The Pioneerthe Newsletter of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association October 2010
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the Pioneerthe newsletter of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association October 2010 www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk Reunion Weekend Page 4 Afghanistan Page 9 Vets vs Regs Page 30 Reunion Weekend Page 31 ■ Everyone appears to be happy at the Reunion Weekend (and the bar is not yet open!) Picture: Paul Brown 2 | THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION the Pioneer INCE the last newsletter was published a Once again the Pioneer Reunion Weekend has long list of former members of the Corps been and gone, but certainly not forgotten. What Swho have sadly passed away is shown on a weekend! We had the largest attendance on page 65. Some of these were well known figures record with between 450 and 500 members who served the Corps well i.e. Maj Bob Holmes turning up - 270 of which had requested a bed. and Captain Tony Reynolds who on retirement Unfortunately we had to accommodate ran the Association for some 12 years. Some approximately 50 at St George's Barracks. The fought with the Corps during World War 2 and accommodation staff of 23 Pioneer Regiment are others served in later years. Our condolences go to be congratulated for their hard work in to the families and friends of all. arranging this. After that depressing start it is pleasing to Plans are already underway for next year's report that membership of the Association is still Reunion, if you have any suggestions/ideas on Front Cover increasing. At the time of writing some 69 how things could be improved we will be glad to Pte Joof in National Service members have joined the Association this year, hear from you. dress during Reunion Weekend five of these actually served in World War 2 and This edition again contains many articles from Picture: Paul Brown fifteen served in the 1950's. A lot of these new members, we are always requiring new material. members have come to light because of If you have anything which you consider Facebook and through our website interesting to other members please send it in. (www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk), however, there Do not worry about grammar or spelling we will are many more who served in the Corps but did edit it for you. not join the Association and also many who are With this Newsletter you will, as usual, receive members but we do not at present hold a current tickets for the Christmas Draw (unless you have address. If you come into contact with any ex already indicated that you are unable to sell Corps members ask if they receive the them). It would be appreciated if you would give Newsletter, if not please send their address to this your fullest support. We know that there are me. many causes requiring your hard earned money It is also pleasing to report that many members (especially in these difficult times!) but our two are now informing the Association when they Draws per year help to keep the Association move address. The last distribution of the going. Back Cover Newsletter resulted in only 15 being returned Finally may I give a huge thank you to 23 Pnr Pte Malupiya, LCpl Morgan, from a distribution of over 2,450 - this must be a Regt RLC for their support during the year. Pte Heath, Pte Joof and LCpl record. Norman Brown Wood displaying uniforms over the years at Reunion Weekend. Picture: Paul Brown CONTENTS | OCTOBER 2010 Registered Charity Number 3 Editorial 1024036 Editorial and Contents Patron 4 News / Past Events / Future Events HRH The Duke of Gloucester Latest news with details of past and future 6 11 KG GCVO events, including the reunion weekend Vice Patrons 16 A Wartime Log The wartime diary of Captain Al Hale General Sir John Stibbon KCB OBE Major General G W Field CB 22 The Erinpura-Basotho Tragedy How 633 Basotho soldiers of the African President Auxiliary Pioneer Corps lost their lives Brigadier H J Hickman CBE 24 The National Arboretum Chairman A living tribute to the wartime generations of the 24 31 Colonel A Barnes TD JP twentieth century 25 From Aberdare to Albacete Controller / Editor Wartime service in the Pioneer Corps after Norman Brown Esq fighting in the Spanish Civil War. 8 Design / Photography 28 Photo Gallery Paul Brown Mixture of photographs 36 A Military Gypsy ☎ telephone Memoirs of Lt Col CC Davey, written for his family. 01869 360694 54 AGM Minutes ✆ fax Minutes from the AGM held on 3 July 2010 01869 360695 55 Lost Trails ✉ email Can you locate these people [email protected] 56 Blast from the Past ✈ Can you supply dates and any other information website 57 Letters to the Editor www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk We welcome your letters and views ✇ facebook group 60 Book Reviews www.tinyurl.com/b82ste Three book reviews 62 Last Post May they rest in peace The Royal Pioneer 65 RPC Association Shop Please place your Christmas orders now Corps Association 66 And Finally... c/o 23 Pnr Regiment RLC Update on Pte Campbell, a missing mouse and St David's Barracks the death of Norman Wisdom Graven Hill Bicester OX26 6HF THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 3 PAST EVENTS Reunion weekend ■ LT COL J Starling, Mr D Bryant and Mr N Brown attended a special event at the Imperial Museum War Museum on 25 April 2010. Over 100 cases of magners cider were drunk! Dr Helen Fry was in conversation with Hermi Rothman, the last surviving German-speaking interrogator in the British Army, who was part of the team that found and translated Hitler's political and personal wills in 1945. His book “Hitler’s Will” was reviewed in the April 2010 Newsletter. ■ MR I Dewsnap, Mr and Mrs P Tubridy and Mr N Brown attended Founder's Day at the Royal Hospital and watched our one In-Pensioner Micky Hull go through his paces on the Parade - according to ex SSgt Paddy Tubridy he marches better now than when he was serving! It must be the practice he receives daily as he marches round Chelsea Hospital delivering the mail. Colonel Mark Baker was also on parade for his first time as a Captain of Invalids. The oldest pensioner on parade was a sprightly 93 years old and to watch these old soldiers keeping in step is a wonderful sight. Following the parade a garden party, with entertainment, is held on the lawns of the hospital. There are currently 303 In-Pensioners in the Royal Hospital. The oldest In- Pensioner is 98 and the average age is 82 years and 6 months. 164 In- Pensioners fought in the Second World War. There are currently vacancies in the Hospital, details can be found on the Hospital website. ■ MR Paul Whitehead attended the 70th Lancastria Anniversary Pilgrimage to France on 17 June and writes: I attended the 70th Anniversary Pilgrimage in France in June and was able to find my Great Grandfather's (Herbert Clark) grave over there. He was in the Pioneer Corps - 73 Company - you had already sent me some details and recommended books to read, from these I was able to find out where he was buried and able to arrange this trip. I was taken out on a boat laid on by the French to the wreck- site of the Lancastria. Thanks also for Jimmy Atkins details - I was able to speak to him before I left. I have enclosed some pictures of the ■ memorial and marker buoy. Sgt Lesley and Mr George Pringle share a joke Picture: Paul Brown NCE AGAIN we were very lucky quickly made to feel at ease and quite a ■ LT COL J Starling and Mr N Brown with the weather which over the few commented, even at this early stage attended the book Launch of the book O weekend can only be described as in the weekend, that they wished they had “Special Operations - From Music to perfect. Not only very sunny but also Morse” at the Royal Commonwealth attended in previous years! Club, London on 17 June 2010. thankfully very warm. Ex Pioneers started 270 ex Pioneers had requested a bed A review of this book is shown on to arrive in the early hours of Fri 2 July (the for the weekend which must be a record. page 61. first one, who had travelled from Scotland, The QM's accommodation staff worked arrived at 0200 hrs) and by lunchtime over extremely hard to ensure that everyone ■ MEMBERS of RPC Association 100 had already turned up surprising the was accommodated. Unfortunately about (Northampton Branch) visited Simpson Chefs in the Dining Room, who still 50 had to move to St George's Barracks, Grange (former site of Simpson managed to feed all quickly and which as those who know the Bicester Barracks) Northampton on 19 June efficiently. area is some six miles away. However, two 2010. This brought back many happy The first event in the programme was mini-buses were provided for them during memories to both ex members of the the usual “Bring a Boss” held in the the weekend, this saved any problems Corps and civilian staff who worked at Corporals Club. By the time this with drink driving and tiredness. the Barracks. They then walked the commenced a further 150 ex Pioneers At approx 1800 hrs personnel started to short distance to the Queen Eleanor for had arrived and the Club was therefore move down the hill to the Sergeants' Mess a meal, a drink and a chat about old packed. Luckily with the weather being so where a Fish and Chip Supper was held.