Army Order 54 of 1903
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The Magazine of the Artillery Clerks’ Association Edition 18 December 2014 Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Foreword by Association President Lt Gen Sir Freddie Viggers KCB CMG MBE DL It is my pleasure to be invited to dinner speech was both timely commemorations and services. write a foreword for this edition and interesting and we should Those soldiers gave their all, a of Crossed Quills and I hope mark his wise words: sustaining fine example of our values and that all who have served in the the relevance of our old comrades, standards, there for everyone to Royal Regiment of Artillery will marked through the Association, see. The benefit of military service enjoy what it has to report. It has is particularly important now as we is also highly relevant today as we certainly been a very busy year, go through a period of change and face a range of threats to all we with much achieved and much to transition. I am confident we will stand for. So let us face the front, look forward to in the life of our emerge stronger at the end of this shoulders back and move on to Regiment. process. the next challenge. It was also very good indeed to 2014 has been a remarkable May I wish you all a peaceful, see so many of our clerks and year as we recall the centenary healthy and prosperous year. I am comrades gathered to mark the of all those who paid the ultimate sure that you will all know that our 80th Reunion Dinner, held in the sacrifice during the outbreak of next reunion is to take place on Sergeants’ Mess at the Royal World War One, when so many 13th June 2015, and I look forward School of Artillery. The Master brave men and women were to seeing you there. Please enjoy Gunner was an honoured guest silenced. We will remember the Journal. and I know he enjoyed meeting all those warriors, and mark you all during the evening. His after their contribution at various UBIQUE! Report by Association Chairman - Lt Col Joe Falzon OSJ BEM I’m delighted to introduce you to website, are testimony of the the dinner, the Master Gunner our latest edition of the Crossed energy of our Association. May reminded me that an Association Quills. Our annual Association long it continue. whose members are aligned magazine comes with the usual with its purpose and have a updates and photographs of the We are really very fortunate to have strong sense of camaraderie will 2014 Reunions in Larkhill and a supportive Honorary President experience growth and will sustain Sennelager, as well as a number and a dedicated and committed motivation over the long haul. of interesting reports from member Committee. We must not forget This is not to say that we will not contributors, all cleverly crafted like that Ian Constantine still has the have difficulties at times, or that a jewel into a digestible read by pressures of service life to contend members’ wants and needs won’t our Secretary Andy Tibble. I know with. I wish him well in his new change over time. In the future that he has worked tirelessly to post as QM HAC. I would like to we may well have to embrace make this edition engaging without thank him, Andy Tibble and Paul change. The Master Gunner also going overboard on the bells and Corker, and the rest of the team, told me that we should not be whistles. for their individual and collective disappointed when a member who contribution most often willingly no longer feels the Association Engagement and communications undertaken in their precious spare is meeting his needs, decides to are a big part of everything we time. leave to continue on his own path. do in this digital age. So it is I think the message he was trying important for us to continue to The Honorary President has to convey was that we should post our personal experiences and already mentioned in his Foreword continue searching to recruit new news on our Facebook page and how much he enjoyed the 80th members, as well as to work hard Association website. Our Annual Reunion Dinner in Larkhill. The to retain and celebrate our current Reunion Weekends, coupled with Master Gunner too has been members. a gradual increase in membership gracious in thanking us for and a quality annual magazine, a memorable evening in our Later on in October a few of us underpinned by the FB page and company. In the margins, after also attended the Reunion Dinner in Sennelager, Germany. Although Germany Reunion weekend that this reunion only attracted a small Report by took place in NATO WO’s & Sgt’s number of members the weekend Association Mess in Sennelager on Saturday was most enjoyable. I hope it will 18th October 2014. A full report not prove to be the last time we Secretary - on the Dinner by our Germany can hold and enjoy this event. Reunion Secretary can be read Andy Tibble MVO later in the magazine. Further Finally, I want to thank once MSM (former details regarding the 81st Artillery again all my colleagues on the Clerks’ Association and Reunion Committee. Their commitment WO1(SSM)) Dinner at Larkhill on Saturday 13th over the year required help and June 2015 is enclosed with your support from all quarters, and I’m This has been once again a very copy of ‘The crossed Quills’ and proud to work with such a great busy year for the Association. details regarding the Germany team that cares so much about The Association has once again Reunion in 2015 will be sent out our Association. been actively represented by our in due course. Thank you also Standard Bearer, Andrew Jones to Hauke Michelson (Honorary at various events throughout the Member) and Mr Ron Holmes UK during the last 12 months. MSM for supplying photographs Further details can be read later from the Reunion weekends for on in the magazine. On behalf of this edition of ‘The Crossed Quills’. the Committee and members I would like to thank Andrew for his Congratulations to WO2 (SQMS) commitment in representing the Paddy Butler (now WO1), WO2 Association at so many venues (SQMS) Woody Woodford and throughout the year. WO2 (SQMS) Andy Moss who were all selected for promotion to We had a most excellent Reunion WO1 (SSM) in the FY 2014/2015.. Dinner which was held at the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ The St Barbara’s Day Church Central Mess, Larkhill on Saturday Service was held in the Garrison 7th June 2014 under the Church of St. Alban the Martyr, STOP PRESS auspices of Maj Ian Constantine Larkhill on Sunday 7th December RA. The Association was proud 2014. Lt Col Joe Falzon to welcome the Master Gunner, On behalf of all Members, I would (Chairman) and Mr Andrews Jones St James’s Park, General Sir like to warmly congratulate Andy (Standard Bearer) and Lt Col Russ Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE, Tibble on hitting the 2015 New Lee represented the Association. KBE, ADC Gen as our Guest of Year’s Honours List. The 2015 St Barbara’s Day Church Honour, Second in Command Service will be held in the Garrison of 14 Regiment Royal Artillery, The award of the MVO (Member Church of St. Alban the Martyr, Major Kevin Bowman, Regimental of the Royal Victorian Order) is Larkhill on Sunday 6th December Sergeant Major 14 Regiment Royal a singular achievement, richly 2015. If you live within reasonable Artillery, WO1 (RSM) Walshaw and deserved, which will bring a travelling distance, please can I the Secretary of the Royal Artillery great deal of pleasure to Andy’s urge you to support this event Association, Capt (Retd) Allan Solly family, his work colleagues in and get this date into your diary’s as our guests. A full report on the Clarence House and friends in please? Dinner by our Reunion Secretary the Association and the Royal can be read later in the magazine. Regiment. The 81st Artillery Clerks’ Reunion On behalf of those members who will take place over the weekend attended, I would like to say a big We all count ourselves extremely of the 12th, 13th & 14th June thank you to Ian for all of the hard fortunate to have Andy as out 2015 at Larkhill. Further details work that he put into this dinner, Association Secretary. will be forwarded to all members making this a most memorable by our Reunion Secretary shortly. evening and a most enjoyable Joe Falzon, Chairman This is the only opportunity weekend. WO2 (SQMS) Bob for all members of the Artillery Smith and Mr Ron Holmes MSM Clerks’ Association to meet up (Germany Reunion Secretary) over a weekend in the UK and organised a very successful therefore, it would be good to seek the support of all members years’ edition. These articles, The following former Artillery Clerks in supporting this event each year. with photographs should reach joined the Association during Should any members have any me by no later than Tuesday 2014: concern regarding transportation 1st September 2015. Please to/from the reunion, this should be remember to forward all articles Former WO2 (QMS(AC)) Martin included on your Reunion return in typed script where possible, Hedges who joined us on the 22nd when sending them back to Ian, including a CD-ROM with the November 2013. Ben lives in so that we can contact you directly articles on, along with any original Sturminister Newton. to possibly provide any assistance photographs that you may have.