POSTAL & COURIER SERVICES BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION THE POSTHORN

Edition 33 November 2018

Contents:

20th Anniversary Postal & 20th Anniversary PCS REA. Page 1- 2 Courier Service Branch REA 30th Anniversary Mill Hill On the 27th June 1998 the Branch Chairman, Colonel (Retd) Peter Wescott, was Bombing pleased to announce that the Postal and Courier Service Branch had been formed,. Page 2-3 It had gained it's official status from a meeting of the Management Committee of the Armistice 1918 Royal Engineers Association. Initial membership shown as 89 in the first Posthorn. Page 3 - 7 Current membership numbers stands at 206, bearing in mind the number of Posties Story of the Poppy who have gone to a bigger delivery round over the last 20 years. Page 7-9 Post Notes (Members Contributions) Pennine Way Page 9 - 11 Postal Partnership Parade Page 11 PCS REA Annual General Meeting Page 11 - 15 Membership & Committee Page 15 Lost & Found Members Page 15 Last Post Page 16 Subscriptions Page 16 - 18 Booking Form Page 19 Forthcoming Events We have gained our own standard in 2006 and paraded it at a number of occasions at our own an REA events including Forces Day at Sterling Castle in front of the Queen. Annual Dinner & The branch has also planted a tree to commemorate 100th Anniversary Postal & Dance Courier Service from 1913 2013 in the GPO Garden at the National Arboretum PCS REA Reunion 2019

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 1 MILL HILL BOMBING 1st AUGUST 1988

On 1st August 1988 the Irish Republican Army carried out an attack on the British mainland, the first in four years, a British soldier was killed (Michael Robbins) and 10 others were wounded in a bomb explosion. In the male troop’s accommodation in Inglis barracks in North London at the home of the Home Postal Depot RE, The Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack on Inglis Barracks in the affluent Mill Hill section of London, which is part of the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Margaret . It was the I.R.A.'s first successful bomb attack on the British mainland since the hotel bombing in 1984 that killed five people and seriously wounded 30 in an attempt on Mrs Thatcher and her Cabinet. Two of the soldiers wounded were initially reported to be in a serious condition.

Mrs Thatcher learned of the explosion on the first day of a visit to Australia. ''I have sent a message to say I am very distressed to hear about it,'' she said 'I Am Very Distressed'

Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader, described the bombing as ''another act of infamous cowardice by the Provisional I.R.A.''

A construction worker at the scene, Frank McFarland, who was working at the barracks, said the middle section of the living quarters had ''crumbled like a house of cards'' after the blast. ''It must have been a very big explosion,'' he added.

Recollection on that day.

I was due to start to work at London Courier Depot at St Giles Court and had walked past the block just before 0700 hrs to check in to the guardroom and collect keys for a vehicle that was to take me there. I had past some women either going to work at the officers’ mess or catching a bus to work. In the guardroom a couple of the lads were giving out carnation button holes, left over from a wedding that had taken place over the weekend. Leaving the guardroom, we went to collect the vehicle and go down to a quarter in Williamson Way. Whilst waiting for the sergeant to join us, a large bang sounded. We all looked towards the Depot in Firth Lane, thinking that a bomb had gone off there. Then some shouted no 'it's the top camp'. Immediately we all jumped into the vehicle and went up Partingdale Lane to arrive at the Guardroom, which was in panic by this time and a Four tonner trying to get down road at the side of the parade square. Capt Donovan saw me and asked me to check the opposite block and male sergeant's mess to ensure that the buildings were clear of personnel. On checking the sergeant mess a saw that the public phone in the mess and phoned my wife to inform I was safe, informing her that there had been a gas explosion. (Initially that was thought to have happened). On returning to the Guardroom incident centre I saw two sappers trying to pull down some curtains from the damaged block to be use as bandages. Obviously they were suffering from shock and I directing them to the medical centre rather than use the curtains. At this point I saw that The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 2 the exposed roof beams were on fire. Going up the stairs nearest the damaged part of the building I grabbed a fire hose and starting to aim at the roof beams. Suddenly the landing I was standing on started to fall down I then abandoned the fire hose and went back down to the side of the building entrances. Noting that when someone climb on the rubble this side they stepped on the metal railings on the landing above which cause the remaining landing to collapse. So I positioned myself in front of this damaged part of the block and prevented others from walking over the rubble causing more collapsing landing walkway. Eventually the fire service arrived, there was some concern that the fire service would go into the rubble unless there was someone under the rubble. At this time on the opposite side of the building, the parade side, Posties had been scrambling in the wreckage to get out the injured troops. Concerns were raised how many people were in the top room when the explosion happened. Visitors that attended the Saturday Night All Ranks dance. It was suggested to the police present to contact the survivors already in hospital, if anyone else had been sleeping in the upstairs room. The message came back that the building was clear and everyone had been accounted for. It was at this time that it was revealed that Michael Robbins had been killed along with Pete Griffiths and Ian Booth who had been injured. The rest of the day was spent guarding the Barracks from enquiring news reporters and TV crews trying to get better details of the now acknowledged bombing. While the rest of the Postie family rush to offer support with work in the depot and guarding the camp in the coming weeks.

On the 25th anniversary of Michael Robbins a wreath was placed by members of the PCS REA Branch. The barracks have since been turned into housing - Millbrook Park - and now a road on the complex has been named in his honour. His family were among the first to see Michael Robbins Way on Monday, July 30 - almost 30 years to the day he was killed. His mother, Cindy Dennis, was presented with a regimental flag during the ceremony. Keith Hurford, Millbrook Park project director, said: “We’re so pleased that Michael Robbins’ family enjoyed the special ceremony and I’m sure they will treasure this for years to come. "It’s wonderful that Michael’s memory can live on at Millbrook Park, with generations upon generations learning about his incredible bravery.” Jack Costello, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey North Thames, said: “I’m glad that we have been able to express our gratitude for Michael’s bravery - it’s the very least we could do to say thank you.” Alongside Michael’s family, guests included Deputy Lord Lieutenant Michael Russell, who said few words, a representative from Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and representatives from Marengo Communications.

IRA Kills 22 years on. An ex-soldier traumatised by the IRA bomb killed herself because of the horrors she saw, an inquest heard. Private Anne Appleby then just 20, was on sentry duty when the device hit Mill Hill Barracks London, in 1988. Husband David said reports of the 7/7 inquest revived awful memories. Anne, 42 of Stevenage, Herts took an overdose last September 2010, the inquest heard. Verdict Suicide. Curtsey of the Sun Newspaper Armistice of 11

Photograph taken after reaching agreement for the armistice that ended . This is Ferdinand Foch's own railway carriage and the location is the Forest of Compiègne. Foch is second from the right. Left of Foch in the photo (on Foch’s own right) is the senior British representative, Sir Rosslyn Wemyss. On the right is Admiral George Hope.

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 3

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent, Germany. Previous armistices had been agreed with Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Also known as the Armistice of Compiègne from the place where it was signed, it came into force at 11 a.m. Paris time on 11 November 1918 ("the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month") and marked a victory for the Allies and a defeat for Germany, although not formally a surrender. The actual terms, largely written by the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, included the cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of German forces to behind the Rhine, Allied occupation of the Rhineland and bridgeheads further east, the preservation of infrastructure, the surrender of aircraft, warships, and military materiel, the release of Allied prisoners of war and interned civilians, eventual reparations, no release of German prisoners and no relaxation of the naval blockade of Germany. Although the armistice ended the fighting, it needed to be prolonged three times until the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed on 28 June 1919, took effect on 10 January 1920.

Front page of The New York Times on 11 November 1918 On 29 September 1918 the German Supreme Army Command informed Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Imperial Chancellor, Count Georg von Hertling at Imperial Army Headquarters in Spa of occupied Belgium, that the military situation facing Germany was hopeless. Quartermaster General Erich Ludendorff, probably fearing a breakthrough, claimed that he could not guarantee that the front would hold for another two hours and demanded a request be given to the Entente for an immediate ceasefire. In addition, he recommended the acceptance of the main demands of US president Woodrow Wilson(the Fourteen Points) including putting the Imperial Government on a democratic footing, hoping for more favourable peace terms. This enabled him to save the face of the Imperial German Army and put the responsibility for the capitulation and its consequences squarely into the hands of the democratic parties and the parliament. He expressed his view to officers of his staff on 1 October: "They now must lie on the bed that they've made for us. On 3 October, the liberal Prince Maximilian of Baden was appointed Chancellor of Germany (prime minister), replacing Georg von Hertling in order to negotiate an armistice. After long conversations with the Kaiser and evaluations of the political and military situations in the Reich, by 5 October 1918, the German government sent a message to President Wilson to negotiate terms on the basis of a recent speech of his and the earlier declared "Fourteen Points". In the subsequent two exchanges, Wilson's allusions "failed to convey the idea that the Kaiser's abdication was an essential condition for peace. The leading statesmen of the Reich were not yet ready to contemplate such a monstrous possibility. As a precondition for negotiations, Wilson demanded the retreat of Germany from all occupied territories, the cessation of submarine activities and the Kaiser's abdication, writing on 23 October: "If the Government of the United States must deal with the military masters and the monarchical autocrats of Germany now, or if it is likely to have to deal with them later in regard to the international obligations of the German Empire, it must demand not peace negotiations but surrender." In late October, Ludendorff, in a sudden change of mind, declared the conditions of the Allies unacceptable. He now demanded to resume the war which he himself had declared lost only one month earlier. However the German soldiers were pressing to get home. It was scarcely possible to arouse their readiness for battle anew, and desertions were on the increase. The Imperial Government stayed on course and Ludendorff was replaced by Wilhelm Groener. On 5 November, the Allies agreed to take up negotiations for a truce, now also demanding reparation payments. The latest note from Wilson was received in Berlin on 6 November. That same day, the delegation led by Matthias Erzberger departed for France. A much bigger obstacle, which contributed to the five-week delay in the signing of the Armistice and to the resulting social deterioration in Europe, was the fact that the French, British and Italian governments had no desire to accept the "Fourteen Points" and President Wilson's subsequent promises. For example, they assumed that the de- militarization suggested by Wilson would be limited to the Central Powers. There were also contradictions with their post-War plans that did not include a consistent implementation of the ideal of national self-determination. As Czernin points out:

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 4 The Allied statesmen were faced with a problem: so far they had considered the "fourteen commandments" as a piece of clever and effective American propaganda, designed primarily to undermine the fighting spirit of the Central Powers, and to bolster the morale of the lesser Allies. Now, suddenly, the whole peace structure was supposed to be built up on that set of "vague principles", most of which seemed to them thoroughly unrealistic, and some of which, if they were to be seriously applied, were simply unacceptable.[8]

German Revolution of 1918–19 The sailors' revolt which took place during the night of 29 to 30 October 1918 in the naval port of Wilhelmshaven spread across the whole country within days and led to the proclamation of a republic on 9 November 1918 and to the announcement of the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. However in various areas soldiers challenged the authority of their officers and on occasion established Soldiers' Councils. Thus for example the Brussels Soldiers' Council was set up by revolutionary soldiers on 9 November 1918. Also on 9 November, Max von Baden handed over the office of Chancellor to Friedrich Ebert, a Social Democrat. Ebert's SPD and Erzberger's Catholic Centre Party had enjoyed an uneasy relationship with the Imperial government since Bismarck's era in the 1870s and 1880s. They were well represented in the Imperial Reichstag, which had little power over the government, and had been calling for a negotiated peace since 1917. Their prominence in the peace negotiations would cause the new Weimar Republic to lack legitimacy in right-wing and militarist eyes. Negotiation Progress The Armistice was the result of a hurried and desperate process. The German delegation headed by Matthias Erzberger crossed the front line in five cars and was escorted for ten hours across the devastated war zone of Northern France, arriving on the morning of 8 November. They were then taken to the secret destination aboard Ferdinand Foch's private train parked in a railway siding in the forest of Compiègne. Foch appeared only twice in the three days of negotiations: on the first day, to ask the German delegation what they wanted, and on the last day, to see to the signatures. The Germans were handed the list of Allied demands and given 72 hours to agree. The German delegation discussed the Allied terms not with Foch, but with other French and Allied officers. The Armistice amounted to complete German demilitarization (see list below), with few promises made by the Allies in return. The naval blockade of Germany was not completely lifted until complete peace terms could be agreed upon. There was no question of negotiation. The Germans were able to correct a few impossible demands (for example, the decommissioning of more submarines than their fleet possessed), extended the schedule for the withdrawal and registered their formal protest at the harshness of Allied terms. But they were in no position to refuse to sign. On Sunday 10 November, they were shown newspapers from Paris to inform them that the Kaiser had abdicated. That same day, Ebert instructed Erzberger to sign. The cabinet had earlier received a message from Hindenburg, requesting that the armistice be signed even if the Allied conditions could not be improved on. The Armistice was agreed upon at 5:00 a.m. on 11 November, to come into effect at 11:00 a.m. Paris time (noon German time),[14] for which reason the occasion is sometimes referred to as "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month". Signatures were made between 5:12 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., Paris time. Allied Rhineland occupation The occupation of the Rhineland took place following the Armistice. The occupying armies consisted of American, Belgian, British, and French forces.

Terms Among its 34 clauses, the armistice contained the following major points: A. Western Front

 Termination of hostilities on the Western Front, on land and in the air, within six hours of signature.  Immediate evacuation of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine within 15 days. Sick and wounded may be left for Allies to care for.  Immediate repatriation of all inhabitants of those four territories in German hands.[18]  Surrender of matériel: 5,000 artillery pieces, 25,000 machine guns, 3,000 minenwerfers, 1,700 aircraft (including all night bombers), 5,000 railway locomotives, 150,000 railway carriages and 5,000 road trucks.  Evacuation of territory on the west side of the Rhine plus 30 km (19 mi) radius bridgeheads of the east side of the Rhine at the cities of Mainz, Koblenz, and Cologne within 31 days.  Vacated territory to be occupied by Allied troops, maintained at Germany's expense.  No removal or destruction of civilian goods or inhabitants in evacuated territories and all military matériel and premises to be left intact.  All minefields on land and sea to be identified. The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 5  All means of communication (roads, railways, canals, bridges, telegraphs, telephones) to be left intact, as well as everything needed for agriculture and industry. B. Eastern and African Fronts

 Immediate withdrawal of all German troops in Romania and in what were the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire back to German territory as it was on 1 August 1914, although tacit support was given to the pro-German West Russian Volunteer Army under the guise of combating the Bolsheviks. The Allies to have access to these countries.  Renunciation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Russia and of the Treaty of Bucharest with Romania.  Evacuation of German forces in Africa. C. At sea

 Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and surrender intact of all German submarines within 14 days.  Listed German surface vessels to be interned within 7 days and the rest disarmed.  Free access to German waters for Allied ships and for those of the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.  The naval blockade of Germany to continue.  Immediate evacuation of all Black Sea ports and handover of all captured Russian vessels. D. General

 Immediate release of all Allied prisoners of war and interned civilians, without reciprocity.  Pending a financial settlement, surrender of assets looted from Belgium, Romania and Russia.

Aftermath The British public was notified of the armistice by a subjoined official communiqué issued from the Press Bureau at 10:20 a.m., when British Prime Minister David Lloyd George announced: "The armistice was signed at five o'clock this morning, and hostilities are to cease on all fronts at 11 a.m. to-day." An official communiqué was published by the United States at 2:30 pm: "In accordance with the terms of the Armistice, hostilities on the fronts of the American armies were suspended at eleven o'clock this morning. News of the armistice being signed was officially announced towards 9 a.m. in Paris. One hour later, Foch, accompanied by a British admiral, presented himself at the Ministry of War, where he was immediately received by Georges Clemenceau, the Prime Minister of France. At 10:50 a.m., Foch issued this general order: "Hostilities will cease on the whole front as from November 11 at 11 o'clock French time The Allied troops will not, until further order, go beyond the line reached on that date and at that hour. Five minutes later, Clemenceau, Foch and the British admiral went to the Élysée Palace. At the first shot fired from the Eiffel Tower, the Ministry of War and the Élysée Palace displayed flags, while bells around Paris rang. Five hundred students gathered in front of the Ministry and called upon Clemenceau, who appeared on the balcony. Clemenceau exclaimed "Vive la France!"— the crowd echoed him. At 11:00 a.m., the first peace-gunshot was fired from Fort Mont-Valérien, which told the population of Paris that the armistice was concluded, but the population were already aware of it from official circles and newspapers. Although the information about the imminent ceasefire had spread among the forces at the front in the hours before, fighting in many sections of the front continued right until the appointed hour. At 11 a.m. there was some spontaneous fraternization between the two sides. But in general, reactions were muted. A British corporal reported: "...the Germans came from their trenches, bowed to us and then went away. That was it. There was nothing with which we could celebrate, except cookies."[25] On the Allied side, euphoria and exultation were rare. There was some cheering and applause, but the dominant feeling was silence and emptiness after 52 exhausting months of war. The peace between the Allies and Germany was subsequently settled in 1919, by the Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles that same year. Last Casualties Many artillery units continued to fire on German targets to avoid having to haul away their spare ammunition. The Allies also wished to ensure that, should fighting restart, they would be in the most favourable position. Consequently, there were 10,944 casualties, of whom 2,738 men died, on the last day of the war. An example of the determination of the Allies to maintain pressure until the last minute, but also to adhere strictly to the Armistice terms, was Battery 4 of the US Navy's long-range 14-inch railway guns firing its last shot at 10:57:30 am from the Verdun area, timed to land far behind the German front line just before the scheduled Armistice.

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 6 Augustin Trébuchon was the last Frenchman to die when he was shot on his way to tell fellow soldiers, who were attempting an assault across the Meuseriver, that hot soup would be served after the ceasefire. He was killed at 10:45 a.m. Earlier, the last soldier from the UK to die, George Edwin Ellison of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, was killed that morning at around 9:30 a.m. while scouting on the outskirts of Mons, Belgium. The final Canadian, and Commonwealth, soldier to die, Private , was shot and killed by a sniper while part of a force advancing into the Belgian town of Ville-sur-Haine just two minutes before the armistice to the north of Mons at 10:58 a.m., to be recognized as one of the last killed with a monument to his name. , an American, is generally recognized as the last soldier killed in action in World War I. He was killed 60 seconds before the armistice came into force while charging astonished German troops who were aware the Armistice was nearly upon them. He had been despondent over his recent reduction in rank and was apparently trying to redeem his reputation.

Legacy Celebration of the Armistice became the centrepiece of memories of the war, along with salutes to the unknown soldier. Nations built monuments to the dead and the heroic soldiers, but seldom to the generals and admirals. 11 November is commemorated annually in many countries under various names such as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, and in Poland it is Independence Day. The end of the Second World War in China (end of the Second Sino-Japanese War) formally took place on 9 September 1945 at 9:00 (the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month). The date was chosen in echo of the Armistice of 11 November 1918 (on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month); and because "nine" is homophone of the word for "long lasting" in Chinese (to suggest that the peace won would last forever . THE POPPY

The inspiration behind the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance. WHAT THE POPPY MEANS

The poppy is

 A symbol of Remembrance and hope  Worn by millions of people  Red because of the natural colour of field poppies

The poppy is NOT

 A symbol of death or a sign of support for war  A reflection of politics or religion  Red to reflect the colour of blood

Wearing a poppy is a personal choice and reflects individual and personal memories. It is not compulsory but is greatly appreciated by those it helps – our beneficiaries: those currently serving in our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families and dependants.

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 7 HISTORY OF THE POPPY

During the First World War (1914–1918) much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. Previously beautiful countryside was blasted, bombed and fought over, again and again. The landscape swiftly turned to fields of mud: bleak and barren scenes where little or nothing could grow. Bright red Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas) however, were delicate but resilient flowers and grew in their thousands, flourishing even in the middle of chaos and destruction. In early May 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lt Col John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies to write a now famous poem called 'In Flanders Fields'.

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

MOINA MICHAEL Moina was inspired by In Flanders Field to write her own additional verses for the poem and to make the poppy a symbol of global Remembrance. A professor at the University of Georgia, Moina Michael was also a passionate humanitarian. She came across McCrae's poem "In Flanders' Fields" on 9 November 1918 and acquired all the artificial red poppies she could find and began to sell them. In 1920, the National American Legion convention adopted her Memorial Poppy as its symbol with the idea that American Legion members and supporters would wear the poppy annually on Armistice Day. ANNA GUÉRIN How Anna created the first poppies to raise money for widows and children affected by the First World War. A member of the French YWCA, Anna Guérin was at the American Legion convention in 1920 and saw that the sale of large numbers of artificial poppies in her home country could fund support for those still suffering the after effects of war, particularly orphaned children. Anna Guérin began production of fabric poppies and travelled the world encouraging countries to adopt the symbol. She made arrangements for the first nationwide distribution of poppies in America (working with Moina Michael), saw the promotion of the poppy in Canada and the adoption of it by the Canadian League and also in New Zealand and Australia. In 1921 she met with Field Marshal Earl Douglas Haig, founder and president of the British Legion, and persuaded him to adopt the poppy as an emblem for the Legion. The first British Legion Poppy Day appeal began in the autumn of 1921, with hundreds of thousands of French-made poppies selling across the country The (Royal) British Legion, formed in 1921, ordered 9 million of these poppies and sold them on 11 November that year. The poppies sold out almost

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 8 immediately and that first ever 'Poppy Appeal' raised over £106,000; a considerable amount of money at the time. This was used to help WW1 veterans with employment and housing. The demand for poppies in England was so high that few were reaching Scotland. Earl Haig's wife established the 'Lady Haig Poppy Factory' in Edinburgh in 1926 to produce poppies exclusively for Scotland. Over 5 million Scottish poppies (which have four petals and no leaf unlike poppies in the rest of the UK) are still made by hand by disabled ex-Servicemen at Lady Haig's Poppy Factory each year and distributed by our sister charity Poppy Scotland.

JOHN HOWSON

The following year, Major George Howson set up the Poppy Factory to employ disabled ex-Servicemen. How John Howson set up the Poppy Factory after the First World War. In 1922, Major George Howson, who had received the Military Cross for his role in the First World War, founded the Disabled Society to provide employment for disabled WW1 soldiers. He set up a factory off the Old Kent Road in London where five disabled ex-Servicemen began making poppies. Three years later the Poppy Factory moved to its current site in Richmond, Surrey and in expanded to also produce wreaths. Today, the factory and the Legion's warehouse in Aylesford produces millions of poppies each year and celebrates the fact that the vision of its founder remains relevant, viable and vibrant for the modern age.

Post notes (Contributions from members) (Please members can we have more contributions in the form of recollections, events, stories or ditties of when you served as a Postie, for future Posthorn's!) We Did it. The Pennine Way (1977) ( by Capt Speight published under the guise of myself in the April 1978 Sapper Magazine) We embarked from a place called Edale in Derbyshire, not a thriving metropolis but a lazy little village where the landlord of the one and only Pub can't serve chips with his pie and peas "Cos t'goverment don't allow it. I feel sure Mr Callagham would revoke this decision if he were to walk the Pennine Way. In fact we left Edale a mite dispirited- no chips, nobody interested in the slightest that we were leaving, and with a local farmer giving the driver of our back-up vehicle monumental reprimand for blocking his parking space. So we begun, eight of us against the Pennines, the OC Major Peter 'I am not too old' Westcott, Captain Andy 'Don't get me up' Speight, Staff Sergeant 'Moses' Commins, Staff Sergeant 'Bagpipes' Beedles, Cpl 'Calor' Peacock, L/Cpl 'Jock Mac' Innes, Spr 'Griff 'Griffiths and Spr 'Safari' Silk. The first couple of hours were marvellous - sunny, cameras clicking, joking and all confident. This soon subsided into a deathly silence. Our first mountain was in front of us. I use the term mountain loosely in the account following the old Welsh theory that all things are relative! We conquered Kinder Scout and rested. The OC had proved his point - training was necessity- it was criminal not to have done any. From this highest point in Derbyshire we meandered- walking by compass is all very well if the direction you wish to go in is landmarked- we meandered across peat bogs, in cold. damp and misty conditions. Griff got absolutely bogged down and had to be hauled out of this black treacle-like liquid by the rest of the team and the OC had to call on hidden resources on more than one occasion. Other members fell into the awful trap of leaping from one dry bit to another or , even more ludicrous, playing the game of pretending that one of your feet is lighter than the other; whereupon you leap, land on one leg and swing the other to dry land in one movement. This nearly wrote-off the married life of a couple of the team, the problem being the 'light' leg disappears up to the knee and is there-upon immobile. This however does not stop the other leg following through! Way behind schedule we stopped for the first night, put up our tents in the dark and ate an impressive Compo creation courtesy of Griff.

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 9 Once un-packed and ready, the intrepid Moses led us off for day two. The bogs were still there, so was the mist-in fact it was awful and we really thought the end was nigh. But lo. Moses jabbeth with large stick and the waters parted and a route was cut for all except the OC-the waters closed again leaving him knee deep! After this episode we walked and walked and ... walked. It didn't take a genius to work out that we were lost- very lost. Fortunately the landscape had definite characteristics which our esteem leader spotted. Quite where the River Ouse fitted into it all I don't know, but as the mist cleared from the top of another mountain our first check point was spotted. We descended toward a railway line and signal box cautiously. All of a sudden a smell drifted past us all, each looking at the man in front wondering this could possibly be the effects of only one night's Compo. The odour started to linger; it was nauseous, handkerchiefs were put over faces and some of the team even resorted to running-not a wise ploy after only two days. Eventually we were past it and a hot cup of tea was welcome. On the road again the afternoon was spent up hill and down dale past Holme Moss chatting to the local Pennine animals. In the evening we went to a wonderful public house outside Huddersfield where the landlord said we were a credit to the Pennine Way, remarking how clean we were; if we were a credit his other customers must have looked like something out of a mud bath. He then asked us if we avoided the Maggot farm alright, 'some of t'lads get lost up there on the t'ridge and nearly die from t'stench'. A sudden dawning on the faces of the team-'so that's.....' silenced by one member informing the publican that our map reading would never be that bad! The following day we were off at 0800hrs again through rain and mist. Over Blackstone Edge, we were co-opted by rescue teams searching for an 86 year old man lost on the moor: we had no luck and according to local press neither had they. However we then progressed via Stoodley Pike and Hebden Bridge to find a camp site in the garden of a pub-the best site chosen to date! I was cook on this occasion and the preparation of the meal was illuminated by a calor gaz canister exploding-the team thought I was practising for a rocket assisted attempt on Pen y Gent! The following day the walk continued over Jack Bridge, I detected the boots digging in harder than usual- it's sheer coincidence that the Director of our service runs under the same name. Eventually we came upon the Withins. I personally have never seen a piece of land so bleak. This was the heart of Bronte Country. The Withins is supposed to be a farm house not unlike the famous Wuthering Heights..... it's a wonder that there were some prevented goings on there when it was inhabited. We eventually arrived, soaked through and miserable in Lothersdale where we were fortunate to stay in a farm house where we dried out. The next day we climbed to Penshaw Beacon where there is a panoramic view to all parts of the compass. We were a bit unfortunate, the mist had descended again and out panoramic view was somewhat limited to about four of five yards to each point of the compass. On we went to Gargrave where we intended to get some money from the local bank but were amazed to find that they only had a mobile which came on Wednesday only. So we continued to Malham, up the cove to camp near the tarn- again it was cold wet and miserable. The next day was pleasant for a while, then we saw it, Pen y Gent, a monster of a hill, enough to kill the morale of anyone, especially when the night before we had been told that a masochist by the name Joss Naylor had completed the whole walk in three and a quarter days. However, we struggled to the top despite some complaints of weakness in the legs described as 'knee tremblers', and after a good day's walk we reached the next camp site. Away we went again next morning up towards Great Shunner Fell. Up and up, on and on it seemed endless, every time we reached the top of the hill another one appeared- this was the hardest part of the walk. The descent was worse and very hard on the knees. (Knee incidentally as defined by Michael Green is 'a part of the body likely to give way under emotional stress'. How right he is!). The next landmark was Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England. We arrived to find it open, not by coincidence I hasten to add. Here Jock Innes had to admit he would not be able to continue. He did in fact do one more very muddy stage but his knees just wouldn't take any more. As we were a bit behind schedule we decided next day to do a longer stretch of some 27 miles from Balderhead to Dufton-what a mistake! We had every type of terrain, but for the first time beautiful views, especially High Cup Nick, a lovely valley with a thin stream winding down the hill with the Lake District beyond. Falcon Clints a series of rocks that invite you to break an ankle or two. Cauldron Snout a rock climb, Maize Beck more familiar mud and bog. What a relief when we got to our camp site at Dufton in almost total darkness. We were all very, very tired. A gradual ascent from Dufton takes you past Great Dun Fell up to Cross Fell, at 893 metres the highest point of the walk. Minds numbed, it seemed a remarkably easy climb, but the view were again restricted by low cloud and rain. Next stop Hadrains Wall. There was obviously a breed of Roman Soldier that was part Mountain goat.

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 10 The next two days were hard work but with reasonable weather. Our one regret was that young Griff had to retire with a badly swollen foot, a mere 40 miles from the finish. Eventually the last day arrived. All keyed up we made an early start-much to the disgust of the 2IC- over moors towards Chew Green. This incidentally, was the site of the largest Roman MT Park in the world. The Rain was constantly with us and the wind seemed to get stronger and stronger. The mist descended yet again and life became almost unbearable. Up-hill we went against ferocious winds which took one's breath away. We stopped at Auchope Cairn for a much needed rest and took shelter from the wind. Then the downward descent that inevitably follows the gruel of the uphill climb. Then uphill again to Hen Hole where there was, in the middle of nowhere, an old railway carriage. Relived we took shelter inside it from the now gale-force winds. S/Sgt Beedles had already been blown off a stile and others walked at the most extraordinary angles. With the final section ahead of us we set off again. This time the unfortunate Beedles was blown against a barbed wire fence and remained until help arrived. Andy Speight was blown clean off his feet, Moses plodded along at a 45 degree angle, I was half walking, half running but the OC with the assistance of his three speed walking stick managed somehow. It seemed never ending. Kirk Yetholm had to be within sight by now according to our calculations. Then over a little ridge it was there. Spirits lifted, we had made good time into the village only to find that someone had stolen the sign that everyone stands by for final pictures, and the pub was shut. Thirteen days of hard walking for this! To all of you who have done this before I understand at last. To those of you who have not- don't bother unless you can guarantee good weather. We walked 270 Mile (probably more) through the most appalling conditions- for what? Fitness-yes. Self satisfaction-yes. But tell someone you have walked the Pennine Way and the response will be...... 'Oh yes'.

Postal Partnership Parade

The strong social and sporting ties which exist between Nachschubbataillon 1 and ! (BR) Corps Postal and Courier Communications Unit RE were officially and ceremoniously cemented with a Partnership Parade at Scharnhorst- Kaserne Hannover on Sunday 22nd January 1978. Over 300 soldiers from the German Logistic Support Unit and 200 soldiers from the Postal Unit formed up on the square to make a very impressive parade-with music being provided by the regimental band of the 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and Heersmusikkorps 1. Following the inspection of the parade by Brig J. W .Bridge, Director of Postal and Courier Communications and Oberst E. Wetter, Chief of Staff Panzergrenadierdivision 1, the two inspecting officers addressed the parade The formal exchanging of Partnership Scrolls then took place. with Brig Bridge presenting the Scroll to Oberstleutnant G. Blum, Commanding officer of Nachschbbataillon 1, and Obserst Wetter in turn presenting the scroll to Lt.Col. R. N. R. P. James, Commanding Officer of 1 (BR) Corps Postal and Courier Communications Unit RE.

ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION (PCS BRANCH) 2018 ANNUAL REUNION AND AGM The above event took place over the weekend 16 – 18 March 2018. The previous AGM in Lincoln had voted for this year’s event to be held in a suitable venue as close as possible to The National Memorial Arboretum. An initial internet find was a Holiday Inn at St. George’s Park close to the Arboretum. It turned out to be the England Football Association training ground and injuries centre. A meeting with the events manager and accompanied by Paul Morris, we were shown around. For various reasons the location was totally unsuitable for our venue but it was nice to know that David Beckham and Michael Owen had slept in the room that we had been shown.

Back to the computer to continue the search. Inquiries were made at several hotels in Lichfield and Tamworth but there was nowhere that could cope with the REA numbers. Paul Morris suggested that Moor Hall Hotel and Spa, Royal Sutton Coldfield where Paul’s wife Beth, had enjoyed a meal could be a possibility. Moor Hall was in the middle of a golf course but undeterred, an appointment was made and

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 11 Paul and I met with the events manager few days later. We discussed and agreed all of our requirements and subsequently a contract was agreed and signed a few days later.

Bookings to attend were slow initially, however, increased after Christmas and numbers were getting close to 100 as March approached. For various reasons including illness the numbers decreased but we managed to sit down with 84 attending. Our Secretary, Larry Peacock had without complaint, produced the seating plan at least five times, the last time on the hotel computer on the day of the event.

On the weekend we were hit for the second time by the ‘The Beast from the East 'and on Saturday morning, Moor Park was covered in 4 inches of snow. The snow did not prevent a good few brave souls visiting the National Memorial Arboretum. In 2013 we had planted a Mediterranean spruce with an associated plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Engineers mail service. It was really nice to see our tree which was 3 feet tall when it was planted, had risen to 15 feet (guestimate). We had requested permission to plant another tree this year but on this occasion, permission was refused as the post office plot was full to capacity.

We visited the main memorial and found the names of several comrades who had died in service since WW2. The most latterly were Michael Robins who lost his life in the IRA bombing of Inglis Barracks and Douglas Hogg who died in a RTA while on Exercise in BAOR. There were others notably Ted Hartigan and Harry Wylie who both died in RTAs in Germany. And John Shuttleworth who died while serving at Mill Hill. By this time the freezing wind got the better of us and we succumbed and retreated to the restaurant for hot coffee.

We drank our coffee and after a short discussion and the purchasing of woolly hats made the wise decision to take the train for a 40 minute tour of the arboretum with a commentary pointing out the various tributes to servicemen and women of the armed forces and of civilian organisations who have supported the forces. If readers have never visited the Arboretum, you should if you are able. It is an amazing tribute.

Saturday saw the Ireland rugby team beat England on St Patricks day to become the six nations champions and a few proud Irishmen in various shades of green, including Gerry Dawson who was smiling from ear to ear, toured the bar to let us know the score.

We assembled for the reunion dinner at 7.30 pm and before grace the names of comrades we had lost since the last reunion were read out followed by one minutes of applause to celebrate their lives.

Grace read by Chris Connaughton:

God gave us legs to walk with He gave us eyes to see He gave us arms to wave about And a nose to smell our tea But of all his innovations the one that is the winner Is God’s good grace to give us teeth To eat this Reunion Dinner.

The food was very good and the service was excellent. Following the loyal toast, the President said a few words and introduced the Guest Speaker, Richard Plumb (Richard served in the TA over the period 1981 – 2014 initially as a Sapper rising to WO1 then after commissioning to Major) who then delivered an entertaining 15 Minutes certainly reminding this old Sapper of early days in Germany.

The AGM was held on Sunday morning. After a minutes silence in respect of those we had lost since the last reunion, the usual routine items were passed. The only item which is usually contentious was the

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 12 location of the next reunion. There was only one proposal which was for Swindon or Bournemouth. Bournemouth was the choice of those attending to be held on the weekend 26-28 April 2019.

NB.

Julian Stray, a curator of the post office history museum, attended the reunion with a request to interview people for museum purposes The interviews were expected to last for 2 hours each. The committee offered their services with yours truly being the Guinea pig. In my case the 2 hours reached 3 and we had only reached 1978. We called a halt there. Minutes of Annual General Meeting on the 23rd April 2017 Held at the Lincoln Hotel Lincoln.

The Chairman brought the meeting to order and welcomed all those present at 1035hrs at the “Lincoln Hotel" Lincoln. 48 Members attended including committee. .

1. Old Comrades

The Chairman read out the names of the Old Comrades and friends lost since the last meeting and this was followed by one minute’s silence:

Ken ADDISON, Anne APPLEBY (Died 2010), Cath BARR (Nee Brannan), Ian (Harry) BONNER, Don BYRON, Kath DUNCAN (w/o Bill Duncan), Martin FLANAGAN, Jimmy GRANT (Died 2012), Harry HACKETT, Pete HOLMAN, Sarah HOLMES, Roger HUGHES, Jimmy JOWETT, Lou LISTER, John Taff LOCKWOOD, Raymond LYALL, Kath MALLEY, Arthur MAXWELL, Christine OSBORN, Tony QUIN, Alan STANDING, John WINTERBOTTOM, Vic WINTON, Vic WINTERS and Joyce WRIGHT.

A minutes silence was held in memory of our old comrades and friends

2. The President's Address.

The President thanked members of the committee who work in the background. It is a shame that our numbers fell below 100 this year (83).Please get everyone to try and encourage more to attend the next reunion and keep up with your subscriptions. Roy Walker continues to run and update our social media websites. Julian Stray from the Post Office museum has been seeing members for recorded contribution to our British Forces Post Office history as we are losing our history. We need to try and save our stories and any items from our past, uniforms, old paper work and any other such like items. Branch doing well with interaction between ourselves keeping each informed what is happening within the branch, helping to continue to bond and grow. I would also like to wish John Shoulder a happy 74th birthday.

3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting.

The Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting which were accepted as a true record.

Proposed by: Charlie Meacher Seconded by: Norman Sussex

4. Financial Summary

The Treasurer’s report was distributed and the financial statement for the year subject to audit. Again a vote of thanks was given to the ladies on the raffle committee for their stalwart efforts in increasing the Branch funds from the raffle £210 held on Saturday night and Tombola card sale £60 along with Sale of last Bluey £110. The cost of setting up the new BFPO Veterans (PCS REA) website was donated by the Forces Philatelic Bureau

Income/Expenditure 2016-17

Expenditure Income

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 13 Flowers & Wreaths £90.00 Subscriptions £1960.00 Dinner (Wine, Disco, Flowers) £841.00 Easy Fundraising £ 91.79 Raffle tickets purchase £ 40.35 Raffle profit £ 265.00 Secretary Costs Bank Interest £ 0.84 Printing Annual Newsletter £171.20 Name Card Income £ 60.00 Stationary £27.;60 EBluey Income £ 110.00 Phone £3.00 Treasurer (MMA Postage) £ 83.52 Chairman (MMA) £ 112.00 Secretary (MMA) £ 166.50

Total £1745.17 Total £2487.63

Bank Balance as at 31 December 2017 £3855.94 Bank Balance as @ 16 March 2018 £4090.94

The Nationwide Treasurers account was closed on 30th March 2017.

A new account was opened with Lloyds Bank thus enabling members to pay their annual subscriptions direct. When paying into this account directly, please inform the Branch Secretary the following:- (Your name, Date & Amount Paid in.) So that your subscription records can be maintained by him. The account details are as follows:- The Royal Engineers Association (PCS) Branch Sort Code: 30-90-89 Account Number 31320060.

Proposal that the above statement to be accepted by Branch members:

Proposed by George Stein Seconded by Pete Braithwaite Accepted

5. Apologies

Apologies were received from Eric Brice, Stew Cambridge, and Jim Steer.

6. Re-election/election of the Committee.

The committee then offered up their posts for re-election and after a show of hands all were retained. .

President: Lt Col (Retd) Graham Meacher MBE Chairman: Maj (Retd) Brian Felks Treasurer: Maj (Retd) Chris Connaughton Secretary: Mr Larry Peacock South East Rep: Maj (Retd) Geoff Manning Social Media Rep: Maj. (Retd) Roy Walker Committee Member: Mr Mick Atkinson Associate Spokesperson: Mrs Jean Legg

Proposed by Pete Braithwaite Seconded by Derek Watt Carried

7. The date and location of the 2019 Reunion.

The Chairman briefed the meeting on locations which had been proposed and researched, namely:

The following location were put to the member attending:

Swindon or Bournemouth. After discussion and a vote Bournemouth was chosen and the date 27th April 2019 set.

Proposed by George Nicholson Seconded by Chris Goodwin Carried

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 14

8. AOB.

a. Anyone wishing to take part in the Remembrance Parade at the cenotaph please contact the secretary Larry peacock after the meeting.

b. Still having difficulty getting onto and putting photo's on Website. It might be better to put sandbags contribution onto Facebook page.

c. All members would like to pass on their thanks to the Hotel staff who have been very friendly and helpful throughout the weekend.

d. Easyfundraising

Please continue to support the Easy Fundraising Facility, details as follows:

You can help REA PCS Branch AND save money at the same time? It's very simple - just visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/pcsbranch to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever you buy something the retailer makes a donation to the PCS Branch. Look out for special offers and vouchers to save you money!

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 11.0.

Committee Members So that your subscription records can be maintained by him. The account details are as follows:- President: Lt. Col. (Retired) Graham Meacher RE MBE The Royal Engineers Association (PCS) Chairman: Maj. (Retired) Brian Felks RE Branch Sort Code: 30-90-89 Treasurer: Maj. (Retired) Chris Connaughton RE Account Number 31320060. Secretary: Larry Peacock Lost & Found Committee Members: Mr Mick Atkinson Members, who have lost contact (LC) with the branch, Maj. (Retired) Roy Walker MBE (Social Media Adviser) wish to leave (WL) and those that are over four years Maj. (retired) Geoff Manning ( S.E. Rep HQ REA) behind in their subscriptions (BS):. Associate Spokesperson: Mrs Jean Legg Michael ALLEN (BS), Mark BURTON (BS), Alex CARSON (BS), Patrick ELLIOTT (BS), Christine Secretary details FRETWELL (BS), David HARMER (BS), Francis Larry Peacock HIDDERLEY (BS), Clifford HOWES (WL), Gerald 31 Pennine Crescent LAUDER (BS), Penelope LIDDICOT (BS), Peter MASLIN REDCAR (BS),Sean McCARTHY (BS), Ken SMITH (WL) and TS10 4 AE Dennis WHITTALL (BS). Telephone: 01642-476380 Welcome to new members: Email: [email protected] Peter CLIFTON (Returned), William DICK, Bill Membership Eligibility DUNCAN and Eddie REA (Returned)

If you have served in the RE (PS) or (PCCU) or (PCS) ...... you are eligible to join the PCS Branch of the REA. (Any other H.M. Armed Forces (Royal Navy and Royal Air Last Post Forces) member who has served with or associated with Postal & Courier Units then you can join as an Associate Member).If you served in the ATS or WRAC and were trained as a Postal & Courier Operator you are entitled to join the PCS Branch as an Associate member. Subscriptions £10 per year. Please make cheques payable to: “The Treasurer PCS Branch REA” A new account has been opened with Lloyds Bank thus enabling members to pay their annual subscriptions direct. When paying into this account directly, please inform the Branch Secretary the following:- (Your name, Date & Amount Paid in.)

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 15 Since last reunion the following Posties(members 28 Nicholas CLIFTON 2017 and non-members) are no longer with us and 29 Tilly CLIFTON PNSR have moved to a higher association. We honour:- 30 Peter CLIFTON 2017 31 Leslie CLYDESDALE Peter CARPENTER, Tim DODD, John 20+£5 32 Robert COATSWORTH DOUGLAS, John (Taff) LOCKWOOD, 2019 Raymond LYALL, Mary MARTIN-FLAVEN, 33 Gilbert COLE LM Mary MORRIS, Bill (Noddy) NODEN, Edward 34 Adrian COLLINS 16+£5 STUART, and Graham STEWART. 35 Thomas COMPSON 21+£5 36 Christopher CONNAUGHTON 2018 Membership Subscription List 37 Donald COOPER 2018 Listed below are the current details of all members 38 John COULING 2016 subscriptions, paid up to the date shown. Any concerns 39 Alasdair COWAN about the dates shown, then please contact me, Larry 2020 40 Andrew Peacock, and I will make the correction or confirm that COWBURN 15+5 the details are correct. 41 Stuart CRAIG 2018 The list has been updated to reflect the increased yearly 42 Neil CRAWFORD subs of £10 (2015). Those paid fully for that year show 2018 43 Audrey (2017) or part payment (16+£5) for 2017 due to owing CROOK 2018 £5.00 for the increase to the new sub rate of £10 from 44 Humphrey CRYER 14+5 2015. 45 Michael CUMMINS 2018 First Name 46 Anthony CURTIS No SURNAME Year 2016 47 Peter CUSSONS 1 Brian ANDERSON 2018 2020 48 Wally DAMANT 2 James ANDREWS 2015 15+5 49 Alan DAVIES 3 2017 Peter ASKEW 2017 50 Joan DAVIES 4 Michael ATKINSON 18+£5 2017 51 William DICK 5 Mark ATWELL 2018 New 52 John DOHERTY 6 Geoffrey BAKER 2017 2019 53 Billy DUNCAN 7 Alan BARKER 2016 New 54 Henry EAGLE 8 Martyn BARRETT 2019 2016 55 9 Douglas BAXTER 2020 Dennis EASON 2019 56 Derek EWAN 10 Joseph BEEDLES 18+£5 2019 57 Brian FELKS 11 Melvyn BELLAMY 17+£5 2019 58 Simon FENWICK 12 Christopher BENNETT 2016 LM 59 Frederick FERGUSON 13 Robert BEST 2018 2016 60 Jeremy FIELD 14 Gina BERTIE 2020 2015 61 Michael FIELD 15 Reg BLACK 14+5 2018 62 Don FOWLER 16 17+£5 David BLANE 2016 63 John GADSBY 2015 17 James BRADSHAW 2017 64 Paul GAFFNEY 2018 18 Peter BRAITHWAITE 2018 65 John GALLAND 21+£5 19 Eric BRICE 2017 66 Albert GARRIOCK 2020 20 David BROWN 2016 67 Alistair GEE 2018 21 Elizabeth BROWN PNSR 68 John GILBERT 2018 22 Anthony BRYAN 14+5 69 Michael GILBERTSON 2018 23 Goeff BUSHELL 2018 70 Stuart GOODALL 2017 24 William BUTT 2018 71 Christopher GOODWIN 2020 25 Stuart CAMBRIDGE 19+£5 72 Dorothy GOSLING 2019 26 George CHANDLER 2018 73 Margaret GRANT 2019 27 Douglas CLARK 14+5 74 Robert GRAY 21+£5

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 16 75 Patricia GRAY 21+£5 122 Brian LEVEY 18+£5 76 Norman GRUNDY 2017 123 Barry LINDEN 2018 77 Peter GRUNDY 2019 124 June LOWE 2018 78 Norman HARMAN 2017 125 Edward LYONS 2018 79 Brian HARRIS 126 14+5 Dick MACKENZIE 2018 80 127 Gerald MAGUIRE Rebecca HART 2019 2020 81 Andrew HAWKESWORTH 2020 128 Michael MALLEY 2019 82 William HAWKINS 2015 129 Geoffrey MANNING 2019 83 William HEATH 2016 130 Billy MCLEOD 2018 84 Dwight HEDDLE 2015 131 Ann MCLEOD 2014 85 Gerald HERNANDEZ 2018 132 Adam MCQUILLAN 14+5 86 Simon HEYS 2020 133 Laura MEACHER 2018 87 Valerie HICKS 2019 134 Charles MEACHER 2018 88 Geraldine HIGGINS PNSR 135 Graham MEACHER 2020 89 Alex HORSBURGH 2017 136 David MILSTEAD 2018 90 John HUDSON 2018 137 Raymond MITCHELL 2018 91 Rita HUDSON PNSR 138 Paul MORRIS 16+£5 92 Howard HUGHES 15+5 139 David MUCKLE 17+£5 93 Jacqueline HUGHES 2018 140 Ronald MURRAY 2017 94 Terry HUGHES 2019 141 Christopher NELSON 2020 95 Yvonne HUGHES 2018 142 George NICOLSON 2018 96 Pat HYNES 19+£5 143 Tom O GRADY LM 97 Peter IVE 2020 144 Neville ORTON 2016 98 145 Keith OXER Adam JACK 2014 2016 99 John 146 Steve PATCH JACKETT 21+£5 2015 100 JACKSON 147 Neil PAXTON John 2016 2018 101 Kerry JAMES 2019 148 Lawrence PEACOCK 2018 102 Ronald JESSIMAN 19+£5 149 Gillian PEACOCK PNSR 103 David JOHNSON 2015 150 John PEARCE 2020 104 David/Paul JOHNSON 16+£5 151 Gary PEARSON 2018 105 Samuel JONES 2016 152 Adrian PROSSER 15+5 106 Brig Neil KELLY 2015 153 Sharon PROWSE 2016 107 Willam KENEFEC 2017 154 Eddie REA New 108 Colin KENNEDY 2017 155 Edward REARDON 2017 109 Ian KENNEDY 2019 156 Dorieen REDDEN 16+£5 110 Donald KENT 2016 157 Peter REDFERN 16+£5 111 Arthur KERR 2020 158 Robert ROBINSON 2015 112 Mavis KIRK 2015 159 Joan ROUND 2019 113 Julian KOSTYSZYN 14+5 160 Bryan ROWNEY 2018 114 Dennis LACEY 2019 161 Geoffrey SALMON 2017 115 162 Elizabeth SAMPSON Mike LAMBERT 2017 2015 116 Frederick LATHAM 2017 163 John SAMUEL 2018 117 William LAWRENSON 2018 164 Tommy SANDS 2020 118 Frank LEA 2019 165 Howard SCOTT 2018 119 Jean LEGG 2020 166 James SEAR 2015 120 Kathleen LEIGHTON 2020 167 Bryce SHEPHERD 2018 121 Alistair LENNIE 2018 168 Aidan SHOEBRIDGE 14+5

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 17 169 John SHOULDER 2017 170 Richard SILSBY 2020 171 Neil SIMS 2017 172 William SKEEL 2015 173 Gordon SMITH 20+£5 174 James STEER 2022 175 Goerge STEIN 2018 176 William STEPHENSON 2018 177 Paul STODDART 2018 178 Norman SUSSEX 2019 179 Pamela SUSSEX 2019 180 Douglas SWANSON 2022 181 Gordon TAIT 2016 182 Ian TAYLOR 2018 183 David TEDDER 2017 184 Stuart TENNYSON 2019 185 Frederick THOMPSON 2018 186 David THORNTON 2017 187 Charles TIMOTHY 14+5 188 Ken TREVOR 2018 189 Maurice VESSEY 2016 190 Roy WALKER 2017 191 Albert WALL 2017 192 Doulas WALTER 2017 193 Gordon WARDELL 2019 194 Frances WARDELL 2019 195 Derek WATT 2018 196 Margret WATT 2018 197 Peter WESCOTT 2019 198 Stephen WHITE 2019 199 Michael WHITEHEAD 2018 200 John WHITTAKER 2016 201 Barry WILDING 16+£5 202 Robert WILLIAMS 15+5 203 Eric WILLIAMSON 2019 204 William WINFIELD 2016 205 Edward WOOFFIT 2019 206 Stewart WRIGHT 2018

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 18 ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION PCS BRANCH REUNION 12th – 14thAPRIL 2019

The Best Western Royale Hotel in Bournemouth has been selected for our 2019 reunion on Saturday 13 April 2019.The address of the hotel is 16 Gervis Road, Bournemouth BH1 3EQ.

The weekend starts with an informal gathering on Friday and the Branch AGM will be held on Sunday morning.

Bookings should be made on 01202 554794,ensuring the hotel is aware that you are attending the Royal Engineers Reunion. A deposit of £15 is required, with balance to be paid on departure. Lifts are available to all floors in the hotel (no ground floor bedrooms are available).

Please make our Secretary([email protected]) and Chairman([email protected])aware of your booking, giving the full names of all in your party.

Please pick one Starter, one Main Course and one Sweet then submit choices to Larry using letter codes, e.g. ‘C, G, L’. Please also inform Larry of any special dietary needs. As usual, some wine will be available funded by the Branch.

Friday/Saturday - 2 Nights B&B and Reunion Dinner £135 per person. Saturday - 1 Night B&B and Reunion Dinner £97.50*per person. Saturday Dinner only - £35per person. *There are only 5 rooms available so book early. Dinner Menu

Starter: A, Shrimp Salad, Leaves and Thousand Island Sauce. B, Crispy Duck Salad with Bean Shoots and Hoisin Sauce. C, Leek and Potato Broth. (V) D, Mediterranean Couscous Plate. (V) Main: E, Roast Sirloin of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Chef’s Pan Gravy Jus. F, Roast Breast of Chicken with Chef’s Pan Gravy Jus. G, Loin of Pork Medallions with Celeriac Mash and Pear & Calvados Sauce. H, Tandoori Vegetable Curry, Rice and Poppadum. (V) I, Open Mushroom Pie. (V) Sweet J, Fresh Fruit Salad. K, Peach and Apricot Trifle L, Brandy Snap Basket with Strawberry Mousse and Fresh Strawberries. The Reunion numbers dropped below 100 for the first time in 2018, so please give us your support in 2019 and let’s get the numbers over 100 again. A warm welcome awaits and it’s always a great weekend!

The POSTHORN November 2018 Newsletter P a g e | 19