The Magazine of the Edition 16 Artillery Clerks’ Association December 2012 Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Intentionally blank Chairman’s Foreword and Notes by Lt Col Joe Falzon BEM OSJ What an exiting year it’s been This edition of The Crossed Quills newsletters, websites, parades, for everyone!! 2012 will stick is only possible due to a huge co- reunions, comradeship, mutual in our minds as our nation has ordinating effort by Andy Tibble, support or just a friendly chat over seen celebrations for Her Majesty supported by all the contributors the phone. On behalf of the entire The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, far and wide. I give them all full Membership, I would like to thank including the Thames Pageant, credit for putting together another Andy Tibble, Ian Constantine, Paul a spectacular flotilla reflecting memorable, which goes a long Corker, Ron Holmes, Roy Deal, Britain’s maritime heritage. We way to ensure that our Association David Stotan, Dennis Norris and now have a Tour de France remains vibrant and relevant. Joe Hoggins most sincerely. Champion for the first time and also a Grand Slam winner after In December 2012, a number of Finally, I know you would all want God knows how many years. In members based on Salisbury Plain, to join me in wishing all the best the middle of September, we accompanied by our Association to our Members currently on proudly finished hosting the best Standard Bearer, attended the St operations and to pray for their ever Olympics and the inspiring Barbara’s Day Church Service and safe return home. Paralympics. lunch at Larkhill. I am pleased to inform you that the planning for The Association had a good the next Association Weekend year too, with Members enjoying and Reunion Dinner has started in two outstanding, well supported earnest, gradually gearing up and annual reunions, one in Larkhill and culminating with an intense period the other in Hereford, Germany. of activity in the four weeks leading Both are fully reported and well up to Saturday 22nd June 2013. supported by photographic evidence in this edition of The We are extremely fortunate in the Crossed Quills. Over the past wonderful commitment and hard twelve months we also welcomed work shown by our Committee, George Mould as a new Member past and present. Please continue and Paddy Butler as an Honorary to support and encourage them Member. to deliver what you need, be it Secretary’s Report by Andy Tibble MSM (former WO1(SSM)) Once again this has been a very Parade at Esher on Thursday 17th was held at the WO’s & Sgt’s Mess busy year, but a successful one February 2012, Gunner Sunday in Horne Barracks, Larkhill on with both Her Majesty The Queen’s at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Saturday 16th June 2012 under Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and Friday 22nd April 2012 as well the auspices of Mr Andy Tibble also with the Olympics. I can’t as this year’s St Barbara’s Day MSM. Although the numbers were believe that it is now time for me to Service which was held at Larkhill down on previous years due to start editing another edition of ‘The on Sunday 2nd December 2012. other commitments, we were all Crossed Quills’. This has been On behalf of the Committee and proud to welcome the Maj Gen once again a very busy year for the members I would like to thank Matthew Sykes as our Guest of Association. The Association has Andrew for his commitment in Honour and SSgt Rob Green from been represented by our Standard representing the Association at so 14 Regt RA who represented the Bearer, Andrew Jones at the St many venues throughout the year. RSM 14 Regt who was unable to Barbara’s Day Service which was attend due to the RASM’s dine held at Larkhill on Sunday 4th Once again we had a most out. A full report on the Dinner by December 2011, Royal Artillery excellent Reunion Dinner which our Secretary can be read later in the magazine. On behalf of those however, have transport issues, edition. Donations for this year’s members who attended, I would then you should speak to Ron magazine have been received like to say a big thank you to all Holmes or myself as we may be from the Committee members, of those who were involved in able to come up with a possible Vic Holdaway, Steve Callaghan assisting me in making this a most solution to ensure that you are and Steve Seymour. Many thanks memorable evening and a most able to attend. Our Germany for your contribution. Issue 17 of enjoyable weekend. Reunion Secretary, WO1 (SSM) the Crossed Quills is due to be Ron Holmes organises an excellent published and by the beginning WO1 (SSM) Ron Holmes MSM Reunion Weekend in Germany of December 2013. I would be (Germany Reunion Secretary) every year and it would be really most grateful if you could all look organised a very successful good to see those Artillery Clerks’ through your individual archives Germany Reunion weekend that who live in Germany supporting to see if you have something of took place in 1(UK) Armd Div HQ this event especially if you can’t interest, old photographs that you & Signal Regt’s WO’s & Sgt’s Mess make it to the UK dinner each year. would like to be published in next in Hereford on Saturday 20th years’ edition. These articles, with October 2012. A full report on the Congratulations and well done photographs should reach me by Dinner by our Germany reunion to Lt Col Russ Lee RA who was no later than Friday 6th September Secretary can be read later in the awarded the MBE in the 2012 2013. Please remember to magazine. Further details regarding New Years Honours List and also forward all articles in typed script the Germany Reunion in 2013 to WO1 (SSM) Ron Holmes who where possible, including a CD- will be sent out in due course. was awarded the MSM in the 2012 ROM with the articles on, along Thank you also to WO1 (SSM) Queen’s Birthday Honours List. with any original photographs that Ron Holmes MSM (Germany Congratulations also to Capt Ian you may have. The photographs Reunion Secretary) and WO Hauke Constantine RA on being selected will be returned back to you once Michelson (Honorary Member) for for promotion to Acting Major with they have been scanned onto the supplying photographs from the effect from January 2013 and also system. two Reunion weekends for this to WO2 (SQMS) Chris Harvey on edition of ‘The Crossed Quills’. being selected for promotion to Our current membership stands WO1 (SSM) during the FY2012/13. at 205. There are currently 174 It was evident from this year’s Well done to you all. I have Potential New members on the Reunion that the number of those not been informed of any other Wanted List who were Artillery members attending was down promotions or awards or anything Clerks’, but have not yet joined from previous years. This is the else during the past 12 months. the Association. I am sure that only opportunity for all members of there are Potential Members on the Artillery Clerks’ Association to The 79th Artillery Clerks’ Reunion the Wanted List that you know of meet up over a weekend in the UK will take place over the weekend their whereabouts. I would ask and therefore, it would be good to of the 21st to 23rd June 2013 all Members of the Association to seek the support of all members in the new Central WO’s & Sgt’s make a consolidated effort this in supporting this event each year. Mess at Larkhill. The Reunion year to try and encourage them I know from speaking to some dinner will take place on Saturday to join the Association. Recruiting members who didn’t attend the 22nd June 2013. Major General has currently slowed down and Reunion at Larkhill this year that Richard Nugee, Director General I urge you all to try and motivate transport had been a possible (Personnel) has kindly accepted either a formerly appointed Artillery reason for non-attendance and if our invitation to join us as our Clerk or former Junior Rank this is the case, I would be most Guest of Honour.Further details Clerk’s in the Gunners who has grateful if you could either let me or regarding the reunion weekend is subsequently been promoted Ian know as soon as possible as enclosed with this edition of ‘The to Sgt or above within the AGC. this is easily rectified with perhaps Crossed Quills’. A copy of the Application for car sharing etc. This should be Membership is enclosed within included on your Reunion return Once again the ‘Crossed Quills’ this edition of the Crossed Quills. when sending them back to Ian, has grown in size! I would like to Further copies can be obtained so that we can assist you where take this opportunity in thanking from the Secretary. possible. I can appreciate that those Association members this might be slightly more difficult who have contributed to this Unfortunately, I have lost contact for those travelling from Germany edition by forwarding articles and with the following members who to the UK. If you wish to attend, photographs for inclusion into this have moved and have failed to notify me of their new forwarding was obtained from members at email: [email protected] or addresses: the recent Reunion weekend. find me on facebook and forward More information can be found any information you have about John McDermott, by visiting our website at www.