Page 1 of 9 London Branch Newsletter 2001 President Secretary Treasurer Golf Member Battlefield Tour Members Entertainments Member Colonel G F Smythe OBE Gary Driscol Captain S Wake Dev Deverell Alfie Fisher Steve Smith The year 2001 was another success for the London Branch. Although numbers have not increased dramatically we now have 115 full committed members who are involved and take part in most activities. The membership covers the whole spectrum and consists of retired regulars and TA soldiers. The Branch committee is now well established and with the active support of the membership, has been able to arrange a number of successful events throughout the year. As a Branch we are also pleased at long last to be in a position of credit financing, this has been an uphill struggle but one which has proved to be worthwhile. During the year we have gained some limited sponsorship and also committee members are always on the lookout for moneymaking ventures. The Branch designed and produced it s own plaque which allows us to make presentations to organisations who have assisted during the year. The question of the London Branches location has not been fully resolved but Davis Street remains a firm front-runner as it remains the most central in the West End for most of the members. The Branch meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month in the Rifleman s Bar for a beer and a chat and this has proved to be a success with numbers improving as the message spreads. Fortunately this gathering falls on the TA Drill Night and is beneficial to both serving TA members and Branch members. It allows Branch members to keep in touch with Green Jackets news and current activities. It is our hope that more branch members will make use of the opportunity to socialise in the future especially if they are in town or in the area. The Branch has during the year attempted a wider variety of events most of which have been successful. Although these successes cannot be attributed to one single fact, there can be no doubt that when the combination of an active membership and a committed committee, who are prepared to work, success is bound to come. The calendar of events for the year was organised so that there was a Branch event approximately every two months throughout the year, allowing members to plan their involvement. This has proved to be highly successful and a number of these events are now firmly established. Golf Society The Riflemens Golf Society calendar is now firmly established and the two competitions have continued to grow in numbers and popularity. The Branch had no response in their
Page 2 of 9 search for a disused Golf Trophy throughout the Regiment but this minor setback was resolved with self funding and some private sponsorship. The Spring competition was held in April at Mill Green Golf Club with an increased turnout. Prizes were awarded to the following; Best Rifleman. Mr Terry Wiggins. Runner Up. Mr Roy Wiggins Nearest the Pin. Mr Terry Wiggins. Longest Drive Mr Les Churchill Best Guest. Mr Steve Lightfoot. Tail End Charley Mr Gary Driscoll The Autumn competition was held on the 14 th September at Trent Park Golf Course, which proved to be a highly successful choice. Before Tee Off, along with the rest of the country, we all observed the 3 minutes silence in respect of the victims of the New York September 11 th terrorist attack. The weather was kind and for once we managed to tee off on time, a first, well-done Dev. The competition was 18 holes, played to Stapleford rules and not as Captain Steve Wake thought, The Wake Rules!. The Golf Secretary, Dev and Willy Mclean teed off with Steve Wake which after the first two testing holes using The Wake Rules Steve was four points up. Driving from the third he unfortunately drove the ball in completely the wrong direction towards the fourteenth green, which incidentally missed the green. His two partners managed to avoid serious injury by taking cover and with Dev taking over the map reading continued the round. During the round Steve managed to extract a promise from the others not to tell anyone back at Davis Street of what had taken place. Which to the best of the Presidents knowledge they have not done so! The whole day proved to be an entertaining and enjoyable event and was completed with a meal and a few drinks in the Club House before departing for home. A special word of thanks must go to Dev for making the arrangements. The results of the competition was as follows: Best Rifleman Mr Alan Dowie. Runner Up Mr Tony Finnigan Nearest the Pin Mr Les Churchill. Longest Drive. Mr Les Churchill Best Guest Mr Les Churchill. Tail end Charley Mr Gary Driscoll Alan Dowie Les Churchill Tony Finnegan A serious adjustment has been made to the winners handicaps for the next competition and Gary Driscoll will be playing off 36 and from the Ladies tees! These matches are proving to be very popular and other association members are more than welcome to participate.
Page 3 of 9 Battlefield Tour This was our first Branch attempt and took place on the weekend of 21 st /22 nd of April. A coach filled with members departed from London to France to visit the battlefields of the Somme concentrating on sites with regimental connections. The tour was organised by our Battlefield Tour member Alfie Fisher. The tour took in numerous memorial cemeteries, museums, churches, trenches and battlefields, villages and refreshment stops. It was a very moving and informative weekend in which a great deal was packed into. On the return a whistle stop visit to a duty free shop was jammed in to replenish stocks used during the trip. The tour for 2002 is in hand and members need to sign up early, as places are limited to one full coach. A more detailed report by Maria Driscoll has been submitted as a separate article for the magazine. Alf Smith & Billy Taylor at War Memorial near Albert, Somme, April 2001. Tony Beach with the gravestone of Maj. W La T Congreve VC DSO MC April 2001 Ladies Dinner Night This was again a first for the London Branch. After the Presidents visit to Felixstowe to their Dinner Night, it was decided by the Committee, that a Ladies dinner Night would be held annually. The first night took place in June with 28 members and wives attending which was highly satisfactory as it was put together at only one months notice. The venue was a private function room in the Hercules Pillar Pub, Holborn, where members and guests gathered for a three course dinner with the usual over the table barter and exchange of regimental comments. Once a number of very short speeches were completed there was dancing to a disco and one or to drinks taken. A highly successful evening and one which is now firmly on our calendar.
Page 4 of 9 London Branch Ladies Dinner Night June 2001, Hercules Pillars, Holborn. Annual Reunion, Winchester London Branch members teamed up with members of G Company (RGJ) The London Regiment to attend the Annual Reunion at Winchester in July. The coach deposited us at the old Rifle Depot, Peninsular Barracks where we paid a visit to the Regimental Museum. Branch members were impressed with the military displays and especially the opportunity to purchase items from the Regimental Museum shop and Regimental blazers from the tailor in attendance. Although the March Past was well attended by former regiments, from a Branch point of view it was disappointing that TA soldiers where not catered for or indeed allowed to participate. We sincerely hope that this will be rectified at the next reunion in 2002. The Sounding of Retreat and the evening activities rounded off a good day and members returned home pleased that there were significant improvements on last year s reunion. Band Memorial Service, Regents Park The memorial service took place on the 20th July in Regents Park. This service takes place every year to remember the seven bandsmen killed in 1982 by a terrorist bomb while carrying out public duties. Many members of their families along with survivors were present. Also Serving Officers and soldiers in uniform from both regular and TA Battalions, the regimental buglers sounded the last post. A total of forty members of the RGJ and KRRC Association attended. The service falls on a Saturday in 2002, which hopefully will increase the numbers attending.
Page 5 of 9 Range Day The Branch managed to arrange a range day to experience pre-operational training on Lydd Ranges. (It s useful having people in high places!). The idea was to give members an insight into what facilities are now available to the regular army at the Lydd Range Complex. There was an opportunity to fire the SA 80 on the 30-metre range and also fire on the Small Arms Trainer, and for some members to confirm that you cannot fire the SA 80 left handed! The day was completed with a tour of the FIBUA Defence Range, Vehicle Ambush Range, CQBU Urban Range and the famous Ryp Village. During the tour points of interest were pointed out and the commentary also contained points with regards the conservation issues that todays soldiers have to contend with when training. The day was rounded up with a barbeque and a few drinks at the waterman ship area. The range staff arranged for all participants to be presented with a Certificate of Achievement for prosperity. A word of thanks to Major Pat O Reilly and his team for making it an extremely enjoyable day. It was also satisfying to see Paddy Proctor and his band of Riflemen from Milton Keynes making the effort to join us.
Page 6 of 9 Remembrance Sunday We are getting bigger! This was the third time in the Regiments history that the London Branch and RGJ Association members have marched past the Cenotaph at Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday. Numbers exceeded last year and approximately 80 marchers made up from members of the London Branch and the Milton Keynes Branch were on parade. We also managed to have one or two old friends on parade, John Baker and Denis Wheatly and a very brave veteran from the KRRC. The reason for the parade is well known but it also presents an opportunity for Green Jackets to personally remember colleagues who lost their lives in all the conflicts since the formation of the regiment. The day began with the Parade participants assembling at the Theodore Bullfrog Public House for tea and coffee and a few of the more hearty sharpeners to see them through the parade. We are extremely lucky as the pub is located locally to Charing Cross, which is only a few minutes from Horse Guards Parade where we form up for the march past. The Parachute Regiment lead the parade followed by the KRRC and then RGJA. We always try and let a gap develop between us and the group in front which allows us to at least pass the Cenotaph at a faster pace. This is not always successful and I think that the parade marshals are on to us now! Once we have been released from the parade we all make our way back to the Bullfrog for bangers and mash and a great deal of liquid refreshment. All are welcome and in many respects the gathering is like a reunion. We managed this year to collect not only Green Jackets but also one or two strays from other regiments. A special thanks to the Presidents sons Neal and Charles who manage to get Regents Inns to open on a Sunday. Once again Ted the manager and his staff turned up trumps and made us feel very welcome and provided a warm and efficient service. The London Branch presented a plaque to Ted as a special token of thanks for making the day a success. We are hoping that this arrangement can continue in the future as this is an ideal location for a very important day in our annual calendar.
Page 7 of 9 There can be no doubt that this gathering is gaining momentum and the President of the London Branch would like to thank all those who took part this year and looks forward to an even larger number attending the parade in the year 2002. Interested parties should contact the London Branch Secretary nearer the time. Association Members shouldremember that only those with security-cleared tickets may take part. Westminster Abbey Remembrance Plot On the last Thursday before the nearest Sunday to the 11 th of November every year, there is a Memorial Service in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, which is traditionally attended by a member of the Royal Family. As part of the build up to the service, during the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday, the Royal British Legion lay out regimental plots in the grounds of the Abbey. Once the service is completed the Royals visit the plots and meet regimental representatives. These plots remain open to the public to visit for the following week and are also popular with visiting tourists. There are plots for every British cap badge that ever existed. Each plot consists of many small poppy crosses, which are placed to represent each life lost while serving their country. If anyone would like a personal message on one of the small poppy crosses provided, Gary Driscoll would be happy to arrange it on their behalf. The Branch Secretary, Gary Driscoll provides a special tribute to the Royal Green Jackets who have died whilst serving with the regiment. This takes the format of large black frames
Page 8 of 9 displaying two lists of names. One lists the names of those that have died while serving and the other displaying those killed on duty since the formation of the regiment in 1966. Christmas Function The London Branch Party was held at Mile End TA Centre and proved to be once again a great success. Food was provided by Dave Lawn and his wife Val and as always was excellent. The committee members volunteered to serve and once again excelled at the task! There were 70 members and their guests and with the help of a considerable amount of liquid refreshment and an in house disco, proved to be our best Christmas function to date. All credit must go to the Gary and his committee who put in a great deal of time and effort to cater for all needs. Due to the limited space available a number of thank you letters cannot be included but bookings have already been taken for next year. London Branch Buglers A number of years ago at a Committee meeting at Oxford, the question of regimental buglers was addressed. At the time it was not possible to always be able to obtain a bugler for funerals of retired regimental members who had passed away. Solutions ranged from CD s to tapes, which in the majority of those attending were not acceptable. The London Branch have managed to find two members who have taken on this task.. Buglers rehearsing for Durbar Parade (Frankie Hill in the centre) Frankie Hill and Terry McCann have worked hard practising in their own time in order that the Branch would have their own Buglers. They continue to train under Bugler Major Sgt G Pennyfather at West Ham Drill Hall and are at such a high standard that they have been invited to play with the Waterloo Band at Oxford. This is no mean achievement and we look forward to making full use of them on dinner nights and other events. They recently played with the Waterloo Band at the Durbar Reunion Week in October. Well Done Frankie and Terry.
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