THE JOURNAL OF THE FORCES PENSION SOCIETY AUTUMN 2020 No 174 Owl Men of Salisbury Plain Encouraging our wildlife Archaeology on the Plain Interviews: BFBS Chairman; Veterans’ Affairs Director A short history of statues Covid diary Royal Hospital: old soldiers keep busy Forces Pension Society President Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier GCB CBE DFC Sir Gerry Berragan KBE CB Contents 54 Vice Presidents Council The journal of the Forces Pension Society Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce KG GCB OBE DL Bill Mahon Lieutenant General Sir David Capewell KCB OBE David Marsh CBE Issue No 174 – November 2020 Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville KCB Bill Moore CBE Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Lord Craig GCB OBE Nicky Murdoch MBE Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB DL Paul Quinn OBE 6 Chief Executive’s foreword 38 Forces Pension Society AGM Vice Admiral Sir Michael Moore KBE LVO Lorna Swinyard-Jordan Report on this year’s virtual event Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford GCB CBE Jonny Westbrooke 7 Editorial General the Lord Ramsbotham GCB CBE Jonathan Wheeler OBE 39 Big Issues General the Lord Richards GCB CBE DSO DL Anna Wright 8 Royal Hospital Chelsea An update on the McCloud case Field Marshal the Lord Walker GCB CMG CBE DL Founded 1946 Old soldiers winning through General Sir Peter Wall GCB CBE DL Honorary Members 40 Mary Petley explains Kate Adie CBE DL Published for private circulation by 12 Covid Diary Family pension entitlements Jim Dooley Esq Forces Pension Society, 68 South Goth Cheerful takes you The Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE DL Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London through the past six months 42 Armed Forces Bereavement SW8 1RL. Any non-member readers Scholarship Scheme Office Staff and Contact Details wishing to join should go to 16 Owl Men of Salisbury Plain Chief Executive: Major General Neil Marshall OBE www.forcespensionsociety.org A day out ringing barn owls 46 American Civil War Chief of Staff: Brigadier Matthew Lowe MBE 020 7840 6612 and follow the instructions. What’s it got to do with Head of Pensions: Captain Charlie King RN 020 7840 6619 19 DCDC looks to the future our pensions? Deputy Head of Pensions: Mr Mike Davis 020 7840 6615 The Society is not responsible for MOD thinktank the Development, Senior Pension Adviser: Mrs Wendy Bandeira 020 7840 6610 the opinions, advice and factual Concepts and Doctrine Centre 47 Forces MoneyPlan Pensions Adviser: Mr Terry Anderson 020 8017 9545 content of advertisements and Pro bono generic financial advice Pensions Adviser: Miss Charlotte Cooper 020 7350 0110 articles contributed by authors 22 Don’t forget Germany! Pensions Adviser: Mr Neil Knowles 020 8017 9544 other than the editorial staff, British Forces Germany is no 50 FPS Christmas cards Pensions Adviser: Mrs Alisa Lakeman-Ford 020 7840 6618 nor can the Society hold itself more, but it is still a fantastic Pensions Adviser: Mr Nick Moody 020 7840 6613 responsible for any transactions place to go on holiday 51 FPS merchandise Pensions Adviser: Mr Colin Thomas 020 8017 9548 resulting from advertisements Head of Membership: Commander Andy Straw 020 7840 6617 reproduced without permission 24 Archaeology on Salisbury Plain 54 From the archives Deputy Head of Membership: Mr Paddy Butler 020 8017 1581 in writing from the Editor. There’s more to digging than The wartime tale of Sgt Joss Membership Advisers: Miss Harsha Vadgama & Ms Ceri Ball 020 7840 6616 infantry trenches Head of Digital & Brand: Mrs Joanne Fitton-Bates 020 7840 6611 Front cover picture 56 Not the 2020 Olympics Roadshow Manager: Colonel David Roberts 07500 721 699 Owl and Raptor Group, Salisbury 28 The best place to be a veteran? We row back the years Pension Enquiries Email [email protected] Plain Training Area (East), July 2020 Pennant interviews David Society Website forcespensionsociety.org Photo: Hugo Fletcher Richmond, Director of the new 60 The Pennant Quiz Office for Veterans’ Affairs Test your knowledge and win £30 Editor Advisers and Consultants Col Hugo Fletcher OBE 30 A brief history of statues 64 Gardening in winter Investments: Forces Pension Society Investment Company Ltd, 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL 07786 831 355 Use, reuse, mistaken identity RHS expert Guy Barter on how to Auditors: Knox Cropper Chartered Accountants, 65 Leadenhall St, London EC3A 2AD [email protected] and neglect prepare now for next spring Marketing: MIS Consulting Limited, Barrowpoint, Warren Corner, Froxfield, Petersfield GU32 1BJ Armed Forces Pensions: Mrs Mary Petley MBE JP Published by Square7 Media 36 British Forces Broadcasting 66 Adaptive Grand Slam Account Director: Gaynor Garton An interview with BFBS Chair Disabled team on top of the world Editorial Manager: Kate Wheal Major General Chris Wilson Art and Design: Charlotte Russell 80 In praise of Italy The Objectives of the Society For advertising enquiries contact: The Monte San Martino Trust • To secure equitable pension conditions, in line with • The Society promotes these objectives in [email protected] OM modern good practice, for all ranks of all three Services co- operation with other Service and civilian C 84 Book in focus: Lord Haldane both serving and retired, their widows, widowers, organisations for all past, present and future k. Statesman and example to all partners, civil partners and dependants. members of the Armed Forces. • To advise and assist members of the Society on day-to- Printing 87 Book reviews day pension problems and related issues, so as to enable The Society is funded by its members and is a wholly YM Chantry Ltd, Wakefield, hutterstoc 30 them to make informed decisions on their future. independent not-for-profit limited company. West Yorkshire S-F / S 90 Book competition 4 PENNANT AUTUMN 2020 AUTUMN 2020 PENNANT 5 EDItoRIAL Chief Executive’s Foreword E ditorial The Society has notched up several notable achievements Staying in touch with the lighter side during a time of unprecedented change Neil Marshall as well as the serious issues Hugo Fletcher n May’s Pennant, I observed that – furlough or otherwise – and our continuously improving website any years ago, whilst practical Dutchman, who we all knew we were “living in extraordinary demand for our services seems likely at www.forcespensionsociety.org serving on the NATO HQ silently fancied the foxy Rumanian Itimes” and although the world to increase, particularly in light of the or by joining our growing band of Mstaff in Sarajevo, I was doctor, seized his chance, fixed her Forces Pensions 2021 was heading into uncharted waters, McCloud case (see page 39). followers on Facebook, Twitter and involved in an important meeting to with a basilisk stare and said: “Shall I The September Consumer Price we were determined to maintain And our reputation remains strong, LinkedIn. determine the future shape and size compare thee to a summer’s day?” Index, used to calculate any increase “business as usual” as far as possible. evidenced by the BBC Radio 4 Money In campaigning terms, the issue of the NATO mission. “Blimey,” I thought. to Armed Forces pensions in payment I am hugely grateful for the plaudits Box seeking our contribution to their of the moment remains the ‘McCloud The meeting was chaired by a The clever and urbane Italian from the following April, is normally we received for May’s Pennant, live broadcast on 23 September on case’. On 7 October, I formally capable, charming and energetic Naval Captain merely smiled, leant published in Pennant. This year, it which, for many, provided a welcome financial support available to the submitted the Society’s response German Brigadier, one of the sanest across to me and said: “Villain what was not available as we printed – but dose of normality in an otherwise Armed Forces community. Our Senior to the Treasury-led public voices in the HQ, but he did both look hast thou done?” (which comes from it can be found on our website. surreal environment. Indeed, several Pension Adviser, Wendy Bandeira, consultation and we await the and speak like Herr Flick from ‘Allo, Titus Andronicus – I looked it up). heralded it as the “best ever” edition. gave a seven-minute barnstorming outcome. A decision is expected ‘Allo!, so that was his nickname. This was all very impressive, for Following that was always going performance, which remains available either later this or early next year. It had been a long day and when I considered what foreign right, but it didn’t stop us coming to a to be a challenge, but I trust that on BBC iPlayer! And, of course, all our deliberations discussion finally coalesced around writers I could quote, it came down to sensible decision. Hugo and the team have more In many respects, Covid-19 allowed with government are set against two potential courses of action, a bit of Clausewitz and some Henning I mention this because although than met my (not entirely helpful) us to accelerate initiatives that were the backdrop of the challenging Options 1a or 2b. Before coming to Wehn one-liners from Just a Minute. we are now living through a crisis, riding instructions of “higher, already under way, introducing more fiscal situation. As I reported at our a final decision, Herr Flick asked if I was sufficiently concerned about keeping a sense of proportion and further, faster, more!” flexible working and implementing AGM on 8 September, in all our anyone had any last points to make. my ignorance that I immediately indeed fun remains important. And in the spirit of continuous a webinar-based capability to engagements with the MOD and It was a cheap laugh, but worth it, asked my wife to send me a selection And that requires striking the right improvement I can report several supplement our Roadshows and government, assurances are provided I felt, after the long day, so I stood, of works from Molière, Schiller and balance, which is what I hope we notable achievements since Resettlement briefings.