Cra-Newsletter-Vol-2-Iss-24
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ENT ASSOCI EGIM ATIO E R N N IR EW SH SL HE ET THE C TER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 24 DECEMBER 2015 EDITORIAL CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN As the days get shorter and colder and the year draws News, firstly, from the Mercian Regiment Association inexorably to a close, it has been difficult to find any positives to (MRA) front to keep members informed of what the Colonel of highlight 2015. There has been the odd flurry of sporting success, the Regiment (CoR) envisages of the antecedent Regimental mixed with the inevitable failures, but other than that I suspect that Associations. many of you will not look back on the year with much fondness. It is rather assumed that in the fullness of time (10 years!) the The recent tragic events in Egypt, Beirut and Paris will have MRA will have absorbed all other association branches. The focused everyone on the catastrophe that is the Middle-East. Let move to this natural conclusion will be gradual with no outside us hope that this does not result in our politicians repeating their influence being applied. The operating rules of the MRA are previous mistakes, although history does not give cause for being finalised. These do not differ in any fundamental regard optimism. from the rules of the CRA. Once accepted by the CoR, two steps It was interesting to observe that there has recently been a towards the “natural conclusion” will be put in place, namely; drive in order to recruit more officers to our ever dwindling Army. I may be missing something, but with the total numbers in 1. All new branches of either the Mercian Regiment or the the Army due to drop to 84,000 by 2020, it seems odd that there antecedent Regiments will, on formation, become MRA will still be a scarcity of officers. I can only conclude that the branches. MOD has been extremely careless in ensuring the retention of those already serving. Perhaps this should be no surprise, as the 2. Any antecedent Regiment association branch may at any time, MOD and their political leaders appear to have great difficulty in of its own volition, change to become an MRA branch. maintaining their side of the military covenant. The Chairman’s Column will make you aware that the CRA continued over… is still struggling to find a secretary and treasurer to replace Eddie Pickering. The likely loss of the HQ element of the CRA may not make a difference to many, other than perhaps the loss CONTENTS of this newsletter in hard copy. If there is a demand, there may Editorial . .1 still be the possibility of an on-line version. In the meantime we must all be very grateful to Eddie for agreeing to carry on until Chairman’s Column . .1-2 the AGM next February. Meeting of Branch Officials 28.10.15 . .2-3 Have a good Christmas and let us hope that the New Year 50 Years Ago (from Ever Glorious) . .3 brings good cheer. Minutes of the CRAMC Meeting 28.10.15 . .4 The deadline for the next issue will be 10th March 2016. Please send your contributions to me at: 86 Edward Road, Penge, Word from the Branches . .5-8 London SE20 7JS. My telephone number is 07721 660471. You Book Review by Peter Jackson . .9 can also e-mail me at: [email protected] Wojtek the Bear . .9 George Szwejkowski A Most Pleasant Evening in SK1 . .10-11 The opinions expressed in the articles in this newsletter are Edith Cavell – 100 Years On . .11 those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise of RHQ or the CRA. Blue Plaque . .11 A Day in the Life of an Octogenarian . .12 The link for the CRA webpage is: Regimental Golf Society . .13 http://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/regimental- John Fairbanks Writes . .13 Theassociations/the-cheshire-regiment-association.aspx Mercian Regiment website is: Dates for Your Diary, Club News . .14 End to End of Windermere . .14 http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/23998.aspx Obituary Col John Reynolds MC . .15 SNIPPETS Obituary Captain Mick Gittos . .15 The snippets in this edition are mostly extracted from: Compiled by Barry Johnston Obituary Lt Col David Owen . .16 ‘The Wit of Cricket’ Obituary Captain F St J Dwight . .16 On how to play Shane Warne – My tactic would be to take a Obituary Philip Sydney Wilson . .16 quick single and observe him from the other end. Last Post . .16 Geoffrey Boycott 1 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN (continued) MEETING OF BRANCH OFFICIALS 28.10.2015 (continued) 3. To assist with the identity of the MRA, a new Standard has A lot to take in but with falling numbers at branch level and 5. The Chairman spoke about the future of the Regimental f. Chester Branch will hold a Christmas Lunch on 6th been designed (accepted by the CRAMC on your behalf at our at Mons Day and without a replacement for the Treasurer, the Association and the difficulties faced in governance, being DecemberChester and the annual Christmas Draw on 18th July meeting) and will become available, if requested, in the Secretary and myself as Chairman in February, perhaps the time unable to find persons with the experience to fill the posts of December. Mr Fairbanks pointed out that Chester Branch has spring of 2016. Cost to branches not more than £500. This new has arrived to close down the HQ element of the CRA. It is Secretary/Treasurer. Maj Pickering has agreed to remain in a social meet every Friday and all members of the CRA are Standard would be in addition to the CRA branch standard, not emphasised that branches would remain CRA unless they chose post until the AGM. welcome. in place of. otherwise. As Eddie says, the only big difference is that we would probably lose the Newsletter. 6. The Chairman updated on progress with the Spring Reunion g. The Secretary read a report from Southern [Comment: At the CRAMC and Branch Officials’ meetings in on behalf of Mr Joe Murphy who is organising the event, RegionSouthern in Regionwhich Mr Szwejkowski reported on the recent October, the uptake of any of these proposals was minimal. Early On that rather sombre note may I, on behalf of all members reporting that arrangements were well in hand and that a ceremony to commemorate the death of Nurse Edith Cavell days.] of CRAMC, wish you and your families a very happy Christmas deposit has been paid. Details will be sent out with the next in London. He said that the Grandson of Lt Col Dudley Let me now turn to CRA matters, which are of more and a healthy and prosperous New Year Newsletter and published on Facebook. Places are limited to Boger, one of the first to be helped to escape by Nurse Cavell, immediate concern. We have still failed to find a suitable 160 and will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. had attended and that Col Bob Stewart DSO MP, who was replacement for our Secretary and Treasurer (Eddie). Statement 7. Reports from the Branches: going to lay a Regimental wreath, insisted that he lay the of the obvious but without them we cannot ‘trade.’ Therefore David Oak wreath on behalf of his Grandfather. He went on to say that discussions are now taking place as to dissolving the charitable Chairman a. 130 tickets have been sold for the East Cheshire Southern Region has 24 tickets for a CRA contingent to status of the CRA. There are, obviously, a number of issues being Reunion.Stockport Their AGM will be held on 4th December. They march at the National Service of Remembrance at the considered:- have between 30 and 40 attendees at the monthly meetings. Cenotaph, but only 13 have been taken up. Anyone wishing to take part should contact Mr Szwejkowski. He also stated 1. Continued support from the Mercian Regiment in specific b. Although they are losing numbers, they try to that he had access to cheap accommodation, should anyone areas. beBirkenhead represented at events in the area and take part in CRA wish to travel to London for future events. The President of the CRA, the activity. They are holding a Christmas Dinner on 6th 2. Independence of current CRA branches. December. Following prompting from the Chairman, Mr 8. The forecast of events was discussed. The Chairman drew Chairman of CRAMC and all at Jackson reported that they had won their Bowls match against attention to the Commemorations of the Battle of the Somme. 3. Continued financial support and/or dispersal of present funds. Stockport Branch. It is understood that there will be a Service in Chester Regimental Headquarters send Cathedral on 26th June and the Mercian Regiment will hold [Note: The motion to dissolve the charity cannot be heard c. The Branch is 20 strong and 13 members hope to a service at Crich on 3rd July to remember the sacrifices of without convening an Extraordinary General Meeting.] best wishes for Christmas and a attendWalsall the East Cheshire Reunion. The Branch will hold a the 5 Antecedent Regiments during the course of the battle. A possible timeline might be; Christmas Dinner. Arrangements are in hand for the 2016 He asked for maximum possible support for all of the events 20 January 2016: CRAMC meeting for further discussion. Happy and Peaceful New Year. Malaya and Singapore reunion in a new venue in Willenhall. in the Calendar: 20 February 2016: AGM where the proposal could be heard The Reunion is open to all CRA members irrespective of age.