The Trumpeter

No 16 Jun 2014 Price £1.50 P a g e | 2

Editors notes

Ted McKenzie Tele: 07900 806 235 E-Mail: [email protected]

The Front Cover is a copy of the First Trumpeter Magazine Published at Rhyl in 1948. Committee The Back Cover is a copy of the “new look” Trumpeter Magazine first published President at Hereford in 1958.

Col Bob Shedden TD Compilation:  I anticipate that the next edition will be published in Jan 2015

Chairman Secretary  Items for inclusion should reach the Editor at least a month Dave Dufall Ted McKenzie prior to the next publication.

01262 424 467 07900 806 235  There are some items submitted by members in this issue. If articles are submitted by E-Mail please ensure they are in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx),(.rtf) or (.pdf) format. Pictures should be in .jpg Treasurer or .tiff. If you have a story to tell please send it in. James Taylor  Photographs can be accepted but not photocopies. All 07446 092 106 photographs will be returned on request.

Shop  Some damaged photographs can be digitally repaired, a copy of the repaired photograph will be returned with the original. Andrew Prewer 01789 778 076  Articles submitted for publication may be edited at the editor’s discretion.

Webmaster If you have anything you would like to contribute either send good copies of the Roy Arnold original or alternatively send the original. They will then be scanned and reproduced for display. [email protected]

Trumpeter Editor Ted McKenzie [email protected]

JLRRA Trumpeters at the Cenotaph Remembrance day 1960

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Chairman’s Page.

On the 26th April this year one hundred and eighteen members and their wives/partners sat down to a splendid Gala Dinner at the Holiday Inn Coventry. The dinner which was opened by our Trumpet Majors proved to be a very successful evening with very good food, good wine, and possibly the highest quality of company that anyone could ask for. The evening culminated with dancing and for the first time ever the dance floor was still full at 0030hrs which was an hour after it should have shut down.

Earlier in the day twenty six members visited the National Memorial Arboretum where they were looked after by John Sturgess (ex Ironside Troop). They all enjoyed the trip and I would like to thank John for his help.

The Association is moving ahead at a great pace, not only are we getting more new members but also we are getting more members to pay the annual subscription by Direct Debit through LLoyds Bank. This all helps to allow the Committee to both run and administer the Association more efficiently.

As you all know the year 2015 sees the Association celebrating its Twenty Fifth Birthday. The Committee feel that this is indeed a milestone and should be celebrated in as spectacular way as possible. We are therefore now involved in arrangements to achieve this.

The Reunion will take place over the weekend 24-26th April 2015 at The Holiday Inn Coventry. If things go to plan The Saturday evening will start with The Band of The Lancashire Artillery Volunteers “Beating Retreat” in front or the hotel and then playing for us during dinner. There are many more plans on the table, but to experience them you will have to attend the function.

As it's our birthday next year, it has been suggested that the Association might like to take part in the British Legion's Remembrance Parade in London. We need about thirty people before I can approach the authorities, so if you would like to take part please let me know by any means you wish.

I do hope you all enjoy the rest of this year and I look forward to seeing you all next year.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

The first thing to report is that at the AGM I was re-elected to serve another three-year term as your president, I regard this as a very great honour and I carry the appointment with great pride.

Speaking at the dinner held at Coventry during our reunion weekend I first welcomed 118 diners. This was a marvellous turnout and showed much support and gratitude to our committee for past events and much confidence in them for the future. I made a point of welcoming the ladies (without whom, in many cases, our members present may not have been able to attend!). I also welcomed our founder member, Ted Parkinson, who called the first meeting, in Preston, in 1990.

I particularly welcomed, by name, all those who had joined since our last meeting and they are Wayne Stolworthy, Richard Gale, David Taplin, Steven Dridge, William Young, Kevin Gale, Arthur Bramley, Keith Tucker, Charles Brown, Alec Cussell, Phil Shortland, Ian Stathers, Tony Bryant, Adam Palmer, Jed Lewis, Michael Humphry, Steve Collins, Joseph Barnes, Colin Hilliard, Nick Codling, and Jason Evans. Those named in heavy type were present. To all I would say a strong welcome and my message is that they should get involved. I hope to see them all next year.

We also had two official guests: the chairman of the India and Wartime Boys Association, Douglas Clewlow, and their secretary, Jenny Lynch. Douglas joined the Boys Battery at Woolwich in 1948 and mustered in 1950. His first posting was to 57th Heavy Anti-Aircraft in Essex and there he met and married Margaret, who accompanied him to the dinner. When Anti-Aircraft Command was disbanded (having been made redundant by the introduction of jet aircraft) Douglas moved to 10th Field Regiment, then at Detmold and equipped with Sexton (a self-propelled 25pr, mounted on a Sherman tank chassis). His later career took him via 19th and 18th Field (in that order) and two tours at the Army MT School at Bordon as an instructor. He finally left the Army from the post of RQMS of 5th Regiment.

Jenny is the daughter of Tom Holden, whom I knew as a BSM in 18th Regiment (1962!) and who founded the 1151 and 1157 Boys Association (for boys whose Army number began with those figures) and he ran it for many years until his death. In his memory Jenny took on the role of secretary. It is a poignant appointment because she first knew Douglas in 18th Regiment in Larkhill when she was a child. Over a period of time the 1151/1157 Association morphed into the India and Wartime Boys Association.

I have long thought that their Association and ours should draw closer together not only because their numbers are dwindling but also because we have a common interest in the memorabilia which was removed from the Sergeants’ Mess at Larkhill (when it was pulled down for re-development) and now sits in storage containers at Larkhill, unloved and un-displayed. Douglas and I agreed to work together on this issue.

This time last year I undertook to see whether there was scope for display at our Regimental museum, Firepower, in the old Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. To that end I made several visits to interview the curator who did offer some accommodation but it was unsatisfactory. A flow of correspondence followed but gradually it became clear that the museum was in financial trouble. Cutting a long story short, the present position is that the museum has run out of money and is to close almost immediately. In other words, I have achieved nothing. Yet!

We now have a three-pronged approach to the display problem. First, members of our Association are exploring the possibility of persuading the present occupiers of Gamecock Barracks to help. Secondly, other members local to and involved in Coventry and Bramcote civic affairs have undertaken to explore possibilities there. Finally, I am in conversation with the Commandant of the Royal School of Artillery (an old friend of mine) about finding a room or rooms there. He says that is a distinct possibility, albeit they being outside the Sergeant’ Mess. In my view some display is better than no display and, worse, the items will be deteriorating through neglect. The longer term is better news, he says, because the plan to rescue Firepower is to move it to Larkhill to form part of a Wiltshire show ground, in conjunction with Wiltshire County Council. In my view, that is where it should have been from the beginning. My finger remains on the pulse, however slowly it beats. Watch this space.

In my speech at dinner I moved on to mention Len Webb and the tragic predicament in which he now finds himself. Few cannot know that he stands charged with the murder of his wife of 48 years but many might not know he is a member of our Association. To those at dinner I commended my thoughts on the matter which are that, whatever actually happened he will now be going through a very miserable time. Secondly, that as we know none of the facts we pass no judgement and, in any event, as a lawyer myself, I can think of a

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“FROM THE PRESIDENT”………. Continued number of ways that the charge might not stand up. Thirdly, as a member of this Association, and also on the basis of “Once a Gunner, always a Gunner” (and now is the moment to prove it !) he should get our support. I have written both to Len and to the editor of The Gunner in similar terms.

It always gives me sorrow when I am informed that one of our members has died. This year there were three; Tom Moore, Dave Taplin and Jim Cassell. The latter died in December but the news did not reach us until too late for anyone to attend his funeral. Not so Tom Moore nor Dave Taplin. Here it was impossible for me to get to Dave’s funeral in Ayrshire in the time available but Brian Hall (who lives nearby) very kindly stepped …. into the breech to represent us. Tom Moore’s funeral was attended not only by me (as your representative) but also by David and Maureen Williams and a number of other Association members. I was particularly sad because I had known him since I was a gunner (in 1957, he being a sergeant at the time), through to him becoming an AIG, and then I had a long reminiscence with him at the last reunion. He died a few weeks later. I continue to consider it my duty to attend the funeral of any of our members of which I am notified in time.

And so it will be seen that our Association remains vibrant, entirely due to the committee which was also re- elected at the AGM (and whom I thanked on your behalf) but, more particularly, to the members who join in.

On your behalf I wrote to Her Majesty the Queen prior to the reunion dinner to renew our greetings and continued loyalty and to remind Her Majesty that our Association exists for membership by all Gunners who joined the Regiment below the age of seventeen. Her Majesty replied, “Please convey to all members of the Boys, Artificers and Junior Leaders Association assembled at the Holiday Inn, Coventry, for their annual reunion dinner my thanks for their kind message and my best wishes for a most enjoyable evening. Elizabeth R “

And so it was.

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LETTERS

I am trying to get in touch Martin Peters , an old buddy from my days as a Boy / Junior Leader If anyone knows how I can contact him please let me know. Secretary can supply my email address Terry Baumback (Australia)

Can you please ask members if anyone knows the whereabouts of 2253…..Sgt Roger Stephens, He enlisted in Sept 1950 and served in The Boys Battery RA at Rhyl & Hereford in Milne Troop. Mustered March 1953 and his last known posting was RA Ranges Hebrides Dave Flett

“Reunited after 37 years. This is my old mate Tony Power on the left. We both joined Bramcote on the 10th May 1977 Parks Troop. We lost touch when Tony left but this

fantastic website (Facebook) bought us back together. We met at West

Bay in Dorset on Sunday and the memories came flooding back. Thanks again for all the hard work that goes into running the site it's sure made me and Tony happy men.” C Hilliard (on Facebook)

P a g e | 7 The BAOR Family - By Jack Williams (Final part)

Another school trip was to Hameln. We were ..wait there until they came back to pick us up. taken to the street where the Pied Piper was It was obvious that they were going to supposed to have started playing to attract the investigate the grave, or possibly graves of children that he took away and where music was aircrew! There were some German Anti supposed to be banned from then on! Then Aircraft guns still in position and Reg and I across the river to a cave that he had led the played on them quite happily until the officers returned. It was years later that it dawned on children into. We could only go so far in, because it was explained, the roof was not safe me that they were some of the guns that had further on, but at the limit there was a fireside fired at the Dam Busters. A couple of months scene, with stone images of the Piper, his wife later there was another trip to the dam, laid on and a few rats! Back on the bus, we were taken for a few British families by the Sergeant's Mess. Our family went and the transport was to the top of the hill (Or was it a mountain?) There was a tower at the top with a rickety an Army lorry that my father was convinced staircase that we were allowed to climb just a would be stolen unless someone stayed with it few at a time, to see the view from the top. while the rest went to look at the dam. Since I

Back down, we were each given a glass bottle in had been before, I was given my share of the the shape of a rat! Before the war, they were picnic to eat whilst I sat in the cab to deter any filled with sweets, but sweets were in very short criminals. It was a long, boring afternoon. supply in 1947. I still have mine, although one of its front paws is chipped. There seemed to be a fairground set up quite often in Brackwede and If I had only known it, I In summer the German children went barefoot would have saved the “Prizes” that we won. to save shoe leather. We were stopped and They were mostly German Luftwaffe cap scolded by so many people for wearing ours that badges that had been given a coat of easily we got fed up with explaining that we were removable paint and had a button with an

British and decided to go barefoot too. After a image of a sportsman, footballer, cricketer etc., while, it seemed quite natural. fixed in the centre. I've seen them sold in markets for good money!! There was a REME camp in a place called Senna

Eins and alongside it a large house that was Reg and I did make a few shillings! There was a where WO's and Sergeants were quartered and horse-chestnut in a garden in Berg Strasse. The where my father went for his pint! There was a Germans didn't play conkers, so we gathered static water tank in the camp that served as a loads of them and strewed them in the large swimming pool and was just across the road chest that was to contain what we couldn't from the Sergeant's Mess. There was a gap in carry on the journey home. When the “heavy luggage” arrived we gathered them up and sold the fence that my brother and I could get through and almost every weekend through them for tuppence each, being German what was a long, hot summer, we would go for a conkers! swim, then get dressed, go across to the Mess, have a meal and a pint, putting it on father's bill, There was a Boarding School being set up for then go back through the fence, change back Children of Senior School age and I was into our costumes and swim again until time to destined to attend, but my father learned that walk the mile or so home for tea! he was to be posted back to Britain and so I One day two of the officers from the MREU remained at the school in 54 RHU until we came and asked if Reg and I would like to go returned to England and back to Civvy life, since with them to see the Mohne Dam. We didn't my father had not long to serve. I was thirteen take any persuading and were in their Humber and a half when we came back from Germany. Staff Car in seconds. It was quite a drive and exciting when we crossed a river on a pontoon Two years later I was in the Boys' Battery! bridge! When we got to the dam, Reg and I were dropped off at one end of it and told to …

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Nostalgia

The “Hodges Tower” 60s

“A visit by GOC Western Command in 1969, gave rise to him asking me what I could do to improve the training of Junior Leaders. I as a young subaltern was prompted to say that we lacked a confidence training area, to which the GOC said “well build one”. With various contacts including a naval ordnance depot in Coventry and an old friend in Western Command who was in charge of all matters training, I was able to put together stores to build one ! Help came from Ford, who just happened to have a commercial vehicle show at Bramcote – they dug the ditch. Milne Tp, with help from Stirling Tp and PTIs plus yours truly, giving up all leave for a year, just managed to complete it in April 1970. P.S. Of course much help came from Colin Robins, my BC. I understood it was there till the end.

Mike Hodges Lt Col (Retd)

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Secretary’s notes

2013/4 has once again been a very active year for me as follows:

 Have had a good number of new members applied, see below  Been well exposed on Facebook which has attracted a number of new members and has culminated with being asked to merge with the longer established JLRRA group  Electronic registration, benefits – speed, cost, security (not involved in postage, cheques etc.)  Reunion statistics etc. 118 attended, all thanked organisers , most were issued with a questionnaire to comment on the content of the weekend only two suggestions. (1) “Not being an old misery but would rather sit and natter than listen to loud music” and (2) A suggestion that a roll of attendees with a few biographical details might help with re acquaintance  Reunion 2015 will be held over the weekend 24/25 April  We still need sponsors for Trumpeter. If you know someone who runs a small business and might benefit from advertisement in Trumpeter, please let Jim Taylor know  Some members posted items to me at an incorrect address. If you are unsure of my postal address, please call or email and request confirmation

We welcome the following new members who have joined us since January 2014

Colin Hilliard Bramcote, Parks Tp ‘77 Phil Shortland Bramcote, Ramsay Tp ’89 – ‘90 Tony (Tubs) Bryant Bramcote, Ramsay ’89 – ‘90 Ian (Stavs) Stathers Bramcote, Ramsay ’89 – ‘90 Adam Palmer Bramcote, Ramsay ’89 – ‘91 Jed Lewis Bramcote, Mercers ’70 – ‘72 Michael (Ginger) Humphry Bramcote, Ironside ’59 – ‘61 Steve Collins Bramcote, Mercers ’77 – ‘79 Joseph (Atlas) Barnes Woolwich, C Troop ’48 – ‘49 Nick (Ginge) Codling Bramcote, Ironside ’77 – ‘78 Jason (Chas) Evans Bramcote, Nicholson ’78 – ‘79 Philip DaSilva Bramcote, RHQ, PTI/Gunnery Inst ’75 – ‘78 Phillip Driscoll Hereford, Gunn ’54 – ‘56 David (Cooky) Cook Bramcote, Mercers ’61 – ‘63

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The Naughty Forty The Naughty Forty continued Before 40 Field Regiment RA disappear into the unknown, I thought I might relate a tale of happenings to the 40th many This was well reported in the national years ago. press and, I guess we had a minor “copycat” riot. The year was 1957, we had just returned to Munster Luckily only a couple of 40 Regt soldiers were (Westphalia) after a very hectic Middle East tour which involved in this stupidity and were duly locked up commenced with a spell in the Canal Zone on Active Service. for a spell. When we were “asked to leave” by the new rulers of Egypt, it My qualification to tell this tale is that I was was off to Cyprus with all the “goodies” (sand, sea and lucky enough to serve in 40th Field Regiment from sunshine) but this was not to be as EOKA decided to make 1950 until 1964, from Gunner to BSM, a grand sure we didn’t have that promised good time. Instead we Regiment it was too and they couldn’t ski !!! spent the next two years chasing Col Grivas and his well trained terrorists. Capt Bill Miller (Retd) Casualties were light, sadly losing one officer and sustaining a few minor casualties. All around us, the Infantry losses were far higher, but we had the advantage of being there from the very start. At the end of this tour, it was back to Germany having fired few or no rounds for nearly three years. The guns that were in “light care & preservation” came out for Suez, but were not required. Having just returned to Munster and being on an “active service High”, we were ordered to our first Practice Camp. We deployed at a large, disused German wartime airfield called Rheinsalen near Soltau, for the first weeks of “dry training”, then off to “live firing”. On the second Sunday, the officers kindly invited the WO’s & Sgts to lunchtime drinks. The CO was away at the time visiting friends in Hamburg, I believe, so the 2i/c met us and we joined the officers for drinks. The day started on an odd note; a naked lady was found walking towards the camp, she was duly covered in a blanket and returned to the hospital across the other side of Rheinsalen Camp, where she was handed over to doctors. Two five year old boys are I digress, drinks had just been served when the 2i/c standing at the potty to pee. was called to the phone. He returned looking slightly shaken. When one says, "Your thing Apparently the local village of Schneverdingen had been doesn't have any skin on it!" vandalised by some soldiers. Cars overturned, windows smashed etc., putting the locals in fear of their lives. "I've been circumcised." Says the The 2i/c calmly said “We have to strike second boy. camp….NOW”. He gave “prepare to move” and we departed "What does that mean?" within 3 hours, leaving a small “rear party” who followed very quickly. "It means they cut the skin off The person who had ordered the move had the end." unfortunately not allocated a new area so, rather like John "How old were you when it was Wayne’s “Wagon Train”, we were found wandering around the cut off?" Munsterlager / Hohne area with nowhere to go. Eventually, we "My mom said that I was two were ordered to “lager” in a very rough area near Hohne. Up went the tents once more. days old." The CO caught up with us that evening, apparently "Did it hurt?" returning to the camp to find a solitary 160 lbs tent, a very "You bet it hurt, I couldn't walk lonely Regimental Policeman, a telephone and a radio, but not a trace of his Regiment. (No mobile phones in those days) for a year!" Then “Practice Camp” began proper. As you can imagine, we did not endear ourselves to the Gunnery Staff. The final straw was when a “No 1” from 109 Battery, put a round into a cellar drying room in Hohne Camp. Thank the Lord there was no one in there. We were sent home to Munster, tail between our legs and told politely to “get a grip” of ourselves. Later that year we were ordered to return to Hohne for another “Practice Camp”. I’m glad to say that we did alright after some very arduous training in the “run up” The Schneverdingen debacle was caused because just previously, a Scottish regiment had gone completely mad and beat up the town of Minden very badly. They became known as “The Poison Dwarves”………….

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Some of the shots taken at the reunion. More on pages 16 & 19

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Obituary The origin of words and phrases often used by servicemen SSgt John Heathcote died on 17th November 2013 aged just 81. “BADGIE” 'Derived from the Hindu word baju meaning After national Service, he enlisted as a Regular and music. Badgie wallahs were the music men and spent his early years as a PTI. On joining 5 Regt RA timekeepers in the days when there was no other he moved on to the guns becoming a Number means of notifying large numbers of soldiers that One. In 1965 he joined 47 Regt and was a Key they were required for various duties. The boy Person in 31 Lt Bty during conversion from the trumpeter sounded calls for all activities of the day

Corporal Missile to the Pack Howitzer. from reveille to lights out and the sound of their

1967 was spent on active service in Aden. calls was indelibly etched into the collective memory of all who served in the military in those

The following year he moved to JLRRA at far off days'.

Bramcote as Milne Tp Sgt, steering them to And now, three English expressions coined in Champion Tp before moving on promotion to the WW1 and still used by The Armed Forces and Small Arms Wing. Veterans. After 22 years’ service, he joined Holland and Holland as the manager of its North Ruislip “BLIGHTY” shooting school. Following on from the circulation about the origin This was followed by a stint as a private of the word Badgie another well-known word bodyguard to a number of VIPs. originating in India is BLIGHTY , the Urdu words He and his wife then purchased a nursing home in vilayat ("inhabited country", specifically Europe North Wales which was later sold. He finally or Britain) and vilayati ("foreign", or "British, dabbled in the leisure business. English, European") were borrowed by the British in the 19th Century. Both are still used in South

Many Junior Leaders remember John for his Asian English. kindness and guidance. Three were commissioned But it was the regional variant bilayati - rendered and one retired senior officer said he owed much as Blighty in English and meaning "Britain, to John’s wisdom and support in his early years. England, home" - which really took off in Britain. Although it was first used during the Boer war, it Another senior officer said John was a big was not until WW1 that Blighty spread widely and influence on his life. John was my good friend for developed new meanings. nearly 50 years. A blighty wound was a wound sufficiently serious to merit being sent home, and one might also be MGHodges hit by a blighty bullet inflicting such a wound.

“CUSHY” Similarly, CUSHY ("easy, comfortable") was borrowed from Urdu kusi in the 19th Century, but spread to civilian use only in WW1.

“SKIVE” A word which may have been borrowed from French is SKIVE, first used as a military slang term during the war before passing into general usage. The etymology of skive is uncertain, but it may have derived from French esquiver ("to escape, avoid") - if so, the word would be the most prominent addition to English from French resulting from WW1.

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B A O R The perfect training ground Most ex boys (Badgies) must have served in Germany at some time in their career, and with the government’s decision to withdraw all troops from Germany, it would seem like a good time to remember the good and the bad times that we spent there. It was October 1958, and as a young married Sgt I was looking forward to my next posting. 4th Regt RHA 7th Armoured Brigade, Hohne BFPO 30. All I knew at the time was that Hohne was an ex German Panzer barracks a few miles from Belsen horror camp, and right on the edge of the Northern army group ranges (NAGRA). First stop the guard room and then up to RHQ. What a surprise!! Here was a modern barracks with wonderful facilities. Such a difference from the old Victorian barracks and wooden spiders that I had been used to in the UK. The first thing that struck me was the size of the garrison, and how many different Regiments that were stationed there. , REME, Medical . Queens Royal Irish Hussars. (nicknamed The Queerest Regt In Hohne) and something new to me, a regiment of displaced persons. They were equipped with Diamond T tank transporters, and were responsible for transporting all tracked AFVs when using the Autobahn. The adjutant welcomed me to the Regiment and told me that I was going to be a No1 in G Battery "Mercers Troop", and then it was next door to see the RSM. The RSM told me because I was the "New kid on the block" I would be doing WOs & Sgts Mess caterer for the next month. (What a surprise). As it happened he did me a very big favour. It gave me a full month to get up to speed with the new equipment. All RHA units had got rid of the old 25pdr s/p priests and were now equipped with the latest (as was then) M44 155mm howitzer from the USA. What a great piece of "kit" Everyone was calling it the Rolls Royce of S/Ps. It was a great Gun. 155 How on a perfect chassis. Air cooled engine, with fully automatic gearbox. Motorcycle type handle bars to steer it with, and of course it went like "hell". There was a lot to learn if I was going to get the respect of my gun detachment, No more degrees (remember the knuckle and hand adjustments). Now it was Mils, no more cartridge cases, now it was cordite bags, and the "ammo" was a lot heavier as well, and of course you did not pull the firing handle, it was back to Lanyards. On top of that, there was the whole new experience of a tracked AFV to learn. Our main job was to support the QRIH who were equipped with Centurion Tanks, and as our OP was in a Centurion tank, we had 4 of them in our Regt, something else to learn. "Thank you RSM for that month’s respite" The camp was "alive" There was so much activity, The Regt was constantly out on exercise, and with the "Cold War" brewing up nicely, it seemed that this was the right thing to do. My month as Mess Caterer was coming to an end. I had "sussed" out my gun detachment, and they were waiting for me with anticipation. I could not wait to get going!!

The M44 155mm SP

I know many of you must have stories to tell about your time in BAOR. Let us have them! With a time span of nearly 70yrs. there must be something of interest? Weapons alone, 25pdrs to Abbots to AS90s, any small snippet will do. "We all still have memories" Part 2 of this saga will follow next time. Ray Marsh

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Trivia Quiz

1 What is the largest living fish species?

2 What was the name of Pinocchio's long suffering father?

3 What is the name of the wise old ewe in the film 'Babe'?

4 One of the most expensive coffees in the world is 'Blue Mountain'. In which country is it grown?

5 World War Two ended September 2 1945 when the Japanese surrendered on board which US battle ship?

6 What are the famous jewelled eggs called that were made between 1885 and 1917?

7 Which five countries suffered the most war related civilian deaths during World War Two? (war related includes starvation)?

8 In the year 1700, Luxembourg, Naples, Milan, Sicily and Sardinia belonged to which monarchy?

9 Who rode an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir?

10 The following song titles are incomplete. What is the missing day of the week in each title? a. Ruby b. Pleasant Valley c. Drive In d. Morning 3 am e. I'm In Love f. Night's Alright (For Fighting) g. On My Mind

You’ll find the answers on page 18

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Last Hanger picture taken from a Spitfire on 24th October 2010 before it was knocked down. By the time we toured during our reunion on 9th April 2011 the hanger was demolished From Stephen O’Halloran

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More reunion shots

A Special Package for Businessmen. An Airline introduced a special package for Business men. Buy your ticket , get your wife's ticket free. After great success, the company sent letters to all the wives asking how was the trip. All of them gave the same reply..."What trip?"

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Paddy texts his wife... "Mary, I’m just having one more pint with the lads. If I’m not back in 20 minutes, read this message again.”

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ASsociation Shop All Enquiries to Andrew Prewer Tele: 01789 778 076 or [email protected]

Please ensure that when making any purchases from the shop that all cheques are made out to RABA&JLA. They should be sent with your order to: Mr J A B Taylor, 32 Huckley Way, Bradley Stoke, Gloucestershire BS32 8AR

Association Tie, £17.50 Inc pp. Fox Troop Tie, £14. Inc pp. Cross Trumpet Badge/Tie pin, £ 4.00 Inc pp

Polo Shirt £ 17.50 inc pp

Also available, copies of a CD provided by Eddie Cooper of; “Trumpet and Bugle Calls played by the three Trumpet Majors. Timmins, Wheeler and Cooper” at £5.00 inc pp. Any profit will go to the funds. If you require a copy please let me know and make out the cheque to RABA&JLA. Also a DVD of the opening of the “Boys Room” at Larkhill.

Cool message by a wife

Dear Mother-in-law, "Don't teach me how to handle my children, I'm living with one of yours & he needs a lot of improvement"

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Useful info etc.

Next re-union th th is scheduled for the weekend 24 to 26 April 2015

Websites

RA Association (The Gunner Family) – www.theraa.co.uk Our Association – www.exboysra.co.uk

Trivia Quiz Answers 1 Whale Shark 2 Geppetto 3 Maa 4 Jamaica 5 USS Missouri 6 Fabergé 7 Soviet Union, China, Germany, Poland and Indonesia. 8 The Spanish monarchy 9 Odin 10 a. Ruby Tuesday (Rolling Stones) b Pleasant Valley Sunday (Monkees) c. Drive in Saturday (Bowie) d. Wednesday Morning 3 am (Simon & Garfunkel) e. Friday I'm In Love (The Cure) f. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (Elton John) g. Friday On My Mind (Easybeats)

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Yet more shots taken at the reunion

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Back Cover This is a copy of the front cover of the first issue of the ‘new look’ Magazine published at Hereford in 1958