July 2015 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HUNTINGDONSHIRE

NEWSLETTER

EDITOR’s NOTE:

Over the Next few months I will try to pass on as much information as possible so that Members are aware of what is happening. However for those of you who have not visited the Legion website, there many items of information and news available on the site www.britishlegion.org.uk

I will continue to provide this Newsletter, but I do need help from you with contributions towards the publication. For it to be a success then I need articles, news, stories and details of events from Branch level and Members.

C HATTERIS BRANCH RECEIVE TWO AWARDS AT RBL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Chatteris Branch received the Runner up Certificate of Merit for the Lister Award for Efficiency in a Small Branch at the Annual Conference of The Royal British Legion held in Southport 16th and 17th May 2015

Also, Branch Chairman Norman Larke and Youth Co-ordinator Leah Templeman share the National Chairman's Award for exceptional service to The Royal British Legion over the preceeding year

1 World War 1 Recipients May 1915 Edward Warner VC – was a 32 years old Private in the 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the defence of Hill 60 south-east of on 1 May 1915. Ted's platoon held the right flank on the hill, every one of his colleagues had been by the effects of gas as it rolled into their section. Ted Warner remained in the trench, fending off all German attempts to gain entry. Once a lull in the fighting allowed, he moved back through the gas cloud, artillery bombardment and machine gun fire to gather reinforcements. Ted found some men from his battalion and guided them back into the danger area but soon after returning to the front trenches had to be carried back to the regimental aid post suffering from the effects of prolonged exposure to the gas. The next dy Ted passed away.

John Lynn VC DCM, was about 28 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The . On 2 May 1915 near Ypres, Belgium, when the Germans were advancing behind their wave of asphyxiating gas, Private Lynn, although almost overcome by gas fumes, he handled his machine-gun with great effect against the enemy, and when he could not see them, he moved his gun higher up the parapet so that he could fire more effectively. This eventually checked any further advance and the outstanding courage displayed by this soldier had a great effect upon his comrades in the very trying circumstances. Private Lynn died the next day from the effects of gas poisoning .

David Finlay VC - was 22 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 2nd Battalion, The (Royal Highlanders),

On 9 May 1915 near Rue du Bois, France, Lance-Corporal Finlay led a bombing party of 12 men in the attack until 10 of them had fallen. He then ordered the two survivors to crawl back and he himself went to the assistance of a wounded man and carried him over a distance of 100 yards of fire-swept ground into cover, quite regardless of his own safety.

John Ripley VC -He was 47 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment),

On 9 May 1915 at Rue du Bois, France, Corporal Ripley led his section on the right of the platoon in the assault and was the first man of the battalion to climb the enemy's parapet. He directed those following him to the gaps in the German wire entanglements. He then led his section through a breach in the parapet to a second line of trench. With seven or eight men he established himself, blocking other flanks, and continued to hold the position until all his men had fallen and he himself was badly wounded in the head.

Charles Richard Sharpe VC - was 26 years old and an Acting Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. On 9 May 1915 at Rouges Bancs, France, Corporal Sharpe was in charge of a blocking party sent forward to take a portion of the German trench. He was the first to reach the enemy's position and using bombs with great effect he himself cleared them out of a trench 50 yards long. By this time all his party had fallen and he was then joined by four other men with whom he attacked the enemy with bombs and captured a further trench 250 yards long.

More VC’s Page 5

2 Bottisham & District Branch On Sunday 28th June, Bottisham & District Branch held their Armed Forces Day Service at Holy Trinity Church in Bottisham. A good turnout for the service witnessed 8 Standards including Cambridge County Standard and 3 Branch Standards, together with Standards from the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force.

After the service a reception was held at The Legion Social Club in Bottisham. There, a warm welcome was made for guests and members of the Burwell detachment of the Cambridgeshire ACF. Following much work done by Branch member Trevor Cox, who is a Major in the Cambridgeshire ACF, Certificates of Youth affiliation were exchanged between Bottisham & District Branch of the Royal British Legion and the Burwell detachment of the Army Cadet Force. It is hoped that this should bring a more youthful interest to the activities of Bottisham Branch in the future.

Colin Elsden DL, TRBL Cambridgeshire County President and Cambridgeshire DL, together with Colonel Steve Martin who is the Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF, presented affiliation badges to the members of the Burwell detachment of Cambridgshire ACF.

Picture 1; Colonel Steve Martin, Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF with members and Standard of the Burwell dettachment of the ACF with Bottisham Branch President Mr. Ken York and Bottisham Standard Bearer, Peter Rayment.

Picture 2; Colonel Steve Martin and Mr. Ken York exchange certificates of recognition of youth affiliation. with Major Trevor Cox ,County training officer.

Picture 3: County President Colin Elsden DL Inspecting the Standards of the Royal British Legion and the Banners of the Cambridgeshire ACF at Holy trinity Church in Bottisham. AFD service 28th June

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QUIZ TIME: CITY SITES ANSWERS ON PAGE 7

1. Which street is Dublin's main shopping 6. Rockefeller Plaza in New York is used as centre? an open-air café in summer. What is it in winter? 2. What was built in Berlin in 1788 as a 7. Where would you be if you could look out victory arch for triumphant Prussian over the city from Victoria Peak? armies? 3. In which city could you climb the Spanish 8. In which Far Eastern capital would you Steps?? find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha? 4. In which city would you find elegant 9. Which German city has a chiming clock on shopping streets called Via Morte, Via its medieval town hall, with two tiers of Napoleone, Via Manzoni and Via Spiga? dancing and jousting figures which emerge twice daily? 5. What do Les Halles in Paris and Covent 10. The Dome of the Rock was built in 691 by Garden in have in common? the caliph Abd-al-Malik. Where is it?

Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride The Royal British Legion Riders Branch are proudly carried out their 7th Annual Ride to Madingley Cemetery on Saturday 4th July 2015. All bikers from across the were invited to attend the ride coincided along with rides taking place in the United States, Canada, South Africa, France, New Zealand and Italy creating one ride worldwide, its riders united in remembrance of our fallen heroes from the allied forces, past and present, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The ride was escorted between Cambridge Services on the A14 and Madingley American Cemetery on the A1303 where a Service of Remembrance took place. RBL and Cadet Standards attended at the Ceremony

4 May 1915 VC’s Continued James Upton VC was 27 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) On 9 May 1915 at Rouges Bancs, France, Corporal Upton rescued the wounded while exposed to rifle and artillery fire, going close to the enemy's parapet. One wounded man was killed by a shell while the corporal was carrying him. When not actually carrying the wounded he was engaged in dressing and bandaging the serious cases in front of the parapet.

Douglas Walter Belcher VC - was a 25 years old lance-sergeant in the 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (The London Rifle Brigade). On 13 May 1915, south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road, Belgium, Belcher was in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork during continuous bombardment by the enemy. With very few men, Belcher elected to remain and try to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn, and with great skill he succeeded in his objective, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150-200 yards away, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. This bold action prevented the enemy breaking through and averted an attack on the flank of the division. Frederick Barter VC MC - was 24 years old, and a company sergeant-major in the Special Reserve, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. On 16 May 1915 at Festubert, France, Company Sergeant- Major Barter, when in the first line of German trenches, called for volunteers to enable him to extend the British line, and with the eight men who responded, he attacked the German position with bombs, capturing three German officers, 102 men and 500 yards of their trenches. He subsequently found and cut 11 of the enemy's mine leads situated 20 yards apart.

Joseph Harcourt Tombs VC - was a 28 year old Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment). On 16 May 1915 near Rue du Bois, France, Lance-Corporal Tombs, on his own initiative, crawled out repeatedly under very heavy shell and machine-gun fire to bring in wounded men who were lying about 100 yards in front of British trenches. He rescued four men, one of whom he dragged back by means of a rifle sling placed round his own neck and the man's body

Brigadier Sir John George Smyth, 1st Baronet VC, MC, PC - was 21 years old, and a lieutenant in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 3rd (Lahore) Division, Indian Army. On 18 May 1915, near Richebourg L'Avoue. With a bombing party of 10 men, who voluntarily undertook this duty, he conveyed a supply of 96 bombs to within 20 yards of the enemy's position over exceptionally dangerous ground, after the attempts of two other parties had failed. Lieutenant Smyth succeeded in taking the bombs to the desired position with the aid of two of his men (the other eight having been killed or wounded), and to effect his purpose he had to swim a stream, being exposed the whole time to howitzer, shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire.

Albert Jacka, VC, MC & Bar - was an Australian. On 19 May 1915, at Gallipoli the Turks launched an assault against the Anzac Line, capturing a section of the trench at Courtney’s Post; one end of which was guarded by Jacka. For several minutes he fired warning shots into the trench wall until reinforcements arrived, after which he attempted to enter the trench with three others; all but Jacka were either wounded or pinned. It was then decided that while a feint attack was made from the same end, Jacka would attack from the rear. The party then proceeded to engage the Turks with rifle fire, throwing in two bombs as Jacka skirted around to attack from the flank. He climbed out onto "no man's land", entering the trench via the parapet. In the resulting conflict, Jacka shot five Turkish soldiers and bayoneted two others, forcing the remainder to flee the trench; he then held the trench alone for the remainder of the night.

Continued Page 8

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‘Cambs 876 Remembered’ is a commemorative project devised and being conducted by Eastern Region members of the Riders Branch, Royal British Legion

Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records show that 876 Officers and Soldiers of The Cambridgeshire Regiment, who were killed during WW1, have memorials at home and abroad. The fallen are named in 208 cemeteries across 6 countries: UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany & Tanzania. The first man fell in 1914 and the last man died in 1921

The intention of the Riders is to honour all 876, as a part of the National WW1 centenary commemorations

The first task will be to research each individual, to consolidate known or previously unknown facts and share all findings with a Royal British Legion project called ‘Every Man Remembered’. Then the Riders will ride (where reasonably practicable) to each and every memorial on the 100th anniversary of each individual’s passing and place a poppy cross at their memorial

It would be wonderful if any family members of the Officers and Soldiers were to become involved in whichever way they feel willing and able

The Riders will be paying their own expenses and it is not a primary objective of the ‘Cambs 876 Remembered' project to raise funds. However, should any monies be offered as donation during the course of the project 100% of such monies will be donated to the Poppy Appeal via the Riders Branch

For further details – contact: [email protected]

876 REMEMBERED – NEXT SERVICE Burwell Saturday 8th August 2015 to honour Pte Harry Palmby,

10:00 Riders Branch members arrive at Anglesey Abbey. 33 Quy Road. Lode. CB25 9EJ 10:35 Riders Branch members depart for the Church 10:35 All attendees to be assembled at St. Mary's Church.23 High Street Burwell. CB25 0HD 10:40 VIPs arrive at St. Mary's Church 10:45 Parade & Riders formed up at the Church 11:00 Service begins

Car parking and pedestrian access at the rear of the church, this is accessed via Spring Close, CB25 0HF. Motorbikes will line-up on the left of the Church approach driveway. After the service, all invited to The Museum at 23 Mill Lane, CB25 0HL for light refreshments.

RBL Riders - Cambs 876 Remembered Project receive Freedom of Wisbech honour. In late June Glenn Green was honour to receive on behalf of the Rider’s Cambs 876 Remembered Project the Freedom of Wisbech awarded to them.

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Quiz – Answers 1. O'Connell Street 6. Ice Skating Rink 2. Brandenburg Gate 7. Hong Kong 3. Rome 8. Bangkok 4. Milan 9. Munich 5. Both were Markets 10. Jerusalem

7 May - June 1915 VC’s Continued Admiral Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith VC, KCB, KCMG - was 32 years old, and a Lieutenant- Commander in the Royal Navy. During the period 20 May–8 June 1915 in the Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles, Turkey, Lieutenant-Commander Nasmith, in command of H.M. Submarine E.11, destroyed one large Turkish gunboat, two transports, one ammunition ship, three store ships and four other vessels. On his homeward journey he received information that a cargo of coal was heading towards Istanbul from the Black Sea. Realising that coal was essential for the morale of the besieged city, Nasmith turned back. When the coal-carrying ship came into sight of the docks, a welcoming committee of municipal grandees soon formed, along with a happy crowd – water, electricity and rail transport had all suffered due to a lack of coal. Hardly had the ship berthed than it mysteriously blew up before the eyes of the astounded crowd. Nasmith successfully slipped out away.

William Mariner VC - was 32 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps. During a violent thunderstorm on the night of 22nd May, 1915, he left his trench near Cambrin, and crept out through the German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had been damaging our parapets and hindering our working parties. After climbing on the top of the German parapet he threw a bomb in under the roof of the gun emplacement and- heard some groaning and the enemy running away. After about a quarter of an hour he heard some of them coming back again, and climbed up on the other side of the emplacement and threw another bomb among them left-handed. He then lay still while the Germans opened a heavy fire on the wire entanglement behind him, and it was only after about an hour that he was able to crawl back to his own trench.

Leonard James Keyworth VC - was a 21 year old Lance-Corporal in the 24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's). At Givenchy on the night of 25-26th May, 1915. After the assault on the German position by the 24th Battalion, London Regt, efforts were made by that Unit to follow up their success by a bomb attack, during the progress of which 58 men out of a total 75 became casualties. During this very fierce encounter Lance-Cpl Keyworth stood fully exposed for 2 hours on the top of the enemy's parapet, and threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans, who were only a few yards away.

George Raymond Dallas Moor VC, MC & Bar - commissioned into the 3rd Battalion the Hampshire Regiment he was 18 years old on the 5th June, 1915, during operations South of Krithia, Dardanelles. When a detachment of a battalion on his left, which had lost all its officers, was rapidly retiring before a heavy Turkish attack, 2nd Lieutenant Moor immediately grasping the danger to the remainder of the line, dashed back some two hundred yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men, and recaptured the lost trench.

Reginald Alexander John Warneford, VC - was a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) officer On 7 June 1915 at Ghent, Belgium, Warneford, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L, attacked the German airship LZ 37. He chased the airship from the coast near Ostend and, despite its defensive machine-gun fire, succeeded in dropping his bombs on it, the last of which set the airship on fire. LZ37 subsequently crashed in Sint-Amandsberg. The explosion overturned Warneford's aircraft and stopped its engine. Having no alternative, Warneford had to land behind enemy lines, but after 35 minutes spent on repairs, he managed to restart the engine and returned to base.

8 William Angus VC – was in the 8th , of the Expeditionary Force. On 12 June 1915 at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France, Lance-Corporal Angus voluntarily left his trench under very heavy bomb and rifle fire and rescued a wounded officer who was lying within a few yards of the enemy's position. The lance-corporal had no chance of escaping the enemy's fire when undertaking this gallant deed, and in effecting the rescue he received about 40 wounds, some of them being very serious

Frederick William Campbell VC – as a 48 year old, a lieutenant in the 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 15 June 1915 (his birthday) at Givenchy, France. Lt. Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded. When the supply of bombs had become exhausted, he advanced the gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1,000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy's counter-attack.

Major Herbert James VC MC - was 26 years old and a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment. On 28 June 1915 in the southern zone of Gallipoli, when the advance of part of the regiment had been checked, Second- Lieutenant James, from a neighbouring unit, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy fire. He then returned, organised a second party and again advanced, putting fresh life into the attack. On 3 July he headed a party of bomb throwers up a Turkish communication trench and when all his party had been killed or wounded, he remained alone, under murderous fire and kept back the enemy until a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured.

The Royal British Legion -Suffolk - Golf day - Thursday 8th October 2015 at Seckford Golf Club Seckford Hall Road, Great Bealings, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 6NT

Arrival from 9:00am - First tee @ 10.00 am £37 day - for bacon bap, coffee, 18 holes, meal and professional club clean.

18 hole Staplford (full handicap). Teams of 4 or individual enteries accepted to make up teams on the day. Prizes to include nearest the pin and longest drive

Closing date for entries 25th September 2015 For further/application form contact: Bryan Jones MSO Cambridgeshire/Huntingdonshire Tel: 01354 697815 – [email protected]

Huntingdonshire President Colonel D H Bristow OBE DL

Was invited by the Commandant of the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force to present a couple of awards on Monday 11th May 2015 Left is the Presntation of Duke of Edinburgh Award. Right is the presentation of a Long Service Award

Colonel Bristow as the former Commandant spoke to those receiving awards and parents of cadets.

9 Derek Comber – Chatteris Branch Pays Tribute to his Brother

Derek Comber a member of Chatteris Branch up until a few years ago had not known for 70 years what happened to his brother Norman in 1942.

Dennis Clark Branch member continues the research to find out more information. However, in the meantime, he has been able to take Derek on a couple of journeys of Remembrance.

On the 31st of March this year, he took Derek to RAF Bourn, where Norman was based on that fateful night. Once there, we met up with a couple of friends who also have connections to the old RAF base. The Rural Flying Corps, the flying club that use the airfield were very welcoming and extremely helpful and, as it was too windy for flying, were kind enough to take us on a tour of the remaining sections, including a trip down the original runways, where Norman would have flown from.

For the second trip Derek accompanied Dennis to the annual service at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London. This is held on the nearest Sunday to the anniversary of the unveiling 3 years ago.

For this trip, a little planning had to be undertaken as Derek isn’t particularly mobile and a fair bit of walking is usually involved and Dennis would like to give grateful thanks to our Chairman, Norman Larke, for the use of a wheelchair he holds for the Branch. Train tickets were also booked in advance to save any hassles on the day. He also checked the Transport for London website to ensure lifts were available at the stations we would be using.

On Sunday, 28th June 2015, the pair left Chatteris just after 0800 to travel to Ely in order to catch the 0858 train to Kings Cross. At Ely we met another lady, Mary, who we had previously met at Bourn and was also going to the service. Mary had arranged to bring a Poppy wreath for Derek to lay during the service. The hours train journey to Kings Cross was, fortunately, restful and uneventful. It was when we got to Kings Cross that the wheelchair was a real blessing. After descending by lift to the underground system, we were then faced with a long walk to gain access to the Victoria Line, again using several lifts. The journey from Kings Cross to Green Park underground station was a lot easier than anticipated and, after another lift ride, we emerged into the open air directly into Green Park. After a short break, we set off on the 20 minute stroll through the beautiful park, an oasis of greenery in the centre of a very busy city, to the magnificent Bomber Command Memorial, arriving at approximately 1045 for the 1200hrs service.

At the Memorial, they were greeted by friends whom Dennis had met before and who all made Derek feel very welcome. Over the next hour, the crowd grew until there were at least a couple of hundred people in attendance, including numerous war veterans from both air and ground crews.

After the main part of the service and the official wreathes were laid, other attendees were invited to lay their wreathes and crosses. Leaving his walking sticks and wheelchair behind, Derek, with Dennis’s assistance, moved forward and laid his wreath for his brother and crew. A very proud and emotional moment for him. Derek now feels he has, at last, been able to pay due respect to Norman.

After the service, all attendees were invited across the road to the hallowed portals of the RAF Club, normally the domain of officers only. Here they were invited to have a few drinks and a finger buffet whilst mingling with everyone else who attended. There was, of course, another Chatteris man in attendance in the form of Dave Kelley. I would like to add that Derek was very well received and has been invited to return for service next year.

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11 KATES CHALLENGE Kate Green set herself a challenge at the end of April announcing her intention of running in the 2016 London Marathon.

On Sunday 5th July she completed her first 10k race – in her own words she was exhausted but exhilarated…photo attached.

Kate has set up a Justgiving page to get her fundraising underway. http://justgiving.com/Kate-Green328 She figures that if she doesn’t get a place in the London Marathon, she’ll enter a different Marathon instead. The intention is still very much to run 26.2 miles next year.

I’d be very grateful for your help in promoting this – through Branch Membership, Facebook, websites, newsletters etc.

If all the members at this present time in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire donated £1 to Kate’s page on justgiving http://justgiving.com/Kate-Green328 it would raise in the region of £4600. So let’s rally around and give our Area Manager support.

Kate will be giving regular updates and there is also her blog (which is explained on the Justgiving page) www.shufflingtowardsamarathon.wordpress.com

KIMBOLTON BRANCH - On Sunday 12th July 2015 Kimbolton members manned a stall at the Kimbolton County Fayre

The Stall was well decked with Legion literature and information. The people in the photo are left to right - John Hill (Secretary) Pete Digby (Vice President) and Terry Rees. We had a 'guess how many poppies in the jar game' with donations and I am happy to report that we managed to raise £213.37 for the Poppy Appeal despite the usual vagaries of the British weather!

DO YOU HAVE ITEMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE NEWSLETTERS IDEAS: Memories from say - Service Life, Schooldays during WWII, Recipes, Branch events and awards or advertising upcoming events Please send to Bryan Jones – [email protected] South Fens Business Centre, Fenton Way, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6TT

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