ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION www.rafregt.org.uk BIRMINGHAM BRANCH
IMPORTANT NOTICE My Retirement as Your Branch Secretary Page 2
NO ONE HAS YET COME No One has Yet Come Forward Page 2 – Branch Appeal Goodies for Our Injured Boys Page 2 FORWAR D Page 2 – Help For Heroes a Calendar Page 2 – GOODIE S FOR OUR Centurion Journal Moving to an Annual Edition Page 2 Branch Birthdays Page 2 INJURED BOYS Page 2 Spring Reunion Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, North Wales Page 2
Belton Park Page 3 RAF REGIMENT NEWS Two Reports from Hughie Cooper Page 3 Page 4 Our Visit to Belton Park Page 3
Smith Gun & Northover Projector Page 4 NATIONAL MEMORIAL Our Visit to the NMA Page 4 ARBORETUM UPDATE National Memorial Arboretum Update Page 5 Page 7 RAF Regiment Memorial Garden Page 5 Future Events at the NMA Page 5 FROM THE RAF REG.T RAF Regiment Books Page 6 SECRETARY Page 11 Books about the RAF Regiment Page 6 Books Containing References to RAF Regiment Page 7 From the RAF Regiment Secretary Page 7 ONLY FIVE MORE Death Notices Page 7 New Notices Page 7 MONTHS TO GO Corps Diary Dates Page 9 Dates for Your Diary Page 10 Birmingham Branch Committee Page 10
YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THE GRADUALLY DIMINISHING SIZE OF MY NEWSLETTERS FOR I AM WINDING DOWN MY WORK AS YOUR BRANCH SECRETARY – I AM COUNTING DOWN FIVE MONTHS UNTIL I RETIRE AS YOUR BRANCH SECRETARY. A NEW SECRETARY IS REQUIRED IF THE BRANCH IS TO CONTINUE.
The Best Fighters in the RAF PLEASE GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT Operate on the Ground
The Royal Air Force Regiment. Ground-based specialists, NEWSLETTER NO: 255 protecting RAF assets from enemy attack. SEPTEMBER 2010
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THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH NEWSLETTER NUMBER 255 SEPTEMBER 2010
Dear Readers. CENTURION JOURNAL My Retirement as Your Secretary In recognition of the workload involved in No one has yet come forward to volunteer producing the semi-annual Centurion Journal to stand as the Branch Secretary at the Branch against the pressures on peoples time, the AGM next February. Please would you all give it Commandant General has directed that the some thought for after three attempts to retire as Journal will move to an annual edition from 2011. your Secretary, this time I will be - so if the As such the Spring Edition will not be produced. Branch is to continue to function efficiently, The copy for 2011 will be produced in the someone needs to volunteer their services. autumn and will cover the Corps life. Further Goodies for our Injured Boys details as to submission will be published in due It is most important that we remember the course. However, contributors will need to factor dangers that our young men and women serving this into their programme, not least to capture the on operations are all facing, so please remember necessary detail in preparation for their the appeal your Branch Committee have set up. submissions. It is intended that the size and With your help, we can continue to number of colour pages will be increased to “Year Book” approach. provide these small comforts and any other items reflect the that members of the military staff ask us for. We BRANCH BIRTHDAYS can never get enough goodies for the lads, so in A very Happy Birthday to the following the mean time, your continued support is Birmingham Branch members whose birthdays appreciated for we need much more money. are this month, may you all have many more.
It is very much appreciated for it is a huge 3rd Sept Bernard Wynn Birmingham West Mids boost to the lads who are treated at Selly Oak to 7th September Clive Cumber Woking Surrey know that the general public offer the wounded 9th September Spencer Wilcox Tipton West Mids lads and lassies such wonderful financial and 15th Sept Roy Thomas Sutton Coldfield W Mids moral support. It is difficult to work out just how 17th Sept Derek Trust BEM Torquay Devon much money we have raised so far, for as a result 23rd Sept James Patterson Wolverhampton WM of our Appeal, many of you send money directly to the lads but from what I have been told we are SPRING REUNION WEEKEND £5,000 well on our way to . It may be more, so The Spring Reunion Weekend will be held well done lads. at the Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, North Wales from Friday 8th to Monday 11th April 2010. Prices If any of you would like to contribute £209.00 per person in comfortable en items or cash directly for this appeal, you must are from - contact Major Ian Cheesman, Officer I/C Patient suite rooms. Support Services, or post them to him at RCDM, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6JD. If cash, please make your cheques out to RCDM - PSS. HELP FOR HEROES Chris Yelverton has done a sterling job in £5.00 producing a 2011 calendar costing plus “Calendar Girls” P&P based on the well-known and just like them, all the photographs are on “ladies of a certain age”. I understand that they feature ladies discreetly attired in items of military equipment. If anyone would like one of these calendars please let me know. The Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel
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Belton Park, Lincolnshire and on the following You will all by now have with your latest day visited the NMA. “The Flash”, received copy of a booking form At the beginning of World War I, like and with its superb location and military many other British landowners, the 3rd Earl connections it is sure to be a great hit so get your Brownlow offered his house and park to the bookings in early. This majestic Grade II castle Government for war service. The offer was ôt and with spectacular views of the North Wales accepted, and in 1915, the home dep coastline is home to the National Portrait training ground of the Machine Gun Corps were ’s Victorian Collection. It is Gallery set amid established in the southern part of Belton Park. beautiful woodlands and sensory gardens, less The lie of the land there, where the River than an hour from the Snowdonia National Park. Witham passes between the Lower Lincolnshire With its magnificent views stretching to Limestone and the Upper Lias mudstone, lent the Clwydian Hills and its feast of live itself to the development of the necessary firing entertainment on offer, this is a hotel where you ranges close to good communications by way of can really spoil yourself. Outside, the beautifully- the Great North Road and the East Coast main tended grounds include a maze, an aviary and a line railway station at Grantham. ôt was closed in 1919, the site tranquil woodland walk. The dep The scenery could best be described as cleared and the land restored to Lord Brownlow in magnificent and dramatic. It is just under an hour 1920. Little sign of the Machine Gun Corps's stay from Chester, 10 minutes from the seaside town remains in the park, but plaques and inscriptions of Rhyl, and half an hour away from the Victorian can be followed from the south gate of Belton Pier at Llandudno. As well as being a historic park to the memorial gate on the way from there house and museum with a free audio tour to the town centre and in the north aisle of available, the Castle also boasts large areas of Grantham parish church. formal garden and natural woodland. Belton Park again saw war service during A particular feature is the area of practice World War II. On the formation of the RAF trenches dating from the First World War. In Regiment in 1942 the park became the first home 1914, the house that a century earlier had been of the Regiment, when soon afterwards it moved designed to look like a castle was requisitioned by to Belton where it was housed in nissen huts in the army for nearby Kinmel Barracks. the park. In January 1984 as a result of death Within the grounds, there is a reminder of duties, coupled with the rising costs of the the Great War years. Training was an important upkeep, made Belton too much for the Brownlow activity during the First World War (1914-1918). family and ownership of the house, garden and It helped to prepare newly recruited soldiers many some of the contents was transferred to the of whom had never considered the intricacies of National Trust. 'modern' warfare. The local training camp for the OUR VISIT TO BELTON PARK area was Kinmel Park Camp, which is located not 14th August 2010 too far from the Castle. The camp has operated By Hughie Cooper for many years but is remembered by many as the When I first heard about this event we camp where the infamous riots took place after the decided to go and at the same time, as they lived First World War. in the same area, meet two of my brothers. When The training trenches are located in the we were discussing the visit, one of them said that Bodelwyddan Castle Parkland. A set of they could do with some rain in Lincolnshire as in interpretive panels will be available shortly that July; they had only had 5 mm of rain whereas in will provide information on what it was like to be other areas they had 134 mm. a soldier living, fighting and dying in the trenches I told them their worries were over as the and illustrations of how the trenches were RAF Regiment would solve their problem, for in constructed. my experience at various Regiment functions, BELTON PARK particularly ceremonial events, it always seemed Now for a couple of reports from Hughie to rain. Were therefore arranged to meet at Cooper the Branch Research Co-ordinator who Sleaford and then travel down to Belton Park for visited the site of the first RAF Regiment Depot the Saturday and Saturday if weather permitted,
4 which of course it did not. We met as arranged mortar cases to 3 inch by 7 inch cast iron cases but because of the torrential rain decided that it containing smoke ingredients and HE. was too bad to continue with our proposed visit. The idea was that the weapon could be Anyway, in spite of the appalling weather towed behind a small car or other vehicle to the on the Saturday, my wife Eileen and I decided to spot where it was required - a towing eye was go to Belton Park and in spite of the weather, we fitted to the end of the barrel for this purpose - and found it to be extremely interesting with various then the weapon was turned onto one wheel on its military re-enactments taking place and chatting side. The other wheel was conical and served as with people in between the heavy showers. overhead protection. It was quite surprising how many people As everyone knows a smooth bored barrel attended, so much so that the car park was without rifling offers no spin and therefore no absolutely crammed but everyone was rewarded accuracy. The result being an indecisive for their efforts in attending by the displays. trajectory and a total absence of accuracy, not Two RAF Regiment recruitment trailers only that, it was very unstable when being towed were there as well as 2503 RAuxAF Squadron and frequently the towing eye snapped or the gun from Lincoln as well as various military vehicles, took over and caused the towing vehicle to ’t a weapon to either have both those in current use and previously used somersault. It wasn vehicles that also took part in the displays. There faith in or to like and after a short while it was was also a climbing wall which the youngsters phased out and handed over to the Home Guard. enjoyed immensely. The second weapon, also to go to the The commitment and professionalism of home Guard, was the Northover Projector. This everyone who is involved in the current situation consisted of a piece of piping roughly four feet ½ inch bore. It was mounted on is quite firm and confirms their absolute belief in long and with a 2 the onerous tasks and risks they undertake both at four legs and the sighting was rudimentary and of “Energa”. home and abroad. the type later to be found on the Amongst several topics raised was about The sight slipped up and had sighting the Home guard Re-enactment where they had holes along its length which was roughly 11 “Heath Robinson” No what appeared to be a rather ancient mortar with a inches. Some models had a vertical magazine on one side capable of holding 8 battery firing pin, others were purely spring – four thee inch mortar shells in cylindrical pipes, loaded and again, it was smooth bored and of apparently called a Smith Gun. We were told that course highly inaccurate. Its legs were also badly there were only four still in existence and that finished and may were the injuries sustained from they had been issued to the Home Guard. its angular construction. When we returned home I looked through The main thing that both weapons had in my various reference books on different weapons common was that they offered a tangible means of without success. I then searched my archives and defending a position and gave a feeling of being found an article that had been published in the armed. Their faults were not readily apparent “Rocks” RAF Regiment Association Bulletin No owing to the lack of proper ammunition and 1 dated 1st July 1990. It was entitled the: above all, they looked like guns, which I suppose “ ” Smith Gun and Northover Projector was psychologically the intention. Early in World War Two when, just after ******************** Dunkirk, things looked very black indeed, those “we who had managed to get out of Dunkirk were Hughie ended this article with billeted all over the country. Weapons were in sincerely hoped that the weather would be better short supply and until better, more efficient ones on the following day as we had a prior could be produced, a series of odd, cheap and appointment at the National Memorial Arboretum, mainly inefficient weapons appeared on the scene. so we left Grantham early on the Sunday morning. OUR VISIT TO THE NMA The Smith Gun was amongst the first. It th consisted of two very large wheels, about four feet 15 August 2010 in diameter with two inch rubber tyres. Its barrel By Hughie Cooper was smooth bored and about four feet in length. Dave Harris and I had completed our The projectiles ranged from converted three inch Basic Training together and so we arranged to
5 meet him and his family at the NMA so after we For commemorating a numbered unit or had arrived from Grantham we met them there. group of individuals or Corps Event. 8 in x 8 in x The weather was much better than that we had 1.2 in with chamfered edges, RAF Regiment experienced at Belton Park and over the last two Crossed Rifles motif and containing five lines £ days. each of up to sixteen characters at 165.00. The day was the 65th Anniversary of the Special Corps Event Memorial Stone ending of the war in the Far East and services For commemorating a Corps Operational were being held to commemorate this, particularly Event or Theatre of Operations. 12 inches square from the Far Eastern Prisoners of War or 16 inches square. Design to be agreed. Association. It is always a very poignant Number of lines and characters dependent on reminder of the terrible things that happened then. design selected. Price on application. Also, it gave me the privilege of meeting Future Events at the NMA once again, Jack Plant who was one of the prime Thursday 16th September 2010 movers in the erection of the Sumatra Railway At 2.00 p.m. in the Millennium Chapel Memorial that was dedicated in 2001 on the and later onsite the Ambulance Service Anniversary of VJ Day, an event he attends every Benevolent Fund will hold its bi-annual service to year. honour all ambulance personnel and especially Again the events were well supported and those who have died in Service. very busy. It impressed everyone who we spoke For further information contact Simon to and many could not believe the amount of work Fermor, National Secretary, by telephone on that had been carried out in such a short time. 01323 721150, or by e-mail at < ******************** [email protected]>. ’m so th Many thanks for your reports Hughie and I Thursday 30 September 2010 glad the weather did not put you off. At 2.30 p.m. the Royal Anglian Regiment NATIONAL MEMORIAL will hold a dedication of the memorial to the ARBORETUM (NMA) UPDATE Royal Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire RAF Regiment Memorial Garden Regiments. For further information contact Lieutenant The RAF Regiment Memorial Garden's Colonel Tony Slater on 01603 400290 or by email new block paving has enabled the establishment at
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“ ” Sunday 24th October 2010 No Tigers in our Jungle about life in the RAF The Vulcan Crew Chiefs Register has Regiment in South-East Asia Command 1943/45. received a Big Lottery Fund grant and is installing By ex-Flight Lieutenant Harry Homer. Service a bench in the RAF section. At 11.00 a.m. MRAF number 127613. Published in 1982 ISBN 84 398 8656 X. Lord Craig of Radley, their President and Patron “ ” will unveil the memorial bench at a dedication The Edges of War An RAF Regiment Story by service. There will also be a wreath laying Tim Hillyar. About 2804 Armoured Car ceremony. For further information Tony Regan Squadron, from landing in France at the end of on 01297 20280 or email
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“ ” "On the Road to Mandalay" featuring the life of Sunset in the East by John Hudson published the author Randle Manwaring focussing by Leo Cooper in 2002. ISBN 0 85052 846 1. It particularly on his time with the RAF Regiment in briefly mentions The RAF Regiment on page 43. the Burma Campaign. Published in 2006 by Pen Its main interest is the fact that to maintain order and Sword Books Limited. ISBN 1844154971. and to control the nationalist in Java, the author "Constant Vigilance" the RAF Regiment in the employed captured Japanese army personnel. It Burma Campaign by Nigel W M Warwick. also gives a lot of detail about the war in Burma. “ ” Published in 2007 by Pen and Sword Books Joint Force Harrier by Commander Adrian Limited. ISBN: 9781844155002. Orchard, with James Barrington. The true story “ ’ ” Gunner s Tales, Warts and All by Ron of a Royal Navy Fighter squadron at war. Taylor. This is a collection of stories, myths and Published in 2008 by Penguin Books and Micael legends from the RAF Regiment. A cartoon book Joseph. ISBN 9780718153991. similar to the Giles cartoon books only all Regiment cartoons. A Limited Edition book £10.00. privately published in 2009 at Copies can be obtained from Mr. R Taylor, 710A Hern Road, ’s, PE26 2TL. Pondersbridge, Ramsay St Mary Ron can also be contacted on 01733 844817. Books containing references to the RAF FROM THE RAF REGIMENT Regiment SECRETARY “ ” The Lost Lady all about the American Bomber DEATH NOTICES: "Lady Be Good". No publication date available. WATKINS GEORGE. Former RAF By Mario Martinez. Published by Leo Cooper at Regt LAC George Robert Watkins, born 23 Sep £19.95 . Mentions 2926 Squadron RAF Regiment. 21, died on 4 Aug 10 aged 88. He enlisted into “ ” Flugplatz Gutersloh . A Short History 1937/87 the RAF in 1940, was assimilated into the RAF with references to the RAF Regiment. Published Regt in 1942, and served in various parts of the in 1987. By Gerry Lewis. Published 1987. UK during WWII before being discharged in “ ” The Battle of the Airfields 1st January 1945 1945. He was a member of the Norfolk Branch of “Operation by Norman L Franks. About the RAF Regt Assoc. ” Bodenplatte when the Germans attempted to The funeral was held at 13.30 on Thu 19 destroy the advanced Allied Airfields. First Aug at the Earlham Crematorium, Norwich. published in 1982. ISBN 1 898697 15 9. Family flowers only were requested but Republished by Grub Street in 1994 in an updated donations, if required, may be made to the RBL version. and/or RAFA (Watton Branch), c/o Breckland “ ” Britain's Modern Royal Air Force which Funeral Services, 25 Norwich Road, Norfolk. contains a complete chapter on the RAF Next of Kin details are not known but Regiment. Published in 1994. By Peter F Guiver. correspondence may be sent to Mr R Wheeler of ISBN 1 85260 4328. 21 Ovington Road, Saham Toney, Thetford, “ ” The Autobiography by Brian Clough. Norfolk (tel 01953 881068. The Corps extends it Mentions his service at RAF Watchet. Published sincere condolences to the surviving family. in 1995. ISBN 1 85225 198 0. MARLOW GEORGE. Former RAF “ ” The Royal Air Force an Illustrated History Regt Sgt George Marlow, born 10 Apr 26, died on by Michael Armitage. Published by 12 Aug 10 aged 84. He served in the Corps from Brockhampton Press in 1995. ISBN 1 86019 Oct 44 until Apr 48, and was employed firstly on 8511. Contains several references to the RAF bomb disposal duties and then as a Para Instructor Regiment. with 2 Sqn RAF Regt. He was a member of the “ ” Esprit de Corps by Walter Archibald Elliott. Notts & Derby Branch of the RAF Regt Assoc. A Scots Guards Officer on Active Service 1943 - The funeral was held at 11.20 on Wed 25 ’s a 1945. Published in 1997. In Chapter 7 it bout Aug 10 at the Wilford Hill Crematorium, the Transfer of RAF Regiment Personnel to the Nottingham, NG2 7SE. Family flowers only were Scots Guards. ISBN 085955 220 9. requested but donations may be made to the RAFBF via the Funeral Directors, A W Lymn of
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Varney Road, Clifton. (tel 01159 456232). He is 26 AND 27 RAF REGT SQNS' STANDARD survived by his daughter, Ms Barbara Marlow of PRESENTATIONS - DATE CHANGE 18 Barnet Road, Bakersfield, Notts, NG2 7AQ, to Further to previous CPeNs, the whom the Corps extends its sincere condolences. presentation of the new Standard for 27 Sqn RAF NEW NOTICES: Regt (and recovery of the 26 Sqn RAF Regt THANKSGIVING SERVICES Standard) will now take place at RAF Honington McNEIL IAN. A Thanksgiving Service at 14.00 on Tue 28 Sep 10 (not 30 Sep as for the Life and Service of the late Air Cdre Ian previously listed). Former members of either 26 McNeil, CG RAF Regt 1995-99, who died in Apr or 27 Sqns RAF Regt who wish to attend should 10, will be held at the RAF Church of St Clement contact the relevant Sqn Dep Sqn Cdr for further Danes in London at 11.00 on Thu 7 Oct 10. details and to register attendance. Further details will be issued in due course but 26 Sqn RAF Regt: Flt Lt Dan Quayle (GPTN those interested in attending the Service and 95991 7128; BT 01359 237128; email 26fpsqn- Reception afterwards may register with the Regtl [email protected]. Sec in the first instance. 27 Sqn RAF Regt: Flt Lt Jamie Milne (GPTN DUNHILL BRYAN. A Thanksgiving 95991 7230; BT 01359 23 7230; email Service for the Life of the late Bryan Dunhill, [email protected] who died on 22 Mar 10, will be held at the RAF QUEEN'S COLOUR SQUADRON 50TH Chapel at Biggin Hill, Kent, at 11.00 on Fri 3 Sep ANNIVERSARY DINNER - 5 NOV 2010 10, after which will be a burial of the Ashes. All The QCS will host a formal dinner to celebrate its are welcome to attend and Medals may be worn. 50th anniversary on Fri 5 Nov 10 and former Further details may be obtained from his wife, members of the QCS are invited to participate in Mrs Jane Dunhill of 4 Lullarook Close, Biggin the event to be held at the RAF Northolt Junior Hill, Kent TN16 3XG (Tel No 01959 571571). Ranks' Mess. Dress for serving members will be MEMORIAL STONES FACILITY IN RAF No 5b Service Mess Dress for officers and REGIMENT MEMORIAL GARDEN - SNCOs, Interim Mess Dress for JNCOs and Gnrs, UPDATED or Black Tie (Dinner Jacket) with medals and The RAF Regt Memorial Garden's new decorations. Pre-dinner drinks will be held at block paving in late-2009 enabled the 19.30 in the Junior Ranks' Mess Foyer and the establishment of individual and personalized dinner will begin at 20.00. Memorial Stones in the pathway. The Memorial Regrettably, owing to the current fiscal £35 Stones, manufactured in honed light grey granite constraints, the dinner will attract a charge of and available in several distinct styles, may be per head. Those wishing to attend should register ordered by anyone who may wish to by sending their details and a UK Sterling cheque £35 (payable to Service Funds, RAF Northolt), commemorate a Corps individual, unit or event. for A bespoke order form is now available in hard- to the Proj Offr to arrive no later than 22 Oct, copy and electronic formats from the Regtl Sec together with details of any dietary requirements and may also be downloaded from the RAF Regt and vehicle registration details if a parking pass Assoc website at www.rafregt.org.uk . will be required. Unfortunately, places will be RAF ARMOURED CAR ASSOC & AUTUMN limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first- REUNION served basis. Places may only be reserved with The RAF Armoured Car Assoc was pre-payment and cancellations without penalty originally formed to link former members of the will be accepted no later than 29 Oct 10. RAF Armoured Car Companies (ACCs, 1921-46) The dinner is a stag event and there will be but it was expanded to include the RAF Regt no accommodation available at RAF Northolt. armoured car involvement post-1947. There is no Those attending are asked not to approach the membership fee but those wishing to join the Messes direct and are advised to seek their own Assoc should contact the Hon Sec, John Rolph at accommodation in the local area. Further details [email protected] . including a list of nearby accommodation are RAF REGT SQN STANDARD available on request from the Proj Offr, who may PRESENTATIONS be contacted at: Fg Off Dunne, 50th Anniversary Dinner Proj Offr, QCS, RAF Northolt West End
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Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG (Email: attend all repatriations, and the NEC agreed that it [email protected], BT Tel: would be wholly fitting to similarly honour the 0208 8426094). [CPeN 150] fallen. CORPS FORMATION DINNER 2011 Regardless of whether it is to be a RAF The Corps Operational Review and Formation Regt repatriation, or that of another Service, the Dinner 2011 (CFD11) will be held at RAF Assoc should try to parade as a single body, to Honington on Fri 4 Feb 11. All RAF FP Force maximise our impact on the parade. Clearly this RAF Regt Officers not operationally deployed or requires some coordination and Mr Tich Taylor, on essential duty are to attend; all other serving of the Hereford Branch, will act as the Assoc's RAF Regt officers are invited to attend, as are up Repatriations Coordinator. to 30 retired officers. Further details will be Branches and individual members of the issued towards the end-2010. [CPeN 150] Assoc are therefore encouraged to contact Mr A CPeN MILESTONE Taylor (contact details below) to register their This marks the 150th CPeN and, since the interest in attending repatriations. He will then be inception of the service in late 2006, well in able to advise those interested on when excess of 150,000 have been sent to Corps repatriation is due to take place and of the members and a significant number of supporters. necessary coordinating arrangements. They are often re-transmitted on to other groups The act of registering an interest does not and many addressees are in far distant lands, mean that branches or individuals are committed including Cambodia, Thailand, Australia, New to attend, but the greater the pool of those Zealand and the Americas. They provide up-to- interested, the greater the chances of the Assoc date Corps news and information that, for the having a fully representative turnout. Mr Taylor majority, would go unseen or be received long may be contacted on Tel: 01446 730894 or via after the event has passed. The service is free and Email at [email protected]. just needs the registration of an Internet Email 20 YEARS IN IRAQ CONFERENCE address with the Regtl Sec. Please encourage The Defence Studies Department of King's friends and colleagues to sign up. College London and the Royal Air Force Centre RAF REGT FUND CHANGES OF ADDRESS for Air Power Studies is hosting a one day Please advise any RAF Regt Fund/Centurion conference, on 30 Sep 11 at JSDC Shrivenham, journal changes of address to the Fund involving air power academics and specialists, Membership Secretary Flt Lt Paul Norry at military historians, experts on the Gulf Wars, and RTS(C) Trg Wg, RAF Honington, or by Email at RAF and other veterans of theses conflicts. This [email protected], or by BT tel conference intends to bring together scholars and 01359 237957. practitioners in the various phases of the Iraq RAF REGT ASSOC PRESENCE AT development in order to explore the following SERVICE REPATRIATIONS - UPDATED themes: The National Executive Committee (NEC) RAF transformation: from Cold War air of the RAF Regt Assoc has determined that an force to expeditionary air force ; The evolution of Assoc presence at Service repatriations, centred air-land integration from 1990 to 2009 ; Modern upon the town of Wootton Bassett, should be air operations and the media ; Non-kinetic and instituted formally, since with the intensity of psychological warfare ; Air policing and the operations in which British forces are currently utility of air power in low intensity operations ; engaged, it seems sadly inevitable that there will Casualty tolerance and intolerance ; Prisoners of be more to come. It was agreed that the Assoc's war ; International perspectives on the RAF's role National Standard should always be on parade for and performance in Iraq ; The legacy of Iraq on a RAF Regt repatriation. the RAF today and the immediate future. However, it was also agreed that it was Serving personnel are invited to attend. desirable that the Assoc should be represented, at For more information, or to book a place, contact least at Branch level, at all repatriations, your Unit Representative. regardless of the Service(s) of the individual(s) CORPS DIARY DATES: being repatriated. It is worth noting that a number 28 Sep Standard Presentations to 27 and 26 Sqns of other Service and ex-Service organisations RAF Regt (RAF Honington)
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1-4 Oct RAF Regt Assoc AGM and Annual Reunion (Nr Hereford). 7 Oct Thanksgiving Service for the Life and Service of the late Air Cdre Ian McNeil (London). 21-22 Oct RAF Armd Car Assoc 2010 Autumn Reunion (Nr Derby). 29 Oct RAF Regt Officers' Dinner Club Annual Dinner (RAF Club, London). 11 Nov Garden of Remembrance - Westminster Abbey. 14 Nov Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph, London, and nationwide. ’s all for now, keep smiling if you can Well that and stay happy. Malcolm
10 Sunday 14th November 2010 Remembrance Sunday th th ’ Sat 27 -Sun 28 Nov 2010 B ham Int Tattoo th ’ DATES FOR Tuesday 30 November 2010 St Andrew s Day MAKE Thursday 9th December 2010 Branch Night YOUR th A Thursday 13 January 2011 Branch Night Thursday 10th February 2011 Branch AGM Night DIARIES DATE A NEW BRANCH Sunday 3rd October 2010 Merchant Navy Day Fri 1st-Mon 4th October 2010 Ass AGM and Reunion th SECRETARY WANTED Thursday 14 October 2010 Branch Night th Thursday 21st October 2010 Battle of Trafalgar AGM THURSDAY 10 Sunday 7th November 2010 Midlands Fest of Rem Thursday 11th Nov 2010 Remembrance Day FEBRUARY WHEN I Thursday 11th November 10 Westminster Abbey Thursday 11th Nov 2010 Branch Night RETIRE th ’ Saturday 13 Nov 2010 B ham Poppy Ball REMEMBER CHAIRMAN SECRETARY TREASURER Ron Sharp Malcolm A Baldwin Tom Magee 46 Lightwood Road 61 Pear Tree Crescent 11 Pavilion Avenue Yoxall, Burton on Trent Solihull Lodge, Shirley Smethwick, Warley Staffordshire DE13 8QE Solihull, B90 1LE West Midlands, B67 6LA Tel No: 01543 472411 Tel: 0121 608 3791 Tel: 0121 429 5635 e-mail [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
MINUTE SECRETARY BRANCH STANDARD BEARER Ken Bridgwood QUARTERMASTER Dave Gooding 29 Claverdon Drive Tom Magee 31 Queen Elizabeth Road Great Barr 11 Pavilion Avenue Rubery, Rednal Birmingham Smethwick, Warley Birmingham West Midlands, B45 5HR West Midlands, B67 6LA West Midlands B45 0NE Tel: 0121 357 4242 Tel: 0121 429 5635 e-mail Tel: 0121 604 4637 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT AND RBL RESEARCH CO-ORD/ Peter Swash LIAISON OFFICER LINK-UP DATA BASE ‘ ’ Mdina Rowney Green Lane Dave Gooding Hughie Cooper Rowney Green 31 Queen Elizabeth Road 11 Sandringham Close Redditch Rubery, Rednal Baswich Lane Worcestershire, B48 7QF Birmingham, B45 0NE Stafford, ST17 0AB Tel No: 01527 60870 Mob: 077597 36879 Tel: 01785 242269 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
PUBLIC RELATIONS FINANCIAL AUDITOR FINANCIAL AUDITOR OFFICER/SOCIAL SEC Trevor Round Joan Round Michael Beard 7 Board School Gardens 7 Board School Gardens 21 Abingdon Road Dudley Dudley Bloxwich, Walsall West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands DY3 1XA DY3 1XA WS3 2SX Tel: 01902 672597 Tel: 01902 672597 Tel: 01922 491453
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