June 1986

47

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

REGIMENTAL SECRETARY'S NOTES Lord Mayor of London 's Procession
Our TA battalions will again represent the Regiment
in the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday 8 November. In
The Colonel of the Regiment view of the 20th Anniversary of the Regiment and 325th
We are pleased to report that Brigadier Charles Anniversary of the raising of the Tangier Regiment of
Foot, we applied for and have been allocated some
Millman returned to his duties for the Regiment and the pages in the official programme. The Regiment's
Army Benevolent Fund in early March . He received participation in the Lord Mayor's show each year is
many messages of best wishes after he was taken ill at based on the ' Privilege' granted permanently to The
Christmas and, following a period of co nvalescence , his Buffs in 1672 of marching through the City of London
first official Regimental function was to preside at the with " Colours flying, drums beating and bayonets
Officers' Club Dinner in the Duke of York's HO Chelsea, fixed" - a rare distinction shared by on ly three
on 21 March. regiments at the time and even now granted to only
seven regiments.
Dover Castle Museum Appeal
An appeal for £75,000 was launched on 25 April to Officers' Club Cocktail Party
This year the Officers ' Club Cocktail Party is on Friday
pay for the move of the Regimental Museum from
Howe Barracks Canterbury and its setting up in Dover 10 October but on t his occasion is to be held in the
Castle as part of the English Heritage enhancement of Banqueting House, Whitehall. The reason for the
this major tourist site. Many readers have already change of venue is to allow room to invite a greater
received particulars of the appeal but , for those that number of Regimental guests to mark the 325th·
have not, donations may be sent to Regimental Head- Anniversary of raising The Tangier Regiment . The
quarters (payable to 'The Queen 's Regiment Museum Colonel of the Regiment wished to mark this event , not
Appeal Fund ') where further details may also be because of his own Regimental beginnings , but to
obtained. lt is hoped to open the museum officially in its counter the fuss made by those more junior Regiments
new location on Albuhera Day (16 May) 1987.

Illustrated History of the Regiment on their 300th Anniversary last year . I hope a large
number of you will support the occasion.
The new illustrated history of The Queen 's Reg iment
which tells the story of all our forbear regimen1S and is
generously illustrated with pictures in full colour has THE QUEEN'S AND QUEEN'S OWN BUFFS
now been published and ci rculated on a wide distri- CRICKET TENT CLUB
bution. Further copies are available for sale at
Regimental Headquarters, price £1 a copy. The text was Canterbury Cricket Week will be held 2-8 August 1986
written by Maj Jock Haswell and the booklet was at the St Lawrence Cricket Ground . As usual the
'masterminded ' by Lt Col Les Wilson who has received Regimental Tent will be open throughout the week . We
many congratulations on its production. lt is now hope we shall see some good cricket :
regarded as the best of its kind and it will doubtless soon
be copied by other regiments . Sat 2nd August Kent v Leicestershire (Day 11
Sun 3rd August Kent v Leicestershire (One

Visit to Denmark Mon 4th August day match)
From 28-30 April I visited Denmark and had dis- Tue 5th August
Wed 6th August Kent v Lei cestersh ire (Day 21
cussions with the newly appointed Head of Her Majesty Thu 7th August Kent v Lei cestershire (Day 31
Queen Margrethe's Adjutants staff. The purpose of the Fri 8th August
visit was to brief him fully on the Regiment and to Kent v Hampshire (Day 11
explain how much the Regiment would welcome a visit Kent v Hampshire (Day 21
from Her Majesty in December this year to the 3rd
Battalion in Canterbury. The invitation was extended by Kent v Hampshire (Day 31
the Colonel of the Regiment when he visited Denmark
last year. On Sunday 3 August for the one day match no
lunche~ will be served but the bars, coffee, and tea will
Howe Barracks be available. Members may bring their own picnics for
The area around Regimental Headquarters still looks Sunday but please not on other days . Lunches on the
other days must be booked in advance and further
unsightly although the single soldiers ' barrack accom- details may be obtained from Maj H C L Tennent at
modation has been completed. Work continues on the
new married quarters and changes are to be made to the RHO .
barracks to allow easier access from the main road. We
are told all the work scheduled will be completed in All serving Queen's Regiment officers are auto-
about 2 years time - sadly just after the 3rd Battalion is matically members, as part of a block membership . To
save embarrassment, members are reminded that
gentlemen over the age of thirteen are expected to wear
jackets and ties and dogs are not allowed in the tent ,
except on Sunday when they must be kept on a lead .

due to leave.

48 Service Limited Commission) commissioned into the
Regiment. This was rather lower than anticipated due to
REGIMENTAL BENEVOLENCE late withdrawals of some Bursars who decided on
civilian careers instead. For the financial year 1985/ 6, 6
by Maj Alan Martin MBE officers (2 Regular , 4 Short Service and 1 Short Service
Limited Commission) to date have been commissioned
For a variety of reasons , I have decided to publish the with another seven currently under training at the Royal
Benevolent Fund accounts in loose leaf form . Contrary Military Academy Sandhurst. For the current year, so
to popular opinion, the accounts merit a glance . lt is far we have 11 potential officers having passed the RCB
after all YOUR money and the committee of the of which the Colonel of the Regiment ha s accepted 3 for
Regimental Association are obligated to publish the a Regular Commission and one for a Short Service
findings of the Auditors when they have finished Commission . lt is very gratifying to see that there is a
working on the accounts . growing number of cand idates applying for a
Commission with the Regiment but as industry and
lt will be noted that expenditure on assistance to commerce improves its financial position so it must be
those in need has risen by almost twenty per cent . This expected that a larger number will finally opt for a
is a trend that the committee has been anticipating for civilian career, this is especia lly so with the under-
some time and is justification enoug h for the policy of graduate.
investing as much of the reserve as may be spared.
Soldier Recruiting
The healthy surplus income over expenditure is once
again thanks to the generosity of such a high During 1985 there was a steady but slight improve-
percentage of our Regimental membership who con- ment in numbers joining the Battalions but the high
tribute to the Day's Pay Scheme. To the few who wastage of the Junior Entry and Adult recruits is still a
remain uncommitted, the invitation is still there to come worry. lt would seem that the Londoner is not prepared
in out of the cold and join the majority . to take the hardships in compariso n to those from the
rest of the country; it could also be the fact that it is
Once again the invaluable and voluntary, unpaid work easier to find employment in London. However it was
by the Investment Sub Committee is reflected by the encouraging to note that the annual Cumberland
rise in the market value of the Investment Portfolio over Sword / Kirkes Cane Competition over 80% of the 98
1984 figures by some twenty five per cent. Indeed, at competitors were hoping to go into the Regular Army
date of writing, the market value has risen by some with about 50% wanting the Regiment, yet again
nineteen per cent over 1 January 1986 figures. The emphasising the importance of the Army Cadet Force to
Regiment owes its strong and progressing financial the Regular Army . (See pictures on page 44.)
position to the interest of the Investment Committee
under the chairmanship of Maj Edward Clowes MBE. VISITORS TO RHQ

Once again the Benevolence Committee has been The following have signed the Visitors' Book in RHO
active in giving financial assistance and counselling . since the last edition of the Journal :
Tragically, there have been two untimely accidental
deaths which have involved travel to visit close relatives Lt Andrew Brown , Sgt 'Kiwi' Sharp, W01 Taylor, Lt
and to pay respects at funerals . Col and Mrs Peter Barrow, Capt Bill Marshal/ , Lt Bill
Munday, Lt Col Bill MacDonald , Lt Col Jim Shephard,
The Committee tries not to lose touch with soldiers Capt Mike Aylward, Maj Guy Weymouth , Capt Ewen
discharged for medical reasons and who are handi- Noble, Maj David Monckton, Maj Amedee Mieville, Col
capped as a result of their regimental service. As an Mike Dudding , Col Joe Hordern Regtl Sec RAF, Lt Col
example, the Committee is investigating a request for George Pettifar City of London Sec RRF, Lt Col Chris
some occupational equipment for a young man who Berry RRF, Lt Col Charles Joint, Maj Chris Charter, Maj
was seriously injured on exercise in BAOR whilst serving Derek Adkins, 2Lt Alistair Laidlaw, Maj Jeremy
with the 3rd Battalion and who is confi ned permanently Maltman, Maj David Carter, Maj Alistair Meldrum, W02
to a wheelchair. Jordan 8QF, CSgt Bayzell 8QF, Maj Malcom Lawson ,
Maj David Wall, Maj Buster Carlston, Lt Col David
Finally, the Committee asks ALL members of The Beveridge, Maj Don Price RE, Brig and Mrs Stuart
Regiment to be on the look out for old comrades who Anderson; Brig Charles Barnes, Div Brig Queen 's Div ;
have left the Service and who may have fallen upon Col and Mrs John Shipster, Maj Christopher Cross, Mr
hard times but who are too proud to ask for help . If you R J Cyster, Maj David Falcke, Mr Derek Norris, Mr
hear of any such cases, pass the details to Regimental David Waltham, Capt Nigel Armitage-Smith, Col and
Headquarters, who will alert one of the Service Welfare Mrs Mike Constantine, Maj and Mrs Peter Hill , Lt Col
Organisations to investigate the case and report. Peter Hubert, Col Blick Waring , Lt Col Bob McGhie, Lt
Col Tony Harrison, Lt Col Desmond Freeland , Lt Col
RCO's REPORT Roger Lowans, 2 Lt Mathew Maer, 2 Lt Mark lngledow,
2 Lt Jonathan Craig , Col John Buckeridge.
Officer Recruiting

The financial year 1984/ 85 saw only 12 officers (4
Regular, 1 Special Regular, 5 Short Service and 2 Short

49

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

GRAND REUNION- SUNDAY 13th JULY THE EXECUTIVE AND ANNUAL GENERAL
1986 (BASSINGBOURN BARRACKS) MEETING OF THE QUEEN'S REGIMENTAL

1100hrs Gates Open . ASSOCIATION 10th OCTOBER 1986 -
1200hrs Drumhead Service (Old Comrades participating DUKE OF YORK'S HEADQUARTERS,

should arrive by 1130hrs) followed by various CHELSEA, LONDON
static displays and events ; Band lunch time
concert by The Queen 's TA Band ; Sale of 1030hrs Executive Meeting.
Regimentalia . 1115hrs Annual General Meeting.
1230hrs Bars Open ; Lunch Boxes available on repay-
ment, NAAFI refreshments on sale .

1600hrs Beating of Retreat .

1700hrs Dispersal.

WOs ' & Sgts ' PAST AND PRESENT DINNER THE FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE
- SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 1986 ST MARGARETS (WESTMINSTER)

Tickets at £9 on application to Major M J Ayling , - 6th NOVEMBER 1986
Depot The Queen 's Division , Bassingbourn Barracks,
Royston , Hertfordshire SGB 5LX . 1130hrs Planting of Poppy Crosses by The Qu een 's
Regimental Association Secretary.
The Dinn er is open t o all serving and retired WOs and
Sgts of The Queen's Regiment and The Founding Regi - 1200hrs Opening of The Field of Remembrance by Her
men t s. Majesty, Queen Elizabeth , The Queen Mother.

OFFICERS' CLUB

DINNER 21 MARCH 1986 WEDDING PRESENTS
The Colonel of the Regiment presided at the second Letters of thanks to all members of the Officers' Club

Officers ' Club Dinner held in the Duke of York's for the gifts of engraved silver salvers on the occasion of
Headquarters, Chelsea , on Friday 21 March . Major their respective weddings have been received from Capt
General Mike Reynolds , as well as the Deputy Colonel J P Noble and Lt J P Gibbs.
and Colonel Mike Constantine were among the 91
offi cers who attended . As is now customary , the Club REFLECTIONS- by LtCoiL M Wilson MBE
'dined out' officers who had retired while serving at ERE
during the last twelve months . This year's guests were Research for the forthcoming TA Display now being
Lt Cols Ronnie Fisher , John Hewson, Mike Ward and arranged by the Regimental Museum for next year
Mike Williams and Capts Nigel Armitage-Smith and Will brings to light many interesting facts and figures .
Morris .
Present-day serving Officers might sigh for the so-
Music was provided by the Quebec Band and items of called " good old days " as brought to light in the pages
the 3rd Battalion Officers' Mess silver were on display . of the Minute Book of the Officers ' Mess, 22nd Bn . The
The format of the Dinner, the venue and the standard of London Regiment (The Queen 's) of 1922.
the meal were all considered very satisfactory for this
informal annual event. (See pictures on page 50 .) At a Mess Meeting held on the 14 June, 1922, it was
decided that there should be an entrance fee of Two
REGIMENTAL COCKTAIL PARTY Guineas for active Members and an annual subscription
The next Officers' Club event will be the Regimental of Two Guineas . For Honorary Members, the annual
Cocktail Party which will mark the 325th Anniversary of subscription would be One Guinea which would include
the raising of the Tangier Regiment of Foot in 1661 and the use of the Mess and copies every two months of Bn
the 20th Birthday of the present Regiment. As a greater Orders and other notices. For both Active and Honorary
number of official guests than usual will be invited and Members, the annual subscription would include the
the evening will also be attended by officers of the cost of the Annual Dinner, although Members would be
Queen 's Surrey's Regimental Association , the Cocktail debited with their share of expenses for drinks etc.
Party will be held this year in the Banqueting House,
Whitehall , opposite Horse Guards . Full details will be Following this Meeting , the next Annual Dinner was
sent to Members later, but please ensure now that it is held at Oddenino's Imperial Restaurant , Regent Street,
entered in your diary. on the 25 January, 1923, and Officers who wished to
invite guests would be charged 25/ - per guest. Evening

50

dress with miniatures was worn and among the many Officers' Club Dinner
decorations of those attending could be seen 2 VCs , 3 1. Maj Piers Storie Pugh and Col John Holman OBE.
CMGs, 6 DSOs and 7 MCs. 2. Capt Tim McDermott and Maj Ron Morris MBE.
3. Capt Nigel Armitage-Smith , Capt Hugh Beeson , Dan
The Menu for that evening was :- Whalley and Capt Mike Burke.
4. And from the 1st Battalion, Lts David Martin , Julian
Huitres Natives (Drivers) Perry, James Cameron and Maj Malcolm McGill. (PS Is
that a halo around Maj lan Jones' head in the
Tortue Claire back~round 7- Editor)

Saumon See. Mousseline. (IV/ pictures by /VIaj /Van IVIartin MBE}

Agneau de Pauillac Boulangers PLATED CUTLERY AND SILVERWARE
Petits Pois a la Francaise.
The Financial Secretary has contact with an agent
Becasses Rotie au Fume (Woodcock) who can obtain cutlery (50 years, 30 years and 20
Salade d'Orange years) and other selected silver plate items like
tankards, goblets, trays, candelabra, picture frames,
Jambon de York tableware etc at trade prices. Individual orders are
passed direct to the agent and there are no handling
Peches Nouvelles du Cap Glacees Trianon charges added.

Paillettes Diable Details may be obtained from the Financial
Secretary at RHO .
Washed down with

Moet et Chandon (22 / 6 bot)
Dry Imperial 1911
Graham's Port ( 7/6 I
Vieux Cognac (10/- I

(30 /- I

The total bill for drinks for 46 diners (including
cocktails) amounted to £26.16.2!!

(PS to those now serving. Don 't attack the Mess
Committee too soon; remember that £200 a year in
those days was a good salary) .

51

News from our Affiliated Associations

The Queen's Royal
Surrey Regimental
Association of The
Queen's Regiment

REMEMBRANCE 1985

The Field of Remembrance. Westminster Abbey

The President attended the Dedication of the Field on
Thursday 7th November 1985. He planted Crosses on
behalf of the Association in the plots of The Queen 's
Regiment , The Queen 's Royal Surrey Regiment , The
Queen 's Royal Regiment, The East Surrey Regiment,
and those of the 22nd, 23rd, 24th London Regiments ,
later 6th and 7th Queen's and 6th East Surreys, also in
that of the 21st London Regiment (The Surrey Rifles).

Remembrance Day Top: Christmas visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea by Lt
At Kingston-upon-Thames the Association was Col Les Wilson MBE .

represented by the President who laid a wreath after the Lower: WOs & Sgts Past and Present Dinner at
Mayor at the War Memorial. After the Service in All Bassingbourn - a group from the QUEENS SURREYS
Saints Parish Church the President was invited by the
Mayor, Councillor Steptoe, to join him and the Parade and the 1st Battalion.
Commander, Mr David Jacobs DL, who served in the
Royal Navy, on the Saluting dais. The Association Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia in the 1939-45 War .
Contingent under the command of Mr David Boorer Among them was the Rev Henry Babb MBE who had
marched past at the head of the parade , after the been padre to the 2nd Bn The East Surrey Regiment in
Regular Services detachment, with great style and elan . Malaya in 1940 and early 1941 . At the fall of Singapore
in February 1942 he became a prisoner of war of the
At Guildford Lt Col Foster Herd TD DL represented Japanese, and during the dark days of captivity Padre
the Association and laid wreaths on the Queen 's Royal Babb ministered to our men under conditions of great
Regiment Memorial in Holy Trinity Church and at the hardship, danger and difficulty. Mr Babb , who con-
War Memorial in the Castle grounds . 5th Queen 's Old
Members Association marched past the Mayor's
Saluting Stand in the High Street .

Our Secretary, Lt Col L M Wilson MBE attended the
Service at Hinton Parish Church , Near Maidstone, Kent,
where the refurbished grave of Lt Col A D Borton VC,
CMC, DSO was rededicated , and laid wreaths on behalf
of The Association and The Queen 's Regiment .

PILGRIMAGE TO THAILAND

In November 1985, 230 former Far East Prisoners of
War and war widows took part in a unique pilgrimage to
the graves of their comrades and husbands who died in

52 and see something of our 1st Battali on, alm ost 18 yea rs
on since I had last served with them . I was privileged to
du cted Services of Remembrance during the be a guest at the Sobraon Dinner in the Sergea nts'
Pilgrimage, writes, Mess, we lun ched in the Offi cers' M ess, had a private
tour of the Barra cks - the two of them, as the Battali on
'I have settled down after the Pilgrimage to Bangkok, is divided between South Barracks, reputedly now
Kanchanaburi and Chungkai. The journey was well
worthwhile and I am glad to have seen the wonderful containing the oldest barra ck blocks in the British Army
job the War Graves Commission have done with the and Lathbury Barra cks, one of the newest - and
War Cemeteries. I always look on Chungkai as being of watched the Guard Changing outside the Convent IThe
special interest to me as I started and closed the Governor and C-in -C's Residence) . We also saw quite a
cemetery there. Many prisoners of war made it a lot of the Battlllion going about its affairs in the town ,
beautiful place, and it is now a very peaceful, hallowed and soldiers out on various activities both on and off
area. duty . The impressions I received from all these
occasions and sights were quite excellent, and con-
I must say the media did us proud, for the television firmed in every way how proud we can be of our
companies, BBC radio and the better newspapers Regiment as it lives on . Clearly standards are high - the
followed us throughout. I would find it difficult to drill and bearing for the Guard Changing, involving C
record my feelings during the Services of Remembrance ISobraonl Company was faultless and was backed by
at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi (the large War Cemetery The Drums on their own , as the Band had gone on
in Thailand). We were well looked after by the RAF, the leave, most smartly and with some very tuneful and
British business people in Bangkok and the Thai effective fife music. Besides the smartness and
representatives wherever we went. Everybody was most efficiency I also sensed the special pride, combined with
kind to us.' good humour and friendliness , and a will to get things
done in the best possible manner, which I believe were
Padre Babb hopes to be present at the Drumhead much the hallmarks of our Regiments .
Service at Bassingbourn on 13th July this year .
Attending the Sobraon Dinner was a special pleasure,
RECEPTION and the traditions of the Day have been even more
underlined so that the memory of Sgt Bernard McCabe
The President of The Association held a Reception at and the 31st Regiment in the Sutlej Campaign continu e
The Regimental Museum at Clandon Park on Friday to provide a very real inspiration to the 1st Battalion
18th April 1986 for the Mayors and Mayoresses of the today. lt was splendid to hear " A Southerly Wind and a
Regiment's Freedom Boroughs in Surrey to enable Cloudy Sky", together with the Earl of Huntingdon's
them to meet the Colonel of the Regiment and have a Show March played again as a preliminary to the
private viewing of the Museum. Sobraon Sergeant, selected to carry the Regimental
Colour from the Officers' Mess - for 1986 Sgt A R
The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon- Scully - proposing the Toast of Sgt McCabe .
Thames , Councillor Frank Steptoe; of Guildford ,
Councillor Jack Patrick JP; and of Reigate and All in all it was great for me to visit our 1st Battalion in
Banstead, Councillor Mrs Kathleen Waters, together this way , and I pay tribute to the Battalion , and in
with their Mayoresses, the Deputies and their Chief particular to the CO and to the RSM , Mr Boden , wh o
Executives attended . On arrival the guests were between them and with all other officers and men of the
received by the President and Mrs Sewell and were Battalion are ensuring that the best of the traditions of
introduced to the Colonel of The Regiment . Amongst the past continue , and that we can all be extremely
other guests were Col J C Holman, Col and Mrs R proud of them .
Acworth, Col and Mrs. Francis, Lt Col C Joint, and Mrs
Rachel Roupell . The Chairman of the Museum Trustees , While seeing the 1st Battalion was the highlight of my
Lt Col H R D Hill and members of the Museum visit , Gibraltar is full of interest to anyone with an old
Committee and staff were also present acting as hosts Queen 's or Surrey's background - as our Secretary has
and showed the chief guests round the Museum . totted up our Regiments , besides being involved in
capturing the place in the first instance, have served for
A VISIT TO GIBRALTAR no less than a total of 57 years on The Rock' . There are
no remaining artifacts to show the part played by
Col Mike Ball, the present CO of the 1st Battalion , Villier's Marines in the original assault in 1704, and
suggested very kindly that while the Battalion was neither of our Regiments took park in the Great Siege of
there, Gibraltar would be a nice place to visit . Having 1779- 1783, but Sergeant Major lnce, then of the Military
only looked at 'The Rock ' a number of times from Artificers , who was mainly responsible for the
passing troopships this was an attractive proposition, construction of the great Galleries, was initially a soldier
and so in early February my wife and I escaped the snow in the Queen 's Royal Regiment. Then in what is known
and flew off from Gatwick to spend a wonderfully as the Trafalgar Cemetery, just outside the South Gate,
interesting and enjoyable 7 days . are a number of graves of Queen 's officers who died in

The main highlight of course, was to be wel comed by

the great Yellow Fever epidemic of 1804 - the 53
Regiment had been transferred to Gibraltar after
winning the Battle Honour of The Sphinx for its part in buildings as well as the Walls must have been there
the Battle of Aboukir in 1801 . when our ancestors fought, and in many cases died , to
hold Tangier for King Charles 11 and began to establish
Across 35 miles of water from Gibraltar lies Tangier , the honours and traditions of our Regiment. Tangier
and here the Old Citadel defended by The Tangier also contains a fascinating Military museum put
Regiment from 1662-1684 seems fully intact and is together by the Forbes Magazine of America - it
entirely identifiable, overlooking the harbour, the Old contains a quite outstanding display of model soldiers
Citadel is now called the Kasbah , but many of the and dioramas .

JWS

~.·.. ~ ~~~ The Queen's Own Buffs

1572 ~ Regimental Association

(The Queen's Regiment)

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND THE CANTERBURY REMEMBRANCE

INTER BRANCH DARTS COMPETITION SERVICE AND REUNION 1986

19th APRIL 1986 Sunday the 3rd of August 1986 - once again we are
back to the first Sunday of August - this is the day
The AGM was held at Gillingham and all members of planned for the Canterbury Reunion . For the first time
the Association were delighted to see Lt Col Jim Shep- for many years it will coincide with Canterbury Cricket
hard presiding in the chair. His attendance so soon after Week . We hope for even better support if many Buffs
his operation was greatly appreciated by all of us and are attending the cricket and the Queen 's Own Buffs
demonstrates that you cannot keep a good man down! Officers' Drinks Party in the Tent at Close of Play on
lt also gave us great pleasure to have our President Col Saturday 2 August. Many ex-Buffs will be pleased to
Blick Waring with us and we are grateful for the im- hear that the Revd Waiter Evans will be giving the
mense interest he takes in our Association affairs. The address at the Remembrance Service in the Cathedral.
major topic for discussion was once again the issue of PHor to the Service there will be the usual march from
'closer ties with The Queen 's Regiment'. By a very sub- Longport and Burgate to the Cathedral and The
stantial vote the motion was passed that the President Queen's Regiment Band (TAI will be playing on the
should approach the Colonel of The Queen's Regiment march. We do hope everyone who is fit will join the
and make a recommendation that our Association marchers and make it a really worthwhile occasion .
wishes to change its' title to 'The Queen's Regimental Forming up time will be 11.50 hrs. For those unable to
Association (The Queen' s Own Buffs)' . march please be seated in the Cathedral by 12.30 hrs .
The form of service will be similar to previous years and
it was considered that the time had come when we afterwards we shall march back up Burgate to fall out .
should make this move towards the one family concept
but still retain control of our own affairs . All branches The Reunion , thanks to the kindness of CO 3
expressed interest in encouraging members of The QUEENS, will be held in Howe Barracks which has
Queen's Regiment to join in their activities . happy memories for so many of us . We shall be using
the Junior Ranks Club , and NAAFI are providing the
The Medway Branch are to be congratulated on the necessary refreshments both liquid and for eating.
first class way they organised the Inter-Branch Darts Carton lunches must be ordered beforehand , details in
Match . it was an excellent attendance and everyone The Queen's Own Buffs Quarterly News Summary, but
approved of the facilities provided by the Lloyds of some food will be available from a limited sandwich bar.
London Sports and Social Club . Well done and thank
you Medway Branch. Congratulations also go to the 62 At the end of what we hope will be a memorable day
Club who were the winners and to Dover Branch for The Queen 's Regiment Band (TAl will Beat Retreat on
being the runners up . We were extremely pleased and the Barrack Square. Make certain you have the 3rd of
honoured that the Mayor of Gillingham joined us for the August as a fi xture in your diary .
evening and we hope she enjoyed the event as much as
we did . The Arthur Brown Trio played all our old
favourites and are now a most important part of the
evening . lt was all a great success and a very happy

occasion.

54 have hired the Kent Hall in the Corn Exchange complex.
The Maidstone Branch are involved in a lot of work
THE MAIDSTONE REMEMBRANCE organising this day and it costs the Association quite a
large sum of money. We badly need your support and
SERVICE AND REUNION 1986 attendance on the march , at the Service and at the
Reunion. Numbers attend ing will be the deciding factor
This will be held on Sunday 14th September . Before on whether the reunion remains a viable proposition in
RHO is besieged by cries of 'why the change' in date , future years . The outline for the day is :
perhaps a little background should be explained. We
have tried for several years to discover how attendance 10.15 : Fall In and In spection by the Presid ent in
and support for the day can be improved. lt became Brenchley Gardens .
very apparent that The Queen's Regiment Grand
Reunion , the Canterbury Reunion and the Maidstone 10.35 : Service at the Cenotaph .
Reunion came too close together . This was a strain on 10.50 : Parade moves off, marches past the Mayor at The
pockets as well as on members available time . Military
Bands are now scarce and very heavily committed at Town Hall and on to All Saints Church.
this time of year and marching through Maidstone 11.30: Service of Remembrance in All Saints .
without a band is not acceptable. There is a better 12.30 to 16.30 : Reunion at the Corn Exchange .
chance of finding a band in September. No real reason
can be found for selecting July for this event and in the 1 RWK 11939-54) BUFFET LUNCH
circumstances it seemed preferable and more sensible
to tie it in with Sevastapol Day and to hold the parade This buffet lunch is to be held at the home of Capt T
on a Sunday near the day. H Parnacott, Carlyon, 12 Scotts Lane, Shortlands,
Bromley BR2 OHL on 28 June 1986 from 1200-1430 hrs.
So this year we are giving it a trial and have obtained Tickets, price £2 each, are available until 26 June from
the services of The Queen's Regiment Band (TAl to play Capt Parnacott at the above address.
on the march and during the Reunion . We have also
tried to improve the surroundings for the Reunion and

The Royal Sussex Regiment
Association

(Representing The Queen's Regiment in Sussex)

FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE Col R R McNish
Col M R I Constantine, OBE
The ceremony at the Field of Remembrance , Lt Col G C M Bowser
Westminster Abbey was held on Thursday 7th Lt Col J R G Stanton , MBE, DL
November 1985 under arrangements made by the Lt Col J R Stephenson , OBE
London Branch of the Royal Sussex Regimental Maj J F Ainsworth
Association . The President, Col J Buckeridge read the Maj V M A Tailby !Secretary)
prayers. Crosses were planted by Officers and Branch Apologies from Brig J B Ashworth, CBE, DSO
Representatives as follows : and Lt Col D A Beveridge, MBE.

Col J Buckeridge, Arundel & District Branch, OFFICERS' REUNION PARTY
Brighton Branch , Chichester Branch , Eastbourne This event was held on Tuesday 7th March 1986 at
Branch, Hastings & District Branch, Lewes Branch , The Royal Commonwealth Society under the
London Branch , Mid-Sussex Branch , Midhurst Branch . Presidency of Col J Buckeridge . There was the usual
Lt Col D E C Russell. good attendance .

During the Ceremony trumpeters of the 7th MR J M BURNETT
(Chichester) Platoon of the Queens ACF sounded ' Last Mr J M Burnett who served in the Royal Sussex
Post' and ' Reveille'. Regiment between 1947 and 1950 in Suez and Dover is
keen to contact some old friends in the Regiment . His
After which those attending moved to St Stephens address is now: 51 Beaufort Avenue , Hereford HR2
Tavern for refreshments arranged by Maj Bryant, 7QH.
Chairman of the London Branch.

THE REGIMENTAL COMMITTEE

The Royal Sussex Regimental Committee met at The
Royal Commonwealth Society on Friday 7th March
1986. Col J Buckeridge was in the chair . Present were:

Col J Buckeridge
Col G J Langridge , TD
Col N B Knocker, OBE

55

Regimental Association of
The Middlesex Regiment (DCO)

(Affiliated with The Queen's Regiment)

FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE Fix it' BBC programme . He asked if it could be arranged
for him to drive a Bren Gun Carrier again and to re-e nact
The annual ceremony took place on Saturday 9 a wartime day some forty years ago. After much
November 1985, at 10.45 a.m. The service was research the following answered the call to arms . Col
conducted by the the Rev W E B Jones a former Desmond Ellis as Company Commander and Ptes Henry
Regimental padre . Crosses were planted by the Painter, Sam Sawyer and Horace Love. Dyerforce
President, Lt ColT W Chattey, OBE, the Chairman , Brig assembled at A/ton on the 8th February on a fre ezing
B A M Pielow, JP, followed by Maj Gen Sir John cold day and I am afraid Deadly was not very popular.
Willoughby, KBE, CB , on behalf of the 1st Battalion Reveille was at 0600 hours in four in ches of snow and
and other officers and old comrades representing the start point ' Bordonia ' . First parade took place at
various battalions. The Regimental Standard was on 0900 hours inside a hut with shouts of 'Shot One -
parade and was carried by Mr A Moody, escorted by our Take - Cut - Roll on ' and those not yet required
became colder and colder, and by late morning
Chelsea In-Pensioners . hypothermia was starting to set in . However Deadly
administered the kiss of life to OC B Company who was
REGIMENTAL REMEMBRANCE DAY then sufficiently aroused to despatch Dyerforce off on
its mission . Despite the defences put up by the Bor-
SERVICE donia rebels , Deadly and his crew drove an intrepid path ·
through the battle scared dunes . By dusk it was decided
The Regimental Remembrance Day Service was held to call a halt for a quick brew up for hostilities were not
at our old Depot, lnglis Barracks, Mill Hill, on Sunday 10
November 1985, at 10 a.m. The Service was attended concluded until 2000 hours .
by the Postal and Courier Depot RE , 12 Company
WRAC and a contingent from B (Middlesex) Company The final recording appeared on BBC1 on 8 March
6/7th(V) Bn The Queen's Regiment and numerous old
comrades . The service was conducted by the Rev. V . and was most amusing.
Dobbin, MBE, BA, CF, Deputy Warden , Royal Army
Chaplains Centre , assisted by Deaconess P. H.
Masterman. This year it was the turn of Maj R Hall TD ,
commanding B Company 6/7th(V) Bn The Queen 's
Regiment to read The Lesson. The Regimental
Standard was on parade and was carried by Mr Ron
Pile . The Church collection amounted to £190 and this
was donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
At the conclusion of the Service a mini-reunion was
held at the T.A. Centre, Edgware .

2/10th BN (1914-18) THE MIDDLESEX
REGIMENT

The old comrades association of this battalion was

formed in 1919 and is still flourishing . On Saturday 19

Aprtl 1986, they held their 58th Reunion Luncheon at

the Victory Services Club, Seymour Street, London

W2. The Luncheon was chaired by Mr A mD eSmcbuedramofotrhe~
OBE, President of the OCA and a former

2/ 10th, now in his 90th year . Three other members of

the 2/ 10th attended also in their 90's. Maj Frank

Waldron , Secretary of the Regimental Association was

the principal guest. They also organise annually their

own Service of Remembrance at Chiswick Parish

Church every November.

This OCA must be one of the very few still func-

tioning. Can anyone 'top' this record?

DEADLY DYER'S LAST STAND " I suppose you're going to tell me, they're large black
Polo Mints, Miller! "
Former Sgt ' Deadly' Dyer who served during the
1939-45 war with the 2/ 8th The Middlesex Regiment (Cartoon from 5 QUEENS ( V))
(DCO) which in 1943 became the rescusitated 1st
Battalion wrote to Jimmy Saville who hosts the 'Jim 'll

56

REDEDICATION OF RWK
MEMORIAL IN WANGANUL

NEW ZEALAND

Lt Col George Newall , formerly RWK , represented
The Queen 's Regiment and the Queen's Own Buffs
Regimental Association at the rededication of a
Memorial to 15 men of the 50th Foot who were killed in
an ambush at Nukumaru on 25 January 1865.

The headstone was originally erected in 1866 at
Nukumaru and was moved to Wanganui, together with
the bodies, in 1892. Over the years the inscription on the
headstone had become illegible and the Wanganui City
Council generously had it restored and refurbished in
time for the ceremony on 7 February 1986.

A representative party from the Royal New Zealand
Infantry Regiment also attended in view of their Alliance
with The Queen 's Regiment .

Top: Lt Col George Newall reads a message from Gen Sir
Geoffrey Howlett KBE MC.

Lower: Lt Col George Newall and Padre Short with the
COs and Adjutants of our Allied battalions of the Royal

NZ Infantry Regiment .

'p

.~ THE HABERDASHERS' COMPANY/QUEEN'S
f REGIMENT - TWO YEARS AFFILIATION

~~~!wl~d

The Queen 's Regiment was made Free of the to hear of the sudden illness of the Colonel; we were
Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in February 1984. relieved to learn of his speedy recovery but, never-
During the intervening two and a half years , what has theless, he was unfortunately unable to fu lfill his long
this affiliation achieved? standing commitment to visit the Haberdashers' Aske's
School, Elstree CCF Contingent, whose Army section is
During his year as Master 11984/ 5), Mr Gordon badged QUEENS , in February. However, another
Bourne, FRCS, FRCOG, visited 5 QUEENS IV) under- Senior Queensman , Colonel Bob Acworth deputised for
going their annual training at East Wretham , Brigadier Millman and, together with Senior members
participated in 6/7 QUEENS IV) families ' day at Ash of the Company and their Clerk , spent the afternoon
Ranges, and attended the somewhat wet but impressive witnessing a variety of CCF activities, which lost no
Beating Retreat by the Queen 's Division and the enthusiasm to the near-a rctic conditions!
excellent Queen 's Regiment reception afterwards.
Others attended various other social events and the 1986 also marks the 30th Anniversary of the rebuilding
Regiment soundly thrashed the Haberdashers' of Haberdashers' Hall after destruction by bomb
Company at Cricket at the Company's Kidbrooke damage in World War Two , on the site occupied by the
Ground in the summer; we were pleased to welcome to Company's headquarters since 1478 when the plot -
Haberdashers' Hall the Colonel, several Commanding then farm land! - was bequeathed to the Company by
Officers, Officers and Warrant Officers with their wives a former Haberdasher . This year is also the Twentieth
on various occasions during the year. Anniversary of Her Royal Highness the Princess
Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Citizen and
In 1986, the present Master IMr M W D Northcott) Haberdasher, being made Free of the Company . Events
hopes to enjoy similar visits to the Regiment and to to mark both these anniversaries are being held at the
reverse the Company's sporting fortunes both on the Hall.
Golf course as well as putting matters to rights in the
now established annual cricket match which, this year , Two years are but a short interlude in the long history
will be played at Oakington , Cambs. of our two great organisations but many experiences
have already been shared and friendships established .
The Court and Livery of the Company were distressed

The Master and Wardens look forward to cementing 57
these friendships during the many years of association
with The Queen 's Regiment that lie ahead . Groups or individual Oueensmen will always be made welcome
when they visit Haberdashers' Hall (by appoi ntment
please!) as future opportunity offers.

HMS NELSON

HMS Nelson, affiliated to
...; the Regiment since the

closure of HMS Excellen t.
We hope to include fur -
ther news and pictures in
future editions.

Editor

HMS LEEDS CASTLE

Since our December report, HMS Leeds Castle has
continued to patrol the offshore region around Britain 's
coasts. In November, she sighted , and subsequently
recovered , a mine which was found drifting in the
vicinity of an oil rig in the North Sea - much to the
relief of the oilmen; and she later detained a Dutch
fisherman for contravention of the EEC regulations . He
was successfully prosecuted.

In December, the ship took part in the search off
Flamborough Head for a ditched RAF Tornado aircraft.
Sadly, however, although some wreckage was found ,
neither significant items, nor the aircrew, were located .
Later in the month , Leeds Castle put into Peterhead for
the Christmas period. We could not be with our families
- but we certainly made up for it as best we could, and
celebrated in traditional style; and following New Year
at sea, the ship returned to Rosyth for a late Christmas
leave.

1986 has seen Leeds Castle move to the south west ,
and participation in NATO exercises. Visits to New-
castle, Peterhead , Plymouth, and Portsmouth have all

HMS Leeds Castle in storm force 11 - well depicted by
the white water - a rare sight indeed .

58 Anderson , departs for the staff at Sandhurst in August :
taken place, and in March we managed our first foreign his College Commander will be Colonel R W Acworth
visit of the year, to Antwerp , in Belgium. The weather CBE. Similarly, her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant
has been seasonal in the extreme, with wintry storms Commander John Madgwick, having been selected for
and heavy seas being encountered on many occasions . promotion to Commander , will be taking up his new
appointment at the Army Staff College, Camberley , also
Following a short Easter leave period, the ship in August. The Leeds Castle 's affiliation with the Army
returned to offshore patrol duties, this time in the North continues - even ashore!
Sea; NATO and national exercises followed in May and
June . Her present Navigating Officer, Lieutenant Mark

NO 3 (FIGHTER) SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE

During the last twelve months 3 (Fighter) Squadron Harriers in a field site at Geseke.
have enjoyed another busy year in which we achieved a
high number of flying hours and a record number of In February this year the Squadron deployed to RAF
sorties . The quality of the flying has been high and the Lossiemouth in Scotland for an Armament Practice
Squadron has done well in recent Tactical Evaluations Camp. The detachment lasted for three weeks during
and Examiners visit . which we dropped a variety of weapons with different
attack profiles on the ranges of Tain , Garvie Island and
September 85 was dominated by Exercise ' Hazel Rosehearty . All pilots achieved the NATO requirements
Flute ', a two week field deployment where we were for level bombing and strafe and some went on to
involved in flying manoeuvres in support of the German practise the different profiles of loft, dive and team
and Belgium Armies . We operated out of three field bombing. The Armament Practice Camp was combined
sites in the Sennelager training area and flew over 400 with operational low flying in preparation for Exercise
missions during our stay . The exercise, amongst other ' Maple Flag ' which will be held in Canada in April and
things, involved practicing a high degree of mobility May of this year. During this exercise pilots will be flying
whereby one of the sites was redeployed to a new as low as 100 feet above ground level and are able to
location every 72 hours. To move a Harrier site is an practise tactics and weapons deliveries not possible in
arduous task involving the relocation of the aircraft, Western Europe due to the density of the population .
landing and take off strips, engineering support
network, operations cell, air traffic control, crash Overall , 1985 was a very busy year for the Squadron
facilities, fuel supplies, accomomodation and finally the and 19861ooks like being the same. Our association with
airmen themselves. Many lessons were learnt and re- The Queen 's remains healthy, the Squadron March
learnt and despite some poor weather the Squadron composed by your Bandmaster is played at Guest
achieved the Flying Task. Nights and the silver soldier on loan from you is in
excellent condition. Hopefully we will be able to meet
Our tactics phase in October was designed to practise the 2nd Battalion when they arrive in August .
and assess our tactics in both ground and air threat
environments. Two missions were flown each day with
up to ten Harriers on each. The 'e nemy' fighters were
Dutch F16s, RAF Hawks from Brawdy and the NATO
AWACs (Airborne Warning and Control Systems)
provided control for the fighters. The ground threats
were Hawk and Rapier SAMs which deployed to the
target area. The target was provided by a team from the
Squadron who used 4 Tanners, smoke, lasers and video
cameras to simulate a point defended enemy HQ. This
party thoroughly enjoyed watching the activity and also
the change of environment from RAF Gutersloh to living
on the local German economy. Once aga in weather
affected the flying but some excel lent flying training
was achieved.

At the end of October eight pilots, 40 groundcrew
and six Harriers detached to Decimomannu in Sardinia
where USAF F4s, F16s and aggressor F6s provided the
opposition for air combat training . Using the ' Star Wars'
recording equipment provided by the Americans each
combat mission is recorded in 3D and a full large screen
debrief takes place after each sortie. The training value
from these sorties was very high and a week of sun-
shine, pizza and Italian red wine made an excellent
autumn break for those lucky enough to make this trip.

59

FORTHCOMING MARRIAGES

Mr J F S Wright and Miss E Dodds Mr J R O'Connor and Miss C S F Sutherland

The engagement is announced between Jonathon The engagement is announced betwee n Jeremy
Wright, The Queen 's Regiment , son of Mr and Mrs O' Connor, The Queen's Regiment, son of Major and
Peter Wright , of Great Bookham , Surrey, and Elaine, Mrs P O' Connor of Croydon , Surrey, and Chiars,
only daughter of Mr and Mrs Norman Dodds, of Low daughter of Mr and Mrs E Sutherland of Chipstead,
Fell , Tyne and Wear.
Surrey .
Capt J P Castle and Miss M H Beard
The engagement is announced between Capt Jona - Capt J A Redfern and Miss S A Farnden
The engage ment is an noun ced between Capt John
than Castle , The Queen 's Regiment, only son of Mrs P
M Castle, of Old Portsmouth , and Or R H Castle , and Redfern , The Queen's Reg iment, you ngest son of Mr .
Maxine, only daughter of Mr and Mrs L F Beard , of and Mrs. J. Redfern of Herne Bay , and Miss Susan A nn
Mi ckleover , Derby . Farnden, yo ungest daughter of Mr . and Mrs. J . Farnden

of Herne Bay .

MARRIAGES

WATSON - WHITMORE - On 9 August 1985, LCpl BATTELL - SCHARPER - On 22 November 1985,
K P Watson to Miss Elizabeth Rosemary Whitmore .
Pte S Battell to Miss Bettina Scharper.
NEWTON - SHANLEY - On 10 August 1985, Pte D
Newton to Miss Tracey Marie Shanley. SHAPLAND - PAULS - On 27 November 1985, Pte

BRAD BURY - DICKSON - On 10 August 1985, Pte K Shapland to Miss Susanne Pauls .
J Bradbury to Miss Alison Dickson .
BRIMELOW- JENNINGS - On 14 December 1985,
ROBB - STONES - On 17 August 1985, Pte I Robb
Pte M Brimelow to Miss Carol Anita Jennings . .
to Miss Lisa Rose Stones .
BRAND - QUINCE - On 7 September 1985, Pte A J LEY - STRATFORD - On 14 December 1985, Pte A

Brand to Miss Valerie Joyce Quince . Ley to Miss Kim Cheryl Stratford .
SHAVE - BOND - On 14 September 1985, Pte C J
HAZELL - CZAYA - On 18 December 1985, Pte M
Shave to Miss Melva Bond .
BELSHAM - HOWARD - On 27 September 1985, Hazell to Miss Petra Czaya .

Pte J Belsham to Miss Deborah May Howard . BYE - BODIE - On 21 December 1985, Pte G A Bye
DAY - XERRI - On 4 October 1985, Pte C J Day to
to Miss Sabine Bodie .
Miss Giselle Janet Xerri .
CHAPMAN - ROBERTS - On 4 October 1985, LCpl BAKER - TATE - On 27 December 1985, Pte R

Q C Chapman to Miss Linda Melanie Roberts . Baker to Miss Donna Elizabeth Tate.
SMITH - SCHMIDT - On 4 October 1985, Pte SA
KENWARD - WRIGHT - On 28 December 1985,
Smith to Miss Marion Wilma Herta Schmidt.
STEERMENT - ROBINSON - On 5 October 1985, Pte D R Kenward to Miss Susan Wright .

Pte P M Steerment to Miss Elizabeth Jane Robinson . PARSONS - ARNOLD - On 10 January 1986, Pte
JENNER - ASHBY - On 9 October 1985, Pte R A
LA Parsons to Miss Lucille Arnold .
Jenner to Miss Jane Margaret Ashby .
BOVELLE - ALCORN - On 12 October 1985, Pte POPMAN - RIMMER - On 18 January 1986, Cpl

A L Bovelle to Miss Geraldine Jane Alcorn . K J Popman to Miss Frances Rimmer .
TOMLINSON - PATTON - On 14 October 1985,
MEYER - BURTON - On 1 February 1986, Pte B A
LCpl R M Tomlinson to Miss Keitha Lalarnie Patton.
ASH BY - ABLEWHITE - On 17 October 1985, Pte Meyer to Miss Susan Elizabeth Burton.

T J Ashby to Miss Lynn Francis Ablewhite . WILLIS - DAWSON - On 1 February 1986, LCpl
HAYWARD -MOUNT - On 18 October 1985, Pte
P A Willis to Miss Wendy Elizabeth Dawson .
P M Hayward to Miss Sally Kay Mount.
QUINTON - ARNOLD - On 19 October 1985, Pte TIDEY - ANDREWS - On 8 February, 1986, Cpl

S CA Quinton to Miss Joanne Arnold . C M Tidey to M iss Teresa Andrews .
WEATHERALL - KOOWAREE - On 21 October
HARRISON - HOLDSWORTH - On 8 February
1985, Pte J G Weatherall to Miss Carole Ann Koowaree .
1986, LCpl J F Harrison to Miss Michelle Louise
BLIGH - GROSSMANN - On 25 October 1985, Pte
R J Bligh to Miss Birgit Elke Grossmann . Holdsworth.

SIDNEY - SCHMIDT - On 1 November 1985, Pte RADFORD - FOSTER - On 14 February 1986, Pte
D M Sidney to Miss Andrea Schmidt.
W Radford to Miss Karen Donna Foster .
LAMBERT - HILLIARD - On 2 November 1985, Pte
G F G Lambert to Miss Carol Patricia Hilliard . DON - VAISSIERE - On 22 February 1986, LCpl

SOPER - CLARK - On 16 November 1985, Pte J B K P Don to Miss Julie Tanya Vaissiere.
Soper to Miss Katrina Anne Clark .
HAYWOOD - THIRST - On 14 March 1986, Pte

M A Haywood to Miss Maureen Th irst .

ELSE - VEEVER - On 15 March 1986, Pte M A Else

to Miss Donna Marie Veever .

GRIMWOOD - WALKER - On 15 March 1986, Pte

T Grimwood to Miss Lillian Margaret Walker .

BRENTON - GEORGESON - On 22 Marc h 1986,

LCpl D Brenton to Miss Yvonne Georgeson .

HALEY - BLAND - On 22 March 1986, Pte A J

Haley to Miss Catherine Angela Bland.

DOWSEY - BUTION - On 29 Marc h 1986, LCpl

CA Dowsey to Miss Karen Button .

60

DEATHS

DEAN - On Dec 9, 1985, peacefully at his home after BLAXLAND - On Feb 4, 1986, peacefully after a
a courageous fight, Col Donald John Dean VC OBE TD sudden illness, Maj William Gregory Bla xland late The
JP DL, in his 89th year , beloved husband of Marjorie for Buffs, of Lower Heppington , Canterbury aged 67, mu ch
62 years , a loving father and grandfather . loved husband, father and grandfather.

McCULLY - On Dec 27, 1985 peacefully after a long , WILSON - On Feb 13•. 1986, following an illness
trying illness, Brigadier John James McCully (Retdl , borne courageously, Ella (nee Adams) , beloved wife of
aged 81 years, The Royal Sussex Regiment, husband of Lt Col (Retd) Les Wilson, QUEENS , mother of Jane,
Anne and Mark, grandmother of Laura and Hannah .
Kit (Marjorie), father of Douglas and Susan.
MACMILLAN - On Feb 1, 1986, peacefully at the HOLLIST - On Feb 20, 1986, Lt Col Edward Gerald
Hollist, late R SUSSEX, of Midhurst. Survived by
Cromwell Hospital, Maj Hector Alexander Macmillan , Bunny, Michael and Peter.
aged 62, late RWK . Dearly loved by his wife Patsy, and
his daughters Fiona , Alexandra and Sarah and his

granddaughter Catriona.

OBITUARIES

COL DONALD DEAN. VC. OBE. TD. JP. DL

Col G R D Hughes, MC, TO, JP writes : attacked, and on each occasion the attack was driven
back. Throughout the period Lieut Dean inspired his
Born at Herne Hill on 19 April 1897 Donald John Dean command with his own contempt of danger, and all
who died at home on December 9th was the last of a long fought with the greatest bravery. He set an example of
line of brick and cement manufacturers, the son of J H valour, leadership and devotion to duty of the very
Dean of the firm Smeed Dean & Co , of Sittingbourne. highest order. (London Gazette, 12 Dec 1918)'.

In 1915 at the age of 17 but giving it as 18 so that he Donald remained with the 8th Battalion until October
might be eligible to serve overseas, he enlisted as a
private soldier in the Artist Rifles and four months later
was serving with the 1st Battalion in France. In
September 1916 he was commissioned in The Queen's
Own Royal West Kent Regiment and was posted to the
11th Battalion. In March , 1917 he was wounded at St Eloi
and in hospital for some weeks . On his recovery he was
posted to the 8th Bn The Queen's Own and it was with
them that he won his Victoria Cross, for which his

citation was as follows:

'For the most conspicuous bravery, skilful command,
and devotion to duty during the period September 24th
to 26th, 1918_ when holding, with his platoon_ an
advance post established in a newly-captured enemy
trench north-west of Lens. The left flank of the position
was insecure, and the post, when taken over on the night
of September 24th was ill-prepared for defence. Shortly
after the post was occupied the enemy attempted,
without success, to recapture it. Under heavy machine
gun fire consolidation was continued, and shortly after
midnight another determined enemy attack was driven
off. Throughout the night Lieut Dean worked unceas-
ingly with his men, and about 6 am on September 25th a
resolute enemy attack, supported by heavy shell and
trench mortar fire, developed. Again_ owing to the
masterly handling of his command, Lieut Dean repulsed
the attack, causing heavy enemy casualties. Throughout
the 25th and the night of September 25th-26th consoli-
dation was continued under heavy fire, which culminated
in intense artillery fire on the morning of the 26th, when
the enemy again attacked and was finally repulsed with
loss. Five times in all (thrice heavilyI was this post

11th when he was again badly wounded when the batta - 61
lion was in the area south of Rieux . By an irony of fate he
was the only casualty that day. On his recovery he However he recovered consciousness in time to super-
returned to civilian life and started his own business with vise the evacuation of his troops on HMS Vimiera under
brickworks at Newington, Hoo and Funton. cover of darkness .

In August 1920 he received a TA Commission in the 4th In 1942 he served in Madagasca and in 1943 took part in
Bn The Buffs and commanded B Company at Sitting- the assault landing on Sicily and , two years later, finished
bourne later becoming Bn 21C until assuming command the war in Northern Italy as a substantive Colonel . In all he
of the Battalion in January 1936. He held the had been Mentioned in Despatches three times - once
appointment until November 1939 when he was in the first World War and twice in the Second.
appointed to be a Group Commander in the Royal
Pioneer Corps and proceeded to France to join the BEF . When the 4th Bn The Buffs was reformed in 1947 he
became it 's Honorary Colonel , an appointment he held
In the following May came the retreat to the Channel for 18 years . He was appointed a Commander of the
ports and Donald decided to organise his unarmed and Order of the Dannebrog by the King of Denmark in 1936
untrained Pioneers into a fighting unit, and having and became an OBE in 1961. He became a JP in 1951 and
'acquired ' arms and equipment proceeded to lead them a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 1957.
towards the coast .
In addition to his other peace time activities he was
After several skirmishes with the enemy he arrived at President of the Sittingbourne Branch of the Royal
Boulogne and joined the two battalion strong 20th British Legion and had been Chairman and later President
Guards Brigade taking over two thirds of the perimeter of the Sittingbourne Branch of The Buffs (now The
defences. When the Guards pulled out to return to Queen 's Own Buffs) Past and Present Association for
England, Dean and his men were left to carry on the over 50 years . In 1961 he became a member of the
defence against an enemy which had built up to the Regimental Council of the Queen 's Own Buffs and from
forward elements of a Panzer Division. During this phase 1972 to 1977 was a member of The Queen 's Own Royal
of the battle Donald was blown up and reported killed. West Kent Regimental Committee.

He is survived by his widow Marjorie, daughter Susan ,
daughter-in-law Pauline and five grandchildren .

BRIG J J McCULLY, DSO

Lt ColD E C Russe/1 writes : Sussex he served in PAl FORCE until he was appointed
to command 24 Indian Brigade in 1944.
Since retiring finally as R02 Cadets at HQ Western
Command, Chester, in 1968, John McCully had moved After the war he attended the Staff College and had a
to Cornwall, where he died after some years of ill health series of staff appointments : GS01 HQ 44 Home
on 27 December last. Few of his old Royal Sussex Counties District, GS01 (PT) HQ BAOR , and Colonel
friends had seen anything of him for years , and it was GS , the Military Mission to Greece. On the expansion of
only the coincidence of my moving to Cornwall that put the Arab Legion in 1950, he was appointed to command
me once more in contact with this gallant and 2nd Brigade . He finally returned to Shorncliffe in 1953
as Deputy Commander 44 Home Counties Division /
remarkable officer. District. He retired in 1957.

Born in 1904, he was educated at The Duke of York' s In his youth he was an outstanding boxer, winning
Royal Military School, whence he went to The Royal the Inter-Services Boxing Association Welterweight
Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned Championship in 1933 and 1934. He was also no mean
into The Royal Sussex in 1925. After subaltern service hockey player, playing centre forward when the 1st
with the 1st Battalion in Londonderry, Bordon, and Battalion won the Middle East Inter-Services Hockey
Dover, he was appointed Adjutant , The Iraq Levies in Trophy in 1937.
1935, returning to 1st Royal Sussex in Moascar two
years later. On the outbreak of war he was appointed He will be remembered as a straight , efficient, and
Adjutant, 7th Royal Sussex, moving to France in 1940. cheerful officer, a man of considerable drive and
As the Battalion was re-training at St Roche, he was determination , tempered by kindness and modesty . Mv
wounded in a German air attack and evacuated to UK. own recollections centre on happy meetings when his
On leaving hospital he was appointed 21C 6th Royal son , Douglas, was a Cadet during my time as Regi -
Sussex, and shortly after, to command of 5th Royal mental Rep at Sandhurst.
Sussex. The Battalion made an outstanding contri-
bution to the successful defensive battle of Alam Halfa, To Douglas and his sister , Susan, and to his widow ,
and in the ensuing battle of Alamein, he was awarded go our sincere condolences .
the DSO. As CO of the amalgamated 4th and 5th Royal

62

MAJOR GREGORY BLAXLAND

ELCE writes: Maj Gregory Blaxland - picture by Kentish Gazette.

Major Gregory Blaxland, soldier, writer, and The Commander in Italy, writing now from Australia , recalls
Buffs' last Regimental Historian , died peacefully on 4 'the youthful, tall and slim young man with a great
February 1986 in hospital after a sudden illness, at the sense of fun and a quick and orderly brain , who took
age of 67 . His funeral took place at his beloved Parish pleasure in making out that he was rather less intelligent
Church at Lower Hardres, near Canterbury , and con- than was in fact the case'. And Major Nigel Taylor ,
cluded with the Last Post and Reveille sounded by a another to become a life-long friend, remembers fun
bugler of The Queens Regiment . and games shared with him near Rome between periods
of fighting, and 'the realisation of how civilised and
William Gregory Blaxland was born on 7 December cultured a man he really was'.
1918, the third son of Mr Jasper Blaxland , senior
Consultant Surgeon at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. With the 1st Battalion, both as Adjutant and as B
Earlier generations of his family had lived in Kent, and Company Commander, he played a full part in the
one of his ancestors had been Mayor of Fordwich in the advance to Rome, a dramatic entry into Florence, and in
18th Century . the onslaught on the 'Gothic Line'. After an abrupt anti-
climax in September 1944 when it was temporarily
Gregory, - ' Greg ' to so many -, was educated at reduced to a cadre, the Battalion reformed , and after a
Charterhouse, where his academic interests were in spell on the line of the R Senio, went on to fight a stiff
English and History, and at RMC Sandhurst (he chose action unique in the history of the Regiment, - in
the latter rather than take up a place at Oxford) where amphibious ' Fantails' across the flooded shores of Lake
he was able to satisfy his great love for riding, becoming Comaccio at the north end of the Adriatic. ' B'
a keen and close competitor for The Saddle' prize . He Company, led by Gregory, was heavily engaged and he
was commissioned into The Buffs on 1 July 1939 as War had a narrow escape when an armour-piercing shell
approached , and joined the 2nd Battalion at Pembroke went through his jeep. The advance continued to the
Dock on the eve of mobilisation. He just had time to R.Po , the war in Italy ended , and in May 1945 the
assist in the final departure of the Battalion 's last Battalion moved to the Trieste area (and enjoyed its
Transport horses before sailing for France with the BEF post-war delights, as he put it) . From there , in January
a few days after War was declared. 1946, 1st Buffs moved to Northern Greece.

As many will know, Gregory Blaxland's life was In the following year , the Battalion 's existence came
sharply divided by events into two distinct careers, - to an end , - in effect it being amalgamated with 2nd
soldier for 15 years up to 1954, and then as writer and
author after enforced retirement through being 'laid
low', as he put it, by polio contracted during the Mau-
Mau rebellion in Kenya, at the early age of 35. He lost
the use of both legs.

During the Second War and its immediate aftermath,
Gregory's very active experience was mainly as Adjutant
or Company Commander in several Battalions of The
Buffs, during which time his qualities as junior staff
officer and commander on active service came to the
fore .

After a very testing baptism of fire with 2nd Buffs in
Belgium in May 1940 (he was the only survivor among
his Buff contemporaries from Sandhurst) he became
Adjutant in 1941-42 of the newly-formed 11th Bn in
England , and then of the 10th Bn, before joining the 5th
Bn in N. Africa (Tunisia) and going on with it through
Sicily and into Italy. In 1944 he was transferred to 1st
Buffs fighting the Anzio bridgehead .

Major Geoffrey Cox remembers how Gregory, with
his friend the late Gerald Proctor, on arrival in Tunisia,
was sent to a Bn of Sherwood Foresters (which Gregory
nicknamed 'Harriers') with two platoons of Buffs from
the 10th Bn, and taking part in an attack showed
marked coolness under fire . Shortly afterwards they by
chance met Gen Alexander, and told him they were
Buffs and not Foresters ; their transfer to 5th Buffs soon
followed , leaving their mystified CO wondering why.
Later , in Sicily, Cox remembers how Gregory's jeep, in
darkness, went over a cliffside, badly damaging his
back ; ' he remained cheerful throughout and showed
great courage, his concern being only for his driver' .

The then Capt John Price, a fellow Company

63

Buffs in Hong Kong, - and Gregory came home and Records of The Buffs 1948-67, and this was followed by
was posted out there to take over as Adjutant . In 1948 'Amiens 1918', the success story of General Rawlinson 's
he returned home to the Depot at Canterbury, again to 4th Army, another deeply researched work .
be its Adjutant , and prepared for the Staff College
which he entered in 1951 , qualifying very successfully to A gap after 1968 was filled by intensive research for
gain a Grade 2 appointment in 1952 as Brigade Major to what was probably Gregory's greatest work , one wh1ch
133 lnf Bde(TA) at Tunbridge Wells . At the end of this in the opinion of Mr Leo Cooper, his friend and last
tour with the TA he returned in 1954 to 1st Buffs on publisher , is one of the really great books about the
active service in Kenya, as a Company Commander . British Army . This , 'The Regiments Depart', IS a History
of the Army 1945-1970, a massive work which in the
During all his active years as soldier, a promising words of his obituary in The Times, 'established him as
career to end so abruptly and tragically, two of his great a member of Britain's elite corps of military historians'.
interests outside his profession, - and he had indeed Its review in The Economist spoke of a back-breaking
become a truly professional officer, - were in horses job which the author 'has performed with skill , care and
and cricket . Wherever he found himself, he managed to acc uracy'.
acquire a horse or horses and sometimes to organise
race meetings . Thus, during a lull in Italy, Nigel Taylor A change in direction followed in 1972 with ' Golden
found himself being instructed on the back of an Italian Miller', the story of the famous 'chaser , and then , soon
Cavalry horse which Gregory had extracted from a to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he
nearby enemy barracks. And in Greece there was the returned to selected campaigns in which he had served ,
popular ' Flying Chetnik' , one of a number of German with ' Destination Dunkirk' (1973) , 'The Plain Cook and
horses captured in Italy, which he rode in races to the The Great Showman' (Generals Anderson and Mont-
cheers of his men. His favourite, which appeared later in gomery in N Africa) , and ' Alexanders Generals', --:- the
Canterbury, was ' Flighty Thought' his hunter-chaser (it Italian Campaign 1944-5. By 1979 he had also published
had a dislike of double-decker red buses) ; he rode this short histories of The Buffs (for the ' Famous Regiments'
horse at a number of race meetings including Sandown. series edited by General Horrocks), of the Middlesex
Alas, as the title of an article he later wrote for The Field Regt , and of the Queens Own Buffs .
indicated, 'We Never Won! '. He had several nasty falls
and injuries , but was ever unbowed. Gregory' s last published book was about the·
battlegrounds of S E Britain (with sketches by h1mself,
His interest in cricket at all levels came second only to for he drew well), but at the time of his death he had
riding , and he cut an unusual figure crouching behind completed two thirds of a history of the British Infantry
the stumps with cloth cap pulled over his eyebrows. In from the Battle of Hastings onwards, a further large
Greece at Kilkis he formed a team which trounced the work to be called ' For Love of the Regiment', which his
Battalion team; he eventually named his team the publisher hopes another author will complete; Leo
' KBNCC ', - ' Kiss me Baby Necktie Cricket Club' , the Cooper adds - 'We have lost one of the British Army's
first four words taken from an advert he saw in an finest chroniclers . . . whose books amount to a
American magazine, for a luminous tie which lit up the testament to the British soldier; the Army has had able
words in the dark; he wrote off for a supply which never spokesmen, but none more eloquent'.
came, and whenever he met Geoffrey Cox in the Tent at
Canterbury in the many years to follow, he would ask if We will remember Greg Blaxland not only as one
they had arrived. This was typical of his ever-present whose indomitable will-power and courage triumphed
sense of fun . over adversity, with laughter and never waning gaiety of
spirit, but as expressed in the words of Mrs Harriet
He had married Elizabeth Finn in Canterbury only six Green , a close friend of his family, in her moving
months before he was struck down in Kenya , and now address at his funeral : ' it is one thing to be a hero, -
together they faced a new life, he in a wheelchair, with and a survivor; he was so much more ; utterly unselfish ,
tremendous determination, courage, and cheerfulness , truthful , a hater of humbug, intelligent, provocative in
which were the admiration of all who knew them . discussion and loving an argument , concerned for the
Supported and sustained by Liz, Gregory launched underprivileged (as Bill Dunn, the Mess boilerman at the
himself into the world of literature and journalism, Depot was to discover throughout his life), and true to
travelling far and wide , and as his publisher later wrote , his deep faith in Christianity' .
'addressed himself to a profession whose logistic
demands would have deterred a lesser man '. As he himself wrote of another, his is surely the
accolade he prized most, - ' A Great Buff'.
From the early 1960s onwards, he was tapping out
some 150,000 words a year with his two index fingers , Our deep sympathy in their loss goes out to Liz ,
his published work ranging from articles on horses, Henry and Lucy and the whole family.
racing (he was the Kentish Gazette 's Racing
Correspondent for over 25 years), and natural history, Regimental Historian, The Queen's Regiment
for journals and national weeklies , to major books
mainly, though not solely, on military subjects . Gregory Blaxland became Regimental Historian of the
new Queen 's Regiment on its formati on in 1966. He was
His first major work to be published was a biography a great source of knowledge on all our forb ear
of J H Thomas, the trade unionist and politician , Regiments and hi s advice was frequently sought at this
entitled 'A Life for Unity' . it was well received and set time and over the next 20 years. He wrote the very
him on course . This was followed in 1966 by 'Objective comprehensive ' Guide to The Queen's Regiment ' whi ch
Egypt'. Writing as our Regimental historian, 'The
Farewell Years' appeared in 1967, being the Final

64 fortunate in being joined on many a ride by Gregory's
brother Christopher , who was stationed nearby . I have a
remains our main book of reference , 'Ten Years On ', happy recollection of walking our horses back to stables
and contributed regu larl y to Regimental publications. in the quiet of a late afternoon Greg whipping in an
His article ' Albuhera - A Plea Supported ' appeared in invisib le pack of hounds and Chris smoki ng a cheroot ,
the last edit ion of the Regimental Journal . He will be one of a consignment of an end of war present to
sadly missed by all Oueensmen . The Colonel of the
Regiment was represented by the Regimental Secretary himself.
at his funeral on 7th February .
A great day in the horseman's ca lendar ca me in
Editor August 1945, with the reopening of the Prater
racecourse in Vienna . The 5th Buffs having by this time
Tribute to a Master moved to Vienna it was deemed vita l to liaise with them .
An enthusiastic MT section co nverted one of the several
Maj L P Critchley MBE writes : three ton lorries which had been acquired in the move
up Italy and which were held su rplus , into a very
'Come and see what I've got'. This mixture of practical horse box . The Flying Chetnik with 'master'
Gregory 's invitation and command was the start of the and jockey, Private Watts , set out on the lengthy
post war love affair between Gregory and the Flying journey to Vienna. John Pri ce and I followed later in a
Chetnik. I went with Gregory to a small farm on the jeep . I recall our hesitation when our driver gave us a
outskirts of Palmanova . There, away from the prying recently introduced work ti cket to sign; it read 'officers
eyes of senior officers and cava lrymen seeking the pick recreation Vienna and return' . Lu cki ly the Battalion had
of horses, standing hook deep in fresh straw was the left Italy before we were dunned for payment!
most beautiful liver coloured stallion I had ever seen. In
May 1945 the 1st Buffs had been given the task of Summer 1945 passed in a whirl of horse events,
disarming some 14,000 Chetniks who had fled from bathing parties and dances at all of which Gregory was
Jugoslavia in front of Tito 's army advancing into an avid performer. As everyone who was with the 1st
Venezia Giulia . Horses were everywhere, splendid Buffs will agree the six months in Trieste were
Hanoverians roamed the countryside together with remarkable for the happy combination of work and play.
those belonging to the Chetniks . With his shrewd eye The qua lity of which owed much to Guy Oliver, to
for a horse Gregory spotted this glorious smooth coated Gregory and to others like them through whose
stallion. In a twinkling he had him hidden in the farm , leadership all members of the Battalion were kept on
boxed in with a coup le of tons of liberated German oats. their toes and carried out duties on the Morgan Line
with zest and efficiency. But all too soon the halcyon
Once the Chetniks had been disarmed and sent days ended. The Battalion was moved to Greece . At the
southwards, a remount depot was quickly established in final cockta il party the Corps Commander , General
the old walled city of Palmanova . The depot was Harding, asked if all was set for the transfer. This was
commanded by a bluff horseman , Alec Carter, who, to Gregory's opportun ity to say that it would be if only we
judge from his appearance might have stepped straight could take our horses. General Harding immediately
out of Surtees book , ' Handley Cross'. Guided by instructed his Staff to make the necessary arrange-
Gregory we soon formed a small stable in the Battalion . ments . In no time a movement order arrived enabling us
Conversation in the Mess must have driven any non- to take four horses to Greece. Once again out came the
horsey officer to distraction, for life thereafter revolved unofficial horse box into which the Flying Chetnik, Fair
around our horses . Palmanova became another New- Exchange, Black Abdul (for Joe Parry) and M auratania
market. Where all those light weight, bowlegged men (for David Lloyd Jones) were loaded for their journey to
with straw in their mouths who now appeared in horsey
garb had hidden themselves during almost six years of Greece.
war remains a mystery.
In Greece our horses were a godsend. Besides daily
Every morning at five thirty Gregory ensured we were rides in the open countryside around Kilkis, we visited
away on early rides , he on the Flying Chetnik, myself on local villages and carried out patrols. Race meeti ngs
Fair Exchange - which I had acquired in exchange for were established in Salonika at which Gregory and the
two bottles of scotch, and any others we could per- Flying Chetnik made history . The opposition was not so
suade to leave their beds. fierce as at Aiello , horses being limited to the 17/ 21
Lancers , the Greek Army and I Buffs. Nevertheless,
Once the racecourses at Aiello had been bui lt there great fun was enjoyed especially a never to be forgotten
was seldom a monthly meeting at which Gregory and mule ra ce when about sixty mules set out for the
the Flying Chetnik failed to appear. Gregory's main winning post. Ten seconds later all that could be seen
problem was to prevent the men in his Company from was a cloud of dust out of which mules could be
putting their shirts on the redoubtable Chetnik. observed making tracks in every direction for their
'C hetters' as the Flying Chetnik was affectionate ly
known throughout the Battalion made a brave sight in individual horse lines .
those sunny summer months of 1945 and gave much
pleasure to Buff punters. With his gift for new ideas, Gregory invited the 17/ 21
Lancers to box over to Kilkis from Salonika for a Hare
Gregory had discovered and nurtured two know- and Hounds jolly. We spent weeks erecting fences in
ledgable horsemen in his company; Corporal Masters the open countryside much to the amazement of the
and Private Watts , who were delighted to be struck off local shepherds. Their amazement turned to utter
all duties to be in charge of the stables. disbelief when they saw a large number of horses with
men atop whooping their way across the desolate
During our time in Romans and Lazaretto we were countryside see mingly to enjoy jumping fenc es. lt was

an extremely happy occasion rounded off by a 65
spectacular Mess evening. In March 1947, the blow fell.
1st Battalion Buffs was to be put into suspended time the cadre moved to England Gregory left taking the
animation . Rapidly the men were dispersed to other faithful Flying Chetnik and the other horses to add a
battalions of regiments in Greece and a cadre of officers little class to the Greek Army . Soon afterwards he
and men was sent home to Canterbury . As Gregory had joined the 2nd Battalion Buffs in Hong Kong leaving
taken a long end of war leave most of which he spent Chetters behind. One can only guess at Gregory's
hunting in Ireland, he was available for reposting instead feeling at parting from a friend who had been at the very
of returning with the cadre to the UK . The Brigadier centre of his affection for two happy, meaningful years .
asked Gregory if he would like an attachment to a
mountain regiment. Believing that the Brigadier had Now, alas , we too must say our farewells . Just as
said a mounted regiment Gregory readily agreed. At the Gregory's memories of his faithful Flying Chetnik were
happy, so also , are our memories of Gregory. He was an
extremely talented and loveable friend ; indeed a very
special person .

LT COL E G HO LUST

Lt Col E G Hollist died on 20th February 1986 at King He retired in 1953 and became Secretary to The Royal
Edward VII Hospital at Midhurst, at the age of 77. Sussex Regimental Association at Chichester until 1985.
He was awarded the Order of the House of Orange in
He was born at Lodsworth, between Midhurst and 1966.
Petworth, the village that has been the family home of
the Hollists since the 13th Century. Lt Col Hollist was On his retirement he found plenty to do, serving on
commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1929, the committee of the Royal British Legion, Midhurst
serving in India from 1931 to 1935. In 1940, as a Branch , as Secretary of the Cowdray Point to Point, as
Company Commander he was severely wounded during a representative of the Officers' Association and
action in Belgium and was Mentioned in Despatches . organised a shooting syndicate .

Lt Col Hollist later held various posts at the War He lived for the past 21 years at Bepton , near
Office and the Air Ministry, including the Regular Midhurst, and was keenly interested in gardening and
Commissions Board and Assistant Director of Labour at game conservancy.
the War Office in 1950.
Lt Col Hollist leaves a widow , Margaret, and one son ,
Peter.

MAJOR R J PALMER

Major H CL Tennent writes: Franklin writes : 'I was fortunate enough to inherit him
Reg was everyone's friend , a jovial cheeriul man who as company sergeant major, a job ideal for the display of
his many qualities. He was essentially workmanlike and
was always ready to help those in trouble . His death on uncompromising straightforward in all that he did.
the 28th September 1985 will be a particular source of Always giving more than full measure his infectious
sorrow to many members of the Queen's Own, the sense of humour and ' Dublin-ese' made soldiering an
Queen's Own Buffs and The Queen's Regiment. enjoyable business and leaves us with a host of
memories to treasure and remember'.
Born in Dublin on the 17th of September 1927, Pedlar
Pal mer enlisted on the 12th of July 1945. Prior to being In 1960 he was appointed as RQMS and remained in
commissioned he served with the Royal Sussex in the this post after the amalgamation and the formation of 1
Canal Zone, the Royal West African Frontier Force in Queen 's Own Buffs.
Nigeria and was a training sergeant with the Home
Counties Brigade Training Centre. at Shorncliffe. In In July 1962 he was promoted to W01 and joined 5
1956 he went with 1 RWK to Suez as CSM of C Com- Buffs at Broadstairs as RSM . He soon made his
pany and subsequently served with the battalion in presence felt and his happy friendly approach together
Cyprus returning to UK in 1959. During this period he with his high standard of professionalism were a
also served as CSM B Coy and Lt Col and Lt Col Tony

66 In March 1970 he was granted a Regular Quarter-
master's Commission as a Captain Quartermaster and
constant influence and example to the TA volunteers . In was posted to the Queen 's Division Depot. Early in 1973
August 1946 he was posted as RSM 1 Queen 's Own Reg on ce again returned to 2 QUEENS for a further
Buffs and 5 Buffs lost a man they admired , respected successful tour of three years with the battalion of
and considered a true friend. which he was so proud and which he had already served
so well.
Lt Col Bill Macdonald remembers his arrival as RSM 1
Queen's Own Buffs and how throughout his tour he In March 1975 he was promoted to Major (QM) and in
abided by their agreed motto of discipline with May 1976 he was posted to 5 QUEENS . In no way had
cheerfulness . He never forgot this and was quite brilliant he lost his happy knack of getting on with the
at bringing a sense of humour to bear in the most tense volunteers and his considerable administrative
situations. As RSM he administered discipline with experien ce, together with his helpful and constru ctive
compassion and the welfare of his soldiers was always approach were invaluable.
his main concern . After his very successful tour as RSM
he was granted a Short Service Commission on 10 Jan He returned to July 1976 and not long afterwards
1966. He remained with the battalion and was accepted a post as a Retired Officer working with the
ceremoniously marched under escort from the Sgts' Army School of Recruiting .
Mess to the Officers' Mess accompanied by the band
gloriously out of tune . The CO inspected him on arrival Eileen , his wife , was a constant support to him , a
and instructed him that his hair was too short now now gentle and understanding lady who has the very real
sympathy of all his old comrades . Our sympathy too
he was a subaltern . goes to the rest of his family in which he took such
pride , his daughters Rosalyn and Denise, as well as his
For four happy years he served the battalion loyally two grandchildren.
(during this time it became 2 QUEENS) he held a variety
of appointments among them Assistant Adjutant, Unit
Families Officer, PRI and finally OC HQ Coy as a

temporary major.

ELLA WILSON

Col J G W Davidson writes : nothing deterred her - not even a badly broken leg in
Munster. She continued with this good work in the
Sergeant Ella Adams WRAC joined the Regiment on Kindergarten in Howe Barracks until late 1985 and was
12th December 1953 when she married the Battalion looking forward to doing so for 3 QUEENS .
Signal Sergeant, Leslie Burnstein-Wilson. I first met her
in lserlohn in early 1957, just after we had returned from We remember Ella as a wife , mother and grand-
Malaya . I was invited by Les to their quarter for a drink ; mother. She was a member of a happy and devoted
baby Jane was in her high chair being fed (or as it family and in her latter years derived much pleasure
seemed to this bachelor subaltern, having porridge from her two beloved grand-daughters, Laura and
poured over her head!). So began a close and treasured Hannah. Les usually referred to her as ' Adams' or 'The
friendship that was to last for 29 years until her tragic Colour Sergeant' . He may have given the impression
and untimely death on 13th February 1966, after an that he really treated her as the Colour Sergea nt, but
illness stoically and uncomplainingly borne. this was a facade and she knew it. She supported him in
everything he did , in uniform or mufti , on or off duty .
Les was RSM of 1 QUEENS when I was Adjutant and She went down fighting and it was typical of her that
a Company Commander, and Quartermaster when I right to the end her response to Les and her friends,
commanded. I saw at first hand the magnificent backing who expressed concern at her evident illness , was to
he received from El la in these appointments . She was a
great supporter of the Sergeants' Mess, and there are 'stop fussing '.
many serving and retired members of the Regiment and
their wives who will always remain grateful for the help I was abroad and , sadly, unable to be present at her
and guidance they received from her when they first funeral at which the Regimental turn-out in support of
joined the Mess . She was the perfect foil to the RSM the family was phenomenal. So too was the generosity
who terrified them! When Les was commissioned , she of Ella's friends ; the family is giving the donations to the
supported the Officers' Mess with equal enthusiasm . Guild of St Helena for the benefit of handicapped

But Ella 's contribution to Regimental life was far from service children .
confined to the Sergeants' Mess . She was a hard-
working champion of the Wives' Club , and on a I know that all members of the Regiment and all Ella 's
personal note I can say that Jennifer, my wife , will for friends will wish to express their deepest sympathy to
ever remain grateful for the loyal and energetic support Les , to their children Jane, Anne and Mark, to their
she received from Ella, particularly over some two years grandchildren and to Ella 's mother . There can surely be
when the men were away on unaccompanied tours . A no finer tribute to her memory within the Regiment than
further contribution was her stewardship of the these words expressed in a letter by the wife of a
Regimental Kindergarten in many different barracks at member of the Regiment. 'She was always down to
home and overseas. Both our boys were in her care and earth , honest, friendly and helpful to all of us . She never
I know that she loved, and was loved by, the children ; changed. She was just ' EIIa ', as mu ch a part of The

Queen's Regiment as Les'.

ARTICLES

FLY FISHING IN THE FALKLANDS

by Maj H A P Yorke

lt is unlikely that we will provide another battalion for use the net. 1 lost more fish than you would believe
misjudging the size and strength of the fish and thus not
the Falklands but with HQ BFFI some seventy strong ,
using the net.
and the Admin Company always in need of manning , it
Lesson Four: Accept that there will always be a
is possible that some lucky reader will eventually find strong wind and either learn to cast into it or ford the
river and cast from the other bank .
himself with a Falklands posting in prospect. With this
Lesson Five: All the land is privately owned so
in mind , I thought I would provide a short aide-memoire permission to fish is always needed . I think thats about
it on the lessons. Now a few words on the tackle I found
on fly fishing in the Falklands to encourage people to useful and the season dates. I used a 9 ft carbon rod
with a line size AFTM 7 or 8. The line was either dry or
take full advantage of the marvellous fishing available . silk tip with an eight to ten pound leader . I used a large
reel with plenty of backing. The flies were standard
Trout and sea-trout are to be found in most of the larger double hooked or single sea-trout or salmon patterns,
my most successful being a yellow torrish and teal blue
Falklands rivers . However, the garrison, less a fortunate and silver . I don 't really think the fish were too fussy!
The smaller flies seemed to hook an irritating number of ·
fMeow~nits concentrated in Stanley, and is soon to move to six inch Kamakazi trout . When you are lucky enough to
Pleasant Airfield both of which are some miles reach a river, fish all day and all night, rediscover that
night fishing is the greatest fun . The season runs from
from any decent rivers . Helicopters provide the only the 1 September to the 30 April.

effective method of travel and from this follows the Finally, after a frustrating day when the sea-trout
were just nipping the fly, I tied a small tribarbed hook
regretable fact that the only way to go fishing is to hitch just behind the fly and then I started to land some
decent fish . That evening while looking through a
a lift. Helicopters are controlled by the RAF and readers , catalogue I saw my idea for sale. Never mind . But if you
do have a day when the trout just tug at the hackles, try
experienced in tri-service environments, will know that a small tribarb , it does work, in the Falklands at any rate ,
Good luck!
helicopters will be too heavily tasked flying airmen and

women to ' Rest and Recouperation ' centres to take

soldiers anywhere! So here are my tips:

Lesson One: Befriend a keen fisherman in the RAF
or AAC - now come on , do you want to go fishing or
don't you!

Lesson Two : Take a travelling rod or a two piece rod
no longer than 9 feet 6 inches; a longer rod is hard to fit
into a Gazelle.

Lesson Three: Take a large landing net. Ten pound
sea-trout are common and I believe the largest taken
was about twenty-seven pounds! And make sure you



69

A POSTING DOWN-UNDER

by Maj J D K Russell

I am sure most of you have seen those stress charts. Maj John Russell getting to grips with his S02 staff job.
You know the sort of thing, the ones which give a
numerical weighting to various types of stress - forget the form of TEWTs held in the extremely beautifu l
briefcase 23, mumps 47, or car accident 75. Well , su rrounding countryside . I can now say with authority
although never included in such lists, the momentous that t he pink end of a TEWT is the place to be! The
Staff College ' Black Bag Day' should merit 86. On the Australian Army places greater emphasis on formal
chart I have seen this neatly puts it between childbirth tactics training than we do and the IOC is seen as a very
and discovering that you are bankrupt. important stage in their officers ' professional
development. The problems the students are required to
When I arrived at The College on The morning I found tackle are more set-piece than those to which we are
everyone seemed to be ta lking faster than usual. No accustomed but this is changing and ' reaction to the
mean feat, for after 9 months most had become pretty unexpected ' is becoming trendy here too .
adept in this field. In the syndicate room my DS said ,
with a knowing smirk , that he would like to be a fly on The Wing is also responsible for running a 5 week
the wall in the Russell household that lunchtime. I course for lieutenant colonels. This course is set at
gulped . There was going to be something horribly novel divisional level and includes a 5 day indoor exercise
abo ut my posting. The sort of one that would all too dealing with an enemy landing in the remote NW. The
soon be generating whispered comments from the vast size of this area , the problems of movement during
coffee queue and knowing glances in my direction . the 'Wet', and the lack of civil infrastructu re make it a
Surely my op order hadn 't been that bad? But there had daunting business . We have no direct equiva lent to this
been that brief which had been criticised for being as course and it again shows the Australian Army's
long as those worn by an ancestral grandmother . My commitment to the study of tactics throughout an
mind raced th rough the more outlandish jobs and I officer's career . The remainder of the year is filled with
resigned myself to developing a keen interest in penguin Reserve Army courses , a pre-command course for
spotting. By the time we had gathered in the divisional lieutenant colone ls, and visits from organisations such
hall I had composed myself and, in time honoured as the Navy Staff College. All in all it is a most
fashion , the divisional colonel began reading out the job interesting and absorbing posting - not to mention
locations in student alphabetical order . At least it was enjoyable!
better than Eric Morley's system as I had an awfu l
feeling that my name might have been first. 'Peters-SE The remainder of LWC consists of the Junior Staff
England . Price-BAOR . Richards-NE England. Rose- Wing (a JCSC without the first ' C' ). the School of
BAOR . Russeii-Australia '. Gasps of amazement. So it Military Intelligence (SMI) , Battle Wing which instructs
wasn't to be Preston after all , neither could I comp lain up to a company at a time in close-country fighting and
of being posted north of the Thames . Some of the a WO / NCO Wing (a blend of EPC (A) and drill). There
excitement was taken away as I caught the Divisional
Colonel saying something about it not being far enough
away for his liking. Arriving home I broke the news to
my wife who , after a stunned si lence, brought me
further down to ea rth by uttering those immortal and
celebrated 7 wo rds so eloq uently spoken by generations
of Army wives , 'When do the boxes have to go?'

lt later transpired that I was to be posted as a S02 DS
to the Tactics and War Administration Wing at the Land
Warfare Centre (LWC ) in SE Queensland. I have now
been in post for a year and thought that those of you
sti ll reading might be interested in a few impressions of

life ' Down Under' .

I am one of 12 psc instructors on the Wing . There is
one other exchange instructor, a Canadian , Maj Ed
Peterson w ho is well known to many in the Second
Batta lion (see Journal June 85, page 62 . Note: He now
has on ly half the amount of hair shown in that photo!).
Our bread and butter course in the 5 week Intermediate
Operations Course (IOC ) for majors and some captains
prior to selection for staff training . Four IOCs are run
each year. The students are from all arms and services
and officers from Mala ya , Thai land , the Philippines
(during Marcos era!) and Papua New Guinea also
attend. This mandatory cou rse co ncentrates on brigade
level tactics and logistics . M ost of the instru ction is in

70 Gold Coast (a mixture of Miami , Brighton and Frinton) is
40 minutes' drive away and Brisbane only an hour to the
are 2 other British officers at LWC - a captain in SMI north . As a family we have driven up to Cairns last
and a captain in Battle Wing . winter (June) and visited the Barrier Reef there . This
year we are indulging to Perth and will visit Sydney and
The Australian Army is very similar to our own and the SE in December. lt is a huge, beautiful country with
there were few unfamiliarities in either tactics or people who for cheerfulness and friendliness one would
tradition to have to get used to on arrival . We were very be hard pushed to beat .
pleased to be able to hurl out of the window miscon-
ceptions we held about life in Australia - it is not all Far from being off the beaten track we have had visits
Rolf Harris and beer paunches! I was fortunate last year from F M Stanier, Mr Stanley the Armed Forces'
to have been included on an Australian Staff College Minister and the MGO . I never realised I had so much
tour of Queensland . During the tour we flew by C130 to celebrity pulling power! The Regiment's tentacles
Birdsville (where?) a middle of nowhere town miles out extend well into· the southern hemisphere - apart from
into the outback composed of red sand , flies, beer cans Ed Peterson mentioned above, I have met Mark Cowan-
and more flies; Cairns in the tropical far north ; Weipa , a Aston late 1 QUEENS and now a captain in the RAR ,
massive open -cast bauxite mine on the west coast of Major Dennis Simpson who was with 3 QUEENS on
Cape York ; and finally Brisbane. lt was a fascinating LIONHEART, and numerous officers who were trained
tour and I look forward to going on this year's west tour by the Regimental Secretary and , latterly, Major Peter
to visit Perth and the NW. I am also negotiating to get Gybbon -Monypenny at RMC Duntroon. lt has also been
away on a brigade FTX to see something of the army in my pleasure to have met Andrew Brown who recently
the field. came out for 5 weeks to stay on the Gold Coast. His
hosts are still not certain what hit them!
As to the local geography, Canungra, our nearest
town, is an up-market San lgnacio. The area is As I have just read in the Colonel of the Regiment's
beautiful, hilly and covered in eucalyptus forest. The letter to ERE officers that the 3rd Battalion will be in
vegetation on the high plateau turns to primary jungle Adergrove in 1988, I wi ll stop writing, f ill the esky with
whilst the farmland around us has much the feel of the tinnies, leap into the Kingswood and head for Surfers'
area around Holdfast in Belize . Kangaroos abound Paradise. There's not a moment to lose!
(excuse the pun) and it is an ornithologist's (that's a
bird-watcher, Poohl) paradise. The seen-to-be-believed

THE END OF THE TUNNEL - RECUPERATION?
IN AUSTRALIA

by Lt Andrew Brown

Way back in January 1985, while I was still in OEMH the metal detectors - I decided not to tell any of them
Woolwich, I was approached by the hospital Assistant about the metal leg until they found out for themselves!
Admin Officer and was asked if I would like to go to
Australia for 6 weeks for a recuperation holiday. My After the short journey down to Surfers' Paradise on
answer is obvious! - but the stipulation of the sponsors the Gold Coast south of Brisbane we met the members
was that I should be able to look after myself . In of the Rotary Club that was sponsoring my visit . After
January '85 I hadn't been fitted with an artificial leg and sandwiches and beer by the pool under the palms, and
I was hardly able to get about on crutches! - So for the an interview by the local paper, they showed me the
time being the trip was out of the question . room that had been booked, along with evening meal ,
bed and breakfast every day, for the next 5 weeks. I
lt wasn't until January of this year that I started to couldn't believe it - a massive double bed; bathroom ,
realise that I really was going to Australia. On 4 February shower and toilet; fridge and TV; and full air con-
I was told that I had been accepted by " The Rotary Club ditioning (which I really needed for the next few days
of Surfers' Paradise Central" and "The Army while I acclimatized to an almost 30 degree change in
Benevolent Fund" to go to Australia, for recuperation, temperature! I
from 18 February to 24 March. This seemed to fit in
reasonably with my work on "The Flying Dragons" and During my first week I had to content myself with
so RHO gave me their permission to go, (see Sgt either walking or being driven around (I had left my
Sharp's article on the freefall team) . driving licence in England) - but I did manage to join
the journalists from the local area on a car treasure hunt,
I left dreary, cold England on the evening of 18 followed by a bar-B-0 on the white sands of The Gold
February and after stopping over for refuelling at Coast and a swim in the warm clear sea; I also joined the
Muscat (Oman) , Singapore and Sydney I was met at Rotarians in a friendly cricket match and later a few
Brisbane by Maj John Russell of the 3rd Battalion (who holes of golf (all I could manage in the intense heat - I
is working at Canungra - the Australian Land Warfare just supped cool beer and watched for the rest of the
Centre for 2 years) in glorious sunshine at about mid- day!). By the end of the first week , however, I had got
morning on Thursday . Passing through customs at each my licence through the post and so was duly provided
stopover had produced some interesting reactions at with a clapped out wreck which fortunately did manage

71

to last for the next 4 weeks (much to its owner's
surprise) . So on the invite of one of the Rotarians I
drove into New South Wales and spent the weekend at
a riding school run by a couple who had emmigrated
from Britain some 15 years ago . I surprised myself at
being able to canter and jump on only my second time
on horseback!

Over the second weekend I was invited by Capt Mark
Cowan-Aston of the Australian Army (formerly of our
1st Battalion) to visit a parachute DZ, in New South
Wales run by an ex Australian Army Officer (who Sgt
Sharp knew when he was in the Red Devils) . Again I
supped beer, and watched the parachuting - but in the
afternoon I was taken up for a flight in a microlight
aircraft (a sport that I want to take up here in England!).
Whilst at the DZ, I found out about a SCUBA diving
centre nearby at Byron Bay - the most easterly point of
Australia - and so I duly signed up for the following
Monday. The Monday to Friday course qualified me for
international open water SCUBA diving and so I then
booked onto a short package holiday, within a holiday,
to Cairns . I spent one night in Cairns and 3 on a coral
island cay - Green Island - on the Great Barrier Reef
from which I spent 2 days SCUBA diving on the outer
reef - stunning!

On my return to Surfers' Paradise I started to wind
down ready for coming back to England. I had had a
fantastic period of recuperation , with " no worries" as
most Australians comment frequently. lt had served its
purpose admirably and was literally the end of the
tunnel for me - on reaching England again I felt ready
for virtually anything even with the handicap that I have
to live with for the rest of my life. Having said this ,
though , I would like to thank everyone in the Regiment ,
and especially in the 2nd Battalion , who has supported
me over the past 18 months; because my recuperation
has been built on this support - Australia just put the
icing on the cake .

Top : Weekend at a riding school in New South Wales.

Lower : Lt Andrew Brown preparing the Scuba Dive.

72

EXPLORER, ADVENTURER AND SOLDIER

by Maj P G E Hill

An unusual group of medals in The Queen 's Royal granted a direct captain 's commission in the 5th (Militia )
Surrey Regiment Museum reveals a little of the Bn The Manchester Regiment. His experience with
adventurous life of Major Frederick George Jackson of horses in Australia made him suitable to train a Mounted
The East Surrey Regiment. Two medals are unique and Infantry Company . He served with it in South Africa
were awarded before he had even joined the Army. with distinction , being mentioned in despatches and
receiving the Queen 's South Africa Medal with five
Jackson was born in 1860 in the quiet country town bars. In 1905, Captain Jackson was transferred to the
of Alcester , where his grandfather was rector . On 4th (Special Reserve) Bn The East Surrey Regiment ,
leaving school, he went out to Australia and worked on and in January 1910 was promoted major .
a Queensland cattle station for three years where he also
learned to handle and break horses. Here he started his In October 1914, Major Jackson, who was then 54,
life of travelling by a trip in the Australian Desert . On was sent with a draft of two officers and 65 Other Ranks
returning home, he read medicine at Edinburgh to the 1st Battalion near La Bassee in France, and two
University , but did not qualify. lt was while he was a days later commanded two rifle companies in action
medical student that Frederick Jackson plunged into the south of Lorgies . lt is indeed remarkable that an officer
icy waters of a loch at Linlithgow on 1st January 1885 to of his age lin fact, seven years older than his
rescue a 17-year old girl from drowning . For this he was commanding officer! I should be sent to a battalion
awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal. engaged in active operations. Remembering Major
Jackson's adventurous spirit and high standing, it may
Two years later, he sailed across the Atlantic in a well be that he was able to pull a few strings to get
whaling ship for a voyage to Greenland . He then made a himself posted to a battalion of his Regiment actually
preliminary expedition across the Great Tundra and engaged with the enemy. He was later invalided home
Lapland in mid-winter. This experience in the Arctic and commanded the Southwark Recruiting District for
inspired Jackson to make an attempt on the North Pole, more than two years. After his wife died in 1918, Major
based on Franz Josef Land, to the north of Russia. After Jackson went abroad again to command prisoner of
some further expeditions to gain experience and to test war camps in Germany . He was awarded the 1914 Star,
equipment, he found a patron for his Polar project in British War Medal and Victory Medal for his services in
Alfred Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe. Jackson the Great War.
organised and led the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition
which sailed for Franz Josef Land in 1894. Here they Jackson now transferred his interests from the Arctic
spent three years, and in the course of exploring and to Africa. In the 1920s he crossed the Continent from
surveying, discovered that the Queen Victoria Sea east to west , travelled across Mashonaland ,
prevented their reaching the Pole by land . Metabeleland and Northern Rhodesia and trekked
across Urundi and Ruanda . From Lake Kivu he crossed
At Cape Flora, his base in Franz Josef Land , on the Congo Forest to the Lualaba River, visited the
17 June 1896, Jackson encountered the Norwegian sources of the three great rivers of Africa, the Zambesi ,
explorers, Nan.sen and Johansen, returning from their Nile and the Congo, and followed the whole length of
own expedition to an island further north where they the last named river to the sea. He was a member of a
had wintered . They had been hoping to make their way League of Nations Commission to inquire into slavery,
to Spitzbergen, many miles to the west, but were very said to be practised in Liberia . There was no end to his
glad to avail themselves of the aid afforded by Jackson, interest in exploration and travel.
in particular a passage home in Jackson's charter ship
Windward. For his services , Jackson was awarded the At the age of 69, he married for the second time and
Norwegian Order of Knight (First Class) of the Royal settled down to writing. He was the author of three
Order of St Olav in 1898. lt was in this year that he first books . The Great Frozen Land', ' A Thousand Days in
married. the Arctic ' and 'The Lure of Unknown Lands' and wrote
numerous papers and articles . He was a man of
In September 1897, the Jackson-Harmsworth phenomenal energy and wide interests. He listed as his
Expedition reached London, and during the next year recreations big game shooting, fishing, hunting and
the affairs of the enterprise were wound up . No polo. Unorthodox to the end, he spent his last years
sponsors for further Polar exploration were forth - with his wife in a houseboat, called 'Afterglow', on the
coming, and Jackson found himself nearing forty and Thames .
with no occupation.
Major Jackson died in 1938 at the age of 78, having
The South African War broke out in October 1899, led a full , active and useful life, and there is a memorial
and Jackson saw his opportunity to be of service. He tablet to him in St Paul 's Cathedral.
applied to join the Army, and in March 1900 was

73

20th BATTALION, THE QUEEN'S ROYAL REGIMENT

by Capt P J Riley

. My next posting was to a parachute parachutes had been replaced early in the War by
battalion, the 60th Queen's, once more com- American " Statichutes " better suited for parachute
manded by Colonel Coats and officered by the
nucleus of the ski battalion. But this, again, operations .
was soon disbanded because, we were told,
there were no parachutes. The RAF - not lt is known also that 20th Queen 's, co ntaining as it did
unreasonably - needed all there were ... " a number of ski -trained personnel, was kept on standby
to go to Norway but once the decision to withdraw had
F Spencer Chapman been made, the battalion was disbanded on 3 June
" The Jungle is Neutral" 1940. No War Diary of any kind su rvives.

This passage from Chapman had puzzled me for some There is, however, a further appearance of t he 20th
time since I knew that apart from the Young Soldiers' Queen 's later in the War, this time definitely con nected
battalions, the highest numbered Queen 's battalion with the Parachute role . In the Autumn of 1941 it was
during the Second World War was the 15th. There is no decided to raise a Parachute brigade from troops in
trace of anything higher in the Archives. India . The first battalion - 151 l P) Bn - was raised
from volunteers from some 23 British Infantry Battalions
As background , Chapman had joined the 5th Scots in that theatre and its Commanding Officer was
Guards in early 1940. This was a specialist ski battalion Lieutenant Colonel Martin Lindsay , who had been in the
which was being trained to fight in Finland against the 20th Queen 's in 1940. In October 1942 it was decided to
Russians . He was joined by volunteers from all branches send the battalion to the Middle East and in order to
of the Army and Navy, including several friends with disguise its movement it was given the title 20th
whom he had been involved in Polar Exploration during Queen 's . The unit War Diary of 30 October 1942 records
the 1930s: J M Scott, Quintin Riley and Martin lindsay .
that:
Th e ski battalion !commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
J S Coats M C Coldstream Guards) was disbanded in " . .. Battalion Special Instructions issued . The
May 1940 when the Finns sued for peace . Most of the name of the Battalion was changed from 151
skiers were posted to a new battalion , again under IPl Bn to 20th Queen 's Regt for the period of
Coats , who incidentally is the Officer who led the Coats the move, for security reasons ."
Mission , whose role was the protection of the Royal
fami ly in the event of a German invasion . Chapman was Possibly Lindsay chose this title to co nnect with the
among those posted into the battalion, along with earlier incarnation of the 20th Queen 's and to give
Martin lindsay who will appear again in this story. credence to the title . This circumstantial evidence does
point to the earlier 20th Queen 's having been earmarked
This new battalion was entitled " 20th Queen 's". for the Parachute role .
There is no clear reason why it was allotted to The
Queen 's, any more than why its predecessor should All obvious signs of 151 Battalion 's Parachute status
have been 5th Scots Guards . Chapman is certainly were removed and on its arrival in the Middle East, the
wrong over the numbering of the battalion , but his battalion was again redesigned 156 Parachute Battalion.
account may have been written solely from memory The title 20th Queen 's then disappeared and was not
without the benefit of documents to refresh it, so there used again . As a matter of interest I reprodu ce the
would appear never to have been a " 60th Queen 's" . Battalion Special Instructions mentioned earlier, which
This is odd as Chapman was always a most accurate did not, it appears, fool anyone .
recorder of events .
Special Orders
As to the Parachute role , the generally accepted
starting date for the history of Parachute forces in the This Bn is no longer the 151 Parachute Bn, and will
British Army is Churchill's memo of 22 June 1940, in not be so, until told otherwise. The name of this Bn
which he directed that at least 5000 of such forces from the time of leaving Delhi Cantt Station, is the 20th
should be trained. There was already in existance a Bn The Queen 's Royal Regiment (Wes t Surrey) (2nd of
Central Landing School at Ringway, which had opened
on 21 June 1940 - however the 20th Queen 's would Foot).
pre-date this .
Colonel-in-Chief Queen Mary
lt is known that the first unit to be involved in
parachuting was No 2 Commando which made its first Colonel General Veasy
descents on 21 July 1940. Chapman did not belong to
this unit, but Martin Lindsay was a member of the staff Formation
at Ringway.
The Bn has just been formed in India July 1st 1942, in
There is no evidence that there was any withdrawal of Delhi, from Offrs and ORs from all other Infantry Bns in
parachutes for use by t he RAF , since all training -type India. They have not volunteered, but have been posted
to this Bn.

The Bn is organised as an Infantry Bn and its special
role is an A / Tk Bn. (2 pdr A / Tk guns are now operated
by Specllnf Bns).

74 f) ABs 64 Pt 1 & 11 will be kept safe and will only be
shown to Officers and NCOs of this Bn AB 64s
Training contain information ref AL S training and
Parachute pay. Remember AB 64s are SECURITY
No training in A / Tk gunnery has been done due DOCUMENTS.
chiefly to lack of eqpt in India, (about which we are all
rather browned off). g) In the event of any man meeting someone from
his old unit_ who knows he joined a Parachute Bn,
The training up to date has been purely Infantry he will have to swallow his pride and say he got
training ie forming the Bn and getting it to work RTU and sent to the Reinforcement Camp,
together, and training it into a first class infantry unit so Doolah; from where he was posted to the 20th
it can fight in an alternative role . Queen 's.

The training in A / Tk gunnery will be done at our h) Owing to the date ofjoining men must not show a
destination where we will also get the eqpt. knowledge of Delhi before July 1942 unless they
happened to have been in the Dukes or some
Instructions other Regt which has been stationed there in the
past.
1. Coy Commanders will lecture at once to all men of
their Coys on this narrative and will ensure by i) lt must be impressed on all ranks that no mention
constant practice and questioning that all ranks are of the changing name must be made in Delhi or
fully conversant with their new name and history. If elsewhere before the train leaves Delhi Cantt
Coys possess men from The Queen 's Regt they will Station.
be very useful in lecturing the men on Regimental
Customs or habits such as Regimental March or Finally
popular songs etc.
All ranks must swallow their pride and not admit that
2. The following points will be dn'lled into all ranks; so they are in such an elite corps as a Parachute Bn or the
that nothing comes to notice showing we are really a 151 at all. And in order to finish the War sooner they
Parachute Bn. must tell all those who question them that they are only
a) There will be NO Parachute talk at all, whether in an A / Tk Bn.
about pay, jumping, refusals or aeroplanes.
b) Knives fighting will be put into universal kit bags lt is not known if any Officers or Soldiers of The
which are in the hold. Queen's actua lly served in the " 20th Battalion " in either
c) No parachute exercises on PT parade. 1940 or 1942, or were connected with it in any way . If
d) No one will shout parachute slogans such as anyone reading this article can throw any more light on
"Action Stations " or "1-2-3-4 Arms". the matter, the author would be glad to hear from them .
e) Men tattooed with parachute wings will always
wear shirts, or trousers if the tattoo is on the leg, Although this unit is not strictly a part of our
on PT parades, games or sunbathing. Regimental History, it is offered as an interesting
sidelight on the Second World War .

UK A RMY NORDIC SKI MEETING 1986

by Capt M J Hurman

Ski teams all over the UK, and some from BAOR and 43rd to 117th out of 150 starters .
the RAF, assemb led in February in Victoria Barracks at
Ballater for the UK Army Novices' Ski Meeting . The Day 2 followed the same pattern except that a fresh
barracks are normally used during the autumn by the fa ll of snow and a lower temperature provided better
Royal Guard for duties at Balmoral Castle, a few miles racing conditions. The 15 KM course, which was closer
away. The aim of the Ski Meeting was to provide to 18 KM, took us on a loop up a gruelling hill . This
competitors with a 10 KM and 4 x 10 KM race over a provided an excellent down hill schuss for those who
three day period. didn 't wipe out!! As a Team , we came in tenth out of 25
teams . This was a most encouraging result , particularly
Despite the pressure of training for Belize, and our as we had only put on skis for the first time this year on
inability to find the time to carry out any pre-training , we the day of the race , and so we finished the day pleased
were determined to do our best . So on a cold February with our successful efforts.
morning the Team, myself, LCpl Gerard, Ptes Hughes
and Mitchell , set off for Scotland on the overnight train . The 4 x 10 KM race took place on Day 3. Sadly,
because I had flu, we were unable to field a team .
We awoke on Day 1 to the sound of bagpipes played However we stayed to give competitors our vocal
by one of the Queen's Own Highlanders who were support, rounding off a very enjoyable meeting .
providing the administrative back up for the meeting.
No doubt this was to remind those of us from South of To conclude, the meeting was a great success and
the border that we were in Scotland! We were taken by the two new members of the team , Ptes Hughes and
coaches to a forestry block set on steep hillside some 40 Mitchell did very well. Hopefully next year with some
miles from the barracks . Deep snow, cold temperatures training and perhaps some more members, the Battalion
and a well cut track in the forest provided excellent may be able to enter the UKLF Championships in
racing conditions. Our individual results ranged from Austria and then return again to Scotland for the UK
Army Nordic Races .

75

THE CADET EXCHANGE VISIT WITH INDIA IN 1986

by Cadet RSM John Kerner, Surrey ACF

While we were in camp at Leek I was called for The Army Day parade displayed the obvious pride
interview with the Commandant, and found that it was shown by the NCC in their equipment and duties and
not trouble I was in but a party of three being asked if their high personal standards which were continually
we would like to go on an exchange visit to India in the evident wherever we went . Air Shows , Horse Shows
following January - a long time ahead . lt was not until and every sort of activity was laid on, at many of which
early November that it was borne in on us what an we were introdu ced to Service Chiefs .
opportunity had come our way, and how much
preparation was needed. In between these formal engagements we found
ourselves involved in the everyday activities of routine
On Sunday 12 January I found myself at Frimley Park camp life . There were drill competitio ns and model
with Cadet CSM Andrew Gough and Cadet Corporal making displays, also sports such as gliding and
Katherine Dickins - all from Surrey ACF , representing parascending. Having learned parascending with Surrey
the Army Cadet Force nationwide . There we met our ACF I soon joined that group, exchanged stories and
companions, 3 Sea Cadet Corps and 2 Air Training discussed techniques . In the end I was offered a few
Corps members , all strangers , from different flights, thus becoming (so I was told) the first British
organisations , in different uniforms . lt didn 't take long
for RSMI Miles to tell us we drilled differently, and I Cadet to parascend in India!
found myself "elected" to be i/ c party for any drill or
marching . We were briefed by Lieutenant Colonel There was time for us to become "tou rists" and visits
Ortiger of the Ministry of Defence who had arranged for were made to the nooks and crannies of the city of Delhi
a talk by Major Rumsey of Staffordshire ACF, who had where a Wimpey Bar was gratefully discovered. We
been involved in preparations for the 1985 visit. As a went to the Nehru Planetarium, the palace at Sikandra
result of this we were a properly organised party , ready and the lndira Ghandi memorial , but the visit to the Red
for about anything, by nightfall. Fort at Agra and the Taj Mahal capped all. I began to
realise that this huge country has many facets and
Up at 0440, a blurry eyed trip to Heathrow, and take things to offer as in its culture , development and the
off in an Air India Jumbo at 0935 for the 9 hour flight to friendliness of all we met . Receptions and photo calls
Delhi - at last it was really happening! Champagne and were an everyday event but the interesting part was
a visit to the flight deck punctuated a smooth journey , exchanging information with the Indian Cadets.
with arrival at one o'clock tomorrow morning . We were
met by Colonel Cameron of The British High On Sunday 26 January came the climax of our visit,
Commission , and Lieutenant Colonel Jog of the and of the Indian military year - The Republic Day
National Cadet Corps (NCC) who was officer in charge Parade which is also a public holiday. On parade were all
of all foreign Cadet visitors. Luggage was found and three Services, all wings of the National Cadet Corps
loaded into a mini bus for the short run to our camp, and and the para military organisations and it lasted for three
bed after a long day.
hours .
Waking up next morning came as a shock-jet lag had
caught up and it was much colder than I had imagined it lt was our last day which found us attending the
would be , and it was strange to be in the tented Prime Minister's Rally for the Cadet Forces , which
Garrison Parade Ground Camp established by the NCC included everything from displays of horsemanship to
to house 2000 people attending the Republic Day microlights . We then went on to meet the President of
celebrations . At breakfast (curry) we met our fellow India , to whom we presented one of the special 125th
Cadet guests from Buthan , Nepal, Singapore, Anniversary Goblets from the Cadet Forces of the UK .
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Another Goblet was given to Lieutenant General
Malhotra, the Director of the NCC.
The ice was soon broken and we the visitors were
welcomed to a reception by the Chief of Air Staff at Next day it was farewell time and we were on our way
which 100 Indian Cadets helped to make us feel at home . We had made many friends and seen many
home. This was the foretaste of things to come. Our things , which I shall always remember - but all is not
duties in Delhi were mainly social, attending receptions , lost - for one day I shall return to India and explore
meeting important people and being in the public eye. some more of it. Now, on behalf of all the Cadets in our
Our engagements included a Naval regatta which was party, I would say thank you to everyone who made the
highlighted by a dramatic air / sea rescue demonstration. trip possible , especially Surrey ACF , Colonel Ortiger in
the Ministry of Defence, and the High Commission in
Delhi who made this a memorable visit and helped us in
every way .

76

OUR VISIT TO GIBRALTAR

by Cadet Sgt D E Davis.

n QUEENS Cadet Company

On the first parade after our arrival in Gibraltar we met time. From there we then went to the museum . Though
CSM Cammille, who first inspected us and then decided only small there was a wide collection of tools that had
we needed waking up with a little square bashing . This been used over the years for the tunnell ing in The Rock ,
was followed by being introduced to the QC of A along with specimens of the wild life that has been on
Company Maj J M Harcus who himself had only a few The Rock through the ages . The afternoon was spent
days earlier arrived on The Rock to take command of the on the 30 m range firing the SMG , GPMG, Browning
Company. He explained how our programme had been pistol and the SLR , this being the first time some of the
prepared to incorporate military training, sport and cadets had fired these weapons .
places of interest in and around The Rock. To complete
the morning we went to Fortress HQ, to see a scaled Wednesday and Thursday were spent out on
model of The Rock where we had a class room tour of Windmill Flats with Cpl Stockwell doing field craft and
the areas we would be visiting or working in . lt was weapon training , then tests were prepared for
pointed out that The Rock was 3 Y, miles long , from the observation , stalking and patrolling. Ambushes were set
Border Check point (North) to Europa point to the up around the buildings . During the stalking and
South . In the afternoon we visited some of the areas ambushing it rained all morning until we got back to
pointed out on the model which included the monkey South Barracks for lunch. All the cadets were soaked
colony. lt is said that if they were to leave The Rock so through to the skin, including the soldiers who were
would the British . In 1942, the colony seemed to be fantastic throughout. I am sure our QC Capt Smalley
dwindling so Sir Winston Churchill appointed a keeper and CSgt Stevens will be incorporating some of this
of the monkies. training in our future training programmes for weekend
camps etc. The evenings were again occupied with
Sunday morning was Church Parade at King 's Chapel videos to do with military training and weapons .
which was also attended by the Governor and his wife .
After the service we were invited into the vestry for Friday morning was spent visiting the RAF base.
coffee; some of the cadets met the Governor and Lt Col Whilst in the radar room a plane was being brought in
Ball the Commanding Officer of 1 QUEENS . After lunch by radar because of the very bad inclement weather. At
we explored the Upper St Michael 's caves, Morrish our earlier briefing of the layout of the station we were
Tower and Farringtons OP all of which are steeped in told that the runway had been extended to 6000 ft , from
history. Whilst in the galleries a plaque caught my eye the rubb le of the tunnelling , to accommodate the
which read " AT THE END OF THE GREAT SIEGE IN modern traffic , but a 747 wou ld need a longer runway.
FEBRUARY 1793" . Later we went fishing near Europa The cost to extend it further would be in the region of
Point which was most relaxing although unsuccessful £1m per ft . We also handled the fire equipment used at
seeing that nobody caught a thing; however most of the the airport and saw a demo from the bomb disposal
cadets enjoyed trying to keep dry as the waves came team from the RAF . The afternoon was spent with 2Lt
over the sea wall. After this it was back to barracks, a Bolton on a tour around the Officers' Mess.
quick change then into a late dinner .
Mr Bolton was most interesting over the description
Monday morning started with the CSM and muster of the pictures hung on the stair walls and in the anti-
parade followed by a barrack room inspection . At 0900 room . Also with his knowledge of the silver on display
hrs a demonstration was organised by A Company of and of the silver in the silver room . He also spoke with
the latest formation of a section, the kit carried and pride about the history of the 'THREE' colours. This was
what each soldier's role was in that section . The section followed by a visit to the Sergeants' Mess. A challenge
had increased its fire power by having two gun groups . was thrown out by the cadets to the living in soldiers for
After NAAFI break we regrouped and were given a an indoor games challenge match for the evening in the
complete weapon familiarization of all weapons used by NAAFI then followed by a sing song which turned out
an Infantry battalion . After lunch we all went up to to be a most enjoyable evening. But sorry lads, keep
Lathbury Barracks to watch B Company rehearsing for practising . Maybe a return match when you get to
the Convent Changing of the Guard . We then went Tidworth?
onto the training area called Windmill Flats where
Support Company had prepared a display of weapons Saturday the 22nd was spent split up into two
along with blank firing of the weapons and the roles of groups . One group went to the lower St Michael 's caves
the Recce, Mortar and Milan Platoons. The training whilst the remainder went abseilling and rock climbing .
ended at 2030 hrs after watching a training video. After lunch the groups changed over except for our
CSgt Stevens and Cadets Gibbard , Wild and myself
On Tuesday the 18th we went into town to see who all went into The Rock Race . I am pleased to say
changing of the Covent Guard outside the Governor's we all completed the race but only Colour and I were
residence. This is a major spectacle and tourist within the 30 minutes time limit.
attraction for Gibraltar and many of the spectators had
been bused in from Spain by the tour operators . The Sunday morning was Church. In the afternoon we
general view of the cadets was that it was probably the went up to 0' Hara's Gun Battery on the South side of
smartest bit of drill and turnout they had seen for a long The Rock which is also the highest point from where
you could see well into Spain and as far as Tunisia in

Africa. Again we were with Mr Bolton who was most 77
impressive with his knowledge of the gun battery and of
the many questions being asked . Sunday was the then paraded at Lathbury Barracks for presentation by
hottest day so many photographs from this point were Lt Col Ball of certificates of achievements and g1fts to
taken . the winners the .22 shooting , observation and stalking
tests followed by a presentation of a ACF plaque by
Monday morning was left for buying presents and any Capt Smalley to Lt Col Ball which was suitably engraved
last minute shopping. After lunch all kit was handed in to mark the units most enjoyable visit to 1 QUEENS . I
and the barrack rooms inspected and handed over . We would like to thank, on behalf of all the cadets who
went , the Officers, Sergeants, NCOs and other ranks
who gave up their time to make our visit so successful.

FEVER IN GIBRALTAR

by Capt P T Crowley

Shortly after arriving in Gibraltar, I started looking for stage seven soldiers, three soldiers' wives and thirty-
any signs or landmarks of our forbear regiments . My nine inhabitants had died . A writer in the Gibraltar
biggest surprise was to find the graves of four officers of Chronicle stated a few days later " We have every reason
the Queen 's Royal Regiment alongside the headstones to hope that the first favourable change in the weather
of Naval officers who had died of wounds at the Battle will put an end to the sickness" . Meanwhile, the doctors
of Trafalgar buried within the Trafalgar Cemetery. The were afraid that the burning of the victims' bedding
names of Ensign Henry Coldstream, Patrick Fallen , might spread the disease and failed to appreciate that
Charles Culloden and Lt Hugh Clough could be clearly the washing-down of premises left puddles suitable for
seen along with their dates of death all in the month of the infected mosquitos to breed . At the same time, the
October 1804. The cause of death was also marked - health committee was recommending to the
'Malignant Fever'. My curiosity was aroused, especially Commander-in -Chief that " A party of Military" be
when I later discovered that 7 officers and 91 other ranks employed to kill stray dogs and were complaining that
from the Queen 's Royal Regiment had died in the four the Jewish com munity were not dealing with their dead
months between September and December 1804. quickly enough. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians con-
tinued to die and the local newspaper, the " Gibraltar
The Queen 's Royal Regiment arrived in Gibraltar, Chronicle" , ceased publication for six months.
after the Egyptian Campaign , in March 1802 and were
reported to be in 'Good Order' by His Royal Highness The fever ended in December 1804 when the cold
The Duke of Kent (Queen Victoria 's father) when he weather destroyed the mosquitos . Total dead were
inspected the unit in February 1803. The Battalion was recorded as :-
enjoying a quiet successful tour when the malignant
fever struck in the Spring of 1804. 54 Officers
864 Soldiers
In August the fever (which is now believed to have 164 Soldiers ' wives and chi ldren
been Yellow Fever) broke out in Malaga and it was 4864 Local inhabitants
reported in Gibraltar that hundreds of people were dying
each day. Consequently , the Commander-in-Chief , 5946 TOTAL
General Sir Thomas Trigge cut all communications with
Spain by land and sea. The land order read , "No On the 1st January 1805 the Garrison Chaplain of the
person , therefore, is to pass the Barriers, excepting King's Chapel made a list of all the military and principal
Kings workmen , or people with carts, mules or borricos, inhabitants carried off by the epidemic fever . Included in
loaded or going for stores , sand or water , nor are these the list are our forbear Queensmen one of whom is
to go to the northward of the road leading to the Devils Ensign John Wynne Griffiths who was commissioned
Tower, except to unload rubbish." A few weeks later all on February 14th 1804 and died of the fever on October
vessels between Oran and Alicante were refused access 22nd 1804.
to Gibraltar. Unfortunately, these measures made no
difference to the spread of the fever , which no one The Padre finishes his list by saying " The reader will
see what dreadful havoc has been made in this small
really understood . place, but of the misery that accompanied this scene of
desolation, no one without being an actual witness can
The Commander-in-Chief himself wrote on 19th form an idea ".
September that according to his medical officers " The
sickness is neither contagious or malignant". By that

78

THE BATTALION POSTMAN

The following poem about the afternoon of Saturday
9th September 1916 at High Wood on the Somme was
written by Mr WE Grover MM who served in the Royal
Sussex Regiment and later the Kent Yeomanry:

No bugle sounds " the mail is up ", not on the Somme Who once did march to the skirl of the pipes
And jumped to the order " get fell in ".
in a front line trench.
To reach the wire it was a wonder
The news is passed by word of mouth with strict To capture " wood lane trench " was a miracle
injunctions not to shout
and took it a bit longer
For "Jerry " is not far away with mortar and stick But now the forms are a different colour
grenades with which to play " Field Grey" in deaths grotesque posture lay
Perhaps their mail like ours was torn asunder
The mail I'm detailed to collect with thoughts of But now at journeys end they cease to wonder
Mums, rock buns, and cigarettes, The 24 hours is up, and our relief is in
We scramble past, through the mud and muck
Along the trench I wind my way with head well down And wish them all " The best of luck ".
below the parapet.
Back in a wood I know not where
A mighty whoosh my ears assail around the bay, I'm so tired I do not care
A ranging gun had found its mark That mug of tea, that tot of rum
Its shell the trench had torn apart Off boots off puttees then slumber comes
The silent forms; the postman, amidst the scattered " Perchance to dream " but no,
" Adversity" strange bed fellows bring.
mail
and debris; had made his last delivery All too soon reveille sounds, then cook house
If he could speak the quip he'd make And wonder of wonders two rissoles per man
Sorry pals about your letters, fags and cake. The roll call, the names are called and silence reigns,
The depleted ranks will soon be f1Hed
Empty handed by " God's Good Grace" The carnage starts all over again.
My steps along the trench retrace
That little buff card to home addressed At home the evening hymn; "Oh for a thousand
Which tells a lie and be believed tongues to sing",
That all is well, parcel received,
Remains in my pocket for the next collection The tongues are silent, there is no song
Perhaps will never reach its destination. For they, now, to their maker have gone
For that was the price our Battalion paid
For very soon the whistle blows and its At the battle of the Somme.
The best of luck " over you go "
With extra equipment we're weighed down
And stagger across the battle ground
Now littered with the dead of khaki and kilted men

LIFE AS QC 35 CADET
TRAINING TEAM

by W01(RSM) J P Hamill

On leaving 6/7 QUEENS (V) after two and a half years the best with Cadets", leaving the Army and a some-
of weekends and evenings, the thought of eighteen what confused and shaken W01 , now OC 35 CTT.
months with Cadets at weekends , evenings and Bank
Holidays, did not, in any way, inspire me!! For those readers who have never come across a
CTT, the task of the team is to support and advise
I left Horsham on Monday 15 April 1985 for the Royal South East Army Cadet Force (ACF) units (30 in total) in
Artillery Depot, Woolwich , and the offices of 35 Cadet all aspects of the ACF Army Proficiency Certificate
Training Team (CTT). On arrival I was met at the (APC) and the same to CCF units at seven schools in the
Guardroom by a Royal Artillery recruit who asked for my London area. The team comprises one W01, a Long
car pass and asked how long I was staying! The then Service W02 as 21C (the present incumbent is an Irish
OC, W01(RSM) Hope RRF, met me at the Sergeants' Guardsman) , a Sergeant in the Gunners and a Sergeant
Mess and showed me to my bunk, my home for the next in the Grenadier Guards. All members of the Team must
year or so. have a range qualification as you run ranges for the
ACF / CCF . Also , members of the Team must have some
The next two weeks were spent rushing round, adventure training qualification as this type of training is
during the afternoons to CCF Detachments at schools carried out quite a lot by both the CCF and ACF.
and in the evenings to ACF units. Breathlessly at the
end of the fortnight Mr Hope shook hands and said "All The majority of the ACF units which 35 CTT look after

79

are Royal Artillery badged with a couple of Royal going to win the competition the smallest and scruffiest
Signals units, a London Scottish unit and unfortunately cadet said " we will " and sure enough at the end of the
only one QUEENS Badged unit at the TA Centre in Old
Jamaica Road , Bermondsey. two weeks they had won!

This unit is well supported by both the Cadets and enThe CCF Camp is normally followed by the Sector
parents, as indeed all are. They laid on a Parents' Day at ACF Camp at which 35 run a Four Star Senior
the Sector HO on Blackheath with good support from
the Regiment's RIT. The whole day was excellent, Cadet Instructor Cadre ISCIC) . The Cadets are taught
culminating with a Gymnastic Display which was done
to music and was very good . When you consider that Methods of Instruction , then tasked to teach . The
only six hours spread over six weeks were available to 35
standard achieved at some of these TPs is equal to some
en to train them, it was no mean feat by the Cadets.
I have seen in battalions by JNCOs . An Adult
The ACF Units are split into three regiments.
7 Regiment has an affiliation to the Old London Instructors' Cadre is also run in preparation for adults to
Yeomanry Regiment . 9 Regiment is affiliated to the
Royal Regiment of Artillery (London) and 10 proudly attend a course at Frimley, the Cadet Training Centre .
boasts a connection to Kent and has indeed a Kent
The Adult Instru ctors in the ACF have my praise as the
banner .
majority of them give up their spare time to help run
Of the seven schools supported by the team, two are
QUEENS badged , Reigate Grammar (some of the unit Cadet units, sometimes in dreadful places , little huts
visited the 3rd Battalion last year in Fallingbostel and still
talk of the very interesting visit) and Wilson 's School in stuck in dimly lit lanes sometimes, with little or no
Wallington , Croydon who were recently visited by the
heating .
RIT.
The Cadet is a crazy creature . The more dirty, hard or
Of the remainder of the school detachments, two are
Fusilier badged: one , St Dunstan's in Catford, of which demanding the task , the more he (or she) enjoys it. I
2Lt Jones who is now in the 2nd Battalion is an Old Boy. have been on Old Dean Common in February, on a
The other school has only an RAF section, Emanuel 's in
Wandsworth . Two are Parachute Regiment badged: weekend with snow falling , and at 0600 hrs the Cadets
Christ College in North Finchley will , I am sure , be are up, serious as ever , ready for a dawn attack.
remembered by Capt (OM) T Fisher as he was a member
of the CCF when at school there back in 19.... ? The Team has three vehicles and has done a total of
roughly 100,000 miles, the majority in the Capital
Each year the Team assists at a CCF Camp in dodging taxis and motor cycles . Hours worked in the
Sennybridge running a March and Shoot competition
on the Sennybridge Training Area . The sheer guts and evenings and at weekends we have lost count of . If any
determination shown by all the Cadets is heartening to readers have a chance to go to a CTT, then take it . The
see. lt is amusing to remember last year that when one
unit, the smallest one at camp, was asked who was sheer enthusiasm, keenness and dedication of the

cadets makes it well worth while . lt is perhaps the best
job I have done in 25 years Army Service.

My first weekend with Cadets put things into per-
spective for me as a Warrant Officer Class 1 IRSM). I
was confronted by a small scruffy individual who was
only about 4ft high , who tugged at my sleeve and said
" Ere Mister where do I go for my uniform?" lt certain ly
brought me down to earth. As I finish my Regular

service, I shall always remember that.

The Cadets are our future citizens so well worth the
effort we as an Army put into them .

ON RETURNING TO SANITY

by Maj R A Jennings

Having finally left Oman after four hard but fruitful to those who have not yet attended - a truly family
years it was possible for me, for the first time , to attend affair.
in 1985 the now traditional Warrant Officers ' and
Sergeants' Past and Present Dinner . lt is difficult to Of course I met Colonel John Holman and received an
describe how enjoyable an event this was , well worth invitation to visit Exercise Purple Victory in November .
the 400 mile round trip from Richmond. To be able to This was an exercise at Otterburn for 5 Airborne
meet a batch of Warrant Officers who had been Brigade to practise a new Catchphrase Operation " Out
Warrant Officers when I joined the 1st Bn Queen 's Of Area ." Colonel John, in his capacity in the joint
Royal Regiment in 1951 was a memorable experience. I Planning Group, was responsible for the planning of the
refer of course to Tommy Atkins, Sid Waldron, George exercise.
Deacon and Bill Elkins .
On 6 November I duly reported to Otterburn on a brisk
At the other end of the scale were those I knew as northern morning appropriately clad in Retired Officers
promising NCOs who are now at the peak of their career uniform, the mandatory Duffle coat and flat cap . Having
as Regimental Sergeant Majors; to be able to catch up been briefed by Colonel John and offered a cup of tea ,
on 4 years of news and scandal was almost impossible wh1ch never came, we were moved downwards to the
and by 0330 hrs the voice had failed. Well done the J1 / J4/ J5 part of Joint Force HO. This to me was the
organiser and I can only strongly recommend the event interesting part and of course the vital portion of any
exercise . To my delight Colonel Mike Constantine was



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