THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION SWIFT AND BOLD
JOURNAL 2014
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RGJRA Swift and Bold 2014 Contents Foreword by Brigadier Hugh Willing CBE Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on Contacts Editor Notes RGJRA Reunion Timings 50th Anniversary of the Forma on of The Royal Green Jackets RGJRA Branches Band and Bugles Central England London North East North West Oxford Wiltshire Winchester (Hampshire) Yorkshire The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum The London Rifle Brigade - 100 years Commemora on Lieutenant John Dimmer VC, KRRC: Memorial paving stone unveiled for WWI hero 75th Anniverary of he Defence of Calais The Defence of Calais Opera on Varsity: The Airborne Crossing of the Rhine, 24 March 1945 The Bri sh 6th Airborne Division A Regular’s Personal Recollec ons of the Na onal Service Era New Occupants of Trenchard Barracks, Celle A Tour to the Ba lefields and Memorials The Last Post Ceremony, Ypres, Menin Gate For the Fallen Honouring our Heroes The RIFLES 2014 In Memoriam Christa Hook, Military Ar st: How She Creates a Pain ng
4 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 12 16 19 22 23 25 27 30 32 34 36 36 48 52 53 55 56 59 59 60 64 66 69
Front cover: The Green Jackets Calais War Memorial.
JCB - Michael Leeming WCMT - Maj Gen Jamie Balfour Greenstock 2015 - Central England Branch Rifles Property Services - Rick Millward RGJ (RIFLES Museum/Holiday Inn Solid Sheds / Skinner Sheds - Andy Hayes Railway Tavern Hotel - Tommy Dooner Boden - John Boden KBR – Maj Gen Andrew Pringle Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO) Episodes from the Peninsula War - Christa Hook
Editor-in-Chief: Kevin Stevens Editorial team: Kevin Stevens Major Ron Cassidy MBE Arne Bergsand Artwork and design: Arne Bergsand Photos: Séamus P Lyons AdverƟsements: Mike Marr Séamus P Lyons © 2015 Crown Copyright This publica on contains official and personal contact informa on. It should therefore be treated with discre on by the recipient. The views expressed in the ar cles in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise of the Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility for the goods or services adver sed in this journal can be accepted by the publishers, printers or the Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on and all such adver sements are included in good faith. Printed by Design + Print Ltd.
Back cover: A Monument at Na onal Arboretum.
ADVERTISERS
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on wish to thank the adver sers who appear in this publica on for their generous support towards its publishing costs. We would also like to sincerely thank those individuals who have made private dona ons towards the cost of this publica on.
JOURNAL 2014
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental AssociaƟon
FOREWORD by Brigadier Hugh Willing CBE Chairman of the RGJ Regimental Association Welcome to this, our 7th Edition, of Swift and Bold, produced once again by Kevin Stevens and his tireless Website and editorial team. The cost of production has again been met largely from our generous sponsors for which we are ever grateful. I hope you enjoy reading it because you will find within its pages much information on how to keep in touch with your old Riflemen comrades, as well as the wide range of activities which have taken place over the last year and are planned for the future. All these events and activities are arranged for you to take a part in, wherever you live in the country, because if you believe in the old adage, “Once a Rifleman - always a Rifleman”, then you have no excuse not to get involved. You will see that your old Regiment’s Association is thriving and that our Branches are active and busy, all due to the hard work and dedication of their volunteer committees who represent you twice each year at our AGM each April, and at our autumn meeting in October. If you have something to say or contribute, join your nearest Branch and let your views be known through their Chairmen and Secretaries. I predict that 2015 will prove to be another busy year for the Association, beginning with the launch in March of the Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition at the Rifles Museum in Winchester. General Sir Christopher Wallace has led from the front, just like the Iron Duke, in driving this initiative forward at a time when he has not been in the best of health. I am pleased to say that he is recovering well and nothing is going to stop him being there to open the Exhibition on 25th March. And on that day a new painting of the battle by Jason Askew, specially commissioned by the Museum’s Trustees to mark the Bicentenary, will be unveiled. The substantial cost of this painting has been raised entirely by the London Branch of the Association. Other branches have contributed generously to the overall Museum Appeal. You will find more information about both the painting and the Appeal elsewhere in this edition of Swift And Bold. Well done to all of you, and please make a point of going to your museum in Winchester this year to see it and the Exhibition for yourselves. Your best chance to do this is during the Veterans’ Gathering at Sir John Moore Barracks Winchester 4 | SWIFT AND BOLD
on Saturday 18th July. I look forward to seeing many of you there. Also this year the Central England Branch will be repeating the very successful “Greenstock’ weekend on 22/23 August at Bramcote near Nuneaton to which all Riflemen and their families will be made very welcome. And lastly our Deputy Chairman, Simon Booth-Mason is busy with his committee planning a very special Gathering on 9th July 2016 at Winchester to mark the 50th year of the formation of the Royal Green Jackets. It will be a full day with activities to suit both the older and younger Riflemen, and your families, so please make a special effort to be there. There are also many other important events and activities to keep you connected which are given more space in our biannual E-zine, issued on-line in June and December each year. Finally, this is my chance to thank all my fellow committee members of the Association, and your Branch chairmen and secretaries, for their hard work and commitment in not just keeping the name of our old Regiment alive across the country, but in looking after the interests of old Riflemen with such dedication. As I write this from the battlefield of Isandlwhana in Zululand I offer my best wishes for 2015 to all Riflemen.
Hugh Willing JOURNAL 2014
The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on
Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association Contacts Contact list as at 1 February 2015 President
Maj Gen Jamie Balfour CBE
01962 828524
admin@rgjassocia on.info
Chairman
Brig HGC Willing CBE
01962 828524
admin@rgjassocia on.info
Vice Chairman
Lt Simon Booth-Mason
01962 828524
admin@rgjassocia on.info
Secretary
Lt Col J-D von Merveldt
0207 492 4936
london@the-rifles.co.uk
Treasurer & Members Secretary
Mr Mike Marr
01235 548018
oxford@the-rifles.co.uk
Editor
Mr Kevin Stevens
01865 452813
admin@rgjassocia on.info
Webmaster, AssociaƟon
Capt William Shipton
01256 895719
bill.shipton@b nternet.com
In Memoriam Board
Mr Mark Adams
01442 380713
greenjackets_2001@yahoo.co.uk
Webmaster RGJ Photographic Site
Mr Seamus P Lyons
01279 723908
Seamus.lyons@rgjassocia on.info
Database Manager
Mr Roy Baillie
01488 658681
membersdatabase@rgjassocia on.co.uk
Mr Tony Williamson
07891 367429
tonytjw2@aol.com
Branches: Australian
Maj Gen Andrew Pringle CB CBE
Mr Chris McDonald
+61 (0)408 937 165 cvmcdonald@bigpond.com
Aylesbury
•
Mr Alan Grant
01296 426765 alanrgrant@aol.com
Band and Bugles
David Timms
Mr David Timms
01304 820910 secretary@rgjband.com
Central England
Major Michael Leeming
Mr Peter Page
01922 694733 petepage71@hotmail.com
East Midlands
•
Mr Mar n Coates
01623 747817 mar nswi andbold@yahoo.co.uk
Gosport & District
•
London
Col GF Smythe OBE
Mr Gary Driscoll
01708 442662 rgjldn@ntlworld.com
Milton Keynes
Brig MR Koe OBE
Mr Gary Brewer
01908 218715 g_brewer@b nternet.com
North East
Brig NM Prideaux
Mr John Cheetham
01915 480189 rgj.north.east@b nternet.com
North West
Brig David Innes
Mr Mark Lydiat
0151 283 0391 secretarynwbranchrgjassocia on@outlook.com
Oxfordshire
Brig Robin Draper CVO OBEL
Mr Mike Marr
01235 548018 oxford@the-rifles.co.uk
Suffolk
Maj RD Cassidy MBE
Mr Gordon Pilcher
01394 215925 gordonpilcherrgj@yahoo.co.uk
South East Kent
Brig James Plastow MBE
Mr Glenn Ternent
01843 297069 geordie_t@b nternet.com
Wiltshire
Brig G dv W Hayes CBE
Mr Gary Byrne
01985 211279 gchabyrne@aol.com
Winchester
Capt John Fritz-Domeney
Mr John Harper
01962 882481 johnharper1rgj@hotmail.co.uk
Yorkshire
Brig PJ Lyddon MBE
Mr Stuart Anderson
01757 617056 li lewood3741@hotmail.co.uk
Notes: • Indicates that a Branch President has not been appointed. Any amendments to the above contact informa on should be sent to Seamus Lyons. JOURNAL 2014
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Editor Notes Welcome to Swift and Bold. 2015 sees the 70th Anniversary of the end of WW2 and the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Next year it will also be 50 years since the forming of our regiment The Royal Green Jackets and plans are already taking shape with the Deputy Chairman Simon Booth-Mason leading on this, to celebrate this special occasion and I will bring you more news of this as the year progresses. In 1945 after 6 years of fighting the Allies were victorious first in Europe over the Nazis then slightly later over the Japanese in the Far East. As time marches on so there are fewer people left who either served in the armed forces of the time or who remember those dark days, it is therefore important that history is not forgotten. We have therefore included in this edition a selection of articles covering this period including the last major battle the 52nd were involved in, Operation Varsity, the crossing of the River Rhine. Going back 200 years we commemorate the Battle of Waterloo and our regimental museum under the leadership of Lt Gen Sir Christopher Wallace has completed revamped the Waterloo exhibition which now includes a lecture theatre, this has been achieved with both National Lottery money and donations from people like yourselves and I believe we can be justifiably be proud of our regimental museum for the effort put into this exhibition which I know will be a great success. On a sad note you will once again see the long list of those who have gone to the FRV in 2014, each year the list appears longer and those who we have known for many years are no longer with us. Regrettably we cannot publish obituaries in Swift and Bold or the E-zines as we would soon fill up our page allocation but they can be added to your branch website as a lasting memory for all visitors to read. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to S&B this year, our advertisers and those who have generously donated privately all of which helps us keep the production costs down. A grateful thanks to my team of Seamus Lyons, Arne Bergsand, Mark Adams, Roy Baillie, Tony Williamson, Mike Marr and Ron Cassidy all of whom work very hard to make S&B the Journal it is.
Kevin Stevens 6 | SWIFT AND BOLD
JOURNAL 2014
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RGJRA Reunion Timings The Winchester Veteran’s Day Reunion on 18th July 2015 at Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester, Hants. 1400hrs Gates open at Sir John Moore Barracks 1400hrs - 1745hrs Bar opens and Static Displays 1800hrs Form up for Parade 1815hrs Parade Service 1830hrs Chairman`s Address followed by March Past 1850hrs Sounding Retreat 1930hrs Bar and Restaurant re-opens 0100hrs Bar Closes Association members will be charged £5 entrance fee. £10 will be charged for non-members.
The Oxford Branch Reunion will take place on Saturday 7th November 2015 at Edward Brooks Barracks, Cholswell Road, Shippon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6HW. 1900hrs Bar opens 1945hrs Waterloo Band & Bugles of the Rifles commence playing 2030hrs Public Address 2100hrs Curry supper on payment 0030hrs Bar closes 0100hrs EBB closes All Association members and their guests welcome. Non-members are charged £5 admission.
50thAnniversary of the Formation of The Royal Green Jackets To mark the 50th year of the formation of The Royal Green Jackets an Anniversary will be held on 9th July 2016 at Winchester with the day starting early and activities to suit both the older and younger Riflemen, and their families. Messages exchanged between the Colonel-in-Chief, The Deputy Colonel-in-Chief and The Regimental Colonel Commandant on the formation of the Royal Green Jackets on 1st January, 1966 From the Regimental Colonel Commandant to Her Majesty The Queen. On the occasion of the formation of The Royal Green Jackets, the Colonels Commandant and all Ranks of The Rifle Depot (The Royal Green Jackets), The I st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd), 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps), and 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade), send to your Majesty their humble duty and loyal greeting and express their deep appreciation of the honour your Majesty is doing them in becoming their Colonel-in-Chief. From the Regimental Colonel Commandant to Field Marshal H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester, K.G., K.T., K.P., G.M.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O. On the occasion of the formation of The Royal Green Jackets, the Colonels Commandant and all ranks of The Rifle Depot (The Royal Green Jackets), The I st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd), 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps) and 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade), send to your Royal Highness their humble duty and Joyal greeting and express their deep appreciation of the honour your Royal Highness is doing them in becoming their Deputy Colonel-in-Chief. From Her Majesty The Queen to the Regimental Colonel Commandant. Please convey to all ranks of The Royal Green Jackets my warm thanks for their kind and loyal message which I greatly appreciate. I send my best wishes to you all for your future service in your new Regiment of which I am glad to be Colonel-in-Chief. From His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to the Regimental Colonel Commandant. I thank the Colonels Commandant and All Ranks of The Rifle Depot (The Royal Green Jackets), The I st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd), 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps) and 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade) for their loyal greetings on the occasion of the formation of The Royal Green Jackets, and am very pleased and honoured to become their Deputy Colonel-inChief. JOURNAL 2014
SWIFT AND BOLD | 7
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RGJRA Branches THE BAND AND BUGLES BRANCH The Bands & Bugles Branch of the RGJ Association held their annual reunion at The Winchester Club, Worthy Lane, Winchester on Saturday 11th October. In attendance were 104 plus members, (a few not signed in) plus approximately 40 guests that included one member of the Rifles Band and an Li Bugler. A list of member attendees and apologies follow on after this report. If your name is missing please let me know. The reunion kicked off (officially) at 12:00 noon, although some members were keeping the barman busy when I arrived at 11:20. So next year I will try arriving at 11:00. We were pleased to see members of the Waterloo Band and Bugles again. They kindly bought along music stands and a selection of music for the ‘Annual Blow’, there where more ex members & partners taking part this year than before and the impromptu ‘concert’ lasted for a good 2 hours and was well received by all in attendance. Music played included the old favoUrite High On A Hill (not sure if I heard that 2 or 3 times?) and ended with the Regimental March.
part of which was to thank members for using the online response/attendance and payment form, this was followed by a ‘Toast To Absent Friends’. All-in-all, a very good afternoon/weekend. The 2015 reunion will be held on Saturday 10th October, same venue as last year, the on line response form and bank payment facility will be open beginning of February. The cost to you attending the reunion is still only £10 per head. This is REGARDLESS of your food requirements, music choice,and/or beer preference - it is still £10 per head. If you do not wish to pay £10 Please send in your apologies. I have been in discussion with a few members about the lack of Light Division members (Peninsula – Normandy – Salamanca and Corunna).
The Winchester Club catering staff provided an excellent lunch, the delay in the sweet was due to a cook malfunction.
in light of this I am sending out a few emails and letters enquiring if these ex-Band and Bugle members would like to join us next October. I am also enquiring to see if any of the old Light Infantry (prior to the Light Division) would like to join us as guest’snext year.I hope the above will meet with your approval if not - please let me know.
Following lunch the Secretary gave his annual sermon
D Timms, Secretary
THE CENTRAL ENGLAND BRANCH GREETINGS TO OUR fellow Officers and Riflemen everywhere! The Central England Branch have for the best part of 2014 had a fairly busy year in general. Our pattern of events have continued in the similar vein to the previous two years in which they were structured around bigger events; Armed Forces Day at the end of June Centenary Square Birmingham, the RHQ RGJRA Annual reunion mid July at Winchester, our flagship event ‘Greenstock’ mid August at Nuneaton. The high profile ‘Northern Ireland Veterans Parade’ in September held at National Memorial Arboretum Alrewas and finally the Veterans Parade in November at Victoria Square Birmingham. Of course in between those events we had smaller social gatherings and fundraisers both at the Nautical Club in Ladywood and Ray Gaffneys’ annual fundraiser at Top Star in the Black Country. The latter two and AFD have been highlighted in previous RGJ E-Zines. This write up will concentrate the main on the excellent Greenstock and NI Veterans Parade both of which attracted plenty of attention from within the Regimental family and beyond. Before I dwell on those, which by way of an ‘update’, the Branch currently stands at 2 short of 70 members! A fairly decent return as we head toward the third year of our existence. The majority of our members far and wide between Shropshire, Staffordshire 8 | SWIFT AND BOLD
Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and south to Gloucestershire with the bulk situated within the West Midlands regions of Birmingham, Sandwell and the Black Country. We now have 4 members residing overseas in Spain and Portugal. Our President Michael Leeming at the time of writing, is about to embark on a two year attachment to the United States which is a temporary loss to the Branch. Nonetheless, his seat will remain vacant until his return when he eventually (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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retires from his current role with JCB.
was originally conceived as an idea whilst socializing in a pub in Winchester at the 2013 Reunion. Planning commenced shortly after and permission eventually
Members at The Royal Green Jackets Memorial at Na ona Arboretum.
Branch member John J Jones kindly accepted his nomination to represent CEB on the 50th Anniversary Committee of which we are all grateful. John was nominated at the RHQ RGJRA Autumn Meeting by Branch Chairman ‘Mark Picken’ and myself, after quick consideration. He will act as the conduit between Simon Booth-Mason and our Committee/ Branch feeding in ideas for the planned event next year. His nomination was offered in light of his proactive flair and selfless commitment to the Branch and general fundraising for C4C. John has also organized a fundraising event in aid of Greenstock 2015 scheduled for June which is a 10 man team doing the ‘fan dance’ across Pen y Fan in North Wales. No doubt his input will be of great benefit to the 50th Anniversary Committee. Thanks John. In October of last year, we had several Branch members attend a boxing evening at the Badshah Palace in Great Barr to show support to John Loveday (ex 2RIFLES) who was fighting for a Heavyweight Title in Fight league 7. John won the title and a great evenings’ entertainment was had by all. In attendance also were Buglers kindly provided by the Shropshire based LI Association and Branch members: Guy Mynett, Frank Hone, Leon Bailey, Gary Creswell, Dave Savage and John J Jones. John will be defending his title at the same venue in February 2015 – more to follow on this in due course. GREENSTOCK The main talking point for this edition of S&B was JOURNAL 2014
obtained at the end of September with the event taking place over the weekend 29th to 31st August 2014. Billed as a ‘festival-come-gathering’, it was deemed overall to be a resounding success. Situated in an area known as the ‘Windbreaks’ to the rear of Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote, Warwickshire a large expansive field on MOD property hosted by 30 Signal Regiment. It afforded us security and exclusivity with cover (if required!!). The weather Gods looked favourably upon us and whilst it wasn’t exactly hot, it remained dry and mild which was minimum requirement. A large marquee complete with tentage blistered onto it, a bar with cheap alcoholic beverages and a stage, the scene was set. It is estimated that around 360–400 patrons were in attendance with most opting to camp in the field adjacent to the arena area. Some complete with state of the art Campers/Trailers and others in tents. Green Jacket flags adorned the ‘casual harbor area’ and left our hosts in no doubt as to the fact that the ‘Chosen Men’ were in town. Some with spouse/ girlfriends, children and dogs, all enjoying the open space, fresh air combined with cheap ale and eclectic mix of music on offer. There were in total, 12 bands of varying style and quality playing from early evening Friday through to midnight and re-commencing at 1300hrs on the Saturday through to midnight. With the exception of two, all the bands that performed did so for free and were rewarded with free beer and food. At least four of them (Stone Foundation, Scarlette (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 9
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Fever, The Rainbreakers and Mohawk Radio) were of a high caliber whom had supported such acts as: The Specials, Madness, Razorlight, Blow Monkeys, Selector, Arctic Monkeys, James Blunt to name but a few). They didn’t disappoint as the entertainment was superb with all the bands really enjoying playing for us. The highlight of which was the performance of London Branch Secretary ‘Gary Driscoll’ who was third to last on. We had maximum attendance in the marquee as everyone sang and danced along to the varying tunes Gary gave us including one of my
Gary Driscoll performing
favourites ‘Mac the Knife’. He received an outstanding reception and deserved ovation and rightly so having expressed a slight nervousness beforehand playing in front of his former subordinates, friends and comrades. This set the tone for the remainder of the Saturday evening as we continued on the regimental theme with a sing-along once the final band had gone off stage. Chosen Men huddled together raising a glass to the wonderful ‘High on a Hill’ which was played over the PA. A very proud yet touching moment was felt by all and topped a great day. Prior to all that, we held a service of remembrance conducted by Bramcote Padre ‘Major David Hill (RACd)’ kindly supported by Bugle Major James Davies and three Buglers from 2 RIFLES and our very own Pete Noble. The sombre ceremony was followed by the hilarious display in which volunteers James’ brother ‘Kevin’, Frank Hone and Ray Gaffney. It was a sight to behold watching the three of them attempt to follow suit with the marching Buglers to the speeding up of Zorba the Greek. Definitely not the finest display of Lt Div Drill but certainly the funniest!! The Buglers marched off to a standing ovation which was thoroughly deserved and set the tone for 10 | SWIFT AND BOLD
the remainder of the event. Incidentally, we raised £1076.23p through collection buckets, football cards and a auction which was donated to ‘The Waterloo Appeal 2015’. Also the weekend was recorded for posterity and can be viewed via DVD which may be purchased at a cost of £5.50p with all profits going toward our nominated charity ‘The Waterloo Appeal’ and The Museum Maintenance Appeal. Such was the success of Greenstock that we have decided to hold it again this year. The dates are: 21st– 23rd August 2015 at Bramcote, Nuneaton. Planning is at an advanced stage and the acts/bands all booked. The format will be the same this year with one or two solo/acoustic acts coming into play. The event layout will be different in that the camp site, admin and feeding area will circle the Marquee which will be centralized in the field East to West rather than North to South. The stage will be bigger and the bar will be cheaper and will be at the Eastern edge of the marquee with the stage at the Western end. Cost for 2015 is £20 pp for the weekend which includes entry and camping U16s and pets are free. Please see facebook pages: GREENSTOCK 2014 or Central England Branch RGJRA for details. Moving on to the Northern Ireland Veterans parade which took place on Saturday 20th September 2014 at the NMA Alrewas. The event was provisionally organized by the NI Veterans Association who asked the Light Division to ‘head up’ the march from the central junction down to the newly laid NI Memorium. There were equal numbers of Light Infantrymen and Green Jackets in attendance with around 40–45 on parade plus those ‘non marchers’ and we were accompanied by Buglers from the LI. Members from the both the North West and North East Branch under the guidance of Jake Cheatham joined forces with the CEB to ensure that we were well represented at an occasion to commemorate such an event that has been integral to the history of The Royal Green
Members pausing. (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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Jackets. Branch President Michael Leeming laid a wreath on behalf of the Branch. “It was no surprise that the loudest applause from the watching public was reserved for the RGJ contingent whose drill was of the standard one would expect from such professionals”! Never ones to miss a good photo opportunity, prior to the parade, we gathered en masse around our own Memorial for a snap of the occasion which has been enclosed for your perusal. Finally, the Central England Branch are continually looking to add new members to join our band of brothers. We do not hold regular ‘Mess style’ meetings, we do however, have social gatherings at irregular intervals at a variety of venues. Our gatherings are usually promoted in advance on the following media: Facebook Central England Branch RGJRA or GREENSTOCK 2014 or Pete Page. Alternatively, our website: www.cebrgjra.com
FORECAST OF EVENTS 2015: 31st January Greenstock fundraiser (Ray Gaffney) 14th March Guest Speaker Evening in Nottingham (Mark Picken) 9th May Fundraiser/Social ‘Cock Inn’ Bartley Green (Gary Collins) 5th - 7th June Fan Dance ‘Pen Y Fan’ (John J Jones) 27th June Armed Forces Day (Guy Mynett) 18th July Veterans Reunion Day (RHQ) 21st - 23rd August GREENSTOCK 2015 (Pete Page) 8th November Remembrance Sunday (Guy Mynett) 5th December Christmas Social (Committee) In the meantime, our best wishes go out to all our fellow Riflemen wherever you may be as our exclusive club sadly gets smaller by the year! Swift and Bold P J Page Secretary
THE LONDON BRANCH The Branch activities got away to a slow start this year due to the fact that in our previous newsletter we included two Ladies Dinner Night functions, which is normally the Branch’s first major function of the year. Nevertheless, our numbers have remained strong with once again a small increase in the membership to over 160 paid up members. Our fund raising activities remained concentrated on Regimental Charities and also we continued to support the KRRC Cadet Battalion. It is the intention of the Branch to continue to support Regimental Charities but this year our first priority has been the RGJ Museum appeal. After discussions with General Sir Christopher Wallace, the Branch pledged to raise the money for a commissioned painting that has been commemorating the final deciding moments of the Battle of Waterloo. The Branch commitment to raise a specific sum is something we have not attempted before but we are confident with the continued support of our members whose generosity in the past has been second to none we will achieve our target. Following the decision that the RGJ Trustees would not be able to fund a paving stone with the Royal Green Jackets Cap Badge to be laid in the newly constructed Heroes Square at the National Arboretum, the Branch decided to sponsor this project, total cost per paving stone being £3,000. This will ensure that the London Branch will be represented on the new Heroes Square for prosperity, along with the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Regiment. The square will in the long term future be used for numerous formal occasions 12| SWIFT AND BOLD
and on Remembrance Sunday will be the centre of remembrance for the north of the UK. The Branch was invited to the 4 RGJ Reunion which was held at G Coy 7 Rifles in East London. It was well attended and the Secretary and Committee used the opportunity for a recruiting drive. It was pleasing to see such a large gathering of former London based Riflemen come out of the woodwork and also a small number who signed on again. Credit must go to the permanent staff at the Drill Hall for organising this event. The Branch supported Queen Victoria Rifles, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade at the annual Calais memorial service in France. A very early start from Davies Street is part of this day but every year not only is this an occasion to remember this very gallant action but also one at which Branch members can associate with the few remaining Riflemen who were there at that time. Lunch was taken at a local restaurant before the ceremony at the memorial at the quayside before departing for home. Those that attended expressed that it was an excellent day and were hopeful that it would continue in the future. The Veterans Lunch at Mark Masons Hall was once again very well attended, despite a last minute change of date, owing to circumstances beyond our control. We only lost two attendees thankfully and welcomed the Association’s recently appointed Vice Chairman Simon Booth–Mason who was pleasantly surprised by (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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The Rifles Cemetery is located deep inside the wood
The Group on Ba lefield Tour to Ypres 2014.
the numbers attending and was able to make renewed acquaintances with Riflemen from his service days. Thanks to some very generous members and a sucess raffle a substantial amount was raised for Regimental Charities which we are supporting this year. Regents Park Memorial Service which is held in memory of members of the RGJ Band who were murdered on the Bandstand, was very well attended. Over seventy Branch Members and their wives attended. The large turnout was due in some respects to the public publicity given to honouring this sad event. A short service took place conducted by Richard Frost and Gary Driscoll, wreaths were laid an act of remembrance and a minute silence was observed. The Branch assembled for lunch at a local restaurant and dispersed in the early evening. It was a fitting tribute for the RGJ Bandsmen. The Branch was represented at the inauguration and dedication of the Field of Poppies cascade, which took place at the Tower of London. A total of over eight hundred thousand poppies were laid, each one representing a life lost during the First World War. It was truly a remarkable sight and which many of the branch members were able to experience. Last year’s annual Battlefield Tour took place over the weekend 26th to 28th September with 34 Branch members and their ladies attending. The intention of the tour was to walk in the footsteps of our predecessors of The Rifle Brigade and the KRRC. An early start from Liverpool Street Station with pick up points throughout the south east, finally embarking at Dover. On arrival at Calais we drove directly to Ypres to our hotel, allocated rooms a quick warmer in the bank and then off to Pioegstreet Wood. Due to the limited time available and a full itinerary it was essential that we visited this site to set the scene for the tour. JOURNAL 2014
that entailed a long walk over wet and muddy track system. The cemetery is surrounded by dense Forrest but as always very well kept. Adjacent to the cemetery was the Regimental Aid site and also the site of the Battalion Headquarters Command Post. Although the wood was held by the British throughout the whole war except for a short period in 1918 when the Germans occupied the wood for a short time before the British retook it. It is not difficult to follow sequence of the British Regiments during the war by looking at the dates at the cemeteries. Time was limited in the wood due to the fact that our visit coincided with the local shoot and we had no intention of taking part in a reenactment of battlefield casualty’s procedures. Day two was a full day, which included visiting sites of regimental interest and especially graves of VCs of The Rifle Brigade and KRRC. Tyne Cot Cemetery, KRRC Memorial at Bellewaerd and also the site of the Death of Prince Maurice of Battenburg. An early return to Ypres to allow the Branch to prepare for the highlight of the day, the evening ceremony at the Menin Gate. We had managed to secure a place high in the pecking order in the wreath laying ceremony. The Branch laid a total of four wreaths, one for each of the regiments; The Royal Green Jackets; The London Branch; The Rifle Brigade; the KRRC and the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment. One of the London Branch members, Patrick Cody, a Chelsea Pensioner, laid the KRRC wreath and was the senior soldier on parade and was greatly appreciated by the huge crowd present. The final morning concentrated on Essex Farm and Lijssenthoek Cemetery. Our guide explained the (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 13
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casualty clearance system from the forward trenches,
for the auction were forthcoming and far exceeded our expectations; a very, very, grateful thank you to all those very generous individuals who contributed. As mentioned earlier, our aim this year was to raise enough money to finance a commissioned painting for fthe regimental Museum commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. We are delighted to report that with money donated/raised from events held this year, including a donation from the branch contingency fund and money raised on the Andy McNab evening, we achieved our aim.
Forming up on Horse Guards 2014.
to the first treatment immediate aid site and to the casualty clearance post and then to the major field hospital. We walked the route the casualties would take and were impressed with the arrangements in place at each of the locations. Lunch was taken in a small village called Popoeringe, which was also a favourite place for convalescing soldiers before being sent home. We departed for Calais and the trip home having had a very enjoyable trip, having achieved our aim, and paid our respects to our very brave predecessors.
A huge, very big ‘thank you’ to all our loyal branch members and guests who contributed in any way, raffle, donations, auctions, etc, in helping us raise the £10,000 we pledged to raise. A special mention must go to, and word of thanks to The Swire Trust for their very generous donation, a gift from Hungary and finally a donation from our Washington Detachment. The support that we received in achieving this target really has been overwhelming. Thank you once again. Each year the Branch lives in anticipation of the number of Riflemen who will attend the Remembrance Service Parade held on Whitehall. This year was no exception
The RGJ Marching Con ngent to the Cenotaph 2014.
We were fortunate enough for Andy McNab to agree to attend another fundraising book signing event for the branch. The evening was held at Davies Street, and consisted of an interview with Andy McNab, book signing, grand raffle and a regimental artefacts/ memorabilia auction. Donations for the raffle and items 14 | SWIFT AND BOLD
as the notice for application had been advertised on the RGJ Web Site. As expected numbers exceeded our allocation but with thanks to Richard Frost who transferred a number of unused tickets from the KRRC (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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excellent Christmas lunch provided coupled with an abundance of wine rounded off with good company, one could not ask for more. The Ladies also manage to complete some Christmas shopping in London and after lunch complete the day at the South Bank Christmas Market. A raffle took place, which raised money for Branch charities for 2015. The lunch was addressed by the President who thanked members for their generosity through out the year which has allowed the Branch to honour their pledges to RGJ Charities. The Secretary briefly reminded members of fourth coming events of 2015. This is an excellent event on our calendar for the Festive season.
Remembrance Sunday - London 2014.
allocation and some other unused tickets from other sources, the contingent formed up on Horse guards with an excess of 260 Riflemen. It was by far the largest contingent on parade, which was very heart warming in that so many had made the effort. Marchers assembled at the Theodore Bullfrog, which by special arrangements opens very early to allow members to have breakfast, coffee, and for the hearty a warmer in the bank. A briefing from the Secretary, assembly on the square, parade completed, final salute followed by a swift return to the Theodore for lunch and a time to share many memories along with a few drinks. The after parade assembly was in excess of 450 Riflemen which having been joined by RB and KRRC members from other locations over spilled into the surrounding area. The Metropolitan Police were as always very understanding and the last wearier Rifleman departed in the late evening. Three members of the Branch Committee travelled to the Arboretum for the unveiling of the Heroes Square paving stones, in preparation for the the rebuild of the facilities which takes place in early 2015. HRH Prince William performed a short unveiling ceremony and mingled with those present. A wide variety of stones were on display and a great many of their Regimental Representatives attended. The rebuild has been brought forward by a year due to generosity of public appeal and a grant from the British Legion. Once the rebuild is complete the Branch intends to attend the opening ceremony. The Ladies Christmas Lunch was held on the 20th December at Mark Masons Hall. This is a very popular event and is considered ‘payback time’ to the Branch Ladies for all the male only events that they allow members to attend through out the year! Not only is an JOURNAL 2014
To complete our fund raising activities for 2014, a fundraising evening was held at East Ham Working Man’s Club. Chelsea ‘legend’ ex-footballer, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris, treated us to an entertaining evening with dressing room stories from his Chelsea playing days, accompanied by comedian Mr Mike Pugh who delivered numerous belly-laughing gags. A big thanks to those members/ guests who attended.
Fundraising Event with Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris.
All in all it has been a very successful year for the B ranch, not only in respect with regards fund raising but also in the numbers attending functions. It is really pleasing to see so many supporting the Committee and enjoying the company of fellow Riflemen, which is our number one aim. The Branch wishes all Riflemen no matter where they are a successful year and if you are deployed in harms way take care and return home safely. The theme for the year 2015 is to be the 20th Anniversary of the formation of the London Branch and also the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. Plans are in hand which include a ‘Waterloo Bicentenary’ Celebration Ladies’ Dinner Night, with some very important guests, and a Battlefield Tour in September, to name a few. The Committee is confident that all the events will be well supported and worthwhile. SWIFT AND BOLD | 15
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THE NORTH EAST BRANCH Hello once again to all you RGJ members. The North East branch has again been very active throughout our area, as well as attending various historic tributes in this country and in Europe during the course of this commemorative year. I would like to start this edition of Swift and Bold with some pictures of the North East Branch combined with the Central Branch when we attended the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Parade at the National Arboretum in September. We had an extremely good turn out on the day and George Barrs laid the wreath from the North East Branch in memory of all those who lost their lives in this 30 year conflict. Northern Ireland Veterans Parade, September 20th, 2014.
Tommy, the statue in Seaham harbour.
RGJ conƟngent at 140 to the NaƟonal Arboretum.
The next main feature of our calendar year was the Remembrance Weekend: 6 events at 5 venues in 3 days. It started on the Friday evening at the Queen Vic hotel, Sunderland, where approx. 120 members of the advance party met up. Members arrived from all over the globe and a special thank you must be given to Roy Hurley who flew in from Arizona. He was kindly collected from the airport by Tony Fowler and driven up to the North East to spend the weekend with Riflemen whom he hadn’t seen for many years. A great night was had by all in anticipation of the Saturday evening buffet and entertainment. At mid-day on Saturday North East Branch members organized trips for members not living in the area to go the see the Tommy statue in Seaham harbour. The main event sold out 8 weeks before the actual date, 300 people attending the Stadium of Light. When all the guests arrived at the Stadium of Light they were met by the Buglers who played us into main reception with various bugle calls. En-route to 16 | SWIFT AND BOLD
Tommy Group.
the reception room were met by a Guard of Honour from the Durham Pals Re-enactment Group dressed in WW1 uniforms and weapons. Brigadier Nicolas Prideaux gave his opening address to the members and guests, thanking all for their attendance and support, especially to Jake and Liz Cheetham and the Branch Committee who had put so much work into making the evening a huge success. He also informed us that Colonel James Ramsbotham had arranged for Sunderland Association Football Club’s Commercial Director, Gary Hutchinson, to generously donate 300 tickets to the veterans for the (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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Sunderland v Everton football game on the Sunday afternoon. Attending as guests of the branch, were the family of Rifleman Dave Mulley who was killed in N.I. The family were presented the Elizabeth Cross by our president Brigadier Nicholas Prideaux on behalf of her Majesty The Queen.
As you can imagine, copious amounts of beer were consumed during our celebrations. A Duo played and sang and members danced the night away. The Auction was a huge success, raising over £800 for the Royal British Legion. All raffle tickets were sold and we had over 70 prizes on show, this was due to the generosity of all the members and guests who had donated the marvellous prizes. The food was delicious, as was the special cake made for the occasion. The evening drew to a close around 11pm to allow the veterans to retire for a good night sleep before being on parade the next morning. At 8am on Sunday morning, we began to muster, in the nearest pub to the venue of the March Past, having coffee and bacon butties to provide us with the energy needed for the forthcoming parade.
After some further bugle calls and display from the Durham Pals, which was greatly appreciated and received, we were given a surprise announcement that we had three very special guest entertainers at our function, the North East Branch equivalent of the Andrews Sisters. Tommy Suggitt played Laverne, Keith Wilson played Maxine and, last but not least, George Cook played Patty. They gave us their own rendition of the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company ‘C’” and this had everyone in stitches throughout the entire performance. I really wish I could include some of the video footage to show how funny this really was. Well done guys (err ladies). Our main entertainment for the evening was a young lady called Kayley, the niece of Douglas Bond. She sang tunes of the war time era, dressing and performing them perfectly.
By 10am we’d formed up in our three ranks near Sunderland Civic Centre and were placed on our order of march by the Parade RSM. Our ranks were swelled to 115 Riflemen, exceeding last year’s turn out, all marching as the North East Branch at our regimental pace of 140. The entire veterans March Past was greeted by the public with massive applause; however, when we rounded the corner to the Saluting Dias, the cheers and support reached a crescendo that I have not heard on any previous Remembrance Parade and it brought a lump to the throat of everyone marching that day. After the parade we fell out and made our way across the river to the Stadium of Light to take up our seats for the Premier League game. All 300 tickets were issued for the Sunderland v Everton match and it was great to see Newcastle fans supporting the Regiment sitting next to the Red and White Army The game was a draw but we did see a fantastic goal from Sunderland’s Seb Larsson. Once the game was over we departed the Stadium and made our way over to the Roker Best Western Hotel where we had a very warming chicken curry and rice or chilli and rice, a few more drinks and small raffle. The Mayor and Lady Mayoress, who took part of the salute at the Remembrance March Past, were our honoured guests to this final part of our proceedings. Sadly, the weekend came to a close all too quickly for those who had to catch trains, planes or a long drive
John and Kayley. JOURNAL 2014
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Also on the 25 September 2015 a commemorative event including the laying of a dedicated paving stone will be held in memory of Captain Maling (VC) The
home.
All in step.
Our next Branch get together was our annual Christmas drinks and buffet, which was held at the Royal British Legion in Sunderland. Jake Cheetham presented the Royal British Legion’s staff, Vince and Lynne Harris, with a cheque for £828.00 from our Branch as they are our nominated charity. George Barrs actually had his surprise birthday party at the Royal British Legion and it was celebrated with quite a few Riflemen who Audrey (his wife) had invited and sworn to secrecy so George had no knowledge of what was in store for him. As we are such a large and successful Veteran’s Branch we have been invited to attend a number of events in and around Sunderland one event is on 13 February 2015 commemorating the Holocaust and the discovery and liberation of the Death camps at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Our Annual General Meeting is to be held in April 2015 where we will be electing new committee members and due to the pressures of work and family life, I will be stepping down as editor. So I would like to take this final opportunity to thank everyone for their support whilst I have carried out the duties of Branch Editor and wish my successor all the very best for the future issues of the e-zines and Swift and Bold. 18 | SWIFT AND BOLD
Blakeman and son. (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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project is in its early stages. Capt Maling was a 26 year old Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 12th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) during the First World War.
Sunderland council have been informed, this is a part of the Royal Green Jackets history and have agreed the branch members should be invited to attend this commemorative event. Malcolm Donnison
Roker Mayor Mayoress.
THE NORTH WEST BRANCH Dear Fellow Riflemen On Sunday 15th June 2014 Tom Fairclough laid a wreath on the Northern Ireland Memorial which sits at the back of St Georges Hall in St Johns Gardens. If you remember back to 1996, this was a memorial that was dedicated to soldiers of Liverpool who were killed during the Northern Ireland troubles and was unveiled by the Duke of Westminster. Tom was accompanied by Eddie Byrne and Mick Cronin. On Saturday 28th June, members of the branch were invited by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool to march on, following the Veterans Day service that was held at the Anglican Cathedral. The ceremony was attended by a number of our members. On the Veterans Day Reunion on Saturday 12th July 2014, WO2 Dave Crossley invited NW Branch members to the Sergeants Mess at the 4th Battalion The Rifles in Bulford the night before. Tom Fairclough arranged a 17 seat coach for this weekend which all seats were filled within a few days. Accommodation was arranged a short distance away in Bulford for the Friday night and then they travelled to Winchester early the next morning. After the Veterans Day in Winchester the coach then returned to Bulford and the following morning after a hearty breakfast in the sergeant’s JOURNAL 2014
mess, and some activities arranged by the battalion, the coach then returned to Liverpool. Mark Lydiat wrote an account of, what turned out to be a fun filled weekend. His account is as follows. NW BRANCH VETERANS WEEKEND 2014 Friday 11th July 17 members left Liverpool at 1030hrs on board the bus were all in good spirits and looking forward to the weekend. Tommy Fairclough was driving. The others on board were Mark Lydiat, Dave Parry, Mick Cronin, Frank Toner, Keith Pardoe, Arthur Cosgrove, Stephen Donaghue, James Mathews, Kenneth Herd, Paul Bromilow, Tolly Toleman, Eddie Carberry, Kenny Gosden, Barry Conner, Eddie Hughes and Pete Towers. The banter quickly started and nobody was spared, 1200hrs we stopped at Frankly Services for a half hour break. 1230hrs back on bus and once again the banter started. Travelling along the M5, road works delayed us then, as you would guess, one member, who shall remain nameless, said he needed the toilet. Don’t worry says Tommy, we are coming off the motorway (To be conƟnued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 19
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soon and I will stop then, I need the toilet now was the reply, I need the toilet. This went on for about another 10 junctions and now you could feel the desperation as the cries became more urgent. Tommy came off the motorway at the first opportunity. Before the bus even stopped the side door was opened this person started to pee through the door. With the wind from the movement of the bus the pee was being blown back into the van and people were getting wet to say the least. When the bus finally came to a standstill in the lay-by this person still needed the toilet, he got down and carried on for about 5 minutes more. He was then joined by another of our members. Eventually they both got back in and Tommy drove up the hill and said this is where we were going to stop anyway. We all disembark for a toilet stop and came back to the van but there was one person missing, and you guessed it, it was our peeing person. Tommy, being impatient, went looking for him and found him ordering a sandwich from the pub. This made Tommy even more annoyed. Tommy being the driver started to direct people on what to do when we arrive at Bulford camp. He then started shouting at other drivers for being in his way, the 3 front seat people then got us lost but we finally found the Travel Lodge in Bulford. Tommy told the group to be ready for 1700hrs but then he turned up at 1730hrs saying it was not him who was late as he had been to the pub to get them out so this made us late for our evening meal. We were met at the barracks gate by Dave Crossley
and were taken to the Sgts mess. Dave explained what was going to happen for the evening. We had an excellent dinner and then moved onto seeing how the Rifles live. Dave has a double bed in his room, a big television and en-suite even the Riflemen have their own room with an en-suite. They bring cleaners in to clean the block, the riflemen can challenge the NCO if they are pulled for their appearance. Talk about a living different world from when we were in. We were then taken to have a look around the Officers Mess, we were met by an officer who gave us a conducted tour of the mess. From there we went to the NAFFI, met with a couple of riflemen and had a chat with them. We were then taken back to the Sgts mess for a few drinks. Dave Crossly was joined by a colleague and they showed us some of the modern day equipment in use, mine detector, S.A. 80, the light machine gun, and night vision. We then were shown 2 videos that 4 RIFLES had made themselves in Afghanistan. We were then joined by other colleagues from The Rifles and a good evening was had by all with the evening finishing at about 0100hrs. Next morning outside the motel, Tommy was not in a good mood as his Liverpool hat and sunglasses had gone missing. He was accusing everybody especially the Evertonians amongst us. He was told they would be in his room but he insisted that somebody had nicked them. We had breakfast in the Sgts Mess, a full English for £2.60, that was very good value. We were then shown around more equipment, jackal, quad bikes etc. We then moved on to the ranges for some live firing of the SA80. All the one shot wonders then came out, we had a friendly competition (Ha Ha) and Arthur Cosgrove was declared the winner with 5 balloons in 10 shots.
www.riflespropertyservices.co.uk
e-mail: rickmillward@btinternet.com
I have to say a big thank you to the 4 RIFLES CO, the RSM, Dave Crossley and all the other members of staff for their hospitality. They really looked after the Northwest Branch of the Green Jackets Association in true Green Jacket style. We did not want for anything it was so well organised, all on time, this shows that unbreakable ties linking the Rifles and Royal Green Jackets. It was then back to the hotel, wash (To be conƟnued on next page)
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and change, it was at this point that Tommy, getting into the van with his Liverpool hat and sunglasses on saying that someone had broken into his room and put them on the table. We then set off to Winchester for the Veterans Day reunion. We had a tremendous afternoon and evening with old friends and colleagues. We eventually left the marquee at 0100hrs, with the last to leave slightly the worse for drink. This was where our designated driver for the evening came into his own. When he realised this was a manual gear box his reaction was ‘I only drive automatic’ so we had two other members in the front of the bus, one for directions and one for changing gear for the driver, what a laugh we had but we finally we arrived back at the motel safe and sound Next morning all up early and back to the Sergeants mess for breakfast, said good byes to Dave Crossley and the rest of the mess. As you can guess it was a quieter bus journey home to Liverpool than it was driving down. A great weekend was had by all and we will certainly be putting this on our diary next year. We held our Rifleman’s Dinner on Saturday 4th October 2014 at the Thistle Hotel, Atlantic Tower, Liverpool. 50 members attended the evening from all over the country. The speaker for the evening was Major Ken Potter. This year the Remembrance Parade in Liverpool was held on 9th November 2014. About 50 people attend the parade this year. After the parade we then formed up at the rear in St John’s Gardens where we laid a wreath at our NI Memorial Stone. After the laying of the wreath we lined up for a photo shoot then we made our way to a local watering hole for a few light refreshments. Following our appeal for donations to provided Peter Uden a permanent memorial, I can now announce that due to generous donations from members of the North West Branch, some members of other branches and even from abroad, we have now almost reached our target and we will be hoping to have the memorial placed very soon. The balance will be made up by an anonymous benefactor who we all extend our most sincere gratitude. I have been in contact with Peter’s widow, Joyce, and she is arranging and providing details for the memorial. On behalf of the North West Branch and Joyce, I would like to thank all those people who donated. Again the generosity of the Royal Green Jackets has once again shone through. JOURNAL 2014
On 25th October our secretary Ray Gerrard resigned from his post as secretary due to work commitments. It is with a heavy heart that we have to report to you the death of our Chairman, Gareth Dixon. Gareth was the Chairman of the Branch since the early 1990’s. He died peacefully, after a short illness, in Fazakerly Hospital Liverpool on 2nd November 2014. The branch and the RGJ family will miss him a great deal. An obituary to Gareth can be found on the branch website. His sister sent this message. To all the friends of Gareth Dixon. I would like to thank all of Gareth’s friends in the Green Jacket family and beyond for not only a wonderful send off for him but also for raising a total of £510 for Help 4 Hero’s. He would be proud of you all. Ruth Dixon The branch AGM The branch AGM was held on 23rd January 2015 at the Thistle Hotel Liverpool. 24 members attended. A copy of the minutes will be posted on the NW Branch Website. The main issue was to elect a new committee following the death of Gareth and Ray resigning as secretary. The committee elect is as follows The 2015 committee President: Chairman: Assistant Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: Rifles Liaison Officer:
Brigadier David Innes Tom Fairclough Jimmy Matthews Mark Lydiat Ray Gerrard WO2 Dave Crossley
Entertainments/Social Events Sub Committee Tom Fairclough Steve Donoghue Arthur Toleman Following Gareths death, for the next 12 months, Ray Gerrard has agreed to become treasurer of the branch and with his experience in the running of the branch to liaise with the rest of the committee and pass on this knowledge. From the NW Branch we wish all our fellow Riflemen and a prosperous new year. Until next time, yours in green from all the committee of the NW Branch Mark Lydiat, Secretary SWIFT AND BOLD | 21
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THE OXFORD BRANCH 2014 was a very busy and eventful year for the branch. It started with a very successful and well-attended New Year lunch with our friends from the Rifles Officers Oxford Club. This was held in the Officers/Sjts Mess at Edward Brooks Barracks (EBB), the home of ‘A’ Coy 7 Rifles, and we are grateful to the OC for allowing us the use of the facility. In June we marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day on the 6th, and there was a strong contingent of the Oxford & Bucks in Normandy led by General Bob Pascoe, with newsletter editor Roy Bailey acting as the Association’s ‘Official Photographer’. We in the Branch who were left behind held a service at the grave of Major John Howard in Clifton Hampden churchyard. This was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev Anne Ilsley, and a wreath was laid on Major Howard’s grave by his cousin Mr Derek Chivers at 16 minutes past 12 - exactly 70 years and 12 hours after the first glider landed at Pegasus Bridge. A text message sent from General Bob from the Bridge was read out. Buglers from 7 Rifles sounded Last Post and Reveille to add to the reverence of the service. Pupils of the local school were in attendance and were able to ask questions of D-Day veteran Sam Langford about his experiences during the War. After the service Brian Cox laid a wreath at the War Memorial inside the Church on behalf of the Branch.
Christ Church Cathedral where we remembered the entry of Great Britain and her Empire into WW1. Names of some of those from the Oxford & Bucks who lost their lives in 1914 were read out while we remembered all those who gave their lives for freedom. In September at EBB we enjoyed another excellent lunch with our ladies with record numbers attending. Also on 13th September the city of Oxford ‘Opened its Doors’ and the Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles were to the fore, giving a free concert in the Town Hall with branch members filling several rows of seats. The Band and Bugles also treated the public to music at several open air sites in the City. The Annual Reunion was held at EBB in November with some old faces appearing. Riflemen from ‘A’ Coy 7 Rifles were interacting with branch members, swapping experiences that ranged from D-Day, Malaya, Cyprus and Northern Ireland to Iraq and Afghanistan. It is inevitable that numbers are dwindling but we need more of you ex-OBLI and RGJ to join us to keep this branch alive. At our AGM in December I had to advise members of the changes facing us in the future as a result of decisions at a higher level – changes that I am confident we can cope with. A joint Service of Remembrance was held in Christ Church Cathedral on 11th November where the Books of Remembrance were moved from the Military Chapel into the main Cathedral. The Service was conducted by the Sub Dean, Edmund Newey, and a selection of names of those who died were read from the Books by the Branch Chairman. These included a set of brothers from the Hirons family who lived in Bicester. Their relatives, led by Mr Albert Parker and his son, attended the service This service, which was broadcast on both local television and radio, became the focal point for the County to remember on this day. During the year three issues of our full-colour newsletter, The Lightbob, were published and the 43rd & 52nd Old Comrades Googlegroup mailing list continues to keep its 100+ subscribers up to date with all the news.
On June 15th we were able to hold our annual Band Concert at EBB thanks to the Band tweaking their busy schedule, and this was well-attended with more families with young children attending. That is encouraging for the future. On August 4th the branch organised a special ‘Turning The Pages’ ceremony in the Military Chapel inside 22 | SWIFT AND BOLD
The past year has been packed with events and the coming year will no doubt also be busy, so all you exRGJ and now The Rifles out there who live in our area are invited to join us so that we can keep the Regiment alive. We meet at EBB in Abingdon at 2030hrs on the first Tuesday of the month, or contact Mike Marr on 01235 548018 or Terry Roper on 01865 766724. Terry Roper Chairman Oxford Branch JOURNAL 2014
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THE WILTSHIRE BRANCH We have had another very busy year in Wiltshire, with many memorial and social events in the County and our home town of Warminster. Memorial events, our first of the year was Armed Forces weekend held in Trowbridge our County town where on the Saturday the Royal Artillery band and a Field gun and limber of the Royal Horse Artillery were on parade to receive the freedom of the town, one hundred years since the RHA deployed from Trowbridge to France on the outbreak of World War One, we also attended at the Minster Church Warminster, in August for a vigil service to mark the anniversary of the start of World War One. Remembrance weekend saw the Branch in Waitrose supermarket Warminster, on the Friday and Saturday Poppy collecting in support of The Royal British Legion, we managed to get our hands on hundreds of the 1914-2014 poppy pins which helped our total of £1,786.90, well above our 2013 total, well done Phil Ashby,Ted Peckham, Bill Tyson, Lee Massey, Gary Peacock, Gary Byrne, Mike Walsh, Bob Holcombe, Brian and Blanche Darvill.
for a short service and two minutes silence, this was exactly 100 years to the day that The 52nd Light Infantry defeated the Prussian Guards in Nonne Bosschen Wood, something our Chairman kept reminding everyone as he started his career wearing 43rd and 52nd shoulder titles. Our Social calendar was very full as is normal with Mr entertainment Phil Ashby and his wife Val organising these events, including two dinner nights, a Glam Rock BBQ, where a stick of Bournemouth rock appeared complete with Gary Byrne right through the middle. We along with Warminster Royal British Legion, manned the water point in Heytesbury village to hand out water and banter for the veterans Charity run, Ilfracombe to Bulford, for the second year we saw Rifles Cadets from Somerset march through at Regimental pace, well done them, and also the directing staff many of whom were known to us in RGJ berets. Our annual skittles night in The Organ Inn, was
Poppy collecƟng in support of The Royal BriƟsh Legion at Waitrose supermarket Warminster.
On Remembrance Sunday we met up in The Old Bell for lunch prior to the towns service always held in Warminster at 1500 hours, a Regimental wreath was laid by Bill Tyson, and afterwards we made our way to our home in the town, The Conservative Club for stew and a pint or two, then on the 11th November we were represented at the Field of remembrance JOURNAL 2014
a great success for some, but not the Chairman, who brought the wooden spoon to the event which Blanche had won the year before only to take it home again, only this time he was the winner! The overall winner and winning lady was Rosemary, partner of (To be conƟnued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 23
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laser markers, just a pity they never work, and thanks to Dave Smith who produces the trophies. September saw our Chairman and his wife Blanche once again at Pegasus Bridge where they laid a Regimental Wreath. Christmas Eve drinks brought our year to an end, a challenge had been thrown to us all by Val Ashby, to wear Christmas jumpers, you can see in true Green Jacket tradition not two of us were dressed the same!
The Branch 2015 AGM was held in January with our President Brig G dv W. Hayes CBE leading from the front, who gave us an update on the Waterloo appeal and the museum, committee members remain the same but there is light at the end of the tunnel for Brian, a Chairman elect is in the wings for 2016. We were The RIFLES Cadets marching in the Charity run. then joined by wife’s and partners for Gary Peacock. This has become one of our best a very good buffet. attended events, probably due to Gary Byrne always looking for ways to win by using latex gloves and Brian Darvill, Branch Chairman
Wearing Christmas jumpers. 24 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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THE WINCHESTER (HAMPSHIRE) BRANCH For many years neuroscientists and phycologists have been applying their massive brains to the question ‘Why does the passage of time appear to go faster with age’. Well with age and my one and only brain cell working at half power I think I have the answer. And itis this –with age oldies such as us tend to apply a simple logic and less worry to a problem or task. In other words we don’t ‘over think’ it. The consequence of which is that we get whatever we are doing done in half the time of those younger than ourselves. There is nothing magic about this – it is simply a condition called ‘experience’. In other words with experienced people of a ‘certain age’can generally cram and process more into their waking hours and as we all know being busy does appear to make time pass more quickly! Having said that I can just see the young pups out there reading this and screaming ‘whaaaaaat rubbish!’ Well it probably is but that’s my theory anyway. However there’s no getting away from the fact that all the wonderful and interesting events our members have either organised or participated in throughout 2014 seem to have made the year just whizz by. So what has the branch been up to throughout 2014. Well in addition to our alternate monthly formal and social meetings, plus supporting the monthly Turning of the Pages in Winchester Cathedral, our main events for the year really got underway back in early February starting with our AGM chaired as usual by that renowned Rifleman and our inimitable Chairman – Major Roy Stanger. Roy as his want laid the agenda foundations for a superb and busy year of branch and individual events. The first of which kicked off in March with a really fun and madcap Quiz Night held in the SJM Barracks WO’s & Sgts Mess by kind permission of the ATR RSM and run by our Secretary John Harper together with Chris Mitchellh is able helper (believe you me John Humphries and the Mastermind programme have nothing to worry about). The whole evening was superbly complemented with a fish and chip supper supplied by the local chippy in Harestock who with an order for 70 portions thought his Christmases had all come at once! May quickly followed with a really interesting visit organised by Peter French to the Defence Academy Shrivenham during which the members and their wives were treated to an excellent guided tour of the establishment and a slap up lunch in the Sergeants Mess. Final comment at the end of the day – “Wow! We didn’t know there were so many different weapons and military vehicles!” Call themselves professionals. They were more like kids in sweet shop! On the 6th June two of our members John Harper and Pat Low looking very smart in their regimental JOURNAL 2014
blazers and medals together with other British and Commonwealth military representatives took part in a small ceremony of dedication to mark and commemorate the 70th anniversary of D Day and the restoration of the single track railway line and Hockley Viaduct bridge just south of Winchester. All of us must have passed this unused and almost derelict railway line and viaduct many times during our training but few were probably aware of the significance it played during both World Wars. For example in the year leading up to D Day on the 6th June 1944 the line was closed to civilian traffic and over 16,000 military trains carrying troops and equipment from all over the world crossed the viaducts single track leading to Southampton docks. If you are ever in Winchester it is really worth a visit. On the 28th June after the Armed Forces Day celebrations had concluded in Winchester,the branch together with the residents of Green Jacket Close jointly held a BBQ and firework display in celebration of both the AF Day and WW1 Armistice Day. On this occasion this was no simple garden BBQ but a far grander affair along the lines of a street party with a large superb marquee supplied by Albert Story (resident and ex RB/3GJ/3RGJ) and gazebo BBQ tent all set up within the centre of the Close. Unfortunately as always when holding a BBQ in the UK the weather was to say the least ‘testing’. In fact it was more reminiscent of a monsoon afternoon in Malaya which unfortunately put the kybosh on the firework display. Despite the unseasonal weather however a combination of great food, more than a few drinks and the excess of warm cosy air circulated by the myriad of ‘swinging lamp’ stories a great time was had by all. Our thanks to all the residents of Green Jacket Close who made it such a wonderful and convivial occasion. Also in June two of our individual journeymen Pat Low and Del Milam managed to squeeze in a visit to Belgium and lay wreaths at the Menin Gate Memorial to British and Commonwealth soldiers killed and missing in the Ypres Salient during WW1. Slipping into July the branch as ever was heavily committed in assisting with the organisation and running of the Regimental Veterans Day on the 12th under the control and ever watchful eye of the Master of Ceremonies Major Roy Stanger. From a branch point of view and despite the hard work that goes into the occasion by its members and the other supporting organisations it was thought that the event went very well indeed with very little drama and the minimum of problems. Roy was particularly thankful to Ron Frampton and his band of ladies who ran the bar for over 12 hours in the main marquee, and to the (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 25
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Band & Bugles of the Rifles who as always did us so proud by adding that essential regimental flavour to the occasion. Even more encouraging however was the numbers of Riflemen who turned up from all over the planet. Both the main and assault course car parks were literally bulging at the seams with lots of cars and pretty pricey looking caravans and campervans. Clearly many ex members of the regiment are doing very well for themselves these days – and good luck to them too! The branch took a bit of a break throughout August but before we knew it September was upon us and what a busy month it turned out to be. On the individual visiting front John ‘Geordie’ Scott (ex RB 3GJ/RGJ and also resident of Green Jacket Close) picked up on the regimental website that Brig Tony Berry was looking for someone to represent both the KRRC and RB at the 115th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Talana (2nd Anglo/Boer War 1899-1902). John needed little incentive to go as his wife Coleen (Paddy) is South African and despite the ceremony being held so far away at the Talana Cemetery and Museum in SA,and would also be attended by many other representatives from the British and SA military, off he went clutching a number of regimental wreaths to lay at the memorial graves of those who fell from both regiments. John said that the occasion was a most moving and memorable experience and one he was proud to represent the regiment at. Also in September the branch held its annual clay pigeon shoot and family BBQ at the SJM range. Although the weather was again far from brilliant a fantastic day was had by all and everyone walked away with some sort of prize, ringing ears, sore shoulders and a full stomach.
John Sco and other SAAF representa ves at Talana.
Sadly in early November we suddenly and tragically lost Alistair Murray one of our Associate Members. Although Alistair was an ex Gordon Highlander (a different shade of green) he was nevertheless one of our most ardent and enthusiastic members who embraced whole heartedly the fraternity of Riflemen. Few people around the wider regiment would have known or even met Alistair but anyone who visits SJM Barracks will see the impact he had on it via the Memorial Garden in which he together with other members of the branch put in many hours of enthusiastic and uncomplaining labour. A Wonderful man and friend of the regiment who will be sorely missed. Branch Associate Membership: Shortly after its inception some 30 years ago the branch decided to offer membership on an ‘Associated’ basis to all ex-service personnel within its catchment area who for whatever reason were unable to attend their own associations (usually due to distance, cost or in active organisations). An Associate member has the same rights as a full member other than they are unable to comment or vote on regimental matters. With Winchester being a cathedral city and Remembrance Day in November being a pretty serious affair, it naturally followed that the branch would get very heavily involved as it usually did. In fact our day like everyone else across the country on Remembrance Sunday started really early with a 9am service in the open air in front of the KRRC Memorial just outside the main entrance of the cathedral. This was followed at 10.30am by the main service in the cathedral during which a number of our contingent including Pat Cody our ‘In’ resident of the RHC and ex KRRC dashed off to SJM Barracks to attend the Drum Head service being held there. As you can imagine Pats scarlet
John Sco at Talana Cemetery. 26 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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again to hold our annual Dinner and Dance at the
In front of the KRRC Memorial just outside the main entrance of Winchester Cathedral on Remembrance Sunday.
frock coat and tricorn hat caused a real feeling of pride and pleasure amongst the recruits and staff at the service. So much so that I understand they want to book him for next year. Now there’s real celebrity for you! Following the various parades and services, everyone including on this occasion Brig Tony Berry and wife plus one or two other KRRC couples joined us at the South Winchester Golf Club for a warming drink and a superb lunch. It was funny however to note the admiring but intrigued looks from all the golfers at the number of green blazers on display. I would like to think they were admiring our regimental dress although I suspect anyone who has the unthinking temerity of playing golf on a Remembrance Sunday morning probably thought we were all representatives from the US Masters! As the year drew to a close in December and with Christmas just around the corner it was decided once
South Winchester Golf Club. Although attendance was unfortunately down a little on previous years (probably because it had to be held on a weekday night) 65 very happy individuals still sat down to a truly enjoyable evening of delicious food and superb wines plus plenty of port to raise a toast to the Regiment and Absent Riflemen. The club doesn’t have quite the same military look and ambience as a regimental mess but it certainly matches it in warmth, décor and privacy which made it the perfect venue to end our year on. Finally from all our members here in Winchester and the Hampshire surrounds we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our fellow Riflemen and their families wherever they be around the world a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. John Fritz-Domeney
THE YORKSHIRE BRANCH We continue to meet at the Drill Hall in Wakefield on the fourth Tuesday in the month except November to February inclusive. A good proportion of the members are no longer able to attend meetings but continue to keep in touch mainly via the minutes, telephone and the mail. Early this year (2014) news was received from Sohar Jones that Roger had died after several months in hospital. He had been wheel-chair bound for many years and had suffered the amputation of both legs JOURNAL 2014
from knee level. He and Sohar had lived in Scarborough for twenty years in accommodation that had been adapted to aid him as much as possible. Sohar has now been found suitable housing conveniently close to the Scarborough Cricket Ground. Roger had served in first RGJ in Malaya where he had been a Regimental Policeman. Jim Stevenson KRRC, who had been one of our (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 27
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founder members, died in July aged ninety. The branch was represented at the funeral in Bradford by Derek Howard KRRC, Derek’s wife May and the Secretary. Derek and Jim used to travel to meetings in Jim’s car but when Jim ceased to be able to drive we saw them no more. Derek had served in Greece and Palestine, and at the former place one of his comrades had been the singer Frankie Vaughan known in those far off days as Frankie Abelson. After the ceremony we spoke with one of Jim’s sons who used to be a Prison Officer in Wakefield. He told us that his mother had predeceased his father and that they had been the parents of eight children, and were great-great-grandparents. Jim had served in Germany after injuring his foot badly in a grenade accident at York during training. As a matter of interest the young officer in charge of the grenade throwing exercise was future Field Marshall Lord Bramall. He concluded by saying that Jim had been especially proud when as a Branch Member he had organized a visit to the memorial in Royston to honour the memory of Rfn. Shepherd VC. Jim had gathered many of the great man’s surviving relatives to the ceremony and invited them to lunch afterwards. It was a memorable and pleasing occasion. Jim had told us that when he had first visited Royston he called at the British Legion Club and enquired of the barman if any of the old soldier’s relatives still lived in the town. A hatch opened and a face appeared saying “WHO WANTS TO KNOW?” It was Rifleman Shepherd’s elder son. Associative Member George Corker, who served in the Artillery in Korea, suffered a stroke during the summer. The Secretary was informed by George’s daughter that he had been admitted to Barnsley General but later removed to recuperate at Kendry Hospital which is ominously close to the Crematorium. During a visit at a later juncture George was discovered within a large single room which had French windows overlooking a veranda on which he could sit out during clement weather. However the patient was found to be bored and was already planning his escape, for which purpose he was getting fit by marching up and down between the foot of the bed and the doorway. To conclude he is now back in sheltered housing at Barnsley. Arthur Jennison and Harold Hillary (both KRRC) plus the secretary attended the annual Kohima Parade and lunch on Thursday 10th July. It was Harold’s first Branch outing for a year. The service this year was held in the Minster garden as the Minster itself was the venue for a series of concerts. It made for a nice change and the large gathering sat so still and quietly that a robin joined us and pecked about our feet or perched on the back of seats. The Dean of York, a woman, gave us a lively description of the Kohima battle. She ended with the 28 | SWIFT AND BOLD
words of an unknown Japanese soldier who had said “THE BRITISH WERE BRAVE AND THE JAPANESE WERE BRAVE; BUT THE BRITISH WERE BRAVER LONGER”. During the lunch that followed we found ourselves sharing a table with the family of one of the few surviving veterans. One of his sons-in-law told us that he himself had served with the RAF in Aden. When he discovered that Arthur had also served in Aden, he insisted that we all had a drink with him at his expense. When I drove Harold home it was to find that his sister Marian had sent out a search party as he had been missing all day and had not told anyone where he was going. On 12th July the Yorkshire Freedom of Wakefield Parade for the Rifles was attended by David Bloomfield 2RGJ and his retainer the Secretary (RB). We had hoped to enlist Tom Conlin 1RGJ and Paul Haigh 2RGJ but they had better things to do and were in fact at the Annual Winchester Rendezvous. David was wheeled across the bus station and we reached the gathering place outside the old grammar school where we found band members and a few KOYLI veterans there before us. The band was the Rifles Cadet Band from Pontefract. It was a delightfully warm day and we lounged about in the shade until approached by a genial CSM who exchanged a few old soldier remarks with us ancients and told us what was expected of us. We rehearsed briefly and then after a short interlude moved off as per rehearsal. David and I brought up the tail end of the cavalcade. Our little squad was led by an old soldier (KOYLI) in a jaunty Panama hat that was much more suitable for the day than the officer’s bowler and our woollen berets. We moved off at regimental speed up a narrow cobbled street which played havoc with David’s front wheels making his chair like a recalcitrant super-market trolley. We were able to catch up only when the column reached smooth tarmac and we eventually came to a halt outside what used to be the old Viennese Tea Rooms and in the shade of one of the Cathedral’s plane trees. There we stood for the next half hour or so while the ceremony took place and we were inspected by a senior officer in dress uniform and an officer of the Rifles. The public address system was not of the best and we on the flank of the parade could not hear the speeches. However we could hear the band and they performed admirably throughout. It was to be hoped that the regulars, who had travelled overnight from Edinburgh, could understand what was said about them.When we set off once more it was to make a truncated circuit of the Cathedral and to rejoin the 3rd Battalion as they came tramping up the hill for the march past. Afterwards we veterans were dismissed to our duties by the wearer of the Panama hat which in our case meant strolling nonchalantly into the Cathedral where we found a tempting buffet awaiting and - dream of joy - ice cold lager or fruit juice. Before we departed the Rifles CSM approached once more (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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Late in 2013 those who were able attended the funeral for our comrade Rod Ball (KRRC) who had died on Remembrance Sunday aged 80. After the service was over Rod’s widow Doreen and their daughter Gillian said that Ron had wanted any donations at the funeral to be given to the Yorkshire Branch. It was a generous gift.
with the bequest. There were several suggestions but the most likely was to use some of the money in response to the request of General Wallace for help with the Museum’s Waterloo Appeal. There was a little havering at first but John Lengthorne 1RGJ made the clinching remark by saying that we should sponsor a medal from the Peninsular War in memory of Rod Ball. This was accepted unanimously and I wrote and told Doreen Ball what we had decided. At Christmas 2014 Gillian wrote on behalf of the family to say that they were pleased that Rod would be remembered in this way. She concluded her remarks by saying she looked forward to visiting the Exhibition in the summer. She had lived in Winchester as a child and an abiding memory was of the bugle sounding from the barracks.
At a later meeting we discussed what we should do
Stuart Anderson, Hon. Secretary
with two of his younger riflemen. We soon discovered that he had been originally in the Green Jackets. His name was CSM Moncho and I suspect he may have been 3RGJ as he was familiar with the name of Kitson - both the General and his son the Colonel.
The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum To contact the Museum, telephone or e-mail the Curator, Christine Pullen. Tel: 01962 828549 or e-mail: curator@rgjmuseum.co.uk To purchase items from the Museum Shop, for information about forthcoming events, and to read interesting articles about the Museum, visit www.rgjmuseum.co.uk JOURNAL 2014
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THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM
2014/15 Report General Last year saw an overall fall of 8% in Museum visitors from 13,528 in 2013 to 12,386. This was disappointing since, after 8 months, the fall was only 2%. However, we announced publicly, including on our website, the closure of two-thirds of the top floor of the Museum in September in order to strip out existing displays in preparation for fitting-out this year’s Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary exhibition. This may have encouraged some people to postpone their visit to 2015. However, we did expect more visitors in the earlier part of the year as 2014 marked the Centenary of the Opening of the First World War. Indeed, we invested £25,000 in creating a new First World War permanent display, including grouping nine out of ten of our First World War VCs in a single, striking display case. We also ran a temporary exhibition in the summer about the mobilisation of the BEF and its impact upon the depot in Winchester. It seems, however, that public interest in 2014 was largely satisfied, to the point of overload, by the many programmes about the First World War on television and by the huge amount of information available for access on the worldwide web.
completion of the display area covering the history and activities of The Royal Green Jackets between 1966 and 2007. Looking after the Museum’s collection of objects and medals takes a huge amount of staff time with the collection continuing to grow. One of the Museum’s most important acquisitions during the year was an original India Pattern musket of the type used by redcoated infantry of the line during the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. We bought it for a reasonable sum (£1,900), not because Riflemen used muskets during this period, but so visitors might be able to compare it to a Baker Rifle, the Rifleman’s weapon of choice at the time. During 2014 we also created more space in the Museum and improved the care of our reserve collection by moving most of it into storage at West Dean, near Salisbury. Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition 2015 This major exhibition titled ‘With the Rifles to Waterloo’, and costing close to £400,000, will be opened by the present Duke of Wellington on 25 March. Attendance is by invitation only.
Notwithstanding the fall in visitor numbers, the Museum managed to generate enough money from other sources, including handling research enquiries and holding evening talks, to finish the year with a small surplus of income over expenditure in covering its operating costs. We also saw a considerable increase in website visitors from a monthly average of 3,400 in 2013 to 4,080. Many people comment favourably on the Museum’s website, but we know it needs improvement. We know, too, that if we are to connect with the younger generation, we must be more pro-active in our use of social media. Creating a better website is a Museum priority for the second half of 2015.
The exhibition promises to be very special with over 25% of the project cost spent on conserving the Museum’s Waterloo diorama, housing it in a new display case and with much improved lighting. A new explanation of what happened during the battle has been recorded with Kate Adie as the narrator. Following conservation, the diorama is almost unrecognisable with 30 years of accumulated dust removed and each figure – there are 30,000 of them – individually cleaned and, if necessary, repainted. This became a labour of love for the conservator and his wife who have done a magnificent job working on the diorama for seven days a week for four months, with only three days off over Christmas.
Although most of the Museum’s focus in the latter part of 2014 was on the Bicentenary of Waterloo, we also found time to undertake other tasks. This included
A further 25% of the exhibition cost has been spent on
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creating an air-conditioned, multi-functional space, named the Kincaid Gallery, to serve as an art gallery, lecture facility and class room, as well as being available for corporate hire. In preparation for displaying our paintings of the period better, most have been sent away for conservation and cleaning. Like the diorama, they too are coming back looking so much better than before.
exhibition during 2015 and see for yourselves the numerous other changes that have taken place at the Museum over the past 12 months. You may like to think of a branch visit in a group of 10 or more, and requesting a group tour. However you decide to come, on your own or in the company of others, you are, as always, assured of a warm welcome. Lt-Gen Sir Christopher Wallace Chairman RGJ (Rifles) Museum Trustees
The exhibition itself has three galleries covering ‘The Road to Waterloo’, ‘The Hundred Days’ and ‘The Battle of Waterloo’. The first of the galleries tells the story of the formation of Rifle and Light Infantry regiments and describes what happened during the Peninsular War. The galleries include a number of hands-on interactive elements which we hope will interest children – and their parents. A busy events programme will run concurrently with the exhibition. Waterloo Appeal Critical to the Waterloo project has been raising the money to pay for it! An initial grant of £100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund started the ball rolling. Subsequently we announced a £100,000 Appeal which later became a £200,000 Appeal as the cost of the project rose and we became more ambitious about what we wanted to achieve. Well, the excellent news, hot off the press as this article is written, is that, provided all pledges convert to cash, the Appeal target has been achieved. What has been especially pleasing has been the support given to the Appeal by RGJ Association branches and members. As may be well known, the London Branch contributed £10,000 to pay for the commissioning and framing of a painting by the South African born artist, Jason Askew, of ‘The Rout of the French Imperial Guard on 18 June 1815’ by the 52nd Light Infantry, supported by the 2nd/95th Rifles. This painting was delivered on 25 February 2015. It will be hung in the Kincaid Gallery and unveiled by the President of the London Branch, Colonel George Smythe, on 25 March. Once the unveiling has been carried out, it is planned that prints and postcards should be available for sale in the Museum shop and on-line. Other branches, too, have played their part in supporting the Appeal, with four-figure sums donated by the Central England and Milton Keynes branches, and with much valued contributions from the NorthEast and Yorkshire branches. Very many thanks to you all. Conclusion It is a bit late in the year for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do strongly recommend to all Association members that you visit the Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary JOURNAL 2014
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The London Rifle Brigade - 100 years Commemoration
On the 4th November 1914 the 1st Bn London Rifle Brigade (1/5th City of London), with the Earl Cairns Commanding, embarked on the SS CHYEBASSA at Southampton, and sailed to war. The Chairman of the LRB Veterans Association, Robin De Pree, with Peter Hart (Membership Secretary), Robert Richier (Social Secretary) and Gerry Willis (Treasurer) planned and arranged to Commemorate that day on the 4th November 2014, exactly 100 years ago to the day, with a special lunch at The Rifles London Club, at Davies Street, London W1. The first "Chyebassa" Lunch was held in 1919, and for many years following. In 1937 her ship's Bell was presented to the regiment; and so it was prominently displayed in the Mess, together with a framed picture of the ship kindly donated by Gerry Willis. At the start of lunch the Chairman reminded everyone of why we were here, and we all remembered those Riflemen who had fought and died with the regiment, and all of those who fought and died during war. Then followed the regimental prayer, which was read out in the loud, clear voice of 94 year old Frank Curtis (1941
LRB/8th Bn Rifle Brigade). A special Menu was designed and printed by Lesley, Rob Richier's wife. The regiment's pre-war badge is on the front, and displayed inside is a full spread picture of the SS CHYEBASSA, with a list of those attending, the meal, toasts, a short history of the LRB's first five months at war, a short history of the ship, and the names of those who said they were unable to come. On the reverse cover is the regiment's post war badge, depicting their nine battle honours. Thirty Members attended and each was given a personalised Menu, including our guest of honour Major Larry Davis, OC G Coy, 7th Bn The Rifles, based at the Cedars, West Ham, London E15. He kindly gave us short situation report about G Coy. Importantly for the LRB Veterans Association Members, is that his Coy retains the closest link with the LRB within The Rifles regiment. It was a very memorable occasion for all those attending.
The SS CHYEBASSA’s Bell is now prominently displayed at the Cedars.
LRB’s first few months of war: August 1914 - April 1915 2nd August 1914 The regiment went down to Eastbourne for its annual training, arriving about 2.30pm, but three hours later it was ordered back to London. 5th August The order to ‘mobilize’ was received, with little surprise, and everyone reassembled at Bunhill Row conscious that they were wanted for much more serious work. The regiment was not up to strength at the time and so there was a seething mass of men all clamouring to join, and vacancies were easily filled with appropriate volunteers. Drills took place in the Merchant Taylors’ School Ground. 15th August The battalion was asked if it would volunteer for foreign service. Lord Cairns the CO addressed the LRB, saying (To be conƟnued on next page) 32 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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that the regiment had always claimed that to be one of the foremost in the force, and that now was the time to prove it. Many had to consider the situation carefully, but he was able to confirm that the 75%, the minimum number acceptable, would accept the foreign service obligation. 16th Sept 1914 Hill Camp, Crowborough, Sussex (tented camp) new kits were served out to all ranks. Nothing definite was known as to where the LRB would be sent, but rumour gave France or India as it's destination. 27-28th October The Adjutant was awakened to receive embarkation orders; but these were cancelled, and it was not until 3rd November that final orders were received to embark the next day. 4th November The battalion had a great send-off from the other regiments of the brigade, with the band of the Post Office Rifles playing to it at the station, and then embarked on the SS CHYEBASSA at Southampton on the evening of the 4th November, with Lt-Col WD Earl Cairns Commanding 8 Companies. After a calm crossing the LRB disembarked at Le Havre the next day, and had a very trying March to No 1 Rest Camp. Owing to a shortage of tents a large number of men had to spend a frosty night in the open. 6th November The regiment entrained in the evening. The train consisted 50 trucks and carried 848 all ranks, with 22 vehicles, 2 machine guns and 68 horses and via Abbeville reached St Omer on the evening of the 7th. Their arrival at St Omer was apparently unexpected by the authorities, but after a little delay the night was spent in some filthy cavalry barracks! The next day the battalion marched to the Benedictine Convent at Wisques - better known in 1915 as the GHQ Machine Gun School. The building which was both unfinished and unfurnished was a large one and housed the entire battalion. But there was no water, not a single fire place, and no lighting, except by candles which were difficult to obtain. The men slept on bare boards, and were nervous about using candles; but they soon found straw and made themselves comfortable. Wisques was thirty miles away from the firing line. During the first battle of Ypres, the LRB and one or two other Territorial battalions and the North Somerset Yeomanry were almost the only troops in reserve to the whole of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). 16th November - a very wet 17 mile march was made to Hazebruck. The exhaustion on a arrival was not entirely dissipated by the issue of a rum ration. Then the following day was an 11 mile March to Bailleul, and billets there were behind the Church in a large school, and a former hospital. After two nights there was an advance to Romarin which finished in a snowstorm! Here the regiment was attached to 11th Brigade commanded by Brig-Gen. A. Hunter Weston. The brigade consisted - 1st Somerset LI, 1st East Lancashire, 1st Hampshire, and 1st Bn Rifle Brigade. The LRB found great satisfaction in being with its sister regiment. All these troops were part of the 4th Division Maj-Gen HFM Wilson, of the 3rd Corps under Lieut-Gen. Sir WP Pulteney. 20th November The Brigadier came to see and welcome the regiment. Later that day half companies went forward to the trenches in Ploegsteert. Gratitude was expressed that the LRB had come to help the troops, who were exhausted from fighting the first battle of Ypres, which was just ending. Every possible help was given in teaching the duties required and how to make the best use of the uncomfortable surroundings. During D company's preliminary tour of the trenches Rfn J L Dunnett, who was only 18 and very popular with his comrades, was killed by a shell while breakfasting – our first casualty and a very sad loss. 22nd November - saw the regiment move up into Ploegsteert, just behind the front line, and was billeted in the village. HQ was at first in a farm known as Report Centre on the Messiness Road some 600 yards north of the village; and then later in some cottages near the billets on the east side of the road. 17-18th April 1915 Five months later, during the night the LRB came out of the trenches for a rest and went into billets at Steenwreck. It was the first time that 11th Brigade had been out of the line since August 1914! The weather was good, sports had been arranged but then the situation changed... JOURNAL 2014
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Lieutenant John Dimmer VC, KRRC: Memorial paving stone unveiled for WWI hero AS PART OF the nation wide WWI centenary commemoration local authorities will commemorate Victoria Cross recipients of the First World War. The WWI Green Jackets antecedent, regular and territorial, regiments received a total of 23 VCs which are due to be commemorated at or near their place of birth in the next four years. 1914: “This officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12th November at Klein Zillebeke until he had been shot five times – three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets, and continued at his post until his gun was destroyed.” Dimmer learned about his award from reading a British newspaper whilst recovering in a French hospital. During the First Battle of Ypres on 9th November 1914, the 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps, occupying trenches at the edge of a wood just 120 yards from the Germans, were subject to continuous artillery bombardment and German attacks, all of which were repelled. John Dimmer had at least two narrow escapes, on each occasion a bullet passing through his cap. On 12th November the Germans launched a massed assault. John Dimmer served his machine gun during the attack at Klein Zillebeke until he had been
Unveiling of the paving stone. Bernade e Oxley (leŌ) and Stephanie Dimmer.
On Wednesday morning on 12 November 2014 a commemorative paving stone was unveiled in Lambeth on the South Bank by Bernadette Oxley and Stephanie Dimmer. A memorial service was held beside the London Eye to celebrate the life and achievements of Lieutenant John Dimmer 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps who was awarded the VC on 12 November 1914. Individuals, all with local links to John and his Regiment, stood solemnly beside the simple commemorative stone laid in Jubilee Gardens, at the base of the Silver Jubilee Flag. The son of a railway worker, John Dimmer was born in Gloster Street, Lambeth on 9 October 1883. As a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps he was awarded the VC for his actions on 12 November 1914 at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium.
The Cita on was read by Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon, vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.
As the London Gazette recorded on 19 November
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shot five times – three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets, and continued at his post until his gun was destroyed. For this action he was awarded the VC.
Holy Water. The London Borough of Lambeth then hosted a reception in the Royal Festival Hall. John Dimmer’s VC medal is displayed in the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester.
Dimmer recounted the action in a letter to his mother: ‘On Thursday last, at about one o’clock, we were suddenly attacked by the Prussian Guards – they shelled us unmercifully and poured in a perfect hail of bullets at a range of about 100 yards. I got my guns going, but they smashed one up almost immediately and then turned all their attention on the gun I was with, and succeeded smashing that too, but before they completed the job I had been twice wounded, and was finally knocked out with the gun. My face is spattered with pieces of my gun and pieces of shell, and I have a bullet in my face and four small holes in my right shoulder. It made rather a nasty mess of me at first, but now that I am washed and my wounds dressed I look quite alright.’ After recovering from his wounds he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in Salonika. In October 1917 he was attached to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, commanding the 2/4th Battalion. On the first day of the German’s spring offensive, 21st March 1918, the enemy was encountered in overwhelming numbers, and the parties were compelled to withdraw under very heavy machine gun fire. Lieutenant Colonel John Dimmer VC, MC was killed and heavy casualties sustained by the rank and file. Dimmer had been leading his men on horseback when he was shot and killed close to the German lines. He is buried in Vadencourt Military Cemetery, Maissemy (north west of St. Quentin in France), close to where he fell. His epitaph reads ‘For King and country he gave gladly.’
A bugler of The Rifles played the Last Post and Reveille.
Father David Young, parish priest of St Patrick’s Waterloo, led prayers and blessed the paving stone. On his right is Councillor Ade Aminu, the The Mayor of Lambeth.
Words of remembrance and prayers were said by the stone and a bugler from the Rifles sounded the last post. The service was conducted by the local parish priest, Father David Young who blessed the stone with JOURNAL 2014
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75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEFENCE OF CALAIS A Lunch and a Commemorative Service with Wreath Laying and Parade will take place at The Green Jackets Calais War Memorial on Tuesday 26 May 2015. Full details on the Commemoration will be published on the RGJ Association website.
A SCENE AT THE GREEN JACKETS WAR MEMORIAL IN CALAIS, THE MAYOR OF CALAIS, FRENCH STANDARD BEARERS, THE RIFLES BUGLERS, VETERANS OF THE DEFENCE OF CALAIS AND UNSEEN ARE CITIZENS OF CALAIS, REGIMENTAL MEMBERS OF KRRC, RB, QVR ALSO LADIES AND THE LONDON BRANCH OF THE RGJRA.
THE DEFENCE OF CALAIS 23-26 May, 1940 By Major A. W. Allan, D.S.O. (1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, 1940) READERS of the CHRONICLE who followed in its pages the fortunes of the 1st Battalion in the busy prewar years of its pioneering activities as the first motor battalion of the Army will have gleaned some idea of the magnitude of the task involved, as well as the success achieved. Much of the credit so justly given to the motor battalions of the 8th and other British armies during the war years can fairly be attributed to the hard groundwork of 1937-40. But, however much their role was changed, the men of the old 1st Battalion took it in their stride, remaining essentially the same riflemen as ever. The following pages are designed to give a short sketch of how this unit came temporarily to pass from ken in 36 | SWIFT AND BOLD
the days of the defence of Calais, where such success as was achieved against Germany’s best trained and equipped troops was attributable still in the main to the rifle and the spirit of the man behind it. On Tuesday, 21st May, 1940, the Battalion, dispersed in Suffolk villages, had done a hard day’s work constructing road blocks in anticipation of the German invasion of England, then regarded as imminent. Orders received at 1900 hrs. for an immediate move to Southampton resulted in the whole unit being under way in fully (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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packed vehicles at 2315 hrs. An exhausting drive in pouring rain ended at Southampton at midday on the 22nd, where a scratch meal was served to the men on the Avenue. Vehicles were taken straight to the docks and loaded as they were, with all ammunition, weapons, etc. (except for forty rounds S.A.A. per man and eight Bren guns) on to the vehicle ship. Some two hours later the Battalion marched in hot, sunny weather to embark on a personnel ship, s.s. Archangel, passing en route a cricket match: a typical scene of peaceful England. The German armoured thrust was then at, or approaching Abbeville. The men spent the night packed like sardines. only those not on duty being able to get a few hours’ fitful sleep, as the convoy of two personnel and two vehicle ships, with the 2nd/60th Rifles and 1st Rifle Brigade, steamed upChannel to Dover. Here Brigadier Nicholson received his orders to move, on disembarkation at Calais, to operate somewhere beyond St. Omer on the right flank of the B.E.F. It was known that the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment had gone to Calais the previous night with similar orders. The third unit of the 30th Infantry Brigade (1st Queen Victoria’s Rifles, previously billeted in Kent) had crossed from Dover on the 21st and were awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Brigade at Calais. The convoy sailed from Dover under escort of one destroyer, and during the crossing the Brigadier issued orders for the battalions to move to dispersal areas clear of the harbour on disembarkation, and to await the unloading of vehicles, etc. As vehicles arrived, units were to concentrate right and left of the Calais-Boulogne road, the first unit to disembark to take the right. This order had, in the event, the effect of determining the tasks of the 60th and Rifle Brigade, for, as the personnel ships steamed into Calais Harbour at 1300 hrs. On Thursday, 23rd May (after an ineffectual attempt by German aircraft to bomb them and amid depth charges dropped by the escort), the 60th’s ship berthed first. From the moment of arrival it was plain that the battle for Calais was on. A movement control staff officer, a D.S.T.O. and a few khaki- clad figures were only there to handle the warps and one or two short gang-planks. Broken glass from the station and hotel buildings littered the quays and platforms, in which many bomb craters were visible besides overturned and bombed trucks on the lines. As he stepped ashore, the Brigadier was informed by the movement control staff officer that all telephone communications at the quay with England and France were cut by fifth columnists and Germans; that the town was full of snipers; that the location of B.E.F. Headquarters, last heard of near Hazebrouck, had not been known for some time and could not be conjectured; and that German armoured columns were already operating between Boulogne and Calais, The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment were still unloading the JOURNAL 2014
last of their “B“ Echelon, but the regiment had already moved south of Calais and was rumoured to have met opposition. The Brigadier departed for the town to find the Base Commandant, and battalions filed off the their dispersal area, the men gazing curiously at the piles of abandoned kit lying on the quays jettisoned by crowds of soldiers and ‘airmen who were being shepherded on to the ship, recently vacated by the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, homeward bound. These troops were in the main non-combatant personnel, R.A.F. ground staff, H.Q. clerks, etc., who had suffered a severe battering by the Luftwaffe on their travels to the coast. They bore every sign of this, and made a far from cheerful welcome to the theatre of war. The dispersal area for the 1st Rifle-Brigade was in the sand-dunes to the east of the harbour mouth. The C.O.was quickly called away and Major J. A. Taylor, who had temporarily-taken over Second-in-Command in the absence of that officer on special duty, set companies, after a hasty meal, to digging trenches. It was well that he did so, for such protection as was then prepared was used throughout the battle and it was in this area that the last rounds were fired. The afternoon wore on, with the vehicle ships still churning up the mud in the falling harbour tide in the absence of tugs to haul them into the quays, and it was not until 1700 hrs. that the 60th vehicle ship berthed and unloading began, She got the benefit of three cranes, while the Rifle Brigade ship, last in, had only one. Soon after unloading began, the first enemy shells fell on the far side of the harbour. This shelling, combined with an excited mob of civilians yelling” Les Allemands,” was in full view of the Battalion, which could also see that some form of scrap was taking place down the coast towards Boulogne. Now came the news that the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment had fought an action only a few kilometres south of their position, and were withdrawing into Calais itself, and officers began to feel more than impatient for the arrival of their weapons and equipment. Unloading proceeded very slowly. The British stevedores had worked for thirty-six hours at unloading a supply ship of rations for the B.E.F. on to lorries, and were almost too tired to stand. There was no French dock labour, with the exception of the operators of the cranes. Parties from each company standing by to take away vehicles did what they could to help, but it was found that unskilled labour was more inclined to delay unloading than otherwise. So darkness fell, with little that was required ashore, and already there were new orders for the Rifle Brigade requiring the use of all transport urgently. It would be convenient here to anticipate a little and to explain that there were really four phases of the action at Calais, corresponding with fresh orders received by Brigadier Nicholson. These orders varied in accordance (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 37
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with information as it was collated by higher authority. The first, as has been said, was the preparation for concentration south-west of the town, with a view to advancing inland and operating against enemy light troops on the flank of the main battle. At this time it was believed that enemy armoured cars only were operating in the areas Abbeville-Calais. Next, the urgency of the supply situation for the B.E.F., now withdrawing on Dunkirk, pressed for the delivery of the 350,000 rations unloaded oil 22nd May at Calais, and the Rifle Brigade was ordered to escort them half-way to Dunkirk, while the 60th and the Queen Victoria’s Rifles held the enemy from Calais. The enemy was now realized to be stronger than formerly supposed (for Boulogne was to be evacuated), but only light armoured forces were still estimated. Thirdly, early on 24th May orders were received for the defence of Calais, but the Brigadier was informed that evacuation of defending troops would probably be undertaken that night. Later, this evacuation was postponed until the 25th. Lastly, at some time on the 25th, Brigadier Nicholson received the order to hold out to the last, and that every moment the enemy could be held off was of the utmost importance to the safety of the B.E.F. This last order reached the 1st Rifle Brigade some time shortly before midnight on the 25th and was repeated continually throughout the 26th by various means. Now, as the evening of the 23rd drew on, Lieut.-Colonel Hoskyns gave out the orders to “A” and “I“ Companies for concentration areas north of the Calais-Dunkirk road preparatory to picketing the route for some twelve miles, after which protection would be taken over by troops from Dunkirk.”B“ Company was detailed as escort to the supply column, with a detachment of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment under command. The column was to start at midnight. These orders were not destined to be carried out for various reasons, the first being the desperately slow rate of unloading of vehicles. “A” Company’s scout platoon (2/Lieut. A. P. R. Rolt) was made up to strength and drove to its rendezvous some seven miles to the east. On arrival there, local information indicated that enemy tanks were already in the area and surrounding the platoon. A despatch rider arrived from Capt. P. Peel, who had taken over” A” Company, with withdrawal orders, but, as the D.R. only gave these orders verbally, Rolt asked for confirmation and laagered for the night with all-round defence. During the night a number of fires were lit in his neighbour- hood on all sides. These proved to be the enemy forward tanks lighting signals to show their aircraft the limit of their advance. It was only by the exercise of considerable skill that this platoon extricated itself without loss the following morning, after receiving confirmatory orders to withdraw. Meanwhile, as vehicles slowly became available, Major G. L. Hamilton-Russell, O.C. “B” Company, with Capt. C. M. Smiley as his second-in-command, received four 38 | SWIFT AND BOLD
composite platoons made up from all companies, and was ready at the appointed hour for his escort duties. The tank commander, however, insisted on delaying the start until first light, and it was not until nearly 0500 hrs. on the 24th that the column got under way (the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment had, as stated, fought an action on the outskirts of Calais on the 23rd, in which they had lost about a squadron strength of their tanks). Rifle Brigade companies still awaited their vehicles, but “I” Company’s scout platoon (2/Lieut. D. R. Sladen), mounted intrucks, and 2/Lieut. C.R.C. Weld-Forester’s platoon (dismounted) were placed to the east of Calais, the 60th having by now taken up positions to the west and southwest on the outer defences of Calais with their left about the St. Omer road. The 1st Queen Victoria’s Rifles still held the thin line of advanced positions west and south of Calais to which they had been directed on arrival. During the night a complete hiatus had taken place on the quay; all the staff having gone away to sleep in utter exhaustion, and the essential men who worked the cranes had disappeared after several shell splinters had landed in the holds of the ships. It was mainly by the superhuman efforts of Capt. T. R. Gordon-Duff that the cranes were got working again and unloading resumed slowly. Sundry ships of the Royal Navy came in during the night, one destroyer bringing Major General McNaughton, commanding the 1st Canadian Division, to reconnoitre. Despite desultory shelling and bombing during the hours of darkness, the Battalion suffered no loss so far as is known, and the first casualties occurred in “Boy” Hamilton-Russell’s column. This met opposition within some two miles of Calais amongst the suburban “ribbon development” and allotments. A strong enemy road block defeated the advanced-guard tanks, which found flanking movement impossible. A gallant effort by 2/Lieut. J. F. H. Surtees, with carriers, was also unsuccessful, but while he pinned the enemy so far located, 2/Lieut. E. A. Bird’s platoon of “B” Company was sent round the right flank, while P.S.M. Stevens covered the left flank with “I” Company troops. Touch was lost with Bird (who, in fact, had become involved with enemy infantry posts south of the road) and several casualties were incurred from well directed enemy mortar fire on the reserve platoons, a motley mounting truck receiving a direct hit. Hamilton-Russell’s orders were interrupted by accurate fire wherever his command post was moved. The Commanding Officer and Brigadier were present during a considerable part of the five-hour effort to break the passage, and, after reports from David Sladen, and other posts, which strongly confirmed that the “Boy’s” command was rapidly being surrounded by superior forces, he received orders to withdraw. Bird’s platoon rejoined just as the withdrawal began, well pleased with having inflicted ten or more casualties on the enemy. They had lost, however, Cpl. Cross killed, and three or (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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four riflemen were carried back wounded, The column was back in Calais by 1100 hrs. on the 24th, and “B” Company (less No. 6 Platoon) now took up positions in reserve near’ the cellulose factory, while the remainder joined their companies. Much had occurred during their absence. The 60th’s vehicle ship, which carried Brigade Headquarters vehicles, completed unloading at about 0430hrs and was then filled with wounded from the first of two hospital trains which had been standing in the station before its arrival. Unloading of the Rifle Brigade ship continued, but at about 0730hrs orders were given by the quay staff, who stated that they had Brigadier Nicholson’s permission, to close down the holds and load with the wounded of the second hospital train. Both trainloads of patients were transferred by Rifle Brigade personnel, but more than twenty men who had died in the train were left on the quay, which had now for some hours been under shell fire. The stevedores and their officers and some of the quay staff embarked, and the ship sailed at about 0830 hrs., followed some time later by the 60th’s vehicle ship, which carried the remainder of the quay staff (except the D.S.T.O.), as well as the brigadier lately commanding the Boulogne and other persons who had escaped from that place. The ships shelled from a southeasterly direction as they left the harbour, but not hit.
considerably to the difficulties in movement and “sorting out” Fires were blazing everywhere; oil tanks smoking. Gordon-Duff, who had been put in charge of the protection of the quays with two scratch platoons of spare drivers, was hard put to it to keep them clear of refugee civilians. He and his men also succeeded in saving some light tanks out of several set on fire, but the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment were already sadly reduced in tank strength by the afternoon of the 24th. One squadron had been sent to reconnoitre the coast road through Gravelines. The Germans had already reached the coast, and this squadron, after a sharp action in which it is believed the Germans lost heavily, was absorbed into the Dunkirk defences. During the morning the 60th had been fighting in the outer defences of Calais in extended positions interspersed with two companies of the Queen Victoria’s Rifles. The remaining half of that regiment was put under Lieut-Colonel Hoskyns’s command, and was reinforced by platoons of the 1st Rifle Brigade. 2/Lieut. F. Reed, with No.10 Platoon of “C” Company, had’ put himself under command of Capt. Bower, of the 60th, at the point of junction with that regiment. Here at 0500hrs two German prisoners were taken, and at 0600hrs two light tanks were driven off.
The 1st Rifle Brigade’s deficiency in equipment was now severe. All scout cars and the six Bren guns they carried had been handed to the 1st Armoured Division just before embarkation, and the premature departure of the vehicle ship left them some 50 per cent. short of weapons and equipment; the Signal Officer (Lieut. J. P. Duncanson) had only one (No. 9) truck, only “B” Company had its W/T truck; carriers were barely enough to make up two scout platoons; the M.O. had no medical stores or transport, and “B” Echelon no tools. Fortunately, the reserve ammunition had come ashore. A lot was, done to remedy this state of affairs. By 2/Lieut. R. G. L. Tryon’s (T.O.) and others’ efforts, vehicles were, in many cases, replaced from the mass of abandoned material in Calais, several Bren guns even being” scrounged” and at least one scout car. Wally Straight was most successful in finding rations in various places under sniping and other fire, and in distributing them. The men, in fact, were never short of food, but rather of time in which to eat any. A limited amount of 3-inch mortar ammunition (not issued to the Battalion up to the time of embarkation) was brought in by the Royal Navy as well as quantities of petrol and gelignite for demolition. The Royal Navy demolition party reported, however, that the primers brought were the wrong size, and at about 1300hrs they, as well as the D.S.T.O. and the Admiralty wireless ship, left Calais; the quay now being entirely deserted of officials.
Nothing is known of the adventures of Lieut. W. M. Welch’s platoon (“B” Company), posted on the Dunkirk exit, from the time the column returned until 1600hrs David Sladen (No. 13 Platoon) reported at about 1100hrs large enemy forces moving from south to north across his front, and the C.O. ordered this and No. 14 Platoon posts to be withdrawn to the line of battlements. This was effected by No. 13 Platoon withdrawing through No. 14 Platoon (who also towed in an anti-tank gun taken under command) and covering its retirement in turn. The enemy took no action. At 1145 hrs, after the Queen Victoria’s Rifles had reported the outer perimeter no longer tenable, the C.O. ordered “I” and ”A“ Companies to occupy the inner perimeter: “I” Company on the right from the end of the bridge under the Mairie clock tower (in touch here with the 60th Rifles), then southwards 400 yards to the canal junction, thence 800 yards eastwards to the junction of the battlements with the canal (here “I “ Company was in touch with “A” Company). “A” Company held from this corner (inclusive of the bridge) facing east along the battlements to the Bassin des Chasses, with their scout platoon (2/Lieut. Rolt) from there to the sea, but this platoon was kept as a reserve under the C.O.’s hand. Both companies had an uncomfortably long frontage, and 2/Lieut. F. T. F. C. G. Fletcher’s platoon of” B “Company (about half strength only) and later Willy Welch’s platoon also were sent to Peter Peel. Headquarters and the remaining two platoons of “B” Company were held in reserve near a large heavily bombed building south of the quays, known as the Cellulose Factory. “C“ Company (Major
For some time the increasing enemy fire had added
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V. C. Knollys) were still digging in on the dunes, held in reserve, while Major H. Coghill, with H.Q. Company, was never required to leave his original position to the east of the harbour entrance throughout the battle. Before midday on the 24th the 30th Brigade was clearly involved in phase three referred to above; that is, in a desperate attempt to defend the town and harbour of Calais. To do this, Brigadier Nicholson had few troops and all too little material. There was no artillery. Some execution had been done the previous evening and earlier this day by French shore artillery turned inland, but the personnel manning these weapons had put them out of action and departed to sea in a fleet of tugs before midday. A detachment of an anti-tank unit under an R.A. officer had arrived with eight 2-pounder antitank guns. These were all out of action by the afternoon of the 25th. The 1st Rifle Brigade had two or three 3-inch mortars, and the 60th presumably one per company. A few anti-tank mines were landed by the Royal Navy and distributed by 2/Lieut. A. G. H. Bampfylde equally between the two regiments’ fronts on a lorry drive which he must have found somewhat hectic. For the rest, apart from the machine guns in the few tanks left, and two Vickers brought by the Royal Marines, reliance had to be placed on Bren guns, Boys anti-tank rifles and the rifle. Large numbers of troops continued to make their way into Calais on the 24th from L. of C. bombed-out A.A. and searchlight positions, R.A.S.C. units, etc., but the large majority of these were unarmed except for revolvers. Useful work was, however, done by many in the heavy fighting to come. It was clear that demolition material was of the first importance, for Calais was intersected by canals which in those days made excellent anti-tank obstacles if the bridges could be destroyed or well blocked. It had been arranged that demolition would be the responsibility of the French, with the exception of the docks area, for which the Royal Navy were to make arrangements. The French had no material and no demolitions were in the event carried out. Most of the many bridges were, of course, of heavy masonry and considerable size, and the plan advanced by the French commander at the Citadel for attempting their destruction by placing under them some prodigious shells, which he said existed in his store, and having them fired in some mysterious way by officers prepared to sacrifice themselves pour la patrie, was adjudged to be at that stage of the battle impracticable. H.M.S. Wolfhound tied up to the outer jetty during the early afternoon with a view to spotting for some destroyers which were engaging German batteries on the coast between Boulogne and Calais. At least one such battery was put out of action. The C.O. went aboard with the Adjutant (Lieut. T. H. Acton) to ask for demolition material, and was offered the ship’s complement of gun-cotton, with any other assistance 40 | SWIFT AND BOLD
the Captain could give. Unfortunately, so many urgent calls on the C.O.’s attention intervened then and for the rest of the day that the matter was not pursued. H.M.S. Wolfhound remained until the evening, several times coming into action against attacking enemy aircraft. At about 1800hrs an M.T.B. brought the P.S.T.O. Channel Ports, a Commodore, who once more took over naval control of the docks, and, having brought the necessary primers, wirelessed for the naval demolition party to return. Now a swing bridge over the docks was prepared for demolition, and the party returned home, the Commodore himself remaining until the 26th. During the afternoon the enemy attacks on the 60th’s front had intensified to such a degree that Lieut-Colonel Hoskyns deemed it necessary on several occasions to send assistance from his reserves. Gordon-Duff took a platoon of spare drivers with which he held a section of the 60th’s front, being about the last to be withdrawn from the outer perimeter at dark. At 1600hrs Hamilton-Russell, with No. 8 Platoon (P.S.M. Easen) and half his scout platoon, was sent in trucks through “I” Company’s position into the town to support the 60th and the Queen Victoria’s Rifles. There was sniping by fifth columnists in “I” Company’s area at this time, and a part of Brigade Headquarters withdrew past the Mairie to its new location at the Gare Maritime. At about 1600hrs also Tony Rolt received an order through the Intelligence Officer to take his mortar section and No. 11 Platoon, “C” Company (P.S.M. Criss), to the 60th’s area. There he was to get into touch with the C.O. of the 60th (whose headquarters were not known to the 1st Rifle Brigade) and put down mortar fire on an area of the Rue Gambetta which 2/Lieut. Price showed him on the map. On passing through No.15 Platoon, Rolt was told that enemy tanks were already in the 60th’s area, and that he was likely to meet them at any moment. All parties of 60th and Queen Victoria’s Rifles met confirmed that the enemy had got a footing in the town. After reconnaissance the area indicated was plastered with thirty bombs at long range from the gardens near the Mairie Square. This somewhat doubtful shoot actually helped a party of Queen Victoria’s Rifles according to information given later to Tony Rolt by an officer who was present. However, he rightly decided to use no more ammunition and withdrew to report to the C.O. Hamilton-Russell returned through “I” Company at about 1730 hrs. to the road block near the Cellulose Factory. His company (“B”) still had two platoons (Nos. 6 and 7) detached and was destined to remain so for the remainder of the battle; At 1900 hrs. these platoons were both in position with “A” Company, and at about the same time No. 12 Platoon, “C” Company (2/Lieut. Fellows), and No. 11 Platoon, “C” Company (P.S.M. Criss), were sent to reinforce “I” Company. Both these platoons were placed by Major E. J. A. H. Brush in reserve about 200 yards in rear of No. 16 Platoon on (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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the transverse road (and yet they were in a front-line position, as the Battalion was forward of the 60th’s line here from now onwards). The 60th were fighting in the Rue Gambetta, about 300 yards .south-west of “I” Company, while withdrawals from the battlements south-west and south of the town were taking place. The Queen Victoria’s Rifles, less two companies, were withdrawing to the neighbourhood of Headquarters, Rifle Brigade, and the 60th (the majority of whose retirements did not take place until dusk) were brought back to the shorter line in the old town ordered by the Brigadier. By 2100hrs the new positions were taken up, leaving, as arranged, “I“ Company, Rifle Brigade, in a forward salient with the nearest 60th post in view of No. 15 Platoon bridge overlooking the Hotel de Ville. At midnight enemy activity in the town ceased, apart from isolated bombing and shelling, the Rifle Brigade Headquarters having some close “overs” of heavy stuff which fell in the Bassin nearby at about 0100hrs on the 25th. Friday, the 24th, had been a day of great tension. At about 1900hrs the C.O. sent a message to companies that positions then occupied were to be held to the last man and the last round. Apart from enemy action, the general confusion as to the situation, the fantastic stories put about by enemy agents (in a letter to the Colonel-in-Chief from hospital in England, Lieut.Colonel Hoskyns drew particular attention to the effect of the so-called fifth column activities on this and the next day), and the fact that no commander ever had a moment from the time of landing to look around him and think-and plan for more than the immediate future, all tended to intensify fatigue. Nobody had slept except for a few hours on the ships, or ceased to work hard since the morning of Tuesday, the 21st. The 1st Rifle Brigade ”stood to“ at 0330hrs on Saturday, 25th May. After the successful repulse of the enemy on Friday, and the lull during the hours of darkness, Brigadier Nicholson asked the 60th and the Rifle Brigade whether there were signs of enemy withdrawal. Brush reported that he had himself patrolled the Rue Gambetta from 0530hrs in a car and discovered no sign of the enemy. Peel reported little activity on the eastern face, and the 60th reported similarly. Sundry forward moves were ordered by the Brigadier, but these soon met German anti-tank guns and infantry. Advance Brigade Headquarters had left the Gare Maritime for the Citadel with a view to close liaison with the French commander there at 0600hrs. At 0700hrs Germans were reported by “I” Company in the Rue Gambetta. Sniping began from the western side of the canal, and a bombardment of “A“ Company’s position also took place at about this time, as well as a certain amount of small-arms fire from the woods to its front, coupled with fifth column sniping from the houses behind them. Rolt’s 3-inch JOURNAL 2014
The Calais Citadel, 1940.
mortar (Cpl. Blackman) engaged Germans in the Rue Gambetta at 0745hrs from No. 11 Platoon’s position. At 0800hrs Peter Brush was shot through the throat by a sniper, but refused to leave his headquarters. At 0830hrs a German tactical reconnaissance plane flew along “I” Company’s positions and indicated them to their artillery by a line of smoke. At 0930hrs the enemy strafe came down with accuracy. At 1000hrs John Taylor arrived with orders to send Brush to the R.A.P. and to take over his command. All positions were now under intense fire, except the north-eastern portion of the defences, from which the company of Queen Victoria’s Rifles extending “A” Company’s left nevertheless reported observations of considerable enemy movement. Throughout the remainder of the morning enemy pressure was very strong at the southern face, and 2/Lieut. C. J. J. Clay (Liaison Officer, 30th Brigade) took a situation report to the Citadel at about 1130 hrs with a map marked by the C.O. Apparently a German W/T message was intercepted by the French indicating that if the attacks now being launched failed they proposed to attack heavily on their left, i.e., the 60th’s right. The Brigadier decided to attempt a diversion in rear of the enemy from the Rifle Brigade’s left, and at 1300 hrs. Lieut. Clay returned with Colonel Holland (formerly Base Commandant) with duplicate orders to Lieut.-Colonel Hoskyns to take a mobile column of all A.F.Vs. (tanks (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 41
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and carriers) and at least two motor platoons through the perimeter east of the Bassin des Chasses and to sweep round to attack the enemy’s right rear in order to r elieve pressure on the 60th. All reserves had become involved from the previous day with the exception of Headquarters and two platoons of “C” Company. “I” Company relied particularly on their three carriers and CpI Blackman’s mortar section of Rolt’s carrier platoon to cover bridges on their extended front, and both these and “A” Company’s bridges were now in momentary danger of being forced. The C.O. made a formal and energetic protest, which was rejected by Colonel Holland, and preparation for collecting the necessary troops was put in hand. Lieut.-Colonel Hoskyns stated that he would try to start at 1430hrs. The Adjutant, having written the necessary messages, made a personal reconnaissance of the route along the southern edge of the Bassin des Chasses, and, finding it impracticable, returned to report and to get the vehicles, now collected, turned round and in order (for the only other way out was by the sand-dunes and beach), a very difficult task on the narrow road past the railway yards which was
streets behind the main positions with enemy infantry who had infiltrated. Meeting three light tanks of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, he led them with his carriers in a successful counter-drive to clear the streets, inflicting several casualties and finding particularly good targets down the streets across the canal to the west of David Fellowes’s house and south of the 60th’s left. Jerry Duncanson shot down a German reconnaissance plane with a Bren gun in “A” Company’s area. Meanwhile, the C.O. had already sent Knollys with ”C” Company (less two platoons) on foot along the dunes to the eastern end of the Bassin, but now, realizing the practical impossibility of taking wheeled vehicles through the heavy sand, he at last succeeded in getting through to Brigade by wireless and receiving Brigadier Nicholson’s permission to cancel the column. The leading tanks and carriers had already started, and were in trouble in the sand. Where possible the return of troops to their previous locations began, but the damage was already done when the defence was weakened by the collection of the column and the C.O.’s attention distracted from fighting his command, and Battalion Headquarters never really assembled and functioned as
“The Defence of Calais, May 1940”, by Terence Cuneo.
all this time under heavy fire. At this time, Tony Rolt, while engaged in collecting 2/Lieut. Sanderson and his carriers from “I” Company’s line, became involved in the 42 | SWIFT AND BOLD
such again. Indeed, before the C.O. left finally to start the (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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movement (taking practically all Battalion Headquarters with him) he had already received reports that breaches had been made in the front line and left the Secondin-Command to organize another position through ”B“ Company’s main road block. This was accom- plished, the troops used being headquarters of “B“ Company with one Bren-gun section; Headquarters and one company of the Queen Victoria’s Rifles; the remains of an A.A. battery half armed with rifles; about thirty men of a searchlight battery; and Rear Brigade Headquarters. The enemy had by 1500hrs succeeded in breaking through the forward positions in two places and, working through the streets, in getting round the back of Company Headquarters and platoons holding the front line. Desperate close fighting took place, during which John Taylor was severely wounded and David Sladen killed while attacking the enemy in one of the many small counter-actions which took place. The second-incommand of “I” Company, 2/Lieut. A. J. B. Van der Weyer, was eventually killed defending the point of junction with the 60th, where P.S.M. Williams had already lost his life and 2/Lieut. Thomas was killed in circumstances not known. Small detachments continued to defend houses in this area after being surrounded, and P.S.M. Stevens (No. 16 Platoon) with some sixteen men of “I” and “C” Companies, having fought until all their ammunition was exhausted, hid in the houses round their positions for fourteen days before starvation forced them to surrender. Few of “I” Company and the two platoons of ”C“ Company attacked were extricated from this imbroglio in spite of a determined effort on the part of Brush, who had left the R.A.P. and had received the C.O.’s permission to attempt to retrieve the situation on his company’s front with the assistance of Lieut. Bird’s platoon of “B” Company (now returned from the cancelled column) and the remaining tanks. None of the latter were however, made available, and the small party were brought to a stop a short distance beyond “B” Company’s block by intensive light automatic fire. While trying to deal with this, a French camion appeared full of wounded men belonging to “I” Company in charge of Cpl. Lane, and driven by a fifth columnist at the point of the revolver. In spite of being waved on, the driver stopped under fire, and while the wounded who could were getting out to try to crawl across the road, Edward Bird ran forward, climbed into the driver’s seat, and endeavoured to restart the lorry. In this gallant effort he was shot in the head, dying soon afterwards: After this, Peter Brush, having only a handful of No. 5 Platoon unwounded men left, was forced to abandon the attempt to reach the original company area. “A” Company, although suffering many casualties, was still fairly intact and was fighting the enemy on three sides of it; P.S.M. Johnstone, being killed at the road block formed to protect the rear of Peter Peel’s headquarters. But the two attached platoons of “B” Company were overwhelmed by enemy tanks on this evening while attempting a JOURNAL 2014
flanking movement to retake the bridge which had been lost at the junction of “I” and ”A“ Companies’ front. Willy Welch was killed in circumstances not yet known during this counter-attack. At about 1530hrs a shell had landed in one of H.Q. Company’s trenches where the C.O. was with Coghill and Taylor, who had been brought there. Taylor was again wounded, as was C.Q.M.S. Clifton, by the same shell, and Chan Hoskyns received such severe wounds that he subsequently died in England. A young D.R. reported to the Second-in-Command, near the Cellulose Factory, that the C.O. was killed, and Brush and Acton “blown to bits.” The Second-in-Command duly reported to Brigade that he had taken over, and in time he, Hamilton-Russell and Brush became aware of each other’s presence; each having received false reports that the others were casualties and believing himself to be the senior officer left. This was a critical moment in the battle. Between 1530 and 1630hrs Rolt’s carrier platoon (dismounted after the cancellation of the column) was now remounted and sent by the acting C.O. on a foray into the old town across the Place de l’Europe as a result of reports that enemy tanks had broken in and the danger of a break-through between the two regiments. At about 1630hrs the bombardment intensified upon the whole Brigade’s position, and soon the Citadel was a vast sheet of flame. From this time Advanced Brigade Headquarters were out of touch on W/T. While Tony Rolt was away, Hamilton-Russell reported with a well-worked-out scheme for ordering and covering the withdrawal of “A” Company, the company the Queen Victoria’s Rifles extending ”A“ Company’s left, and as many elements of “I” and “C” Companies’ platoons as possible to a shorter line behind the Cellulose Factory. He already had arrangements in hand at his headquarters, and the acting C.O. now approved the plan and ordered Hamilton-Russell to take charge of this operation, while he himself dealt with the point of pressure at the junction with the ‘60th and O.c. “B“ Company’s right flank. Subsequently, withdrawal proceeded with little interference from the enemy, Capt. Smiley directing platoons to their new positions as they came back.The Queen Victoria’s Rifles reported that they would not be able to get all their men in before dark, and in fact some elements did cross the canal in the wrong direction, and, becoming involved with the Germans on the dunes to the east, were not recovered. 2/ Lieut. Hon. T. C. F. Prittie came back via the beach with a few men of “A” Company and, reporting to Duncanson with H.Q. Company,was ordered to join Surtees in “C” Company’s old trenches. Surtees, after his carriers had become stuck in the sand, had been informed of the cancellation of the column during the evening by Acton, who was not, however, able to retrieve the rest of Knollys’s command from the dunes east of the Bassin, where the C.O. had (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 43
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sent them early in the afternoon. Knollys, joined by some Queen Victoria’s Rifles from the eastern perimeter referred to above, had moved to positions farther east for the night. On the following morning he engaged the enemy, who bad A.F.vs. in this area, for some hours before being surrounded and overwhelmed, During this action 2/Lieut. G. J. Kane carried out a most successful fighting patrol amongst the sandhills, in which he, with Rfn. Eagle as his second-in-command destroyed three enemy L.A. sections. Kane, when disarming a fourth with an empty revolver, was severely wounded by a German N.C.O. who appeared from behind a knoll at the wrong moment. At about 1700hrs the acting C.O., who had failed to speak to the Brigadier, did succeed in speaking to Lieut-Colonel Miller (O.C. 60th) and ascertained that he was being very hard pressed everywhere, and was still very nervous about his right flank. Not long after this enemy aircraft dropped showers of leaflets on and around the Gare Maritime giving an hour’s grace for surrender, from 1800 to 1900 hrs. In the hot weather of these days and the dust and grime of battle drinking water as of importance, and trouble was caused from Saturday onwards by damage to the mains in the town and Gare Maritime area, but this difficulty was overcome by recourse to wells which were found and by constantly repairing main supplies. Water had to be carried for some distance to sand-dune positions. As on previous nights, enemy activity died down at dark and the Battalion, now settled in its new positions for the night, breathed again. Enemy attacks had all but succeeded this evening, and great credit is due to the 60th for their magnificent defence of the Old Town. Hoskyns and Taylor were found in the R.A.P. at the station, both in a bad way, but the former expressed his delight at the way in which the enemy had been held off. It is difficult to write more of this fine officer who had now seen the last of the Battalion he had loved and commanded so well. Taylor, who had been a tower of strength throughout, was a grave loss to the Battalion at this time. Though damaged beyond complete repair, he fortunately recovered enough to do much more for the Regiment during the war. At about 2330hrs W/T communication with the 60th was again got with difficulty, for many batteries were now low. Lieut.-Colonel Miller had gone to the Citadel to find the Brigadier, whose fate had not been known for some time. The Brigadier, however, at this moment arrived at the station yard and expressed himself in most complimentary terms on the Battalion’s efforts. He then received the C.O.’s rather meagre reports (for patrols sent out to locate troops beyond the Bassin and on the beach were not yet back) and approved his proposed dispositions for the following day. The Brigadier now gave the latest order from home that Calais was to be held to the last, and this was duly repeated during the night to responsible commanders. He then asked if the 44 | SWIFT AND BOLD
C.O. considered it possible, in the event of the 1st Rifle Brigade and other troops in the vicinity being heavily attacked, to withdraw them all into the town and make, with the 60th, an all-round defensive ring to include the Citadel. The C.O. replied that he did not think so, and the Brigadier agreed that it would be most difficult, especially in view of the failure so far to locate the remnants of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, “C” Company, Rifle Brigade (less two platoons), and some of the Queen Victoria’s Rifles. Permission was given to wireless for a hospital ship, and this was done by the Commodore, R.N., later in the night. The Brigadier wished the Battalion luck and said good-night, returning to the Citadel. No further order was received from Brigade, except for a repitition of the Government and War Office message to hold to the last brought by Colonel Holland the next morning, At dawn a small yacht took off Hoskyns, Taylor and other wounded from the RAP. on the quay, where Surgeon Lieut. Waind, RN., had done wonderful work, and was to do more on the 26th when he was the only medical officer present. The RAP in the tunnel was shared by Capt. Cameron, R.A.M.C., the Rifle Brigade Medical Officer, and Lieut. Gartside, M.O. of the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, helped by the two Padres, Wingfield-Digby and Heard. Here they had been intensely busy for two days. All their efforts deserve the highest praise.Unfortunately, this R.A.P. had been moved, together with its patients, by order of an officer of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment urgently expressed, along the beach during the afternoon without the knowledge of the respective C.Os. of the Rifle Brigade and the Queen Victoria’s Rifles. During Saturday the 1st Rifle Brigade had used all its ammunition, including reserves, and had issued 20,000 rounds more brought by the Royal Navy, most of which had been used up. There was, besides, a grave shortage of weapons available for the next day’s battle, a short-age more serious than man power, which in itself, so far as the Battalion was concerned, was now serious. Expectations of an enemy dawn attack on the 26th were fortunately not realized. Apparently the two defeats suffered by the enemy on the Friday and Saturday imposed on the enemy Corps Commander such caution that he decided to relieve his forward troops (probably for the second time) and stage a new fulldress attack with more extensive artillery preparation, continuous dive bombing attacks and heavy mortar and machine-gun support-certainly a compliment to the tired defenders. Subsequent accounts of German origin made much of the resources called upon. Artillery of a complete corps was stated to have been in action since early on the 24th, and a lot was made of the fine supply effort which replaced their ammunition expenditure. In consequence of this extended preparation, some measure of reorganization was possible on the Rifle Brigade fronts. New forward positions on either side of the Bassin des Chasses were manned by the least tired of the troops available with as much advantage taken (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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of cross-fire positions as possible. Bren guns were very short, and though thoroughly cleaned during the hours of darkness became, like the rifles, badly clogged with sand in the positions held on this side of Calais, and many excellent targets must have been inadequately dealt with on this account during Sunday’s fighting while weapons were recleaned again and again. Ammunition, however, was now so short that few rounds can have been wasted; and the capable efforts of R.S.M. Goodey and Sergts. Phillips and Welch, of the new skeleton Headquarters formed, eked out what was left for replenishment to the best effect. The last 3-inch mortar rounds were fired during the morning with accurate results by Sandy Sanderson, who had, with Cpl. Morton, already done good execution with a salvaged machine gun. There were no other weapons to use. It can be ‘stated with some pride that the heavy German strafing preparation referred to above had the minimum effect on the riflemen, who fired from their exposed positions at the attacking Stukas as coolly as participants in a pheasant shoot. That some positions became, as the day drew on, untenable goes without saying, but on no occasion was a withdrawal made of more than a few yards, and more than once the original position was retaken. The spaces between the portions of the defence on the Battalion’s front entailed great difficulty of control and communication, and distances between sub-units were greatly increased by battle obstacles. In this kind of fighting a man often knows nothing of what is occurring within ten yards of him. Smoke, fires, dust and falling masonry; line after line of railway track holding scores of goods wagons and other rolling stock; thin but high cement walls; heavy sand on the dunes and bunds-made movement as fatiguing as observation was difficult. In spite of all this, the defence, by no means badly damaged or deterred by the preparatory bombardments, continued throughout the morning to hold the enemy’s attack, which was now being pressed very strongly at all points; but from about 1300 hrs. onwards the situation deteriorated. Accurate German heavy mortar fire was mainly responsible for helping on their infantry. It had been hoped that these and other enemy support weapons might be dealt with by naval bombardment and this had been asked for at 1045hrs on the 26th in the last message ever sent over the air from the Gare Maritime. Targets considered easily recognizable were indicated as well as a clear line beyond which it was safe to shoot. In the evening an effective bombardment was in fact carried out by the Royal Navy on this line, but it was by then too late. Lieut. Millet, of the Royal Corps of Signals, who, with his section of Brigade Head-Quarters Signals, had been of inestimable value throughout, was ordered to be prepared to destroy all W/T installations and files early in the afternoon. Later this was done for him, before the final order was given, by enemy mortar fire, all vehicles of value in the station JOURNAL 2014
yards being burned out. By 1630hrs or thereabouts the last rounds were fired, and all organized resistance ceased. The enemy infantry had indeed treated the exhausted defenders with respect and taken their time in coming to grips. This they eventually did at all points simultaneously, from the 60th’s right, into the Citadel itself, and all along the circle of attack to the beaches in the rear of the Rifle Brigade positions. Men of the Rifle Brigade were shot from across the harbour mouth at the end. Much more could be written of the fighting on this last day; of the tough resistance put up on the right by Rolt’s scout platoon, P.S.M. Easen’s platoon, of “B“ Company (he later died of wounds) and others; of Arthur Hamilton-Russell, mortally wounded in an attempt to gain observation from the most exposed point near him, after as hard a four days’ fighting and work as ever a soldier did; of Tony RoIt’s final gallant effort, almost ‘alone, to seize a possible point of vantage; of the accurate fire still being directed from the French shore battery emplacement by men of “A“ Company, Royal Marines and others, including Major Coxwell Rogers, the Staff Captain, who was killed here while firing a Bren gun at Germans on the beach behind this position; of the hours of steady and accurate shooting put in by Peter Brush’s command based on Surtee’s trenches on the sand-dunes, where Rfn. Gurr (one of the Battalion’s best Bisley shots) got badly wounded in the leg he was to lose; Sergt. Welsh, shot through the jaw, Rfn. Murphy, who had found and got into working order a Lewis gun; David Fellowes, of ”C” Company, with a large hole in his head from the fighting in “I” Company’s area the day before; Peter Peel and John Surtees, both wounded, and Brush wounded again, with Forrester, Price and a few other riflemen sniped and hit (for that was all that was now possible) to the end until Jerry Duncanson, who had never for a moment ceased to chivvy the enemy at every possible opportunity, and who had enjoyed every moment of it, stood up to kill the last German to be shot in this area, and inevitably received his mortal wound. But it is surely invidious to dwell upon individual efforts. when all did their utmost. Of those who died, although the deeds of some are not yet known in full, it would be impossible to write too much. They will be remembered. Of those who survived a great number were wounded, most of whom had to recover as best they could in German hands. If all ranks of the 1st Battalion who had reached by keenness and hard work such a high standard of training for mobile warfare with armoured divisions, were disappointed of their fun in a war of movement, they at least still enjoyed the excitements of the early days of this action, and in. the grim realities of the last days took pride in their discipline and fighting qualities as Riflemen under any conditions of war. It would not be easy to find any who regret the days of Calais. (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 45
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Footnotes by Major R.D. Cassidy M.B.E. 1. Those killed in the three Greenjacket regiments, RB 77, KRRC and 1QVR (The territorial regiment of the KRRC) was 134. Those wounded who were shipped back to England numbered in the region of 40. The rest taken prisoner with some officers placed in Colditz Castle, all became POWs in most cases for five years.
The Green Jackets Calais War Memorial commemorates the BriƟsh soldiers who were killed in the BaƩle of Calais, in May 1940. Calais was the last defense-line before Dunkirk. The inscripƟon on the wall at memorial reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF ALL RIFLEMEN OF THE KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, THE RIFLE BRIGADE AND QUEEN VICTORIA’S RIFLES, WHO FELL DEFENDING CALAIS MAY 23 26 1940.
2. Major Allan, the author of the above ar cle, joined The Rifle Brigade in December 1917, wounded in the German a ack near Berry au Bac on 27th of May 1918 with 2RB. Served with 1RB therea er and at Calais. From the his obituary In the RGJ Chronicle of 1977. 3. “8 p.m., 25th May, 1940. Calais. Churchill had ordered there would be no evacua on; we were to stand and fight where we were. The Greenjackets had very nearly fought themselves to a stands ll, I reckoned there was about twenty- four hours le , unless a miracle happened. I searched my mind for such instances in military history; I thought of Marshal Blucher, unfortunately Marshal Blucher had got a transfer, he was on the other side .... there seemed nothing for it but to follow the old Sergeant- Major’s adage, “Stand .... and wait for it.” I think at such mes one feels very lonely, ins nc vely looking for someone you can trust: to have men on either side whom you can rely on: as the girls say: “a shoulder to lean on”. And at this me Alex says to me: “There is a pinnacle in the harbour, the Colonel is on board, wounded, and forty other wounded. The Navy are going to take it out a er dark; you are to go with it.” I said: “I’m not badly wounded, Alex, I don’t want to go.” He answered: “I am your Commanding Officer; I am ordering you to go.” I looked at Alex as sharply as I have ever done in my life and said: “I thought I might have been some use to you tomorrow.” He answered: “1 am not thinking of you, I am thinking of the Regiment. Someone has got to get home and re-form this ba alion and I am ordering you”. At that ‘par cularly lovely moment Alex was trying to send away one of his closest friends while he stayed behind himself. I think perhaps with that memory, we may take our leave of him.” “The Rifle Brigade, the 60th Rifles and the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, with a battalion of British tanks and one thousand Frenchmen, in all about four thousand strong, defended Calais to the last. The British Brigadier was given an hour to surrender. He spurned the offer, and four days of intense street fighting passed before silence reigned over Calais, which marked the end of a memorable resistance. Only thirty unwounded survivors were brought off by the Navy and we do not know the fate of their comrades. Their sacrifice was not, however in vain. At least two armoured divisions which otherwise would have been turned against the British Expeditionary force had to be sent for to overcome them. They have added another page to the glories of the Light Division” Mr Winston S Churchill The House of Commons 4th June 1940
46 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental AssociaƟon
OPERATON VARSITY: THE AIRBORNE CROSSING OF THE RHINE, 24 MARCH 1945 In early 1945 the Allies had closed up to the River Rhine - the frontier with Germany. Across the river lay the Ruhr which in spite of heavy bombing was still producing armaments. Allied commanders wished avoid fighting their way through the industrial complex and sought to encircle the Ruhr by crossing the Rhine to the north and south. The outline for the Rhine crossing - Operation ‘Plunder’ - was laid down by General Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander. The British were to cross between Xanten and Rees, establish a bridgehead at Wesel and break out north of the Ruhr, while the Americans were to break out to the south from the bridgehead at Remagen captured by the US 9th Armored Division on 7th March 1945. The two thrusts were then to link up east of the Ruhr and to continue eastwards to cover as much of Germany as possible before meeting the Red Army.
The 52nd’s Last Battle R. Issel
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On the 9th March 1945, Field Marshall Montgomery issued orders for XII Corps to make an assault crossing of the Rhine on the night of 23-24th March at Wesel and to establish a bridgehead on the east bank. On the morning of the 24th March, XVIII Airborne Corps was to land on the enemy gun area. XVIII Airborne Corps, commanded by the American Major-General Matthew B Ridgway, consisted of the US 17th Airborne Division and the British 6th. Airborne Division. Ridgeway had come from command of the 82nd US Airborne Division. He had established himself as an experienced, decisive and hard-driving commander. 48 | SWIFT AND BOLD
He also had decided views about some of the British Airborne commanders. Ridgeway was not going to repeat the mistakes of Arnhem. The task for XVIII Airborne Corps was expressed in the Operation Order for Operation ‘Varsity’ as: ‘XVIII Airborne Corps is to land by parachute and glider at 1000 hrs on the 24th March about five miles ahead of XII Corps in the area of Hamminkeln and Köpenhof. They are to disrupt (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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the hostile defence of the Rhine in the Wesel sector by the seizure of key terrain by airborne attack, in order to deepen rapidly the bridgehead to be seized in the assault crossing of the Rhine by British ground forces and facilitate the further offensive operations of the Second Army’. The German defenders were the First Parachute Army under General Alfred Schlemm. Made up of seven divisions of parachute troops, panzer grenadiers and infantry, they were seriously under strength and short of materiel. Allied Intelligence judged that perhaps 50,000 men and 100-150 AFVs were within a 20-mile radius of the planned crossing area. While the Luftwaffe were no longer a factor, the Germans were anticipating an airborne landing and the local flak defences had been reinforced during March to more than 700 light and 114 heavy AA guns. The 2nd Tactical Air Force was given the task of flak suppression. 6th Airborne Division was commanded by MajorGeneral Eric Bols. It comprised James Hill’s 3rd Parachute Brigade, Nigel Poett’s 5th Parachute Brigade and the 6th Air-Landing Brigade. 6th Air-Landing Brigade was composed of the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles, the 52nd Light Infantry and the 12th Devons. The brigade was commanded by Brigadier Hugh Bellamy. The brigades were supported by the 53rd Air-landing Light Regiment RA, together with engineers and other divisional troops.
equipment - to be flown in on one lift, landed within the space of an hour, in daylight, directly onto their objectives. The US 17th Division in 913 aircraft and 906 Hadrian gliders was to be lifted from fifteen airfields in France by IX Troop Carrier Command. The 6th Airborne Division were to fly from eight airfields in East Anglia, the parachutists aboard American Dakotas, while the airlanding troops, support weapons and supplies would be carried in 392 Horsa and 48 Hamilcar gliders towed by British bombers. Altogether the air lift comprised 1,696 transport planes - mainly Dakotas but with some Curtiss Commandos, and 1,348 gliders, protected by approximately 1,000 escorting fighters – a total of no less that 4,000 aircraft. 120 Liberator bombers were to drop supplies shortly after the landings. Brigadier Chatterton commanding the British glider pilots had persuaded Bols to adopt “tactical landing”. In addition to specific coup de main targets, the gliders were to land company groups next to their objectives. Briefing was therefore detailed; the glider pilots were given a pin-point to aim for when coming in to land and provided with air photos of their objective. Because of the losses at Arnhem, RAF Aircrew has been drafted in to fly gliders in addition to men of the Glider Pilot Regiment. As an Air-Landing Battalion, the 52nd Light Infantry was organized into four rifle companies, together with a Support Company and a Headquarters Company. There was also a Reinforcement Company. A Horsa glider could carry a platoon of 29 and its handcart, or a jeep and 6-pounder anti-tank gun with a crew of six, or a jeep and loaded trailer with a similar crew. The 52nd
The ground on which the landings were planned is flat fields divided by ditches and wire fences, with farmhouses and scattered copses. The one feature is the thickly-wooded Diersfordterwald covering the Schnappenberg, a hill standing about 200 feet above the surroundings. All roads in the area converge on the village of Hamminkeln about five miles to the east of the Rhine. Just to the east of Hamminkeln is the River Issel - a canalised stream running roughly parallel to the Rhine. There was also the embankment of a halfbuilt Autobahn to the east of the Issel. Fly-in.
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LI were warned that only about seventy Horsas would be available and that they would have to operate on ‘hard scales’. A great deal of detailed planning was then undertaken to ensure that the best possible use was made of the available gliders. On 20th March 1945 the 52nd LI moved to Birch Airfield in Essex and sealed in until take off. Only the CO, LieutenantColonel Darell-Brown and the IO, Captain Cross, knew Chalk 155 was Brigadier Bellamy’s Horsa, flown by Lt Col Iain Murray. Robert Capa flew in with him and took the picture. Americans dropped in the wrong place in the foreground. of the plan. The task of the 6th Air Landing Brigade was bridges over the Issel, followed a minute later by seven to capture and hold three road and rail crossings Horsas with the Royal Ulster Rifles on LZ U next to the over the River Issel to the east of Hamminkeln and Brunen bridge further south. Only two minutes later also Hamminkeln itself, to form a bridgehead for fifty-eight Horsas carrying the rest of the 52nd LI were the advancing ground troops, to destroy or capture to come in on LZ O. A further fifty-nine landed on LZ all enemy forces in the area, and to prevent enemy U with more of the Royal Ulster Rifles; the Devons and reinforcements from moving into the area of Wesel. Brigade HQ were to land on LZ R to the south west of The 52nd LI, landing immediately to the north of Hamminkeln in eighty-eight Horsas and six Hamilcars. Hamminkeln, were to seize the Hamminkeln to Divisional HQ and the Gunners were to land on LZ P Ringenburg road bridge over the Issel, the railway at 1035 hrs in one hundred and sixteen Horsas and bridge about two hundred yards to the north of it, twenty-eight Hamilcars. Further gliders were to come the railway station, and the road junction to the west. in on LZs A and B with support weapons for the two They were then to hold the line of the River Issel from parachute brigades. Hamminkeln railway station to the Ringenburg road bridge. Artillery and air support would be available As the air armada approached the Rhine an on call. The Regiment was warned that the enemy enormous pall of smoke and dust was blowing over had a small garrison at Hamminkeln and in nearby the landing zones. It had been thrown up by the Ringenburg to guard the bridges, and also that there bombing of Wesel, the smoke screen covering the was light flak on the landing zones. It was envisaged assault river crossing and artillery bombardment. that the enemy would launch a counter-attack, and Climbing to 3,500 feet, the tug pilots attempted that reinforcements might be moving through the area. to fly over the dust cloud to the release point over Hamminkeln church, but on crossing the Rhine the unsuppressed flak opened up.
The railway bridge over the River Issel.
Timings were tight - at 1021 hrs eight Horsas with men of the 52nd LI were to land on LZ O next to the two 50 | SWIFT AND BOLD
LZ O, which showed clear on the air photographs, was now obscured by smoke and dust. The gliders circled through the murk searching for their pin-points on the ground, the light flak streaming up from beneath. The CO’s glider came down on top of a 20 mm flak position, the glider pilot, Sqn Ldr Reynolds ordering his second pilot, Pilot Officer Bailey to fire his Sten through the windscreen at the gunners. Bailey then took the gun crew prisoner as Lieutenant Colonel Darell-Brown and his HQ unloaded the glider. The Horsa carrying Captain Bousfield of A Company landed almost on top of a German armoured half-track which he immediately commandeered. Three German medium tanks escorted by motor-cyclists fled east across the (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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area while landing was in progress. Major Tod Sweeney landed on the east side of the Issel and immediately came under fire from the German defenders of the nearby bridge. Lieutenant Hugh Clark’s Horsa landed close by and he rushed the bridge with his platoon. RQMS Alsopp, who had no flying instruction, managed to land his glider safely after both pilots had been killed at the controls. Major Sweeney described how Alsopp sat speechless in Sweeney’s HQ for the rest of the day ‘absolutely devastated by what he had done.’ Three quarters of the incoming gliders were hit by flak. The 52nd LI lost more than 100 officers and men in the initial landing, and because of enemy fire it proved impossible to unload many of the jeeps and support weapons until after dark. At first the fighting was very confused and it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe. In addition to the private battles going on around the objectives, ammunition was exploding in the burning gliders. Fortunately most of the German troops manning the flak guns were of low calibre, and surrendered when they found themselves surrounded. An American Parachute Infantry Battalion dropped in the wrong place helped the British clear the area. But as the anti-aircraft guns were dealt with, enemy machine guns and mortars in Ringenburg opened fire. In spite of the confusion, all the objectives were taken and the companies dug in to await relief. During the evening of 24th March, following harassing fire from across the Issel, B Company at the road bridge heard tanks approaching from Ringenburg
and called for the support of medium artillery from across the Rhine. This did not deter the enemy and at about midnight their tanks and infantry attacked. The fighting round the bridge in the darkness became very confused; the B Company position on the east side of the bridge was overrun and Lieutenant Clark led his platoon in a charge to retake it. As he judged it unlikely that B Company could keep the enemy from crossing, the Brigade Commander ordered the bridge to be blown at 0200 hrs on the 25th March. At 0400 hrs the enemy infiltrated in the dark between A and C Companies and at 0445 hrs attacked C Company, overrunning a platoon position and an anti-tank-gun detachment. Defensive artillery fire was again called down. The CO ordered A Company to counter-attack and to restore the perimeter. At 0530 hrs enemy tanks started moving again between Ringenburg and the Issel. A request was made for an air strike. At 0700 hrs six Typhoon fighter-bombers appeared, swooping on the enemy tanks with rockets. They apparently scored hits but they were unable to knock out one heavy tank in a hull-down position covering the demolished bridge. This tank fired on the 52nd throughout the day. The morning situation report showed the Regiment had some 400 casualties, just under half its strength and yet had, as expected, achieved all its objectives. The men were getting tired. Nevertheless the day was fine and the enemy were not very active. At about 1200 hrs, it was reported that the leading troops of the ground forces had made contact with the parachute brigades. During the evening D Company made a raid under cover of artillery and mortar fire which succeeded in clearing for a while some buildings in which enemy movement had been seen. Shortly after dusk, advance parties of 52nd (Lowland) Division arrived. However, the 52nd had still not finished with the Germans, and at 2040 hrs A Company mounted a further raid on the buildings to the north. At about midnight the relieving Cameronians finally moved in to take over and the 52nd. By 0200 hrs they had concentrated in some buildings on the outskirts of Hamminkeln to snatch a few hours sleep in preparation for the advance into Germany the next day. Over the next 3 weeks the 52nd advanced 105 miles into Gerrnany and on 5th April was the first unit to cross the River Weser. By 3rd May it reached Bad Kleinen on banks of the Schweriner See, where complete divisions of the Wehrmacht surrendered to it. There the 52nd ended its war and on 7th May at Wismar in recognition of its outstanding record it was chosen to provide the Guard of Honour for the meeting of Field Marshal Montgomery, the British Commander in Chief and his Russian counterpart Marshal Rossovsky.
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The BriƟsh 6th Airborne Division The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the Bri sh Army. It was formed in World War II, in 1943, and despite its name, was actually only the second of two airborne divisions raised by the Bri sh Army during the Second World War with the other being the 1st Airborne Division. The division’s first mission was Opera on Tonga on 6 June 1944, D-Day, part of the Normandy landings, where it was responsible for securing the le flank of the Allied invasion Opera on Overlord. The first units of the division to land were the Pathfinders and six platoons from ‘D’ Company 2nd Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, from the 6th Airlanding Brigade. While the pathfinders marked the division drop zones, ‘D’ Company carried out a coup de main glider assault on the two bridges crossing the River Orne and the Caen Canal. The division remained in Normandy for three months before being withdrawn in September. While s ll recrui ng and reforming in England, it was mobilised again and sent to Belgium in December 1944, to help counter the surprise German offensive in the Ardennes, the Ba le of the Bulge. Their final airborne mission followed in March 1945, Opera on Varsity, the second Allied airborne assault over the River Rhine.
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A REGULAR’S PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE ERA by Major General Sir Michael Carleton-Smith CBE, DL
NaƟonal Service Memorial - NaƟonal Arboretum.
Under the 1948 National Service Act, which replaced the 1939 Act providing for war service, all healthy males aged 18 or over were obliged to serve in the armed forces for 18 months, with four years on the reserve. Merchant seamen, farmers and coal miners were exempted. Some conscripts were arbitrarily selected to do their time down the mines, known as the ‘Bevin Boys.’ At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 service was extended to two years and the reserve commitment was reduced by six months. The last national servicemen were discharged in 1963. (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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Doubtless quite a number of those reading this piece would have done their national service having been children during the war. I write this as a regular who joined the Army in September 1949 and before going to Sandhurst did the sixteen weeks basic training with my national service cohort as a trooper in the Royal Armoured Corps. A motley collection of youths ‘detrained’ from the Darlington - Barnard Castle branch line at a little rural halt to be met by a group of incredibly smart junior NCOs in the 12th Lancers, then the armoured car training regiment. They were mostly national service lance corporals. “Stand to attenshun when yer speak ter me and call me corprul”. Having got that point across we were marshalled into some sort of column and led across the fields rather like prisoners of war carrying our few permitted personal possessions to a war time hutted camp. There we were grouped forty men to a hut in double tier bunks with a coke stove in the middle of the floor. There was an outside ablution block, inevitably called the s**t house. We were marched almost everywhere including to the cook house carrying our KFS and mug in our left hand. Reveille was at 0530 when we folded our blankets into a neat square and laid our kit out on the bunk as per the photo on the wall. Life revolved around drill, more
drill, PT, weapon and specialist training, with evenings spent ‘bulling and ironing’ with a quick trip to the NAAFI for those ‘not in some sort of trouble’. After eighteen months at Sandhurst and four months special-to-arm courses, I joined the 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade in Germany where they were the motorbattalion in the 7th Armoured Division. I was given command of one of the three scout platoons, ten ancient open-tracked bren gun carriers and a half track ‘mother duck’ for the platoon sergeant. Most of the riflemen throughout the battalion were national service men who had been evacuated during the war from the east end of London and enjoyed the most delightful cockney accents. These riflemen had left school at fourteen and had been at work since then. Though their number included a few who had only recently left public and grammar schools, had never been in a job and had not, anyway at that stage, demonstrated the necessary qualities for selection for officer training. Our old Etonian commanding officer’s driver was, for instance, also an old Etonian. They were fairly unmercifully teased but most appeared the better for it. Most of the platoon commanders were national servicemen who, having shown the necessary qualities, had been commissioned through the sixteen-week course at the Infantry Officer Cadet Training Unit at Eaton Hall, where after our service in the Kenya Mau
2Lt Carleton-Smith with members of the NCO’s Cadre course of 1952, with Ron Cassidy third from leŌ at a party in the gymnasium of Trenchard Barracks, Celle, Northern Germany. (To be conƟnued on next page) 54 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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Mau campaign, I became weapon training officer before rejoining the battalion in the Malayan emergency. How would I describe our national service cockney riflemen? - salt of the earth characters; witty, loyal, crafty, hardy, fun, competent, street-wise and capable of hard work. No wonder we young officers ‘loved’ our soldiers. One of them, Ron Cassidy, had been evacuated to Kettering at the tender age of six. After experiencing the battalion life he signed on as a regular. He was my company transport corporal in Kenya, my CSM in Borneo, then RSM and retired as a major QM and became regimental secretary. He is now chairman of the Suffolk branch of the RGJ Association and of The Rifle Brigade Association to my appreciative presidency. The young national service officers were a good lot too. Jocelyn Stephens was one notable character. He was already a wealthy, teenage, old Etonian and after leaving Cambridge he bought ‘The Queen’, a glossy society magazine; was a financier of the pirate radio station ‘Radio Caroline’, was managing director of the Evening Standard and then the Daily Express and subsequently chairman of English Heritage for which he
was knighted. On one battalion exercise he so infuriated his company commander that he was ordered on the radio to ‘Go away - just go away’. So 2Lt Stephens ordered his three section half tracks to follow him for about thirty miles to the notorious red light district ‘the Reeperbahn’ in Hamburg. There he treated the entire platoon to a night out. When he reported back on return by radio to a commander who had spent anxious hours concealing the absence of a third of his command there were no recriminations from either side. The company commander, Jim Wilson, also survived and went on to be a lieutenant general and also a knight. War service and subsequent national service had a big impact on the generations affected and thus on society as a whole. It engendered discipline, loyalty, team spirit, personal, unit and national pride, guts, determination, fitness, comradeship, respect, and sense of purpose, often with the benefit of a trade skill, overseas service, adventurous activities and possibly combat experience. It was a shared, bonding, maturing and mostly enjoyable experience. It had the added advantage of developing leadership potential and merging classes, creeds, backgrounds and life styles. For most of us they were great and memorable days and we still enjoy meeting old ‘muckers’ at our reunions.
New Occupants of Trenchard Barracks, Celle
During two and half years Trenchard Baracks became the base for the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade in April 1951. Later it was home to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets in 1968-1973 and the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets in 1982-1987. The Barracks was handed over to the German authorities on November 5, 2012, and some of the Barracks will be used by the timber merchants next to the Celle War Cemetery (bottom left) to store wood. Other parts will be used by the Town Council for machinery and maybe also by the University of Lüneburg. JOURNAL 2014
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A Tour to the Battlefields and Memorials A couple of years ago six of us decided to meet once a month for lunch in Kent. They were Mick Gleason, George Evans, Trevor Anderson, Pete Layton, Frank Allen and me Fred Boomer-Hawkins, all former Rifle Brigade/RGJ). In May 2014 we were joined by John McMullan who came home from America. At one of these lunches I suggested that as it was 100 years since the beginning of WW1 that we visit the battlefields and cemeteries. So we went ahead and started planning. George Evans decided that he wouldn’t be able to come as he had recently had a knee replacement and would find the walking too much. I suggested that we do a private tour as I have a fair amount of knowledge having been a few times. Mick Gleason suggested that I be tour guide as it would be cheaper. Pete Layton booked the channel tunnel for 2 cars for 13 September 2014. Trevor Anderson booked us a nice hotel called Hotel Lys in Halluin in France 300 metres from the Belgian border. DAY 1 We had an early train that morning and all met at the M20 Services near the tunnel, having travelled from Kent, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Winchester. We got to Calais in good time. The plan was to go to Arras as Frank Allen had a relative who was buried nearby. But Frank Allen then told us that he had found out that this relative was buried in a cemetery in Assvilliers which was about 30 miles away and totally out of our way. Although I had made an itinerary it went out of the window on the first day. We originally planned to go to Arras followed by Vimy Ridge but changed the itinerary and visited Beaumont Hammel which is the Newfoundland Memorial Park. This covers more than 80 acres of which of some 40 are in the Sector held on 1 July 1916 by the First Battalion – Royal Newfoundland Regiment. This land, which later became the Memorial Park, was bought by the Regimental Chaplain, Tom Nagle in 1922. The Park was officially opened by Earl Haig on 7 June 1925. As it was lunch time and we hadn’t had any breakfast we went to the nearby town of Albert where we saw the leaning virgin on the tower of Albert’s Basilica which was dislodged in the bombardment in January 1915. The sight of the statue hanging almost at right-angles was one of the most talked-of incidents in Albert and led to the legend that when the leaning virgin fell the war would be over. It finally toppled on 16 April 1918. After finding a little bar which didn’t sell food we were pointed by the barman in the direction of the bakers. We went back with baguettes and had a beer or two. After lunch we headed for Thiepval which is the site of one of the biggest battles of the Somme. The memorial is very moving and has over 74,000 names of those missing in action. After spending 1.5 hours there we were intending to make tracks to the hotel. However we came across the Devonshire’s Cemetery which is significant to the Regiment nowadays because they are now part of the Rifles. It is located in Mansell Copse where men of the Regiment still lie buried in their original graves. At the entrance stands a stone plaque with the words ‘The Devon’s held this trench, they hold it still’. Captain Duncan Martin of the 9th Devon’s warned against the danger of a German machine gun 56 | SWIFT AND BOLD
which he suspected was hidden in Manetz Cemetery only to die from its fire on 1 July. We then headed to our hotel while Trevor Anderson, argued with his Satnav. We booked in and met in the bar and as the hotel didn’t do food the receptionist said there was a place down the road about 2 kilometres away called Buffalo Grills. According to Pete Layton the chap was a f… liar or French kilometres must be much f… longer. When the staff saw John McMullan they thought Buffalo Bill had come to visit his establishment. In order to placate Pete Layton we asked for a taxi but as it would need to come from Lille it wouldn’t come for such a short journey. So we walked back accompanied by more moaning from Pete Layton. There was even more morning from us all when we got back because the bar was closed. And so to bed very disgruntled. DAY 2 After setting the satnavs we headed for Ypres but had problems because the Belgium spelling of Ypres is Ieper. This caused Trevor Anderson to argue with his satnav again. He likes the fact that it has a woman’s voice because he can answer back, ignore her or turn her off. At Ypres we finally found somewhere to park and wandered up to the Menen Gate where we searched for the Rifle Brigade names on the memorial.
Menin Gate. (To be conƟnued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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The Archway forms the British Memorial to the Missing and bears the names of 54,338 of those who died between 1914-1917 and who have no known grave. Then to the Cloth Hall which was totally rebuilt between 1920 – 1962. We spent two hours at the fabulous museum. During WW1 Ypres was totally flattened. Afterwards it was suggested that it should become a vast memorial. However the residents wanted their town back. Somewhere the complete plans of Ypres had been kept safe. So Ypres was built again exactly as it was. We had our lunch on the main square. Lunch over; we visited Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing. Here within a kilometre of the farthest point in Belgium reached by the British Forces lay the greatest numbers to be buried in any Commonwealth War Cemetery anywhere in the world. There are 11,953 Commonwealth graves of which 8,366 are unidentified. The entrance is a flint stone leichgate. The view up the gentle slope to the great cross and the Arc to the Memorial of the Missing, which curves between the 2 domed pavilions in the background is a never to be forgotten experience. Tyne Cot was so named by the men of the 50th (Northumbrian Division) who were among the many who fought to capture the complex of bunkers and pill boxes which surrounded the old barn which stood about 50 metres west of the level crossing on the Passchendaele to Broodseinde Road. It was captured by the 3td Australian Division on 4 October 1917. The 5 bunkers which formed the redoubt - 3 of which survived in the Cemetery grounds - were part of the German Flanders Line.
and after some refreshment we visited the Crater which is now a serene and beautiful lake. A few hundred yards up the road we found the Sanctuary Wood Museum. Sanctuary Wood and its Trench Museum are today the most authentic and vivid portrayal of what it was like to live in the filth and mud of Flanders. These Trenches are only completely traversable in the summer months! By now it was time to head back to Ypres for one more drink and then to the Menen Gate which was inaugurated (To be con nued on next page)
0844 873 0000 boden.co.uk
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by Field Marshall Plumer on 24 July 1927 in the presence of King Albert. At the time of WW1 there was no gate. This was indicated by the presence of 2 lions, one on each side of the roadway which cut through the walls. These lions are now in Canberra – Australia. Through this cutting, many thousands of men wended their way to the Salient. A tag line at the time was ‘Tell the last man through to bolt the Menen Gate’. Immediately after the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony the buglers of the Somerset Light Infantry sounded the Last Post, and pipers of the Scots Guards played a lament. The simple ceremony of sounding the Last Post each and every night at 8pm was conceived by Mr P Vandenbraambussche, the then superintendent of the Ypres police, soon after the unveiling. The buglers of the Ypres Fire Brigade co-operated with the police chief and early in the summer of 1928 the nightly ceremony began. This ceremony has been performed every night with the exception of the occupation of WW2. However the bugles were taken to England and the ceremony was performed every night at the Brookwood Cemetery in Hampshire. It was so crowed that our group was split into two and although we couldn’t see we could hear the bugles. It was while I was there during the ceremony that I bumped into Roger Turp who was an old colleague from 2RGJ. We saw a notice to a German Cemetery in Halluin. MG, FBH and FA went to find this. The plain wooded crosses with 4 to a grave were a complete contrast to the Commonwealth War Graves. We went back to our hotel to prepare for the morrow. DAY 3 By this time we were kn…d. Trevor Anderson, suggested that we have a days R&R. We caught the bus into Lille. John McMullan came dressed as a morris dancer; Mick Gleason put his jeans back on because we had laughed at his legs in shorts the day before. We wandered around, had lunch and beers before getting the bus back to Halluin. DAY 4 After a good hearty breakfast we loaded our bags into the cars and paid our bills. While at reception the receptionist said ‘I have one of your passports here belonging to Mick Gleason’. Mick Gleason was still in his room. So Frank Allen collected it and put it in his bag. Of course Mick Gleason got into the car and hadn’t given his passport a thought. Later on that day when we were nearly into Calais Mick Gleason suddenly remembered his passport and panicked. We all kept quiet for a while until we owned up that Frank Allen had it. We headed off to Hyde Park Corner which is adjacent to Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing and the Berks Cemetery Extension. Here beneath the flowering cherries, 876 are buried. On the right is the original Royal Berks Cemetery. Among the graves is 58 | SWIFT AND BOLD
The six on the WW1 Ba lefield tour.
that of the 16 year old Rfn Albert French of the 18th Bn KRRC who died on 15 June 1916 one week before his 17th birthday. Also here are the graves E20 and E21 of Rfn L Crossley and Rfn W Crossley. These are the subject of an article which I wrote some time ago for the Journal. They were twins who were killed on 30th June 1916 by the same shell. After we had viewed the magnificent memorial we had coffee before heading off to find Vimy Ridge. After Trevor Anderson had more domestics with his satnav we arrived. The battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-d-Calais region of France, during WW1. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of the 4th Division, against 3 Divisions of the German 6th Army. The Battle, which took place from 9-12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle offensive. The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German held high ground along an escarpment at the northern most end of the Arras offensive. Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the Ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training, as well as the failure of the German 6th Army to properly apply the new German offensive doctrine. All of us were very impressed with the wonderful memorial which can be seen for miles around because it was such a feat for the Canadians to take this high ground. We headed towards the village of Givenchy where we thought we might find somewhere for lunch. However it was closed. We headed for the country and found a very nice bar-restaurant for a wonderful lunch. The staff were very welcoming and we came away with (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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boxes of wine except John McMullan who was laden with bottles of Jack Daniels.
some nice glasses as souvenirs (for which we paid). This ended our trip to the Memorials and Battlefields. We headed off towards Calais where had enough time to visit the duty free where we came away with a few
A wonderful time was had by all. We are now planning this year’s trip. Fred Boomer-Hawkins
The Last Post Ceremony, Ypres, Menin Gate The Last Post Ceremony has become part of the daily life in Ypres (Ieper) and the local people are proud of this simple but moving tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fell in defence of their town. The Belgian Last Post Association is responsible for the arrangements and sounding of “Last Post” and “Reveillle” at the daily ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial. Every night at 2000 hours a ceremony takes place under the Menin Gate in Ypres.
For the Fallen With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres. There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943). Poem first published 21 September 1914. JOURNAL 2014
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HONOURING OUR HEROES D-Day Remembered by Roy Bailey RGJRA Oxford Branch
General Bob Pascoe referred to us as ‘The 52nd Group’; Penny Howard Bates as ‘The Coup de Main Party’, but by whatever name there were more than 100 veterans, families, friends and supporters of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who travelled to Normandy in June 2014 to honour all those who fought on D-Day, especially Major John Howard and his gallant glider-borne band. The arrangements for getting passes to move around the Bènouville-Ranville area in order to honour our heroes were fraught, and both Bob and Penny worked very hard against bureaucracy and occasional bloodymindedness from several quarters to secure the necessary ‘accreditation’. “It is fair to say that there was a time during the preparations when I felt I had to take Pegasus Bridge all over again!” (Penny Bates) The ferries from Portsmouth to Ouistreham were a mass of flags and bunting, and one bulkhead on the Normandie displayed panels about various veterans, including one featuring Titch Rayner. The whole ship was given over to the commemoration, with a 1940s close harmony group called The Candy Girls performing in the foyer and later in a cabaret. We were escorted out of Portsmouth harbour by two Royal Navy tugs spraying their water cannons. First parade was at the Musée Mémorial Pegasus on the morning of the 5th June, where veterans and/or 60 | SWIFT AND BOLD
their families would lay wreaths at the six memorials to the glider parties which were unveiled in 2009. Oxfordshire Rifles cadets lined the old bridge; a bugler played the Last Post from the topmost platform; and Bob Pascoe, who had welcomed Defence Minister Lord Astor and introduced him to various members of the party, gave a short speech. The first wreath was laid jointly by Penny Bates and Den Brotheridge’s daughter Margaret at the memorial to no.1 glider which bears both their fathers’ names. Other wreaths were laid at the appropriate plinths by ‘Tod’ Sweeney’s widow Geraldine and her son Philip, the late Johnny Johnson (escorted by Danny Greeno), George Talbot and Cecil Jeffcoate. When not escorting Johnny, Danny, his father Chris and Michael MassyBeresford manned the Veterans Charity stand in the Museum foyer for the whole of the visit. Everyone then moved across the road to the Landing Zone, where a large crowd of spectators watched another wreath-laying ceremony take place at the bust of John Howard and the plinth marking glider no. 1. In this case Penny was escorted by Captain Stuart Girdler, AAC, and accompanied by Jim Wallwork’s widow Genevieve, who had come from Canada with a party of a dozen relatives and friends. The difficulties of the UK members were as nothing compared with theirs, which included the requirement to get a permit to travel from the Canadian Government at a cost of (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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$85 per person. “While standing close to the bust in tribute to Major John Howard a Canadian couple paused and read the inscription. A moment later the man was heard to murmur the simple question: ‘Wow - how could it have been done?’ and then added ‘The Lord only knows’, which is probably true! We moved on to David Wood’s glider stone with equal humility and wondered the more with memories of our service together many years later together with others whose tributes lay a few hundred yards away near the Orne Bridge; the gliders of Tod Sweeney and Dennis Fox. Men who were all champions of the 52nd.” (George Elliott) Wreaths were also laid by senior officers of the Paras, the Army Air Corps and the Rifles, and the ceremony was completed by a symbolic flypast by the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, plus a Typhoon painted with invasion stripes. Despite having passes, some were prevented from getting to the Paras’ lunch at Ranville by the sudden closing of certain roads by the French authorities to allow the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to get there. Together with the veterans and other leading members of the party, the Royal party lunched in the Salle de Fete, where Prince Charles apparently commented to Bob Pascoe on the large number of Oxford and Bucks ties in evidence. The rest of us enjoyed an excellent buffet lunch in the adjoining marquee. In the evening a performance by the West Yorkshire Police band outside the Salle Polyvalente (village hall) in Bènouville preceded more hospitality; this time a dinner for selected members of the party given by the council and people of Bènouville. At around 10.30pm there was a film show on a big screen in the Museum grounds. Entitled Ils Etaient les Premiers (They Were The First), it was a French documentary made in 2013 about the glider landings and the subsequent fighting, and was very harrowing in parts. There were interviews with some of the veterans, including the late Jim Wallwork. Prime Minister David Cameron arrived soon after the film began, and just before midnight everyone made their way the Landing Zone again for the big ceremony to mark the time - 0016hrs - when the first glider landed. The crowds were enormous and were kept back on the road by barriers. Members of 4 RIFLES lined the approach down to the bust of John Howard, and Danny Greeno was in charge of admitting only the authorised. JOURNAL 2014
Following the playing of the recording of John Howard describing the landing, there were short speeches by the Mayor of Bènouville (with translation) and by Penny Bates, followed (at Penny’s invitation) by an unscheduled and unrehearsed one from the Prime Minister. Everyone, irrespective of their political allegiance, considered his speech to be excellent. The PM then met several members of the 52nd Group. Despite everyone being late to bed, we were all on parade again at 10.30am at the Museum to honour the memory of Den Brotheridge. The Queen and the other Heads of State were lunching that day at the Chateau Bènouville, so security was extremely tight, and it was decided that trying to get to Den’s grave in Ranville churchyard and back would be impossible. The ceremony would be held instead at his memorial in the Museum grounds. A Guard of Honour and buglers were provided by The Rifles, with 92-year-old Cecil Jeffcoate as one of the standard bearers; Bob Pascoe made a speech of introduction; wreaths were laid by Margaret Brotheridge and Danny Greeno (on behalf of the veterans); the Regimental Collect was read by George Elliott, and a prayer by George Bates. The next event was at the ‘Signals Memorial’; a large monument just above the Landing Zone believed to be from where John Howard’s wireless operator Cpl Ted Tappenden sent the immortal message ‘Ham and Jam’ to report that the bridges had been captured. But first we all had to make our way up to the Mairie (Town Hall) to assemble and march down to the Bridge behind a band, with spectators lining the road. More wreaths were laid at the Signals Memorial by people of varying ages representing various organisations, but I was keeping an eye on the clock. Another ceremony was taking place at John Howard’s grave at Clifton Hampden, where at 12.16pm (00.16am was deemed to be impracticable!) John’s second cousin Derek Chivers would lay a wreath. This equated to 1.16pm French time, and I had arranged to text Terry Roper with the following message to be read out at the graveside: ‘We have honoured John Howard and his heroic comrades at Pegasus Bridge. We salute you gathered likewise at his final resting place. From General Bob Pascoe, Penny Bates, and all the 52nd Group in Normandy. Ham and Jam.’ “The event was well attended by around 100 old comrades from the OBLI, the Royal Green Jackets and the Adjutant and Buglers from 7 Rifles. We were also joined by children from the local school who had the opportunity to ask (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 61
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So it was back up to the crossroads by the Mairie, where another ceremony was held at the 7 Para Memorial, and then to the Salle Polyvalente for a ‘Vin d’Honneur’ – wine , soft drinks, pastries and chips – before some of the party departed for Hérouvillette and Escoville. The ceremony at Hérouvillette was similar to that in 2009; the schoolchildren, who had all made drawings to give to the veterans, performed a long lyric poem about the liberation of their country with a chorus in English in which they thanked the veterans. There were speeches, the Last Post was played, and wreaths were laid on the graves of the Oxford and Bucks soldiers buried against the churchyard wall, including one by Christopher Marriott on the grave of his own father, Captain Jimmy Marriott, GM. “Because of security we arrived late at Hérouvillette, but I was reminded of Tich Raynor, a few years before, standing - emotional - at the grave of his best friend, whom he had himself buried.” (Derek Hawker) The next ceremony in Escoville followed a similar pattern (Bob Pascoe must have been hoarse by now!), but the wreath was laid by the three Oxford and Bucks veterans - Johnny Johnson, Cecil Jeffcoate and George Talbot.
Derek Chivers at John Howard’s grave.
questions of the Veterans gathered, including Sam Langford, who served in the 52nd.” (Terry Roper) “Although now in their tenth decade the veterans enthusiastically climbed the steep flight of steps up to the beautiful Gothic church built above the River Thames.” (Brian Cox) “The service was conducted by the Vicar of the Parish, Anne Ilsley, and after the graveside tribute Brian Cox laid a wreath on behalf of the RGJ Association Oxford Branch at the War Memorial inside the Church.” (Terry Roper) Still the commemorations in Normandy continued. A Tree of Peace was planted on the Landing Zone as a joint effort by Penny, Bob Pascoe and Deputy Mayor Odette Ouinas, and pigeons carrying peace messages were released. “While I wasn’t looking Bob disappeared behind the tree and suddenly a flock of pigeons rose in the air, followed later by a single one going back to Bury St Edmunds. All the others were French, and General Bob had let out the last one – the first pigeon launch he had ever done, he said.” (Annabel Bailey) 62 | SWIFT AND BOLD
“The simple ceremonies held in the three villages of Ranville, Hérouvillette and Escoville demonstrated the commitment of the 52nd to further tests of courage, initiative and action during the advance. Each ceremony moved us in different ways and reminded us of God’s great gift of Remembrance. That it was why we were there! “A lasting impression was at Escoville when the school children paraded and sang ‘God Save the Queen’ - immaculate, confident and proud. The young voices spelled clarity and purpose - without bombast or triumph - demonstrating to all those present belief in loyalty, duty and service. Surely the very same attributes which are shared with our Regiment - truly an inspired moment for us all.” (George Elliott) The final piece of local hospitality was the 70th Anniversary meal that evening given by the combined communities of Hérouvillette, Escoville and St Honorine. This was held in the Salle Polyvalente in St Honorine, a village some way beyond Escoville. Predinner drinks were followed by an excellent 3-course meal with about an hour between courses, so by the time the sweet arrived it was past midnight. The entertainment of music and Scottish dancing by (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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what was described as the Pipes and Drums of the 51st Highland Division was highly entertaining, but the performers proved not to be what they appeared. The WOI of the Royal Military Police in charge was
hrown into the pond and drowned when the third glider landed in the early hours of D-Day. The whole visit was a most unforgettable occasion. The hospitality of the people of Normandy was superb – not just around Pegasus Bridge but everywhere we
Three OBLI Veterans: Johnny Johnson, Cecil Jeffcoate and George Talbot.
actually a civilian, as were the performers – all French except for three Argentineans. The visitors were encouraged to join in the dancing, and if you haven’t seen Penny doing a Highland reel, you haven’t lived!
went. The sacrifices made by the men who helped to free Normandy have never been forgotten - and it seems they never will be, as the road sign RUE OXFORD AND BUCKS in Bènouville demonstrates.
“We had been impressed by how our veterans were coping with the pressures of the anniversary, but this was something extra. Come midnight dinner was about half way through, Johnny Johnson had to leave, but said to my wife Carol - one of his adopted ‘daughters’ – ‘promise me you’ll be at my 92nd birthday party in Sutton on the 15th August’. She made that promise and kept it.” (Derek Hawker) The evening finished off with a superb fireworks display, and as we left, led by General Bob, we were applauded long and loud by all the locals. Very embarrassing, but we felt that it was on behalf of our predecessors. “It is such generous and spontaneous acts of kindness that keeps the flame of the ‘Entente Cordiale’ burning brightly. Each one of the 52nd Group will have returned from the D-Day Anniversary in June 2014 with a renewed sense of the bonds that bind us to that part of France. The remembrance of the courage and experiences of that generation who fought in the fields of Normandy for peace in Europe will carry on into the future. We shall remember them.” (Penny Bates) That was the end of the official festivities involving the 52nd Group. During the following days we went our various ways – Geoff Day and I, with our two partners, went to the cemetery at Douvres-la-Délivrande to lay crosses on the grave of L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh, JOURNAL 2014
Two incidents demonstrate just how the exploits of the 52nd on D-Day are remembered – and not just in the UK. During the ceremony at the Signals Memorial, I spoke to two young men in WWII khaki and red berets. One was in the uniform of the Royal Engineers; the other had a bugle horn badge and sported an unusual shoulder flash which read ‘FIFTY SECOND’. Both were re-enactors from the Netherlands, and they gave me a small bottle of Genever to pass on to their friend Titch Rayner. On the night of the 7th our party of five drank a final toast in Calvados to the men of the Oxford and Bucks while sitting outside the Café Gondrée. There was another group there in WWII battledress; one with the bugle horn badge on a green patch on his red beret. They were all re-enactors from Spain. As Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote of another band of heroes, ‘When can their glory fade?’ SWIFT AND BOLD | 63
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THE RIFLES 2014 communities we come from and support comprising the remaining three. The serving Regiment consists of 5 regular and 2 Army Reserve (Territorial) battalions and one independent Army Reserve sub unit C (Rifles) Company 5RRF in Durham. The Rifles cap badge is worn by nearly 25 percent of all Army Cadets. Currently the regular battalions are permanently based in Edinburgh, Northern Ireland, Chepstow, Bulford and Paderborn in Germany. The Rifles, the British Army’s newest and largest Infantry Regiment. The Regiment formed on 1st February 2007 from an amalgamation of The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets. The Regiment was formed on operations with the then 1 RGJ (becoming 2 RIFLES) and 2 LI (becoming 3 RIFLES) deployed in Southern Iraq, holding a parade at Basra Palace on formation day, and a Company detached from 2LI changing cap badge in Sangin, Afghanistan where they were attached to a Commando Battle Group. Since formation there hasn’t been a year when Riflemen were not deployed on operations. We carry forward the Rifles tradition begun in the British Army in 1802. Our Private soldiers are called Rifleman. Bayonets are known as Swords, (from the Sword Bayonet issued with the Baker Rifle to Riflemen in the early 1800s). Battle Honours are entrusted to every Rifleman and are carried on the belt badge and uniform. The Rifles march at 140 paces to the minute, the bugle is used to sound calls and we ‘sound’ rather than ‘beat’ retreat. Our motto “Swift and Bold”, encapsulate our ethos of the thinking fighting man who exercises initiative, and works with trust and respect across the chain of command. It is a point of pride to be able to say ‘I am a Rifleman’.
The Territorial Army was retitled The Army Reserves in 2013 and these elements of the Regiment, are concentrated in the South West, Home Counties of England, North Yorkshire and County Durham. They support the regular Battalions on operations and training worldwide both as individuals and formed subunits. 2014 was a typically busy year for The Rifles. The start of the year saw 1, 4, 6 & 7 RIFLES all deployed on a Military Aid to The Civil Power (MAC P) operation, Op PITCHPOLE where they were helping stem the tide and providing flood relief after extensive flooding across Sothern England. Two Battalions deployed to Afghanistan (2 & 5 RIFLES, on the final Op HERRICK, Op HERRICK 20 and one transitioning to the new mission Op TORAL (2 RIFLES) who are providing force protection to UK personnel in Kabul and surrounding region. 1 RIFLES concluded operations to support the UN Mission in Mali, and conducted exchange exercises in the US and Wales with the US Army. 3 Rifles conducted a move of Barracks and a major overseas exercise in Kenya. 4 Rifles commenced training as a Protected Mobility Battalion within the renamed 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, including a major deployment to BATUS. All of these were supported by Riflemen from 6 & 7 Rifles and D (Rifles Company), who as well as supporting their paired regular Battalions also conducted their own annual training in Denmark and Cyprus. In 8 years since formation all our battalions have deployed at least twice on operations and the majority on 3 occasions. In Iraq 2, 3, 4 RIFLES were deployed in Basra during some of the heaviest fighting of the campaign in 2007 and 5 RIFLES have the distinction of being the first to enter Iraq in 2003 (as 1 LI) and the last to leave on handover to Iraqi and US Forces in May 2009.
3 Rifles Buglers, Edinburgh Castle, 2014.
The Regiment is founded on five pillars; the serving Regiment, regular and reserve, comprising the first two, the cadets, the Regimental associations and the 64 | SWIFT AND BOLD
In Afghanistan every battalion has deployed at least once with 1st, 4th, 5th Battalions deploying (To be con nued on next page) JOURNAL 2014
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Regiment Killed in Action (KIA) on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with over 330 Wounded in Action (WIA),a high proportion of whom were very severely injured (VSI) with life changing injuries. Since formation, there have been many awards to members of the Regiment for their conduct on operations, many posthumously. Of particular note are the 10 Distinguished Service Orders (DSOs) including one with bar, 4 awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, 21 awards of the Military Cross, 5 Queens Gallantry Medals and 50 Mentions In Dispatches awarded to Rifleman for their bravery, and their devotion to their duty and their comrades.
5 Rifles Op HERRICK 20, 2014.
twice and 2 & 3 RIFLES three times. Notable amongst these deployments were the back to back deployment of 2 and 3 RIFLES in Sangin during some of the toughest fighting of the campaign in 2009 & 2010 which also saw 4 RIFLES deployed simultaneously as an additional force to support the National elections. Tasks undertaken by our battalions have included ground holding, mobility support, force security and a considerable commitment to mentoring. In the latter role, working alongside the Afghan Army, young Riflemen have taken responsibility at levels well above their actual rank, demonstrating the adaptability and initiative so prized by the founding fathers of the regiment in the Peninsular War. 5 RIFLES returned from the final Op HERRICK tour in Southern Helmand in 2014, 2 RIFLES remain deployed in Kabul having transitioned from Op HERRICK to Op TORAL providing force protection to the 600+ personnel continuing the mentoring and training mission to Afghan security forces, a number of them Riflemen notably the RSM of the Officer training academy. The Regiments commitment has not come without loss, but has also brought recognition and reward. At the time of writing we have had 62 members of the
2 Rifles Op Toral Kabul 2014. JOURNAL 2014
The Regiment prides itself in providing the environment for some of the finest soldiering in the British Army, by the pursuit of excellence both at work and play. An ethos of mutual respect and support amongst all Riflemen, regardless of rank, reinforced by the shared hardship of operations, binds the regiment
2 Rifles Op Toral Kabul 2014.
into a tight knit family. The size of the regiment and its different operational roles and locations offer soldiers and officers a variety of career opportunities and places to serve unmatched by any other infantry regiment in the British Army. Examples of the diverse opportunities across the Regiment last year, in addition to operations or military training have seen Riflemen grapple Nordic and downhill skiing, Free Fall parachuting and surfing in destinations from France to South Africa. In addition to these extracurricular activities military skills have been high onthe competitive agenda with teams from 1, 3, 4, 6 & 7 taking part in The Cambrian Patrol competition in Wales and 1 Rifles being crowned the top Snipers in The British Army, with 4 Rifles getting an impressive third place. (To be con nued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 65
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3 Rifles on parade exercising the freedom of Wakefield in 2014.
The wider regimental network extends to the family, friends and supporters of past and present riflemen and members of forming and founding Regiments. Also to those living in the areas from where we recruit, are based and enjoy relationships by virtue of our antecedent regiments and their associations. The Regiment is greatly indebted to this wider family and service charities for their moral, practical and financial support, which sadly remains so necessary in a time of continuous operations. The Rifles are proud to hold 70 borough and city freedoms across the UK and one in Salamanca in Spain. Last year we exercised those of Wakefield and Bridport, and supported veteran’s events in Exeter, Hereford, Gloucester, Durham and Leeds, Normandy and Ypres reaffirming our link with our Regimental communities and veterans.
During the 70th anniversary commemoraƟons of D-Day the Duchess of Cornwall inspects The Rifles honour guard at Benouville, Normandy.
To meet the future needs of our casualties and those of veterans from our forming and antecedent Regiments, The Rifles Charities have been running a fundraising campaign called Care for Casualties, to raise £4 million by end 2015. Following many successful events including The Swift & Bold Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in 2012, last year they staged a demanding cycle ride across France & Flanders which saw serving, former serving and civilian participants complete 7 days of hard pedalling visiting the Great War battlefields and raising over £7000 for the charity. They look well on their way to achieving the projected target which will aid the delivery of Regimental benevolence and welfare, for some time to come. Major (Retd) R K Yuill BA(Hons) Assistant Regimental Secretary, RHQ The RIFLES
The Care for CasualƟes Great War commemoraƟve cycle take a pause at the 14th Light Division Memorial at Hill 60 Ypres, September 2014. 66 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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IN MEMORIAM
OBITUARIES 2014 Colin Hughes Maj RA Lloyd (Bob) Jackson Capt RB Browne-Clayton Lt MWT Bullock Maj-Gen David Alexander-Sinclair Rod Simms E E “Chippy” Woods George Piddington Richard Buckle A N Perry Jimmy Devine Edward Stoten Peter Kelly Major WA Eberstadt (WA Everitt) Capt AA Crassweller John Lotts Phillip T Pearson Sir Brian Goswell Bob Glynn David L Archer Capt Peter Fromanteel Cobbold MC Cpl Michael (Paddy) Joseph Landers Capt M G Moss Dave Carter Lt Col I W Lynch Brian Drury C/Sgt Maurice Roe MM Sgt Frank Murphy Dominic ‘Digger’ Dunne Bandsman Robert Charles Nicholas Williams Capt RJ Gould Maj GN Bell MC Cpl Bruce Kimberlin Robert High JF Bond Cpl Tony Wakeford Eric Squibb Col GE Sparrow MC,TD, DL Sgt Harry Baker Cpl Michael Kelly
1RGJ KRRC & QWR KRRC 2GJ RGJ KRRC/RGJ OBLI RB/3RGJ KRRC/2GJ/2RGJ KRRC/2GJ KRRC/2GJ RGJ, 10 GR & SOF KRRC 1RGJ KRRC 1RGJ OBLI3rd April 2013 RB RB OBLI 2RGJ RB KRRC 3RGJ KRRC 3RGJ RB & RGJ RB QWR, KRRC and SOE RB/RGJ 3RGJ 1RGJ KRRC & RB RB 2 & 3RGJ 2RGJ RB/RGJ RB/RGJ RB/RGJ RB/Cheshire Yeomanry
5th January 2014 16th January 2014 18th January 2014 19th January 2014 4th February 2014 7th February 2014 8th February 2014 16th February 2014 16th February 2014 18th February 2014 21st February 2014 24th February 2014 26th February 2014 1st March 2014 17th March 2014 22nd March 2014 23rd March 2014 31th March 2014 14th April 2014 21st April 2014 22nd April 2014 27th April 2014 1st May 2014 5th May 2014 6th May 2014 8th May 2014 3rd June 2014 7th June 2014 17th June 2014 18th June 2014 1st July 2014 2nd July 2014 2nd July 2014 16th July 2014 20th July 2014 24th July 2014
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(ConƟnued from previous page) Brian Cooper Stephen ‘Deano’ Dean Johnny Johnson Maj Henry Robert Mansel Porter MBE Frederick G Smith Maj JJ Clarke (Tim) Bugler BJ (Barry) Moxham Cpl John D Stanton Dave Carter Capt Sir Jocelyn Stevens. Lawrence B Hills Sir John Hoskyns. Walter Raleigh Trevelyan Trevor Gane. Gareth (Ginger) Dixon Gary Lynton Earle Steve Foster Richard (Dickie Boy) Weedon Capt J S Peel CBE, MC Major K J (Ken) Belcher G P S Delisle Colonel J M A Tillet Raymond Anthony English C/Sgt P. Mcgee Sgt J White RSM Richard John Clarke
KRRC 2RGJ KRRC OBLI KOYLI/LI OBLI 3RGJ RB OBLI RB RB 3RGJ 1RGJ 3GJ 1/3RGJ 3RGJ RB/3GJ/RGJ OBLI ACF RB OBLI KRRC Para/RGJ/UDR 1GJ/RGJ
16th August 2014 16th August 2014 20th August 2014 29 August 2014 2nd September 2014 10th September 2014 1st October 2014 9th October 2014 17th October 2014 20th October 2014 23rd October 2014 31st October 2014 2nd November 2014 14th November 2014 24th November 2014 November 2014 11th December 2014 12th December 2014 12th December 2014 14th December 2014 16th December 2014 30th December 2014 30th December 2014
LEST WE FORGET “They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun and in the morning; We will remember them.” The brief information given above is supplemented by full Obituary entries on the Royal Green Jackets website `In Memoriam` Bulletin Board at http://63196.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=63196 JOURNAL 2014
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CONFLIC T & COUNT Y
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Christa Hook, Military Artist: How She Creates a Painting a finished piece of text. For the Peninsular War paintings things have worked a bit differently and have often evolved from a simple suggestion, a specific incident, a moment in a contemporary account. And, to be honest, I usually think “I can’t do this” (although Nick always thinks I can!). But then the digging, delving and fun begins. Before I can even put pencil to paper I have to research everything thoroughly. There is a lot of reading - contemporary accounts, diaries, books. Most satisfying, but most challenging, are the scenes that have never previously been depicted and this is a major feature of the book.” Nick adds: “ The book is unashamedly Green Jacketheavy, but not exclusively so!” Christa at work.
Nick Haynes starts the story: “I first came across Christa’s work when I bought Osprey’s British Rifleman: 1797-1815 (Warrior) by Philip Haythornthwaite, which she had illustrated. In the back were contact details for those interested in buying her work. So off I went to Sussex to meet her and so started a collaboration which will produce ‘Episodes from the Peninsular War - Reconstructed in the Paintings of Christa Hook’.”
Christa: “Also I need the date, time of day, weather conditions, the landscape, who was
Christa: “I grew up with my father, Richard Hook, working from home, so I was surrounded by books, art, guns (!) and paintings. When I left school at 16, I did a 2-year apprenticeship with him. A perfect grounding, working on his jobs … though a hard act to follow! Three main things took me in this military direction though - my love and admiration of the works of some of the great 19th century military artists, Detaille, De Neuville and Meissonier; illustrating British Rifleman was also a major commission and sparked a fast-growing interest in the Peninsular War; and the first re-enactment I went to, a multi-period event at Battle Abbey … what I homed in on was the 12th Light Dragoons. And so it began. Commissions followed from Nick and his friends, The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, and we realised we had a body of art worth publishing. The vast majority of my work is commissioned. From publishers I usually receive a very comprehensive brief, which generally illustrates JOURNAL 2014
Sketching ideas for the Forced March to Talavera painƟng. (To be conƟnued on next page) SWIFT AND BOLD | 71
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there and where they were in relationship to each other. And the uniforms, changes of regulations, did supplies reach them, what state they were in etc., etc. It is fraught with pitfalls. I’m very lucky to have a huge amount of help from incredibly knowledgeable people like Philip Haythornthwaite and Bryan Fosten. I’m fascinated by what the individual soldier had to deal with, the length of time they were away in foreign countries, their down time as well as the battles and actions.
Preliminary drawing for Craufurd’s Funeral painƟng (detail).
Once I’ve got an understanding of what I’m dealing with I start with a very simple sketch for the the composition. I have to decide my viewpoint and the moment which will tell the tale to the best effect. I also do numerous studies of individual poses to get ideas for the figures and how they will relate to each other. This stage is more about getting everything in the right
place, not the detail, and hopefully a pleasing or dynamic design. From the initial sketch I move to a preliminary working drawing, which aims to solve the problems. This will be a lot smaller than the finished painting and I work on layout paper with ft pencils. I will also do extra studies of parts of the painting ready for the next stage. Once everyone’s happy with that stage I enlarge my working drawing to the size that the finished painting will be. Depending on the job, I will then work on layout paper or illustration board. To enable me to work up my drawing I will often take photographs to give me more information, e.g. of the hands, folds, lighting, equipment. It goes without saying that seeing original equipment and artefacts helps to understand what I’m drawing, so there are often museum visits too. I will often work on different areas separately, sometimes on tracing paper, before adding them in. This allows me more freedom without affecting what I’ve already drawn.
IniƟal sketch for the Craufurd’s Funeral painƟng. 72 | SWIFT AND BOLD
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental AssociaƟon
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drawing. It gets everything clear in my head of what’s light against dark, the shadows and the uniforms and what mood I’m trying to create. And, at last, to the painting. Whether I’m completing it in acrylic or oil, I will first prepare my board with agesso primer. I generally use illustration board, a surface I’ve always liked, which allows me to get the detail I want.
Finished pencil stage for the Christmas Tale painƟng.
This initial layer will always have a tint, as I don’t like to work straight onto white. Then I will transfer my finished drawing. This means I still have my drawing alongside me while I”m painting, so that
Before I can think about painting, I need to have solved all my problems and this often includes a colour study, usually in watercolour, on either a simplified sketch or a photocopy of the working
Colour sketch for the Peninsular Pursuits painƟng. Sketching ideas for the 5th Bn The 60th figures. JOURNAL 2014
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental AssociaƟon
(ConƟnued from previous page)
I can always refer to it and bring back any details that might otherwise get lost. More often than not, I will start with a monotone underpainting and then gradually build the painting up, but, to be honest, my methods are never set in stone and are continually evolving. It very much depends on what I’m working on.”
Studying the uniforms, light and dark shadows prior to painƟng.
Nick: “So there you have it, a meticulous process by a dedicated professional. Even I had only a vague idea of how much work Christa puts in to each painting.”
Uniform study plate for the Vimeiro painƟng. 74 | SWIFT AND BOLD
JOURNAL 2014
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