The Gallantry Medallists‟ League Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Gallantry Medallists‟ League Newsletter No 2/2009 December 2009 Patron: Field Marshal HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC Vice Patrons: Rear Admiral Sir Jeremy de Halpert KCVO CB Lieutenant General Sir Cedric Delves KBE DSO Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns GCB CBE LVO Sir Ronnie Flanagan GBE MA Major (Retired) JC Cowley OBE DCM President: Lieutenant Colonel JRT Balding MBE GM RLC Past Presidents: Major (Retired) JC Cowley OBE DCM Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) J Williams MBE DCM Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) J Gaff GM In Flanders fields the poppies blow .......... The GM League Newsletter is published twice a year. Opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the GM League. Items may be reproduced by other publications provided due acknowledgement is given and the publication is not published for profit. In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. John McCrae, May 1915 The Soldier If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. Rupert Brooke 1914 Page 1 of 24 Contents Article Page Editors Introduction 3 Message from the President 3 In Memoriam 4 In Memory of Other Level 2 Recipients 7 The Armed Forces Memorial 8 Service to Remember Military Sacrifices in Iraq 9 GM League AGM 2010 9 Remembrance Sunday 9 An Offensive Unreported 10 Muster 2010 11 Muster 2012 11 From the League Archives 12 The Sea Gallantry Medal 13 The Wreck of the ss Admella 14 Members Change of Address 15 Lapsed Memberships 16 The 200 Club Results 16 New Members 16 Veterans World 17 Data Protection 17 Brazen Imposter or Cowardly Walter Mitty 17 Shop Stock 18 Post Script 18 A Topical Tale 19 Did you Know That …… ? 19 No Puns Intended 19 Contact Details for Committee Members 20 Welfare and Benefits – A Members Guide 21 List of Merchant Navy George Medal Recipients 22 Page 2 of 24 Dear Members, that night. It was a fascinating read and we remain proud of him for his achievements those 57 years ago. You can read the am grateful to the many members, who article in full at: have either written or emailed me with http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article- their thanks and thoughts about the new I 1206357/It-happened-I-survived-Lynmouth- format of the newsletter. I did explain that it Flood-Disaster.html may not be perfect and indeed I have to admit to one oversight already. The League were also represented at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Whitehall In relation to Membership Statistics on this year, once again ably led by our page 13, I omitted to include the DFM as Parade Marshal Mr Mike Knox who has one of the gallantry awards held by submitted a report later in this edition. I Friends; may I now humbly put the record note his concern that more Life Members straight. I would like to thank Mr John E could show support however I am grateful Regan from Melton Mowbray for rightly to those who made the annual trip to show pointing out my error and at the same time solidarity with our fallen comrades from apologise to him and Mr A McFall in past and present generations. Cornwall for omitting the DFM. Alas they are the only 2 recipients of the DFM I was unable to attend as I had the good currently amongst our ranks. fortune to be in Australia at the time. We arrived in country at 0730 hours on Sunday In delving through the archive material that the 8th and after a quick refresh and change I hold, I can confirm that I have paper after the 24 hour journey, I set off on the copies of every Newsletter produced since short walk from our hotel in Sydney to the 1995. If any member would like a back ANZAC memorial with some military copy then please let me know and I will colleagues. At 1100 hours we laid a wreath send it out. and held our own 2 minute silence. ……………. Editor Interestingly, also holding their own act of remembrance at the same time were a few Message from the President Brits from Doncaster who were visiting family relatives in Sydney. We learnt that th I was delighted to see that our Past Australians mark Armstice Day on 11 Chairman Mr Derek Harper featured in a November each year, with the act of full page article in the supplement to the remembrance at 1100 hours. They also Daily Mail in August. The article entitled “It celebrate ANZAC Day in April with an early happened to me.... I survived the Lynmouth morning ceremony. I was fortunate to have Flood Disaster” recounts Derek‟s attended an ANZAC Day ceremony on my endeavours on the first trip to Australia in 1989. night of 15 August 1952 to save the I must also inform the League that our RAF residents of Vice Patron Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Lynmouth and to Johns offered to step down as Vice Patron raise the alarm in a as his other commitments, especially village that had charity work and residual service duties, been cut off by 24 have kept him pretty busy as indeed have hours of torrential domestic demands. He is also much rain. Derek, aged further away from the operational centre of 24 at the time and a the League. At the committee meeting on policeman on his 12 September, the Committee reluctantly first posting, agreed to accept his offer however I have received the George Medal for his actions asked Sir Richard to remain in post until Page 3 of 24 such time as we find a suitable his wound and paying no regard to the replacement. fusillade of shots and bazookas aimed at him, he charged through a mound of rubble Sir Richard and Lady Johns will be missed which had been a house and on to the by the League, we always felt extremely house where the enemy were, followed by welcome at Norman Tower and on behalf three men. Throwing a grenade in through of all members I would like to wish Sir the window, he charged in after it and laid Richard a happy retirement and safe out the enemy inside with his Sten. So sailing. quickly did he carry out this important task that the attack was not held up for a May I also take this opportunity to wish all moment. There is no doubt at all that Sgt members and their families a merry Fowlers outstanding courage and Christmas and a prosperous new year to determination in the face of great danger you all. were largely responsible for the success of the attack and for the saving of In Memoriam considerable casualties among the tanks. On the objective being captured the platoon I have the sad duty to report the deaths of came under heavy machine gun fire for the following League members: enemy posts in a Bund a short distance off. Any movement was extremely dangerous Mr RM Fowler DCM as the position was open and raked by this Mr KW Nash GM fire. Despite this and despite the leg Mr JE Jones DCM wound and considerable loss of blood, Sgt Mr HW Roxborough GM Fowler again decided to attack these posts Wing Commander WE Thomas OBE AFC as he knew his platoon would suffer Mr GW Jones DCM casualties unless action was taken. With Mr HH Ashby DCM three men he worked his way forward to within close range of the first post, which he Mrs B Mant then rushed at the head of his men, firing Mrs FM Pearson from the hip as he went. Having knocked Mrs EM Hann out this post he continued to deal with two other Spandau posts, killing or taking “At the going down of the sun and prisoner all the enemy. Throughout the battle, Sgt Fowler‟s bearing and complete in the morning, disregard of danger were absolutely first we will remember them” class, while his aggressive determination and magnificent bravery were outstanding No 2756619 Sergeant Robert Martin even upon an occasion when so many Fowler 5th Bn The Black watch (Royal brave deeds were being done. Highland Regiment) No 21018045 Sergeant (Acting Staff- North West Europe: On 25th March 1945 Sergeant) Kenneth Walter Nash RAOC during the fighting in Rees, a platoon was ordered to attack with the help of tanks a The King has been graciously pleased to strong pocket of enemy which was holding approve the award of the George Medal in up a neighbouring Battalion.