July 2015 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HUNTINGDONSHIRE NEWSLETTER EDITOR’s NOTE: Over the Next few months I will try to pass on as much information as possible so that Members are aware of what is happening. However for those of you who have not visited the Legion website, there many items of information and news available on the site www.britishlegion.org.uk I will continue to provide this Newsletter, but I do need help from you with contributions towards the publication. For it to be a success then I need articles, news, stories and details of events from Branch level and Members. C HATTERIS BRANCH RECEIVE TWO AWARDS AT RBL NATIONAL CONFERENCE Chatteris Branch received the Runner up Certificate of Merit for the Lister Award for Efficiency in a Small Branch at the Annual Conference of The Royal British Legion held in Southport 16th and 17th May 2015 Also, Branch Chairman Norman Larke and Youth Co-ordinator Leah Templeman share the National Chairman's Award for exceptional service to The Royal British Legion over the preceeding year 1 World War 1 Victoria Cross Recipients May 1915 Edward Warner VC – was a 32 years old Private in the 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the defence of Hill 60 south-east of Ypres on 1 May 1915. Ted's platoon held the right flank on the hill, every one of his colleagues had been by the effects of gas as it rolled into their section. Ted Warner remained in the trench, fending off all German attempts to gain entry. Once a lull in the fighting allowed, he moved back through the gas cloud, artillery bombardment and machine gun fire to gather reinforcements. Ted found some men from his battalion and guided them back into the danger area but soon after returning to the front trenches had to be carried back to the regimental aid post suffering from the effects of prolonged exposure to the gas. The next dy Ted passed away. John Lynn VC DCM, was about 28 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers. On 2 May 1915 near Ypres, Belgium, when the Germans were advancing behind their wave of asphyxiating gas, Private Lynn, although almost overcome by gas fumes, he handled his machine-gun with great effect against the enemy, and when he could not see them, he moved his gun higher up the parapet so that he could fire more effectively. This eventually checked any further advance and the outstanding courage displayed by this soldier had a great effect upon his comrades in the very trying circumstances. Private Lynn died the next day from the effects of gas poisoning . David Finlay VC - was 22 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), On 9 May 1915 near Rue du Bois, France, Lance-Corporal Finlay led a bombing party of 12 men in the attack until 10 of them had fallen. He then ordered the two survivors to crawl back and he himself went to the assistance of a wounded man and carried him over a distance of 100 yards of fire-swept ground into cover, quite regardless of his own safety. John Ripley VC -He was 47 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), On 9 May 1915 at Rue du Bois, France, Corporal Ripley led his section on the right of the platoon in the assault and was the first man of the battalion to climb the enemy's parapet. He directed those following him to the gaps in the German wire entanglements. He then led his section through a breach in the parapet to a second line of trench. With seven or eight men he established himself, blocking other flanks, and continued to hold the position until all his men had fallen and he himself was badly wounded in the head. Charles Richard Sharpe VC - was 26 years old and an Acting Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. On 9 May 1915 at Rouges Bancs, France, Corporal Sharpe was in charge of a blocking party sent forward to take a portion of the German trench. He was the first to reach the enemy's position and using bombs with great effect he himself cleared them out of a trench 50 yards long. By this time all his party had fallen and he was then joined by four other men with whom he attacked the enemy with bombs and captured a further trench 250 yards long. More VC’s Page 5 2 Bottisham & District Branch On Sunday 28th June, Bottisham & District Branch held their Armed Forces Day Service at Holy Trinity Church in Bottisham. A good turnout for the service witnessed 8 Standards including Cambridge County Standard and 3 Branch Standards, together with Standards from the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force. After the service a reception was held at The Legion Social Club in Bottisham. There, a warm welcome was made for guests and members of the Burwell detachment of the Cambridgeshire ACF. Following much work done by Branch member Trevor Cox, who is a Major in the Cambridgeshire ACF, Certificates of Youth affiliation were exchanged between Bottisham & District Branch of the Royal British Legion and the Burwell detachment of the Army Cadet Force. It is hoped that this should bring a more youthful interest to the activities of Bottisham Branch in the future. Colin Elsden DL, TRBL Cambridgeshire County President and Cambridgeshire DL, together with Colonel Steve Martin who is the Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF, presented affiliation badges to the members of the Burwell detachment of Cambridgshire ACF. Picture 1; Colonel Steve Martin, Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF with members and Standard of the Burwell dettachment of the ACF with Bottisham Branch President Mr. Ken York and Bottisham Standard Bearer, Peter Rayment. Picture 2; Colonel Steve Martin and Mr. Ken York exchange certificates of recognition of youth affiliation. with Major Trevor Cox ,County training officer. Picture 3: County President Colin Elsden DL Inspecting the Standards of the Royal British Legion and the Banners of the Cambridgeshire ACF at Holy trinity Church in Bottisham. AFD service 28th June 3 QUIZ TIME: CITY SITES ANSWERS ON PAGE 7 1. Which street is Dublin's main shopping 6. Rockefeller Plaza in New York is used as centre? an open-air café in summer. What is it in winter? 2. What was built in Berlin in 1788 as a 7. Where would you be if you could look out victory arch for triumphant Prussian over the city from Victoria Peak? armies? 3. In which city could you climb the Spanish 8. In which Far Eastern capital would you Steps?? find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha? 4. In which city would you find elegant 9. Which German city has a chiming clock on shopping streets called Via Morte, Via its medieval town hall, with two tiers of Napoleone, Via Manzoni and Via Spiga? dancing and jousting figures which emerge twice daily? 5. What do Les Halles in Paris and Covent 10. The Dome of the Rock was built in 691 by Garden in London have in common? the caliph Abd-al-Malik. Where is it? Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride The Royal British Legion Riders Branch are proudly carried out their 7th Annual Ride to Madingley Cemetery on Saturday 4th July 2015. All bikers from across the United Kingdom were invited to attend the ride coincided along with rides taking place in the United States, Canada, South Africa, France, New Zealand and Italy creating one ride worldwide, its riders united in remembrance of our fallen heroes from the allied forces, past and present, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The ride was escorted between Cambridge Services on the A14 and Madingley American Cemetery on the A1303 where a Service of Remembrance took place. RBL and Cadet Standards attended at the Ceremony 4 May 1915 VC’s Continued James Upton VC was 27 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) On 9 May 1915 at Rouges Bancs, France, Corporal Upton rescued the wounded while exposed to rifle and artillery fire, going close to the enemy's parapet. One wounded man was killed by a shell while the corporal was carrying him. When not actually carrying the wounded he was engaged in dressing and bandaging the serious cases in front of the parapet. Douglas Walter Belcher VC - was a 25 years old lance-sergeant in the 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (The London Rifle Brigade). On 13 May 1915, south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road, Belgium, Belcher was in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork during continuous bombardment by the enemy. With very few men, Belcher elected to remain and try to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn, and with great skill he succeeded in his objective, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150-200 yards away, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. This bold action prevented the enemy breaking through and averted an attack on the flank of the division. Frederick Barter VC MC - was 24 years old, and a company sergeant-major in the Special Reserve, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. On 16 May 1915 at Festubert, France, Company Sergeant- Major Barter, when in the first line of German trenches, called for volunteers to enable him to extend the British line, and with the eight men who responded, he attacked the German position with bombs, capturing three German officers, 102 men and 500 yards of their trenches.