THE SOMME BUGLE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SOMME BRANCH ISSUE NUMBER 5 Summer 2009 Welcome to the fifth edition of the Somme Bugle. Spring and summer this year have been busy times for the Branch as can bee seen from the events that members have attended, In the following paragraphs you will find a brief report on some of the events attended by members of the Somme Branch since the last issue of the “Bugle”. In Memoriam Sadly this summer has seen the passing of the last two members of the 1914-1918 BEF. Henry Allingham “The Last Kitchener Volunteer” served in the Royal Naval Air Service at sea and on the Western Front and was a founder member of the Royal Air Force. Harry Patch “The Last Fighting Tommy” served in the 7th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on the Western Front until being wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres in September 1917. With their passing the Great War has now passed from living memory and it is now up to our generation to ensure that the achievements of their generation is passed onto to future generations and that their deeds and sacrifice will always be remembered. “At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will Remember Them.” Henry Allingham Harry Patch 6 June 1896 – 18 July 2009 17 June 1898 – 25 July 2009 RIP RIP 1 SUMMARY OF BRANCH EVENTS – Steve Berridge ST GEORGES DAY SUPPER - 18th April 2009 On the evening of Saturday 18th April 32 members and friends of the Somme Branch dined together at the Ashford International Hotel to celebrate St George’s Day. We were joined by former Coldstreamer and current member of the “Queens Body Guard” Bill Tuffs in his full ceremonial regalia who gave us a very interesting talk about the “Guard” illustrated with many personal mementos, after which we sat down for dinner. We were entertained during dinner by the Brass St Georges Day diners and the Queens Bodyguard (Photo: Neil Bedford) quartet of the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary After dinner our Vice Chairman, Steve Berridge opened his speech giving a background history of St George, the patron saint of England with the immortal Monty Python line, “what have the Romans ever done for us?” all became clear during the speech – honest! This was followed by a rendition of Shakespeare’s “God for Harry, England and Saint George” speech from Henry V by our Secretary David Williams TD. There followed a moving presentation of a set of First World War medals, “pip, squeak and Wilfred” into the care of our Chairman Rod Bedford by former Grenadier (yes I can hear Rodders now ―once a Grenadier always a Grenadier!) Sean Cartwright. The Battle of Trafalgar was also humorously re-enacted dwelling on the outcome of the battle if set in a modern day health and safety/politically correct environment! The evening culminated with our usual patriotic sing a long with music provided by the Hampshire Constabulary Quartet. BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE COMMEMORATION – 9th May 2009 On Saturday the 9th May a commemoration service was held at the Australian Memorial Park just outside the village of Fromelles to remember the Anglo-Indian battle of Aubers Ridge of the 9th May 1915 which resulted in nearly 12,000 British and Indian casualties during the one day battle. The area of the Australian Memorial Park although at first glance appears to be mainly associated with the Anglo-Australian attack of 19/20th July 1916 known as the Battle of Fromelles, when Australian soldiers gained footings in the German lines here, was appropriate as in the 1915 battle this same area of the German lines was reached and held for some hours by members of the 8th Divisions, 25th Infantry Brigade and in particular the 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st Royal Irish Rifles who were heading for the area of Rouge-bancs. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the RBL Ypres Branch and the RBL Somme Branch represented by Chairman Rod Bedford and Secretary David Williams TD who carried the Branch Standard on this occasion – competition eh! 2 ACHIET-LE GRAND MEMORIAL DEDICATION – 24th May 2009 On the morning of the 24th May the Branch Chairman Rod Bedford, Vice Chairman & Standard Bearer Steve Berridge and Secretary David Williams TD attended a service organised by the Somme Remembrance Association for the dedication of a new memorial in the wood just outside of the village of Achiet-Le-Grand. AMERICAN MEMORIAL DAY – 24th May 2009 In the afternoon Branch Officers and members were invited to attend and parade our Standard at the American Memorial Service held at the Bony American Cemetery on the Somme. We were hosted by the Superintendant of the Somme American Cemetery Mr Craig Rahanian and his wife Lorna who have been friends of the branch for many years (and have now taken the plunge and become branch members). The parade held in the cemetery itself was attended by dignitaries from many nations, French and American military bands and representatives American Memorial Day, Bony. (Photo Chris Berridge) from the US Forces in Germany, the French Armed Forces and representatives of the Ancients Combatants as well as our Branch Standard and a group of British Army Cadets who just happened to be passing! BRANCH NORMANDY 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY TOUR. 5th-8th June 2009 During 4 days in June, Officers of the branch:- Chairman Rod Bedford, Vice Chairman Steve Berridge, Treasurer Chris Berridge and Webmaster Neil Bedford forayed out from the Somme toward the Normandy beaches to take part in commemorations for the D Day landings of 65 Years before. On the evening of the 5th we gathered at Benouville to take part in the commemorations and festivities (we lost the Chairman and webmaster a number of times in various bars) to mark the taking of the two bridges here subsequently renamed Pegasus and Horsa, by the gliderborne coup-de-main glider force led by Major John Howard and his reinforced Letter D Company of the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (“up the Ox and Bux, up the Ox and Bux” as Richard Todd would say!) at 15 minutes after midnight 5/6 June 1944. Commemorations involved a march over the bridge by the Army Air Corps and the veterans of the coup de main party much to the cheering of those present. A small private ceremony was held at midnight around John Howard’s memorial plinth involving surviving veterans of the Coup de main party and family members and friends. The ceremony involved playing a recording of the late Major John Howard retelling his experiences of the glider assault followed by glasses of “champers”. Listening to the voice of the man himself and on the very spot 65 years ago almost to the minute where it happened was very emotive. After the ceremony at approximately 00.15 hrs buglers heralded the arrival of the “Project 65” runners who had run from Tarrant Rushton to Pegasus Bridge. Project 65 had been set up to raise funds for a new memorial to the Coup de main force and to help service and ex-service organisations. Then off to find the Chairman and webmaster yet again! And eventually back to our billets. 3 The New Memorial at Pegasus Bridge funded by Project 65 (Photo Steve Berridge) On the 6th the Branch attended the official commemoration service at Bayeux Cathedral attended by Prince Charles and at which the Standard was on parade. The Standard next attended the Normandy Veterans Commemoration Service held at the Bayeux War Cemetery again in the presence of the Prince of Wales. In the Afternoon we headed for Arromanches and the culmination of the commemorations, the march past and drumhead service of the Normandy Veterans and the Royal British Legion Standards including the Somme Branch standard in the area in front of the museum which overlooks the beach and the remains of Mulberry Harbour, the highlight of which was a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which left not a dry eye in the house and that was not just because it was raining! RBL BRUSSELS MEMORIAL DAY – 27th June 2009 Members of the Branch and the Standard were invited to attend an annual service held by the RBL Brussels Branch to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo (fought nearby on 18th June 1815) and to remember those who served in the two world wars particularly those who liberated Brussels in September 1944. Two services were held in the Brussels Town Cemetery. The first at the Waterloo Memorial and the second at the Commonwealth War Brussels Town Cemetery (Photo Chris Berridge) Graves plot within the cemetery. Editors note - Just look at that right elbow Rodders- private joke! 4 THE SOMME DINNER – 30th June 2009 This year the Branch annual dinner was held in the Royal Picardie Hotel in Albert. 27 members and friends sat down to dinner. Prior to dinner we were entertained by Pipers from the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band. As is customary before dinner the Exhortation was said, but this time the whole of Laurence Binyon's poem “The Fallen” was read a verse at a time by various diners ending with the Chairman giving the lines of the Exhortation that are actually taken from the poem. After dinner entertainment was provided in the form of a sing-a-long of First World War trench songs organised by the Vice Chairman and Treasurer. The highlight of which was the assembled throng trying to sing “Sister Suzie’s sewing shirts for soldiers….” Those present will also be relieved to know that the Vice Chairman has put on hold his thoughts of a career in the diplomatic service!!!!!!! 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME – 1st July 2009.