THE SOMME BUGLE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SOMME BRANCH Royal British Legion-Registered Charity Number 219279 ISSUE NUMBER 12 Branch BR3530 WINTER 2013/2014 Branch Website: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme And now, it can be told! Welcome to the 12th edition of the Somme Bugle. 2013 was another busy year for the Branch. The Officers of the Branch wish you all a happy and successful 2014. SUMMARY OF BRANCH EVENTS – Steve Berridge 18th – 19th MAY – NATIONAL CONFERENCE The 2013 National Conference was held in Llandudno in lovely Welsh Wales over the weekend of 18th to 19th May. Treasurer Chris Berridge was the Branch delegate with John and Sarah Mathison attending as observers. Steve Berridge carried the Branch Standard at the opening and closing ceremonies and the march past on the Saturday afternoon. JUNE 5th – CAEN MEMORIAL Once again the branch was represented at the D Day commemorations in Normandy. In the morning Steve Berridge with the Branch Standard attended services to commemorate the airborne landing around Ranville. The first ceremony being held at the Bois du Bavent to commemorate the Parachute troops of 3rd Parachute Brigade who landed in this area. National Chairman John Crisford attended all the Normandy Services. He was so excited - he was on the edge of his seat! The Service at The Bois du Bavent - the Paras doing their own thing! 1 We then went on to a place very special in my heart being a Green Jacket – Pegasus Bridge - for the Ceremony to commemorate the first formed British unit to land in France, Major John Howard’s Letter D Company of the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry whose 5 gliders landed within yards of the two bridges which were successfully captured intact and held until relieved later in the morning by 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion the Parachute Regiment. (regular readers of the Bugle will no doubt recall the full story in an earlier issue) Two ceremonies were held, the first around the original Pegasus Bridge which now lies in the Pegasus Memorial Museum. The second smaller service was held around the six memorials listing the members of the six gliders who took part in Operation Deadstick. Standing in front of one of the memorials I was given a nudge by the senior officer present who was to give the speech “morning Corporal Berridge” he said it was only my former CO from 1986ish! Ooh if you could have seen Rod’s face! In the afternoon we attended the 3rd British Infantry Division Memorial service at the Caen Memorial. The Union Standard was carried by Steve Berridge and the Somme Branch Standard by John Mathison. This was followed by a reception after which the ceremony of Beating Retreat was held in front of the museum. 2 JUNE 6th – BAYEUX The Royal British Legion service was held at the Bayeux War Cemetery in conjunction with the Normandy Veterans Association. Last year we had no band due to the Diamond Jubilee, this year again we had no band, this time because someone had stood it down after the locally organized Cathedral Service!! Luckily an ATC Piper who was visiting offered his services and some dignity was restored to the march on. On the parade the Union Standard was carried by Steve Berridge and the Branch Standard by John Mathison. Once again a military detachment under WO2 Terry Twining were on hand looking after the events marshalling, transport and administration. Later in the afternoon the final parade of the day was held at Arromanche, John Mathison carrying the Branch Standard. The highlight of the parade, held in front of the Museum was the fly past by the Red Arrows. JUNE 30th-BRANCH INFORMAL DINNER On the evening of 30th June the Branch held an informal dinner in the presence of the National Chairman, John Crisford. Before the meal we were entertained by a musical performance by two gentlemen from Talbot House in Poperinghe near Ypres who told the story of Lieutenant John Walcot Gamble of the Durham Light Infantry. It was a very moving performance and so moved were the (then) Branch Scribe and Treasurer who were staying in Ypres over this period that we visited his grave in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY and laid a Poppy Cross on behalf of the Branch. JULY 1st – BATTLE OF THE SOMME COMMEMORATION - THIEPVAL MEMORIAL This year’s 1st July commemoration was as usual very well attended. Once again the Band of the Royal Irish providing the music. This year the Royal British Legion National Standard was carried by the National Standard Bearer Norman Espie, the Branch Standard as always by Steve Berridge and the parade commanded by John Mathison. Photos: Ann & Brian Fitzsimons 3 JULY 1st –BATTLE OF THE SOMME COMMEMORATION–FRICOURT GERMAN CEMETERY In the afternoon after the Branch Meeting we all gathered at the German Cemetery at Fricourt for a service of Remembrance. On parade the National Standard and Branch Standard representing the Royal British Legion on whose behalf a wreath was laid by the National Chairman John Crisford. NOVEMBER 10th – BRANCH DINNER AND SING-A-LONG. In the evening members and friends of the Branch met up for an enjoyable social evening at “Le Poppy” in La Boiselle. We were joined once again by our friends, the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary recovering from a day’s battlefield tour given by Steve Berridge. After dinner the band provided the musical accompaniment to our now traditional sing a long. After the dinner a cake was produced by our treasurer, Chris Berridge, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Somme Branch. Only four original members of the Branch are still current members, Rod Bedford, Steve Berridge, Jackie Bedford and Neil Bedford. The three members present had the scary “privilege” of Rod Bedford wielding the knife to cut the cake – luckily no injuries were sustained in the process! NOVEMBER 11th – ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES. Our annual Armistice Day service of remembrance was held at the Thiepval Memorial. The band of the Hampshire Constabulary once again providing the music. The Branch Standard was carried on parade by Steve Berridge. Following on from the RBL service we all formed up and followed the band down to the Thiepval village church for the French service and reception. In the afternoon the band along with branch members paraded at the Mailly-Maillet village war memorial. After which the parade marched to the Mailly Wood British Cemetery where another short service was held. 4 LAST POST It is with sadness that we have to record the death of Branch Member Geoffrey Bassett who died on November 24th aged 85 The Branch sends its condolences to his widow and family. OTHER NEWS With the centenary of World War One commencing next year John Mathison has sent in a photo of a new exhibit at the National Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson on the hills above Portsmouth. This “wees beasty” (as they say up North), is an 18 inch, Railway Gun, BL18 inch Howitzer Mark 1. It is mounted on a 95 ton sled as opposed to the original mounting which was much larger and weighed in at 164 tons! The gun was capable of firing a 2,500lb shell up to 14 miles! FORTHCOMING BRANCH EVENTS 2014 Please note that all events organised by the Branch are open (with the exception of Branch Meetings and AGM) to all, not just branch members, so if you know of anyone outside of the branch who would be interested in attending any of the events please let them know, the more the merrier. June 5th Normandy June 6th Normandy July 1st 98th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme – Thiepval Memorial 10.30am November 10th Branch Supper and Sing-a-long November 11th Service of Remembrance - Thiepval Memorial 10.40am 5 .