Supporting Our Military Family of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I am WO Chris Sweeney March 2021 and wef 4 Jan 21, I was assigned into Brunssum as the Head of Location within the NSE, replacing WO Andy Rodulson – after a short gap . It is very much a Emergency Numbers privilege to be joining you and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity. I have served in a multitude of different roles at home and overseas, including HR, European Emergency Number: 112 career management and Attaché support, in an RAF career spanning over 34 years. I arrive with my wife Rosa and dog Samson, and we are residing in Brunssum CEP: +44 300 166 8562 Heerlen. Dutch Medical Centre: 0889 502 717 #3 I have met many of you already and would like to thank you for such a warm Healix: +44(0)208 481 7800 welcome and I very much look forward to meeting everyone else over the next few weeks, where possible. It has been good to meet many of my colleagues within the NSE during my arrivals process and find everyone Upcoming events enthusiastic, determined and thoroughly professional. It is great to be able to join them.

I am fully aware that we join the Brunssum community at what is a 4th Virtual Coffee Morning particularly difficult time. After being in Italy for the whole of 2020 before arriving in The Netherlands in Dec, we are aware of the many challenges that 5th Virtual Escape Rooms we all face in these testing COVID times but hope that as the year progresses, things will get better.

I have spent the first couple of weeks arriving and meeting key personnel –

some virtually – both here and at the EJSU in Belgium where I was provided with a flavour of what my role will entail. My team and I stand ready to COVID Updates support you.

For up to date information on COVID-19 in the Finally, I would like to thank FS Martin Hollow and Sgt Dan Parry for ensuring Netherlands key support was provided whilst covering the HoL gap.

NL Government Website For a full guide of local events and things to do, please visit; A postcode search for local lockdown rules in UK

U.K. Government Website https://brunssumhive.blogspot.com/ Information on the Blog and more… Other local information and support https://www.ejsu.net/covid-welfare-support/ ejsu.net

TogetherAll: World Sleep Day: 19th March Register for a coronavirus test Additional Needs and Disability Virtual Study Day: 29th March If you have (mild) symptoms of COVID-19, make an appointment to get tested. Call the toll-free 2021Additional Needs and Disability Virtual Study Day: 29th March number 0850 659 063 2021 Testing to shorten the quarantine period Thinkuknow - Online Safety You can arrange to get tested for coronavirus on the 5th day after your arrival in the Netherlands, even if you don’t have any symptoms. If the test MWA Facilities & Concessionaires shows you do not have coronavirus, you can end your self-quarantine. You can make an appoint- To receive regular HIVE updates, go to ment to get tested by calling the municipal health http:brunssumhive.blogspot.com/ service (GGD) on 0850 659 063. You can also At the top left hand side see ‘Follow by Email’ pop your make an appointment online by going to email address in... the rest is easy! (Just check your email coronatest.nl. You can make an appointment by to confirm) phone in advance, but you will have to wait until day 5 to make an appointment online. If you would like to contact your local HISO direct please e-mail [email protected] Women's International Day 8Th March 2021

Much progress has been made to protect and promote Women’s rights in recent times. However, nowhere in the world can Women claim to have all the same rights and opportunities as men, according to the UN.

The first International Women’s day occurred on the 19th March 1911. The inaugural evet , which included rallies and organised meetings , was a big success in countries such as Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland.

The 19th March was chose because it commemorated the day that the Prussian king promised to introduce the vote for women in 1848. The promise gave hope for equality but it was a promise that he failed to keep. The International Women's day date was moved to the 8Th March.

Will you join us in wearing purple and white for the day ?

Don’t ...along forget to with the get the flowers Card on and order... chocolate.

May your thoughts be as glad as ST. PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES

Would you like to cook something special for the shamrocks. May your heart be St. Patrick’s Day? You don’t need the luck of as light as a song. May each day the Irish! Check out our list of St. Patrick’s Day recipes for corned beef and cabbage, bring you bright, happy hours that Irish soda bread, and more ideas beyond green milk and beer! stay with you all year long . ______JOKE OF THE MONTH Q: Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover? A: You don’t want to press your luck!

The best things in life are the people we love, the places we have been and the memories we have made along the way. News in the Netherlands Service Cotswold Centre

The Services Cotswold Centre

(SCC) is a tri-service facility

managed by Headquarters

Army Welfare Service (AWS) and funded by Headquarters Dutch vaccination A drive-through art ex- programme catches up hibition in Rotterdam Regional Command (HQ RC) on behalf of the MOD. It picks up a new trend provides short term emergency transit accommodation for service personnel and entitled family members. The

SCC accommodation comprises of 41 self-contained

chalet style homes and 19 single storey semi-detached

units of various sizes. The SCC is located in Neston near Amsterdam Tuschinski Corsham, Wiltshire in the . Details can be Generous donations for Hero Dad who saved his proclaimed most found at the following link. https://www.gov.uk/ Children from a burning beautiful cinema in the government/publications/services-cotswold-centre/ house. world

B&S Central Store

B&S will begin private shopping and NOTE: Once the request is received, a B&S employee will confirm your every customer can book a time slot of 15 minutes by sending an email appointment by email, and provide you with a specific time on your Tenant ordered to to [email protected]. Parts of plane fall from chosen date and time-block (if sky in Limburg vacate apartment for Your email must include: available). It is imperative you arrive at the specified confirmed time. Be sure • Full Name howling like a wolf to bring your NATO ID card and ration • Phone Number (this is needed card (as applicable). Payment options for B&S staff to contact you) will be PIN and cash. To ensure Bumps 2 Babies Virtual Group Choose a time slot Monday – Friday (4 efficiency and good customer service, hours in advance): customers who are not able to make Every Monday at 10am on Zoom 10:00-12:00 their appointment as agreed, must 12:00-14:00 contact the B&S store through the Meeting ID: 603 803 4287 Password: Hope123 14:00-16:00 email above as soon as possible. (This is hosted by SHAPE) 16:00-18:00

Would you like to receive valuable free training and gain experience for your own personal and professional development, whilst helping others?

Watersports Residential Training Course I enjoy working with Here are just some of the young people. I’ve a lot to offer. This things I’ve helped young could be fun! people achieve. My Young Leaders’ Training intent is to do some of Weekend Residential these again. Each location will differ in what can be Day offered, but the emphasis Trip will certainly be on fun. Go- Karting

Contact Debbie on 0044 7933 748552 (or [email protected]) for more information about volunteering for the Youth Service A STEP BACK IN TIME... Operation CLIPPER: Part 1 Having been “gripped” by Gp Capt Whitty for my lack of knowledge on Op CLIPPER I will attempt to rectify the error this month. Op CLIPPER was an Allied offensive by the British XXX Corps, Lieutenant General , to reduce the Geilenkirchen salient in mid-. This salient was a German position on the (Westwall) at the boundary between the British Second Army and the American 9th Army. It restricted the movement of Allied forces and was a potential threat. Op CLIPPER was a preliminary to those wider Allied operations aimed at gaining control of the Roer valley and the Hürtgen Forest. Anglo-American cooperation was supported by the availability of British artillery and the specialised armour support of "Hobart's Funnies" (such as flail and Crocodile flamethrower tanks). A two-pronged attack was planned on the salient and the US 84th Infantry Division was temporarily attached to XXX Corps. The British part of the operation was coordinated from 13th – 24th November in a house at Laurastraat 67 in Eygelshoven (now Kerkrade) and units of the British 43rd (Wessex) Division actually used the JFCBS site prior to the attack. The plan had four phases. First, on 18 November 84th Division, commanded by Major General Alexander R. Bolling, would take Prummern and the surrounding high ground, east of Geilenkirchen. Second, at midday, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, Major-General Ivor Thomas, was to advance and capture the high ground north and west of the town (around Bauchem and Tripsrath). This would virtually encircle Geilenkirchen to allow the third phase in which 84th Division would occupy the town. In the fourth phase, both divisions would advance north east about 3 miles, clearing both sides of the River Wurm. The final objectives were the villages of Hoven, Müllendorf, Würm and Beeck. For aerial support the operation had aircraft from RAF Second Tactical Air Force and the XXIX Tactical Air Command. The German defenders consisted of the bulk of the 176th Infantry Division, northwest of Geilenkirchen, and the extemporised 183rd Volksgrenadier Division, in the town and south east of it. General der Infantrie Günther Blumentritt, who commanded XII SS Corps which the 176th and 183rd were subordinate to, had placed the bulk of his artillery in the area. South east of Geilenkirchen, deep minefields had been laid to Jülich, via Immendorf and Puffendorf. The area was at the point where a new section of the Westwall, built while held out, joined the established defences. Westwall used the compact, stone-built buildings in the villages, which had been fortified, and purpose-built concrete bunkers. To be continued…

US Ninth Army Front Line Geilenkirchen Area

Those interested in military history may be interested in my book, Action at Badama Post. Available from Casemate UK publishers or Amazon, it tells the story of a little known action in the Third Afghan War of 1919. I also have a couple of copies for sale with me.

Hello’s and Goodbye’s

Please join us in welcoming our new members to our community here in Brunssum and GK.

A warm welcome to: Shani Angel Steven, Hannah-Maria, Grace and Samuel Cooper Vivienne Joynes

We hope you enjoy your time here and enjoy exploring the area.

Central European Practice Defence Primary Healthcare Overseas European Joint Support Unit Brunssum Post Office JFC Brunssum, BFPO 28 Our opening Contact Details: BRUNSSUM CEP (FORMERLY UK MED ADMIN) times: Phone; Mon 0900-1400 0031 45526 Following NL government guidelines I‘m currently Tues 1200-1400 working from home. I can be contacted via Email on: ext 2231 [email protected] or Wed 0900-1400 Email; via Skype on: 0044 300 166 8562 Thur 1200-1400 EJSUBrunssum Please forward any reports or bills to me via the email Fri 0900-1400 Centralregistry@ address above. mod.gov.Uk Main CEP can be contacted on: [email protected] +32 (0)6544 2280

Med Finance: [email protected] +32 (0)6544 2280

DIO Notice Healix: [email protected] +44 (0)208 481 7800 DIO remains closed and all staff are still currently working from home. *Please note the Dutch Med Centre and Dr Roos are open, It is advisable to call ahead first* All faults with your SFA or SLA are to be reported to Dutch Med Centre DIO via the Repair Helpdesk email address: 0031 (0) 889 502 717 #3 DIO-BRUNSSUM- [email protected] Dr Roos For general enquiries: 0031 (0) 45 525 2217 [email protected] For the Patient information leaflet, Please note that the phones aren’t manned in the please click here offices.