70 th Anniversary VE Day The Island Remembers

Transcription

1 BRANCH SECRETARIES - PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ITEMS IN THIS NEWSLETTER SHOULD FORM PART OF YOUR REPORT June th Anniversary VE Day The Island Remembers Friday 8 th May 2015 Culver Down The Royal British Legion Riders Branch on the Island were asked if we would host the VE Day Beacon Ceremony to commemorate VE Day. This we did with great pleasure, it was an honour to play our part. This was part of a national event with over 200 beacons being lit around the country, the first being lit by HM The Queen at Windsor Castle, Unfortunately the weather on the night was horrible. We had hoped to parade the County Union Flag and other standards but the wind was just too strong. This did not deter between people from attending, amongst those were around 20 Members of the Riders Branch who lined up their bikes and trikes along side the beacon. Proceedings started at 9:20pm with Denise Tizard of the Vectis Corps of Drums playing the General Salute and our County President, Ian Ward, reading the Tribute. At 9:32 the beacon was lit and the bikes and trikes turned their lights on to shine towards Portsmouth in the hope that they might be seen at other beacon events, ever optimistic. We would like to thank all those who braved the weather and joined us for this very important event and hope you all enjoyed yourselves. Thanks also to the Riders who provided hot soup and a roll to end the evening P Atkinson Riders Branch (Isle of Wight) 1

2 Saturday 9 th May Puckpool Park The organisers of the event were greeted in the morning with windy conditions and showers, which were sometimes heavy, but by 11:30am the skies had cleared and we were rewarded with a clear blue sky and hot sunshine. The proceedings began at 1pm with a parade of Standards led by the Union standard carried by Mr Peter Atkinson of Brighstone Branch and the County Standard carried by Mr Ernie Howard of Newport & Carisbrooke Branch, veteran s and cadets through park and into the arena. The parade was led by the Vectis Corps of Drums and the Wight Diamonds Marching bands respectively On parade at Puckpool Park all under the control of the County Parade Marshal Mr Terry Clarkson and the deputy County Parade Marshal Mr Reg Hunt. A welcoming address was given by the County President Cllr Ian Ward, followed by a response from the Lord Lieutenant Major General Martin White CB CBE JP. A drumhead service led by the County Padre Rev Roger Whatley followed. The proceedings were watched by our guests of honour, a dozen WW2 veterans and their families. As well as the Vice Chair of IW Council, Cllr Charles Chapman, the Mayor of Ryde Cllr Roi Milburn and the Chair of Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council Cllr John Turner, together with a large crowd of the public estimated to be about 400 strong. Two of the WW2 veterans also took part in the parade. After the service the parade marched past the Lord Lieutenant who took the salute. Lord Lieutenant addressing the parade Standard Bearers forming up for the Drumhead service 2

3 During the course of the afternoon the crowds were entertained by the Bunker Girls who sang a medley of wartime songs and the Lindy Hoppers who performed dances of the era, a drill display by 1024 Sqn Air cadets, a children s choir from Oakfield school singing wartime songs but also so more up to date songs including hits from the Beatles! They were accompanied by children playing ukuleles. There was also a synchronised display by a group of standard bearers and the bands including the Ryde Sea cadets played a variety of music. All of whom were introduced by Reg Hunt who doubled as compere! Around the arena were a variety of stalls from Newport, Ryde and Seaview branches selling, cakes, plants and books Standard Bearers taking part in the drill display to raise funds for the respective branches, as well as stalls from the Air cadets, Royal Naval Association, the Wight Diamonds Marching band, the RBL Riders Branch, and a stall displaying all sorts of military artefacts with numerous children ending up with camouflage cream on their faces! At the other end of the site there was a street market with 5 stalls selling a variety of craft items. Also Isle of Wight Ambulance service had a stall giving demonstrations on CPR and other life saving techniques The event closed with a massed band display comprising of the Vectis Corps of Drums, The Wight Diamonds Marching Band and the Ryde Sea Cadet band at the end of which the standards and some veterans marched in for the beating the retreat ceremony during which Dr Kieron Cooney together with the bands played Highland Cathedral and then a pipers lament and ended with Sunset. The organisers would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work before and on the day which led to making the day a success, especially the bands, the Maritime Volunteer service and the Police cadets. Dr Cooney playing the piper s lament Terry Clarkson 3

4 Newport & Carisbrooke Branch stall Claire Kay with Poppy Members on parade Peter Atkinson & Ernie Howard awaiting the arrival of the Lord Lieutenant Massed Bands marching off parade 4

5 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of the May Membership Process Update which contains the latest information regarding the new joining arrangements and copy of the posters launched at National Conference. RBL NATIONAL CONFERENCE.. The 2015 National Conference was held at Southport over the weekend of 16 th and 17 th May. The results of the conference Charter Motions and General Motions can be found on the Legion website at together with video highlights of the presentations by the National President, National Chairman and Director General. A list of award winners is enclosed with this newsletter. Waterloo Pin - MESSAGE FROM HEADQUARTERS Some MSOs and Branches have received a communication from Tam Fowler claiming to be working with the Poppy Appeal and having been given addresses by Head Office. Please note that the Legion are not working with Mr Fowler and do not formally support this campaign. The Poppy Appeal has also not made any arrangements with Mr Fowler. Mariëlle Postill Head of Membership Direct: mpostill@britishlegion.org.uk PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT GENERAL SIR EDWARD BURGESS It was with deep sorrow that the Legion announced the passing on 8 th May of General Sir Edward Burgess, a past National President of the Royal British Legion. General Burgess was born in 1927 and following graduation was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in After retiring from the Army he become President of the Royal British Legion and served in this role from 1987 to He is survived by his wife, son John and daughter Fiona. 5

6 Donation to County Benevolent Fund During the VE70 event at Puckpool Park, a cheque for 400 was presented to Mr. Andy Pound, IW RBL County Chairman, by Mr Stan Baker. The money was raised as part of the Over the Edge motorcycle rally held at Brighstone over the Bank holiday weekend of May 1st-4th. Organised and run by 'Stan and Co' with additional help from the IOW members of the RBL Riders it is a yearly event. The event is primarily a fancy dress motorcycle rally, a cross between a bikers meet and a carry on film over three nights with entertainment (bands). Pictured left to right are Chris Brown, Zena Whiteside, Stan Baker, Andy Pound and Jane Baker. Zena will shortly be doing a tandem parachute jump for the RBL. Calling all Branch Standard Bearers. The RBL County Standard bearer competition for 2015 will be held at the Parish rooms, Town Lane Newport at 18:45hrs on Thursday 26th November. All Branch standard bearers and deputy standard bearers are invited to enter the competition. For more information please contact our County Parade Marshal, Terry Clarkson terryyvonne@hotmail.co.uk 6

7 SPONSORED WALK RAISES 340 FOR POPPY APPEAL On Saturday 11th April Paul Berridge (East Cowes RBL Branch) undertook a sponsored walk to raise funds for the RBL Poppy Appeal. Paul planned to walk from Newport to Alum Bay via the Shepherd's Trail and the coastal path, a distance of approximately 20 miles. Unfortunately, during the walk Paul aggravated an old knee injury and on reaching Freshwater Bay was advised not to continue on to Alum Bay. Paul said "I was extremely disappointed not to be able to finish the walk but by the time I reached Freshwater Bay I was really struggling with my knee. I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who sponsored me. I received great support from the Legion Clubs at Ventnor, Shanklin and Ryde, the Hampshire Old Comrades and the RGBW Regimental Association as well as numerous individuals. I also collected sponsorship at my Regimental Reunion at Portsmouth in March. On Wednesday 13th May Paul handed over the sponsorship money to Hilary Highsmith, Poppy Organiser for East Cowes, at the East Cowes Branch Meeting. In total the walk raised for the Poppy Appeal" Meeting of Branch Chairmen & Vice-Chairman Following the successful meeting held at Ryde in March our second meeting for Branch Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen will be held on Friday, 5 th June commencing at 6.30pm at The Three Bishops, Main Road, Brighstone. 7

8 DIARY DATES. 5 th June Branch Chairmen/Vice- Chairmen Meeting, Brighstone 6.30pm 13 th June RBL IW County Committee Meeting 10.30am 18 th June 200 th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Flag raising ceremony at the Flag Pole, Esplanade, Ryde at 10.45am 22 nd June- AFD Flag Raising, St. Thomas Square, Newport 11am 22 nd June AFD Flag Raising, The Flag Pole, Esplanade, Ryde at 2pm 23 rd June AFD Flag Raising Seaview & Nettlestone 1.45pm 28 th June Parade Cowes to mark AFD 26 th July Island Highland Gathering, Northwood House, Cowes. 9 th August Gallipoli Commemorative Church Service, Newport Minster 2.45pm. For more information contact Garath Sprack IW gareth@glsprack.fsnet.co.uk 16 th August WW1 event Ventnor Park. For more information contact Danny McMeechan danny.braveheart23@talktalk.net RBL Independent Examiners Following the recent course held in Southampton, the Isle of Wight is very pleased to say that we now have three Independent Examiners on the National Register. Many congratulations to Karen Gibson (County Vice-Chairman), Claire Kay (Ryde Branch) and Dave Ramsay (Newport & Carisbrooke Branch) on successfully passing the course. They will now be able to undertake the year end Independent Review of accounts for Branches. Contact details are as follows:- Karen Gibson gibsonkiw@outlook.com Tel: Mobile: Claire Kay annclaireshelley.kay@gmail.com Mobile: (text only) Dave Ramsay daveramsay240@msn.com 23 August VJ70. Drumhead Service at Brighstone. 24 th October County Poppy Launch, St. Thomas Square, Newport 8

9 The Sixth of June by Harry Rouse They promised us a better land when we returned from war. Like jobs and homes, and better schools, and peace for ever more. A land that s fit for heroes, a politician cries. As he slowly sipped his whisky and gently dabbed his eyes. There will be heavy casualties, the ancient generals said. Would they be there, we wondered, to help to count the dead. We hit the shore at day break through shells and heavy fire, The beach was well protected with mines and twisted wire. Press on, press on, the order came, we must get off the beach Ahead lay our objective, but it seemed beyond our reach. We fought and scrambled through the wire to reach the goal ahead Though scattered all around us lay our wounded and our dead. A young boy dropped beside me, another fallen brother And sadly with his dying breath, he cried out for his mother. At last we reach the road ahead, a bloody battle won But many more are needed before the job is done. The politicians raise a glass, and to each other boast. While the ones who wanted war the least, always seem to suffer most. And so on each Remembrance Day my thoughts will always be With the ones who gave their lives that day on the shores of Normandy Harry was born in 1924 in London and suffered the tragic loss of his family during the blitz. He later joined the Royal Marines and served with 41 RM Commando and landed in Normandy on D-Day. On demob, he lived in Exminster and was a Charge Nurse at the former Psychiatric Hospital that was based there, he later moved to Starcross. Harry died on 22 June (Reproduced here by kind permission of the family of Harry Rouse and the Royal Marines Association) 9

10 ARMED FORCES DAY FLAG RAISINGS Monday, 22 nd June NEWPORT St. Thomas Square, Newport 11am RYDE Esplacade Flag Pole, Ryde, 2pm. For further information on these events please contact Terry Clarkson Tuesday, 23 rd June SEAVIEW St. Peter Church Gardens, 2pm The Royal British Legion, Seaview & Nettlestone Branch inc. Bembridge Sub Branch, invites all Standard Bearers, members and veterans to their Flag Raising Ceremony in St Peter's Church Gardens, Seaview, arrival 1345hrs for service at 1400hrs. There is to be a parade by the Royal British Legion Standard Bearers, other organisations and veterans. Pupils of Nettlestone Primary School will be present and the Lord Lieutenant Major General Martin White CBE CB JPB will also be in attendance. At the ceremony, there will be prayers by Reverend David Marrow followed by a welcome to guests by the Chairman of the Branch, Janet Foreman. The last post will be played by a member of Vectis Corp of Drums and the Exhortation spoken followed by the Kohima. The raising of the Armed Forces Flag will then be carried out by 2 pupils from Nettlestone School assisted by Isle of Wight Councillor Reg Barry. Pupils, teachers and others attending will enter the church where there will be hymns, a poetry reading and songs performed by pupils of the school. Afterwards, everyone is invited to take refreshments in the church hall. ( It is requested that Standard Bearers attend at 1330hrs for briefing ) For more information please contact Janet Foreman, Branch Chairmen or janet.seaviewiow@virgin.net Sunday 28 th June COWES Muster point for parade will be at St Marys Car Park, Cowes at 13:30hrs. The parade will march off at 14:00hrs for the ceremony at Cowes Band stand. Anyone wishing to attend, but unable to participate in the parade are invited to muster at the Bandstand on Cowes Parade by 14:00hrs. For further details call Taff after 6:00pm on IW

11 REPORT ON THE CEREMONIES HELD BY THE FRIENDS OF ORP BLYSKAWICA SOCIETY, 4 th MAY 2015 Bank Holiday Monday saw around 200 people attend the annual commemoration of the defence of Cowes and East Cowes by the Cowes built Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica. The ceremony was organised by The Friends of the ORP Blyskawica Society and was led by their chairman and Cowes Town Mayor, Cllr. Geoff Banks. The event not only commemorated Blyskawica s actions on the 4 th May 1942, some 73 years ago to the day, but also the loss of her sister ship, ORP Grom. Grom was lost in the Narvik campaign in Rombaken Fiord on the 4 th May 1940, 75 years ago exactly on that same date. There were 49 sailors lost when ORP Grom was sunk by a bomb which hit her torpedo bay breaking her in two. Some of those survivors were later to serve on the Blyskawica only to find her under attack exactly two years later during the blitz on Cowes and East Cowes. The ceremony recounted the action of Blyskawica on the night of the 4 th May and that loss of Grom; both ships being laid down in the Cowes shipyards of J S White in 1935/6. A religious service was conducted by both Anglican and Catholic priests and hymns were sung with music provided by Cowes Royal British Legion Band along with the Vectis Corp of Drums. A plaque commemorating the loss of ORP Grom was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant to the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White, CE, CBE, JP and this was dedicated by Fr. Jonathan Redvers-Harris. Wreaths were laid in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the blitz and those lost from ORP Grom. There was representation from Poland s Navy by the presence of Capt. Gustaw Michalec and from their Military and Naval Attaché, Lt. Col. Piotr Pacek. Also in attendance that day was the High Sheriff, Ron Holland, the mayor of E. Cowes and Chairman of the IW Council along with numerous civic dignitaries from both the Island and representing Polish interests. Cllr. G. Banks. In addition the two combined ceremonies, there was a one day exhibition of photographs at Regatta House on Cowes Parade. This exhibition was especially prepared and came direct from the Polish Naval Museum in Gdynia and depicted the ORP Grom from her time of laying down to her loss in Norway. The exceptional, and many never previously seen, photographs were then put on public display until the end of May at Cowes Library. 11

12 IT S YOUR NEWSLETTER!!! If anyone has any articles they would like to submit for publication in the monthly newsletter please e -mail the newsletter editor at rbliwcounty@outlook.com Or send to: 2 Hope Mead, Langbridge, Newchurch, IW, PO36 0NP by the 20th of each month. We are looking for anything from jokes to poems, or hints and tips to remarkable personal achievements and Branch events. Or even adverts! Everything will be considered. ALL LEGION ENQUIRIES (including Welfare Requests) SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CONTACT CENTRE ON Membership Support Officer Mrs Stephanie Harris 104 Above Bar Street, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 7DT sharris@britishlegion.org.uk Website: Registered Charity number Newsletter Enclosures:- New Membership application form Membership update May 2015 Membership renewal posters Award winners at National Conference 12