January 2010

ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION www.rafregt.org.uk BIRMINGHAM BRANCH – Branch Appeal Goodies for Our Injured Boys Page 2 Brian Stanford of Birmingham Page 2 John Casley of Plymouth Page 3 GOODIE S FOR OUR CGs Team Commendation Page 3 Hedley Court Rehabilitation Centre Page 3 INJURED BOYS Page 2 ’ Commandant General s Team Award Page 3 Branch Birthdays Page 3 THE RAF REGIMENT Troops Leave for Afghanistan tour Page 4 MEMORIAL GARDEN R A F R e giment Gunners Seize Taliban Weapons Cache Page 4 Troops Reflect on Life on the Afghan Frontline Page 5 Page 7 – Sergeant Andy Jones A Picture Page 5 Gunner Risked Life to try to Save a Friend Page 6 NATIONAL MEMORIAL Blast Victim Search Chaos Page 6 ARBORETUM UPDATE The RAF Regiment Memorial Garden Page 7 Page10 Our Part in Establishing RAF Regt Mem. Garden Page 7 Enthusiastic Birmingham Branch Members Page 8 ’ More Money and Hard Work from B ham Branch Page 9 REGIMENT CALENDAR Our Greatest Achievement Page 10 AND CARTOON BOOK The Future Page 10 Page 14 National Memorial Arboretum Update Page 10 Glenn Howells Architects Appointed Page 10 – ’ The New Buildings Artist s Impression Page 10 NEWS OF THE RAF Under Pressure Page 11 REGIMENT Page 14 Household Division Memorial Page 11 From Mrs Eileen Docker Page 12 RAF Regiment Books Page 12 Books about the RAF Regiment Page 12 Books Containing References to RAF Regiment Page 13 Rock Apes 2010 Calendar and Cartoon Book Page 14 194 Squadron Reunion Page 14 News of the RAF Regiment Page 14 Death Notices Page 14 Cyril Cooke Page 14 General Notices Page 14 Christmas Cheer for Deployed Units Page 14 RAF Regiment Project 2009 Page 14 CGs Commendations Page 15 The Best Fighters in the RAF Membership of RAF Regiment Fund Page 15 Operate on the Ground RAF Regiment Association Membership Page 15 Corps Diary Dates Page 15 The Royal Air Force Regiment. Dates for Your Diary Page 16 Birmingham Branch Committee Page 16 Ground-based specialists, NEWSLETTER NO: 247 protecting RAF assets from enemy attack. JANUARY 2010 2 THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH NEWSLETTER NUMBER 246 JANUARY 2010 Dear Readers. Strategic Defence Review and increasing The following article was issued last operational demands all beckon. ’s Parish month in the RAF Regiment Secretary There are tough days ahead but I am Notes but I felt that it was of such significance confident knowing the good order in which I find that it should be on the first page. the Force and the support it has both inside and MESSAGE FROM THE RAF FP FORCE outside the RAF. I wish you all a Merry COMMANDER - GP CAPT NICK BRAY Christmas and a Happy New Year and to those of This is a time for reflection on the Corps' you on operations - take care where you can! significant achievements over the last year - both Now a message from me Regular and Auxiliary. However, the list is too I say the same thing every year but it is long to detail here and therefore I have selected sincerely meant. Valerie and I would like to three highlights. Firstly, all ranks across the RAF thank all those members and friends who sent Regiment have demonstrated great Christmas cards to us, wishing all our members professionalism, courage and selflessness in ’m and us well for Christmas and the New Year. I support of current operations. always amazed and touched with all the cards that Despite some tragic losses and many near we have received. Not only from our relations misses the Force's credibility and impact across ‘civilian’ friends but also from members and our both Iraq and now purely Afghanistan has been and from good friends of the Birmingham Branch, huge. Similarly, the ability of the FP Centre and sending good wishes to Valerie and I and to all many GDT flights has allowed the wider RAF members of the Branch, not only for Christmas deliver the critical Air Power needed for strategic but for the New Year too, my thanks to all of you success. Secondly, our manpower pipeline, which and a very happy New Year to all of you too. recruits young men into the Force and delivers exceptionally high calibre combat officers and Goodies for our Injured Boys gunners to our fighting squadrons has been a It is most important that we remember the massive success. dangers that our young men and women serving Indeed, many in UK Defence look at what on operations are all facing, so please remember we do with envy as they strive to match both the the appeal your Branch Committee have set up. quality and quantity of fighting man we produce. With your help, we can continue to Thirdly, the successful completion of the RAF provide these small comforts and any other items Regiment's mission in Iraq was an unmitigated that members of the military staff ask us for. We triumph and marks the end of 19 years of can never get enough goodies for the lads, so in operations in the Middle East (though I suspect the mean time, your continued support is we will be back soon enough). appreciated for we need as much as we can get. Welcoming 7 FP Wg HQ and 15 Squadron If any of you would like to contribute items or cash directly for this appeal, you must RAF Regiment back to UK as the last combat unit “Stoney” (Alan) Wanbon to leave Iraq was an event of strategic significance contact Warrant Officer and marked the culmination of a huge amount of RAF, NCO I/C Patient Support Services, or post work by everyone in the Corps over many them to him at RCDM, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 operational tours. These and many other “Stoney” can also be contacted on 07795 outstanding achievements would have been 6JD. 801276. If cash, please make your cheques out to impossible without the efforts of those who – support us from civilian employees to families RCDM PSS and please let me know too so that I and friends and our Associations. can add your donations to the total raised by the Looking to the future, I anticipate an Birmingham Branch. exceptionally challenging year. Elections, a Out of the blue I received the following e- mail from Brian Stanford. His father enlisted in either September of October 1941, and served for 3 the rest of the war in the RAF Regiment in Indian Dear Brian. I cannot tell you how grateful £415.00 to our and Burma, being demobbed in December 1945. I am for your amazing donation of ’t talk about his service Although he didn Appeal for the Military Managed Ward at Selly days very much, he was always very proud of his Oak Hospital, in memory of your father. I have service with the RAF Regiment. When he passed today been to a Troop Aid fundraising event at away last October, Brian and his family thought Shirley British Legion for the same appeal and that it would be a good idea to have a collection at met several badly wounded lads. They were so his funeral in aid of a charity. As there was no appreciative of our efforts on their behalf. It is particular illness or decease related to his death not just support for them when they are in for it was just old age, such was his pride in his hospital, for Troop Aid is also to assist in service, that they thought that a RAF Regiment supporting them afterwards when they get into the charity would be the best thing. So Brian, who outside world where they are without the support lives in the Birmingham area, googled RAF of their fellow soldiers. Regiment into the internet and eventually came up These young lads will require our support with my name. for many years to come and we cannot do it Mr Brian Stanford of Birmingham without the support of people such as you and Mr. Baldwin - Good evening. Could you your family. Your generous donation will be put help me please? I believe that you are the to very good use in our endeavour to give these Secretary of the Birmingham Branch of the RAF lads what they need and again, I cannot tell you Regiment Association. My father passed away a how grateful we are. Many, many thanks again few days ago. His funeral is next week and some for your generosity. Please thank everyone people have asked if could make a donation to a involved and I am sure that your late father would charity. approve of your action. Yours sincerely. Malcolm Baldwin. The family have come up with the idea John Casley of Plymouth that donations should go to something that was ’s newsletter I published a In last month close to Dad's heart. He was always very proud of “Friend Membe ” of our his service in the RAF Regiment during World letter from John Casley a r Branch in which he sent me an open cheque for War Two and if your Branch would be glad to – fifty pounds. I made the cheque out to RCDM receive donations we should be very happy to “Stoney” send them. My father was Lawrence Stanford. PSS and sent it on to Warrant Officer He was called up in either September or (Alan) Wanbon who then sent me the following October 1941. His Service No. was 1416612 and letter. His rank was LAC. After his basic training he Dear Malcolm. I write on behalf or all served in North East India (now Bangladesh, I those patients and staff here at RCDM Selly Oak to offer my sincere gratitude and utmost thanks suppose) and Burma.

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