THE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION NORFOLK BRANCH NEWSLETTER NO.205 December 2013

President: Paul Bruning (Rtd) Vice President: Squadron Leader Peter Lawrence (Rtd) Chairman: Mr. Paul Rainbird Vice Chairman: Mr. Tony Leonard Secretary: Mr. Colin Clarke Treasurer: Mr. Graham Clarkson

The President, Vice President, Chairman and Committee wish all members and their families a Very Happy Christmas, Peaceful and Healthy New year.

DEAR MEMBER, We also welcomed a guest, Colin Lake from OCTOBER BRANCH MEETING Wisbech. Colin served with Lionel Middleton A good attendance for an interesting talk by on 75 Squadron at Gilenkirchen, Germany, in David Morton on ’Cars with a Difference.’ the 1950’s and they met up earlier this year Also news that at the Association AGM, our for the first time since 1958. Branch Vice President Peter Lawrence, has MY APLOLOGIES been appointed National Association Vice The October Newsletter had the very last Chairman. Our congratulations Peter. line missing on page 5. It should have read And generous Branch members raised a best ‘gave him a handful of ’V’ cigarettes’. It was ever £69 at the Branch raffle - how about on the page when I was checking the Newsletter but somehow - jumped off. It that! That’s nice. That’s Norfolk! will not occur again. (I hope). REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Again, huge support from the people and youth organisations of Wymondham, with 17 This Autumn, the NMA created a new living Standards on parade, including ours carried memorial in the form of a Carpet of proudly by Tony Leonard, with Peter Crocuses. Lawrence laying the wreath. We may be Chosen because it is the first flower of getting older but us ‘Rock Apes’ can still spring. The Crocus symbolizes renewal of march. (With a few creaks, well a lot hope. The mixed crocus bulbs were planted actually but it’s good for the arthritis), the length of Yeomanry Avenue, on which the Wymondham Abbey was packed out for the Fire & Rescue Services Memorial among Service with a meaningful Sermon by The others is situated. Reverend Canon Mike Porter on War, Peace Planting took place on weekends 28/29 and Remembrance. A day to remember. September and 2/3 November 2013. NOVEMBER BRANCH MEETING Editor: Norfolk Branch have sent a £30 There was a Full House and a great atmos- donation for the crocuses. We have had a phere for the talk by Richard Mann on ‘Edith thank you letter from the NMA. The RAF Cavell - A British Heroine.’ He really is an Regiment Memorial and Garden, fronts onto excellent speaker. Our members again Yeomanry Avenue. So if you visit the NMA in excelled themselves with another branch spring, you will see lovely crocuses in bloom. raffle record of £74. Wonderful. Over 5,000 of them. 1 WE WILL NEED A TREASURER Sgt Paul BARRETT - Serving Gnr, for his A sincere ‘thank you’ to Graham our Branch selfless dedication and unswerving Treasurer, who will step down at the end of commitment to his unit. December 2013, after three years of doing Sgt Angus J JEFFREY - Serving Gnr, for his an excellent job in keeping the books. outstanding work at the Army’s Infantry We now need a volunteer to take up this Trials and Development Unit. honourable post. So just give me call on Mr Eric PAPPS - Retired Gnr, for his (01502) 585079. Thank you outstanding support to the RAF Regt CHRISTMAS LUNCH Assoc. and its Gloucester Branch. Mrs Denise SPEIGHT - for her outstanding Just a reminder - Moment’s Restaurant, at Scratby, Thursday, 12th December 2013, 12 support to the RAF Regt Assoc. and its N E Noon - 12.45pm. 34 members will be enjoying London Branch. lunch. We will of course be having our super Mr Pat SWEENEY - Retired WO Gnr, for his outstanding support to the RAF Regt Assoc. raffle. and its Catterick Branch. NORFOLK BRANCH 20 YEARS IN 2014 Mrs Ros SWEENEY - for her outstanding We celebrate 20 years as Norfolk Branch support to the RAF Regt Assoc. its Catterick next March. It’s your Branch, so any ideas or Branch and the Regt Shop. suggestions, as to how we might mark the HOMECOMING PARADE OF 11 SQUAD- occasion will be most welcome. Thank you. RON RAF REGIMENT 11 JANUARY 2014 ARMED FORCES OPERATIONAL LIST Following their return from the most recent No.41 operational tour of duty on OPERATION The following honours and awards to Corps HERRICK, the Homecoming Parade of 11 members were published in Armed Forces Squadron RAF Regiment will take place in the Operational List No.41 dated 4 October town of Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 11 2013. All were awarded for exemplary January 2014. Further details will be issued service on Operation Herrick. at a later date and available from me on Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service. (01502) 585079. Sqn Ldr J R ROWE - 1 Sqn RAF Regt (now BRANCH DONATION HQ AIR Comd). Cpl S SHARKEY - 51 Sqn RAF Regt. Stu Kyffin is a former soldier and served 10 years with the SAS. On the 4th October Joint Commanders Commendation. 2013, he was seriously injured in a motorbike Flt Lt (now Sqn Ldr) K M O’BRIEN - RAF FP accident in Thailand, He suffered severe Centre RAF Honington. head and brain trauma and remains in a coma. Cpl W L EVANS - RAF FP Centre RAF He will require 24 hour care for life. Honington. Cpl D A McINTOSH - FP Trg Flt. RAF The family are trying to raise funding to pay for the specialist medical team that he needs Honington. to accompany him on repatriation to the UK. CG Commendations 2013. His condition is so critical that normal The following individuals have been awarded medical travel and care is not an option. the C G’s Personal Commendations for 2013. Branch members have approved a donation Mr Sean ALLERTON - For Service related of £50 to the fund. We wish the family well fund raising for disabled servicemen. and success in bringing their loved one home.

2 LOOKING BACK-BRANCH STANDARD. (Sadly, some of the members mentioned in this article are no longer with us)

In 1995, the branch was one year old and members thoughts turned to a Branch Standard. When I say members, it was Owen and Betty Thompson who suggested this.

Enquiries were made and costs would be in the region of £750. Then we would have a Dedication Service at Wymondham Abbey. REUNITED So we needed to save our pennies and do Branch member Gordon Todd served in the some fund raising. Fortunately, we had a RAF Regiment 1946 to 1948 on No’s 1 and 2 good start, thanks to our raffles and gener- Armoured Car Squadrons in Palestine and ous members. By July 1995, there was £300 Amman, Transjordan. One of his colleagues in the kitty. To raise more monies we and good friend was Ted Morgan. In 1948, required a stall for a tombola and items of the Squadron moved to Amman, from where memorabilia. Then we needed venues? they both returned to England for demob. Branch Member Derek Kirk lives in Cromer, In 1950, Ted with his fiancé Pam visited famous for its Carnival with the Gordon at his home in Norwich. Ted married and thousands attending. Next thing we and moved to Islington, London, and he and know Derek has organised a pitch for us on Gordon lost touch with each other. the main green.

In 2012, Gordon’s son Gary, was perusing the So on 16th August 1995, Louise and I arrived internet when by chance he came across a with gazebo, prizes for the tombola and message from Ted ‘Does anyone know of Regiment memorabilia, including a full size Gordon Todd ex RAF Regiment’. dummy in RAF Regiment uniform, a copy of the Air Ministry Order setting up the RAF Gordon contacted Ted by ‘phone and then a Regiment in 1942, gas masks, bofor shells, few weeks ago with his wife Joyce, Gordon literature, photographs and badges, plus travelled to Fritton, Bedfordshire, to the thanks to our generous members over 100 home of Ted and his wife Pam. They stayed prizes. With a giant pander for first prize. for a lovely weekend and as you can imagine All ticketed and arranged attractively by our there was much to talk about since 1948. ladies. Yes, we couldn’t do it without you. Both now 85 years and still very much young at heart. And as Gordon said: ’It was Jim Stevenson brought along several model wonderful to meet up again and the years WW11 aircraft he had made. Henry Linford just rolled away.’ They now regularly keep in came with generator, TV, video of QCS and touch. even an electric fan. Norman Hunt and Shirley brought their caravan for rest and Editor: All those years apart but the bond refreshments, tea, coffee and biscuits. It of Regiment friendship stays strong. was all systems go!

3 There was a huge attendance, weather was for a £1. We never increased our prices and fine, a great rapport with the public and our always gave good value. Thanks to all our members raised £139. Everyone enjoyed the members and their ladies who helped raise day. A great start to our fund raising. the money in those early days and ever since. By 1998, we had enough money to buy the Twelve days later on the 28th August, we Standard and organise a Service of were on parade at Oulton Broad Gala Day, Dedication at Wymondham Abbey. just 10 yards from the Broads, with wind that made it a great day for yachting but not for The day was arranged for Sunday, 27th gazebo’s. Ours nearly went into orbit - September 1998 3pm at Wymondham Abbey. Regiment measures were needed. Henry It was a joint Parade and Service with the Linford and Alec James, our consultant RAFA to Commemorate the Battle of Britain. engineers, came to the rescue. With wooden In those days we had the RAF Regiment stakes, tow ropes and cable they secured the Association and Comrades Association, so I gazebo to Henry’s car and a nearby tree. wrote in all to 34 branches inviting them to attend the Parade, Service and afterwards The wind eased, our display was up and run- the Ex-Service men’s Club for refreshment. ning. No more problems then. Well not until Louise prepared the Order of Service. Henry received a message that his wife The real organisation was by Owen and Betty Nancy, who was driving from Norwich to join Thompson, they liaised with the Council, us had broken down. Henry couldn’t assist, his Police, Church, Vicar, Organist and arranged car was keeping the gazebo in place. the Order of Service plus RAF Honington

Band. Then for AVM John Howe (Ret) to take Just like to say here that the public did the Salute, accompanied by the Commandant comment on how smartly dressed we were in General of the RAF Regiment Air Commodore our blazers, with badges and tie. We raised a McNeil and several local dignitaries. £108 and after expenses at both events we I was to be Standard Bearer and was soon to had a profit of £183 towards the Standard. find out why my nomination had ben carried We had done well but gazebos are subject to out with such speed. My two escorts were the weather, so for 1996, we decided to John Mott and Peter Moore and the Branch purchase a market stall and cover. Henry were indebted for the help and advice from Linford and Cliff Cane made some extra table Sergeant Sandle, RAF Honington (Ex QCS), extensions and wooden tops for the tables. who first travelled to Oulton Broad to put us Now we were really ready to go. Over the through our paces as Standard Bearer and next 17 years as well as Cromer and Oulton Escort and then as Parade Marshal on the Broad we took our display to Flixton, Watton, day. They don’t come any better. Wymondham and Worstead, Alec James The day arrived and early heavy rain had by would bring his trailer loaded with the stall 10am given way to sunshine. By 2.15pm over and equipment. Louise and I the memorabilia, 200 men paraded at the Market Place, prizes and tickets. Wymondham. There were three Flights of Our loyal members and their ladies all helped RAF Regiment men from all over the country. with the display and giving out prizes and of What support we had. We were ready to course the bucket men - selling the tickets 5 march, led by the Band from RAF Honington.

4 It was a wonderful Parade and Dedication THE STORY OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR Service, the Abbey was packed with over 300 The Reverend David Railton, a Chaplain at the present. The ‘March Past’, with great pride Front is believed to have had the idea of was first class, especially when the Salute was honouring the unidentified of the Great War. taken by AVM John Howe. In 1916 he noticed a grave in a garden in Then to the Ex-Servicemen’s Club for Armentieres which had a rough cross bearing refreshment, there was a great atmosphere the words: ‘An unknown British Soldier’. After and comradeship. Must mention the raffle the War he suggested that Britain honour its organised by Mark Racher and Jan - raised unknown war dead officially. £233. Wonderful day enjoyed by all. Between four and six bodies were exhumed There were many letters of thanks and ‘phone from four battle areas, the Aisne, the calls received. I conclude with this one from Somme, Arras and Ypres. The remains were Tom Renshaw - then Chairman of the covered with Union Jack Flags and brought to Comrades Association. the chapel at St. Pol. Brigadier General L. J. Wyatt, who was the commander of British 1st October 1998. troops in France and Flanders then selected Dear Colin, one. The officers placed the body in a plain May I on behalf of all Comrades and myself coffin and sealed it. The other bodies were thank you for a wonderful day on Sunday. The then taken away for reburial. Placed in a fact that we were invited was a great idea and coffin made of oak from Hampton Court, the look forward to many more joint ventures. body was transported to Dover on the Everyone I spoke to on the day (and none of destroyer HMS Verdun. them said whether they were Association or On the morning of November 11th 1920, the Comrades), remarked on what a day it was. second anniversary of Armistice Day, the Un- I have received ’phone calls’ since Sunday known Warrior was drawn through crowd-line from people who were there, all of them say- streets on a gun carriage where King George V ing how they enjoyed it. placed a wreath on the coffin. At 11.00am the nation observed ‘The Two Minutes Silence’ and Please pass on my congratulations for the then the body was taken to Westminster organisation of the day from the ‘fall in ‘ to Abbey and buried at he west end of the naïve. refreshments. I am fully aware that these functions don’t just happen and that a lot of The grave contains soil from France and is time and energy is put in for no reward except covered by a slab of black Belgian marble. the success of the occasion. Inscribed upon the marble are these words from the Bible: One again thank you all and look forward to seeing some of your members on parade at ’They buried him among the Kings because he The Cenotaph in November. had done good towards God and towards his house.’ Best Wishes, Within the first week an estimated 1,250,000 Tom Renshaw. people filed past the Unknown Warrior to pay REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY their respects to all the unidentified war As we have just remembered those who have dead. It is now one of the most visited war paid the supreme sacrifice, my thoughts graves in the world and is the only part of the turned to the following. Abbey floor that is never walked on.

5 GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE IN MEMORIUM Photograph of the RAF Regiment Garden of Founder Member- Former RAF Regiment Remembrance in London, by Branch Member Flight Sergeant John (known as Singapore Lionel Middleton when he attended the Re- Sam) Haddon born 9th September 1921, died membrance Service at The Cenotaph 2013. on 20th October 2013 aged 92. He enlisted

on his 18th birthday 9th September 1939, as a Ground Gunner and was assimilated into the

RAF Regiment on its formation in 1942.

He enjoyed active wartime service, serving on 781(D) and 232 Squadrons, 293, 190 and 1324 Wings in Karachi, Jessore and

Secunderland. In the post war years he served on 19 and 31 (LAA) Squadrons, 7 Wing, 63(F) and 16(F)

Squadrons RAF Regiment, in Sennelar, RAF REGIMENT SECRETARY Laarbruch, Wunstorf, Malta, Felixstowe, Khormalksar and Nicosia. He was awarded a DATES FOR DIARY 2014 Mention in Despatches while on 63(F) 11 Jan - Homecoming Parade for 11 Squadron RAF Squadron RAF Regiment in Cyprus in 1959. Regiment. He was discharged on 26th March 1964 and 30/31 Jan - Corps Operation Review - RAF in later years a member of Suffolk Branch Honington. RAF Regiment Association. 31 Jan - Corps Formation Review - RAF Honington. The funeral was held on 5th November 2013, 1 Feb - 72nd Anniversary of the Formation of the at Felixstowe. He is survived by his step-son John Haddon-Silver, 17 The Croft, Bandwell, RAF Regiment. Bury St Edmunds 1P31 1AW, to whom the 3/4 May - Ex ALTCAR CHALLENGE Corps extends its sincere condolences. International Reserve Forces Military Skills Editor: Sam Haddon was one of the Competition. ’Characters’ in the RAF Regiment. He 10 May - Disbandment Parade of 6 RAF FP Wing commanded respect from both officers and and 58 Squadron RAF Regiment - RAF Leuchars. men. I had the pleasure of knowing him in the 17 May - Annual RAF Regiment Commemoration - 1950’s when he was Acting SWO 31 LAA Squadron at RAF Wunstorf. St Annes Church, Catterick. 6 June - RAF Regiment Officers Annual Reception He was a broad, thick set man with a square jaw - like Winston Churchill and he had a (Celebrating D-Day) House of Lords. powerful voice. 6 June - D-Day 70th Anniversary Nationwide. He got the name ’Singapore Sam’ when he was 24/27- Oct RAF Regiment Association AGM and in Singapore on a Guard of Honour. He Annual Reunion (Provisional). dropped his rifle and the Officer i/c said ’Pick up thy rifle Sam’. The name stuck and 31 Oct - RAF Regiment Officers Dinner Club, that is how he was always known. Annual Dinner, RAF Club, London.

6 NO BALLS buyer objected, the bairns were left on hand What would we do without a ball? ’The wife, however, went joyfully to the No Golf, no Tennis, not much at all. home of her new owner, and seemed to be Football and Cricket would have to go, quite as glad to get away from her late liege Snooker and Billiards, oh what a blow. lord as he was to part with her. Rugby just would be allowed, ’The occurrence has caused quite a stir in The only game to draw a crowd. the locality.’ No Football stars on Saturday night, No one around to pick a fight. Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, July 29 1879. And on the other side of town, No ‘Rupert Bears’ to wear a frown, YES, MEN ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING No talk of par of hit how far, Brace yourselves, chaps. You may have long No handicap or 19th jar. suspected that your better half had a some- what jaundiced view of your general useful- The cricket match would have to change, ness but now the truth is here. It’s worse. No fielders there to re-arrange. No ball to hit, oh what a shame, From buying clothes, to remembering birth- They’ll have to find another game. days and dancing, women reckon men aren’t good for much at all. Indeed there are few And what a ’Racquet’ there would be, area’s of modern life where men do excel, On Court no ’Love’ of ’Fault’ to see. and they’re hardly that surprising, let alone What would two people do all day, sought after skills. If bat and ball they could not play. According to a survey of 1,000 adults, 60% Such a world would be a fright, of women said men were good at getting rid With sportsmen wandering day and night, of spiders, 56% rated men’s barbecue skills, To find a game that they could play, 73% said men can change a tyre. Just over They’d get in everybody’s way. half rated men’s ability to drink alcohol. Eric Robinson. Only 10% of women thought men could iron a WHAT AM I BID FOR MY MISSUS? shirt, 4% that they could dance. Men are ‘A Navvy, living at Tunstead Mill, also pretty useless at buying gifts, choosing Stacksteads, determined to get rid of the home fixtures and furnishings and cooking ‘partner’ of his joys and sorrows’ by offering anything complicated. However, they can her for sale by auction, the highest bidder still do DIY, although 46% of men admit to ‘take the lot.’ they have hurt themselves while doing so. ‘On Tuesday last the sale took place at the Men can also be relied upon to buy the wrong husband’s house, but, despite Solomon’s sized clothes for their partner and to get testimony as to a woman being more precious drunk at family functions, the survey found. than rubies, and not withstanding that the The list of ten things men do poorly was: spectators were numerous, the highest offer Buying clothes for women, remembering anni- was only 4d, at which low figure the wife was versaries/birthdays, dancing, ironing, cook- eventually ‘knocked down’ to another navvy, ing, domestic chores, buying gifts, multi who, by-the-by, lived next door. ’The seller tasking, keeping up with fashions and picking wanted to ‘throw in’ three children, but the furniture. Editor: Guilty as charged.

7 PARISH NOTICE No.215 22.11.2013 No one will ever win the battle of the sexes. Laying up of the 3rd Queen’s Colour and There’s just too much fraternising with the Squadron Standards and HAC Succession enemy. Parade. A woman’s mind is cleaner than a man’s, she The 3rd Queen’s Colour for the RAF changes it more often. Regiment, together with the retired If you’ve got half a mind to go into politics, Squadron Standards of 1, 16, 27, 37 and 48 that’s all you need. Squadrons RAF Regiment, was laid up in a There’s nothing wrong with the younger gen- bespoke Military Ceremony in St eration that becoming taxpayers won’t cure. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, JUST A REMINDER Suffolk, on Thursday 21st November 2013. There is no December Branch Meeting. Readings were given by Air Commodore M. S. WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? Witherow RAF Regiment (Retd) and Air It is tenderness for the past, courage for Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns. The Colour the future. It is a fervent wish that every Standards were received into the care of cup may overflow with blessings rich and the church by The Very Reverend Dr. eternal, and that every path may lead to Frances Ward, Dean of Edmundsbury. peace. (Agnes Pharo) Following on from the Cathedral Service a AND FINALLY ceremonial Succession Parade was held at Our thoughts and prayers are with all those RAF Honington, at which Air Chief Marshal who are separated from their families and Sir Richard Johns handed over to the loved ones, especially those serving in H. M. appointment as Honorary Air Commodore Forces in Afghanistan and other trouble RAF Regiment, formally to Air Chief Marshal spots in the world. That they may return Sir Stephen Dalton. home safely and 2014 will see an end to QCS. (63 Squadron RAF Regiment) provided hostilities and that peace my prevail. the Half Guard and the Band of the RAF That’s all for now folks! Louise and I wish Regiment provided the music. you and your families a Happy Christmas and Editor: Branch members attended and Healthy and Peaceful 2014. enjoyed the day. A memorable Service at We look forward to the pleasure of your the Cathedral and then to RAF Honington company at the Branch Lunch, Thursday 12th where they received a really warm welcome December 2013, at Moments Restaurant, and from serving members of the squadrons. Branch Meeting on Tuesday, 21st January QUOTES: 2014 - 12.45pm Feathers Inn, Wymondham, Do not spoil what you have by desiring what when it’s Henry’s Quiz, always good fun. you have not; remember that what you now Best wishes, have was once among the things you only hoped for. Children may close their eyes to advice, but they keep their eyes open to example. Colin Clarke. ‘Doctor, I think I’m a bottle of gin. Don’t Branch Secretary. worry, you just need a little tonic.’ (01502) 585079.

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