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VOICE The Newsletter of the Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch Spring 2015

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Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015 VOICE

The Newsletter of the Plymouth City Centre Branch

Spring 2015

Registered Charity Number: 219279

Editorial Comment Contents Welcome to the first issue of the branch newsletter for  Remembrance: 2015. It has been very busy since our last issue was ready for publication.  Remembrance Weekend 8-9th November

 Representation: The 2014 Poppy Appeal was massive, with volunteers in the city centre raising far more than ever; more  Insult to Injury Campaign details inside.  Live On We are also in the process of setting up a new affiliation  Fundraising: with one of the care homes in the city which we are very much looking forward to formalising.  Poppy Appeal 2014

 Poppy Appeal 2014 Organisation Just after the Appeal finished we had a very successful, not to mention enjoyable, Xmas Function which saw  Other News. many of the volunteers who helped during the Poppy Appeal enjoying some good company and good food;  County Poppy Appeal our way of saying ‘thank you’ to them for giving up their time for the Appeal.  Diary of Events

Our Branch Chairman, Steph, presented a VC plaque to the Sgt’s Mess on Remembrance weekend; the plaque was a gift from Devon County upon their move from Alphington to Exeter/Plymouth.

The Legion Nationally has also had a busy few months. In October a new strapline – Live On – was introduced to replace ‘Shoulder to shoulder’. This ‘catchphrase’ is designed to sum up the work of the Legion; we are not just about the Poppy Appeal and are not simply the ‘Custodians of Remembrance’, we are also involved in helping servicemen and women, veterans and service families when they are in need, providing morale support, comradeship and financial assistance.

Recently the Legion has introduced a new campaign: Insult to Injury. This campaign is designed to try to persuade the UK government, plus the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, to protect the compensation injured service personnel have received as a War Pension; War Pensions were awarded for injuries sustained pre 6th April 2005.

With the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day this © The contents of this newsletter are copyright and year, amongst many other commemorative events, may not be reproduced in whole or in part without 2015 is shaping up to be another very busy year for the permission. Legion.

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Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015

Remembrance

Remembrance Weekend to mention coffee and cake, to some of the volunteers 8-9th November 2014 who looked as though they were close to freezing!

Sunday began with the parade on the Hoe. Our Branch Standard was the only Legion one present because the other branches have their own individual parades to mark Remembrance weekend is a time when traditionally the ‘1100’ whereas our branch prefers to be part of the wider Legion is very busy participating in two of the pillars of remembrance parade. The turnout at the Hoe was ex- the Legion: remembrance and comradeship, plus fund- cellent, as usual, and the weather held out. raising. 2014 was no different and involved the first out- ing of the new branch gazebo on ‘Poppy Saturday’ doing lots of fundraising; our branch Standard was on parade at the Hoe (see photo below) as part of remembrance; and, of course camaraderie in the form of a few drinks the Sgt’s Mess at Stonehouse Barracks.

Standards marching onto the Hoe

Military Vehicles under the big screen TV After the parade on the Hoe many of the volunteers de- scended onto the Stonehouse Sgt’s Mess to see our Saturday went very well, with the help of the Military Ve- Branch Chairman make a presentation to WO1(RSM) hicles Trust who, as always, parked their vehicles under Baz Gray RM, the President of the Mess Committee of the big screen TV making it a focal point for the day.

Not only did we have the gazebo and vintage military vehicles in the city centre but we also had our usual stand outside Marks and Spencer, volunteers up at Sainsburys, Plymouth City Market and WH Smiths. In the afternoon our Branch Chairman came in to offer moral support, not

Presentation to WO1(RSM) Baz Gray RM

Stonehouse Sgt’s Mess and one of our branch members.

The branch Gazebo under the big screen TV Remembrance weekend serves as a reminder of the new strapline of the Legion: Live On. To the memory of the fallen and the future of the living.

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Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015

Commemoration — 2Lt James Bulmer Johnson VC He died in Plymouth, Devon, in 1943 aged fifty- three, and was cremated at Efford Crematorium, Monday 23rd March 1100 Plymouth.

Our branch is on a mission to commemorate one of the city’s most decorated war heroes.

James Bulmer Johnson VC (31 December 1889 – 23 March 1943) was an English recipient of the Vic- toria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

According to records, James Bulmer Johnson was born in Widdrington, in Northumberland, on Decem- ber 31, 1889. John Martyn with representatives of Efford Cemetery He was 25 years old and working as a clerk at the Newcastle Infirmary when the war broke out. The commemoration will take place at 1100 on Monday the 23rd of March 2015 at Efford Cemetery.

He enlisted on October 13, 1914, and joined the Northumberland Fusiliers. The idea of organising this commemoration was suggested to our Standard Bearer, John Martyn, by Military records show he was commissioned in the the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Service 2nd Battalion on May 29, 1918. Associations; we were naturally eager to start ar- ranging something to acknowledge his bravery. He became a Second Lieutenant in the Fusiliers, attached to 36th Battalion during the war. We are also in the process of trying to trace any

family members of James Bulmer Johnson so that He was a Second Lieutenant attached to 36th Bat- we can invite them to the occasion. talion during the First World War and 28 years old when on 14 October 1918 south west of Wez Mac- quart, France, he performed the act for which he John told the Plymouth Herald recently that “our aim was awarded the VC. is to honour him… from what we have learned he

deserves no less that that’. During operations by strong patrols, Second Lieu- tenant Johnson repelled frequent counter-attacks and for six hours, under heavy fire, he held back the Anyone who would like to attend this commemora- enemy. When at length he was ordered to retire he tion, particularly any Standard Bearer, is more than was the last to leave the advanced position carrying welcome to join us. Please let the Branch know on a wounded man. Three times subsequently this of- ficer returned and brought in badly wounded men 07934 619213 or at [email protected] under intense enemy machine-gun fire.

After World War I, Johnson served in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary. With thanks to www.plymouthherald.co.uk and www.wikipedia.com . Live On

Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015 Representation

New Campaign — Insult to Injury Governments to address this situation at the earliest opportunity.

Please show your support for our injured veterans by joining our campaign. To help this campaign go to www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/ insult-to-injury where you will find a link for you to email your local MP.

If you do not have access to the internet please contact our Branch Secretary who can provide you with the wording of the email that is sent to your local MP

Veterans injured during Service are having to give New Legion Strapline up most of their compensation to pay for the costs of their social care.

Military compensation is awarded as recompense for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity experi- enced by injured Service personnel and veterans; it should not be treated as normal income.

It's unfair and has to change!

Veterans who were injured in Service on or before 5 April 2005 receive a War Disablement Pension, and are known as War Pensioners. Should a War Pen- sioner have social care needs, they will routinely find that their local authority takes all but the first £10 per week of their military compensation to cover For the benefit of those of you not well acquainted with the costs of their care. This is despite the fact that a what a strapline is, it is a catchphrase or a slogan that a veteran with a similar injury, but who was injured on company uses to try to promote its image to the outside or after 6 April 2005 and therefore receives com- world. For the Legion it has been ‘Shoulder to shoulder’ pensation through the Armed Forces Compensation with all who serve for a number of years now. Scheme, is able to keep all of their compensation payments. However, as you may, or may not have noticed, the Le- gion has recently changed its strapline. The new strapline is: ‘Live On’ to the memory of the fallen and the fu- It is unfair that War Pensioners are treated different- ture of the living. ly to other injured veterans. It is also unacceptable that War Pensioners are treated less favourably According to the Legion website the reason for this than civilians who have been injured in the work change, which came into effect on 23rd October 2014, is place, who are able to place compensation awarded to promote exactly what the Legion is about. The Legion into a trust fund, which is exempt from means tests wanted people to understand that the poppy is not just for social care. This last point is in clear breach of about Remembrance; it’s also about providing hope for the Armed Forces Covenant, which states that Ser- the Armed Forces community of all ages, throughout the vice personnel, veterans and their families should year. face no disadvantage as a result of Service. Live On is a simple and memorable way to link the twin commitments; to the memory of the fallen and the future The Legion and its sister charity, Poppyscot- of the living. It’s also about presenting the Legion in a land, are calling on the UK, Welsh and Scottish lighter, cleaner way. Live On 6

Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015 Fundraising Poppy Appeal 2014

The 2014 Poppy Appeal was a huge success, without question.

st Our fundraising total, as at the 1 of January 2015 is standing at

£53,805.45

This total has only been achieved through the hard work and dedication of our very loyal band of volunteers. Here below are just some of them. George Bray at the Market Sarah Kaur & Gwyn Martyn

Paul Tavock Andy Roberts Marks & Spencer

HMS Heroes Andy Rayfield and Paul Tavock

Volunteers not pictured above include: David Gaskin, Robin Peadon, Robert Eton, Keith Allen, Chaz Singh, and Jennie Benge: thanks to all. Sainsbury’s We’d also like to thank the Military Vehicles Trust, who have volunteered every year for over twenty years, in- Finally we thank the adults and young people from HMS cluding: Dick Eva, Andy Roberts, Clive Runnals, Andy Heroes who have been volunteering for a number of Rayfleld, Paul Tavock.and Michael and James Dunbar. years in Drake Circus

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Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015

Fundraising

Poppy Appeal 2014 Organisation in the city centre, so I don’t normally deliver to too many By Fiona Weekes, City Centre PAO schools. Last year however I was fielding calls from quite a few schools in the city.

Towards the end of the second week things started to It being the centenary of the start of the First World War finally slow down. Poppy Saturday was just as busy as it we, as Poppy Appeal Organisers, all knew that it was normally is, but thanks to one of my volunteers I didn’t quite likely to be busy: I had no idea just how busy it was have to ‘man the stand’ in the gazebo, so I was able to going to be! walk around the city centre to see how things were doing and how my volunteers were managing. The Poppy Appeal for me started early in the year, with ordering of stock so that I could make sure not to run out We still had the same issues with stock as we have had of anything – my volunteers are very demanding that in previous years, but this time it was the Buckley brooch- way! I was pleasantly surprised that, for a change, I was es. National RBL had sent boxes of them down to us to given all the stock I had ordered (including thousands of sell (which we were grateful for) but getting our hands on the enamel pin badges that are so popular). One of my them to sell was difficult. No sooner did my volunteer get volunteers was equally surprised when I handed him a his hands on fifty of them, then he had sold them all. So, box of 1,000. He is usually forced to beg for more sup- I had the continual conversation with County “thank you plies halfway through the Appeal; a request I pass on to for giving us more; can we have some more please?” County in an effort to get the odd bag of 100! Not this year. This year I was, quite literally, overwhelmed by the One of the benefits of the Appeal this year, for me at stock I received. least, was that because I was out and about almost every day it gave me the opportunity to go and see most of my Little did I know that we would need as much stock as we volunteers. I saw just how busy they get and just how could lay our hands on… difficult it is to be a Poppy Appeal Voluntary Collector. We are all volunteers, but their job, I think, is much more In most year I get phone calls from shops and business- time consuming. I have been told by some of my volun- es all over the city who are desperate to have some pop- teers that “all they’ve got to do is stand there”. I don’t see pies and a collection tin. These requests normally start their job as quite that simple. My volunteers stand for to filter through about midway through the Appeal, and hours, often days, most within shops but some outside in it’s normally only a handful. Not this year. Even before the cold. In some shops they are provided with seating, the Appeal started I was taking phone calls from shops but in others they are required to stand up. Standing for and businesses, some desperate, asking for poppy box- hours, being stared at by strangers (it does happen), be- es and collection tins. These requests were coming from ing questioned about the Appeal (again, this does hap- all over the city; in fact some of the places asking for col- pen), being mistaken for other service charities lection tins weren’t even in the city! (mentioning no names but, again, it does happen) and carrying a (hopefully) heavy tin back to their car, the bus I could tell what kind of a year I was going to have; I con- or a taxi. Most won’t claim any money back for the ex- sidered hiding under the bed for the duration of October penses they incur (food and transport). I couldn’t do it. I and November… Needless to say I didn’t. manage the Appeal£43,780£43,780 from the comfort of my office at home. I tried going onto the streets with a collection tin a So, having managed the delivery of poppies and tins to few years ago; I got stared at and didn’t get much money! the city centre I began the process of managing the other Needless to say I now see my job as more management deliveries I’d received. Unfortunately the first week of the that worker!!! Appeal was also half term, so my son, who was three at the time, had to come out on deliveries with me. He was, When all was finished and we, as volunteers, looked at for the most part, very well behaved – as long as he got a what we had achieved I think we can all be very proud of cake at the end of the day. As it turned out having Ross ourselves. We don’t get paid and yet sometimes it feels with me provide very effective in getting deliveries done like we put in just as much, if not more energy into raising smoothly. Not everyone was initially very understanding money for the Poppy Appeal than we would if it was a that they’d been, as they saw it ‘left out’ of a delivery, but paid job. But then most of us understand that, either hav- when they saw that I was struggling to juggle a small boy ing served ourselves or just from living in a military rich with managing the Appeal they became much more un- city like Plymouth, we are very lucky to have an Armed derstanding. Is Ross a Poppy Appeal Organiser in the Forces we can be proud of. making? I hope not!! Next year I am definitely hiding under the bed, from at As the Appeal went into its second week the phone calls least September. from schools started. Bearing in mind there is one school Live On

Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015

Other News

Theatre Royal Armed Forces Project www.theatreroyal.com/bravo22 phone 01752 230379 or email [email protected]

Plymouth’s Theatre Royal are creating a new play based on the experiences of the Armed Forces community in County Poppy Appeal Plymouth. They are looking for people to get involved with the production, either by sharing stories or helping out ‘back stage’. The challenge this year for County was to break the £1 million mark. Did they do it? Yes, they did! The project is open to wounded, injured and The Poppy Appeal total for Devon County stands at sick Service personnel £1,003,000.00. and veterans who left the military in the last This shows the tremendous effort that has gone into the five years. This in- 2014 Poppy Appeal, not only by those who kindly donat- cludes Reservists and ed to the Appeal but also from the volunteers who give of family members, re- their time so that stands can be manned and tins and gardless of their previ- poppies can be distributed. ous experience. In our own city we have Crownhill Branch, Plympton Those involved need to Branch and St Budeaux Branch all putting in the same be over the age of 18. effort as we do, and of course our Community Fund- raiser who works tirelessly to make sure everything runs (relatively) smoothly. To register your inter- est visit: The branch extends its congratulation to everyone within the County, on a tremendous effort in 2014

Diary of Events

Date Location Event

1930 Thursday 3rd March 2015 RAM, Exeter Simon Weston Talk

1200 19th March 2015 Kingsbridge Charity Fashion Show

1100 Monday 23rd March 2015 Efford Cemetery 2Lt James Bulmer Johnson VC Commemoration

19th April 2015 Okehampton Charity Golf Day

15-17th May 2015 Southport Annual Conference 2015

For updates on all events for the Branch visit www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/Plymouth-city-centre-branch

You can also follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Plymouth-City-Centre-RBL

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Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015

Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Committee

Branch President Elected Committee Members: Lt Col Edward Dawes RA Stephen Legge; Marty Pelling; Paul Youngman;

Branch Chairman Andy Rayfield; Sarah Kaur; WO1(RSM) Baz Gray RM WO1(RSM) Steph Moran RM Graham Emond, Carole Arnold.

Branch Vice Chair Welfare Representatives WO1(RSM) Mattt Tomlinson CGC MC RM Kellie Legge; Fiona Weekes; Paul Youngman

Branch Treasurer Branch Secretary Capt Kit Carney AGC(SPS) Fiona Weekes

Appointed Standard Bearer Tel: 07730 031184 John Martyn Email: [email protected]

Branch Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/plymouth-city-centre-branch

Submission of Articles for Newsletter

Submissions are welcome from any member or volunteer of the Branch but may be subject to editing prior to publication .

We are looking for any Branch members who would like to write an article for the newsletter; interesting, humorous, informa- tive articles or personal stories that our readers might be interested in are always welcome.

For guidance please contact our Branch Secretary.

Legion Line: 0808 802 8080

Knowledge Base: support.britishlegion.org.uk

Plymouth Pop-In Centre: (Please note that the Pop-In Centre is a Nationwide initiative and is not the Headquarters or ‘club house’ of the Plymouth City Centre Branch)

157 Armada Way

Plymouth

PL1 1LB

Opening Hours: 10am until 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Legal Notice: Opinions expressed in articles are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect official view of the Royal British Legion.

The materials and information provided in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this newsletter at the time of publication, but neither The Royal British Legion nor the Branch can guarantee the accuracy of such information. The Royal British Legion is not liable for any action you may take as a result of relying on such information or advice within this newsletter, or for any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of taking any action.

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The Royal British Legion Patron: Her Majesty The Queen Registered Charity No: 219279

Produced by Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch BR3672