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May 2020-ACWS Newsletter

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The A.C.W.S. NEWSLETTER 2020 2nd Edition ACWS Ltd PO Box 270 Washington, Tyne & Wear NE37 9BX www.acws.co.uk Eastnor Castle 2000 ACWS is a Member of Issue 196 A.C.W.S. CONTACTS - Directors & Army Commanders Chairperson Secretary Mrs. Helen Mrs. Linda Reed Gibson Treasurer Health & Safety Mr. Ian Morris Dr. Frank Mair Membership Webmaster Miss Claire Morris Mr. Mike Bussey Marketing Communications Mr. Roger Mr. Stephen Willison-Gray Griffin Events Mrs. Marie Mitchell Confederate Federal Commander Commander Mr. Glenn Gibson Mr. Tim Davies Page 1 Reports Chairperson Report To be honest it has been very Hi all, we have had a difficult time quiet for my first beating the invisible enemy this year as year and we have either twiddling chairperson but our thumbs or hitting them whilst being on the doing D.I.Y.. board still keeps me involved in I am so proud of you all for keeping the smooth running of our society. everyone's spirits up during these last uncertain months,pictures of you A Big Thank You to all of the board in kit, spot the differences, recognise members for your amazing the Murton hut and many more have dedication to our cause. To you all, kept us all amused whilst our hobby keep happy, healthy and safe and has been postponed. see you at the agm in December if not before. Helen Gibson Chair ACWS. Events Report Marbury Merry Days, Worcester At the moment we potentially still Living History have 2 events taking place this year. Show (Spetchley) Skegness on 4th July weekend has and Bedford now been officially cancelled. R i v e r s i d e Festival have Whitby War Weekend (August Bank unfortunately Holiday) is currently going ahead cancelled their events, but have according to the organisers, unless given dates for 2021, so we will the government restrictions are hopefully be in attendance next year. extended. I will be keeping in communication The event in September in with all the event organisers, and association with Murton is still a update you with any further changes possibility if restrictions are lifted, for this year, as well as trying to build even if we cannot hold it as a public a healthy calendar of events for event it may be possible to have an 2021. end of season get together. Take care everyone and stay safe Page 2 Health & Safety Report look forward to some slow Dear Comrades-in-arms, p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s I write this, my first report as Health normality. We and Safety representative, while we have not yet are in the midst of a pandemic. This given up all is not what I expected to be dealing hope of a with as ACWS H & S rep, but it most possible event or two towards the certainly falls under my brief. I put back end of this year, improbable myself forward for the position though that remains. If we are vacated by Martin Cross (for whose indeed to keep the worst of the years of service, many thanks), COVID19 pandemic behind us, we since in my main line of work I am will need to continue to be vigilant in accustomed to assessing and controlling the spread as much as controlling risk of potentially possible. Watch out in future hazardous things (chemical newsletters for additional measures reactions, including explosive ones), we will need to adopt, should we be and to filling in the necessary forms. allowed out again. The board accepted my offer, so here I am, hoping to be a sounding Please do keep in touch, via email, board for all matters H&S. Health zoom, facebook, or whatever; we and Safety is everyone's remain a society of American Civil responsibility. If we see anything we War enthusiasts; there is still consider unsafe it is our duty to research to do, kit to make, and report it, firstly within command friendships to nourish with continued structures of the unit and army. contact, even if that has to be virtual for a time yet. We are all accustomed to handling potentially deadly equipment in a Stay distanced, stay safe! way that is safe, or at least which manages potential risks to an acceptably low level. But we now have to grapple with the implications Regards, of a tiny virus which has brought our Dr. Frank Mair hobby, and many of our working Corporal, 19th Ind lives, to a halt. ACWS Health & Safety As I write this, I dare to hope that we Representative are past the worst, and that we can Page 3 Secretaries Report Please remember that if you are not Hi Y'all, a member of a club or society I hope this newsletter finds you and this could have your family keeping well and safe. an impact on Haven't had much time to suffer from l i c e n s i n g cabin fever just yet, with a full house requirements with your local on lockdown and I've been on full firearms unit. mother and nanna duties! We are still searching for a powder When can we all meet up again? I master as Kevin Holden will be hear you all say! retiring at the end of this year. If you are interested, please don't hesitate As you know all we can do is follow in contacting a member of the board government guidelines, at the or Kevin for a chat. moment people of 6 people or more can gather (social distancing still Well, that's enough off me for now, applies). Until the government lifts please stay safe! restrictions there isn't much any of us can do. Until next time… However, be totally assured the Bye y'all society is in good hands and your Linda Reed (Company Secretary) new Events Director "Marie" is securing events for 2021. We had our very first "virtual board meeting" on the 23rd May, was great seeing faces I hadn't seen for a while. If you have become a member for 2020 you should have now received your new membership card for 2020/21. As a board we thought it only fair (as there is no events) to give our A young future chairperson from Kirby members a year of free membership. Hall 2000 Page 4 ACWS Explosives Officer Needed Kevin Holden will be leaving the position of Explosives Officer in 2020. Would you like a role in the ACWS as Explosive Officer. See what the role entails below. You would be responsible for acquiring black powder and breaking this down into 500g containers. Powder will be handed at specific If you don’t have a tow bar, ACWS events and you will be required to will pay for one to be fitted to your maintain records of how much you car, but please note. If ACWS do hand out and who to. pay for this we ask you to remain as Explosives Officer for a All licences must be checked on a minimum of 2 years. regular basis of all society members and records updated as You won’t be left on your own as new licences are acquired. you can shadow Kevin during 2020 in order to learn all that the role You may need to setup a powder requires. store on site and all equipment is stored in secured trailer, which can Please contact a member of the be towed to an event that requires board if you wish to apply for this it. ACWS will pay for your Explosives role. Licence as a new licence will be required for this position. Page 5 Wordsearch Answers from last Issue 1. South Mountain 9. Chantilly 2. Shiloh 10. Antietam 3. Chancellorsville 11. Franklin 4. Crater 12. Fredericksburg 5.Vicksburg 13. Manassas 6. Iuka 14. Corinth 7. Gettysburg 15. Richmond 8. Malvern Hill 1. Federals 2. Blue 3. Grant 4. Rebels 5. Grey 6. Lee Page 6 Sunderland and the American Civil War Here are 2 short stories about how included bringing back a cargo of the American Civil War impacted on 740 tons of cotton. Sunderland where I live. On the second run, she ran aground PART ONE and was captured by the pursuing Union warship USS Stettin at Bulls The CSS Aries was built on the River Bay, South Carolina on March 28th Wear at Deptford in Sunderland in 1863. Following her capture, the 1862 by the James Laing Company. renamed USS Aries was fitted out She was the only Confederate for service and purchased by the US b l o c k a d e Navy. She runner built was first on Wearside assigned to but the the South company did A t l a n t i c p r e v i o u s l y Blockading build military Squadron t r a n s p o r t in July 1863 ships for the but was British Navy s e v e r e l y during the Steamship Aries damaged in Crimean War. a hurricane When the CSS Aries was later shortly afterwards and needed captured by the Federals, she was repairs. described at the time as "one of the most fine examples of a blockade On being seaworthy again, she then runner we have ever seen" by US became involved in the capture of 2 Rear Admiral Samuel Du Pont. Confederate blockade runners called the Ceres and Antonio and The CSS Aries was an iron hulled then the burning of another blockade screw steamer.
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