ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION www.rafregt.org.uk BIRMINGHAM BRANCH
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Ground-based specialists, NEWSLETTER NO: 235 protecting RAF assets from enemy attack. JANUARY 2009
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THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH NEWSLETTER NUMBER 235 JANUARY 2009 – sorry, 75 years old. Three-quarters of a Century ’t. Dear Readers. is that old? No of course it isn Valerie and I would like to thank all those members and friends who sent Christmas cards to BRANCH SUBSCRIPTIONS us, wishing all our members and us well for Please remember that your Branch ’m always amazed st Christmas and the New Year. I Subscriptions are due on 1 February and also, and touched with all the cards that we have please remember that your total subscription will £ £10.00 Association Subscription received. Not only from our relations and our be 15.00 that is ‘civilian’ friends but also from members and from £5.00 Branch Subscription. Please make your and good friends of the Birmingham Branch, sending cheques out to The Birmingham Branch, good wishes to Valerie and I and to all members Association of the RAF Regiment and send them of the Branch, not only for Christmas but for the to THE BRANCH TREASURER Tom Magee New Year too, my thanks to all of you. and NOT to me. BRANCH BIRTHDAYS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS A Happy birthday to the following I have a list of members of other branches Birmingham Branch members whose birthdays and others, who have asked to receive are in January and w e hope that they have many Birmingham Branch newsletters. The subscription £7.00 per year. So would those more of them. Some members have not fully for this service is completed their Application Forms so if I have other branch members and others who have asked missed anyone out, give me a call and I'll put it to be put onto the Circulation List for right. I have also put these birthday greetings Birmingham Branch newsletters and wish to onto the Birmingham News page of the RAF continue receiving the newsletters, please send a £7.00 as above, to Regiment Association Website. If anyone does cheque for THE BRANCH not wish to be included in these birthday TREASURER Tom Magee and NOT to me. greetings, please let me know. Would all of you please pay your nd 2 January Dinah Shave of Birmingham, Subscriptions immediately as having to chase up West Midlands late payers is a time consuming job and adds to rd 3 January Robert Shepherd of Ballymena, my workload and to the workload of the Branch County Antrim Treasurer and my sincere thanks to those th 4 January Robert Watkins of Nuneaton, members who have already paid up. Warwickshire ’S MEETING 5th January Samuel Hadley of Dudley, West NEXT MONTH Midlands WILL BE BRANCH AGM th 6 January Godfrey Coates of Birmingham, Thursday 12th February 2009 West Midlands The Branch AGM will be held next month 9th January John Lawton of Stoke on Trent, and as is usual in the Birmingham Branch, only Staffordshire one of the three Executive offices will be voted 14th January Chris Baxter of Daventry, for. For many years now, to ensure continuity in Northamptonshire the Branch, the Branch Chairman, the Branch 14th January Samuel Owen of Crewe, Cheshire Secretary and the Branch Treasurer are elected for 24th January James Bayliss of Coleshill, West three years, one each year, in that order. The Midlands Branch President has been elected for life, or until 28th January Thomas Swann of Stanford Le he wishes to stand down. This year, it will be the Hope, Essex turn of the office of Branch Treasurer to be up for And a Happy Birthday to me too for my election. Tom Magee has said that he is willing to birthday is on 14th January too when, as you stand again. All the other officers are elected receive these newsletters, I shall be 25 oops, annually and all the Branch officers have indicated that they are willing to stand again this
3 year. Nominations are requested for all the the Branch Treasurer Tom Magee, made out to the – Branch officers, with the exception of the Branch Birmingham Branch Military Ward Appeal. President, the Branch Chairman and the Branch If any of you would like to contribute Secretary. If any other Branch member would items to this appeal, you can either take them like to stand for a Branch office, please let me directly to Ward S4, Selly Oak Hospital and ask have your nomination, Proposed and Seconded by for Major Ian Cheesman, or any of the Military two other Branch members, at least two weeks Ward staff; or post them to Major I R Cheesman, before the AGM that is by 29th January 2009. OC Patient Support Services, RCDM, Ward S4, Branch Appeal Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6JD. Goodies for the Military Ward AIR VICE MARSHAL DONALD POCOCK – It is most important that we remember the CBE (CG 1973 1975) th – th dangers that our young men and women serving b 5 July 1920 d 30 July 2008 RIP on operations are all facing, so please remember Your Branch Committee has decided to the appeal your Branch Committee have set up. commemorate Air Vice Marshal Pocock at the With the ever increasing number of casualties National Memorial Arboretum. There is a facility being evacuated from the combat zones, we need for this in the walkway between the Visitor Centre to encourage continuing donations to the Appeal and the Millennium Chapel. This is paved with Fund. With your help, we can continue to provide red brick pavers upon which the details of those to these small comforts and any other items that the be commemorated can be carved. Military Ward staff ask us for. We have already commissioned a number A major winter offensive against the of these pavers commemorating various people Taliban in southern Afghanistan has led to scores and we have commissioned another paver to of casualties among British troops. In eight weeks commemorate AVM Pocock. I will let you all of fighting, 16 soldiers and marines have been know when it will be dedicated. In addition, we killed and around 60 have been wounded in action also hope to get all the Branch pavers re-laid so as fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda gunmen in to be all together in one place. central Helmand. The vast majority of the NEWS OF THE RAF REGIMENT casualties are being caused by the increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The number of wounded servicemen returning from Helmand has put pressure on Selly Oak Hospital. There are currently 27 wounded soldiers being treated in the hospital but the MoD insists the staff can cope. Selly Oak's "military managed" ward can now accommodate 36 FROM THE RAF REGIMENT SECRETARY casualties and any increase in that number would General: The following Parish Notices are result in troops being treated on civilian wards. provided for your information and interest. The Ministry of Defence' own figures DEATH NOTICES: show that the number of injured troops being HALLIGAN WILLIAM. Former RAF evacuated from Helmand is now more than double Regt Gnr William Halligan died on 28 Nov 08 that of last year. In November 2007, 33 injured after a long illness. Member of Catterick Branch troops were flown out of Helmand; last month the of RAF Regt Assoc. The funeral took place at figure was 79. 1330 hrs on Wed 10 Dec 08 at St Anne's Church We can never get enough goodies for the (RAF Regt Chapel) Catterick Village, followed by lads, so in the mean time, your continued support commital at Darlington Crematorium at 1445hrs. is appreciated. Please don't hesitate to contact me Both the Church Service and the committal at if you have any other ideas where we could help. the Crematorium were open to all those who All donations will be gratefully acknowledged wished to attend. The service was followed by and will be recorded in the Birmingham Branch refreshments at the Angel Hotel. Family flowers newsletters. If anyone would like to contribute only were requested but donations, if desired, can financially to this appeal, please send a cheque to be made towards the upkeep of the RAF Regt
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Chapel. Letters of condolence may be sent to Mrs He was demobilized on 22 Jul 47. He joined the Rose Halligan at 17 Garth Meadow, Catterick old RAF Regt Assoc (Kent Branch) in 1992 but Village, DL10 7RT. The Corps extends its transferred to the Bromley Branch in 2003, where sincere sympathy to the Family at this time. he was a regular attendee until ill health prevailed. LAKE-BULLEN LEONARD MM. The funeral took place on 15 Oct 08 and was Former RAF Regt Gnr Leonard George Lake- attended by Bromley Branch members and their Bullen MM, born 13 Feb 23, died on 26 Nov 08 Branch Standard was paraded. There was no aged 85, following a short illness. He was the immediate family. first RAF Regiment recipient of the Military THACKER J H. Retired Regt Sqn Ldr J H Medal in May 43. The Citation for the award of THACKER, born 6 Mar 20, died on 30 Oct 08 the MM, published in the London Gazette on 28 aged 88 years. He was commissioned on 24 Oct “1459700 Aircraftsman 1st May 43, read: Class 45 and was promoted to Sqn Ldr on 1 Jul 56. He Leonard George BULLEN, Royal Air Force retired on 28 Jan 61. No further details are known Regiment. In November 1942, this airman with at this time. The funeral has been held, but letters his flt was on the coastal road proceeding in the of condolence may be sent to his widow, Mrs direction of Sollum. When the convoy had Queenie Thacker at 47 Pound Lane, Thorpe St reached a point at which the road was crowded Andrews, Norwich NR7 0UN. The Corps extends with transport vehicles, an enemy bomber its sincere condolences to the family. approached, dropping bombs that caused WOODFIELD DEREK. Former RAF Regt Cpl casualties. Derek WOODFIELD, born 24 Dec 33, died on 14 Aircraftsman Bullpen, with great presence Nov 08 aged 75. He enlisted on 3 Apr 52 and of mind and coolness, manned his gun that was served with 16 Sqn, 6 Wg and 194 Sqn RAF Regt mounted on a lorry and successfully shot down before being discharged on 2 Apr 65. His wife the intruder before further damage was done. By pre-deceased him. The funeral was held in his prompt action, Aircraftsman Bullen Plymouth on 24 Nov 08 and was attended by undoubtedly saved many lives and much material members of the Plymouth Branch of the RAF from destruction. In December 1942, he repeated Regt Assoc. No further details are known at this this feat, destroying an enemy aircraft which was time. The Corps extends its sincere condolences ” making a low-level attack on dispersed aircraft. to the family. He was discharged from the RAF on 23 Mar 54 HUNT NORMAN. Former Gnd Gnr and and was a member of Hereford Branch RAF Regt Sgt Norman Leslie HUNT, born 24 Feb 22 died Assoc. Further details will be published in the on 13 Dec 08, aged 86. He enlisted at RAF Centurion Journal. The funeral was held at Uxbridge on 15 Jun 39 and became a Gnd Gnr. Hereford Crematorium, Westfaling Street, He was a member of the ill-fated British Hereford HR4 0JE at 14.00 on Tue 9 Dec 08. Expeditionary Force and, after evacuation from Following the service, the family was pleased to Dunkirk, was posted to 114 Sqn at RAF Horsham welcome attendees to The Bay Horse Inn, Kings St Faiths. He transferred to the RAF Regt on its Acre Road, Hereford HR4 0SD. Family flowers formation in 1942 and volunteered for duty on only were requested but donations, if required, 2810 Sqn RAF Regt in the parachute role. ‘Help for Heroes’ c/o Mr C Lake may be made to - He was promoted to Sgt and served in Bullen, 122 Bellemoor Road, Upper Shirley, SEAC, finally being discharged on 20 Jun 46. He Southampton SO15 7QY. Letters of condolence was a founder member of the Norfolk Branch of may be sent to the family at the same address. He the Assoc in 1994 and was a staunch supporter of is survived by his sons, Chris and Richard, to the Branch and the Assoc from then on. He is whom the Corps extends its sincere sympathy. survived by his wife, Gladys, and their three FRISBY HARRY. Former RAF Regt children. Letters of condolence may be sent to Cpl Harry (Henry) FRISBY, born 26 Apr 21, died Mrs Hunt at 16 Church Close, Arminghall, on 30 Sep 08 aged 87. He enlisted on 15 Jul 41 as Norwich, NR14 8SE. a Ground Gunner, transferring to the RAF Regt on The funeral was held at 1315 on Fri 2 Jan its formation. He served on 2731 and 2904 Sqn 09 at Horsham St Faiths Crematorium, north of RAF Regt in the European Campaigns in Italy, Norwich. Family flowers only were requested but France and Germany, and also in the Middle East. donations, if desired, may be made payable to the
5 to the Birmingham Branch RAF Regt Assoc - the RAF Laarbruch Museum in Weeze, Nord Military Ward Appeal c/o Nicholas E Potts, Rhein Westfalia, Germany. It is planned to hold a Funeral Directors, Angel House, 20 Angel Road, formal unveiling of the exhibit sometime in the Norwich NR3 3HP. The Corps extends its sincere Spring/early Summer of 2009 and it is hoped to condolences to the family. use the event to stage a reunion for those who ’S NOTE: EDITOR served at RAF Laarbruch on the Regt Sqns or ’s You may recall that in last November GDT during the period 1953-1999. The Museum newsletter, I published the information about website may be found at:
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6 Feb 09 - Officers' Corps Formation Dinner - As regards the hotel billets in Douglas, the RAF Honington. Sefton hotel on the Esplanade was used by to – – – 18-19 Apr 09 RAF Armd Car Assoc Spring billet officers on the original OCTU course July – Reunion (Derby) November 1941 - as well as various boarding – 10 May 09 Annual RAF Regt Chapel houses nearby. Yours Richard. – Commemoration Catterick Village P.S. Ronaldsway was south of Douglas and – ’ Dinner Club – 29 May 09 RAF Regt Officers Farley where there was an Air Gunners School – Reception RAF Honington to the north of the island. It sounds as though (27) Jun 09 (TBC) - RAF Regt facilities were shared later on after I had left for Memorial Commemoration - NMA Alrewas the Middle East. ’S NOTE: (Veterans Week). Date to be confirmed. EDITOR The Transvaal Scottish – 2-4 Oct 09 RAF Regt Assoc AGM and Reunion Regiment was a South African regiment formed in – venue TBD. 1902 after the end of the Second Anglo-Boer War, ’ Dinner Club 30 Oct 09 - RAF Regt Officers from Scottish units that had fought in the war and – Annual Dinner Def CBRN Centre, chose to demobilise and remain in the colony. Winterbourne Gunner The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place FROM THE BRANCH SECRETARY between 30th August and 5th September 1942 You may recall that on page 5 in last south of El Alamein during the Western Desert ’s newsletter, I published a letter from November Campaign of World War II. Panzer Army Africa, Squadron Leader Richard Cox RAF (Rtd) and a German-Italian force commanded by Erwin information about No 1 Ground Defence Gunnery Rommel ("the Desert Fox"), attempted an School, Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, where he envelopment of the British Eighth Army, trained. Well I have received a further letter from commanded by Bernard Montgomery. The Richard giving me additional information about success of the battle was a turning point in the the School. campaign in the Western Desert. From that time Squadron Leader Richard Cox onwards, the British troops had an assurance of ultimate success which heightened their morale, RAF (Rtd) The Second Battle of El Alamein marked My Dear Malcolm. A brief footnote to the a major turning point in the Western Desert piece in the newsletter about the Gunnery School Campaign of World War II. The battle lasted at Ronaldsway. There were no Bofors Guns in from 23 October to 5 November 1942. The First sight when I was there. We were involved with – Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis two weapons Lewis Guns (drum fed) and advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Vickers Medium Machine Guns (belt fed). The Bernard Montgomery took command of the latter involved a far from mobile mounting which British Eighth Army from General Claude weighed (I think) somewhere about 80 pounds. It Auchinleck in August 1942. Success in the battle was the very devil to move from place to place. turned the tide in the North African Campaign. The Vickers was of exceptional interest to – – Allied victory at El Alamein ended Axis hopes of me because my father Lieutenant C V Cox occupying Egypt, controlling access to the Suez served with the Mobile Machine Gun Corps in the Canal, and gaining access to the Middle Eastern First World War. Unfortunately, his cap badge oil fields. The defeat at El Alamein marked the (two crossed Vickers Guns) was stolen with a end of Axis expansion in Africa. number of other items, in a burglary some years ago. According to the Mobile Machine Gun RAF Honington welcomes injured Corps Roll which I saw in a Grantham church in personnel for rehab the early 1980s, his unit commander was Captain, It was during a routine operation in the later of course, Lieutenant General Guy Browning Karmat Ali district of Basra City, southern Iraq, of Arnhem renown. on August 7, 2007, that Cpl Stu Hefti found – I did fire a Vickers Gun in anger - once himself confronted with a situation that all when I was attached to the Transvaal Scotttish in servicemen train for - but hope they will never September 1942, while they were in the line held encounter. He and fellow Gunners from 1 in the Western Desert after the Battle of Alam Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Halfa and before the second Battle of Alamein. Honington, were on foot patrol when they came
7 under small arms fire. LAC Martin Beard was staffed by specially trained doctors, killed and Cpl Hefti was among the injured. He physiotherapists and rehabilitation instructors. could have lost his leg or, were it not for the The most serious injuries - such as amputations bravery of his comrades who rushed him from the and brain injuries - are treated at the MoD's battlefield while still under fire, bled to death facility at Headley Court, but patients will often thousands of miles from home. As it was, he use the regional units later in their recovery. suffered serious muscle and ligament damage Between five and 10% of those using the which severely restricted his movement. He has Honington unit have been injured in frontline spent the last 18 months at the rehabilitation unit action with the remainder hurt during training. at RAF Honington, near Bury St Edmunds, Over the last four years, 25,000 patients have working tirelessly to get himself back on his feet been assessed there and 12,000 have been and ready for a return to action. Work includes discharged from rehab. The MoD has recently low impact exercise, such as running in a assessed the quality of the rehabilitation on offer £1.5m per year swimming pool, and weights training to help and has agreed to invest an extra restore fitness. to improve the regional units. “When you first find yourself under fire A clinical manager who treats injured ” he said. “All that you go into training mode, servicemen yesterday described the current crop goes through your head is what you have to do to of personnel as one of the bravest he has ever face the task at hand. My first thought when the seen. Chic Wilkinson, 54, a former football bullet hit was 'oh my God I've been shot' and then Premier League physiotherapist with Tottenham I thought 'oh my God I'm still alive. There was Hotspur and army major, helps oversee the blood everywhere and it's fair to say that if the recovery of patients at RAF Honington's regional “These young same thing had happened years ago I would have rehabilitation unit. He said: died. If it wasn't for the medical help I got and soldiers I see have real moral fibre. They know my comrades who dragged me to safety, I where they are going when they join up - and ” wouldn't be here. Fatalities attract the headlines that's why they join up. And when they have been but for every man who dies there are many more wounded they still want to return. They're a who suffer career threatening and life changing different generation but they're as good if not “In one sense I feel lucky because I'm ” injuries. better than any generation that's gone before. ” Cpl Herti said. “My wife was pregnant ’s Iraq still here, Regiment Squadron Leader at the time and I kept thinking that I might never get to see my baby. But now I feel frustrated. The Tribute rest of the squadron are out in Afghanistan at the Squadron Leader Mike Leaman paid an moment and I just want to be out there with them emotional visit to the site of an historic battle in ” doing my bit. Iraq. Mike, from Torquay, went to RAF Speaking about his rehabilitation he Habbiniyah, where the remains of 289 British and “The mental side of it continued: was hard. My Commonwealth serviceman and civilians, wife is also in the military and when I returned including women and children, are interred. Two she was heading out on duty. I found myself hundred and fifty-seven are graves from the sitting at home, watching daytime television and Second World War, when the RAF regiment was going over everything in my head. But here I involved in a battle against Iraqi rebels. The have the support to come through that and focus cemetery is the first Commonwealth War Grave to on my recovery. I've been told I've got another be renovated in Iraq since the regime change six months to go and after that I want to get back happened. Mike, serving with 5 Force Protection out there. I want to be part of it because you Wing on Operation Telic in Basra, spent ” really get a sense we can make a difference. Armistice Day at the site. He said: "My The Ministry of Defence regional grandfather was a supplier here in World War rehabilitation unit at RAF Honington is one of 15 Two, and I never thought I'd visit this place while in the UK and Germany. It serves a population of my grandfather was still alive. You just never more than 10,000 personnel in the eastern region. know where life will take you. It's amazing" It focuses on the assessment and treatment of The RAF Regiment protects the musculoskeletal injuries and sports injuries and is Contingency Operating Base in Basra, with troops helping to protect aircraft from small arms fire
8 and missile threats. Mike added: "The security of movements in and out of the base. Sergeant the COB is critical to the success of the overall Martin Hammonds of 51 Squadron RAF mission here in Iraq. All other units which are Regiment said: helping to train and mentor the Iraqi Security "We're trying to win consent with the Forces require a secure base from which to locals. It's part of an ongoing thing. We've had operate." football matches with them and we're always 51 Squadron RAF Regiment patrolling through and giving things to the school Last month 51 Squadron RAF Regiment and today we're giving them a portacabin. It's delivered, by lorry, a new police station to a really to get them on side and get some Iraqi village near Basra. The portacabin was police in this area. There's been a few attempted reallocated from the Contingency Operating Base kidnaps and hijacks of patrols passing though and (COB) (the main coalition base in Basra) to be we want to create more of a feel that there is a used as an outstation for the Iraqi Police Service police presence in the area. We've done a lot of (IPS). With new investment coming into the area these KLE [Key Leader Engagement] projects and and the village's close proximity to one of the local infrastructure projects, this being one of large oil refineries, village elders were looking for them; the winning of hearts and minds is key to added security from the IPS. Mr Qais Joudah, the what we do out here now and I think we're village school headmaster and councillor, said: winning and getting that message across." "This will help strengthen the Iraqi-led The General Officer Commanding Multi- security in the area for when the foreign troops National Division (South East), Major General move out in a few years' time. This cabin will Andy Salmon, also recently saw Iraqi police provide a base for the IPS to operate from; due to officers and soldiers working in unison when he the refinery being nearby, new building will take walked around areas of Basra City that would place and we'll need policemen to be in the area have been off-limits to him earlier this year. for good relations with them. We currently have a Highlighting the continuing positive development really good relationship with the IPS and Iraqi of cooperation between the Iraqi Army and Police, Army." The portacabin was delivered by low- Major General Salmon saw them manning loader truck, with convoy protection being checkpoints in the area to ensure that the security provided by members of 51 Squadron RAF they won during Operation Charge of the Knights Regiment. On arrival, key members of 51 is maintained on the streets. They were also Squadron walked into the village to meet with Mr encouraging locals to clear away rubbish as part Joudah who was waiting to take delivery of the of a clean-up campaign. The effect of the clean- structure. The cabin was placed in the south west up campaign was clearly evident with the majority corner of the village overlooking the main roads of roads being clear of rubbish, and residential in the area. The Air Component Commander, Air waste either placed in, or alongside, the bins Commodore Barmby (who was visiting 51 available. The campaign aims to promote the Squadron RAF Regiment for the day from Al quick and environmentally-safe disposal of Udeid, Qatar), also came along to view the work rubbish within Basra. Major General Salmon also of the RAF Regiment first hand. He said: visited a local school thronged with pupils and "This has been the highlight of my tour so walked around the Khora and Hayyaniyah far. It's great to see the work I have recently read districts of the city. so much about being carried out first-hand. I'm Reverend Willie Downie truly honoured to be here today at this The Association Padre the Reverend presentation and I hope that you keep up the good Willie Downie passed away last November and on th ’s St ’s Parish local relationships and community work, it's 27 November, Larkhill Machan outstanding." Church was packed and overflowing into the 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, normally church hall for the his funeral. Some 800 based at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, is tasked mourners heard tributes to his ministry and public with the security of the COB. They regularly visit life by church and military leaders. The Rev John the out-lying villages on their patrols of the area Arthur, past moderator of the United Reformed outside the base. These patrols help deter would- Church in Scotland, and group captain Steven be attackers of the COB and its aircraft Brereton-Martin, chairman of the RAF Regiment
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“fearless and wise Association, praised his Diploma in Theology and later added a BA degree ” and said he w counsel ould be sorely missed. from the Open University. In 1967, he was The Rev Alistair McKillop, who inducted to the EU Congregational Church in conducted the thanksgiving service, said he was Falkirk, linked with Avonbridge. There he was “a wee man with a big heart” who gave himself instrumental in creating the first union between wholeheartedly to the community where he was major denominations when Grahamston United well-known and knew everyone. A Guard of Church was formed from Church of Scotland, Honour from the Royal British Legion and the Congregational and Methodist churches. Royal Air Force and Naval Associations formed His eight years there were followed by inside and outside the church and later at the another eight years at Dumbarton Congregational South Lanarkshire crematorium service where 200 Church until he returned to his native Lanarkshire mourners attended. A piper played at both at Carluke EU Congregational Church. William ‘Highland Cathedral’ being a services, the tune remained there for 14 years until 1997 when he favourite of Mr Downie. Other organisations with retired to Larkhall, where he continued to conduct which he was connected were represented, services and take funerals and weddings until including the RAF Regiment and Cameronians shortly before his death on November 18. In (Scottish Rifles) Associations, Rotarians from addition to his pastoral work, he was widely Carluke, Dumbarton and Falkirk, and members of involved at local and national level in education, Bellshill and Blantyre curling clubs. health and the military. Wille was a man of many parts as the He was UK chaplain for the RAF following Obituary shows. He was a peacemaker Regiment Association and for the Cameronians in the Northern Ireland troubles and he was (Scottish Rifles) Association. For 18 years, he certainly a peacemaker in the Association, for on was social questions secretary of the Scottish many occasions, his calming words resolved Congregational Churches, work which took him many possible conflicts. He will indeed be sadly to Ulster in the quest to bridge the religious divide missed. and bring peace to the Province. William also Rev Willie Downie was strove for better treatment of the elderly as chairman of the Scottish Pensioners' Forum and Peacemaker Age Concern's Spiritual Care Committee. He Tribute paid to former Carluke minister represented Scotland on the UK Samaritans Published by George Downie in the Lanark Council, helped found Falkirk Citizens Advice Gazette on 25th November 2008 Bureau, and was vice-chairman of Argyll and A former Carluke clergyman and Clyde Health Council. prominent Rotarian has died aged 76. The Rev A keen sportsman, he represented his RAF William Downie was minister of the EU Regiment unit at boxing and judo and later played Congregational Church from 1983 to 1997 and curling at Hamilton. He was part of a Rotary presided over its 150th anniversary celebrations in curling team which toured Canada in 2000 and his — 1996. While at Carluke he was chaplain at Law membership of Rotary reflected his charges Hospital, Roadmeetings Hospital, High Mill Falkirk, Dumbarton (president) and Carluke. He Primary School, Victoria Park School, Carluke is survived by his wife Sarah (Cissie), four sons High School and Woodhurst Nursing Home. and nine grandchildren. He was a stalwart of the local Rotary Club, RAF Regiment helps handicapped where he was a member of council and chaired the vocational committee for a number of years. Iraqi boy As unofficial chaplain, he said grace at all 26 of A disabled boy from a village near Basra, the club's annual sportsman's dinners and was a Iraq, has had his mobility enhanced after members big supporter of the High School debating of 51 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment competition. He also instigated the creation of the delivered a donated wheelchair to him this week. Probus Club. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment are based at RAF A native of Larkhall, William studied at Lossiemouth in Scotland, and the wheelchair was Glasgow University and the Congregational donated by local company 'All Mobility Union College, Edinburgh, where he received his Highlands' from Elgin, Morayshire, to spread goodwill. It was gifted by the RAF Regiment to
10 allow a disabled child to have a better quality of Those of you that have visited the NMA life. Until now, Rashash Muslim Al Hemdani, may have also visited the Allied Special Forces aged 12, had relied on family members to carry Memorial Grove situated adjacent to the pillbox him from one place to another within the village. by the banks of the River Tame. Former SAS The boy's condition had not been soldiers are appealing for the funds to erect a diagnosed by a doctor due to the lack of medical statue in memory of their fallen comrades. They facilities in the area, but what was known was that want to place it in the Special Forces Memorial he was not able to walk or take care of himself, Grove. It would depict a Fijian and stand for all and he had a limited ability to communicate with Special Forces soldiers who have lost their lives others. The gifted wheelchair vastly improved the in combat. The soldier was called Laba and was boy's quality of life: "It will make our lives easier killed in 1972 at the Battle of Mirbat in the and he will be a happier boy," said his mother. Middle East. He was mentioned in dispatches and The child was first seen a few days ago on some of his former comrades have campaigned the street of his village, Al Khora, while the for him to be posthumously awarded with the squadron was carrying out Key Leader Victoria Cross. As a result of the heroism of Engagement in the area, which involves the RAF Special Forces, Lord Ashcroft, who wrote the Regiment personnel liaising with local leaders and following article, has decided to sponsor the sheiks. Squadron Leader James Lennie, Officer Battle of Mirbat Memorial, to be situated in the Commanding 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, said: Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove at the "Today was basically people helping other people. National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. From a military perspective this helps us build Special Forces Heroes: A unique type of stronger relationships with locals and their valour, a rare kind of courage leaders." Flight Lieutenant John Rees, Deputy Published in the Mail Online on 22nd November Squadron Commander for 51 Squadron RAF by Lord Ashcroft Regiment, added: "This is a great opportunity to There are, I have always believed, two improve the life of a young Iraqi through the types of valour: spur-of-the-moment bravery and goodwill of the people of Elgin. It is comforting what I call cold courage, which involves planning. for squadron personnel to know that the job we do I've nothing but admiration for those decorated for is well supported by the public back home." impulsive bravery: a serviceman who, in the heat The scene in the village was extremely of battle, risks his life to save a wounded positive with many of the adults and children comrade. Many such men have rightly been gathering around while the child's wheelchair was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's top military adjusted to fit him by Captain Jeff Johnson, US bravery medal. But my new book, Special Forces Army, in a truly multi-national mission. Jeff, a Heroes, deals with those awarded medals for acts US Army National Guardsman, who is serving as of premeditated courage. a Public Affairs Officer within the Media Cell at It takes a special kind of valour to go HQ Multi-National Division (South East), is an undercover behind enemy lines or to be part of a Occupational Therapist back in the USA and small, elite unit on a hit-and-run mission against a regularly fits patients to wheelchairs after disease far larger force. If it goes wrong, he knows that, at or trauma. best, he might be captured and kept as a prisoner Jeff jumped at the chance to help out and of war for months, even years. At worst, he might not only fitted Rashash to the chair but also wrote be seized, tortured, mutilated and killed. Not the story up for the US Army media chain. Jeff everyone mentioned in my book was a member of said: "I enjoyed having the opportunity to assist the Special Forces, but the two accounts I've another with the skills I have from my civilian chosen here do relate to the SAS. occupation back home in Nevada." Sheik The first - the Battle of Mirbat in Oman Quassim of Al Khora village said: "For helping to in 1972, which saw a handful of SAS men fight improve the lives of this child and his family, I off 250 heavily armed, rebel fighters - is not thank you." well-known, but is considered by a growing NATIONAL MEMORIAL number of military historians to be the regiment's ARBORETUM (NMA) UPDATE finest hour. The second involves what must surely be the most celebrated moment in the
11 regiment's history - the storming of the Iranian Realising they needed more support, Embassy in 1980. Takavesi left the gun pit, running to a nearby – th BATTLE OF MIRBAT 19 July 1972 building to persuade an Omani gunner, Walid Trooper Sekonaia Takavesi Khamis, to join them. Now there were three: Distinguished Conduct Medal Labalaba and Khamis operating the 25-pounder, Oman, a long-standing ally of Britain, is a while Takavesi used a self-loading rifle (SLR). forgotten war - not least because the SAS's But as enemy fire pounded the gun pit, involvement in protecting the country's Sultan Khamis slumped backwards. He had been shot in from the Communist rebels of the People's Front the stomach and was writhing in agony. The two for the Liberation of the Occupied Arab Gulf Fijians were on their own again, with Takavesi (PFLOAG) was top secret. Not even the families helping his friend, time and again, to remove the of those fighting knew where they were. But by hot shell case, ram in a new one, close the breech July 1972, the regiment had been training and and fire. Soon it was Takavesi's turn to take a advising local troops in the small Gulf state for a bullet, which threw him backwards on to the year. Operation Jaguar, designed to consolidate sandbags. He was in great pain and losing a lot of their positions, establish new ones and disrupt blood, but he remained conscious. Labalaba rebels lines of communications and resupply was propped him up and handed him his SLR. going well. Labalaba, who was peering down his rifle sights Then, at dawn on the morning of July 19, picking off the advancing enemy, realised he was the rebels hit back, with 250 of their elite fighters almost out of ammunition for the 25-pounder. attacking the small town of Mirbat on the Arabian As he tried to reach a 60mm mortar Sea. They were heavily armed and their aim was positioned nearby, he was shot fatally in the neck. to overrun the town and slaughter everyone in In the BATT house, Captain Mike Kealy heard their path. In the town's garrison were just nine the 25-pounder fall silent and became worried the SAS soldiers, equipped with one 25-pounder field position had been taken. With a volunteer, gun from World War II, one mortar, a 0.50mm Tommy Tobin, a trained medic, the commanding machine gun and a few general purpose machine officer dodged bullets and ran to the gun pit, guns. When the adoo (Arabic for enemy forces) where they witnessed a gruesome scene. The attacked, all the SAS men were in the British dead body of Labalaba lay face down on the Army Training Team (BATT) house, 500 yards ground, Khamis was lying on his back, bleeding from the gun pit containing the 25-pounder. profusely. The only one still able to fire was But when they heard mortar rounds and Takavesi, who, still propped on the sandbags, was machine gun fire from an outlying observation also seriously wounded. Every time he fired his point, they moved swiftly. A Fijian trooper called SLR, he grimaced with pain as the rifle kicked Talaiasi Labalaba ran to the gun pit and, though it back into his body. As Tobin turned to get his normally took a three-man team to operate it, medical pack, he was shot in the face and fell to managed to open fire by himself, sighting the gun the floor mortally wounded. Pete Scholey, a down the barrel and firing into the advancing former SAS man and author of SAS Heroes: rebels at near point-blank range. But when Remarkable Soldiers provides an account of what Labalaba was wounded, hit in the chin by a 7.62 happened next. mm round from a Kalashnikov rifle, it seemed 'Tak called to Captain Kealy for more only a matter of time before first the gun and then ammunition and the two men began to battle for the garrison was over-run. their lives. An adoo popped up at the edge of the But for the decisive action of his fellow gun emplacement, ready to shoot Tak, and Kealy Fijian, Sekonaia Takavesi, it probably would have blasted him with his SLR. Another appeared from been. Known as 'Sek' or 'Tak' to his friends, he a ditch close to their position and Kealy cut him became - in the words of his Army superiors - down, too. Kealy took out adoo gunmen as they 'a legend in his own time within the SAS'. slunk round the walls of the fort and Tak Grabbing his rifle and a few magazines, he concentrated on those coming from the direction sprinted to the gun pit and found his friend badly of the perimeter wire. The adoo were close injured, his jaw smashed, but still continuing to enough to sling grenades, which were bouncing fire the gun. and exploding close to the walls of the gun pit.
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Kealy froze for an instant as a grenade landed Snapper, as he was known to friends, was inside the bunker right in front of him. Mercifully, never awarded a specific gallantry medal, but his it failed to explode.' role in the storming of the Iranian Embassy in Just as the situation appeared hopeless, the London and his 18-year career with the regiment two men and their comrades had two strokes of more than earns him his place here. As he and his luck. First, the low cloud lifted high enough for team - clad head-to-toe in black - waited two jets from the Sultan of Oman's air force to fly nervously in the rear garden of the embassy, the over the scene, strafing the adoo with cannon fire siege had already been going on for five days. and, at one point, dropping a 500lb bomb on the But, half an hour earlier, the stakes had been by now retreating rebels. Takavesi, who was later raised significantly when the body of the involved in the storming of the Iranian Embassy, embassy's press officer, Abbas Lavasani, had been would later describe the scream of those jets as pushed out of the front door. Clearly the time for 'the best sound I ever heard'. patient negotiation with the Khuzestan terrorists, Kealy was unaware of the second stroke of still holding 20 people hostage, had come to an luck, which resulted from his early radio message end. to SAS headquarters that Mirbat was under attack. Within three minutes of Lavasani's death His men, B Squadron, had been due to go home being confirmed, Prime Minister Margaret on the very day of the attack. This meant their Thatcher had given the go-ahead for the SAS to replacements from G Squadron were at Um al be used. 'The time has come to use the final Quarif, just 65km west of Mirbat. G Squadron option,' she said. Barely 30 minutes later a loud was ordered into action. Twenty-two men, along explosion heralded their arrival. 'Go, go, go,' with their equipment, were taken by trucks to the screamed a voice in Winner's earpiece. They airstrip at Salalah. were on their way in and he was leading from the Once the mist had lifted, they were front as they smashed down the rear door. airlifted in helicopters to the beach on the edge of Above them, another team abseiled down Mirbat. As Kealy used a lull in the fighting to to a second floor window, while at the front a tend to his men, G Squadron, led by Captain third team was blasting their way through the Alastair Morrison - another SAS hero who would first-floor balcony windows. Between them, the go on to play a vital role in the successful SAS teams had to search and clear more than 50 storming of a hijacked Lufthansa jet at Mogadishu rooms on six floors - and reach the hostages airport in 1977 - fought its way through the town. before they came to harm. The adoo were in full retreat, leaving 40 dead and 'All feelings of doubt and fear had ten wounded. It had been an incredibly close run disappeared. The adrenaline was bursting through thing, but thanks to the bravery of men such as my bloodstream. Fearsome! My heavy body Takavesi, Labalaba and Kealy, it proved to be a armour suddenly felt as light as a T-shirt,' recalled decisive turning point in the Sultan's battle with Winner in his anonymous autobiography, Soldier the rebels. 'I' SAS. Winner and his team headed to the The Battle of Mirbat is an extraordinary basement, wrenching ladders that had been put story and I share the sense of anger among SAS there to block their progress out of the way, men that the bravery of the solders involved has hoping they hadn't been booby-trapped. never been properly recognised. As a result, I Mercifully, there was no explosion. Tossing a have sponsored the Battle of Mirbat Memorial at stun grenade into the darkness, they began the National Memorial Arboretum in shooting off locks and clearing rooms. Staffordshire. The valour of men such as In one, Winner saw a dark shape Takavesi, Labalaba (who many believe deserves a crouching in a corner. He fired a burst of 20 posthumous Victoria Cross) and Kealy - three of rounds from his MP5 machine gun. There was a the great Special Forces heroes - should never be clang as the crouching figure crumpled and rolled forgotten. over. It was a dustbin. The cellars were clear. A IRANIAN EMBASSY SIEGE 5th May 1980 more real threat, however, awaited his team as Sgt Peter Winner (SAS) they made their way into the embassy's smoke- * Name changed at his request filled hallway and joined those shepherding the terrified hostages to safety.
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'I joined a line, six or seven steps up from of the Birmingham Branch and we hope to the hallway. There were more explosions. The commemorate him with a brick paver in the hysterical voices of women swept over us. Then Walkway between the Visitor Centre and the the first hostages were passed down the line; they Chapel at the NMA. The following Obituary was looked shocked and disorientated, their eyes published in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday 11th streaming with CS gas. Suddenly there was a November 2008. shout from higher up: This one's a terrorist! A OBITUARY dark face ringed by an Afro-style haircut came into view, the body clothed in a green combat Group Captain Kingsley Mayne jacket. He was punched and kicked as he Oliver MA RAF (Rtd) descended the stairs. He was running afraid. He Officer and senior instructor for the RAF knew he was close to death. Then I saw it - a Regiment who wrote the definitive history of its Russian fragmentation grenade, the detonator cap 50 years. protruding from his hand.' Winner raised his Group Captain Kingsley Oliver, who died machine gun to fire, but then realised the bullets aged 79, was one of a select number of RAF would pass straight through the terrorist, possibly officer cadets to be trained at the Royal Military hitting his colleagues. 'Instinctively, I raised the College, Sandhurst for service with the Royal Air MP5 above my head and in one swift, sharp Force Regiment; he made a second career with movement brought the stock down on the back of one of London's oldest Livery Companies and his neck. I hit him as hard as I could. His head gained a distinguished reputation as a military snapped back and for one fleeting second I caught historian and author. sight of his tortured, hate-filled face.' Oliver entered the RAF in January 1948 to He collapsed down the remaining stairs, train as a pilot but his eyesight did not meet the hitting the carpet in the hallway as a crumpled, strict requirements. He elected to join the RAF sagging heap. The sound of two magazines being Regiment and this took him to Sandhurst to emptied into him was deafening. But as he complete the two-year officer cadet course. As a twitched and died, his hand opened and the junior officer he made a robust impact from the grenade rolled out. Winner and his colleagues start, earning swift promotion at a time when waited for the inevitable explosion. 'I stared at the advancement was slow at junior officer levels. mechanism for what seemed like an eternity and He saw active service in Malaya and in the what I saw flooded the very core of me with relief Aden Protectorate and was identified with and elation. The pin was still in the lever. It was potential for the higher echelons of the service as all over.' the RAF set out to develop a new generation of The SAS's success at the Iranian Embassy full-career RAF Regiment officers. To this end, was headline news all over the world, helped by it he was selected to attend both the RAF Staff being captured on live TV. Of the 20 hostages in College and the Joint Services Staff College, an the building when the SAS went in, 19 were unusual distinction for an officer of his branch. rescued and one killed by terrorists. Of the six Later he served at Headquarters Fighter Command terrorists, only one, Fowzi Nejad, was left alive. and in Cyprus and Germany. He was jailed for life. After serving 28 years, he Oliver's strong intellect and interest in the was released on parole earlier this year. wider aspect of military affairs was revealed in Special Forces Heroes by Michael Ashcroft 1966 when he won the Army's Bertrand Stewart £20) is linked to the four (Headline, -part Five Prize Essay Competition, followed by the Royal TV series of the same name. United Services Institute's Trench-Gascoigne www.specialforcesheroes.com Essay Prize for 1968; the first RAF Regiment £18 (P&P free), call To order a copy at Officer to do so in both cases. 0845 155 0720. All royalties donated to Help For In 1969 he wrote A Brief History of The Heroes, supporting servicemen injured in Iraq and RAF Regiment, intended primarily for the internal Afghanistan. education of officers and men within the ******************** Regiment. Oliver's empathy with people and his Group Captain Kingsley Oliver who logical mind made him a fine instructor at the passed away last October, was a valued member various training establishments where he served.
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He was particularly proud of his time as major contribution to RAF history with Through the Senior RAF Regiment Instructor at the RAF Adversity, the first definitive history of the RAF College Cranwell from 1961. He was charged not Regiment, commissioned by the Corps to mark its only with the practical leadership training of all 50th Anniversary in 1992. He followed this with Cranwell flight cadets, but also with the The RAF Regiment at War 1942 to 1946. professional training of the first RAF Regiment A successful commander and a modest flight cadets at Cranwell, resulting from the new man of outstanding integrity, Oliver was an Air Ministry policy for them to join the exemplar of officer qualities, popular and mainstream of officer training at the RAF respected by his officers and men. He was an College. ADC to The Queen from 1974 to 1977. In common with others, Oliver did not Kingsley Oliver died on October 5th 2008. relish staff appointments, of which he had his fair His first wife predeceased him and his second share. When he relinquished command of the marriage ended in divorce. His wife Audrey and a RAF Regiment Depot, Catterick, where at every daughter from his first marriage and two sons opportunity he had indulged his love of field from his second survive him. sports, he deplored his move to the Ministry of Defence and retired from the RAF at his own Future Events at the NMA request in 1978. I have no information about future events at the NMA, for getting the information is almost He endowed the RAF Regiment Annual ’t you, that Essay Prize for Junior Officers, to encourage impossible. You would think wouldn original and mature thinking on topics of major those responsible for disseminating information relevance, so preparing themselves for more about future events would be anxious to involve senior appointments. Typically unassuming, he every publication that could assist in this but no, I insisted that the competition was not to be named have tried time and time again to get information after him. about future events in good time without success. Oh they will e-mail me with events for the Kingsley Mayne Oliver was born in ’s too late for I need Durban on December 12, 1928 and educated in current month but by then, it South Africa. He entered the University of Natal the info at least a month before, preferably two in 1946, subsequently winning a place to Lincoln months. They do not seem to realise that College, Oxford to read history. On his arrival in Birmingham Branch newsletters are not published England, he decided to join the RAF instead. every day or every week, for that is all their After retiring from the RAF, he first information is good for. Many events must be worked for British Aerospace in the UK and Iran booked up months in advance but information on until the revolution, but found a second calling the NMA website Future Events page is not kept up-to-date. The last item on this page is for an when headhunted to become Clerk to The st Worshipful Company of Saddlers, in the City. He event dated 1 January 2009. So where is this was ideally suited to this position with one of information and who is responsible for London's oldest Livery Companies. He disseminating it? researched and wrote his magnum opus of a two- Someone must be responsible for booking volume history of the Saddlers' Company, events at the NMA and this information must be embracing some 800 years of Livery and City listed somewhere. I have e-mailed several people history, and it was published under the title Hold at the NMA for this information but without Fast, Sit Sure, the company's motto. success so I have given up. Therefore this column He studied for an MA in Modern History is being suspended until at some future date I may at the University of London and was elected as a be able to get information about future events in Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1988. This good time for publication in my newsletters. was followed by the award of an Honorary MA RAF REGIMENT BOOKS from City University, the Freedom of the City of Last month on 19th December, John London, honorary membership of The City and Lawton, a Birmingham Branch member of Stoke Guilds of London Institute and, finally, on his on Trent, telephoned me with the details of retirement from his second career, the freedom of another book about the RAF Regiment, to add to The Saddlers' Company. Thereafter he made a my growing list of RAF Regiment titles. The
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“On the road to Mandalay, by book is called, calls into my home or unwanted callers to my Randle Mainwaring, ISBN 1844154971. It was door either. first published in 2006 and is a hardback book. It My defence against unwanted telephone can be obtained from Pen and Sword Books at a sales calls with a real live human being on the £16.00 to – price that has been reduced from other end of the call is to say, oh yes, my wife £12.00. – – ’ll brother son daughter etc., is very interested I This fascinating book features the life just go and get her/him. Then I just put the story of Dr Randle Manwaring, focusing telephone down and wait until they realise that particularly on his Regiment's fight to capture no-one is going to answer. At least I hope that Burma towards the end of WW2. As one of the their telephone bill will be greater. As for junk ’s a better answer. Just put it all back founding officers of the RAF Regiment, the mails there author helped train and set up the Regiment from into the envelope, write on it the address of the – ’t put a stamp on – its inception in 1942. He saw active service with company concerned don and ’s a little the Regiment in Burma, where the Regiment put it all back into the post box. There ‘cos I didn’t want their particularly distinguished itself but suffered heavy bit of poetic justice in that ’t want it back either, losses. Randle was present at the Japanese junk mail, and they don surrender in Rangoon and took the swords from particularly with an excess postage charge on it the Japanese Generals as they surrendered. too. The end of the War saw a return to a very BRANCH APPEAL REMINDER different life requiring different skills. Guided by The increasing number of wounded in his strong Christian beliefs, Randle established a recent weeks has placed medical facilities in both successful career in the City in insurance broking. the UK and Helmand under considerable strain,
******************** with one senior medical officer describing the Are there any more books out there that I injuries to troops as "bad as you can imagine". have not yet got listed? If you know of any, Earlier in December, five Royal Marines lost ’ll add it or them to the please let me know and I limbs and four were killed in a series of IED and list. suicide attacks and since October more than 200 ’S MOAN injured and sick troops have been airlifted out of MALCOLM Afghanistan. Have any of you noticed an increase in “Public One of the bloodiest days in the recent these automated unwanted so-called th ” telephone calls, all trying to sell you campaign took place on 12 December when four Service commandos were killed in two separate attacks, something? The telephone rings and you pick it one of which involved a 13-year-old suicide up, only to hear a recorded voice telling you all “public service” sales patter they want bomber. Patrick Mercer, a former infantry about this commander and the Tory MP for Newark, said: you to know about. My only source of "Sadly the only casualties the public tends to hear satisfaction is, instead of putting the telephone about are the fatalities but there are also the men down immediately, I just put the telephone down ’t and women who have had their lives ruined by and let the call finish itself instead. I don multiple wounds. suppose the call costs them any more but I hope it These are worrying times for the does. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Now, they have this technology for their which offers Afghanistan's best hope of restoring equipment to call everyone and to repeat their ’t it be great if we the country to a semblance of normality. Despite sales blurb to them, but wouldn all the encouraging noises made by Afghanistan's could have the technology for our telephones to president, Hamid Karzai, when he visited Gordon screen out these unwanted calls. What with Brown in Downing Street last month, the harsh unwanted door to door salespeople, unwanted reality is that the NATO led operation is running door to door religious fanatics who want us all to into big-time problems, especially in the unquiet join their absurd sects, other unwanted telephone ’s all part of the world that is Helmand province. sales calls, and unwanted junk mail I think it Put simply and starkly, there are not getting too much. I think that it is an invasion of ’t invite unwanted telephone enough fighting troops on the ground; there is a my privacy for I don chronic shortage of helicopters; the Afghan
16 national army is nowhere near fully operational; and, most worrying of all, there is some confusion within NATO ranks about who should be digging ’s not going to get any easier for our deeper, so it troops out there. So please remember the appeal your Branch Committee has set up for we are now “goodies” to the lads in the regularly sending Military Ward at Selly Oak Hospital and we need all the money that we can get. To date - 14th £ November - we have raised 595.00 from Birmingham Branch members, this, together with £50.00 from £50.00 from Kent Sussex Branch, £335.00 from Norfolk Branch and a magnificent £1,030 Branch makes a total of .00. And as of the £810.00 in donations to same date, we have spent the Military Ward. So keep on sending your donation to Tom Magee for the lads need them. ’s all for now, look after Well that yourselves and keep smiling. Malcolm
16 rd ’ Wednesday 23 April 2009 St George s Day Sunday 26th April 2009 ANZAC Day Serv & Par DATES FOR Sunday 10th May 2009 Reded of Regiment Chapel MAKE Thursday 14th May 2009 Branch Night YOUR th A Thursday 11 June 2009 Branch Night th DIARIES DATE Sunday 14 June 2009 RAF Cosford Air Show Sunday 28th June 2009 RAF Reg.t Service at NMA Thursday 9th July 2009 Branch Night Sunday 1st February 2009 67th Ann RAF Reg.t Sunday 4th October 2009 Merchant Navy Day Sunday 1st February 2009 Subscriptions Due Thursday 8th October 2009 Branch Night Thursday 12th February 09 Branch Night Wednesday 21st Oct 2009 Battle of Trafalgar Day st ’ Sunday 1 March 2009 St David s Day Sunday 1st November 2009 Midlands Fest of Rem. Thursday 12th March 2009 Branch Night Sunday 8th Nov 2009 Remembrance Sunday th ’ Tuesday 17 March 2009 St Patrick s Day Wednesday 11th Nov 2009 Remembrance Day th – th Sun 15 Mon 30 Mar 09 Battle For Meiktila Thursday 12th Nov 2009 Branch Night th th ’ Sunday 5 April 2009 Branch Reded Mem.l Saturday 14 Nov 2009 B ham Poppy Ball th th th ’ Thursday 9 April 2009 Branch Night Sat 28 -Sun 29 Nov 2009 B ham Int Tattoo NIA
CHAIRMAN & MMTLdr 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]
VICE-CHAIRMAN AND MINUTE SECRETARY WELFARE OFF/STD B PROPERTY AUDITOR Ken Bridgwood John Docker Fred Ringham 29 Claverdon Drive 151 Calder Drive 76 Lowbrook Lane Great Barr Walmley Tidbury Green Birmingham Sutton Coldfield Solihull West Midlands, B45 5HR West Midlands West Midlands B90 1QS Tel: 0121 357 4242 B76 1GG Tel: 01564 824 221 [email protected] Tel: 0121 351 5580
PUBLIC RELATIONS BRANCH RESEARCH CO-ORD/ OFFICER/SOCIAL SEC QUARTERMASTER LINK-UP DATA BASE Michael Beard Tom Magee Hughie Cooper 21 Abingdon Road 11 Pavilion Avenue 11 Sandringham Close Bloxwich, Walsall Smethwick, Warley Baswich Lane West Midlands West Midlands, B67 6LA Stafford, ST17 0AB WS3 2SX Tel: 0121 429 5635 e-mail Tel: 01785 242269 Tel: 01922 491453 [email protected] [email protected]
PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT AND RBL FINANCIAL AUDITORS Peter Swash LIAISON OFFICER Trevor and Joan Round ‘ ’ Mdina Rowney Green Lane Dave Gooding 45 Sandfields Road Rowney Green 31 Queen Elizabeth Road Sedgley Redditch Rubery, Rednal Dudley Worcestershire, B48 7QF Birmingham, B45 0NE West Midlands Tel No: 01527 60870 Tel: 0121 604 4637 DY3 3LB [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 01902 672597 THIS NEWSLETTER IS PHOTOCOPIED AND BO UND BY KIND PERMISSION OF WRAGGE AND CO SOLICITORS