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Transcription

Dec

THE
ROYAL GREEN JACKETS REGIMENTAL
ASSOCIATION
E-zine
Volume 5 Issue 3
15 December 2013
RGJ Museum
awarded Heritage Lottery Fund support
Page 11
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The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association
E-zine
NEWSLETTER
Volume 5 Issue 3
15 December2013
FOREWORD
by
Brigadier Hugh Willing CBE
Chairman of the RGJ Regimental Association
Brigadier Hugh Willing CBE
This edition of the E-Zine will be the last in our thrice-yearly series. From 2014
we are reducing the number of publications to one E-Zine to be issued each
summer – probably in September, and the annual flagship magazine ‘Swift
and Bold’ which is published each year in March. Please help the editorial
team by continuing to send in your interesting articles and updates by the
respective deadlines.
Next year will also see the launch of the RGJ Museum Appeal seeking
support for the Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition and Learning
Space project. The Heritage Lottery Fund has contributed £100,000 towards
the cost of the exhibition, which includes a refurbishment of the Waterloo
model and the first floor of the Museum to incorporate a Learning Space,
ready for the Waterloo Bicentenary in 2015. The Appeal is to raise £100,000 to
match the HLF grant. The Association committee has fully endorsed General
Christopher Wallace’s proposal and encourages all Riflemen to support this
most worthy and fitting fund-raising Regimental project.
Once again thanks and congratulations are in order for the excellent
arrangements made by the Winchester Branch for this year’s Veterans Day
Gathering in July. Whilst the weather might have been too hot for comfort,
all those who attended much enjoyed the good fellowship and tall stories that
such a reunion will always bring. Make a note in your diaries for next year’s
Gathering – Saturday 12th July.
And finally a warm welcome to Lieutenant Simon Booth-Mason as the
Deputy Chairman and to Major Michael Leeming as the President of the
Central England Branch. The Branch goes from strength to strength and
is organising the ‘Greenstock’ Music Festival for Riflemen at Bramcote
Barracks near Nuneaton during the August Bank Holiday 2014.
My best wishes for Christmas and 2014 to all fellow Riflemen.
Hugh Willing
E-Zine 2013
Contents
Page Title
3. Foreword
4. RGJ Museum Shop
Christmas 2013
6. Forecast of Events
Regimental ringtones
7. RGJRA Contact List
8. From the Editor
9. The History of The Royal
Green Jackets (Rifles)
Museum
11. The Royal Green Jackets
(Rifles) Museum
Ba le of Waterloo
Bicentenary Exhibi on
13. She’ll miss me
14. News from the Branches
26. The Royal Green Jackets
(Rifles) Museum
28. KRRC Tapestry
29. 3,000 mile Campervan
Tour of Germany
31. Wiltshire Branch Revisit
The Rock of Gibraltar
32. The platoon in C Coy 1st
Green Jackets that went
chasing pirates in 1963
37. The Scent of History –
Frankincense
38. Soldiers of Oxfordshire
Trust (SOFO)
40. Riflesdirect
41. In Memoriam
“Why the Poppies?”
Editor:
Kevin Stevens
Copyright 2013 © RGJRA
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.
Volume 5 Issue 3 | 3
The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Associa on
RGJ MUSEUM SHOP
CHRISTMAS 2013
Special Offers available - on-line or telephone only - 11 November - 20 December
All prices exclude p&p. Total p&p charges are shown at check out - shoprgjmuseum.co.uk
For the Green Jackets enthusiast
The Regimental gift package
Shop price £31.24p – NOW £26.00p or buy individual
items
Shop price (Silk Tie) £34.49p – NOW £30.00p
Shop price (Polyester Tie) £25.59p – NOW £20.00p or
buy individual items
Rifles book £3.99p, Rifles CD £9.99p Rifles DVD £12.99p
Mug £4.50p, Socks £6.00p, Polyester Tie £10.50p,
Silk Tie £19.00p
AND ... have you ordered your Christmas Cards?
Pkt of 5 with envelopes £3.75p
4 | Volume 5 Issue 3
E-Zine 2013
WWII memories for Grandad
Winter Warmth
Shop price £21.49p – NOW £16.50p or buy
individual items
Shop price £46.97p – NOW £40.00p or buy
individual items
Tea £4.00p, Notelets £2.00p, Mug £5.00p,
Magnetic memo £4.00p, Humbugs £2.00p
Ski hat £5.50p, Scarf £8.00p, Waterproof £28.00p
Make a note of Veterans Day at Winchester in the Museum 2014 Calendar. £10.00p.
The calendar focuses on regimental Victoria Cross winners. It is a page a month depicting different recipients whose award
was made for gallantry in that month, with a photograph, thumbnail sketch of his life and summary of the action leading to
the individual award of the Victoria Cross included. With plenty of space to record daily appointments and with additional
pages for birthdays, anniversaries and notes, this is an historically fascinating and very practical calendar.
BEST WISHES FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM ALL AT YOUR MUSEUM
E-Zine 2013
Forecast Of Events 15 December 2013 - 31 March 2014
Date
2013
December
17
25
2014
January
16
29 tbc
February
1
15
Event
Contact
Turning of the Pages Ceremony (1055 hrs)
King’s Royal Rifle Corps Regimental Birthday
Winchester Cathedral
RHQ
Anniversary of the death of Sir John Moore –
Wreath laying at Evensong Service
RIFLES Trustees Mee ng
St Paul’s Cathedral, London
London Office
Hereford
Shrewsbury Office
7th Anniversary of The Rifles Forma on
Deadline for input to The Editor for The Chronicle
March
15
Herefordshire Officers’ Dinner
Regimental Ring tones
Our small selection of ring tones are becoming increasingly popular. The website team are able to provide the
following regimental ring tones.
Reveille – High on a hill – Last post – Mechanised Infantry – Ox and Bucks March – RGJ March –
Rogues March – Battle sounds.
We are planning to add to this list in the new year together with a small selection of more humorous ringtones, we
can offer at the moment “Smurfs in prison”.
You cannot download these directly but they can be sent via email for you to transfer to your mobile phone by data
cable. If you would like any or all of the above please contact me using the following email address:
[email protected]
Kevin Stevens
Website Manager
E-Zine 2013
Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association
Contact list as at 15 December 2013
President
Maj Gen Jamie Balfour CBE
01962 828524
admin@rgjassocia on.info
Chairman
Brig HGC Willing CBE
01962 828524
Vice Chairman
Lt Simon Booth-Mason
01962 828524
Secretary
Lt Col J-D von Merveldt
0207 491 4936
[email protected]
Members Secretary
Mr Mike Marr
01235 548018
[email protected]
Webmaster
Mr Kevin Stevens
01865 452813
webmaster@rgjassocia on.info
Dep Webmaster
Mr Mark Adams
01442 380713
[email protected]
Database Manager
Mr Roy Baillie
01488 658681
membersdatabase@rgjassocia on.co.uk
Webmaster RGJ Photographic Site
Mr Seamus P Lyons
01992 550605
Seamus.lyons@rgjassocia on.info
Branches
Australian
Maj Gen Andrew Pringle CB CBE
Mr Chris McDonald
+61 (0)408 937 165
[email protected]
Aylesbury
•
Mr Alan Grant
01296 426765
[email protected]
Band and Bugles
David Timms
Mr David Timms
01304 820910
[email protected]
Central England
Major Michael Leeming
Mr Peter Page
01922 694733
[email protected]
East Midlands
•
Mr Mar n Coates
01623 747817
mar nswi [email protected]
Gosport & District
•
Mr Ian Ski lethorpe
02392 423336
ianski [email protected]
London
Col GF Smythe OBE
Mr Gary Driscoll
01708 442662
[email protected]
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
N. Ireland
•
Mr Len Cook
North West
•
Mr Ray Gerrard
01744 732501
[email protected]
Oxfordshire
Brig Nigel Mogg DL
Mr Mike Marr
01235 548018
[email protected]
Shropshire
•
Mr Tom Fairclough
01691 777172
[email protected]
Suffolk
Maj RD Cassidy MBE
Mr Gordon Pilcher
01394 215925
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Winchester
Capt John Fritz-Domeney
Mr John Harper
01962 882481
[email protected]
Yorkshire
Brig PJ Lyddon MBE
Mr Stuart Anderson
01757 617056
li [email protected]
lenny.cook@b nternet.com
Notes:
Any amendments to the above contact informa on should be sent to Roy Baillie.
• Indicates that a Branch President has not been appointed.
E-Zine 2013
From the Editor
Welcome to the December issue of the E-Zine.
It does not seem that long ago I was writing my previous editorial and bemoaning
the fact we, as a website team, had had such a poor 6 months. Since that time I am
pleased to say that our database manager, Roy Baillie, is back on his foot, Mark
Adams who looks after all guest books and bulletin boards and had severely cut his
hand is now able to type with two lollipop sticks which is a definite improvement
and I am recoveringwell from my back operation although with a few unexpected
complications. I was also delighted to receive an email recently from Arne Bergsand
saying he was once again well enough to re-join the team. Arne has been responsible
for the building of this edition while Seamus Lyons, who has remained disgustingly
well all year, has been concentrating on a complete rebuild of the main website.
The branch websites which we control have been given a completely new look and
we have welcomed the Gosport and District branch into the fold. Seamus has now
taken over responsibility for the maintenance of all the websites. There are plans
to add another formerly independent website to the list of centrally run websites in
the new year if things go according to plan.
Once again the e-zine contains a wide variety of articles in addition to branch reports.
We always welcome the interest stories as they have a tendency to generate further
stories as people think “I could write one of those”. Please keep them coming.
You should be aware by now that we have taken the decision to reduce the e-zine
from 3 issues to 1 issue per year. In making this decision I have taken into account
the fact that those who contribute are volunteers as are the website team and it can
be very difficult to find something to write about every 12 weeks. I have, however,
decided we will produce 2 editions in 2014, the first at the end of June and the second
at the end of October meaning we can give full coverage and support to the museum
in this very important year for them and also cover the reunions.
So as 2013 draws to a close and we begin to welcome in 2014 may I, on behalf of the
website team, take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and safe Christmas
and New Year.
Best wishes
Kevin Stevens
Website Manager RGJRA
Editor E-Zine and Swift and Bold(To be con nued on next page)
E-Zine 2013
THE HISTORY
OF
THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM
The origins of The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum date back to the aftermath of the First World
War.
In 1917, before even the First World War had ended, the British Government decided that a National
War Museum should be set up to collect and display material relating to the Great War. The interest
taken by the Dominion governments led to the museum being given the title of the Imperial War
Museum. Established by Act of Parliament, the museum was opened in the Crystal Palace by King
George V on 9 June 1920.
The creation of the Imperial War Museum was the catalyst for many regiments in the British Army
to start accumulating their own collections of war artefacts and archival material. The antecedent
regiments of The Royal Green Jackets – The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, The
King’s Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade - all did so during the 1920s.
The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Museum was created in 1925 in a room in the
Officers’ Mess of the Regimental Depot at Cowley Barracks, Oxford. By 1938 more space was required
and it moved into a barrack room. In 1968 the museum moved from Cowley Barracks to Slade Park
Barracks, Oxford, where it remained until the barracks was closed in 2008. Thereafter the collection
was placed in storage at Bicester for three years before being moved to Woodstock.
For many years The King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle Brigade collections were housed wherever
space could be found for them in the buildings at The Rifle Depot, Winchester. It was not, though,
until after the rebuild of Peninsula Barracks in 1964 that a semi-permanent home for the collections
was established on the first floor of the Depot headquarters building, the building now occupied by
The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum.
The King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle Brigade museums in the 1980s
In 1986 the opportunity arose, with the closure of Peninsula Barracks as a training depot, for The
Royal Green Jackets to establish a permanent regimental museum in the former Depot headquarters
E-Zine 2013
building. The Ministry of Defence approved and in 1989 The King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle
Brigade collections were united in a single Royal Green Jackets Museum occupying one half of the
ground floor and the whole of the first floor of the building. The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry also contributed by lending a significant part of its Oxfordshire collection for display
in the museum.
On 1 December 1989 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Green Jackets,
opened the new museum.
Since 1989 there have been a number of changes within the museum, including the introduction of
new displays and exhibits. However, the basic layout and space available have not changed.
The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry became part of the museum in 2004
In 2004 the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry transferred ownership of its collection in
Winchester to The Royal Green Jackets Museum. In 2007 it transferred ownership of the remainder
of its collection in Oxfordshire to the museum. The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, therefore,
owns the museum collections, including the archives, of all the former regiments of The Royal
Green Jackets. The Oxfordshire collection, however, remains in Oxfordshire available to the Soldiers
of Oxfordshire Museum Trust for use and display in the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Heritage Centre,
Woodstock, which is due to open in 2014.
Change to The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in 2009
In 2009 the Museum’s trustees decided that the title of the museum should change to The Royal Green
Jackets (Rifles) Museum. The change reflected the desire in Government and within the Ministry of
Defence that museums should ‘connect our past with our present and our future’. The inclusion of
the word ‘Rifles’ does this by identifying The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum with the history
of the British Army’s first Rifle regiment, The Rifle Brigade, through the present to the future as a
part of today’s regiment, ‘The Rifles’, into which The Royal Green Jackets was merged on 1 February
2007.
The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum
Peninsula Barracks
Romsey Road
Winchester, Hants, SO23 8TS
www.rgjmuseum.co.uk
E-Zine 2013
BATTLE OF WATERLOO BICENTENARY EXHIBITION
It was a great day when, after two years of preparation and planning, we heard that the Trustees’ application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a grant of £100,000 to part-fund a Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary exhibition in 2015 had been successful. The news was released to the public on 17 November.
A huge amount of work is now in hand to ensure that the exhibition is ready to open on 25 March 2015,
three months in advance of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June.
The items in the display case shown in the a achment belonged to or related to the Duke of Wellington:
Court Dress coatee worn when Col-in-Chief of The Rifle Brigade
Garter Sash
Embroidered waistcoat
Tie pin and two studs
Le er from the Duke
Ink stand made from one of his chargers hooves
Statue e of the Duke of Wellington
3 x medallions rela ng to the death and burial of the Duke of Wellington
Lithograph of the funeral procession
2 x illustra ons of the funeral from the Illustrated London News (copies)
B/W copy of the pain ng ‘The First of May’
B/W copy of a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Phillips
There are lots of reasons why the Trustees have
chosen to invest a large amount of time, effort and
money in this exhibition.
For a start, the bicentenary is expected to attract
considerable national and international attention
and we want some to be focused on our Museum.
Currently no other regimental museum in the
country has such ambitious plans as ours.
Secondly, Waterloo was a defining moment in
European and British history. The causes, course
and consequences of the battle, some of which still
resonate today, deserve to be better understood
E-Zine 2013
and remembered.
Thirdly, two of the antecedent regiments of The
Royal Green Jackets, the 52nd Light Infantry
and the 95th Rifles, played a pivotal role in the
battle. The 52nd LI initiated the rout of the French
Imperial Guard that led to the defeat of the French,
while the 1st/95th contributed significantly to the
defence of the vital ground forward of the Mont St
Jean crossroads. Waterloo was undeniably a major
event in the Regiment’s history with the battle
honour ‘Waterloo’ proudly emblazoned on The
(To be con nued on next page)
(Con nued from previous page)
in 1797 and the Experimental Corps of Riflemen in
1800; the introduction of the Baker Rifle; Sir John
Moore’s camp at Shorncliffe and the designation of
the 43rd and 52nd as light infantry regiments
(1803-6); and, of course, the part played by all the
antecedent regiments of The Royal Green Jackets
and The Light Division during the Peninsular War
(1808-14).
There is, too, a very important, third element to
our plans. In addition to the new displays covering
the ‘Road to Waterloo’ and ‘Waterloo’, we intend
to create a multi-functional learning space to
seat 60 people with walls on which to display to
much better effect than at present the Museum’s
important collection of paintings and portraits
relating to the period 1800-15. Teachers are already
excited at the prospect of using this space as an
‘alternative classroom’, one where they can bring
their pupils for a full or half day and, with the
facilities on offer, conduct classroom work on the
spot with objects and subject matter experts to
hand.
For those familiar with the Museum, the
Bicentenary Exhibition will result in two-thirds of
the first floor display space being stripped back to
bare walls and new displays being created in their
place. The Waterloo diorama will remain a central
feature. The area affected is shown in approximate
form on the diagram accompanying this article.
This may change once the exhibition designer is
appointed in mid-January.
Royal Green Jackets’ cap badge.
Lastly, the Trustees have long wanted to improve
the conservation and presentation of our very
popular, but somewhat tired 24.5 m2 Waterloo
diorama, with its 30,000 model soldiers and horses.
Marking the bicentenary of Waterloo with in
major exhibition provides admirable reason to
introduce state-of-the art technology and methods
of interpretation to the diorama, and to bring to
life the battle and the stories of those who were
there.
But this is not only an exhibition about Waterloo.
It will also be an exhibition about the ‘Road to
Waterloo’ covering the period from the French
Revolution (1789) to Napoleon’s exile to Elba in
1814. This is a key period in the Regiment’s history
giving rise to the formation of the 5th/60th Rifles
Ultimately the Museum’s Trustees are looking
to create a new experience within an existing
experience, an exhibition that stands to be more
modern and, quite probably in content and
presentation, different to the displays in the rest of
the Museum. In particular, we want the exhibition
to excite and inspire members of the public of all
ages and backgrounds and to appeal to children
whether visiting as a school or family group.
But all this comes at a price. The £100,000 HLF
grant will cover just under a half of the estimated
£210,000 project cost, but we know this figure
does not cover some elements which we consider
important and would dearly likely to see included.
The Trustees, therefore, will be launching a
£100,000 Waterloo 2015 Appeal on 16 January in the
hope that not only will the target sum be reached,
but that it will be exceeded. Indeed, it is critically
important that it is reached if the Museum is not to
default on its commitments to the HLF.
E-Zine 2013
potential sponsors. Once launched, the Appeal will
run for nine months to 31 October 2014.
The logo designed to publicise the Museum’s
Waterloo 2015 Exhibition and Appeal is featured at
the end of this article together with the HLF logo
which the museum is obliged to display alongside
all publicity material about the exhibition. The strap
line ‘History Matters’ is not only highly pertinent
but the title of Hampshire’s Secondary History
Teachers’ biannual magazine.
Details of the Appeal and how to contribute to it will
be publicised on the RGJ Regimental Association
website on 16 January and subsequently as widely
as possible using every method available. Branches
already have a good idea of what is planned.
Approaches will also be made to individuals,
supporters of the Museum, grant-giving trusts and
The Museum’s Trustees are particularly grateful
that the RGJ Regimental Association Committee
has endorsed the importance of the Museum’s
Waterloo 2015 Appeal by designating it the
Association’s main fund-raising effort in 2014. There
has not been an appeal like it since the Museum
was created in the 1980s and there is no intention
of initiating another in the foreseeable future. It
is very much hoped, therefore, that, when the call
comes, members of the Regiment will contribute as
generously as they are able. In anticipation, thank
you.
Lt-Gen Sir Christopher Wallace
Chairman, RGJ Museum Trustees
Waterloo 2015
HISTORY MATTERS
www.rgjmuseum.co.uk
The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum Trust (Charity No. 1009691)
She’ll miss me
I miss her, my mum.
These wet, and cold streets are no place for me. I'm out later than she likes me to be. Standing on street corners,
with my mates nearby, if she saw me now, I know she would cry ...
I miss her, my mum.
We're walking off now, together we go. Shoulders all swinging. Putting on a good show.
They watch us coming, signalling our route, waiting to see which one they will shoot ...
I miss her, my mum.
Cars flash past in the rain, coming and going. Again, and again.
I tense at each one, watching them leave, wiping mist from my sight with my glove or my sleeve ...
I miss her, my mum.
I'm here, eighteen! I'm a man! I struggle to be as brave as I can. My mates - they are better - good soldiers all,
they'll make sure that none of us fall ...
I miss her, my mum.
What was that flash? What was that bang? Why are they shouting? Why am I numb? Please someone,
PLEASE! Go get my mum!
I miss her, my mum.
I see my mate Tommy, he's stroking my head. But I'm looking down? Does this mean I am dead?
I'm shouting! Listen lads! I'm ok! I'm alright! Why can't you hear me? It's quite silent tonight ...
She'll miss me. My mum.
Ken Pettengale
E-Zine 2013
GOSPORT AND DISTRICT BRANCH
Just a little update from the newly formed branch here is Gosport Hampshire.
The Branch is going from strength to strength with regular meetings being held at the Gosport
Royal British Legion on the first Thursday of each month at 1930hrs. Our first major event was the
attendance at the Winchester Reunion in July this year which was supported by a large contingent
and as we all disappeared off to our homes plans where already being put in place to attend next year.
A small section headed off to the remembrance parade in Gosport at the invitation of the Lord Mayor
of Gosport and our Chairman Roger Forder placed a wreath at the War Memorial in remembrance
of those who had given the ultimate sacrifice. Our entertainments team are planning a Battle field
tour to the SOMME in March next year there are a few places left so if any one wants to attend please
contact the secretary James at [email protected] or via the Royal Green Jackets web site.
NORTH EAST BRANCH
Hello Brother Riflemen,
Welcome to the North East Branch and we hope
you will all enjoy reading what we have been doing
since our last e-zine entry. We held our last meeting
on Friday 27th September with 31 Riflemen on
parade and 18 apologies due to other duties. The
details for the Remembrance Weekend were
finalised, others matters were discussed and we
then moved upstairs to enjoy a social evening.
Our first pleasurable event of the Autumn was the
marriage of Serjeant Dave Sproat and Suzanne
Stephenson on the 26th October 2013 (the same
weekend SAFC beat NUFC 2-1). We hope it didn’t
spoil their celebrations too much!
David and Suzanne were childhood sweethearts as
well as lifelong Newcastle fans (doesn’t make them
bad people) and have been together since1981.
Dave Joined the RGJ family in November 1981,
going into 10 Platoon at the Rifle Depot. He was
one of the recruits that were trained by a certain
Sjt J Cheetham with Lt Col Nicholas Prideaux as
Commanding Officer. Dave’s training was the best
as we all know with lots of show parades and boots
being slung out of windows, before passing out as
a trained, thinking Rifleman in March 1982, when
Dave was posted to the 1st Battalion in Northern
Ireland.
Dave went onto the JNCOs’ cadre in 1986 and was
promoted, becoming the Company Commander’s
driver. 1988 Dave attended the Section
Commander’s course in beautiful, sunny Brecon.
During 1990, Dave saw the amalgamation of the
Battalions and he was posted to 2 RGJ. In 1992 he
was posted to Cyprus and while there, he was part
of the Support Company Rugby team that won the
Cyprus Rugby cup.
Dave then decided to change his career somewhat
and joined the Mortar Platoon where he went to
Jordan (another holiday) before returning to ATR
Winchester. When this posting was over he became
a Corporal in the Regimental Police at Bulford.
Dave’s Army life did not end here, he joined a
civilian firm who participated in a new concept
for the Army as a sponsored reservist driving the
newest tank transporter which meant he had to
re-badge to the Royal Logistic Corps. This Dave
describes as an eye- opener when he was in Iraq
and Afghanistan but he still made lots of new
friends, never forgetting his roots as a thinking
Rifleman.
Our main event of the Branch’s year was the
Remembrance Weekend for which we had been
working and planning since May. I would like to
take this opportunity to publicly thank Jake and
Liz Cheetham for all their hard work along with
the other Committee members who assisted in the
preparations. Also, I wish to thank our sponsor for
his continued sponsorship of the Branch; without
his generosity we wouldn’t be able to host such a
prestigious event.
The weekend celebrations started on the Friday
afternoon when numerous Riflemen and WAGS,
from all over the country and Europe, began to
arrive at the various hotels and guest houses within
the local area of Roker and Seaburn.
E-Zine 2013
The lamps started to swing and the sandbags were
re-filled and Keith ‘Dog’ Hudson started to sell The
North East Branch calendar for 2014 and a very
good job he has made of them as well as other RGJ
regalia.
Friday evening passed all too quickly but that
just meant that Saturday had arrived and our
long awaited function could commence and what
better way to start the night off than with the Bugle
section from The Durham Army Cadet Force
(Rifles really) playing a selection of Bugle calls
which brought back so many memories and making
the hairs stand up on the back of our necks.
Once the Buglers, under the skilful and amusing
direction of WO2 Derek Corbett, had concluded
their spot Jake thanked them on our behalf and
released them to return to their other duties at
the nearby Seaburn Centre. Jake then invited our
Branch President Brigadier Nicholas Prideaux
to speak. He welcomed everyone, reflected on the
Branch’s activities and achievements during the
past year and thanked everyone who had organised
the evening which was always greatly appreciated
by so many people especially our Branch members,
their guests and those from other Branches.
After the formal introductions and presentations
had been concluded, we were entertained by a
very good local group called Triple Vision and they
started the evening’s merriment with many a good
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tune of our era.
The auction raised a total of £740 which was
donated to our own Rifles “Care4Casualties”
charity. George Barrs and John Toolin are seen
below onducting the auction. Also shown below are
two tables full of Raffle prizes, these were kindly
donated by our members throughout the year
and thereby ensuring that an enormous number of
tickets were sold.
The evening was a huge success and all our guests
enjoyed themselves and spoke highly of the food
and entertainment. As the night drew to a close,
we went our various ways to prepare for the
most important part of the weekend, the Sunday
morning Parade in Sunderland to honour our fallen
comrades.
On a beautiful sunny but cold Sunday morning,
we started to meet up in our usual place, William
Jameson’s bar and after having had a hearty
breakfast, we made our way up to the Civic Centre,
where the parade forms up.
We fell in in three ranks to the command of our
resident CSM from the Coldstream Guards; he
received the usual light-hearted banter of bleating
sheep and other jokes which he took all in the spirit
of fun. The hardest part of the march was trying to
keep step to the heavy brigade drum beat but we
arrived without incident directly opposite the War
Memorial where we awaited the chimes of Big Ben
and the start of the Two Minutes Silence.
This is a very emotional moment across the nation
when we all remember our fallen commrades
throughout the years of numerous conflicts in the
last century and into the present:the Two World
Wars, the Korean War, operations in Borneo,
Malaya, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, the Falklands
and Gulf wars and currently Afgahnistan.
The crowds surrounding the Parade observed
the silence impecably across the city’s boundaries
showing their total respect and support for our
Armed Forces, past and present.
We marched past and to the sound of the Bugle,
gave our salute to the Lord Lieutenant and His
Worship The Mayor. As we went by and received
the eyes front, we changed our step to our
Regimental pace which was a great relief to the 100
Riflemen on parade. It was a fantastic march past
and the cheers and support from the crowds were
superb.
We returned to the Roker Hotel for our Lunch; we
were joined and the honoured guests, the Mayor
and Lady Mayoress and a very special guest, in the
guise of our own Regimental “Mary Poppins“
Miss Claire Neal.Brigadier Nicholas explained to
everyone who Claire was and how she had become
involved with the Regiment. For those of you that
do not know, Claire was a Nanny looking after
children in London in 1982. On 20th July she was
approaching the Bandstand in Regent’s Park with
two of her children just as the IRA bomb exploded
with such devastating result. Without any thought
for her own safety, she left her children with a
Policemen and went to the aid of those Bandsmen
who were dying and badly wounded. Claire
immediately gave first aid and help by tearing off
her petticoat and even some of her dress to make
bandages. When she had done as much as she
could, Claire retraced her steps to find her children
and melted into the crowd. It took the Metropolitan
Police three days to discover who she was and the
extent of her actions. She subsequently was given
two bravery awards for her courageous and selfless
action.
As a further tribute to Claire, the President
formally confirmed that he had made Claire an
Honorary Member of the North East Branch. A
bouquet of flowers was t presented to her on behalf
of the Branch and she received a standing ovation
from a room of grateful Riflemen who were moved
to tears by her actions and presence of mind on that
fateful day. On 2nd December, Claire’s Birthday,
Liz Cheetham and Kathy Bradford took her out
to Lunch and presented her with a mounted RGJ
blazer badge as proof of her Honorary Membership
of the Branch.
Our new Branch room in the Royal British Legion
Club in Sunderland was opened on 14th December
progress thus providing us with a place to call
home for the North East Branch complete with a
full array of RGJ memorabilia.
True friendship: A Sentiment from George
Barrs
Many years ago I met a group of special people, at
the time, they were young boys, who with training
grew to be “chosen men”.
As the years passed by we all went our own way,
but never forgetting their faces or the memories
we shared together in times of fun, laughter and
extreme hardship. You spend some time away from
them and then meet up again and the years roll
back, even though physically they have changed the
special bond still remains.
True special friendship is always present wherever
life may send you and I know I have met “some
special people” and they become part of your
extended family and that family is “THE ROYAL
GREEN JACKETS”.
These people travel the length and width of the
country to meet up with old comrades which shows
the spirit of true friends. I would like a special
mention to Jake, Liz, John and Malcolm and the
remainder of the North East Branch Committee for
all their hard work, dedication and hospitality when
organising functions on our behalf. We all enjoy
these times and they will only get better as the
years pass by but one thing is for certain the RGJ
will never die.
Once again I would like to take this opportunity
to thank everyone for sending me the pictures
and articles to be included in our e-zine and wish
all RGJ and serving Rifles personnel regardless
of rank a very Happy Christmas and a healthy,
prosperous New Year.
SWIFT and BOLD
Malcolm Donnison
Editor, North East branch newsletter
E-Zine 2013
NORTH WEST BRANCH
It has again been a quiet year this year. Our
membership has reduced slightly but this has
happened before and we have recovered. Our
membership for 2013 stands at 31 paid up members,
12 Country Members and 8 people remain on
our mailing list. We expect that next year our
membership will improve as we have one or two
things in the pipeline.
The annual dinner this year attracted 26 members
and guests. It was held on Saturday 9th November
2013 at the Royal Hotel, Marine Terrace, Waterloo,
Liverpool. It was held in the Waterloo Suite and
as the name suggests the room is themed around
the Battle of Waterloo. A good omen for the 200th
anniversary in 2015. Again the reputation of our
annual dinner must be spreading afar as this year
we had people from the Isle of Mann, Dorset and
London attending. We even had Vince Wellington
attend the dinner who we passed off as the great
great great grandson of the Duke of Wellington but
I don’t think many were fooled. A very good night
was enjoyed by all especially as a free bar was laid
on.
This year we changed the date from the last
weekend in November to the weekend of the
remembrance parade. This was at the request
of some members and people from afar who
would like to attend the remembrance parade the
following day. This seemed to work well and we are
considering the same date next year. Is was also, by
coincidence, Gareths birthday which he thought we
had all forgotten about until we presented him with
a cake near the end of the night. As we may hold
the dinner on this night each year don’t expect it to
be renamed Gareth Dixons Birthday Bash.
The annual remembrance parade was held at the
cenotaph at the front of St Georges Hall in
Liverpool and a detachment of 40 ex Royal Green
Jackets marched onto the cenotaph where a
poppy wreath was placed by Bill Evans. We even
noticed that this year we had ex-soldiers of the
Rifles with us who joined our ranks when we
marched on. We then attended a short memorial
service at the Northern Ireland memorial which
is in St John Gardens at the rear of St Georges
Hall.
It is with sadness that we have to say our farewell
to Geoff Morrish who passed away in September
this year. Geoff was a member of the branch
for many years. At his funeral there was a good
turnout of many ex Royal Green Jackets.
I am sure you are all well aware that the North
West Branch is making a coordinated effort to
raise funds to provide a headstone for Peter
Uden. You may ask why the North West Branch
is making this effort when he is buried in
Winchester but Peter had many friends here
in the North West and visited friends here on
occasions.
For those of you who knew Peter I am sure
you will agree that he was a man with a large
character and heart. He was well known
throughout the RGJ family and extended his
welcome every Veterans day in Winchester by
opening up his home to anybody who wanted to
attend his popular barbeques.
If every member of every branch donated just £1
to this appeal we would have enough money to
provide a headstone for Peter that his wife could
be proud of. To date we have raised £165 and that
is in just a couple of months. The North West
Branch Dinner raised £125 and another £10 was
handed to me on the remembrance parade. We
have no timescale to this appeal but we would like
to raise the money as soon as possible for his wife
Joyce. At out dinner it was announced by C/Sgt
Dave Crossley that the Sergeants mess of the 4th
Battalion the Rifles are now considering making
a donation thanks to his efforts.
The North West Branch are coordinating this
effort so any cheques can be made out to the RGJ
Association NW Branch and sent to 18 Rolling
Mill Lane, Sutton, St Helens WA9 3GB.
Here is hoping we all have a better 2014.
Gareth Dixon and Dave Crossley.
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Gareth Dixon and Ray Gerrard
OXFORD BRANCH
Reunion 2013
Although the attendance at both Turning the
Pages in Oxford and the Oxford branch Reunion
at Abingdon on Saturday 10th November was not
quite as impressive as last year, it was still good.
Extra chairs were needed at the ceremony in the
Regimental Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral,
and the names were read by Major Paul Allington
of The Rifles ACF for the Oxford & Bucks Light
Infantry, and for the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire
Hussars by Jo Rider, widow of the late Major
Bob Sheldon, who had been scheduled to do the
reading.
Brigadier Robin Draper thanked the Band and
Bugles, and was happy to announce that in
the past year the Rifles had suffered no fatal
casualties in Afghanistan. He also mentioned
that Major Charlie Helmn, the PSAO of ‘A’
Company 7 RIFLES and chairman of the RGJA
Oxford branch , would be retiring next year.
Brigadier David Innes, who is a Trustee of SOFO,
briefly repeated his request for volunteers to
join SOFO’s Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
research group at the Museum.
As well as the ‘Old and Bold’, there were a
number of members of ‘A’ Company present, and
an interesting innovation was a presentation
by L/Cpl Alex Oates. Alex, who is a student at
Oxford University, spent 9 months from April to
September attached to ‘B’ Company, 4 RIFLES,
operating out of a patrol base in Afghanistan,
and the old comrades present were interested in
the details of his experiences in this particular
combat zone.
Rider and Paul Allington reading the names in Christ Church Cathedral.
We were pleased to see centenarian Lawrence
Belcher in attendance, and those who gathered
in the Priory Room for sherry were treated a song
rather than a recitation from him. Col Tim May,
Vice-Chairman of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire
Trust, announced that the new Museum at
Woodstock is finished and that from the end of
November the Research Centre will re-open for
business by appointment. First contact should
be by phone at 01993 813832 or via the website at
http://www.sofo.org.uk/. It will be opened to the
public next spring with a formal opening in the
autumn by an eminent person. Presumably that
will not be Peter Jay!
There were about 45 old comrades at the Reunion
at Edward Brooks barracks that evening, and
they enjoyed the usual impeccable performance
by the Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles.
Perhaps the high spot of the performance was a
display of Irish dancing by the well-built Bugler
Gary Boardman – an obvious candidate for
Strictly Come Dancing!
Following the presentation, Alex spent some time
in conversation with 91-year-old veteran Sam
Langford, who was telling the young reservist
about his exploits in WWII. Sam served in the
52nd in France, having landed with the Royal
Berkshire Regiment on Juno Beach on D-Day
and volunteering for the Airborne a little later.
He took part in Operation Varsity – the Rhine
Crossing – and was wounded. Our photographs
show Sam (Northern Europe 1944) talking to
Alex Oates (Afghanistan 2013) and with Geoff
Day (Cyprus 1956/7) listening.
L/Cpl Alex Oates, Sam Langford and Geoff Day.
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of Michael Massy-Beresford.
We were pleased to see Brian Hill, who had come
all the way from Exeter for the Reunion, and to
welcome Les Smith as a new member of the
Oxford branch. Les had served in the Regiment
in Germany in 1954/5 and had been a member of
the Nijmegen Marches team under the command
As usual the conversation never flagged and
there was plenty of reminiscencing of times
past. The evening was rounded as usual off by
the traditional curry.
SOUTH EAST KENT BRANCH
Memorial Parade in Dover
For the first time in many a year chosen men again marched at the head of the remembrance parade in
Dover. On Sunday the 13th November 2013 just one year on from the South East Kent Branch’s formation
members where at the head of the parade.
We set out our plan to march with the parade Marshall in September with our request to march in the Dover
parade, we explained to him our unique drill order (as he was Royal navy) and produced a cunning plan, the
area the parade covers outside the cenotaph is very small 30m x 15m and we were only allocated a frontage
of three men, our drill plan was to take up the extreme right flank of the parade. On the morning of the
parade (true to RGJ traditionleave it to the last moment) we met up in our HQ (Dover Sea Angling Club) at
0930 hrs for meet and greet drinksthen at 1000 hrs all those who wished to march were asked upstairs for a
briefing on the parade, once we had formed our marching men we then set off “nontac” to the Start point by
Marks and Sparks, Mr George Nash was despatched as our Left Marker ready for our men to march onto. At
the start point we stood around basking in the attention of the Press and camera’s concentrated on our fine
body of men resplendent in their blazers, medals and berets, at the given time we lined up behind our front
rank consisting of Mr Andy Redman, our wreath layer Mr Tommy Love and Mr Tony Killelay, the plan was
to step off at a moderate pace then at a point on the march (McDonalds) we would increase our pace for the
last 50 metres.
From the command “by the centre – Quick March” we were in full pace and looked and sounded fantastic with
the heels of our highly polished shoes digging in to the pavement as one, as we moved to the parade area we right
wheeled and halted facing front onto our marker Mr Nash, it was quite remarkable as the halt seemed perfect
and once we had our breath back we “close ordered dress”, Mr Redman moved off to join the line for those laying
wreaths, after a couple of minutes the remainder of the parade turned up and we came under the command
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of the parade marshall who had us coming to attention and standing at ease at the appropriate times, The
Padre and dignitaries gave their speeches but alas to our dismay the padre mentioned every conflict apart
from Northern Ireland, Then the wreath laying began but with no real organisation it was very long and at
times arduous for some the elderly veterans, ( we have since spoken with the parade marshal to address this
issue for the next remembrance parade), When the Royal Green Jackets name was called to lay our wreath
we as a unit came to attention and watched with pride as Mr Redman laid the wreath, saluted and rejoined
the ranks.
At the end of the parade we fell out to our HQ for warm up drinks, ( Once we had finished the contents of the
many and varied selection of hip flasks that had miraculously appeared during and after the parade) we then
meandered along to the India Memorial, this is the memorial erected in Camden Square after the Indian
Mutiny,” IN MEMORY OF COMRADES WHO FELL DURING THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS OF 1857, 1858 and
1859. ERECTED BY THE 1st BATTALION 60th ROYAL RIFLES AUGUST 1861” , Whilst this should have
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been a short walk through the underpass it wasn’t, the underpass was flooded and not passable, this meant t
hat men women and children having to cross 4 lanes of trafic and over railings and road barriers, once at the
memorial we formed up in a semi circleand carried out a wreath laying ceramony with Mr Don Whitehead
laying the wreath, once he had finished his salute Mr Tresadern, our bugler sounded last post, after falling
out we gathered for a group photograph then back via the obstacles to the HQ for Hot food and a raffle (still
using Mr Gordon Vachers racing team donations).
To end I would just like to say how proud I was at the Remembrance Parade, my heart was filled with so
much pride I was close to popping the black buttons on my blazer, The chosen men of the South East Kent
Branch did themselves and the RGJ Association a great service that day, we all immersed ourselves in
the comradeship and emotional remembrance that such parades evoke and afterwards thoroughly enjoyed
ourselves.
Glenn Tenent
E-Zine 2013
WILTSHIRE BRANCH
Remembrance weekend saw many of the Branch
Poppy collecting in Warminster Waitrose on both
Friday 8th, and Saturday 9th, we set up on both days
at 09:00 and went through till 16:00, as we go to print
we still wait to find out our total but early indications
lead us to belive it will be well over £600, all of course
going to a good cause. Our Branch Chairman is
also Vice Chairman of The Royal British Legion,
Warminster Branch, so we had a warm venue with
plenty of tea and coffee laid on.
On Remembrance Sunday 11 of us went for Sunday
lunch at Ruby’s in Warminster High Street, just
a short walk from the war memorial, where many
members of the Branch and families met up at
what is now known as Green Jacket corner, for
the 15:00 hours service, Branch Chaiman Brian
Darvill marched with the Royal British Legion,
and Bill Tyson laid a Regimental wreath as part
of the service, then later we made our way to the
Conservative Club for a warm drink and beef curry,
as in other years this went on into early evening.
As the year draws to an end we have the following
event coming up:
Poppy collec on photo, le to right:
Ted Peckham, Lee Massey, Brian Darvill, Phil Ashby, Gary Byrne.
Collectors not in the photo: Bill Tyson, Bob Holcombe, Blanche Darvill.
Thursday 9th January 2014
Branch AGM, Warminster, Conservative Club at
20:00 hours.
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WINCHESTER BRANCH
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY IN WINCHESTER
10 NOVEMBER 2013
The bronze statue of a First World War Rifleman of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps that stands
on top of the War Memorial opposite the west door of Winchester Cathedral
Each year members of the Winchester Branches of The Royal Green Jackets and The King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Associations gather in front of the KRRC War Memorial opposite the west door of the Cathedral to remember
the fallen of both regiments and of The Rifles. Lest it be forgotten, within the Cathedral, too, are housed the First
and Second World War Rolls of Honour of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade.
E-Zine 2013
This year the Remembrance Service followed the pattern of previous years with Association members joined
by a large number of cubs and scouts from the 12th Winchester (Green Jackets) Scout Group and by residents
from Green Jacket Close. Brigadier David Innes, The Rifles’ Winchester City Colonel, was in attendance.
The Act of Remembrance took place at 9.30 a.m. in advance of the Cathedral’s main Remembrance Day
Service and parade. Major Roy Stanger, Chairman of the RGJ Association Winchester Branch, organised the
participation of the padre from Worthy Down and the presence of two buglers from The Rifles to sound last Post
and Reveille. He also acted as usual and in his own inimitable way as Parade Marshal.
As always, Association members were smartly turned out in berets and blazers and, although early in the
morning, their presence in front of the War Memorial soon attracted the attention of a large number of bystanders.
While the main purpose of the Act of Remembrance is to remember our own fallen, this annual service also helps
to remind the citizens of Winchester of the Regiment’s close links with the City and the Cathedral reaching back
to the creation of The Rifle Depot in 1858.
At the NI Memorial on Remembrance Sunday 2013
www.riflespropertyservices.co.uk
http://www.greenjackets-net.org.uk/central/index.html
E-Zine 2013
e-mail: [email protected]
Thanks to better than expected visitor numbers
in October, the Museum is on course (just) to
achieve its target of 13,000 visitors by the end of
the year. Shop sales are also up 4% during the
year. The number of website visits, however, has
disappointed with the monthly average of 3,233
falling well short of the target of 3,400.
The period since the last Ezine has been as busy
as ever with a great deal of staff time devoted to
planning refurbishment of the Museum’s First
World War displays in early 2014 and delivery of
the Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition
in 2015 – see separate article. To allow the staff
to focus on the curatorial aspects of their role
without distraction, the Museum will be closed
on Mondays between January and March 2014.
A busy programme of events is planned in 2014
with the Centenary of events associated with
the First World War being the central theme.
These events are being coordinated with others
planned in Winchester and across Hampshire.
On 29 October the Museum was delighted to host
a visit by Pegasus Bridge veteran, Frank Bourlet.
A full account of the event is on the Museum
website at http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_
news/news_044.asp
The Museum has been pleased to add a number
of items to its collection in recent months.
Among these has been a pearl earring which
once belonged to the queen of Delhi and which
was acquired by Captain Sir Edward Campbell,
Bt., of the 1st/60th Rifles during the ‘legalised
looting of the captured city’ in 1857. The full
story is at http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_
object/obj_0035.asp
Bar the unexpected during the final weeks
of 2013, it looks as if this year, thanks to the
herculean efforts of the museum staff, will finish
up being a very satisfactory year for the Museum.
A whole raft of challenges, however, lies over the
horizon. 2014 promises to be a particularly active
and challenging year.
Pegasus Bridge veteran, Frank Bourlet.
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To contact the Museum, telephone or e-mail the Curator, Christine Pullen.
Tel: 01962 828549 or e-mail: [email protected]
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
OPENING HOURS
Christmas/New Year Closure - The Museum will be closed for Christmas and the New Year from Friday 20 December
2013 to Monday 6 January 2014 inclusive
From January 2014 the Museum will be open:
January to March: Tuesday to Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Last entry 4.15p.m.)
April to December: Monday to Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Last entry 4.15p.m.)
Sundays: The Museum will be open on Sundays from 29 June to 14 September 2014 inclusive. It is closed on other
Sundays and over Christmas and New Year.
Visits to the Museum’s archives are by appointment only.
ADMISSION CHARGES
(From January 2014)
Adults: £3.75
Senior Citizens: £3.00
Children (16 and under): Free
Students: £2.00
Serving personnel and Friends of the Museum are admitted free.
Members of The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association are admitted half price.
E-Zine 2013
KRRC Tapestry
Edward Stoten
This tapestry was made by Mr Edward Stoten whilst serving as a Prisoner Of War in Pozna (Posnan),
Poland, during the Second World War, from materials he could find/scavenge.
Mr Stoten (Army No: 6844388), whilst serving with the 2nd Bn KRRC as part of 30th Motor Brigade,
was sent to Calais in 1940 where he was injured and taken prisoner of war by the German forces, prior
to being sent to Pozna , Poland. In Pozna , probably at Stalag XXI-D, he together with fellow prisoners suffered during the particularly harsh winter of 19040/41 with no extra clothing, blankets, or
fires to keep them warm and with only a daily ration of cabbage soup to eat. Forced labour activities
included digging trenches, unloading coal and filling bomb craters.
During his time as a prisoner, he was bombed by the RAF whilst convalescing in hospital and strafed
by the US Army Air Corp whilst awaiting repatriation following the arrival of the Red Army in 1945.
Mr Stoten, who now lives in Bournemouth, Dorset, was born on 3 Aug 1912 and joined the KRRC in
1930 aged 17 years, after being turned down by the RN for being under age. Prior to the outbreak of
war, Mr Stoten served in India and Burma with the 2nd Bn KRRC.
E-Zine 2013
3,000 MILE CAMPERVAN TOUR OF GERMANY
- in June 2013, following
Germany’s worst floods in 100
years. Acres of fields were
flooded by the River Aller, and the
campsite at Winsen was closed
i.e. flooded. The next site was
open and we just got in before the
gate closed at 10pm. German
campsites are marvellous clean and orderly, and the toilet
blocks have all mod cons. It was
29degrees C on 7th and 8th June
when we explored CELLE where
Roger was stationed about 43
years’ ago towards the end of the
sixties.
First stop was the old Trenchard
Barracks - very nostalgic for
Roger. The place has been
locked up for a year but is still in
tact. We took lots of photos and
Roger excitedly pointed out A
Company block on the left-hand
side where his room was. On
the top floor, A Company built a
bar in the loft area from bamboo
and wood to give it a Caribbean
theme. To set it off and give
it authenticity, above the bar
was a large wicker basket bird
cage containing several brightly
coloured budgies. The opening
night was a great success.
Roger’s rock band “The Flunky”
played with Roger Lead Guitar,
Trenchard Barracks.
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Trenchard Barracks band block.
Gordon Belcher Rhythm Guitar,
Howard ? Drums and Paul
Matthews Vocals, as cheap booze
flowed and fags and smoke
created that familiar atmosphere
of the time. Unfortunately on
inspection the next morning,
the budgies were found at the
bottom of the cage expired - due
to passive smoking. God knows
what it did to everybody else!
Opposite A Company was the
block that contained the band
accommodation where Roger was
during his time with the band. He
recalled that, prior to a gig, whilst
they were waiting on the square
to board a coach that was still
manoeuvring, somebody slid his
trombone case behind the back
wheel and someone shouted,
“Is that your trombone?” as the
coached backed over it, to the
amusement of all present.
At the end of the road was the
Sissi Grill. Roger said originally
there was a quick snack (snell
imbiss) wagon there. A couple
with a son about 9 years’ old
used to run it, and it was popular
with the troops. Anyway, Roger
curiously went into the new place
and I followed. I thought the
restaurant looked like an adult
playpen in an array of coloured
small wooden chairs with lots of
model chickens. Whilst ordering
his Bratwurst, Roger struck up a
conversation, in pigeon German,
with the man behind the counter
Yes, it was the very same 9 year
old boy, now well grown-up and
running the café in place of his
parents who had subsequently
died. Then it was on to the War
Cemetery near the River Aller.
It backed on to the M.T. part of
the barracks where Roger could
see the A.P.C. garages where an
unmentionable incident happened
i.e. some private cars were stored
which unfortunately got squashed
under the tracks of an out of
control 432. Oops - I wonder how
that happened!
Celle, like many old towns in
Germany, is very well maintained,
with 16thC tall terraced pretty
houses with shops and outdoor
cafes on the ground floor. We
walked around the streets and
into the 14thC St Mary’s with its
artworks. It was Friday and entry
to the Museum and Castle was
free. The Museum had loads of
old artefacts and utensils, plus a
big old kitchen, and we visited s
ome of the state rooms in the
large austere 13thC Castle. Then
it was back to the pedestrianised
streets with rows of outdoor cafes.
We settled for an ice cream
sundae, chosen from the menu
which had pages of exotic, mouth-
Festival. Wow, the Germans
certainly have fun. The event
started promptly at 6pm. Two
bands played on bandstands and
about four other bands marched
around the streets, intermittently
stopping to play outside various
bars. The Rue d’Anvers ‘Foreign
Legion’ band were hilarious - their
conductor strutted about in a kilt,
white spats and pith helmet, whilst
the May Day band flirted with girls
Leaving Celle, the rest of our tour
included Hannover’s
Herrenhausen Garten, Potsdam’s
Sanssoucci and Cecilienhof
Palace, Berlin’s many sites,
including Hitler’s Bunker, then
Dresden’s Frauchenkirche, Gorlitz
on the Polish border, Colditz
Castle, Bayreuth, Nuremb and
Munich, plus lots of apple strudel.
In Nuremberg, we just happened
to stumble across the Zeppelin
Field, found an open gate and
amazingly, with pomp, spectacle
and ceremony, we simply walked
along across the massive Rally
Ground where 200,000 Nazi
soldiers marched in the 1930’s!
Then on to the Grand Stand
where we stood on the very
spot where Hitler delivered his
speeches! In Munich I happily
drank a whole stein of delicious
dunkle beer in the Hofbrauhaus,
whilst the Bavarian band played
and people revelled - a fantastic
end to our trip.
Sandra Downtown
Celle streets.
watering ice cream concoctions.
At 5pm, close to the Rathaus high
on the front of an old building,
the glockenspiel played, the box
opened, and little statues paraded
round in a circle. And finally, the
hunt for Alten Cellar Feld where
Roger had a new house as
married quarters. It’s now very
built up and he didn’t recognize
his old home.
The next day we visited Belsen
Cemetery and Documentation
Centre, plus the Railway Ramp
and Wagon. Next Roger
managed to locate Silbersee - a
lake he used to drive to from the
camp. (Liaisons with fraulines, I
daresay!) It’s now a commercial
campsite - and the trees are taller!
The evening was spent back
in Celle at the Trad Jazz Street
and encouraged them to limbodance under two playing
trombones!
PS
Roger was inspired to buy a
trombone, and he’s practising as
I write.
Celle Castle.
E-Zine 2013
Wiltshire Branch Revisit The Rock of Gibraltar
Six couples from our branch and one guest
couple (RoyalArtillery) who live in Warminster
recently spent a long weekend in Gibraltar. For
some it was their first visit, others had been
stationed in Gibraltar. The Royal Green Jackets
served twice in Gibraltar. The 2nd Battalion in
1975 – 1977, the 3rd Battalion in 1989 - 1991.
On arrival the group were welcomed by brilliant
sunshine which carried on throughout the
weekend. The new all singing and dancing
Gibraltar International Airport looked very
impressive compared to the old which was
waiting to be demolished.
late, however they were on holiday. We were
met by Gail Francis who was Miss Gibraltar
in 1985, won Miss World that year and is now
the Manager of The Gibraltar Tourist Board
who along with Andy our driver/guide took
us on a four hour guided tour of The Rock of
Gibraltar. We visited all the tourist attractions,
St Michaels Caves, The Great Siege Tunnels
and the Barbary (Rock) Apes which now roam
quite freely around the whole of Gibraltar even
down to the Main Street Area. Gail also took us
into the new Cruise liner terminal and showed
us a cruise liner which is currently being
converted into a 5* floating hotel which when
completed will be moored in the new Ocean
Village Marina.
A visit to South Barracks which is now a school
brought memories flooding back as this was
where The Rifle Companies were stationed.
The drinking haunts of the Wembley Bar and
Edinburgh Arms are still there as if time has
stood still.
Europa Point the most southerly point in
Europe had recently had a facelift, however
now that Gibraltar has been accepted into
UEFA this will be the site for a 38,000 seater
Football stadium.
The people in the group photo are:
Back row. Phil Ashby, Gary Bryne, Andy (tour guide), Bob Holcombe,
Dave Richards, Bob Maddocks, Dave Caws, Alan Robinson, Gail Francis
(Gibraltar Tourist Board).
Front row: Val Ashby, Elaine Holcombe, Dawn Richards, Jan Maddocks,
Maggs Caws, Jane Robinson and Chris Byrne.
It was then all aboard a mini-bus with suitcases
in a trailer for the short journey to The Bristol
Hotel. Check In was swift and painless. A quick
unpack and then down to Main Street for light
refreshment in The Star Bar followed by a meal
in The Horse Shoe pub.
That evening two taxi’s took us to Devils Tower
Camp the home of The Gibraltar Regiment
where we were met byWO1 Gary Mitchell,
Gibraltar Command Warrant Officer who hosted
welcome drinks and a bite to eat in the WO’s &
SR Mess. You cannot beat a good old Military
style curry and lasagne.
After a continental breakfast on Friday all
were on parade for our Rock Tour. Bob and Jan
Maddocks were nearly Show Paraded for being
E-Zine 2013
That evening a reservation had been made
at The Waterfront Restaurant on The Ragged
Staff Marina to celebrate the 25th Wedding
Anniversary of Dave and Maggs Caws and
the 30th Wedding Anniversary of Phil and Val
Ashby. The setting and location were excellent.
Saturday was a day for couples to explore the
Rock for themselves. Gary and Chris Bryne,
Phil and Val Ashby and Dave Caws tackled The
Mediterranean Steps via Lathbury Barracks.
The Gurkha Regiment had refurbished The
Steps in 2007 and what an excellent job they
had done making it easier to climb. Bob
and Jan Maddockswent to find their Private
hire flats which they had lived in as Married
Quarters in the Seventies. The remainder Bob
and Elaine Holcombe, Alan and Jane Robinson,
Dave and Dawn Richards and Maggs Caws
stayed in the centre of Gibraltar and visited the
new Ocean Village complex.
On Sunday the group met back up with WO1
Gary Mitchell who is one of the Military Tunnel
Phil could end up with a monkey on his head!
Tour guidesand he took the group on a three
hour tunnel tour of the Second War World
Tunnels. For some it was their first excursion
inside the rock. There is over 35 miles of roads
insidethe tunnels 16,000 troops could have been
accommodated within the Rock during World
War 2. Most of the infrastructure,cookhouses,
hospitals, accommodation and command
centres can still be seen today, it is amazing.
Unfortunately Monday came too soon and
somehow Easy Jet had split the group on two
flights. For some it was a leisurely Breakfast
then off to the Airport. Others had time for a
Cable Car Trip to The Top of The Rock to see
the brilliant views across Spain and Morocco
and then lunch before the short transfer to the
Airport.
An excellent time was had over the long
weekend visiting old haunts and seeing the
development of Gibraltar. A number couples
are already planning a return visit in October
2014.
The platoon in C Coy 1st Green Jackets that went
chasing pirates in 1963
The article explains how a platoon of riflemen ended up chasing pirates in the South China sea.
A year ago, in December 2012, around 60 old riflemen from
the 1st Bn gathered to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary
of the deployment from Penang to Borneo during the Brunei
revolt, and the following two years we spent facing off the
Indonesian ‘Confrontation’. We’d gathered together many
old photos of our younger (and slimmer) selves, covering
a wide range of locations in Borneo and the various
operations we’d been involved in. But one period of those
years was missing from the faded snapshots, probably
because only a tiny group of us had taken part in it. But
it was the most memorable few months in my service and
when I’ve occasionally mentioned it to people, you can
sense them thinking “oh yeah, another old war story, swing
the lamp, somebody”. But it was true.
E-Zine 2013
In the aftermath of Sheik Azahari’s revolt in December 1962,
it was clear to both British and Malayan Governments that
Indonesian leader Sukarno was determined to prevent the
bringing together of the remaining two British colonies and
one protectorate in Borneo with Malaya, to form Malaysia.
What was less clear was what form that opposition would
take. As by that stage there were a considerable number
of British and Gurkha infantry plus supporting arms in
Borneo, rather than hauling them all back to Malaya again,
it made sense to spread them out across Brunei, Sarawak
and what had been British North Borneo but was becoming
Sabah. That way they were on the spot if and when trouble
broke out again, and it gave them a familiarity with the
ground and the problems of fighting in mountainous rain
forests and coastal mangrove swamps.
1st Greenjackets got the Sabah option, with rifle companies
being deployed to the larger towns. At the time, there were
almost no roads in the interior, and those that existed were
land-rover tracks impassable for much of the year. In
Borneo, people travelled by boat or they walked. So the
towns were on the coast, usually at the mouth of the large
rivers that were the route into the hinterland. C Coy found
itself in Sandakan, on the north east coast, and although it
was a small place, it had a long history as a trading port,
with the faded set of buildings that the British Empire built
to administer their far-flung possessions. There had recently
been the most devastating floods with many lives lost and
within days of our arrival a kampong on the outskirts of
Sandakan was swept away by a mudslide. Together with
local people we dug frantically, unearthing the tragedies
of whole families that had died together, but not finding a
single survivor. The aftermath of the floods were evident
for the next couple of weeks of patrolling, as the debris of
ruined villages, with drowned people and livestock, came
swirling down the muddy currents.
or Moors, although they were many thousands of miles
from Morocco. Neither the Spanish nor the Americans,
after they seized the Philippines, were ever able to really
control those islands and the Philippines Government still
struggles today..
After WWII, the spread of powerful outboard engines
gave a new lease of life to inter-island travel, whether for
trading, smuggling or straightforward pirate raids. By the
early 1960’s, the combination of the Brunei revolt and the
move towards the setting up of Malaysia accompanied as it
was by Philippine claims to parts of Sabah and the hostility
of Indonesia towards the whole idea, created a degree of
uncertainty that the Sulu pirates took advantage of. The
model was simple: a streamlined boat typically 10 metres
long, with twin outboards and a crew of up to twenty men
armed with war surplus US army weapons (in a few cases
including a .50 Browning machine gun) would approach a
small coastal village at high speed. They’d loot the shop if
there was one, rape any young women who hadn’t had time
to escape into the hills, take anything they fancied from the
village, shoot the headman or anyone else who was foolish
enough to get in their way, and then take off at speed. Many
of the shops were run by Chinese traders and they got a
particularly hard time at the hands of the raiders.
As the raids escalated, an effective response was difficult.
Some smaller Royal Navy vessels were diverted into
patrolling the islands but there were many shallow inlets
that were impossible to navigate, and the small, fast pirate
craft could hide amongst the hundreds of small islands.
But the matelots tried – that Spring, the destroyer HMS
Barrosa intercepted a suspected pirate vessel and launched
her whale boats to pursue the raider amongst the atolls. The
pirate crew opened fire and killed a sailor - it is not thought
that any pirates survived the follow-up. The brains at GHQ
came up with a new idea – stick a few squaddies in a local
craft and send it trolling round the islands, as a visual
deterrent and to show the flag. Enter C Coy, grumbling …
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum …
Early in 1963, a short while after C Coy arrived in Sandakan
in Sabah, my platoon was told we were being moved to
Kudat, an even smaller town on the northern tip of Borneo
where there had been an increase in pirate raids on isolated
villages. Sea raiding had been a way of life for the people of
this part of the world for centuries and during the early part
of the 19th century, flotillas of dozens of galleys, rowed
by slaves and with hundreds of fighting men on board,
regularly seized large merchant ships, usually killing the
officers and enslaving the crew. British and American
warships had broken the power of the largest pirate clans by
the 1850s but old habits die hard and pirate boats continued
to raid down the archipelago from the southern Philippines
to north Borneo. Under Spanish rule most of the people of
the Philippines had adopted Catholicism, but the people
of the southern Sulu Islands, under the Sultan of Jolo,
remained Muslim, and were known to the Spanish as Moros
E-Zine 2013
Kudat was a nice little town. It had a few bars, street
vendors that sold the best Satay I’ve ever eaten and our
quarters were a row of wooden bungalows along the beach,
surrounded by trees laden with papaya. We’d sailed from
Sandakan on a Clyde-built (circa 1890 I think) steamer
that although sadly weather-beaten, had once been part
of the fabric of the Empire. Even at the time, we realised
that we were on a ship that had probably carried British
North Borneo Police Field Force contingents on similar
missions 50 years before. Once we’d settled in our first
mission was to confiscate firearms held by civilians. Out
in he jungle were many logging companies, with much of
the labour drawn from Kalimantan, the Indonesian half of
Borneo, and it was suspected that amongst them were agent
provocateurs waiting for a signal to start an uprising.
So off we went to the kampongs around Kudat, picking up
an assortment of rusty single barrel shotguns and Japanese
rifles ‘acquired’ as the war came to an end. The most
memorable trip was to the house of an elderly Englishman
who’d been a District Officer in the 1930’s. When the
Japanese invaded he took to the ulu and raised a force of
tribal guerrillas who harassed the Japanese throughout the
occupation. He was by this time a little the worse for wear
and clearly liked a drink. He had an extremely beautiful
young companion who seemed to have invited her friends
and family to share the house so there were a large bunch of
rather surly young men who were playing billiards on a full
size table that had suffered from damp and termites. But he
had a very fine hunting rifle, a pair of what had been high
quality shotguns, a .38 revolver and a Colt .45 automatic.
He wasn’t really clear why we were taking them, but we
dutifully followed orders. I have wondered what happened
to him, with his curious ménage.
But within a week my Section was despatched on our
main mission, to discourage piracy. A patrol base had been
established on Banggi, a large island at the very tip of
British/Malaysian waters, and separated by a few miles of
sea from the most southern Philippine island of Balabac.
The plan was that each rifle section would do a stint on
Banggi then rotate back to Kudat, and our transport and
the method by which we would patrol was a kumpit, a
local boat developed to handle inter-island trading. It was
around 7 metres long, with a small hold below the deck
and a cabin superstructure. Broad in the beam and with a
relatively shallow draft it was ideal for inter-island trips but
not so good for deep sea work. Ours had an elderly diesel
engine with a top speed of maybe 7 knots. It had a crew of
three and with a rifle section of seven or eight, he cabin was
‘cosy’ on the nights we spent aboard.
But of course the idea was that we didn’t spend night aboard,
but rather patrolled slowly round the islands, stopping
at coastal kampongs to show the flag and win hearts and
minds. This wasn’t too hard actually as it seems that British
colonial administration had been popular and everyone was
scared stiff of the Sulu pirates. Our crew were good guys
and between us we had enough Malay to communicate and
on most trips we had a local policeman along as well. Our
base was a tiny hamlet with a general store run by a pleasant
young Chinese couple, who had themselves been victims of
a raid a few months before. A long bamboo jetty rang out
across a sandy bay and completely clear blue sea. In every
direction there were small islands fringed with coconut
palms – it was a tropical paradise, although as the village
WC was a shack halfway along the jetty, it was advisable to
swim up current.
And so we chugged around the islands, offered hospitality
everywhere, with gamelan (gong) orchestras serenading us.
We towed lines with large hooks behind the boat and large
fish queued up to impale themselves. Flying fish rose from
under the bow, and dugongs and turtles were commonplace.
In the days before carcinoma had been heard of, most of us
had amazing tans, to the annoyance of our Section lancejack, Eddie Bright, who being very fair-skinned with nearly
white blond hair, had to keep his shirt on..
Initially excitement was pretty low key. The island was
home to a range of monitor lizards, ranging from the length
of your forearm to nearly two metres. The smaller ones
lived in the attap roofs of our huts which didn’t bother
anyone – except our cook. One evening sitting in the shop
in the glow of a tilley lamp, drinking pints bottles of Anchor
beer, our tranquillity was abruptly broken by several long
bursts of automatic fire. After the confusion died down, it
turned out that Noddy the cook had gone to bed after a few
beers and decided he’d had enough of the resident lizards
and opened up on them with his SMG. He missed of course.
A few days later, while we were sat by the sea cleaning our
weapons, we saw what seemed to be a very large warship
emerge from behind one island and a few minutes later
disappear behind another. No flags or identification were
visible and in high excitement we radioed the mainland
and reported this. In reply to our queries about what navy
this might belong to, some joker told us to consult Janes
Fighting Ships and further instructed us not to engage it.
As our best piece of ordnance was a 2” mortar, this seemed
like good advice.
It was probably on our next spell out on Banggi that we
were told that it was thought that there might be raiders
moving down the islands in our direction and therefore to
be on high alert. Sure enough, the day after, while we were
crossing a wider stretch of water between islands, our crew
became excited and pointed out a boat a couple of miles
away that was moving towards us at considerable speed.
We weren’t about to out-run it so we chugged along towards
our next landfall, with most of us in the cabin or lying down
behind the low bulwarks. As we were wearing either shorts
or sarongs, it was our numbers rather than our appearance
that would have alerted the approaching vessel to the fact
that there was something unusual about us.
It looked as if the visitor was steering to cut close across
our bows and at around 100 metres we could see that
there were a number of men on her deck, some carrying
firearms. At this point our Bren-gunner (Barney Green I
think) popped up from behind the bulwark near the bow,
plonked his bi-pod on the rail and fired a longish burst into
the sea immediately in front of what we were now sure
was a pirate. I think their boat sailed into the last round
or two but in any case the effect was amazing as they
performed the maritime equivalent of a handbrake turn
E-Zine 2013
and set off in the opposite direction at an even faster speed
than their approach. Our crew were clearly elated though
they indicated that we should have fired everything we had
into the pirate. On our onward voyage we debated this over
and over but the reality was that they hadn’t been flying a
skull and crossbones or whatever Moro pirates flew, and
they hadn’t fired on us. It might, someone said, have been a
Philippine Government fisheries protection vessel and that
would have been embarrassing.
We were destined to have one more and even closer encounter
before we had to leave our little bit of south seas paradise.
We were at the end of an island patrol lasting several days
and had stayed in a particularly friendly village, where the
meal that was cooked for us had gone on late. Some of us
had stayed in the village and others were sleeping back on
the boat but in the morning we were up, dipping in the sea
and making tea when one of the village leaders came up at
a trot and spoke urgently to our policeman in a mixture of
Malay and a local language. It was a kind of action replay
of our pirate incident of a week or two previously and
presumably something that was all too familiar to fishing
villages along those coasts. Far out to sea but with a wake
you could see even at that distance, a black painted boat
was heading for the village at a rate of knots.
We’d rehearsed how we would handle such an event based
on our last experience, so we piled onto our boat and tucked
ourselves into the best cover we could find. I noticed the
villagers getting off the beach and into the trees as fast as
they could so it was clear that they had no illusions about
fisheries protection vessels. There was a realisation that on
this occasion we couldn’t make them sheer off by a short
burst as they were going to be arriving on the other side of
a fairly narrow jetty. I couldn’t see the approaching boat but
I could hear its engines throttling down and then going into
neutral and the excited voices of the crew, seeming very
close indeed.
Then Eddie said ‘now’ and we all stood up with our weapons
in the firing position. It took maybe a second to see the man
nearest to me on the other boat and I focused my aim on
him, at the back of my mind hoping that everyone else had
found someone different to aim at. He was maybe three or
four metres away, across the width of the jetty, standing on
what look like the hatch to the boat’s hold. It’s still very
clear in my mind now – he stood sideways on but his face
had turned towards me. He wore jeans and a yellow T shirt
with some sort of advert on it, a red baseball cap and a very
straggly moustache. He wore a side arm in an open holster.
We stood in this sort of frozen tableau for what seemed
like 10 minutes but probably was 10 seconds, looking at
each other. There were faint background noises but I could
only clearly hear my own breathing and it seemed like I
could hear his as well. Then the background noise came
into focus and I realised our copper was shouting nearly
hysterically at the pirates, and real time resumed – my man
put his hands up and I saw another man standing close to
him that I’d not really noticed let go of a US M1 carbine
that he had been holding in the ‘order arms’ positions and
it fell to the deck. I remember thinking that it couldn’t have
been cocked or it would have gone off.
And that was it really. We radioed Kudat and within a day
police reinforcements arrived and took the pirates into
custody. While we waited, guarding the fourteen or fifteen
prisoners, we searched the boat and discovered that aside
from piracy, they seem to make their living smuggling. The
holds were stacked with tens of thousands of cigarettes
and from their cartons, originally from an American
PX. There was a fair amount of liquor and much more
mundane things like soap and shampoo. Our policeman
was sure there would be gold aboard but we couldn’t
find it. We gave the villagers anything they wanted and I
think that a few handguns may have gone awol as well.
I’ve spent 50 years wondering if he’d put his hand on his
pistol would I have opened fire? The answer is probably
but actually at that moment, the real risk he faced was if
another of his party had decided to make a fight of it. I was
convinced that someone else would open fire and when that
happened I knew I was going to start firing at once. But
they didn’t so neither did I.
Footnote:
Banggi Island is now on the international tourist map
as a diving centre, with boutique lodges to stay in.
But I’m sure its not the same anymore so I think I’ll
hang on to my memories.
Dick Muskett
1 GJ/1 RGJ 1962-68
Malaysia is a federa on of 13 states and three federal territories. These are divided between two regions, with 11 states and two
federal territories on Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one federal territory in East Malaysia. Governance of the
states is divided between the federal and the state governments, and the Federal government has direct administra on of the
federal territories.
The 13 states are based on historical Malay kingdoms, and 9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain
their royal families. The King is elected by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year term. Each state has a unicameral legislature
known as the State Legisla ve Assembly. Each state is further divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah
and Sarawak districts are grouped into divisions. Sabah and Sarawak have considerably more autonomy than the other states,
most notably having separate immigra on policies and controls, and a unique residency status.
E-Zine 2013
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E-Zine 2013
The Scent of History – Frankincense
By
Brigadier Hugh Willing
When I was posted to Oman in 2002 as the Defence
Attaché in the British Embassy in Muscat, one of
the first tasks I was given was to procure a sizeable
quantity of frankincense for St George’s Chapel at
Windsor. I was unfamiliar with the ‘Bells and Smells’
rituals of the Church in England, thinking that this was
a legacy left only for the Catholics or Monastic orders.
But procuring frankincense in Oman was one of my
simpler tasks as the souks of Oman are still awash
with the stuff. Not only is it easily procured in Oman
but it is also a surviving symbol of one of the very
first traded commodities in the developed world. Its
recorded origins go back to the Pharaohs of Egypt, at
least two thousand years BC, and certainly to the time
of the Queen of Sheba, who ruled over one of the most
important and ancient civilizations in the known world
a thousand years later in the Hadramout (modern-day
Yemen) which included the Dhofar region of Southern
Oman.
Frankincense, or Luban in Arabic, is a gum that is
tapped from a strange-looking tree (Boswellia Sacra)
that grows in a small and specific coastal area of
South-eastern Arabia and on the island of Socotra,
which is touched by the Hareef or the southeast
monsoon. It can only grow in a very dry climate taking
its moisture from the warm mists that blow in off the
Indian Ocean. It can’t be grown artificially from seed
nor can it be transplanted; only nature knows how to
propagate the Luban tree, and the best frankincense
comes from the Dhofar.There is nothing about this
non-descript tree to suggest that it is the source of a
substance which, for at least five millennia, was one
of the most prized substances in the civilized world,
valued as highly as gold and even the gift of kings.
Frankincense, which gets its modern name from the
Frankish crusading knights who discovered its use
in the Byzantine churches of the Holy Land, was
used in staggering quantities. According to ancient
documents, the annual consumption of incense in the
temple of Baal at Babylon was two tons. Some 3,000
years ago, Dhofar was reported to export hundreds
of tons of the raw incense every year, mostly taken
by camel caravan across the ‘Empty Quarter’ to the
markets of the Mediterranean.Whilst frankincense has
a wonderful fragrance, surely the quintessential aroma
of Arabia, it is hard to understand rationally why the
great cultures of the Near East and Mediterranean
valued it so highly. The answer is both philosophical
and functional. The ancient world believed that the
smoke of incense carried their prayers to heaven. And
frankincense had a practical function as well. It was a
kind of antiseptic used to embalm corpses. When the
tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was opened in 1922,
one of the sealed flasks released a perceptible whiff
of incense even after 3,300 years. During the time of
the Black Death from 1603 to 1666, it was noted that
the embalmers did not fall prey to the diseases from
which their clients had died. Whilst not understood at
the time, the perfumers of the period were immune
to plague since they were constantly surrounded by
incense and oils.
Today in the palm-lined souks of Salalah, the
stallholders selling frankincense are doing a brisk
trade. And it is good to know that its royal and religious
connections – and not just in St. George’s Chapel, are
obviously still alive and well to this day.
Jane Willing and a Frankincense tree.
E-Zine 2013
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust (SOFO)
The new SOFO Museum building in Woodstock is now almost finished on budget and more or less on time. It
stands in the grounds of the the Oxfordshire Museum in Park Street and opposite the Bear hotel so it is easy
to find! The gate of Blenheim Palace is only about 400m away. There are still a few things for the builders
to complete but the research centre and the archives of the two County Regiments, the Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Oxfordshire Yeomanry (Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars) have
moved from their temporary quarters in the Old Tannery into the new building and other artifacts now in
store in Upper Heyford and elsewhere in the county will soon be coming to Woodstock too..
Fitting out the new building and setting up of the initial displays will start soon and it is hoped that the
museum will be open to the public in the late Spring 2014. The aim is to be fully up and running by the time
that we get to the anniversary of the start of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of D Day, Pegasus
Bridge and of course the Normandy beaches where the 1st Bucks Bn was much involved and Lt Col Sale won
his George Medal.
The new museum, an ambitious and privately funded venture, is going to be important to the Rifles. Certainly
it will tell the wonderful stories from the History of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry –
the opening displays will include Bunker hill, Waterloo, Nonneboschen and Pegasus Bridge – and draw a
direct line to the Rifles to-day. In addition the museum will also reflect the impact of conflict upon the people
of Oxfordshire over time and this county in the heart of England has seen plenty of that.
So what needs to be done now? In addition to needing more volunteers, the main requirement is, of course,
more funding. In order to complete the fit out as fully as this superb new building warrants we need a further
£180k. We have been lucky to securestrong support from the Armed Forces Community Covenant and some
grant making trusts and the Heritage Lottery Fund have given some support for specific exhibitions. But
we get no support from either the Government /Ministry of Defence or the authorities. You can help by
becoming a ‘Friend’, £5.00 per month, or a ‘Praetorian’, £30.00 per month. To discover more please contact at
the address below or use the attached leaflet.
SOFO Museum.
E-Zine 2013
support the
aims and
purposes of
soldiers of
oxfordshire
and
become a
prætorian
the sofo prætorians are a vital
factor in the achievement of these
z understand how Conflict and Service have affected
Oxfordshire and its people over recorded history z
interpret and make accessible that understanding to
aims, particularly that of financial
the widest possible relevant audience z do so by
competence. while all other means
Permanent and Temporary Exhibitions in its Museum
of income generation are being
and elsewhere in the County, by Research and the
publication of its results and by becoming accepted
pursued, an income stream from
as a centre of learning and information about conflict
the regular committed donations
by all concerned with education in Oxfordshire z
of prætorians as well as a growing
maintain a regular programme of relevant Public
panel of friends will energise
Lectures, Battlefield Tours and Social Events z recruit
and further develop an enthusiastic team of volunteers
the confident planning of an
covering all relevant subjects z understand and
appropriate programme of future
develop particularly the histories of Oxfordshire own
exhibitions and events.
Regiments, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry, the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars and
Oxford Univesity Officers Training Corps as well as the
many of sofos' purposes are well
history of Regular Formations of all Armed Services,
including those of our Allies, while operating in, or
on the way to being successfully
stationed in, the County z support and be a link
achieved, and their growing team of
keen volunteers are ready to move
between todays regular and reserve Armed Service
formations and the County that is their home z be
financially competent to achieve all these purposes.
into the museum currently under
construction in woodstock.
conflict & county
Become a Friend, and grow the new Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
The support of those who agree to become Prætorians will be recognised by:
● Invitations to “Openings” of future exhibitions.
● Invitations to public lectures organised by and relevant to SOFO.
● Invitation to annual AGM style meeting and accompanying social event in an interesting County location.
● Complimentary copy of all new publications under the Bugle and Sabre label (SOFOs` regular publication).
● Invitations to join Battlefield and other Tours.
Prætorians are asked for a minimum contribution equivalent to just under £1 a day. That is to say a payment by Direct
Debit of £30 per calendar month, or £90 per quarter, or £360 per year. Obviously the larger your regular contribution,
the better.
Join us: bring Oxfordshire’s Military Heritage alive!
Visit us at www.sofo.org.uk
Soldiers Of Oxfordshire Museum. Park Street, Woodstock, OX20 1SN T: 01993 813 832 www.sofo.org.uk
The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (No. 7842383)
and a registered charity (No. 1145408)
E-Zine 2013
Welcome to Riflesdirect the Regimental Shop of The Rifles
Riflesdirect is owned by the regiment - managed and run by the regiment - for the benefit of the regiment - with all
proceeds returned to the regiment to support benevolence and welfare.
Inside our shop you will find a comprehensive catalogue of Rifles uniform accoutrements and a good selection of
Rifles branded general merchandise including a small selection of regimentally branded products from its forming
regiments.
All of our products have been extensively sourced, sampled and authorised by the regiment to comply with the
Regimental Dress Code and Rifles brand with regard to quality, durability and design.
You may find similar products cheaper elsewhere - but not many. More importantly by purchasing from your own
regimental shop you are assured that not only is your purchase everything it should be regimentally, but is also
helping to support our Riflemen for which we sincerely thank you.
We can provide RGJRA Members with OBLI/KRRC/RB/RGJ - Cap Badges, Cufflinks, Tie Slides, Lapel Pins, Ties,
Umbrellas, Rifle Green Berets, RGJ Hat Ribbon, RGJ Plaques, Blazers, Book ‘Swift & Bold’.
Telephone order:0845 6434584 or view online at
http://www.riflesdirect.com
Would you like speak to and see someone face
to face?
Well now you can as Riflesdirect is available on
Skype Mon - Fri 0900 -1600 GMT.
0844 873 0000
boden.co.uk
You can talk to us via Skype for free from
anywhere in the world.
Soldier Magazine
on Line
Click Here
E-Zine 2013
Obituaries
In Memoriam
Stg FGJ Bailey MM
John Beerman
Dave Crook
Mrs Andrea Fox
Col Peter E Gerahty CBE
John Gillman MM
Major P C Greenwood
Tony Hands
Nicholas Robert Hennessy
L/Cpl Paul Holland
A M Jarrey
Geoff Morrish
Lt Col Anthony (Bob) Pickford
Lord Robin Plunket
C/Sgt Patrick Swi
70 KRRC/1KRRC
RB 3RGJ
1RGJ
OBLI 1GJ
1KRRC
RB 3RGJ
2RGJ
3RGJ
RB 3GJ 3RGJ
RB 3RGJ
1RGJ LI & The Rifles
RB
3 & 2RGJ, Royal Irish
Rest in Peace
12
30
1
15
Oct
Sep
Oct
Nov
15
6
2
1
2
17
24
16
31
Oct
Nov
Sep
Dec
Nov
Sep
Sep
Nov
Oct
Please be aware that our publications,
Swift and Bold and the E-Zine carry
brief details of all those members of the
regiment who have died regardless of
circumstances.Deceased members of
the former regiments and The Rifles are
included within the published Obituary
lists.
The degree of detail shown in both
Swift and Bold and the E-Zine s limited
by the space available and only brief
details are posted but with direct links,
as is the case with the E-zine or, as in
the case of The Swift and Bold Journal,
the Internet address showing where the
full details can be seen on the website
Bulletin Board at http://63196.activeboard.
com/forum.spark?forumID=63196. All
such occurrences, even those with the
briefest of details, are recorded on the
Association database.
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.”
"WHY THE POPPIES?"
Not long ago, a friend of mine, who also served in the Royal Green
Jackets, was buying poppies for his young grandchildren prior to
Remembrance Sunday. Being their first experience of such an event,
they asked “Grandpa, why the poppies?” He answered the question by
writing a booklet with an account of what led to the outbreak of World
War I. He describes the major events during those four years of attrition
followed by the build up to World War II and the key elements of that
war as well. He has called this booklet “Why the Poppies?” (40 pp). I
have played a small part in its production. The booklet is written for all
readers, and is particularly relevant as the centenary of the outbreak
of World War I approaches. Field Marshal The Lord Bramall KG GCB
OBE MC has written a Commendation.
On next page is an order form from which you see that all profits will
go to he Rifles “Care for Casualties” Appeal. The Appeal Organisers
have decided to offer Why the Poppies at a minimum price of £10.00
per copy; out of this comes the cost of printing, packing and postage of
£3.75 leaving £6.25 to go to The Rifles Appeal Fund. If you would like
to make an extra donation in the space provided on the attached flier/
order form, it will be gratefully received.
John Bendit
E-Zine 2013
"WHY THE POPPIES?"
By Peter Spira
The Author served as a National Service Rifleman in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC – 60th Rifles) in 1949.
He was commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd & 52nd) which became 1st
Bn. Royal Green Jackets in 1966.
In aid of
THE RIFLES “CARE FOR CASUALTIES”
ORDER FORM
“WHY THE POPPIES?”
To purchase this booklet for minimum £10.00 per copy (incl. £3.75 p&p) please complete the form below and
send it with your payment to:
Why the Poppies
RHQ The Rifles
Peninsula Barracks
Romsey Road, Winchester SO23 8TS
Cheque payable to “The Rifles (Poppies)”.
Or, if you prefer you can pay on line by logging onto http://www.careforcasualties.org.uk and click on the “Why
the Poppies?” icon on the right hand side of the page
Number of copies required: ……………… @ £10.00 per copy plus a Donation: ………, if desired.
Total Sum enclosed: £ ………………………
Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………............................................….
Address: …………………………………………………………………………………............................................….
…………………........................…………………………………………………………………………….…..
…………………………………………….........................……………………………………………………..
Post Code: ………………………
Email: ………………………………………………....................... Tel No: ……………………………………..............
E-Zine 2013

Dec

Transcription

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