April 2015 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HUNTINGDONSHIRE

NEWSLETTER

EDITOR’s NOTE:

Over the Next few months I will try to pass on as much information as possible so that Members are aware of what is happening. However for those of you who have not visited the Legion website, there many items of information and news available on the site www.britishlegion.org.uk

I will continue to provide this Newsletter, but I do need help from you with contributions towards the publication. For it to be a success then I need articles, news, stories and details of events from Branch level and Members.

Presentation to Royal British Legion Cambridgeshire Resident Mr Geoff Diplock On Saturday 28th February on behalf of the Royal British Legion the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire presented Mr Geoff Diplock of Coton the National Certificate of Appreciation. This is the highest honour the Legion can bestow on a member. It is awarded to a Member who has given meritorious service and has made a conspicuous contribution to the Legion at any level. Geoff has given his time and effort to the Legion for over 60 years. Initially at local Branch level he served his Branch Coton through to 2013 in numerous Committee positions including Branch Secretary, Poppy Appeal Organiser and Welfare Secretary. From 1972 through to 2013 Geoff was a member of the Legion’s Cambridgeshire County Committee. During the 4 decades he served the County with dedication in a number of roles at both Group and County level and for 20 of those 40 years he was at Executive level on the Committee either as County President or County Chairman. Geoff was also the County Poppy Appeal Co‐ordinator 1999–2012 and during that time he and his team carried out outstanding annual Poppy Appeal collections within Cambridge City as well as co‐ordinating the County’s overall Poppy Appeal. Annually for many years he was involved with either arranging or organising the County’s successful Festival of Remembrance Apart from his County duties for the Legion he served on the Eastern Area Committee and also as a member of the Amenities Committee for the Legion’s residential care home Halsey House in Cromer, Norfolk. Geoff fully deserves to be recognised with this award, he has worked tirelessly with dedication and verve in support of the Legion whether as an ambassador, figure head or as a member at grass roots level.

1 World War 1 Recipients

JANUARY ‐ MARCH 2015 Eustace Jotham VC ‐ was 31 years old ‐ Captain in the 51st Sikhs ‐ Indian Army. During operations in the Tochi Valley area of the North West Frontier in 1915 he was attached to the North Waziristan Militia on 7 January 1915 was killed in action. During operations against the Khostwal tribesmen, Captain Jotham, was commanding a party of about a dozen of the North Waziristan Militia, was attacked in a nullah and almost surrounded by an overwhelming force of some 1,500 tribesmen. He gave the order to retire, and could have himself escaped, but gallantly sacrificed his own life by attempting to rescue of one of his men who had lost his horse.

Michael John O'Leary VC ‐ was Lance‐Corporal in 1st Battalion, Irish Guards or conspicuous bravery at Cuinchy on the 1st February, 1915. When forming one of the storming party which advanced against the enemy's barricades he rushed to the front and himself killed five Germans who were holding the first barricade, after which he attacked a second barricade, about 60 yards further on, which he captured, after killing three of the enemy and making prisoners of two more. Lance‐Corporal O'Leary thus practically captured the enemy's position by himself and prevented the attacking party from being fired upon.

Rear Admiral Eric Gascoigne Robinson VC, OBE ‐ while a Lieutenant Commander with the British fleet stationed off the Dardanelles during the Gallipoli campaign.. His force landed undetected early in the morning of 26 February, destroyed two small artillery pieces and made fast progress towards the main battery before being pinned down by Turkish snipers in the mid‐ afternoon. Instead of withdrawing in the face of this threat, Robinson marched his men through gullies and came out close to a small rise behind the main battery. The open ground of the rise was covered by several Turkish snipers, but realising the importance of removing the artillery overlooking the sea passage, made the climb alone, dodging bullets in his white uniform until he crested the rise unhurt, emerging a few minutes later Robinson had laid fuses which destroyed the large 9.4" main gun and two anti‐aircraft emplacements within the position.

Private William Buckingham VC MC ‐ Buckingham joined the 2nd Battalion of The Leicestershire Regiment in 1901, at the age of 15, and served in Egypt and India. The 2nd Battalion, was posted to France during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 10 and 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle during which he was wounded in the chest. The citation reads as follows: For conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing and rendering aid to the wounded whilst exposed to heavy fire, especially at Neuve‐Chapelle on 10th and 12th March 1915.

Gabar Singh Negi VC ‐ was a 21 years old Rifleman in the 2/39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army. He received his VC for the most conspicuous bravery on 10th March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. During our attack on the German position he was one of a bayonet party with bombs who entered their main trench, and was the first man to go round each traverse, driving back the enemy until they were eventually forced to surrender. He was killed during this engagement.

Lieutenant‐Colonel Harry Daniels VC, MC ‐ was 30 years old, and a Company Sergeant‐Major in the 2nd Battalion of The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), when the following took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, his unit was ordered into an advance on the German trenches across no‐man's land which was covered by machine guns and strewn with barbed wire. Daniels and another man, Cecil Reginald Noble, voluntarily rushed in front with cutters and attacked the wires They were both wounded at once, Noble dying later of his wounds. For further activities on the Western Front he was awarded the Military Cross and later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Continued Page 6

2

3 RBL COUPLE RECEIVE ROYAL ENGINEER COMMENDATION On the evening of Wednesday 25th March, a presentation ceremony took place at March RBL Club. Mr & Mrs Larham members of the Royal British Legion March Branh received a Royal Engineer Corps Commenation.. The Larhams have spent the last 5 years running Parcels to the Forces on deployment throughout the World. In light of their extraordinary achievement, over 1000 parcels sent they were written up for an award. Commander 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group, Colonel Matt Quare MBE (Late Royal Engineers) presented the Larhams with their Corps Commendation.

SAWTRY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COACH TRIP TO

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Saturday 27th June (Armed Forces Day)

Departing 09.00 from The Sawtry Ex‐Servicemen’s Club Departing NMA 16.00 to Sawtry Cost of coach trip £15 (including a small donation to The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal)

Entry to the Arboretum is free and there are full café facilities available. To book or for further information call: Stewart 01487‐831458 Allan 01487‐830806 Tony 01487‐831316 There is a full programme of events to commemorate and celebrate Armed Forces Day. Mobility - Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available on loan from the visitor centre. To ensure availability they should be booked in advance.

For full details on the National Arboretum visit: www.thenma.org.uk

QUIZ TIME: NIC NAC's (Words beginning OR ending with Nic or Nac) ANSWERS ON PAGE 7

1. Annual calendar of months and days usually 6. White mineral substance. A violent poison? astronomical information? 2. Shallow recess in a wall to hold a statue or 7. Largest state in Central America? vase? 3. Pleasure outing including a meal out of doors? 8. Having artificial, mechanical body parts?

4. Another name for a Jukebox? 9. Of or relating to the Spanish people or their language? 5. Spirit distilled from the wine of the west 10. Shellfish yeilding Mother of Pearl? France area after which it is named?

4

5 JANUARY ‐ MARCH 2015 VC’s Continued Brigadier Charles Calveley Foss VC, CB, DSO ‐ was 30 years old a Captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment. when the following took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, after the enemy had captured a part of one of the British trenches and a counter‐attack made with one officer and 20 men had failed (all but two of the party having been killed or wounded in the attempt) Captain Foss on his own initiative dashed forward with only eight men under heavy fire and attacked the enemy with bombs and captured the position and the 52 Germans occupying it.

Wilfred Dolby Fuller VC ‐ was 21 years old, and a lance‐corporal in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his acts on 12 March 1915 at the , France. Lance‐ Corporal Fuller saw a party of the enemy trying to escape along a communication trench. He ran towards them and killed the leading man with a bomb; the remainder (nearly 50) seeing no means of evading his bombs, all surrendered to him. Lance‐Corporal Fuller was totally alone at the time of his actions.

Cyril Gordon Martin VC CBE DSO - was 23 years old, a Lieutenant in the 56th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers. On 12 March 1915 at Spanbroek Molen, Belgium, Lieutenant Martin volunteered to lead a small bombing party against a section of the enemy trenches which was holding up the advance. Before he started he was wounded, but, taking no notice, he carried on with the attack which was completely successful. He and his small party held the trench against all counter‐attacks for two and a half hours until a general withdrawal was ordered. He later achieved the rank of Brigadier and served during WWII.

Cecil Reginald Noble VC ‐ was 23 years old, and an Acting Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, when the advance of the battalion was impeded by wire entanglements and by very severe machine‐gun fire, Corporal Noble and another man (Harry Daniels) voluntarily rushed in front and succeeded in cutting the wires. They were both wounded, and Corporal Noble later died of his injuries. Daniels survived to receive his Victoria Cross and later rose to the rank of lieutenant‐colonel.

William Anderson VC ‐ Anderson was about 29 years old, and a corporal in the 2nd Battalion during the First World War when the following act led to the award of the Victoria Cross. For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve‐Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he led three men with bombs against a large party of the enemy who had entered our trenches, and by his prompt and determined action saved, what might otherwise have become, a serious situation. Cpl. Anderson first threw his own bombs, then those in possession of his three men (who had been wounded) amongst the Germans, after which he opened rapid rifle fire upon them with great effect, notwithstanding that he was at the time quite alone

Edward Barber VC ‐ He was 21 years old, and a Private in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, British Army during the First World War, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, which led to his death. For most conspicuous bravery on 12th March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He ran speedily in front of the grenade company to which he belonged, and threw bombs on the enemy with such effect that a very great number of them at once surrendered. When the grenade party reached Pte. Barber they found him quite alone and unsupported, with the enemy surrendering all about him.

Jacob Rivers VC ‐ He was about 34 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters. On 12 March 1915, at Neuve Chapelle, France, Private Rivers, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advanced company of his battalion, and hurled bombs on them. His action caused the enemy to retire, and so relieved the situation. Private Rivers performed a second similar act of great bravery on the same day, again causing the enemy to withdraw. He was killed on this occasion, and his remains never found ‐ he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

6

Quiz – Answers 1. Almanac 6. Arsenic 2. Niche 7. Nicaragua 3. Picnic 8. Bionic 4. Nickelodeon 9. Hispanic 5. Cognac 10.Nacre

7

DO YOU HAVE ITEMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE NEWSLETTERS IDEAS: Memories from say - Service Life, Schooldays during WWII, Recipes, Branch events and awards or advertising upcoming events Please send to Bryan Jones – [email protected] South Fens Business Park, Fenton Way, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6TT

8