The Royal British Legion SOMERSET COUNTY & BRISTOL Newsletter September 2020 In this Edition *** *** *** *** *** There are 6 Newsletter issues every year: January : March : May : July : September : November The deadline for articles for the November 2020 issue is 21st October - see back page for details September 2020 September 2020 Chard Branch Hold a Children's Lockdown Project Scaled Down Armed Forces Day held at Clevedon Chard Branch decided that during the lockdown period, we would engage with On Armed Forces Day, Sunday 28th June (AFD) Clevedon Branch held a wreath our community by holding a colouring and art competition. There were three laying ceremony at the Memorial on Clevedon seafront. categories: - Rainbows (up to 7yrs), Lionel our Branch Mascot (7-11yrs) and NHS Clevedon's usual Armed Forced Day Parade and Drumhead Service had to be Logo (11yrs+). cancelled this year due to Coronavirus but as some lifting of restrictions had taken We had some amazing entries and the committee voted on the best artwork, with place we were able to lay a wreath to mark the day. Two Standard Bearers took each winner reciving a chocolate hamper from Branch Chairman, Darren Squires. part, Kathy Sidwell and Bob Blackwell with David Sidwell being Parade Darren Squires, Chairman, Chard Branch Commander. The Wreath was laid by our President Michael Allison. Several of our Branch members came and supported and we all were very careful to comply with social distancing. It was a fine day but with the usual wind that Clevedon is well known for blowing quite fiercely at times. Bob Blackwell, Chairman, Clevedon Branch 2 3 September 2020 September 2020 Crewkerne Branch & Local Children Confront Dementia VJ Day Commemorations at MilBorne Port ... A Dementia Friendly group of children known as the Forget-Me-Nots, from St. We commemorated VJ day at Bartholomew’s First School in Crewkerne, have been learning how to be more Milborne Port and District Branch at aware of dementia. These ten children were learning how to converse with a buddy our War Memorial at the weekend. and they also made a sensory cushion using new skills of sewing, plaiting and The Standard was dipped by our braiding. They also made postcards demonstrating their favourite memory to share standard bearer, Lynne Robshaw. Ian with a buddy and hoping this would trigger childhood memories to share in return. Hawley and I attended on behalf of The group was led by Alice Samuel and she was supported by two Crewkerne RBL the branch with Peter Robshaw in branch members, Sandie Smith and Sarah King. They all met on Thursday support. lunchtimes and Sandie and Sarah taught the group the new skills of sewing and Bob Mansergh OBE the children were very proud of their sensory cushions they made. County President The group were fortunate to meet with an Admiral Nurse, Kate Ronaldson, who visited the school. They eXplained what they already knew about dementia and what they were planning to do in the future. They were very ... and at Taunton eXcited to meet Kate who Taunton Branch were allowed to parade three Standards at the service held at 40 thought they were very keen Cmdo Norton Manor Camp. The Branch Standard was paraded by Gordon and showed compassion. Pursley, the Burma Star Standard paraded by Robin Hammond and the Alice Samuel arranged for Association Standard them to meet with members of the Memory Group in Crewkerne, which would was paraded by Branch have been so rewarding for the group to use their skills and make new friends, Chairman, all braving however, Covid-19 put a stop to that happening, but hopefully they will still get the the elements to opportunity when all is safe. commemorate the 75th Fortunately, there is some good news – the Forget-Me-Nots chose a charity to raise Anniversary of VJ-Day. money for and they thought the RBL Admiral Nurses would be a good charity The County Vice- because it’s linked to dementia and also because it’s RBL related, as the school is Chairman laid a wreath affiliated with the Crewkerne branch. At the affiliation ceremony, last November, on behalf of The Royal all the proceeds from the refreshments went towards the Admiral Nurses and that British Legion. was the beginning of the fundraising. The children also sold cakes and during the lockdown, Sandie made face masks and Alice sold them, just to raise the funds a little more. At the end of the year the Forget-Me-Nots raised an amazing £511.22. Well done Forget-Me-Nots! Alice Samuel, Crewkerne Branch 4 5 September 2020 September 2020 VJ Day Commemoration Pictures from Around the Branches Banwell Burnham-on-Sea Martock Burnham-on-Sea 6 7 September 2020 September 2020 VJ Day Commemoration Pictures from Around the Branches Drayton Minehead Fivehead Curry Rivel Hutton, Old MiXon & Locking 8 9 September 2020 September 2020 VJ Day Commemorations at Watchet ... ...and at WellinGton The service at Watchet’s memorial was planned with full coronavirus safety and Due to the coronavirus pandemic only the President of the Wellington Branch, Mr social distancing requirements. Michael Rose, their Chairman and Standard Bearer Mr Bob Trickey, the Mayor of It was felt locally with advice from the Queen's Pageant Master, and RBL Wellington Councillor Janet Lloyd and Victoria Osborne of the Wellington Town guidance, that we could, and should, go ahead with this national commemoration Band as well as a few members were present at the Town’s War Memorial at 11am of significant importance. Not only VJ-Day but the end of World War 2. on Saturday 15th August to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in the Far East. Organiser Sara Summers, the Memorials Archivist, was pleased to have the support and help of Watchet RBL chairman Fred Powis and our Chaplain Deacon The President opened the Vincent Woods. proceedings by saying “We commemorate today Sara said, "We're all those servicemen and delighted to have women who campaigned Cllr Hazel Prior in the Far East theatre of Sankey, Chair of war, whether on land, sea Somerset West and or in the air, to achieve Taunton Council in victory and to bring attendance to lay a freedom to all those wreath, invited by occupied countries. Watchet Branch and our District No one must forget the Councillor Loretta appalling conditions Whetlor". under which they, including many from this town, laboured and the brutality suffered by anyone taken prisoner. Watchet Town Council's representative and Mayor, John Irven laid a wreath for The life we enjoy today was made possible by their sacrifices and courage and to the people of Watchet. An additional wreath was laid for the Watchet Memorial quote Field Marshall Slim, who commanded the XIV Army, known as the Group and the Royal British Legion by Ann Snelling. Forgotten Army, “moral courage is the courage that makes him do what is right We commemorated with The Cry For Peace by town crier David Milton, where because he believes it is right”. two of Watchet’s men killed in the conflict were mentioned. The President then said the Kohima eXhortation “When you go home tell them of Aircraftman 2nd class, Donald James Binding. My records show he was an RAF us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today” Volunteer Reservists who died on the 6th March 1942 in Singapore aged 22. He Following two minutes silence marked by the last post and reveille played by still has relatives living locally. Also, Lance Bombardier Reginald James Davey of Victoria Osborne the Mayor laid a wreath on behalf of the Town Council. the 9th Coastal Regiment, Royal Artillery who died on the 24th March 1942 aged Michael Rose, President, Wellington Branch 34. Both of them are named and remembered in the Kanji War Cemetery in Singapore. Sara Summers, Memorials Achivist 10 11 September 2020 September 2020 VJ Day Commemorations at Wincanton ... Wincanton. Mayor Cllr. Susan Shelborn-Barrow laid the town wreath and District Cllr. Colin Winder a wreath on behalf of South Somerset District Council. Branch On taking advice, Wincanton Branch did manage to not only to abide by chairman Rob Dickinson said the traditional EXhortation before the Last Post and government regulations, but to have a meaningful offering of Remembrance for The Kohima Blessing after Reveille. the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. At the 75th anniversary commemoration in June of last year of the crash of “Old Faithful”, the American B17 Flying Fortress, which On our relatively new War Memorial we chose the verse of the Kohima Blessing, she attended, the Mayor Cllr Susan Shelborn-Barrow approached myself as which we should remember marks the suffering of all wars. President and Rob Dickinson as Chairman and told us of her aspirations and “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our thoughts on commemorating the very special VJ Day 2020. today.” Mindful of our responsibilities we attempted to arrange something meaningful Anthony Goddard, Chairman, Wincanton Branch with great support from our Rector, the Revd. Alison Way and Reader at the Parish Church, Penny Ashton who agreed to lead us in prayers. VJ Day is, in our opinion, ...and at WrinGton the most solemn day of the Second World War because it was not only after the eXploding of two atomic bombs that Japan finally surrendered, and the horrific A Remembrance service was held at the Wrington War Memorial in All Saints' loss of life that entailed, but it was on that day that prisoners of war and civilian Churchyard on Saturday 15th August 2020.