a t a f t e r o n l y two y e z r s i n C o l c h e s t e r t h e B ~ t t a l i o r -goes t o G i b r a l t a r i n Narch 1989, a l s o f o r two y e x s .

1986 was t h e l a s t y e a r of t r a i n i n g f o r t k c c u r r c n t l g or,-aniscd 3z:talion. .',fter camp i n October t h e D a t t a l i o n 1: I:(; w i l l encomyz,.-S s- l i t t o f o r 3 !; 2nd 5 LlC;Z, &l]_ t h e Lonion C o q z n i e s ?nd 5 !?C-J w i l l be formed f r o - ? t:ie G::ford, I.:.lesburg c?d Bletcnley locations.

J a n u a r y brou:.ht o u r f i r s t S - o r t i n g nuccess of 1986 w i t h i' Company ~arinningt h e South ' l a s t D i s t r i c t Cross Colintry C::zmpionsl~lps ' l e l d ~t Y i r b r i g h t . I l e s p i t e not winning t h e '-'A S k i i n g Chzmpionskips ~t ..viernore i n S c o t l a n d , t h e teem ;;nd c l 1 i t s s u p p o r t e r s had a r e l a x i n g and enjoycble wee!. i n t h e Iiighlands. On Sunday 1 6 March t h e B z t t a l i o n e x e r c i s e d t h e i r Freedom of t h e C i t y of '.:estrninstcr by marching through t h e C i t y and p a s t Bud-inyham P a l a c e l e d by t h e Buglers of t h e L i g h t D i v i s i o n Depot (Shrewsbury) and t h e ?:ormandy Band of The Royal Green J a c l - e t s . Before t h e rnarch-past, t h e Honour Guard w s s i n s p e c t e d by t l i e Lord lhayor of Westminster, C o u n c i l l o r Roger Bramble. The B a t t a l i o n is t h e f i r s t a r d only u n i t o f Her :.lajestyls Forces t o have been g r a n t e d t h e Freedom o f t h e C i t g 2nd i t w a s g r a n t e d i n tb.e C i t y ' s f o u r hundredth a n n i v e r s s r y g e e r on 5 December 1905. Our 1 . l i l i t a r y S k i l l s were n e x t put t o t h e t e s t d ~ ~ r i n tyh; e Courage Trophy Competition, a n i n t e r u n i t s e c t i o n c o m p e t i t i o n , i n l a t e March. The 3 Com~angTear1 12roduced a s p i r i t e d . e f f o r t and only j u s t got p i r p e d i n t o rur-ners-up p o s i t i o n .

June then saw t h e 're-invention of t h e wheel' and once again t h e team were heading f o r %:O9 t o t&.e p a r t i n Ex HURST FAIUC. On our r e t u r n t h e 'well o i l e d 1 and now experienced 'Tac FIG' had t h e o p ~ o r t u c i t yt o command r e a l troops. The e x e r c i s e involved h a l f t h e Battal.ion under t h e Com~andingO f f i c e r defending IK32 with t h e o t h e r h a l f a s t h e a t t a c k f o r c e under t h e second-in-command. The p e r i o d ended on a s p o r t i n g and. s o c i a l h i s h with t h e B a t t a l i o n being represented The 'B' by two t e a m i n t h e Light Division Regatta a t Seaviews, I s l e of :light. Team had unprecedented s u c c e s s , winning a l l of t h e r a c e s on both days. Our f i n a l event i n June was t o host both t h e RB and KRSC Reunions where young and o l d gzthered ' t o r e l i v e former b a t t l e s and experiences'. During RGJ week i n J u l y t h e 4 t h B a t t a l i o n provided a small d i s p l a y team who performed eac!l evening a s p a r t o f t h e Sounding R e t r e a t . The demonstration of a b s e i l i n g from scout hel.icopters coupled with t h e a i r landing of t h e remainder by Lynx Y r a s p r o f e s s i o n a l l y executed and brought a n e n t h u s i a s t i c res7onse from t h e s p e c t a t o r s on each evening. Also i n J u l y our shooting team was i n t h e f i n a l p r e p a r a t i o n s t a g e s f o r TA Bisley. T h e i r f i n a l p o s i t i o n did not match t h e p r e v i j u s y e a r s a t t e n p t although they managed t h i r d i n t h e R i f l e Match. T h i s w a s followed i n September by sending a B a t t a l i o n Headquarters team t o t h e Brigade T a c t i c a l T r a i n e r i n Sennelager, blest Germany. Annual Camp t b i s year was i n l a t e October when we too!: p a r t i n t h e 1st Armoured C i v i s i o n s e x e r c i s e , Exercise STlFiFh',L TRU.MGU. This was a two week f i e l d e x e r c i s e , f o r t h e most p a r t under a p p a l l i n g weather conditions. Nevertheless t h e B a t t a l i o n a c q u i t t e d i t s e l f well and mar.y valuable l e s s o n s were l e a r n t . On r e t u r n from camp we went immediately i n t o t h e run up t o t h e Remembrance weekend. T h i s is always a s p e c i a l time f o r t h e B a t t a l i o n s i n c e it b r i n g s togetiier menbers of t h e former Regiments with t h e c u r r e n t B a t t a l i o n . On 16 November we had our annual B a t t a l i o n Livery Dinner. This year it was h e l d i n t h e Haberdashers' H a l l and we were honoured t o have Lord Vhitelaw as t h e p r i n c i p a l p e s t and a f t e r dinner speaker. On t h e 1st December 5 RGJ was born and A and D Companies moved t o form t h e nucleus of t h e new B a t t a l i o n . A s a r e s u l t 4 2GJ a r e now t o t a l l y a London based B a t t a l i o n . The f i n a l event of 1986 was t h e hecdover of Command. This was a t h r e e s i d e d event as Lieutenant Colonel P e t e r Lyddon handed over Command t o Lieutenant Colonel to C03!3nz(! 5 RGJ i n Oxford and t o PIajor Neil Johnson t o David Innes Command 4 RGJ i n London. He w i l l be t h e f i r s t TA Commanding O f f i c e r f o r twelve years.

p H BATTALION Well, h e r e we a r e , b o r n on 1 s t December 1986.

Being o n l y j u s t o v e r a month o l d a t t h e t i m e of w r i t i n g , we do not have much o f a p ~ s t o b o a s t a b o u t , except perhaps t h a t i n t h o s e f i r s t few days of l i f e j u s t b e f o r e Christmas tie d i d have some v e r y good p a r t i e s 1

F i r s t , o u r o r i g i n s : we grew out o f A and D Companies of 4 R G J ; it must be r e c o r d e d t h a t 4 RGJ c o u l d not ho.ve been more h e l p f u l from t h e word t'Goll i n e r s u r i n g t h a t t h e change would be smooth and without acrimony. There h s s been n o t h i n g but c o o p e r a t i o n s o f a r , an.d t h e r e i s no r e a s o n t o s u s p e c t t h a t t h i s r e l a t i o n s ! ~ i pw i l l not l a s t . Now a s t o where we a r e : B a t t a l i o n Headquarters is a t Oxford, a l o n g w i t h t h e r i f l e m e n who were h Compa.ny o f 4 RGJ and who a r e now t h e manpower of Headquarter and Support Company. T h i s d i v i s i o n is a f a l s e one w i t h i n t h e r e a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t , b u t has been brought i n a t least p r o v i s i o n a ' l y t o e a s e some o f t h e t r a i n i n g burden.

D Company a t Aylesbury is s t i l l D Company, b u t now o f 5 RGJ, It h a s shrunk though, not through l a c k of s p i r i t , but by t h e h i v i n g o f f of t h e 3 l e t c h l e y p l a t o o n , f o r m e r l y 16 P l a t o o n , which is now S Company. Both t h e s e companies l i k e t o r e f l e c t t h e i r t e r r i t o r i a l c o n n e c t i o n s t o t h e Regiment by p r e f i x i n g tl emselves w i t h "Letter1',

F o r t h e f u t u r e , we w i l l t o s t a r t from a b a s e o f a move which w i l l l e a v e a p l a c e t o l i v e i n High o p e r a t i n g from t h e r e i n

be f o r n i n g A Company at High Wycombe, end t h i s is l i k e l y r i f l e m e n who come from t h a t a r e a s o o n e r r a t h e r t h a n l a t e r , D Company even t h i n n e r on t h e ground. We are l o o k i n g f o r Wycombe, both s h o r t and l o n g term, and a r e hoping t o s t a r t October 1987.

Now t o t h e human s i d e : The B a t t a l i o n is commanded by L i e u t e n a n t Colonel David I n n e s , who now h a s a R e g u l a r Army team o f some s i z e , w i t h C a p t a i n Eobert S o l t o n a s A d j u t a n t , )jajor B i l l T a y l o r a s QM, W01 P e t e r Hopkins as RSIv! and I.lajor Hugh Babington Smith, no 1one;er P r o j e c t O f f i c e r , b u t now T r a i n i n g Major. S t i l l a t Oxford a s SPSI is !:O2 Jake Cheetham, w i t h CS@ J i m Purdue as QPSI. These two, having g o t used t o d e a l i n g with t h e t r a i n i n g o f one company, are now l o o k i n g a f t e r two, a l t h o u g h t o be t r u t h f u l t h e s t r e n g t h is a s y e t unchanged. W02 Owen N i l s s o n s t i l l c h a s e s D Company round t h e i r t r a i n i n g , while CSgt John Tyson r u l e s h i s s t o r e s w i t h h i s London t o n ~ eand b a s i l i s l i eye. At B l e t c h l e y CSgt Glen Ternent is doubling up as SPSI and QPSI u n t i l a SPSI i s found. I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s R e g u l a r s t a f f , t h e Commanding O f f i c e r h a s of c o u r s e h i s Non R e g u l a r Permanent S t a f f (NRPs) known t o a l l a s ItNerpsM. The B a t t a l i o n k d ~ i nO f f i c e C a p t a i n John Beerman, C a p t a i n s Dicltie Brimmer and Ginger Cockcroft (ex-Royal S i g n a l a t Aylesbury and B l e t c h l e y , RQMS P a t Veasey, W02 B J o n e s a s FITIIO a r e but a few o f t h e s e worthy g e n t l e m e ~ l ,w h i l e from 4 RGJ we have i n h e r i t e d , among o t h e r s SS& Tom E l l i s ET-IE, j u s t awarded t h e BLM i n t h e New Y e a r ' s Xonours L i s t . On coming t o TA members of t h e B a t t a l i o n , a l t h o u g h t h e y c r e of course t h e most i m p o r t a n t , we have s p a c e o n l y t o mention t h e Company Commanders, w i t h t h e B a t t a l i o n Second i n Command, Major Bryn Howe'l-Price. Commanding D Company is Major M a r t i n Rigby, r e c e n t l y r e t i r e d from t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n , E Company is Kajor B i l l Conroy, whc t r a n s f e r r e d i n from t h e Queens Regiment, 14ajor I a n Thomas i s OC Support Company, w h i l e C a p t a i n Richard Long commands Headquarter Company. A t t h e t i m e of w r i t i n g t h e B a t t a l i o n is s h a k i n g out and f e e l i n g its way. The Buckinghamshire companies a r e i n t h e p r o c e s s of t h e i r normal t r a i n i n g , c o n c e n t r a t i r v e r y much on t h e i r NCOs, w h i l e a t Oxford t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n c o n t i n u e s , s o l d i e r s f i n d i n g n o t o n l y t h e i r new p l a t o o n o r d e p a r t z e n t , but t h o s e p l ~ t o o n sthemselves

f i n d i n g where t h e i r Itpatch" is. So f a r , touch wood, one s e e s s m i l e s everywhere, and everyone is working t o t h e common aim o f making t h e B a t t a l i o n work. To t h i s end t h e r e w i l l be a p r o p r o r t i o n of weekends where t h e B a t t a l i o n is i n one p l a c e , and t h e r i f l e m e n can s e e t h a t t h e y a r e p a r t of a n o r g a n i s a t i o n l a r g e r t h a n t h e i r p l a t o o n o r company. To c l o s e , h e r e a r e t h e t e x t s o f two of t h e many s i g n a l s t h e B a t t a l i o n r e c e i v e d on its f i r s t day:

I I

From HQ South E a s t D i s t r i c t : "TO CO MID ALL RANKS. \dE WELCOI.IE YOU MOST d ' ARMLY TO SZDIST ON TI-IIS YOUR OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY NO DOUBT PXND TRUE: TO REGIMENTAL FORM YOU \'!ILL PROVE TO BE AN INFANT PEODlGY A1ID B;?:FULLY GROblN BY TIFZ YOU ARE THF3EI GOOD LUCK AND RXIm-lBTR WE A R E E R E TO HZLP YOUI1.

From Oxford U n i v e r s i t y OTC: uNO1:l YOU APZ FIVAt ON THIS YOUR NOUGhT BIRTHDAY. BEST \tIISHES FOR A LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS LIE3 FRObl ALL PJLPXS AT FUNOR ROAD. THE MILITARY GOblN \dELCObES BACK THE MILITARY TOWN .lt

BATTKEN 3 JUL 22 SEP 30 1986 by S e r g e a n t R .J Tyson MM 3 R G J E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r , t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t r a v e l t o A f r i c a , passed over my desk. Having always wanted t o go t o A f r i c a , I a p p l i e d , not t h i n k i n g t h a t I would be a c c e p t e d . But, I was, and t h a t w a s t h e r e a s o n why I w a s s t a n d i n g i n T e n p i n a l 4 a t Reathrow, w a i t i n g t o board f l i g h t B85Y t o Johannesburg l e a v i n g a t 2030 hours 22nd J u l y 1986. A t t h e a i r p o r t I met t h r e e o t h e r BATTKEN 3 members who were t o be my bornpanions f o r t h e next 69 days. They t o o hed a p p l i e d t o go and t h e y were CSgt Alun Williams 1 RRW, S g t Miclc Lowe 1 GREEN HO1dARDS and S g t Geof Kirby 1 GLOSTERS. Already i n N a i r o b i were CS@ Dave I v a t t from 3 R G J (team l e a d e r ) and Sgt Don McBride ( 1 RTR).

We boarded t h e jumbo j e t and were p l a c e d i n t o s e a t s s i m i l a r t o s m a l l s o f a s . There a r e 3 ways t o f l y with B r i t i s h Airways, economy, s u p e r c l u b and f i r s t c l a s s . Economy is very similar t o f l y i n g Crab A i r , packed in! F i r s t Class is 1 s t Class, t h e n t h e r e is s u p e r c l u b ; t h e r e is no r e a l d i f f e r e n c e between f i r s t qnd s u p e r c l u b , except t h e p r i c e , and your p o s i t i o n i n t h e a i r c r a f t . Dinner was s e r v e d at 9 and t h e menu w a s v e r y posh, a l l i n French and very f i l l i n g .

I J

However a f t e r 8 hours of being pampered and s p o i l t , I was shaken back t o r e a l i t y when t h e jumbo landed a t N a i r o b i ' s Jomo Kenyatta I n t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t , where we were met by Dave I v a t t ( 3 RGJ), Don McBride, and a GSU I n s p e c t o r c a l l e d Johnson Kirir. We were l i t e r a l l y rushed through customs o n t o t h e t r a n s p o r t and d r i v e t o t h e GSU T r a i n i n g School a t Embalcasi, which is l o c a t e d 16 km from t h e c e n t r e of N a i r o b i , and l i t e r a l l y a t t h e end o f t h e a i r p o r t ' s main runway. GSU s t a n d s f o r General S e r v i c e Unit w!~ich is a p a r t o f t h e Kenyan p o l i c e system. It w a s o r i g i n a l l y formed i n t!:e 1960's a f t e r independence, and is known as t h e c o u n t r y ' s s e c u r i t y force. The GSU w a s t h e f o r c e t h a t put down t h e coup i n 1982. Xmbakasi is t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e i r t r a i n i n g s c h o o l a z d t h e i r t r a i n i n g lasts f o r one y e a r with a n i n t a k e of 400. The s c h o o l is s p l i t i n t o two p a r t s , a t Embakasi t h e y a r e t r a i n e d i n d r i l l , weapon t r a i n i n g , r i o t d r i l l , and p o l i c e l a w . The f i e l d t r a i n i n g is done a t a p l a c e c a l l e d Magadi, about 60 m i l e s s o u t h of Nairobi, where t h e y a r e t r a i n e d i n b a s i c t a c t i c s , znd s h o o t i n g s k i l l s , and more d r i l l . The r e a s o n f o r o u r presence t h e r e was t o t e a c h t h e GSU's JNCO/Officers our methods o f t r a i n i n g . B a s i c a l l y it was a n EJCOs Cadre f o r a l l t h e people we were t o meet on t h e two f o u r week c o u r s e s we hed t o s u p e r v i s e . The l e s s o n s t h e y were t a u g h t were l o o s e l y a d a p t e d from t h e Brecon s y l l a b u s . Each course was f o u r weeks long,

two weeks i n Smbakasi and two weel:s i n Magadi.

The weapons tlie GSU u s e a r e t h e German G 3 r i f l e , and Heckler Koch HK I l k 1 and HT, 21A1 machine guns, w i t h a s m a t t e r i n g o f SLR and SIIG. The m a j o r i t y were Ger::an weapons, s o t h e r e WES a minor problem. However, t h e s c h o o l hod sone sriiel l r e d hand o u t s i n E n g l i s h wl?ich h e l p e d u s i n removing p r r t s , and any wea?on, a s we e l l found o u t , c a n be t a u g h t i n t h e same manner as o u r own, b u t not t o SASC s t ~ n d a r d s ,Seczus t h e y have no pamphlets as we them. The Kenyans were f a l l i n g o v e r tb-enselves t o h e l p , b u t t h i s h e l p was v e r y slow i n coming. A s we l a t e r found. o u t t h e r e is t h e w h i t e m n t s way ::nd t h e A f r i c a n way. Our wag i s i n a minute o r tomorrow, t h e A f r i c z n way i s maybe next week w i t h a m i l l i o n a p o l o g i e s . Rowever we g o t u s e d t o t h i s ~ t y l eo f l i v i n g and e v e n t u a ? l y czrne round t o t h e A f r i c a n wag, and gsve them bsck some o f hat we had been g e t t i n g .

L i v i n g w a s a problem a s w e l l ; we were accommodated i n t h e s c h o o l ' s o f f i c e r s mess, b u t we had t o c a t e r f o r o u r s e l v e s . !!e had a house, i n which ..re a t e and lrept a ' l o u r s t o r e s , and two house boys t o start lvith. Then t h e i r company moved from Embaka and we ended up w i t h Simon. Simon w a s f r o g t h e X ~ s Coast t of Ke'lya n e k r Tsuro, and had had v e r y l i t t l e t o do w i t h t h e muzungu ( w h i t e man). So t r y i n g t o t e a c h him how t o cook a b o i l e d egg was a n e x p e r i e n c e . Our b a s i c d i e t f o r 69 days, g i v e o r t a k e t h e odd day f o r s f e a s t i n N a i r o b i , was boiled. cabbage, mashed r o t a t o e s o r b o i l e d r i c e , f r i e d o r b o i l e d [nest, gravy and e i t h e r t e a o r c o f f e e . N a i r o b i is a n i c e ? l a c e , s o l o n g as you a r e i n t ' e c i t y c e n t r e . T h e i r l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a r e v e r y poor 5 u t i t never ceased t o amaze u s a l l , how c l e a n t h e y :rere i n t h e i r aypearance, ar,d t h e i r rnacners a r e impeccable, even when t h e y t r i e d t o r i p u s o f f f o r t h o s e few e x t r a s h i l l i n g s t h e y were v e r g y o l i t e . Time l-as s p e n t i n :\iairobi f o r t h e odd n i g h t i n e v e r y sreek, and a l l t h o s e t h a t ltnov me w i l l s a y d i f f e r e n t , b u t t h e n i g h t l i f e is v e r g s p n r s e ; t h e r e e r e d i s c o s and pub b u t n o t h i n g t o o e x c i t i n g . However, we met a l o t o f white p e o p l e through o u r Swahil s p e a ! ~ i n gI r i s h m a n Don McBride Without h i s l i n g u i s t i c t a l e n t s we wotild have s p e n t a l o t more money on fooc' and l e i s u r e t h a n we did. IIcBride hnd l i v e d i n Kenya t i l l was 19, t h e n h i s f a m i l y l e f t and he came t o Lngland and joined t h e Army. 3 e i n g a good rugby p l a y e r he g o t u s i n t o t h e ITairoSi H ~ r l e q u i n s1:urby Club trhere :Je d i d nos o f o u r socialisin::, and p l a y e d a few gaqes o f rugby.

When not i n I J a i r o b i 1.Ie were i n Magadi. llagadi sits on a v e r g l s r p soda s a l t 1al:e r u n by I C I and t h e town houses a l l t l ~ o s einvolved i n ms.~:ufactu.rin: sod?. s a l t . The w z t e r is u n d r i n k a b l e , what wa.ter t h e r e is i n t h e d r y s e a s o n , s o 21.1 o u r d r i n k i n g w a t e r is p i p e d i n from 30 km away from t h e IZiver Umolo. The Kasai l i v e on t h e roac from N a i r o b i t o llagadi, s r d . t h e i r l i f e i s c a t t l e and s h e e p which t h e y r n i s e . The Masai were always i n t h e camp w s i t i n g f o r t h e v a t e r t o a r r i v e i n t h e vrzter bowser, and t h a t was c a r r i e d away l i t e r a l l y on t h e i r heads, o r on t h e becks o f t h e i r donl,:e: T r a i n i n g i n Nagadi was t h e v e r y b a s i c i r f a n t r g s'ri1l.s we b!ou3 d t a 7 - e f o r granted. ' g i v e you a n i d e a o f t h e i r i n f a n t r y s k i l l s , ambushes were e. fun t o p i c f o r u s . Our system o f p l a n n i n g acd o r g a n i s i n g anbushes a r e b L s i c d r i l l s , b u t t h e GSU ambush d r i l l s f o l l o w t h e s e l i n e s , t e l e p h o n e c a l l , time i n , t i n e nut, ~ n ndo t a l o t e l s e . d o r g u a r d i n g key p o i n t s a 1 b a s i c GSU job i s ambushing c a t t l e t h i e v e s a ~ smue,-lers, o v e r Eenya. Zowever, I can q u i t e h o n e s t l y s a y t h a t t h e i r anbush drills a r e a l o t b e t t e r . Know about i t , a t e l e p h o n e c a l l , time i n , t i m e o u t , cup o f t e a , t a l k abou i t , t h e n move. T o u r i s t s go t o I:enya f o r w i l d l i f e . ',!hat w i l d l i f e tiid I s e e ? !'!e! l, l o t s of 5aSoon a z e b r a , a n e l e p h a n t , a few g i r a f f e , sone a n t e l o p e and a c l o s e e n c o u n t e r w i t h a young l i o n cub, t h a t w i l l c o s t a few b e e r s t o r e c o u n t . Because of tile t i m e vor7.ir! and t h e d i s t a n c e t o be t r a v e l l e d and t h e l o c a t i o n of tl:e w i l d l i f e end t h e t i m e it would have t a k e n t o r e a c h t h e s e f a r o f f p l a c e s , we n e v e r hed a c!ler.ce t o s e e any w i l d l i f e a p a r t f r o n what we s a w on t h e road t o I.lagadi. The e l e p h a n t is a n o t h e r st b u t t h a t was s e e n on t h e 14ombassa IIichway on a l o n g wee!-end a t t h e s e a s i d e , at a wonderful p l a c e on t h e I n d i a n ocean n o r t h o f id;omba.?sa c a l l e d I i a l i n d i .

However what we a l l saw w i l l never be forgotten. The people w i l l always be re2embered f o r t h e i r f r i e n d l i n e s s and t h e i r good nature. The country w i l l always remain i n my memory, being a camera f r e a k ; of a l l t h e hundreds of photos I took, s c e n i c s h o t s from t h e back of a landrover t a k e precedence over a l l o t h e r s . Although I moaned about Kenya w h i l s t I was t h e r e , es McBride s a i d t o me one n i g h t , "This The day we l e f t , everyone we worked p l a c e ( ~ e n y a )w i l l f i n d a p l a c e i n your heart". with s a i d we should have s t a y e d longer, and i n v i t a t i o n s were t h r u s t upon u s , should we r e t u r n . The h i g h l i c h t of :y journey t o Kenya, w i l l be t h e night t h e g r e a t white h u n t e r , having t r a v e l l e d 6000 miles, went out i n t h e middle of t h e night and took on an A f r i c a n r a b b i t , and missed w i t h t h e f i r s t s h o t . Ce La Vie. HONOURING A FOUNDZR I~WlRER OF TIE REGI1IDIT 200 YEARS ON ILIAJ O R J .F. C. SPIESSMBCHLR THE ROYAL /il42RICAK REGIPIEPIT by Major J .-D von Merveldt 2 RGJ

The s u r p r i s e discovery, by an unusually a l e r t o f f i c e r i n a Royal Engineer Squadron s u p p o r t i n g 2 R G J , of a faded name on a c e n t u r i e s o l d tombstone h a l f hidden i n a d i s u s e d graveyard, squashed between a s e x shop and a d r i v i n g school i n Hameln, West Germany, l e d t o t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n paying t r i b u t e t o one of t h e Regimentvs f o r g o t t e n pioneering founders. On Sunday 8 t h June 1986 a n important footnote w a s added t o t h e Regimental a n n a l s when t h e Commanding O f f i c e r l a i d a wreath at t h e grave of German-born Major Johann F r i e d r i c h Christoph Spiessmacher on t h e 200th anniversary o f h i s death on 8 t h June 1786. F o r t u n a t e l y t h e d e t a i l s given on t h e ,200 year o l d gravestone gave s u f f i c i e n t information t o commence i n i t i a l research i n t o h i s o r i g i n s and h i s record of s e r v i c e i n t h e Royal American Regiment. y

I n h i s place of b i r t h Bodenwerder, on the River L'eser, which is, i n c i d e n t a l l y , a l s o t h e b i r t h p l a c e of Muenchhausen, ( t h e Walter K i t t y of G e r ~ a nl i t e r a t u r e ) , a r e c o r d of h i s b i r t h on 17th June, 1717 and of h i s Christening, t o g e t h e r with t h e names of h i s Godparents, was found i n t h e Church records. These records a l s o s t a t e t h a t h i s f a t h e r was a blacksmith. Sadly, i n s p i t e of e x t e n s i v e research, nothing f u r t h e r was found about h i s family although t h e names of h i s Godparents a r e s t i l l c u r r e n t i n t h e Bodenwerder a r e a . With t h e e n t h u s i a s t i c help of General G i l e s >lills we were a b l e t o e s t a b l i s h from t h e Connaught papers, lodged i n t h e Royal Archives a t ;\rindsor, and various Regimental Annals, 1.laj o r Spiessmacher's record of s e r v i c e with t h e Royal American Regiment. Spiessmacher was commissioned i n t o t h e Royal American Regiment on 21st January, 1756. H i s t o r i c a l records sucgest he s t a r t e d h i s s e r v i c e with t h e 4th B a t t a l i o n of t h e Royal American Regiment and f i r s t saw a c t i o n with t h e regiment i n t h e g a l l a n t , but v a i n a t t a c k on b;ontcalmls defences at;Ticonderoga where it s u f f e r e d 10 o f f i c e r s and 151 men k i l l e d o r wounded. Spiessmacher appears t o heve escaped unhurt. Steady promotion followed t o Captain-Lieutenant i n J u l y , 1761 and Captain i n October, 1770. I n 1773 he is l i s t e d a s s e r v i n g with t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n t o which he was no doubt posted when t h e 4 t h B a t t a l i o n was disbanded i n 1755. I n June 1778 he w a s promoted t o f.lajor i n t h e 2nd Battalion. I n 1783 he is no longer l i s t e d a s s e r v i n g i n t h e Regiment. J e f f e r y Amherst, a r e l a t i v e of t h e t h e n Colonel-in-Chief, is shown a s promoted t o Kajor on 1 s t October, 1782 and posted t o t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n from t h e 1st presumably i n Spiessmacher's place.

A f t e r 26 y e a r s ' l o y a l s e r v i c e i n t h e Royal American Regiment he r e t u r n e d t o h i s n a t i v e Weser River Valley. blith t h e various B a t t a l i o n s of t h e Regiment he saw s e r v i c e i n what we now know a s t h e East Coast S t a t e s of t h e USA, along t h e S t Lawrence River, i n t h e IJiagara a r e a , Montreal, F l o r i d a , J a n a i c a and f i n a l l y Barbados. Vith t h e exception o f a n e n t r y i n t h e Ha-eln Garrison Cemetery book, t h e r e is no

r e c o r d of h i s a c t i v i t i e s i n Hameln a f t e r !iis r e t u r n from t h e Americas. ( T h i s is n o t unusual as no formal c i t y r e c o r d s were k e p t b e f o r e 1850). I n s p i t e o f h i s humble o r i g i n s he must have gained t h e r e s p e c t of t h e c i t i z e n s and t h e g a r r i s o n as he is b u r i e d amongst Generals and o t h e r d i s t i n g u i s h e d m i l i t a r y men of t k e House o f Hannover. Regimental r e c o r d s g i v e Spiessmacher's m i l i t z r y o r i g i n a s a former L i e u t e n a n t i n t h e Regiment "Spoercken" b e f o r e t r a n s f e r r i n g t o t h e Royal Americans. , D e s p i t e e x t e n s i v e s e a r c h e s no r e c o r d o f h i s m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e p r i o r : o j o i n i n g t h e Royal Americans c a n be found a s , s a d l y , t h e r a v a g e s o f !/orld ltlar I1 d e s t r o y e d t h e r e c o r d s of t h e Spoercken Regiment f o r t h e r e l e v a n t p e r i o d . Herein l i e s a n i r o c i c t w i s t ; t h e a r c h i v i s t of t h e S t a t e Archives i n Hannover, where t h e s e r e c o r d s were k e p t , c l a i m s t h a t some of t h e r e c o r d s were used t o f u e l t h e cooking f i r e s of t h e B r i t i s h F o r c e s of occupation i n May, 1945. Could it be t h c t ,:embers of 1 2 t h B a t t a l i o n KbRC who were i n Hannover a t t h a t time, i n a d v e r t e n t l y used t h e s e r v i c e r e c o r d o f a found member of t h e Regiment t o b o i l t h e i r t e a water? It is h i g h l y l i l r e l y t h a t Spiessmac s e r v e d i n t h e Spoercken Hegiment which -:as a H a n n w e r i a n Regiment and r e c r u i t e d from t h e GIeser a r e a from where Spiessmacher cane. I n 1757, General Spoercken, h i s one time Commanding O f f i c e r , was h i m s e l f appointed Conmander o f t h e German t r o o p s i n t h e s e r v i c e of t h e King of England. Iie w a s l a t e r t o d i s t i n g u . i s h h i m s e l f w i t h h i s Regiment a t t h e B a t t l e of i:inden i n 1759. H i s t o r y s t r o n g l y s u - ~ e s t st h a t Major Spiessmacher was a mzn of noble q u a l i t i e s , p o s s e s s i n g a sound personal c h a r a c t e r t k a t more t h a n matched h i s physi'cal prowess, f o r commissions i n t o t h e Royal Americans were g r a n t e d and not ?urchased with advancement based on s e n i o r i t y and a b i l i t y . To hsve r i s e n t o l i a j o r and Second i n Command w a s t o have reached t h e h i g h e s t rarJr and p o s i t i o n it !:as p o s s i b l e t o nc':ievl at t h a t time. It was g r a t i f y i n g t o ' ~ ea b l e t o honour s o d i s t i n g u i s h e d a profession^ s o l d i e r 200 y e t r s z f t e r h i s d e a t h and isre hope t h e t o t h e r B a t t a l i o n s of t h e Regiment s t a t i o n e d i n BAOR w i l l be a b l e t o v i s i t :;is grave i n t h e y e a r s ahead. THI1; LIGIIT DIVISIOP? DEmGh'iTICN ;,T THE DEUTSC&.,C JI\,2;GL:IZ3UT:D I.:::LTI'I!G A H U N !;ESTFALXI: 3/4 MAY 1986 by FIajor J.-D von Merveldt 2 R G J

The Deutscher Jaegerbund (DJB) can l o o s e l y b e d e s c r i b e d a s t h e German n a t i o n a l e q u i v a l e n t o f a L i g h t D i v i s i o n Regimental Association. Its alms and c h a r t e r a r e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h o s e o f t h e L i g h t I n f a n t r y and Royal Green J a c l - e t Itssocl a t i o n s . F o r a very c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e t h e DJB had been lreen t o ta!-e up c o n t n c t s with s i m i l a r B r i t i s h a s s o c i a t i o n s and f e l t t h a t t h e 40th a n n i v e r s a r y of t ! ~ e end of Ilorld !!ar I1 would be an opportune moment t o do t h i s . I n October 1985, t h e r e f o r e , t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e 3JB wrote Bonn. He asked t o be put i n touch with t h e L i g h t I n f s n t r y t h e B r i t i s h Army i n o r d e r t o i n v i t e d e l e g a t i o n s from t h o s e r e s p e c t i v e Old Comrades A s s o c i a t i o n s , t o t h e D J 3 bi-a!?nual 3/4 llay 1986.

t o 1114 Fmbassador i n a.r,d R i f l e Hegiments of Regiments, and t h e i r reunion i n Ahlen on

Headquarters The L i g h t D i v i s i o n w t i s c o n t s c t e d acd a c c e p t e d t h e i n v i t a t i o n . A d e l e g a t i o n o f two o f f i c e r s from 2 L I , t h e B a ~ dar,d Bu,-l.es of 2 T 2 1 and t h e Cornm~ndin O f f i c e r s of 2 and 3 RGJ, t h e 21C o f 2 3 G J and t h e i ~ d j u t a n t sor,d P\S!.:s of b o t h 2 and 3 R G J r e p r e s e ~ t e dt h e L i g h t D i v i s i o n a t t!le r e u n i o n as g ~ e s t sof t h e DJB. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e L i g h t I l i v i s i o c , d e l e g a t i o n s f r o g 3elgium, The Nethcrla! d s , France and F i n l a n d a t t e n d e d t h e D J R meeting. The B e l g i a n s , F r e ~ c hand Finns were a l s o r e p r e s e n t e d by members of t h e i r Old Comrades ;Issociation.; a ~ c t':e ! Finnish d e l e g a t i o n i n c l u d e d a v e r y s p r i g h t l y 93 y e a r o l d v e t e r a n wF.0 had v o l u n t e e r e d , lil-e many F i n n s , t o s e r v e i n t h e K a i s e r ' s Army i n 1015. These F i n n i s h volunteers were formed i n t o a R i f l e Bn o f t h e K a i s e r ' s Army end i n 1917 returnee- t o F i n l a n d t o s u c c e s s f u l l y f i g h t o f f t h e Bolshevikst i n v a s i o n . Tllis p a r t i c u l ~ ~v re t e r a n wore an amazing c o l l e c t i o n of medals wllich i n c l u d e d a b r a v e r y award fror? t h e I i a i s e r , a k,%ite Russian award f o r f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t t h e Commuzists and v a r i o u s c a ~ p n i g nmedals

I znd I1 i n t h e a t r e s ranging f r o n Northern R u s s i a t o I t a l y .

f r o n Yorld

~ o s r a - m ef o r tile visit in^ d e l e g a t i o n s on t h e f i r s t d ~ n y c l u d e d an o f f i c i a l r e c e 2 t i o n by tile 323 committee, a rece;?tion by t::e Iklayor and C o u n c i l l o r s of t h e c i t y of Ahlen ar,d an ever-inc o f 1?1e!comic.[-: s p e e c h e s , a band c c n c e r t and daccinc. The second day's r o g r a .!ye i n c l u d e d ail I n t e r n a t i o n a l f l i l i t a r y Band d.isplag which i x c l u d e d a Rundeslrrehr V o l u n t e e r , a Fre:-..ch S h a s s e u r Bcrd end t h e Band of 2 L1 which somcwhzt s t o l e t>.c sholar w i t h ar. e x c e l l e ~ tdispl.ay of music 3r.d mnrcking. Throu;:hout both dnys tile L i c h t D i v i s i o n delegatior- r.-ore !'Greens arc! Cross B e l t s i 1 2nd t h i s c e r t a i ~ 1 . yadded a dns:? o f st;,-le c?rd c o l o u r t o ti:e proceedings ail6 n o t e d a s E v e r i convecient conversation p i e c e f o r t h o s e d e l e g a t i o n meabers not s o w e l l v e r s e d i n t k e Gerzan language. a v e r y earl.? s t c c e t k e two R&- RS::s were col 3.ared by a r r . 3 ~PO';! who h ~ : ds p e l t rnost of k i s k r z r I.oo!cing a f t e r t h e t r e e s i n iiindsor Great Parlr. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , both ESMs were unakle t o confir;:: t o him tile contintled e x i s t e n c e o f s e v e r a l " l a d i e s t t ar.d ltestahl.isk.ments" i n t h e Iiea.ding s-.d 2aidenhead a r e a w':ich he h2.d got t o !:now w e l l d u r i n g F ~ i st i m e a s a POl:! The DJ2 was very p l e a s e d t o n o t e t h e t t h e R G J d e l e g a t i o n r e p r e s e n t e d over two hundred y e a r s of l l J a e g e r T r a d i t i o n " i n t h e 3 r j . t i s h Amy, d a t i n g back t o t h e f o r n a t i o n of t h e Royal iimcrican Eegintent whicb. had a h i @ p e r c e ~ t a ~ofe German J a e g e r amongst its raalcs. They were a!.so sonewhat acazed t h a t our m ~ r c h i n gPace, o u r r i f l e and sword d r i l l of today v e r y much rese3bI.e t h a t which hcd ceased t o be used by them i n t h e 1850s. Before dept.rtul e t h e R G J d e l e c a t i o n presentee! t h e DJB with a s e t of r e c e r t l y produced Green J a c k e t p r i n t s . I n r e t u n ? . ve were p r e s e n t e d w i t h t h e c o l d pinbadge o f t h e DJB. The D J R e x p r e s s e d t h e hope t h a t s e r v i n g nenbers of t h e Regiments o f t h e L i g h t D i v i s i o n aKd t h e i r Old Comrades would p m t i c i p a t e i n t h e i r f u t u r e bi-annual r e u n i o n s c?d loo!< forward t o a d e l e g a t i o n from 1 2GJ a t t e n d i n g t h e i r 1988 r e u n i o n i n Eiuckeburg.

T I E SOl.XE: SLAUG?iT3? CF T2: IIJNOCSNTS by John I\;eegan o f The D a i l y Telegraph

1 J u l y 86

lt13UY' who s h a l l r e t u r n u s t h e c?:ildren?" g r i e v e d Rudyard K i p l i n g of h i s o n l y s o n , k i l l e d with t h e I r i s h Guards zt LOOS i n September 1915. Loos 1 - i l l e d its thousafids. Ten m o ~ t h sl a t e r t h e S o m e was t o k i l l its t e n thousan& and more, and more again.

Today a s u r v i v i n g ilandful o f t h e boy s o l d i e r s who attaclred 70 y e a r c ago J u l y 1, 1916 !iave r e t u r n e d t o T h i e p v a l z t f i e l d t o r e .err,ber t1:oce who a r e b u r i e d t h e r e 5y t h e a c r e . r e p r e s e n t s t h e n a t i o n i n its conmemor~tionof t h e r - r e n t e s t by t h e 3 r i t i s h firmy i n any dry of b a t t l e .

on t ; . a t t e r r i b l e morning t h e h e a r t of t h e b z t t l e Tke Du!:e of Kent l o s s of l i f e s u f f e r e d

!iow d i d it coce c h o ~ ~t ht a t 20,000 ";nglish, S c o t s , Iris:? I:els:? v o l u n t e e r s went s o u n ~ ~ ~ i t t i n ga:;d l y f r u i t l e s s l y t o t h e l r d e c t h s t k r t dz:-? The crBq;rcr l i e s i n t'::e t o t a l u n r e a d i n e s s of ti:e 7 : r i t i s h i n 1914 t o f i g h t a msjor war. Masters o f a l.*rorld empire, t h e i r polser r e s t e d on t h e narrow base of n a v a l supremacy. T h e i r army .,.as s c s r c e l g liirge enough even t o p o l i c e tl.!eir c h a i n of c o l o n i e s on which t h e s u r never s e t . Challenged i n A u s s t 1911; t o fir:ht t h e Europegn power which had c o n t e s t e d t h e I?oycl Navy's command of t h e s e a s , t h e y responded by c a l l i n g f o r v o l u n t e e r s t o f i g h t Germany's c o n s c r i p t h o s t s . V o l u n t e e r s came forwsrd i n wave s f t e r kreve. As a means t o cha::nel t h e i r enthusicsm. K i t c h e n e r , k r o of t h e Eoer :lar and newly-ay?ointed S e c r e t c r y of S t a t e , promised t h a t "tl;ose wl:o joined t o g e t h e r s!:ould s e r v e together." The r e s u l t v:ras t o c r e a t e 30 flIlitc!ienerft d.:.visions, tuo n i l . l i o n s t r o n g . T h e i r u n i t s were c a l l e d "Palsu o r tfChurnsflS a t t a l i o n s , fornec?. of young nen from t h e same s t r e e t , suburb o r r~or:.rplace.

It is d i f f i c u l t t o d a y , w i t h t h e h i n d s i g h t of .,!hat f c t e a w ~ . i t e d them, t o re2d t h e r o l l - c a l l . of t h e b a t t a l i o n t i t l e s t::ey c:;ose wj-tkout coning c l o s e t o t e a r s . F c o t b z l l ,

t h e y c a l l e d t ?.emselves Boys Brigade, Glzsgow Tramways, Arts and C r a f t s , Church Lads, Bankers, Miners, P u b l i c Worlrs. A L: n c a s h i r e c o t ? on-spinning town formed t h e Accrington P a l s , t h e shop a s s i s t a n t s of Gateshead t h e Newcastle Commericals. U n i t e d i n a sublime innocence o f t h e meaning o f machine-guns &i:d high-explosive s h e l l s , t . l e y marched o f f on J u l y 1, 1916, t o be k i l l e d 2nd wounded by t h e b a t t a l i o Douglas Haig, t h e i r Commanding General, had committed them t o t h e i r f a t e i n t h e e x p e c t a t i o n t h a t t h e German l i n e could be broken a t tlze p o i n t \!here t h e B r i t i s h a n French f r o n t s met on t h e Somme. Then t h e French, who had a l r e a d y s u f f e r e d a m i l l i o n d e a t h s , were a s s a i l e d a t Verdun, f a r away i n e ~ s t e r nFrance. Rot o n l y d i d t h a t l e a v e t h e Somme o f f e n s i v e c h i e f l y t o t h e S r i t i s h , t h e y were c a l l e d on t o a t t a t a l l t h e h a r d e r l e s t t h e French l o s e Verdun.

A m i l l i o n she3l.s were f i r e d by t h e B r i t i s h a r t i l l e r y i n t h e wee?: b e f o r e J u l y 1. That w a s t h e beginning o f t h e d i s a s t e r . Though t h e s h e ' l s churned t h e s o i l 2nd r e t a n g l e d t h e barbed w i r e , t h e y d i d l i t t l e hsrm t o t h e Germa~?d e f e n d e r s hidden 40 f e e t below i n dugouts hollowed from t h e challc.

The bombardment l e f t t h e German h i g h command i n no doubt abcut wet Haig planned. Reinforcements were h u r r i e d t o t h e Somme f r o n t . Tlie Germzns a l r e a d y t!iere braced n e r v e and muscle f o r t h e r a c e t o t h e t r e n c h p c r a p e t when t h e bombardment stopped. Whoever reached it f i r s t would have a chance o f l i f e . The l o s e r s wou1.d be doomed

;

J u l y 1 dawned misty. k 2 o y a l F l y i n g Corps p i l o t , surveying t!ie lhst s a l v o s from above, s a w rir, l e s from t h e s h e l l b u r s t s , E,S i f !le w s s looking a t "a l a r g e l & e w i t h thousands o f s t o n e s b e i n g thrown i n t o it .l1 Then t h e m i s t c l e a r e d , t o u s h e r i n a day o f b r i g h t s u n s h i n e and c l o u d l e s s s!cy. The bombar&mcnt r o s e t o n f i n a l crescendo. P r i v a t e Frank Hawkins, of c',ucen V i c t o r i a ' s R i f l e s , a London T e r r i t o r i a : B a t t a l i o n , w a i t i n g t o a t t a c k Gornmecourt Wood, heard t;.e guns r i s e f i ~ n l l yt o "one c o l o s s a l r o a r whole t r e e s were uprooted aad f l u n g i n t o t h e air."

...

A t 7.30 t h e bombardment l i f t e d and bec:an t o move deeper i n t o t h e Geman p o s i t i c n s . I t w a s t h e s i g n a l f o r t h e B r i t i s h I n f a n t r y t o l e a v e t h e i r t r e n c h e s and follow. E i g h t enormous mines, f i l l e d w i t h d y n a i t e , exploded s i m ~ ~ l t z n e o u s l y .

The Germsns w a i t i n g below ground h e a r d t h e bombardment l i f t and, knowing t h a t t h e y had o n l y minutes b e f o r e t h e a t t a c k e r s began t o throw t h e i r grenades i n t o t h e s h e l t e r s , r a c e d t o t h e s u r f a c e , clragging t h e i r machine-guns n i t h them. Across t h e whole 20 a i l e s of f r o n t , t h e s i g h t t h ~ ct o n f r o n t e d t':em bras i d e n t i c a l . "No man's l a n d t 1 was f i l l e d w i t h l i n e upon l i n e o f Tommies, walking s t e a d i l y forward, bowed under n i t h t h e weipht o f enormous l o a d s of equipment. I n t o t h e s e v a s t human masses t h e G e r n a r s opened f i r e , possessed by t h e d e s p e r a t i o n o f outnumbered men who lcnow t h c t t h e y must k i l l o r be 1:illed.

I t was c l 1 o v e r v e r y quicl:ly. I n a few p l c c e s , l i : - e Thiepva!, where t h e 3 6 t h U l s t e r D i v i s i o n was a t t a c k i n g on t h e o r i g i n a l a ~ m i v e r s a r yof t'ie Boyne, t h e German f r o n t was p e n e t r a t e d . Almost e v e r p r h e r e e l s e , t!ze B r i t i s h were s t o : ~ y e d i n I:o lian', Land. The Tyneside I r i s h S r i g a d e s u f f e r e d 3,000 c a s u r ~ l t i e st o machine-pn f i r e without even c r o s s i n g t h e S r i t i s h f r o n t t r e n c h .

S i x t y thousand B r i t i s h s o l d i e r s were t o be !:it ;i.l.togetl?er t h c t morniny;., o f some 170,000 ensaged. i! t h i r d were t o d i e , zany because t k e epid.emic o f cz.sual.ties overwhelmed tlie medical s e r v i c e s . Gerald Srenan, c r o s s i n g t h e b a " t 1 e f i e l d t h r e e 17Thewounded 1:ho could not he hrou;:ht weeks l a t e r , stu~:lbled on tl:e c1;nsequ:nces: i n h2.d c r a t ~ l e di n t o s h e l l h o l e s , w r a p e d t h e i r ,;!atc:r.sroof s h e e t s round them, talren~ o u t t h e i r B i b l e s and d i e d l i k e thet."

T h e b o d i e s n o w l i e i n a c h a i n o f t h o s e b e a u t i f u l garden c e m e t e r i e s , designed by Lutyens and ICipling, w i t h w!:ich t h e B r i t i s h t r i e d t o hea! tlie h u r t o f t h e S o ~ m e a n d e v e r y o t h e r s l a u g h t e r o f t h e 1914-18 war. "Their nane l i v e t h f o r evermore" were t h e words K i p l i n g wrote t o be i n s c r i b e d a t t h e e n t r a n c e o f e v e r y one o f tl~em.

I n h i s own p r i v a t e g r i e f , as t h e f a t h e r of a bog s o l d i e r w':~osebody was l o s t i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s of t h e Vestern F r o n t , he wrote tiiose anguished words:

"But who s h a l l r e t u r n u s our children?It

WLCK TO IIEU by June Southvorth of t h e Daily Mail

28 June 1986

Those who a r e l e f t grow o l d , but on Zero-Day 70 y e a r s ago, a b e a u t i f u l r e d dawn l i t up t h e f r e s h , e a g e r f a c e s o f t h e Boys' Army t h a t v o l u n t e e r e d t o d r i v e t h e Gemans out of France. Long b e f o r e t h e going down of t h e sun, t h e r e d shsdow t h a t l a y on t h e l a n d was a human poppyfield 20 miles long, and 18,000 o f t h e b r i g h t e s t and t h e b e s t wou1.d n e v e r s e e another day i n t h e g h a s t l y carnage of t h e S o m e . T h e i r f r i e n d s w i l l remember them as we w i l l remember them on Tuesday, t h e a n n i v e r s a r y o f l J u l y 1916, and t h e launch of t h e Somme o f f e n s i v e t h a t s e n t h a l f a m i l l i o n A l l i e d s o l d i e r s t o death o r t e r r i b l e i n j u r i e s a g a i n s t a deeply entrenched enemy f o r c e t h a t , when t h e o f f e n s i v e was h a l t e d 140 days l a t e r , had been pushed back s c a r c e l y f o u r miles. Norman, Ralph and J a c k a r e pac!<ing t h e i r bags t o j o i n n e a r l y 70 o t h e r Somme veterans many of them b e a r i n g t h e proud t i t l e of F i r s t of J u l y Men at t h e T h i e p v a l Memorial i n ~ o r t h e ' r nFrance on which a r e i n s c r i b e d t h e names of t h o s e who f e l l but have no graves.

The Duke of Kent and George Younger, S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r Defence, w i l l l a y a wreath a t t h e base of t h e Menorial a t an i n t e r n a t i o n a l ceremony, and f o r a while t h e anger of t h e s u r v i v o r s a g a i n s t t h e p o l i t i c i a n s and generalis who s e n t t h e i r schoolmates t o almost c e r t a i n death w i l l s u b s i d e i n t h e g r i e f of remembrance. Norman Tennant ex-Royal F i e l d A r t i l l e r y who c e l e b r a t e d h i s 9 0 t h b i r t h a a y last week, w i l l l a y a wreath f o r h i s f r i e n d s who never even cane of age. He was a s i g n a l l e r , not t h e g u t s and g l o r y end of t h e a s s a u l t , but i n a unique p o s i t i o n t o know what was going on as he s c u t t l e d along t r e n c h e s with nanes l i k e Pendle H i l l S t r e e t , unarmed and dodging s h e l l s , t o keep t h e telephone l i n e s open t o o b s e r v a t i o n p o s t s and HG. We knew nothing, he s a y s , "It was a Saturday Night S o l d i e r s ' War, boys from Granmar s c h o o l cadet u n i t s and lads from t t e Boysf Brigade who joined t h e T e r r i t o r i a l Army and t oak t h e Kingt s s h i l l i n g when K i t chener asked. Wet d been d i s g u s t e d t o be i s s u e d with c i s s y s t e e l helmets. It wasn't t h e wzy t h e y d i d it i n Boys1 Own. Ve knew J u l y 1 w a s when t h e bombardment would become a real b a t t l e , and we loolced forward t o it. We got t h e impression it would be a walkover and we'd be heroes. Heroism was normal. I ' v e never g o t over my own I got a f t e r s u r v i v i n g a g a s a t t a c k . S u t I was j u s t doing t h e job I went out t o do." Norman went back t o s t u d y a r t , t e a c h i n g i n s c h o o l s and c o l l e g e s . Today, h e t e n d s h i s Z n g l i s h country garden i n a picture-book v i l l a g e where poppies grow. Ex-Bombadier Tennant of t h e 1 1 t h West Riding Zowitzer B a t t e r y goes back t o t h e Somme with h i s f r i e n d Jack Coggins DCM o f t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n , Oxfordshire and Bucl<inghsmshire Light I n f a n t r y . Promotion was s o r a p i d w i t h c a t a s t r o p h i c l o s s e s t h a t J z c k was t h e youngest Sergeant-Major i n t h e Army a t X). I13ven b e f o r e we went over t h e t o p t h e young boy c a r r y i n g t h e aqmunition f e l l a t my f e e t . The Germans were more t h a n ready f o r u s , t t s a y s Jack. When you heard a s h e l l whizzing over you had t o drop where you were, r i g h t on t o p of t h o s e bloody bodies. Sometimes t h e r e w a s a glimpse o f a boy from your s t r e e t , someone who'd s h a r e d a l l your dreams, l y i n g with h i s b e a u t i f u l f a c e s t a r i n g a t t h e smoke-filled sky. I had a week's rest d u r i n g t h e o f f e n s i v e and had t o h e l p unload t h e ambulances t h a t rumbled i n day and n i g h t . The l i v i n g were o f t e n b a r e l y a l i v e , with t e r r i b l e i n j u r i e s , and t h e y ' d been bumped a l o n g traclcs f o r t e n o r twelve miles. 'ile sewed up t h e dead i n b l a n k e t s , loaded them on a t r u c k f o r t h e f i e l d cemetery, and l a i d them s i d e by s i d e i n t r e n c h e s dug every day by o l d Fren~hmen.~!

He does not r e c o g n i s e ti.e S O T . now, ~ but ns he stanc's i n f r o n t of t::e s t o n e s t h a t mark t h e f a l l e n , : r l l ~ t2oes he do? "1 c r y , I c r y f o r t 3 e v a s t e of c ' l t h o s e ::o.mc men.'! I . f t e r t h e w a r , >L-1;ifleman Halph La;-r;ley, :';i:l.:C now ?C, becane a g a r d e ~ e rf o r t':e !Sar Graves Co.m.iscion, nnd today t!i!-.re is a l i ~ oe f 02:: t r e e s on t'ie So-mie 7,:h.cre --. he p l ~ l n t e r !zcor.ns i n rcnembrence of Sov.th ;,fricar, a l l i e s . ::Is brotht?r C i ~ r , ~ l vier ic t o t?,e So::~ae from t h e i . r vi.?.l~.ge of '..'i-slotr i n Buc::in,yhnns!!ire, c::c! 7;;;:llen i ~ ef e l l , "lie v:zs c,r, awfu'ly zoo2 f e l l o w h i s Conzlanding O f f i c e r wrote t o t h e i r mothcr. and. h c r d ~.lcr!.er.~~Chz,rl-ie :!as I<al.phts hero, t h e exam17le t:?;:.t drove h i 3 t o l i e about !:is z.ge a;id j o i n t h e I l i n g l s s o y a l E i f l e Corps s t 16. '.!ounded i-n Frnnce, he v10.s due t o r e j o i n h i s u n i t vhen he -,.rns asked t o ' f a l l o u t 1 . An o r f i c c r waved h i s d him. One death i a b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e i n f r o n t of h i s nose. H i s n o t h e r h ~ shopped t h e family I-!@s n o r e t h z n eno-~611. rjn :;is 1 8 t h b i r t h d a y , he !.:ss o f f t o France azd t h e Some. 7

On t h e v i l l a g e green is t h e menori2.l t o a l l t!-c boys he crew up w i t h who d i e d on t h e Somme. He and ;Jormsn and J a c k a r e !:oing t o Tuesdcyls cerenony 1,:ith a 15 s t r o n g p z r t y . The Three I-uslreteers w i l l swop y a r n s , f i ~ d a l c ? u ~ ' ?o r t!,~o, ~2ndt r y t o cone t o t e r y e t a g a i n w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t s l : l u ~ h t e r i n o u r mi? i t ~ r yh i s t o r y .

On Sunday 14 September 1986 His Royal :Iigl~ness':he P r i n c e of '.'c,les, C o l o ~ e l - i n - C h i o f t h e 2nd I:inz c,dt:erd V I I 1 s 01.1n Goorlchas (The Sirmoor 1 , i f l e s ) tool. t1l.e s a l u t e e t t h e D e l h i Day P ~ r a d ed u r i n g t h e c e l e b r a t i o n s t o 3ar7< t h e ce1:tenary of t h e r a k i n g o f t h e Ref;imentls 2nd B a t t a l i o n . ;.t t h e s z l e ? ~ ? r a d eF i e l d I::rs1-!a1 S i r ddwin Bramall (now F i e l d I3zrshal The Lord Eramall) handed ovcr zs Colonel of tk Keginer t o L i e u t e n a n t General S i r John Chn. y l e A y l r o p r i a t e l y t!?e ::orn~nd:; k n d c.rd 3 u ~ l o f t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n The Zoyal Green J a c k e t s p a r t i c i p ~ * t e di n t k c c e l e b r ~ t ~ o nt os mar!< t h e f i r r ~nnd I s s t i n g f r i e ~ c k h i pof t h e two Regiments s i r c e 1F57.

Three days a f t e r t h e outbreal,: of t!?e Tndian Kutiny n t Piecrut on 1 1 t h flay 1857, thf Sirrncor B a t t s l i o n 2nd Goorlrhas narchec' out of t h e l r bcrrzclcs 2.t 9 e h r a IXln o n l y f o u r horns a f t e r t h e c r r i v n l of a mer.senger h r i z ~ i n gtlie news. i'ifter c o i ~ s i d e r a s k i r n i s h 3 . n ~21-d fi-;llticg, t h e I?egiment reeched Cell2i on E , t i ~June. 'i'ogether 1.15.tl-1 t h e Guides, t;le 6 0 t h R i f 1 . e ~(now T!le Ec-yal Green Jcclrcts) 2:-.d Col-els : ; i f l e s ( 1 s t ~ t h e 1 3 t h F r o n t i e r Force Rifl-es (Colrcls)), t h e 2nd Goor'.hc.r, '!?eld t!:e v i t a l pos5tio: on tiie r i d g e overloo!-ing D e l l ~ i . The r : ~ a if o~r v z r d r i c c u e t r t 1iind.u :!;ots House, t h e !:ey t o t h e 3 r i t i s h ? o s i t i o n , -.as I-icld by t!:e Ilezf.:;~ent 2nd !IFS t h e ~ n i nob2ect' of t::e m u t i ~ ~ . e r s It . was under f i r e cortin17.ously f o r t:irce nonths ~ n dei:i:t dnys and t h e Goor!:hcs r e p u l s e d no l e s s tl.an t v ~ c r t y - s i x sep:.rzte !rator c t i . ; c!-S, c a y r i e d o u t t h r e e h t t s c l - s t::ep:celves, a?:d s u f "ere2 3?7 car;ijr.!.ties out o f a t o t a l s t r e n f l h of 490, includin:; eigiit o ~ of t ~ i n el3ritis'r;.O f f i c e r s . I n r e c o g , ' ~ i t i o nof t l l e i r o u t s t a ~ d i ~ i :s; e r v i c e s ~ n t:;e d f c c t t k . ; . t tl:ey v e r c t::c-f i r ? 'lNativett u n i t t o f i g h t on t h e sid.e of tlie 2 r i t i s ' : dsr?.;~_r t h e I:utiEy, t':e Governor General i n Council g r a n t e d t h e He::Lrr.ent t h e e::ceptioncl l-ioncur of c e r r y i n g c? t h i r s p e c i z l Colour. I n 1858, t h e 60th r i i f l e s , ~,,;it!i:!!,.on t l - e !:e,.-bent hc.d for7:efL t h e v e r y c l o s e ond corc1,ial rel;.:tionship !.ih-cP- c o n t i n u e s tod~.;:, pet;.tionec! t l ~ r tt!:e 2nd Goorkhas s h o u l d be a1 loised. t o llconfom t h e i r &e.-s t o t!:~.t of t h e 60th"and t h t h e i r Sepoys s h c u l d i n f u t u r e be Icnovln s s 'ItRiflemen1l. Because i t was not a p ~ r o p r i c t ef o r a R i f l e Reciqent t o c a r r y Colours, t k e d e c i s i o w a s t e l - e n t o l a y them up. But a t t h e command of Iicr I I e j e s t y (,ueen V i c t o r i a a tlTruncheonlt, t o be c a r r i e d . by tiie Ilesi*~er.tes zi? u c i q u e rnd s p e c i t l mark of g F nd g a l . l a n t r y ~t be1 h i , L~I;s p r e s e n t e e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e i r o u t s t ~ ~ n d i ndevotion t o t h e Eeglrnent by t h e Commander-in-Chief a t 2 c e r e c ~ o n i e lp ~ r c d ei n Delhi on 29th September 1863.

Today Tile Royal Green Jsc!rets is t h e o f f i c i a l . a f f i l i a t e ? r e g i z e n t of tlie 2nd i:!,O Goorkhas 27

SXZ'RCISE \/:!ITS !;'ATER 86 by J/CplliJard-Brown R G J J u n i o r I n f a n t r y 3 a t t a l i o n S h o r n c l i f f e

I have always been i n t e r e s t e d i n canoeing and i n t h e middle of Ivlay 86 a n o t i c e on t h e P l n t c o n 3oard caught my eye. I1Volunteers required. f o r a canoe e x p e d i t i o n i n I was immediately a t t r a c t e d t o t h e t h e Pyrenees. Pi'o p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e needed." i d e e and decided t o t a k e up t h e challenge. On f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n I w a s t o l d by t h e e x p e d i t i o n l e a d e r t h a t t h e weather was always good, t h e r e were 2 l e n t y of z t t r ~ c t i v efemales and t h a t t h e c a ~ o e i n g?.:as superb. He b r a s c o r r e c t on t h e last Our ? a r t y embarked on board t h e I1Hengist" a f t e r a 1 0 minute d r i v e from S h o r n c l i f f e and a r r i v e d i n France at Boulogne a t 0030 1 o c a l t i r . c . Our journey of 625 m i l e s t o S t J e a n Pied de P o r t on t h e ~ r e n c h / ~ p a n i s hborder .:-,Slony;, boring arid uneventful. Our p a r t y :./ere o good bunch ar,d comprised 8 $ u n i o r s znd 4 Permanent S t a f f . 1.lr T.F. 202 D. L/Cpl ~:'/L/cpl Fus Pte Pte Ldr Ldr Ldr Ldr

Doyle ilarburton !.l'stson Taylor Ratclif fe Little Pettifcr Gardhouse Tomlinson Keat i n g !,;ard--Zro\"m IIiles

Zxpedition Leader (Ex-2nd Bn Royal Anglian Regt ) APTC I n s t r u c t o r Queens Regt :.!R! C

REV Queens Regt queens Regt Queens R e d Royal i i n g l i a n Regt Royal A n ~ l i a nRegt Royal Green J a c l ~ e t s Lizht I ~ f a n t r y

' i j h ~we ~ a r r i v e d i n S t J e a n F i e d de F o r t a f t e r an overnight s t o p n e a r Bordeaux, it w a s a b e a u t i f u l day. I; l a r g e rnarlcct was i n f u l l swin: ar.d. t h e r e were l o t s of g i r l s of o u r own age v a l l t i n ~around. Cor?munications were a s l i g h t problem s i n c e tre only spoke Xnglish a?d t h e y , French o r Spanish. They d i d n ' t r e a l l y want t o know u s s o th2.t solved t h a t l i t t l e problem. Our carnpsite was s i t u a t e d next t o t h e r i v e r about l 5 0 m e t r e s from t h e town c e n t r e . It w a s c l e a n , q u i e t , w e l l shaded and we h ~ cdo l d and h o t water.

The morning a f t e r we a r r i v e d and canoes were loaded up, we drove 8 kms t o a s m a l l r a p i d on t h e R i v e r Nive. There M r Doyle, our i n s t r u c t o r , t a u g h t u s white water t e c h n i q u e s i n c l u d i n g t h e i n v a l u a b l e cc-psize d r i l l . 'Je s p e n t most of t h e morning p r a c t i s i c g i n tkis small r a p i d and i n t h e a f t e r n o o n moved upstream 100 metres where t h e r e apl3eared t o u s t o be a r a g i n g t o r r e n t . \!e were t o l d t h a t t h i s was a n easy grade t h r e e r a p i d . Our i n s t r u c t o r showed u s t h e way down and he seemed t o d i s a p r e a r i n t h e foam azd s p r a y only t o miraculously r e a p s e a r a t t h e bottom not only i n one p i e c e but a l s o i n an u p r i ~ ; l ? tp o s i t i o n . T h i s gave u s hope but not much. One by one t h e o t h e r s canoed through t h e r a p i d . Some t o complete i t s u c c e s s f u l l y but most t o c a p s i z e and s w i m f o r i t i n a l e r g e pool a t t h e end o f t k e course. Hy t u r n : i n t o t h e s t r i f t c u r r e n t whcre I suddenly l o s t c o n t r o l of my canoe, on through t h e churning w a t e r w!lic!l a t t h e t i n e seeinec! never ending and f i n a l l y out i n t o t h e c l e a r smooth w a t r r at t h e bottom. I hzd nad.e it throu.g!l acd f e l t f a n t e s t i c . The e x e r c i s e c o n t i n u e d i n t h i s v e i n wit?. t h e ?:ater improving and t h e weather d e t e r i o r a t i n y ; . A f t e r o u r i n i t i a l i n s t r u c t i o n tre did a t r i p each day of not l e s s t h a n 8 kms and not more thnn 1 2 kms with t h e r a p i d s l a r g e r , l o n g e r and c l o s e r t o g e t h e r . Our l a s t d a y ' s canoeing was s p e n t i n t h e Pas de Rolande where t h e r a p i d s could be c l e a r l y s e e n from s d i s t a n c e of one mi1.e. Yhen we a r r i v e d and loolred down on t h e r i v e r from a h e i g h t of 100 f e e t t h e r a p i d s loo!:ed enormous -.nd it was 6 t l e a s t 100 m e t r e s long. An averzge grade f o u r r a p i d wit!? "no r e a l nroblemsu? You c o u l d have f o o l e d me$ I decided t h z t t:?is was t h e day I s h o u l d wear brown swirnming trunlrs. i'ie a l l got i n o u r canoes and e n t e r e d t h e w a t e r 50 metres upstream from t h e r a p i d . Sucl.derly i t was my t u r n t o a t t e m p t t h e impossible. I n t o t h e r a g i n g water where I t o t a l l y l o s t c o n t r o l . It :las li!.re being i.n a g i g a n t i c washing machine v i t h

waves on a l l s i d e s up t o 6 f e e t high. lJith t h e w a t e r fl.ol.ring a t 20-25 mph I emerged from t h e r a p i d s i n o n l y a few seconds. I was e l a t e d . I had made it through and t h e o n l y word t o d e s c r i b e i t \,!as ' B r i l l i a n t 1 . S v e r y t h i n g a f t e r t ' l i s w a s a n anti-climax. The journey hone with detour t o the t o p o f t h e X i f f e l Tower and even t h e i n c i d e n t tr!:en one of our ve!lj.cl.es r n n o u t o f p e t r o l 30 I:ms from Boulogne a t 0530 h r s a r e t o o t r i v i a l t o dwell on. T h i s is a n e x e r c i s e trliich I would v o l u n t e e r f o r a g a i n zt a.nytime. is a cllallenge but having s u r v i v e d no l o n g e r r u l e s supreme.

1;:hite w a t e r

NWIS FRO14 TIIE E&i;IICXiS Cotswold Branch President : Chairman: Vice Chairman: J o i n t Hon Secs: Hon T r e a s u r e r : S o c i a l & ?]elfare:

General S i r Thomas Pearson, I T ? , CB;, Major TJ. J. Warry, MC L i e u t Colonel 2.1. Williamson, TD C a p t a i n J. Beerman M r J. Maddox M r P.A.D. Robinson M r 3. Fewster* M r P.M.J. Newman, IQ4

DSO

*Also j o i n t d e l e g a t e t o t h e Council o f t h e Cheltenham Old Comrades A s s o c i a t i o n The y e a r opened w e l l w i t h a w e l l earned v i c t o r y over The C h e l t e ~ ~ h a m Branch o f The G r e n a d i e r Guards A s s o c i a t i o n zt o u r openinz s k i t t l e s evening on May 16th. A l l was i n doubt u n t i l o u r l a s t bol:!ler had t o s c o r e f i v e t o win t h e match. Contra t o h i s normal form The Chairman s c o r e d seven and t h e Black I ~ I a f f i aTrophy r e t u r n e d t o its r i g h t f u l owners f o r t h e f i r s t time s i n c e 19801 Our next event g i v e s o u r branch a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e c o r d o u r tliaeks t o t h e Light I n f a n t r y and Royal Green J a c k e t s , B a n k hnd Bugles who have s u ~ p o r t e du s s o m a g n i f i c e n t l y o v e r t h e p a s t f i f t e e n y e a r s a t Garden P a r t i e s , Tenth Anniversary Dinner and t h i s y e a r t h e S t John Ambulance Brigade County Review o f wliich o u r Chairman, Nick 'i!arry is t h e Connty Co:mnander. ';:le were fortunz.te with t h e weather and i t ?.:asmost f i t t i n g t h o t t h e I r s p e c t i n g O f f i c e r on t h i s o c c a s i o n was t h e Chief S c o u t , I ~ l a j o rGeneral Pi.J.II. !;alsh CB, DSO, who hnd s e r v e d i n t h e 6 0 t h R i f l e s a f t e r t h e w a r i n I t a l y and Germany. I t w a s decided t h a t 1986 s h o u l d h e r e l d a new approzcil t o t h e form o f t h e prirade. A smart t u r n o u t i n uniform was essentia!., b u t as ~ u a l i f i e dF i r s t Liiders a more forward loolring ~ : n r o a c h t o marching was needed. li!ith t h e h e l p o f Band Sergeant I4ajor D. 3 l a k e l e y and Band S@ J.G. Moreg a new r o u t i n e was a s r e e d as dril.1 i n s t r u c t i o n was not pz.rt of t h c i r curriculum. A l l t h o s e who witnessed tile parade were most impre:.;sed and t:le f i n a l e of t!:e S t John Ambulance Brigade Colour P a r t y marching p c s t t h e Chief Scout a t norm~.lquick t i m e fo1lot:ed by 7;!Ol ( ~ 4 )I 1) 1 4 c 2 l l i o t t with h i s 3a-d a t a riflemnn-like p?.ce was well r e c e i v e d by t h e s p e c t a t o r s . Once spin t h e Eegirneilt had played its p ~ r ti n up-dating t h e John Ambulance Brigade Review t o a more ~ . o p r o p r i a . t er o u t i n e f o r Ambulance and Kursing liember volunteers. Our main event w a s h e l d on J u l y 1 8 t h a t Kisarden P a r k , t h e home of E a j o r acd M r s Tom \ / i l l s . T h i s w a s very w e l l a t t e n d e d on a b e z u t i f u l summer evening. The f r o n t lawn o p p o s i t e t h e l a r g e t e r r a c e was a most p i c t u r e s q u e s e t t i n g f o r t h e Sounding of R e t r e a t a t t h e end of t h e p a r t y . The s a l u t e was tn:-en by Colonel M S t J V Gibbs, CB, DSO, TD, F i e l d 1Iarshal S i r Kolznd Gibbst e l d e r b r o t h e r and we were a l s o most f o r t u n a t e t o have our Brcnch P r e s i d e n t , General S i r Thomas and Lady Pearson p r e s e n t as well. A s u s u a l o u r ,,G11 and Brsnch Dinner took p l a c e e t Tlze Baytree H o t e l , 3 u r f o r d on September 26th and s i x t e e n s a t down t o d i n n e r . 'Ye were d e l i g h t e d t o welcome a new young member I:r P IIarvey rd-io drove up from 3 r i s t o l .

Our s m e r event f o r 1987 a.t Campden House on June 1 2 t h has had t o be postponed u n t i l 1988 due t o t h e L i g h t D i v i s i o n ' s commitment f o r Horse Guards next year. I.fr John Maddox r e p r e s e n t e d our Branch a t The Poppy Wreath l a y i n g Ceremony a t t h e Cheltenham 5:ar Memorial on Remembrance Day t h i s year. \.le would l i k e t o tkank P5rs Hicks at Regimental Headquart,ers f o r h e r h e l p i n p r o v i d i n g lists of p o t e n t i a l new branch members. Twenty-four p a s t members of t h e Royal Green J a c k e t s were w r i t t e n t o and f o u r new members were e n r o l l e d , i n a d d i t i o n two p a s t R i f l e Brigade O f f i c e r s , K i t Barclay and John Ford became l i f e members during t h e year. Our membership now s t a n d s a t seventy-four. I n conclusion we would l i k e t o s a g hov much t h o s e of u s who a t t e n d e d enjoyed t h e opening ceremony o f S i r John ;ioore Barracks by The Queen. The v e r y e x c e l l e n t performance by al.1 t h o s e took part was much admired, and t h e most f o r t u n a t e weather on t h e day added t o &r.pfeasure. The arrangements made f o r A s s o c i a t i o n R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s and t h e i r w f v e s : t o meet The Queen, o u r Colonel i n Chief, was much a ? p r e c i a t e d 2nd w i l l be clang remembered by a l l t h o s e who were honoured i n t h i s way. London Branch & R G J (Lon&on TA Assoc5ation) Towards t h e end of 1986, previous e f ' f o r t s , by PIajor P e t e r Lawless of t h e 4 t h B a t t a l i o n t o s t a r t a London Branch of The Royal Green J a c k e t s A s s o c i a t i o n , began t o b e a r f r u i t . A t t h e same time it w a s decided t o amalgamate a l l t h e TA former regiments under one t i t l e n~.mely: The Royal Green J a c k e t s (London) TA Association. Prime movers i n t!:is were CO 4 R't;J, t h e n L i e u t Colonel P J Lyddon, t h e Honorary Colonel o f t h e 4 t h B a t t a l i o n Lord HcEderness, and t h e r e s p e c t i v e C h a i r ~ e nof t h e former TA Regiments. A f t e r a somewhat a b o r t i v e a t t e n p t to"get t h e p r o j e c t o f f t h e ground i n J u l y ; a s u c c e s s f u l meeting took p l a c e on F r i d a y 5 t h December i n Davies S t r e e t . Some 60 o r s o members o f RGJ A s s o c i a t i o n , t o g e t h e r with about 15 QVR o l d comrgdes, h a l f a dozen 4 RGJ permanent s t a f f , B i l l y Lavin from S t Helens - he y;:as down i n London 2nd heard about t h e r e u n i o n and came a l o n g - and c few 4 R G J TA s o l d i e r s . A l l i n a l l , a good t u r n o u t , and with cheap booze and a c u r r y supper, everyone enjoyed themselves. F i v e new members joined, a l b e i t z t t h e old. r a t e of S2. During t h e evening L i e u t Colonel P e t e r Lgddon addressed t h e meeting. He o u t l i n e d t h e f u t u r e f o r n a t i o n of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n w ~ i c hw i l l be a combination o f a l l R G J A s s o c i a t i o n members and a l l London !?h Begiments Old Comrades. Be confirmed t h a t d agreed t o j o i n t h e new " s s o c i a t i o n wef 1st Queen V i c t o r i a R i f l e s h ~ unanimousl~g January 1987, t h a t Queens 'Jestminster and C i v i l S e r v i c e R i f l e s , would be j o i n i n g et a d a t e t o be confirmed, and t h a t LRSR and Rangers were undecided a t t h i s time. 3 e s a i d t h a t it w a s a g r e e d t h a t t h e Honorary Colonel Lord Holderness is t o be t h e P r e s i d e n t , t h e Commanding O f f i c e r of 4 t h B a t t a l i o n Royal Green J a c k e t s would be Chairman, from 1st January 1987, L i e u t Colonel N e i l Johnson; t h e 4 t h B a t t a l i o n [ , b i n O f f i c e r , Major P e t e r Lawless t o be S e c r e t a r y , and t h e T r e a s u r e r , t h e B a t t a l i o n Paymaster, C a p t a i n P l i ~ e lH a t e r s . C a p t a i n John R a y t e r was made Vice Chairman and two o l d QVRs nanely: M r F r e d ':!alters and lIr Roger 'Joodham, were e l e c t e d as Committee Fiembcrs, M r T e r r y I<oore a l s o joined t h e S e c r e t a r i a t . The Committee is t o meet i n l a t e January and. t1.e f i r s t Annual General Meeting w i l l t a k e p l h c e on S a t u r d a y 7 t h March 1987, t o be followed by a b u f f e t supper.

Forthcoming e v e n t s i n London were p u b l i c i s e d p a r t i c u l a r l y The Light D i v i s i o n Sounding R e t r e a t on Horse Guards 9-11 June 87 and t h e reunion on Cup F i n a l Night a t Dnvies S t r e e t . Oxford Branch L a s t y e c r s n o t e s s t a r t e d with t h e s a d news of t h e d e a t h of one w e l l known c h a r a c t e r o f t h e Regiment. T h i s y e a r s is no exception. The death occurred i n December a t h i s home i n B r i e r l e y X i 1 1 of t h e l a t e c/S& Godfrey "Taffy" Morgan w e l l known f o r h i s s e r v i c e a s Provost Sergeant and a s Married F a m i l i e s

C/SGt.

H i s p a s s i n g w i l l be mourned by many.

T h i s y e a r s 3and Concert by t h e f!ormandg I3zr.d was as good as ever. :/it11 our u s u a l good lucl- t h e weather h e l d and we hEd a v e r y good a t t e n d a r x e . i t is a n event t h a t is a t t r a c t i n g a l a r g e nunbcr of members o f t h e .Re.r$ment from v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e country. Once a g a i n our t!iarks a r e due t o l k i r L l l i c o t t and h i s Band a s w e l l a s t h e s t a f f o f , what is now, t h e 5 t h B a t t a l i o n The h o y a l Green Jackets. I n September t h e o l d Regiment h e l d i t s i o n d ~ nRel.:r_ion which a t t r a c t s a few of our Branch members. The Oxford Reunion t h i s y e a r w&s h e l d a s usual. i n IL'overnbcr. Tkis is t h e f i r s t time where t h e r e h a s been n e a r l y as many aenbers of t h e Royal Green J n c k e t s a s Also i n Nove~lbcrsome xenbcrs of t h e t h e r e were members of t h e Ox 2nd Buc!:s. Branch were a b l e t o be p r e s e n t a t tlie o f f i c i a l opening of t h e new barrac!.:~ i n Winchester by Her I ~ l a j e s t yThe queen. An h i s t o r i c day and one enjoyed by a l l . A s r e a d e r s of tilts N e v s l e t t e r w i l l have r e a d else~.rlicre, t h e 5 t h B a t t a l i o n is now v e r y a c t i v e 1 L o t s more green b e r e t s znd r e g i n e n t a l badses t o be seen. The Oxford Sranch can but only grow t r i t i ; s o nuch s':ii-nishlng i n evidence.

F i n a l l y i n t h e last N e w s l e t t e r t h e a ~ l . t i ~ of ro r t h e 5 t h B a t t a l i o n l e t t e r wrote of a dark s i l e n t o f f i c e wl~ici;he too?,: over i n Octobcr 1985 i n S l a d e Park c o n p l e t e wit11 B moth-eared t r o p h y of a fox e n t i t l e d " H i t !Ixnt, GiSbett H i l l , 28th J u n e 1919. H i s c h a i r i n t h e 'gloom1 h a s been r e - c l z i n e d by t h e p r e v i o u s o c c u p a ~ t , who b r a s somewhat h u r t by h i s la.c.?,-.of a y ? r e c i ~ .ion. t ]!is r e c e n t d e p ~ r t u r eu y s t 6 . i r s t o a new b r i 1 l i a n t l . y ).it o f f i c e we.s wel-come ':jut, yes you have guessed i t , complete with one moth-eared trophy, Hay conscience and memory' l i n g e r on

....

Band Reunion Finlendia 51 Sherwood Road Worksop N o t t s ~ 8 IQN 0 Tel: 0909-472548

The 4 t h Annual Reunion of Ex-Bandsmen of t h e Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light I n f a n t r y ( 4 3 r d & 52nd) p l u s Ex-Bhndsmen of t h e 1 s t Bn The Royal Green J a c k e t s , took p l a c e at t h e c l u b room i n B y l e s b u r y l s TA Centre on Saturday 1 3 t h September l?

I would l i k e t o e x p r e s s my thanks t o Captain Dickie Brimmer (11dmin C f f i c e r ) f o r h i s kind a s s i s t a n c e i n a l l o w i n s u s t o u s e h i s c l u b room, azd a l s o t o h i s e x c e l l e n t d t o t!:e occasion. s t a f f f o r loo!cing a f t e r u s a l l a ~ adding The f i r s t t h r e e reunions were h e l d i n t h e C p l l s bless, a t :finchester, but hecause o f t h e d i s t a n c e involved f o r members l i v i n g up n o r t h i t n c s decide6 t h z t we f i n d a venue a l i t t l e more c e n t r a l , and ~ ~ ~ Eh fci n t e clloice we made i n Aylesbury. F o r t u n a t e l y I was one o f t h e i n s t i g s t o r s i n g e t t i n g t h i s reunion o f f t h e ground w h i l s t s t i l l a s e r v i n g member o f 1 R G J , and I war; h i g h l y d e l i g h t e d last y e a r when as!-ed t o t a k e over t h e running o f t h e reunion. Over t h e l a s t 4 y e a r s our m a i l i n g l i s t h a s climbed t o 145, some l i v i n g abroad but a r e s t i l l i n touch n:thougl unable t o a t t e n d . Attendm-ce t h i s y e a r was o l i t t l e b i t dortrn on p r e v i o u s yeors, but t h e 43 t h ~ d t i d come had a good o l d n c t t e r ~,~.litl: l o n c l o s t f r i c r d s , O ~ C !tl:e younger g e n e r a t i o n r e c e i v e d a n i n s i g h t i n t o trhzt l i f e as a ncndsman w c s l i k e 30, 40 and 50 y e a r s ago. For myself, I hc.d g r e a t p l e a s u r e i n mceting f o r t!le f i r s t t i n e p o p l e li!:e George Dumper, Tommy A l d r i n ~ t o n ,I 3 i l l I r v i n e , George T i p t o n azd Jcck Thonpson, j u s t t o na h few of t!le f i r s t timers. I must add h e r e t!l, t we h: d a l a t e arrivn!, by t k e n m

of S t a n :iev~so~le,f o r t'lose t h z t l e f t e a r l y , S t a n a r r i v e d ahou-t 5 olcloc!:, b u t by t h i s t i n e everyone from S t ~ . . n ' s e r a !icd l e f t f o r hone. Iie hopes t o c a t c h up w i t h t h e n 2.t t h e c e x t reunion. r e u n j o n opened a t I? o'clock. I g r c e t e d members on a r r i v a l t o g e t t o ':not1 tlle new fzces. [ ~ f t e ra!lovic;;. f o r a s e t t l i n g i n p e r i o d , I addresr;ed t h e members i n f o m i n ~t )er of t h e 2h ~ p o l o g i e sr e c e i v e d from t h o s e unable t o a t t e n d . T h i s v s followeL 57 lunch, 2nd l a t e r t F ; e r e f f l e w a s drav~n. ?,l1 p r i z e s were donated ~ . n dtl?e proceeds of 530.50 w i l l c e r t s i n l y h e l p i n t!?e running c o s t s of f u t u r e reunions.

ni 7

A 1 1 i n all z..l.othcr good reunion, enjoyed by ~ 1 . 1 ,and ve loo!.: forward t o t h e next one, S z t u r d a y 1 9 t h September 1987 zt t h e shme v e m e ( s u b j e c t t o confirmation)

F?'.nzlly, a'ly ex-bendsnen out t h e r e , who i s c o t on m y mai?ing l i s t pler?se touch with me t o e n s u r e yoil don't niss out on t5Ls s p e c i c l occasion. Tony Dowd

THJ ROYAL GREEN JACYAY'S REIEl3ITfiL bfUS6Vs'i Below is a p r i c e list ( J a n 87) of a r t i c l e s and books f o r s a l e

Cheques and p o s t a l o r d e r s should be made payable t o Regimental Headquarters. The Orders t o The Regimental Museum. The Royal Royal Green J a c k e t s and crossed "& Con Green J a c k e t s . Peninsula Barracks. Winchester SO23 &S

Item

Cost ? ? d ) 2nd Class

43rd end 52nd

1 2

3 4

a. b

................. ................. ................. . .......................... ........................................ ............................. $3.

52.OC S3.00 Zj.00 06 00 21.50

:Jorld War I1 H i s t o r y (1939-1940) 1:lorld Var I1 H i s t o r y (1940-191~2) llorld I!ar I1 H i s t o r y (1944-1945) C. Post C a d S i r John Loore Regimental T i e Cap Badge (Reproduction)

g3.00 G 3 .OO 54.80 .20 C 3 25 SI .65

The King's Royal R i f l e Corps

.................... . .................... ........... (2" ............ ............................. ........................... ....................... 075 .................................. ............................ $5.75 ......................................... .......................... ........... . . .................................. .......................

Volume V 1 Annals I<ElC ( 1920-1943) Volume V 1 1 A:mals KiRC ( 1943-1966) *Regimental T i e (Thin Red S t r i p e s on ~ r e e n ) *Association T i e Red S t r i p e s on ~ r e e n ) Cap Badge (Reproduction) BriefHistory(Paperback) Regimental P r i n t s ( s e t of s i x ) \!all Plaque (Large) Plaque with s t a n d (small) Blazer Badge ~ i e / ~ r a v aFti n ( ~ e g i m e n t a l ) O f f i c e r .E a t t a l i o n Cornpa~ies1770 Print B i - C e ~ t e n a r y KRRC Book .T r i b u t e t o S t r a f e r Gott

sit 00

E9.50 23.00 53.00 21 .OO Zl.L10 Z1.00

g6.00 51.00 .20 10 28.50

The R i f l e Brigade

20 21 22 23 24 25

........................................ ....................................... ................... ... ......................................... .......................... ..................

Short Account *Regiment~(.lT i e Regimental Fost Cards ( s c t of s i x ) I!all Plaque ( L ~ r g e )with I?ewker Badge Blazer Badge Cap Badge 16cl0 ( H e s t r i k e ) Cap Badge l910 (Large) ( R e s t r i k e )

"l.

:I1 P a t t e r n

The Ro7r21 Green Jac!:ets

030 23.50

15 27.5C S9 .CO 61.50 21.50

.....................................~..~~ ............................................ ............. ............ ....................... ................................... ....................................... ...................................... . ........................ ......................... .................... ......................................... ............................................. . ......................................... .............................................. ........................

'ilall Plaque Cap Badge B r i e f I i i s t o q of The Royal Green Jacl-ets I I i s t o r y of Peninsula 3errccl.s. ',!inchester Key Ring 1:lith i!ecirnental Eadge Fost Card IwIuseun *Regimental T i e R G J Lapel Badge Print Leeson S t r e e t .Cuneo Print Cyrpus 1 XGJ Pliers Print R e t r e a t 1978 .Winchester Blazer Badge Bookmark Book ltflrrnageddon Road" TR D i ~ r yof Ilajor Congreve VC Coasters R G J R G J Pen Print RGJ 3ugler by P a r r y

035 2 3 075 28.20

f,9. 20 c1 070

s1.70

Item -

Item No. 43 44 45

......................... .......................... ....................................... .......................

Print L1 3 u g l e r .by P a r r y Signed P r i n t ( l i m i t e d e d i t i o n ) by John Doyle R1;!S tlFeninsula Barracks, Home of t h e Green J a c k e t s S i z e IGtt X 10" I858-1985. B u l l e t Keyring Coloured P o s t e r !.lid I1 E I i l i t a r y Formation Badges worn by British Connonwealth Forces

Regimental A s s o c i a t i o n lfernbers only Note: -

A l l i t e n s s u b j e c t t o a v a i l a b i l i t y and p r i c e a l t e r e t i o n .

a an

Below is a p r i c e l i s t 87) f o r i t e m s f o r s e l e d i r e c t from t h e PEI, Regimental Woore Barrcclrs L lindover Hot d icorth, ':;inchester S022 6IK;. S i r John Shop; Cheques and p o s t a l o r d e r s s h o u l d be riade p ~ y a 3 l et o C e r t r a l Bad!-,, Light D i v i s i o n Depot.

Item Address Book Ashtray Small R G J Book The B r i t i s h Army i n N o r t h e r r 1rela.nd by Lt Col E.ZOti.: Del.:c?.r Book Mark RC-J/LI B i r o IZGJ/LI Badge Cap I?GJ/LI B l a z e r Badge s e l e c t e d ? & t e r n s i l v e r wire C o l l e r Badge ::G2 C r e d i t Card Yolder Comb Case C a r Badge Cuff Links Dcrt Case Znblasions Framed of H G J Scro! l F o l d e r R G J Large Fledium Small Eip Flask I c e 3uc;:et I D Card Iiol(].er Key Ring Case 6 hoolcs Lanyard :;O 14irror & Case Plaque S t e e l BGJ I.I/P Powder Compact P u l l o v e r !:ool P u l l o v e r I!ylon Sweat S h i r t Sweht S l l i r t embroidered S u i t Cover S t i c k P i n EGJ S t a t u e 3ronze Pevt e r GI'I.;G/:.:F~~R/~I n:r n o r Tanlcard P e v t e r r.1 i r a r - s f e r LL Transfer L Transfer S Tracksuit Tea Towel Zip?o L i z h t e r

cost

To:

IICI, The Light D i v i s i o n S i r John I.Ioore Bcrrccks Andover i?oad Ilorth !.!inchester 5022 6 1 1 ~

From:

Nsrne, address and telephone number i n BLOCIi CkPITt".LS, p l e a s e II~POETAPIT

Plez.se n o t e t h z t Cheques/Postal Orders a r e t o be crossed end made payable t o "Horse Suards C e t r e a t Account 198711. Applications a r e t o be fonrarded by 1st YJ.Y 1987 i n an envelope c l e a r l y marked tI),CTXL-.Tt or, t h e outside. 3-11 cash r e c e i v e d b e f o r e 15th Plarch 1967 w i l l be acknowledged. Tic!i.ets w i l l be posted during ):arch and iLpril.

1 P;.IUi.DS TTICI'LL'S follows :

P r i c e s 66 .OC!,

25.00 o r 22.00.

No of S e a t s

i J l e a s e s u p r l y t i c k e t s as

Price

T o t a l Cost

9 June 87 10 June 87 11 June

Totals

2. S J follovs:

-V

9 J u ~ e87 10 June 87 11 Junc 87

P l e a s e send s u p e r t i c l t e t s rLt 52.@(:1 per head e s

Gatherinr; of ZGJ lissoc5.ztions aod BGJ evening Gathering of L1 ~ . r , s o c i n t l o n sznd L1 evening Light TJivision evening Total cost 5

Plez.7e secd. ~e

r e c o r d s azd/or

cassetl;es

S5.00 ccch

T o t a l c o s t includini; S1 .OC pnclra,-;!.n,-; and postace

C ''L crosser! c;nen_ue/?ostal orcler made pclyable t o "IIorse Guards t R e t r e z t ..ccount 19?7'~ f o r 2 is erclosed.

Signature: