the Pioneerthe newsletter of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association April 2011 www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk Cenotaph Parade Page 5 Deployment Training Page 13 Regimental Boxing Page 31 Christmas Fun Run Page 32 ■ Garden of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey Picture: Paul Brown 2 | THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION the Pioneer HRISTMAS festivities were abruptly curtailed Thanks to all who purchased tickets for the when the sad news of the death of WO2 RPC Association Christmas Draw which made a C Charlie Wood was announced. He was profit of £3,500, this money helps the work of killed by an IED in Afghanistan on 28 December the Association. Details of the lucky winners are 2010. His repatriation at Wootton Bassett was, shown on page 6. As usual tickets for the Derby according to the locals, the largest they had Draw are enclosed with this Newsletter please witnessed. Four coaches had travelled from give this your support. If you are purchasing Bicester and the town was a mass of ‘Red and tickets yourself you can, instead of writing your Green’ ties. A large number of Association full name and address on the counterfoils, simply members also attended. His funeral at put the number which precedes your name on Middlesbrough was also well attended with the envelope in which your Newsletter arrived. approx 480 seated in the church and another Also enclosed is a booking form for the Front Cover 200 standing at the rear, there was also a large Reunion Weekend, this must be received by 16 St Johns The Evangelist crowd outside the church in addition to those June 2011, late booking will only be accepted in Church, Middlesbrough lining the streets of the town and around very exceptional circumstances. This year’s Picture: Supplied Middlesbrough’s Football ground, Riverside. Reunion will be bigger and better than ever, Further details are shown on page 64. although planning is still ongoing it is envisaged It is pleasing to hear that the town of Wootton that the events on the field will be varied and Bassett is to be granted the title ‘Royal’ in enjoyable. The Veterans v The Regiment football recognition of its efforts to honour UK match will once again take place, unfortunately servicemen who have been repatriated through the Veterans ‘Manager’ Keith Burrows is unable the town since 2007. to attend this year he has passed the appointment Two weeks after we received the sad news of over to Paul Scott, if you would like a game WO2 Wood we heard that another member of please bring your boots! the search team had been seriously wounded in On page 12 you will find details of the action. Pte Stringer, also of 518 Sqn, competition to spot the Cuneo Mouse, it is unfortunately suffered serious injuries on 11 hidden somewhere in this newsletter (and it’s not January 2011 and had to have multiple the one on Page 66) - good hunting! amputations. We have heard, that in true Pioneer I hope you enjoy the varied content in this Inside Back / Back Cover spirit, he remains cheerful and is making good Newsletter, articles are always welcome – why How 265 Coy won two medals progress. Our thoughts and good wishes are with not put pen to paper or fingers to keypad. including that of Cpl J Scully him. Norman Brown Picture: The Hornet CONTENTS | APRIL 2011 Registered Charity Number 2 Field of Remembrance 1024036 Westminster Patron 3 News / Past Events / Future Events HRH The Duke of Gloucester Latest news with details of past and future 12 30 KG GCVO events, including details of the reunion weekend Vice Patrons 17 Colonel Donald Dean His exploits in Madagascar during WW2 General Sir John Stibbon KCB OBE Major General G W Field CB 24 The Blitz Includes extracts from Unit War Diaries President Brigadier H J Hickman CBE 28 Unveiling of the Athens Memorial Report by Lt Smythe, 518 Coy RPC Chairman 30 Photo Gallery 34 55 Colonel A Barnes TD JP Photos from various events in the last 6 months Controller / Editor 36 Wartime Memories Norman Brown Esq A report on 12 Centre Pioneer Corps 8 Design / Photography 44 Palastinian POWs Paul Brown How the Germans reacted to Jewish POWs 52 Fire Fighting ☎ telephone A report of 206 Coy during the Firemen's Strike 01869 360694 55 Blast from the Past ✆ fax Can you supply dates and any other information 01869 360695 56 RPC Association Shop Please place your orders and help the ✉ email association [email protected] 57 Letters to the Editor ✈ website We welcome your letters, emails and your views www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk 61 Book Reviews ✇ facebook group Three book reviews - 2 new and 1 old www.tinyurl.com/b82ste 62 Cancellation of Royal Visit - Nearly! Royal visit to Northampton nearly cancelled 62 Long Lost Trails Can you help locate these people? The Royal Pioneer 63 Last Post - May they rest in peace Corps Association Includes details of the funeral of WO2 CH Wood c/o 23 Pnr Regiment RLC 66 And Finally... St David's Barracks Closure with a little humour Graven Hill Bicester OX26 6HF THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 3 PAST EVENTS ■ THE 64th Past and Present Officers Dinner was held on Friday 15 October Pioneers pay 2010 and 76 Officers attended. The guest of honour was Colonel Rufus McNeill who gave a brilliant speech on current operations involving the Army in general with particular importance on the RLC. He is a former Adjutant of the 23 Regiment and knows their respects the role and importance of the Pioneer trade well. ■ THE WOs & SNCOs Pioneer Reunion Fallen remembered at both Roade and London Club Ladies/Generation Dinner Night was held on Saturday 26 October 2010, this was the first opportunity for the RSM of 23 Pioneer Regiment and also Chairman of the Reunion Club to meet some of the members. A good evening was organised by WO2 Charlie Wood who unfortunately was killed in Afghanistan two months later by an IED. ■ THE FIELD of Remembrance on 11 November 2010 had a large number standing behind the Corps Plot (Number 169) and our only in Pensioner Mickey Hull and SSgt (Now WO2) Cheung standing at the front of the plot. After the short service and inspection of the plots by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh both Mickey Hull and WO2 Cheung represented the Corps for the short service inside Westminster Abbey. Once again two daughters of Sgt James Scully GC stood alongside members of the Corps. The Royal British Legion decided two weeks prior to the event that tickets would be required, it is not known if a similar requirement will be imposed this year it is therefore advisable to apply to the RPC Association for a ticket if you intend to attend this year. ■ Pioneers return to their home in Northampton Picture: Nostalgia Group ■ THE NORMAL London Lunch followed the Field of Remembrance N 14th November a handful of ex glorious dead, so with heads held high held at the Marquis of Westminster Royal Pioneers made their way medals jingling and proudly displaying O “home” to Northampton to march in the badge of the Royal Pioneer Corps we House in Wilton Street, Victoria. Twenty four personnel sat down to a very the Royal British Legion Remembrance made our way back to the church and enjoyable meal. Day Parade in the village of Roade which were fell out. Once again members from both 23 and as you all know is only a stone’s throw Hands were shook and many hip flasks 168 Pioneer Regiments attended. away from the site of what was once were passed around purely for medicinal It certainly proved a long day for Col Simpson Barracks our Training Centre. purposes to keep out the cold and then off Pat O’Conell, the first train from The idea was put forward by Cpl Kevin to the local watering hole for a few pints Birmingham to London was cancelled “Digger” Young a former MHE Instructor of fizzy water, the odd joke or two and and the second was 40 minutes late. and who is a member of the RBL in then we all made our way home and On the underground the train came to Roade. There was a great turn out of ex agreed to return next year to remember an abrupt halt and it was explained that Pioneers and many had travelled long the fallen and once more to come home there was a line problem and men were distances to be there and march once currently working to fix it. to Northampton. When it started again it quickly came again alongside their old friends. The A special mention must be made to Mr to another halt and it was announced church service in the local church was Kevin Young and his wife Anne-Marie for the train would have to wait for the men dignified and solemn as we gave thanks in extending such great hospitality and to leave the tunnel. remembrance of those who had made the making us so welcome, to Capt Mel Smith On arrival at Westminster Abbey he ultimate sacrifice for their country. for marching us across to the parade was just about to pass through security We fell in outside the church and Capt (“thanks Sir!”) and to the RBL in Roade for when the gates were closed – the Duke Mel Smith marched us across to the small allowing us to march in their parade also of Edinburgh had arrived. His return memorial in the village square where Maj thanks to Maj Patrick Fleming.