June 1992

COMPANY NAMES - 1st Battalion: HQ , A, B, C and of all messes. One complete pack of silver and pictures
y (Fire Support). (In honour of Gallopoli) 2nd is to be retained in case we ever have to raise a third
Battalion : HQ, A, B, C and Z (Fire Support) . (In honour battalion . Surplu ses can be passed to the TA
of Gallopoli) 5th Battalion: HQ (Aibuhera), A (Anzio) , battalions, WOs & Sgts' Messes and, on loan, to the
B (Kohima) , C (Cinque Ports) , 6thnth Battalion : HQ original Trustees.
(Alamein) , A (Salerno) , B (Somme) , C (Duke of RECRUITING AREA AND COUNTY CONNECTIONS
Connaught's Own) . London Re~iment: B (Queen 's)
Company - nicknamed 'Diehards . The recruiting area of the new Regiment will be
Surrey, Kent , Sussex, Hampshire, Middlesex and
THE COLOURS/COLOUR BELTS/BATTLE Greater London . The Colonel of the Regiment has
HONOURS/DRUMS written to all Lord Lieutenants, High Sheriffs, Lord
Mayors and Mayors pointing out that the Princess of
A sub committee, consisting of both Regimental Wales's Royal Regiment will be their County infantry
Secretaries, is to make recommendations . In this regiment , with all that implies.
respect , it is hoped that the badges of all of our forbear
Regiments will be perpetuated , either on the Colours , REGIMENTAL DINNER
or on the Drums , or in the form of Pennants/Guidons to
be held in Battalion s, or by a combination of all three The final Regimental Dinner will be on Friday 20
methods . November. Further details will be sent to all Members
THE MEDENINE ANTI-TANK GUN nearer to the date .

This famous gun , presently at Bassingbourn , will be VISITORS TO RHO
moved to Canterbury. The following have signed the RHO Visitor's Book
since the last edition of the Journal:
THE DOVER MUSEUM Maj Derek Adkins , Capt Bill Munday, Maj Mike
Will continue and be the museum of the new Aylward , Lt Jason Mason , 2Lt Col in Gray, the Colonel
of the Regiment and Mrs Mike Reynolds , Lt Col and
Regiment . Mrs Don Shearman (2/17 RNSWR ). Maj and Mrs
QUEEN'S REGIMENT ASSOCIATION AND Alastair Goulden , Maj Clive Newell , Col Paddy Panton,
OFFICERS' CLUB & JOURNAL Maj Richard Powell, Mr Antony Askew, Cllr Paul Scott
(Major of Crowborough} , Mr David Harris (Clerk to
A letter about the future will come out with the next Crowborough Town Council} , Maj and Mrs Peter Hill ,
Journal in June. The last Queen 's Journal will be Maj John Russell , Lt Tony Farrow, Capt Mike Scott, Mr
published in the late autumn and the first Journal of the Martin O'Neill MP , Ms Helen Brinton , Mr Fred
new Regiment in June 1993. White more, Mr Gwyn Prosser, Lt Col David MacDonald
Milner, Col Blick Waring , Col Jim Ogilvie, Maj Hugh
FINAL PARADES/REUNIONS (QUEEN'S Tennent, Maj and Mrs Vie Ebbens, Lt Col !an Baillie,
REGIMENT) Maj Nigel Russell , W01 (B/M) J R Young , Col Mike
Ball , Maj Dick Whithouse, Col Nigel Robinson , Col
The 1st and 3rd Battalions held final parades in May Richard Graham , Maj Patrick Vyvyan-Robinson , Capt
and June respectively. The 2nd Battalion had a and Mrs Anthony Bolton , Mr David Hinds, Maj Michael
Reunion for all ex members on 10 May. The TA Archer, 2Lt Justin Bradburn , 2Lt Simon Jagger, 2Lt
Battalions have yet to announce their intentions . The Andrew Smith , Maj John Reed , Mr John Boston .
last 'Grand Reunion ' will be on 5 July. The last 'Past
and Present' WOs & Sgts Dinner will be on 10 October
and the last Officers' Club Dinner will be on 20th
November. Further details will be sent to those
affected.

SILVER/CHATTELS

A sub committee has been set up under the
Chairmanship of Col Mike Ball. He will eo-opt members

49

OFFICERS' CLUB

RESULTS OF SURVEY

Regimental Headquarters is most grateful to the 439
Members who comp leted and returned th e forms giving
their recommendations on the future of the Office rs'
Club after amalgamation. Many 'interesting' views and
ideas were expressed, all of which have been noted .
The breakdown of the voting was as follows :

Incorporate the Officers' Club into the 302
new PWRR Officers' Club 126
Continue the QUEENS Officers' Club
as a separate association 11
Neither recommendation

439

The Colonel of the Regiment has written to all
members on this subject.

Maj Gen Rowley Mans and Lt Col Sandy Alexander our
Honorary Regimental Solicitor. (Picture by Ben May.)

REGIMENTAL COCKTAIL PARTY

The last QUEENS Regimental Cocktail Party was
held on Friday 24 April in Haberdashers' Hall, by kind
permission of the Master. A total of 275 Members and
the ir guests attended .

OFFICER REDUNDANCIES

The following officers in the Regiment have been
selected for Phase I redundancy:

Col R H Graham MBE
Lt Cols R M McGhie OBE ,

A W Barratt,
P P Critchley,
Lt Col (SL) B A Carlston MBE
Majs R A Barlett,
N P Harris,
I R Jones,
PR P Howe,
N C G Cann ,
M B Montgomery MBE ,
MP Lawson ,
J R Partridge

LATE ENTRY OFFICERS

A view of the Regimental Cocktail Party held in the Majs T S Fisher,
Haberdashers' Hall on Friday 24 April. (Picture by Ben V D Ebben s MBE ,
May.) M J Ayklward MBE

50 Capt P J Anthony QGM

FORTHCOMING MARRIAGES

Capt 5 M Burke and Miss J C Kinsella

The engagement is announced between Capt Sean
Burke, The Queen 's Regiment, eldest son of Mr and
Mrs J P Burke of Astley, Lancashire , and Judith Clare ,
only daughter of Mr and Mrs F Kinsella of Leigh,
Lancas hire.

Capt A W Nelson and Miss V Mornby

The engagement is announced between Capt
Alastair Nelson, The Queen 's Regim ent, son of Mr and
Mrs William Nelson of Mount Nugent, County Cavan
and Victoria, eldest daughter of Lt Col and Mrs R N D
Mornby of Wedhampton , Wiltshire.

REGIMENTAL WEDDING PRESENTS

Letters of thanks to our Members of the Officers' The wedding of Capt Gordon Fotheringham to Miss
Club fo r the gifts of a Regimental weddi ng present Michelle Toll at Frederiksberg Church , Copenhagen , on
have been received from Capt and Mrs J E Tombling, 18 April1992 . Capt Anthony Bolton was Best Man and the
Capt and Mrs SS J Elliott, Lt and Mrs J J Mason, and Guard of Honour consisted of Capt Jonathan Wright, Capt
Mike Scott, Capt Shane Elliott, Capt Digby Williams, Lt
Lt and Mrs L M Scott. Daniel Bown and Capt J Barnard AAC .

MARRIAGES

We congratulate the following on their marriages: Griffin , Pte RD to Miss Louise Margaret Altcheson
07 .12.91
Bates, Pte SP to Miss Marie Convey 12.04.91
20 .07.91 Saunders, Pte T to Miss Angela Christina Foster
Smith , Pte JW to Miss Abbie Goldsmith 07.12.91
27. 07 .91
Hughes, Pte JJ to Miss Tiffany Frances Wilkinson , Pte KD to Miss Lynn Helen Bromley

Walker, Cpl DJ to Mi ss Susan Kay Goddard 03 .08.91 07 . 12 .91
Stringer, LCpl NE to Miss Sharon Margaret Wailer
Wilson , Pte JH to Miss Myra Prado-Marin 07. 12.91
07 .09 .91 Thwaites , Pte PA To Miss Phillipa Michaela Cubley

Bartlett, LCpl PD to Miss Sheena Lowrie Hayden 14.12 .91
12.10.91
Cunningham , Pte A to Miss Rena Georghiadhou
Bradley, Cpl LH to M1ss Son1a An ne Elsey 12.10.91 28.12 .91
Philllps, CSgt JM to M1ss Karen McDonald 31 .10.91
Ada1r, Pte M to M1 ss Deborah Nancy V1ne 02. 11 .91 Summers, LCpl NA to Miss Svenja Ulrike Palmke
Charles, Pte DR to M1ss Suzanne McManus 02 . 11 .91 30 .12.91
Anderson , Cpl AAJ to Miss Dimicroula Paschali
Bird , Pte AR to Miss Fay Simmons 11 .0 1.92
08 .11.91
Dixon , LCpl PE to Miss Jennifer Mitchell 21 .01 .92
Miller-Hudson, Pte J to Miss Sarah Ann Haywood
David , Pie IC to Mi ss Sarah Jane Aldred 19.11 .91 14.02 .92
23. 11 .91
Pepper, Pte APJ to Miss Chloe Bai ley Godden, Pte VS to Miss Joanne Streeting 07 .03.92
Corkett, Pte IJ to Miss Nicola Louise Cobby 30.11.9 1
Gilder, Pte R to Miss Tracey Louise Holton 06.12.91

51

DEATHS

THOMPSON. On 14 Oct 91 , Maj I P Thompson MC , MOSS. On 24 Feb 92, Maj R E Moss. late RWK.
late QUEENS .
RUSSELL. On 12 Mar 92 , Diana, wife of Lt ColD E
SHERWOOD. On 6 Nov 91 , Cpl C Sherwood 2 C Russell.
QUEENS .
THOMAS . On 30 Mar 92, Cpl A E Thomas, 3
GARDNER-THORPE. On 11 Dec 91 , Col and QUEENS .
Alderman Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe GBE , TO, DCL,
OH , CO 5 BUFFS 1956-60 and Lord Mayor of London WILLIAMS. On 29 Mar 92, Col H P Williams OBE,
1980-81 . late BUFFS and KAR.

BUTTER FIELD. On 29 Dec 91 , Col R G Butterfield , BROWNE. On 5 Apr 92, Maj W R H Browne GM , late
Surrey ACF . BUFFS.

GRIFFIN. On 1 Feb 92, Pie S G J Griffin , 3 PIELOU. On 7 Apr 92, Capt Patrick Peilou , late MX.
QUEENS .

OBITUARIES

COL & ALDERMAN
SIR RONALD GARDNER-THORPE

GBE, TO, DCL, OH, JP

'Whatever he did he did well'

So widespread were his activities civic , charitable ,
and social that I intend to cover only the military
aspects of the life of Col Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe, in
particular his time with the Buffs. Born in 1917, Ronald
obtained a direct commission in 1938 into the Hants
Heavy Regiment TA. When World War 11 erupted he
was mobilised and in 1940 went to the Orkney Isles,
thence to Iceland where he stayed until 1942. From
1943 to 1944 Ronald served on the British Military Staff
in Ottawa and Washington . In 1945 he moved to Italy
where he was AA&QMG of 56 London Division ; GSO I
in HQ XIII Corps; and GSO I in GHQ CMF.

On returning to the UK Rsmald took up further
appointments in Royal Artillery units of the Territorial

Army . In 1955 he was the 21C of 410 Coast Regiment
in Kent.

To see how Ronald Gardner-Thorpe came into the
orbit of the Buffs it may be helpful to retrace steps for a
moment so far as the 4th and 5th Battalions TA of the
Buffs are concerned . lt will be remembered that the 4th
Buffs went into abeyance in 1944 following the battle
for Leros. 5th Buffs continued to battle on in Italy,
whereupon 5th Buffs moved to Austria . Sadly, in
August 1946, whilst stationed there , it too , was

disbanded. For six months thereafter there was no
Territorial battalion of the Buffs. In March 1947 the 4th

Battalion was reformed in Canterbury and in 1952 it

was renamed 4th/5th Battalion the Buffs TA. In 1955
the Battalion was reinforced heavily following the
rundown of Anti-Aircraft Command .

The disbandment of Coastal Command Royal Col Ronald Gardner-Thorpe with King Frederik IX of
Artillery soon followed . Former officers and men , Denmark, 1960.
including Maj R. L. Gardner-Thorpe, 21C 410 Coast
Regiment, were given the option of joining the 4th/5th

Battalion Buffs TA. Then followed a bold move. A
decision was taken to split 4th/5th Buffs into two

52

battalions. In consequence, on 1 November 1956, 5th The Buffs always remained close to Ronald's heart
Battalion the Buffs TA came into being once again , with and when in 1980 he became the 653rd Lord Mayor of
Headquarters at Broadstairs . Lt Col Rodney Hews London, very thoughtfully he asked the Revd Waiter
assumed command with Maj R. L. Gardner-Thorpe as Evans, Padre to the 1st Battalion th e Buffs for ten
his 21C. Through the winter of 1956/1957 a great deal years, to be his Chaplain and Lt Col U H B Alexander,
of shaking out took place. As a result it was a slim but former Commanding Officer of 4th Battalion the Buffs,
enthusiastic battalion which went to Castlemartin early to be deputy chairman of the Lord Major and Sheriff's
in May 1957 for its first post war annual camp. Soon Committee. Two former Buffs stalwarts, RSM F. J.
after camp , Rodney Hews handed over command to Green and Sgt H Joy he had already installed as his
Ronald Gardner-Thorpe . lt was at this point that Beadles in Bi shopsgate Ward . Another warm gesture
Ronald brought into play his remarkable talent for came during his time in office when Sir Ronald and
public relations and his enthusiasm for recruitment . He Lady Gardner-Thorpe gave a sumptuous dinner party
devised competitions, awarded prizes and, in general , at the Mansion House to which they invited Territorial
created the necessary stimulus which ensured and Regular officers who had served with the 5th
success. So much so , that by its third birthday on 1 Battalion during his period of command .
November 1959 the 5th Buffs were 500 strong . To
celebrate this splended achievement an All Ranks Ronald always remained available with help and
Dinner was held at the Winter Gardens , Margate . Their advice to the Regiment. He was a Trustee of the Buffs
Honorary Colonel , the Lord Cornwallis and Ronald Museum .
received the guests . Buglers of the Battalion's newly
formed Corps of Drums sounded the Mess Call . After In 1990 Ronald had a heart attack which forced him
dinner Ronald read out congratulatory telegrams from to curtail many of his activities. He was looked after by
Her Majesty the Queen, the Colonel in Chief King his wife Hazel with endless devotion until he died on 11
Frederick IX, Sir Winston Churchill , and Mr Christopher December 1991 .
Soames, the War Minister. Afterwards , music was
played by the Battalion's Band . Ronald's Memorial Service at St. Lawrence Jewry-
next-Guildhall , City of London , on 5 March 1992, at
The Battalion held its second annual camp at which the Revd Waiter Evans assisted, was a fitting
Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Ronald decided we needed tribute. The large congregation consisting of Civic
to carry out a reconnaissance . I remember well toiling dignitaries , representatives of many charitable, social
up the foothill of Ben Vorlich , where we planned to hold and commercial undertakings together with friends
an exercise. lt was a beautiful spring day. After a time from the Buffs, had all gathered to pay their last
we sat looking at the blue haze on the distant hills, with respects and say their farewells to a great Londoner
the spring sunshine warming the back of our necks . and Buff. Ronald will be missed greatly by so very
Suddenly Ronald said 'Why do we spend our lives in many people and much sympathy goes to his wife
the hurly burly of London with its noise and madness'. Hazel and their son Christopher.
Then , after a pause, he added 'I suppose I would soon
tire of peace and quiet'. This was a privileged insight LPC
into Ronald's dynamic personality.

In June 1958 the 5th Battalion with its Colours and a
detachment formed part of the parade in Hyde Park
where Her Majesty the Queen held a Review to
celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Territorial Army . COL R G BUTTERFIELD
One of the highlights of Ronald 's time in the Buffs came
when in July 1960 King Frederick IX presented new The Cadet world has lost one of its most devoted
Colours to the 4th Battalion and to the 5th Battalion . stalwarts through the death on 29 December of Reg
Ronald was in overall command of the parade on St Buttertield . After wartime service with the Merchant
Lawrence Cricket Ground . After the parade the King Navy he joined Surrey ACF in 1945. He commanded
installed Ronald as a Commander of the Royal Order of the 5th Cadet Battalion with great distinction and then
The Dannebrog. became Deputy Commandant. When Brig ap Rhys
Pryce retired in 1976 after very many years in charge of
On Remembrance Sunday 7 August 1960 the two the Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps - a boys' club
sets of Old Colours of the 4th and 5th Battalions were with a strong military background and a proud member
laid up in Canterbury Cathedral. Lt Col Ronald of The Queen 's Regiment - Reg volunteered to take
Gardner-Thorpe took the Queen 's Colour and the over the leadership of the Corps and after a period as
Regimental Colour of the 5th Battalion from the Colour Commandant became its Honorary Colonel.
Bearers, moved to the Altar step , handed the Colours
to the Dean saying 'These consecrated Colours, Reg looked upon cadets as his family - he had
formerly carried by the Buffs in the service of their none of his own - for they were his life and he knew
Sovereign and of the Empire, I now deliver into your just how to treat young people. Although his business
hands for safe custody within these walls'. Ronald interests were demanding , hi s contribution to the ACF
handed on command in September 1960 to his 21C Maj and to the Corps was outstanding. He never refused a
F. D. C. Cobb, a Territorial officer formerly with the request for help . His enthusiasm , his generosity and
Royal Artillery . After relinquishing command Ronald his modesty have left their mark and have been an
was promoted full Colonel and gave many years example and an inspiration throughout all these years
service to the Kent Territorial Association . to countless youngsters.

53

more than a draft-finding source for twinned units in the
Empire, a system which at home had a pervasive
influence on every aspect of doctrine , organisation
equipment and training for modern war. In thi~
environment Robert had his basic military education
interspersed with highly successful raids onto the

tennis courts , where he represented the Army on six
occasions. He also displayed his prowess as a
Regimental hockey player.

In September 1939 he went to France with IRWK.
He was the MTO and was highly regarded and well
liked for his personal qualities. In the Mess he was
somewhat teased when his batchelor defences finally
crumbled and he went home on leave in Febru ary 1940
to marry Mary Miskin - unquestionably the best
decision of his life.

Col Reg Butterfield (centre) with Mrs Sarah Jones and Maj Armagedden arrived on 10 May. The culmination of
Brian Gould at Presentation of a Colour to the Frimley and nearly three weeks of fighting rear guard actions found
Camberley Cadet Corps. IRWK on 29 May withdrawing northwards from Fletre,
about twenty miles from Dunkirk. The road being
To his wife Ivy we extend our warm sympathy. She blocked by bombed vehicles , the soldiers were
was well supported at the funeral service which was organised into separate groups and threaded their
attended by five former Commandants of Surrey ACF, way, now on foot , through the congestion. As daylight
by officers and cadets in uniform from the Corps and by came, the group which included Robert was overtaken
a huge number of friends . by the enemy and was captured.

DAS In June 1940, as a new arrival at an OFLAG , I was
waiting my turn to have my hair removed . Segregated
MAJ RE MOSS from us at a distance was a collection of figures
dressed in scraps of assorted uniforms with shorn
pates and beards. My senses dulled by hunger, my
eyes eventually focussed on a slightly familiar figure ,
still with moustache and with a sandy beard. Ah ,
Robert...frantic waves erupted from these monk-like
creatures .

(1910- 1992) Five years on , we were reunited in 2RWK - he as a
company commander with myself as his second-in-
Robert came from a Service background on both command. We had mixed feelings about returning to
sides of his family : his father was in the RAMC,
finishing as DMS Murmansk. Robert, like myself, went Germany. On the one hand , we were decidedly
to Canford School, Dorset. In its beautiful environment, disenchanted at having to return there but, on the
Canford always held a special magic. Daily Service in other, we counted ourselves fortunate to 'run in our
its lovely old chapel planted strong seeds of new engines' with the Regiment rather than in an alien
Christianity. 'Nisi Dominus Frustra' was the motto environment. Occupation duties in Northeim were
(Without God , all is in vain) . The school promoted a mundane. For us it was simply a reversal of roles.
sense of Service rather than that of worldly Robert was his usual ch ivalrous and compassionate
advancement . self towards our former foes . In April 1946 I was sorry
to see him go home.
it was as if Robert from his early days had modelled
his life on Psalm 15. I suggest that he was strongly From 1946 to 1949 Robert was an enthusiastic
influenced by Christian principles. member of the School of Infantry Method of Instruction
Team which , he told me, stood him in good stead as
Leaving school in 1927, he spent the next six years , CO of the Depot later and when he returned to teaching
partaking as it were of an 'hors-d'oeuvre', acquiring a after retirement.
taste for his twin careers: schoolmastering and
soldiering . Mixing bouts of preparatory school teaching For his next three years he was 21C of 2KAR in
with forays into the Queen 's Royal Regiment, where he Nyasaland from 1949-1952 and I was unable to follow
served in the Supplementary Reserve , he gained a his fortunes. Following that he spent the next three
Regular Commission in the Queen's Own Royal West years as CO of the Regimental Depot, Maidstone.
Kent Regiment in February 1933. Word has it that he was full of good and innovative
ideas. As a company commander in Malaya, I found his
former National Service recruits surprisingly self-

For six years on after that he served with 2RWK at reliant.

Aldershot and Shorncliffe and at the Regimental Towards the end of this appointment, the next CO of
Depot, Maidstone, as Adjutant. During this period the 4RWK was 'in the wind'. Robert was a modest man
Army in Britain was becalmed by the archaic Cardwell with no ideas of self-aggrandisement. Like most
system: without effective field formations , it was little right-minded people, it would have been beneath him

54

to thrust himself forward . Essentially a Regimental
soldier, he was nevertheless sad not to have been

chosen .

Motivated more towards schoolmastering than ERE
appointments, he retired in 1955 after twe nty-two years
valuable service at the age of 45.

For the next twenty-eight years , Robert held three
appointments at preparatory schools: firstly, as
Headmaster at Catteral Hall , Yorks hire, for seven
years , the junior school to Giggleswick, whose Head
testified as to his success ; secondly, as geography
master from 1962 at Stone House , Broadstairs and
thirdly- after th at closed down in 1970- at West Downs,
Winchester. His teaching was highly organised and he
gained outstanding results in the Common Entrance
Exam ination which earned him the respect of both
boys and masters. He retired in 1983 at the age of 73
- a spruce , updated 'Mr Chips' with highly polished
shoes. On Robert's death , the Headmaster expressed
himself as very lucky to have had him on hi s Staff.

Finally, our hearts go out to Mary, Nigel and Jeremy
and we wish them well.

MGMA

MAJ W R H BROWNE GM

Reggie Browne , who died on 5 April1992 at the age
of 94, was born on 19th May 1897 at Myso re , India,
where his father ran a coffee plantation.

He distinguished himself by rising to the top of his Maj W R H Browne GM .
civilian occupation after facing early redundancy in the
Indian Army, and later, during his British Army wartime Folkestone and spent the next 21/2 years training
service , was awarded the George Medal for young soldiers and on airfield defence. In 1943 he was
conspicuous gallantry in rescuing British soldiers from attached to the RAF as a defence officer. In September
a German minefield . 1944 he went with 139 Wing to Belgium where he was
responsible for the defence of Mealsbroek airfield ,
Reggie's family settled in Ramsgate in 1899. Regg ie formerly Bru ssels airport. In April 1945 he moved to
was educated at St Lawrence College. After passing Achmer airfield in Germany. On 10 May 1945, two days
the Army Entrance Exam in 1915 he attended the after Germany capitulated , he was involved in the
Indian Army Cadet College at Quetta. He was rescue of Briti sh soldiers in a German minefield near
commissioned into the 127th Queen Mary's Own the Em s/Weser Canal and was awarded the George
Balu ch Light Infantry. He subsequently served with the Medal.
130th Baluchis in German East Africa where attempts
were being made to eliminate an elusive German Force In September 1944 he was demobilised with the
led by Gen Von Lettow-Vorbeck. Following a period as substantive rank of Major and rejoined The Canada
ADC to Lt Gen Edwards , he returned to India in 1918 to Life Assurance Company. In 1946 he was appointed
rejoin hi s regiment. Immediately after the Armistice in Agency Manager and in 1956 General Manager of the
November the Regiment embarked for Bandar Abbas British Isles Division . In 1962 he retired .
in Southern Persia where it spent 18 months often
under icy conditions at high altitudes protecting British Regg ie was a talented amateur painter and
Officers and NCOs who were training a Persian Levy to exhibited his work in 1953 and 1954. His painting of the
act as a buffer between post revolution Russia and opening of the Wembley Stadium in 1923, the Football
India. After spending two years on the North West Association Cup Final when Bolton Wanderers beat
Frontier, in 1922, on the contraction of the Indian Army, West Ham 2-0, is now in the possession of Wembley
Reggie was retired with the rank of Captain . Stadium .

After trying his hand at Art , he joined the Birmingham Reggi e was a keen golfer and for many years before
branch of The Canada Life Assurance Company in and after his retirement from business in 1962 was a
1923. By the outbreak of War, after a spell as Manager regular supporter of the Buffs Golfing Society.
of the Glasgow branch, he had become Assistant
Agency Manager at the Chief office in Lon don. He will be remembered with affection and respect by
his many business and army friends.
In 1938 he joined the Emergency Reserve of
officers. In June 1940 he was posted to the Buffs in OM

55

. . - -·. - ·-· -·- -- - - --

MAJ I. P. THOMSON MC thought was a tricky situation . He enjoyed a party and
was amusing company . He had a great knowledge and
lan Thompson died on 14 October 1991 . Born in a passion for horse racing and was an enthu siastic
1916 in India and educated at Radley and Sandhurst. player of all sports.

He was commissioned into The Queen 's Royal His wife Denise died in 1983. He and his old world
Regiment in 1936 and joined the 1st Battalion in India charm will be much missed . Our sincerest sympathy to
at Allahabad . In 1940 he moved with the Battalion to his son Martin .
the North West Frontier Province, where he was to take
part in a number of operations. On one occasion when MAL
one of his platoons received some casualties from the
tribesmen , he immediately led another platoon to the
top of the escarpment to engage the enemy and to
cover the withdrawal.

During 1942, Ian joined 1st/6th Queens in the 7th CAPT T G WATSON BEM
Armoured Division in North Africa . Just prior to the

breakout at the battle of Alamein , during extensive One of the longest serving members of the Regiment
close quarter exchanges of fire on the night of 25/26
October, a number of parties including CO Lt Col Denis retires on 5 June 1992. Tony Watson started his
Gibbs and Capt lan Thomson got separated and were military career in the Home Guard in Margate in 1942
taken prisoner. when he was 151/2 years old . He has remained
attached to the military in one way or another ever

Thomson was moved to Stalag 344 (Lamsdorf) in since. He was determined to join one of His Majesty's
Germany. Shortly after arrival he exchanged identities Services before the war ended and the only one that
with a private soldier which enabled him to join working would take him was the Army . His third choice! He
parties outside the camp; from one of these he joined for seven years colour service, with a further five
escaped over the wire. Whilst on his way to France a years on reserve . The first posting was to a Young
document check resulted in him being recaptured and Soldiers Battalion (now Junior Leaders Battalion) .

returned to Lamsdorf and put in solitary confinement. Tony was soon posted to The Buffs Depot at
With the aid of a file smuggled to him, he cut through Canterbury as a LCpl Instructor training Danish
the bars of his cell and got himself 'lost' amongst the personnel who were enlisted due to the close
other prisoners . connection between the Regiment and their country.

He took part in digging two tunnels for a mass His skills as an instructor were quickly recognised and
escape , which were discovered. Following a further he was posted to Shorncliffe to train National
failed attempt to escape, he finally broke out in May Servicemen . In his spare time he worked on his
1944. Wearing a beret and posing as a French neglected education , eventually achieving his First
workman he travelled by train and crossed into France Class Certificate, so that nothing would stand in the
on foot. way of his eventual promotion. Shortly afterwards he

He joined the Maquis and helped in the training of joined the battalion in Hong Kong with the responsibility
the French resistance . lan became very popular with of training the 'odd' members of HO Company. He was
the Union des Amicales , the group with which he then promoted Sergeant and posted to the Hong Kong
fought: he regularly corresponded with them and Chinese Training Unit at Lyeming . The next 23/4 years
attended their reunions. He was awarded the Military were spent training Chinese troops for which he had to
Cross in 1944. learn Cantonese in very quick order. His last post in
Hong Kong was as Orderly Room Sergeant

After the liberation of France , lan was employed in responsible for the pay of the small British staff. He

the War Office and posted to Palestine in 1946 towards finally left the colony in the summer of 1951.
the end of the British mandate, when terrorist activities
were rife . He was Mentioned in Despatches. During Back in the UK, Tony found himself at the Depot in
1947-1948 he was on the staff with HQ Far East Land Canterbury again where , after a short time in the
Forces in Singapore. This was followed by the Staff holding company, he became secretarial helper to the
College Camberley and BAOR then back to Malaya President of the Regimental Institute . His period of
with the 1st Battalion ; the communist terrorists Colour Service was now rapidly coming to an end , and
insurgency was then at its peak. about to marry a girl from Eastbourne, he applied for,
and was offered, the job as SSI at Eastbourne College .
Later in the 1950s he was posted to West Africa; as He intended the job to be a temporary one when he
lan charmingly said at the time 'I'm going to be C-in-C started in January 1952. Now, forty years later, he is
the Gambia', it was a major's appointment. After wondering the true meaning of that word!
another appointment in the War Office and BAOR he
left the Regular Army and served with the TAVR in His great skills as an instructor were given a free
Liverpool. rein , as all the boys at the College had to be in the
contingent for four years . He found that he had the
lan was a very courageous and resourceful man with ability to write interesting and worthwhile training
a fine military bearing . His warm and charitable programmes . In those times , when everyone leaving
personality made him instantly likeable. His junior school had to do National Service , the training had a
officers and soldiers were reassured by h1s qu1et la1d greater relevance than it seems to do today and there
back manner when they were confronted by what they were a number of officers with Regular experience .

56

Today there are very few officers with any expenence during the latter stages of the Londonderry tour. Aga1n
at all outside the CCF and an enormous amount he joined C Company. He stayed with them when they
depends on the SSI. Through all those years the moved to Oakington accompanying them to the
Eastbourne College CCF has relied on the care and Falklands and Canada . During the latter stages of the
skills that Tony has brought to it which were recognised Oakington tour he attended a Stalwart drivers' course.
by the award of the BEM in 1980, just before he took a it was this that changed his Army career as, soon after
completing and passing the course , he was posted to
comm1ss1on . the M T Platoon . The battalion were now stationed in
Minden, Germany.
1 would like to finish by quoting him : 'Time has now
run out and younger blood is needed . I have enjoyed it was in the MT Platoon that Bob made his name .
my time at the College, despite having to deal with the He had an infectious enthusiasm when working with
moans and groans of reluctant cadets and officers at vehicles and this made him stand out amongst the
times. There is very much to be thankful for. I have others. His hard work was rewarded in 1988 with
enjoyed the many camps and courses which have promotion to LCpl and , after gaining excellent grades
come my way in many places of this globe of ours. I on the MT courses he attended, he was promoted to
wish the CCF much luck in the future .' We all would like Cpl in 1989.
to wish Tony and his wife Eileen a long and happy
retirement and hope that he will be able to find the time Whilst serving in Germany he went with the Battalion
to visit us so that he can see that there really is life after on their tour in Belfast in 1988 and on the training
exercises to Canada. For the last year in Germany he
Watson! AMD ran the MT Account and was one of the last to leave
after a very successful handover to 1 QUEENS . Whilst
CPL 'BOB' SHERWOOD in Canterbury he qualified as an HGV Driving Instructor
2 QUEENS but sadly his expertise could not be put to use before
he died.
Cpl Clive Sherwood or 'Bob' as he preferred to be
ca lled, enlisted in the Army at Hastings in April 1977 it was not all work with Bob though . He had a
and after recru it training joined the 2nd Battalion The practical sense of humour and, although not always
Queen's Regiment in Gibraltar and was posted to C proven , it was invariably he who took the blame when
Company. He stayed with the Battalion throughout things were amiss . it was also in Canterbury that he
their tour there and moved with them to Colchester in developed a passion for motor cycles and had to be
November 1979. persuaded , on more than one occasion, not to ride
them around the training area.
From Colchester he went with the Battalion to South
Armagh in 1980 and in 1982 to Cyprus as part of the Cpl Sherwood may not have been killed on the
United Nations' peace keeping force. More importantly battlefield or streets of Northern Ireland but
it was in Colchester that Bob met Linda. They seemed nevertheless he died as a soldier, on duty doing the job
made for each other and married in August 1981 . the Army paid him for and which he loved - driving.
Married life suited him and he became a devoted family
man with their chi ldren Robert, Leanna and Sarah. All of us who knew Bob know that he had a lot more
to offer, not only as a soldier but more importantly as a
From Colchester, Bob had his only spell away from family man . lt is always difficult to say good-bye to a
the Battalion when he was posted to the School of friend and colleague especially one who will be sorely
Infantry Support Weapons Wing at Netheravon. He missed by so many but it is fitting that is was done with
spent two years there , then rejoined the Battalion full Military Honours. A fitting tribute to a loyal soldier.

3Regimental ~.s.sociation.s

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

By Maj W D Marshal!

The Queen 's Regiment has much to be proud of in its Therefore, let us march forward together as one family
all too short but distinguished history. At the time of the in the new Regiment, The Princess of Wales's Royal
Regiment's formation we were both privileged and Regiment (Queens and Royal Hampshires) .
honoured to carry forward the traditions passed to us
by our forebear Regiments from the Counties of The Regimental Association had a strong contingent
Surrey, Kent, Sussex and Middlesex. I know our at the Cenotaph Muster, Whitehall on Remembrance
Regimental Association will want to give to the new Sunday. Afterwards , we were kindly invited by the City
Regiment the same strong support given at the outset and Inner London Branch to a Curry Lunch held at the
by the forebear Regimental Associations to The Duke of York's Headquarters. Our grateful thanks to
Queen 's Regiment. 'Forward' is a word familiar to us. the Secretary, Maj Brian Wright, for organising the

57

lunch and for the warm welcome and hospitality Officers' Mess of 227 General Hospital at the Duke of
received by all of us . Well done Brian , your hard work Yorks HQ .
guaranteed it was a happy and successful occasion .
We then had a Curry Lunch following the Service of
Shepway Branch had a lively karaoke evening at the Remembrance at the Cenotaph in November that year,
JIB Sergeants' Mess in November to which they kindly also at the Duke of Yorks .
invited my wife and myself. A great deal of fun was had
by all. lt certainly was different, but nonetheless , Both of these activities were repeated in 1991 , and it
enjoyable. lt was good to meet the Members and their is our intention to continue them as our two annual 'get
ladies of this lively and friendly branch . They are well togethers '.
led and organised by their Chairman , Kevin 'Yorky'
Atkins , and Secretary Bob Gardiner respectively . We were absolutely delighted when , following the
Cenotaph Parade in 1990, some five members of the
FORTHCOMING EVENTS London Buffs formally joined our Branch of the
Regimental Grand Reunion , Bassingbourn - 5 Association , in addition to remaining staunch members
July 1992 of the London Buffs.

This annual event will begin with a Drumhead We are always keen to recruit new members, and if
Service at 12 noon. Serving and retired Queensmen, you live or work within the Greater London area and
past members of our Founding Regiments and their wou ld like to join , please contact the Secretary on
families are all very welcome . Further details can be 071-938 0495 (office) or 081-549 7241 (home).
obtained by contacting the Regimental Association
Secretary on Canterbury (0227) 763434 Extension HORNSEY(ALBUHERA)BRANCH
4254. by Ned Kelly
WOs' and Sergeants' Past and Present Dinner,
Bassingbourn -10 October 1992 The branch held its 6th Annual Dinner on 21 March .
Our President, Lt Col J D Gunnel! TO , read out a
telegram received from Her Majesty The Queen . Our
special guests were Lt Col P McLelland , CO 8QF(V) ,
and his wife.

The Dinner is open to all serving and retired WOs We have had another very successful year. In
and Sergeants of The Queen's Regiment and the August we organised a summer cocktail party
Founding Regiments. Tickets cost £13.50p. Breakfast, preceded by a visit to the Middlesex Museum at Bruce
if required , is £1.50. Tickets can be obtained on Castle Park. Our thanks to Maj Derrick Harwood TD for
application from : getting permission for us to visit parts of the museum
not usually open to th e general public.
W02 (ORQMS) S R Sellen
Depot The Queen's Division Just before Christmas we held a Curry Lunch . Two
Bassingbourn Barracks of our members, John and Sue Tilbury, laid on an
Royston exce llent cho ice of curries.
Hertfordshire SG8 5LX
In February we had a good turnout for a Hobbies and
Field of Remembrance, St Margarets, Westminster Crafts exhibition. Many of our members brought in a
-5 November 1992 variety of exhibits which made for a very interesting and
successful afternoon.
11.30: Planting of Poppy Crosses by The Queen 's
Regimental Association Secretary. Our committee , consisting of chairman Bill Murphy,
Trevor Canton , Bill Opie, Derrick Harwood, John
12.00: Opening of the Field of Rememb rance by HM Tilbury and I can feel very pleased with a good year. lt
The Queen Mother. takes a lot of hard work but its worth it when the
members enjoy the outcome . We are lucky to have a
Cenotaph Muster, Whitehall , Remembrance nucleus of very supportive members and their wives
Sunday - 10 November 1992 which ensures a good turnout on our organised events.

Admission to the forming up ground (Horse Guards We can always do with more members and we
Parade) is strictly by ticket and those Members wishing welcome all enquiries to join our branch . I would like to
to attend should apply to Secretary The Queen's take this opportunity to thank the Officer Commanding ,
Regimental Association (Maj W D Marshal!) at Maj R L Usher and the Permanent Staff Ad min Officer,
Regimental Headquarters, Canterbury. Capt C Reeve , of B (Aibuhera) Company 8QF(V) , for
their help and support over the past year.

CITY AND INNER LONDON BRANCH SHEPWAY BRANCH

Readers will recall that the Branch was formed on by Ron Harper
Albuhera Day 1989. Its first 'function' was attendance Since my last report there has been a very mixed bag
by a group of some 20 members and their guests at the of events , mostly good I'm glad to say . The bad we all
Massed Bands Beating Retreat on Horse Guards in know about and better men than I have commented on
June 1990. This was followed by a light supper at the

58

the subject, so I shall say no more . included , and are proud of the tact.
1 was pleased to meet our colleagues from Hornsey Our social evenings are gaining in popularity, the

Branch at Bassingbourn last year and exchange views . last one was a Karaoke evening attended by our
Our Chairman, Kevin (Yorky) Atkin , together with his Association Secretary, Maj W Marshal/ , and his lady.
He, I can reveal , has a strong singing voice as
son Chris , who is at present serving with 1 QUEENS in demonstrated when he gave us a rendition of 'He'll
Minden , laid a wreath at the Etaples cemetery, France , have to go', looking at Yorky whilst giving his
on behalf of our branch and Kevin laid one on behalf of pertormance . We can 't discover who said , 'Hear Hear'.
the Royal British Legion, Hythe . Kevin served with the
QUEEN 'S SURREYS and 1 QUEENS. We have a few The singing was preceded by a short AGM at which
father-son connections with the Regiment, myself all branch officers were re-elected .

The Queen's Regiment
Association

Queen's Surreys

Since the last issue of the Journal the Association
and its branches have held the usual run of winter

activities.

We had a very good turnout of old comrades at the
Field of Remembran ce , Westminster which is graced
each year by HM The Queen Mother. Her Majesty
takes such an interest in all she sees and does and
insists on visiting each regimental plot. If you haven't
yet attended this very simple, but rewarding ceremony
why not do so this year?

Remembrance Day saw the usual parades in
Guildford , Bermondsey and Southwark whilst in
Kingston, the Association , commanded by Col Peter
Thompson with the Kohima (Volunteer) Band of The
Queen's led the various detachments past the Mayor of
Kingston who took the salute.
A very successfu l reunion was once again held at Some well-known faces at the QUEENS SURREYS
reunion.
the Union Jack Club. We were at our maximum
strength tor this event. The Colonel of the Regiment
very kindly briefed those present on the, then, present
stage of the amalgamation with The Royal Hampshire
Regiment. After this General Mike was seen to be in a
further series of 'briefings' which were, in the main ,
chaired by his old CSM of C Company days , Jack
Chatter, surrounded by a large number of his old

Company.

The Branches in Bermondsey and Southwark and
the East Surrey Old Comrades held their Christmas
Dinner Dances, whilst the WOs' and Sgts' Association
held a very successful evening to commemorate the
formation , fifty years ago last December, of The British

Battalion .

The Association Secretary received the following
letter from the carrier platoon commander of 1/6

In-Pensioner Sa m Dickason , late E SURREYS phoning his QUEENS :
niece in Australia at Christmas, courtesy of Merill Lynch 11 was in December 1944 that we were informed that
an American securities firm. (Times Business
Supplement picture). the 1/6th Battalion of the Queen 's Royal Regiment was
to leave 131 Lorried Infantry Brigade in the famous 7th

59

- . - . . --- --- --- - - -

Armoured Division and to be withdrawn to an assembly

area. We were clearing enemy remnants in Holland at
the time.

When the movement order came through it directed t

the Battalion to proceed in convoy back to Ypres.
There, to hand over all Transport and to disperse
personnel. Some 100 all ranks were to return to
England to form a training Battalion . The remainder to
fill gaps in our sister Battalion , the 1/5th Queen 's. Our
other Battalion , the 1/7th Queen 's was similarly
treated.

On the ordered day and time the Battalion convoy
led by the Carrier Platoon , crossed the start line . There
to our surprise, lined up to the right and left of the track

exit from the assembly area were the guns of our

supporting Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery . Their
gun barrels were elevated to an angle of 60 degrees so
as to form a triumphal arch. As we made our way

through this guard of honour the gunners on either side

cheered and applauded a brave but battered Lorried
Infantry Battalion whom they had accompanied and
protected all the way from North Africa.

This chivalrous accolade made a deep and lasting Mr 'Yorky' Atkins, late QUEENS SURREYS and 1 QUEENS
impression on a very apprehensive Carrier Platoon (Right), with his son Pie Chris Atkins, now serving in 1
Commander whose task it was to lead the Battalion QUEENS, after laying wreaths in Etaples War Cemetery.
convoy unerringly to its final destination .
deserves to be recorded . lt is hoped that it will not be
We are now threatened with losing our identity under forgotten as those who took part finally fade away.
the so called 'OPTIONS FOR CHANGE '. I believe that
this proud incident in the history of the 1/6th AFP
(Bermondsey) Bn. of The Queen 's Royal Regiment

The Queen's Regimental
Association

(The Queen's Own Buffs)

FUTURE EVENTS 1992 The Canterbury Cricket Club is celebrating its 150th
Anniversary this year. The Albuhera Band will be in
5 July 1992. Grand Reunion at Bassingbourn. For the attendance on Wednesday 5 August (Ladies Day) . The
past few years we have had excellent turnouts for this Kohima (Volunteer) Band will be playing on Saturday 8
parade . Old Comrades to be at the Parade Ground at August during the tea interval.
1130 hrs for the Drumhead Service. Do give this your
full support. 9 August 1992. Canterbury Remembrance Service
and Reunion. The Parade forms up at the Sessions
4-10 August 1992. Canterbury Cricket Week. The Car Park at 1210 hrs , and after the President's
Queen's and Queen's Own Buffs Cricket Tent Club will Inspection, the parade commanded by Maj G Dineley
be situated in its traditional spot. This year, the TD will march to the Cathedral led by the Kohima Band .
following matches will be played : Those unable to march are asked to be seated by 1245
hrs. The Reunion will take place in Howe Barracks
Britannic Assurance immediately after the Cathedral Service. The Reunion
4-6 August; Kent v Middlesex will end with the Beating Retreat on the square at 1700
7-10 August ; Kent v Hampshire hrs.

Sunday League 6 September 1992. Maidstone Remembrance
Service and Reunion . Parade at Brenchley Gardens at
9 August; Kent v Hampshire 1000 hrs; fall-in at 1015 hrs. After a short Service at the

60

Regimental Cenotaph during which wreaths will be TURNING THE PAGE CEREMONY
laid , the parade , led by the Albuhera Band , will march
to All Saints Church via the Town Hall where the Mayor The ceremony of 'Turning the Page' continues daily
will take the salute. After the service the Reunion will in the Warriors' Chapel in Canterbu ry Cathedral,
take place at Boxley Road TA Centre, Maidstone . Monday to Saturday. Should any of you be visiting the
Further details will be circulated to Branch Secretari es City at any time for a special occasion, (reunions,
in due course . anniversari es) and wish to participate in the ceremony,
you should contact Maj O'Gorman at Regimental
ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA Headquarters.

On 12 December 1991 , Col Waring and Maj THE BUFFS MUSEUM
O'Gorman visited former members of The Butts and
Queen 's Own Royal West Kent Regiment at the Royal The Museum , housed in the Royal Museum in the
Hospital , Chelsea . As always the visitors were High Street , Canterbury, ha s been clos ed for
extremely well looked after and its a pleasure to see old modernisation for some months . lt is hoped that a
members of our Regiments being so well cared tor and re-vitalised and updated Museum will reopen in time tor
looking so content. Albuhera Day.

ST DUNSTANS

Last year the Presidents and Secretaries of the THE QUEEN'S OWN MUSEUM
Regimental Associations hosted a dozen or so
members of St Dunstans tor lunch in London. This year May I remind you that the Queen 's Own Museum in
the St Dunstaners kindly invited us all to their St the Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery in Faith Street,
Dunstan 's Headquarters in Sussex and treated us to a Maidstone is definitely worth a visit if you are in the
first class lunch and a tour of the building. lt was a great area . lt is open Monday to Saturday throughout the
pleasure to meet these former members, some of year.
whom travelled great distances to be there. I hope this
event will be repeated over the coming years .

The Royal Sussex Regiment
Association

(Representing The Queen's Regiment in Sussex)

ST GEORGE'S DAY ROYAL SUSSEX OFFICE
Our annual St George's Day Service takes place on At long last we are able to communicate with the
23 April (a few days after this goes to press). outside world. Our phone number is now Chichester
Indications are that we shall have our usual large 530852 on Tuesday and Friday mornings. We can still
attendance. The Service is to be taken by the Dean , the Military number - Chichester
The Very Revd John Treadgold . be contacted on Today both phones rang at the same
786311 Ext 4240.
ANNUAL REUNION DINNER time. Simultaneously, three pacemakers dipped to
Our Reunion Dinner takes place at Lewes on 25 April. zero as we all raced to answer the calls from the
Already 350 places are booked . We might just outside world . Alas , wrong numbers.
conceivably sing 'Sussex by the Sea'.
BRANCHES
THE MUSEUM Our Branches continue to hold well supported monthly
The Maida Gold Medal , which was awarded to Maj G D meetings. We reiterate a warm welcome will be given
Robertson after the Battle of Maida in 1806 is now to any member or ex-member of The Queen 's
displayed in the museum at Eastbourne. lt is back after Regiment. This especially applies to any soldier who
a long period on loan to the National Army Museum in has been declared redundant in the latest Army
London. The museum at the Redoubt Fortress , Royal reorganisation . This is very often a traumatic
Parade, Eastbourne, is open daily until the end of experience and the blow can sometimes be softened
October. Maj John Ainsworth , after two aborted by meeting understanding , helpful , fellow ex-soldiers.
attempts to hand over the museum , is to carry on as
supremo for a further short period. THINGS CHANGE
I have just found reference to the Annual Dinner 50
years ago- beer donated by Brighton Brewery, Kemp

61

Town Brew ery, Simond s Brewery , Portsmouth Commissioned - Royal Sussex - Roberts M (Office r
Brewery, Findlater at Mackie Brewery, cigarettes by W Cadet)
D & H 0 Wills , John Player. Cameras. Donations for Then , after a time - I became a Captain in the old TA
Dinner this year: Nil. (Which I did for the love of it and not the pay)
My attendance record was excellent and steady
GOODWOOD So they made me an Ever Ready
I was told 'Now you 're Home Counties' so off to Aden
The Goodwood authorities have agreed that the race you shall go
known as the Royal Sussex Stakes shall in future be And under Col David your military knowledge will grow
called the Royal Sussex Regiment Race to perpetuate And grow it did - like a churchyard nettle
the name of the Regiment - Have a flutter. In a week or so we had begun to settle
But that job I did so well I ween
SOLDIER OF THE QUEEN That when I got back home they said 'Now you are a
Queen '.
by Maj M A G Roberts TO
I was second in command to an unfrocked Bishop
When I was a lad I served a term And ran the Officers Mess without a single hiccup!
As a new recruit in a Chichester firm Then Peter Johnson took command
I 'bulled'my boots and I 'bumped' the floor 'bout cameras I taught him all he knows
And I polished the handle on Major Philip's door - and he taught me where the staff round goes.
And I polished up that handle so regimentally
That they said 'Royal Sussex forever I would be '. Eight extens1ons on the staff - then my heart was full
And I handed in my jersey wool.
As a new recruit I made such a mark Thus that moment of retirement had come
That they appointed me the Company clerk So I treated me to a blazer with Queens buttons on
And I did the job as it had never been done before And I will not buy another button or jacket cut
But I did not fail to keep polishing you know who's door I was a Royal Sussex - I served in the Queens
And the handle shone as bright as a Seamen's Mission
That General 'Bob ' said 'Give him a commission '. And they say that 'Them from Sussex won't budge '
So here I say - un moveable -
me and the other has been Queens.

Regimental Association of
The Middlesex Regiment (DCO)

(Affiliated with The Queen's Regiment)

REGIMENTAL MUSEUM National Army Museum , has now agreed to do so.
Harringay Council , who have generously provided
For some considerable time the future of the accommodation for the Middlesex Regimental
Middlesex Regiment Museum in Bruce Castle , Museum in Bruce Castle for the past 22 years , have
Tottenham , has been a matter of much concern and been most sympathetic and understanding of our
anxiety to its Trustees. The principle reasons are that reasons for leaving Bruce Castle.
very shortly there will be no regimental representative
available to visit the museum on a reasonably regular Consequently arrangements are now in hand for the
basis and so ensure the proper supervision of the progressive removal and transfer of the entire
collection of regimental memorabilia and archives. The regimental collection to the National Army Museum in
position has now been reached that the Trustees are Chelsea. This operation is being undertaken under the
unable to provide a curator and therefore the museum direction of the N.A.M . and the final date of evacuation
is bereft of any regimental representation whatsoever. from Bruce Castle will be 10 August 1992 .
Resulting from this situation the Trustees decided that
the only way of securing the preservation of our relics in lt is fully understood that the regimental collection
perpetuity would be to invite the National Army may never be on display as a complete entity but
Museum , who have an obligation under its Royal specific items will be on show from time to time at the
Charter for the preservation and display of memorabilia discretion of the N.A.M. The Director has assured the
of disbanded or amalgamated regiments , to take over Regimental Trustees that any items required for
the care and custody of the regimental collection in its display in The Queen 's Regiment Museum at Dover
entirety and we are very pleased to say that the Castle will be provided on a loan basis provided , of
Director. with the consent of the Council for the course , that they are not required for display or any
other purposes by the National Army Museum .

62

ALLIANCES AND AFFILIATIONS

THE HABERDASHERS' COMPANY Lowndes, Royal Navy. Comd r Hebron is retiring from
by Capt M E Barrow DSO RN, Clerk the Royal Navy after 33 years service.

Comdr Lowndes is a Hydrog rapher by specialisation
and has commanded HM Survey Ships Eg eria ,
Bulldog , Herald and Hecate. Other appointments have
The predominantly non military membership of the included se rvice as the Officer-i n-Charg e of the RN
Haberdashers' Company has followed the progress of Hydrographic School and as the Director of
'Options for Change' with a somewhat generally Hydrographic Pl ans and Surveys. His last appointment
detached view. However we much admired the robu st before becoming Commodore HMS Nelson was as the
attempts by the Colonel of 'our' Regiment and his Captain Hydrographic Su rveying Flotill a.
bowler halted cohorts to change the mind of the
powers that be! Those who have been more closely
associated with matters military will be aware of what a Commodore Lowndes and his wife Linda live in
painful process any amalgamation is. Now that this Somerset and have two daughters.

process is complete however, the Haberdashers'
Company is pleased to welcome the Royal Hampshire
Regiment into our, now well established , and ongoing ,
affiliation with The Queen 's Regiment. We shall look
forward to getting to know their people and are
confident that the enlarged geographical association
will enhance rather than reduce our links.
HMS CHATHAM
The third 'leg' of the Company's Service affiliations
has now been established . On the 28th January 1992, by Lt Simon R Petitt RN

Number 13 Squadron Royal Air Force was officially Since the 'fun and sun ' of the Standing Naval Force
affiliated to the Haberdashers' Company on the same Atlantic (SNFL) visits in the Summer and early Autumn
basis as HMS BRAVE and The Queen 's Regiment. We of last year, the thoughts of the Ship's Company have
are pleased to have 'the boys in light blue' within our been focussed on the more serious subject of a Gulf
family of associates and look forward to service and Deployment, commencing in May 1992. For this the
sporting encounters with them on similar lines to those ship has had to undergo a long period of enhancement,
enjoyed with our two units of longer standing . during which time a whole host of additional high-tech

Last year we saw about a dozen Haberdashers', equipment will have been fitted .
including the Master and Clerk, visting 5 QUEENS(V)
during their annual training based at Knock camp , near
Warminster. The visitors enjoyed the somewhat
rougher (and colder!) conditions of Salisbury Plain and
the opportunity to exchange their City suits for fatigues
and denims! A visit, later in the year to 2 QUEENS was
unfortunately cancelled for operational reasons . The
Haberdashers' Company versus The Queen's
Regiment cricket match , played in 1991 at
Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree , was one of the
most exciting we have had . The match was closely
fought and resulted in a win for the Regiment by three
balls (197 for 6 versus the Company's 196 for 4) . The
golf match , played at Canterbury, was equally
enjoyable but less close run (QUEENS 5, Company 3
in the 8 singles match) so the Oakman Challenge Bowl
remained at RHO. Perhaps this year ... !

In 1992, the Master, Mr Teddy Elliott, and others
look forward to visiting Somme Company 6/7
QUEENS(V) in Brighton on the 1st July (Somme Day)
and the annual sporting encounters at Canterbury and
the New Zealand Golf Club.

Members of the Haberdashers' Company send
greetings to all ranks , The Queen 's Regiment!

HMS NELSON

Comdr DC Hebron ADC , Royal Navy, who had been
Commanding Officer of HMS Nelson since November
1989, was relieved on 28 April 1992 by Comdr R J

63

The first of three enhancement periods occurred two weeks were much needed after a long period out of
during an Assisted Maintenance Period, after SNFL. the operational scenario and , with a large change-over
Along with the enhancements and general of people, it proved to be a necessary preparation for
maintenance the Ship's Company enjoyed some well
Exercise TEAMWORK 92 .

deserved leave and an extended period alongside in After a weekend in Plymouth , four ships set sail
the ship's Base Port. After the AMP it was back to sea together for the North Sea and four days later joined
for a Recovery and Training Period which shook the approximately 100 other ships and submarines, from
cobwebs from old and new hands alike and of course several Navies, in the biggest NATO exercise for two
the equipment, which had not been used for a years. The scenario for the exercise was the well tried
prolonged period . Along with the usual programme of reinforcement of Norway which meant, for us , hunting
exercises there was also a double Seawall missile submarines in the Northern Seas . Then moving North
shoot, after which there was a weekend alongside to protect amphibious operations . lt is in this stage of
Exercise TEAMWORK that I am writing this article, only
before the ship made passage for the Medway.

Before we set sail six intrepid cyclists and a back-up a week away from the end of the exercise and passage
rider were left ashore to carry out a sponsored cycle back to Plymouth for the final enhancement period and
ride to the Medway. The sponsored ride raised £2,000 Assisted Maintenance Period before Gulf Deployment.

for the Brolley Foundation, a charity for abused The programme for the Gulf has just arrived and the
children , based in Strood, Kent. Whilst the cyclists ship's company is looking forward to many visits to the
tackled the hills and atrocious November weather, the Gulf States as well as five outside the Gulf. These are
ship made passage tor the first visit to the Medway Mombasa, Karachi , Madagascar, the Seychelles, and
one port still un-named in the Mediterranean. The heat
towns since her commissioning , in May 1990.

The ship is very proud to be named after such a and calm seas will be a stark contrast to the cold
famous ex Naval town and Dockyard, and as such we weather and storm force winds that have been

tried to open up the ship as much as possible in order experienced during TEAMWORK .

to fly the White Ensign in the area, once again. Every The ship regrets being away from Kent for another
day the ship conducted guided tours for affiliates , long period and is looking forward to the next time that
charities and schools while nearly every evening the the men of The Queen 's Regiment wi ll be able to visit
area reciprocated this goodwill with an official function the ship . All those onboard send Queensmen
of some form , all of which helped to make the visit a everywhere , their best wishes and a speedy resolution
resounding success . Remembrance Sunday was to the details of the forthcoming amalgamation with the
particularly busy with invitations to many Services. Royal Hampshi re Regiment. We hope that our
Three Officers and three Senior Rates, including Affiliation will prosper, together with your other close
myself, were kind ly invited to join the 2nd Battalion at historical links with the Royal Navy.
the service in Canterbury Cathedral followed by lunch

in Howe Barracks which everyone enjoyed thoroughly.

The lunch ended not only with the usual difficulties in HMS LEEDS CASTLE
prising the Senior Rates out of the Sergeants' Mess,

but also ourselves from the hospitality of the Officers' HMS LEEDS CASTLE completed her extensive
Mess. maintenance period in May having enjoyed Christmas
and New Year in UK for the first time since 1988. lt
After the Medway, the ship sailed up the East Coast allowed the ship and the ship's company to take a long
to exercise with the RAF. A long weekend in Hull earned rest while Royal Rosyth Dockyard (RRD) took
allowed the Ship's Company to let their hair down in the over and set about a work package to restore the ship
bitter co ld of this fun city. After Hull there was a two day to a seaworthy condition for her return to the Fishery
passage to Portsmouth , where the Operations Room Protection Squadron in July 1992.
team carried out Command Team training in the
simulators at HMS DRYAD, the Naval School of The ship entered dry dock in the middle of November
Maritime Operations. Then , after a month away from 1991 and was due to undock at the end of February
Base Port, it was back to Plymouth for some Christmas 1992. Du ring this time the underwater areas of the ship
Leave and the Second of our Enhancement Periods. were dealt with ; the propellers , rudders , shafts and
stabilisers were all removed for refurbishment , while
Again after a long period alongside , the ship set sail the hull received a new coat of paint. Meanwhile,
for another Recovery and Training Period week and internally, the main engines and generators were
work up for Staff Covered Weapon Training at stripped down and rebuilt. All the ship's systems were
Portland . Portland is under the auspices of Fl ag Officer modified where required and subsequently proven .
Sea Training and is dreaded by most sailors. Luckily After a coup le of hiccups, the ship undocked at the end
the Weapon Training only lasted two weeks and of the first week in March and work continued with the
consisted of an extremely hectic schedu le of ship in the non-tidal basin .
operational serials and assessments, with various
members of staff picking up the smallest faults with As work continued in March through to the end of
equipment, husbandry and cleanliness. lt was the first April , the ship gradually lost its look of a 'building site '
time the ship had been to Portland since Basic and once more was becoming the home and workp lace
Operational Sea Training in the Autumn of 1990 and it of its ship's company of 43. This period also saw the
was no surprise, to anyone, that the staff required the Harbour Acceptance Trials take place of all the ship's
same immaculate standards now as they did then . The systems. In the middle of April , the domestic services
18 hour days didn't seem any shorter. However, these

64

and the high pressure salt water main (required for
firefighting) were restored as the prerequisites for the
ship's company to move on board.

Once on board the work rate was stepped up to get
the ship ready to go to sea at the end of April , with the
ultimate aim of preparing the ship and the ship's
company for the forthcoming BOST- Basic Operational
Sea Training - programmed for June . This left the
month of May to complete the Sea Acceptance Trials
before the Contract Acceptance Date, when the ship 's
staff finally accepted the ship back from RRD .

On completion of BOST, the ship's company are
looking forward to a foreign 'run ashore' before sailing
on 6 July to join the Fishery Protection Squadron . This
is the oldest squadron in the Royal Navy and the duties
will take the ship to the extremities of the 200 mile
British Fishery limits . The work involved in enforcing
the myriad of EC legislation is varied and rewarding ,
and we would be delighted to host any Queensman
who is interested in the process leading up to his cod
being battered .

3 (F) SON RAF
by Fit Lt M T Hand

To quickly recap , 3 (F) Sqn is presently based at RAF
Gutersloh in Germany and re-equipped with the
all-new Harrier GR7 in 1991 . Despite the commanality
of a name, the new Harrier is a far more accomplished
aircraft and differs greatly from its venerable
predecessor - the GR3. The GR7's introduction into
frontline service continued throughout 1991 and into
1992 and has culminated thus far in a successful
Armament Practice Camp (APC) and the first field Our new Affiliated Ship, HMS Unicorn, fourth and last of
deployment of 1992. the Upholder class of diesel submarines, which is
expected to go into service in 1994. The Colonel of the
Notwithstanding the problems associated with the Regiment attended the launch (above) at Cammell Laird
introduction of new equipment at Squadron level , the in Birkenhead on 16 April1992. The last HMS Unicorn, an
calendar remained full throughout the latter months of aircraft carrier, took the Middlesex Regiment (DCO) from
1991 . The Squadron was fortunate enough to be Hong Kong to Korea in August 1950, establishing a
invited to , (and even more fortunate to be financed by) friendship which was recognised by an Affiliation in
February 1951 .

the Greek Air Force base at Andravadia . The unusually the evaluation team can be drawn from any
detachment to Greece allowed the Squadron Aircrew NATO Air Force. lt is the culmination of many months
to fully utilize the superb low-flying terrain in the region , of hard work and training and is without doubt an
and of course detachment personnel concentrated on exceptionally useful method of concentrating the
furthering relations with the Hellenic Air Force . efforts of the Squadron and its support elements.

Following the Christmas break, the Squadron Looking toward the future ; following the RAF's
deployed to Decimommanu in Sardinia for its Annual decision to reduce the number of RAF Main Operating
APC . The APC was successful and a number of useful Bases in Germany from four to two , the Squadron will
lessons were drawn from the results provided by the move to RAF Laarbruch in November of this year.
range staff and the aircraft's integral Head Up Display Plans are well in hand for the draw-down of the
Video system . Squadron at Gutersloh and the Squadron personnel
eagerly await the chance to discover the West of
Thereafter the Squadron's attention was drawn Germany and Holland.
towards the first field deployment of 1992 - Exercise
Handy Forge. During the exercise the Squadron was Nevertheless the Squadron will continue to operate
subjected to a rigorous evaluation , the aim of which in Germany and in continued close support of the battle
was to prepare personnel for the forthcoming field . .. wherever it may be!
TACEVAL. As you read this article you will be pleased
to know that the Squadron will be in the field once The Third Shall be First.
again , this time at Sennelager. TACEVAL is, in general
terms , the equivalent of a Fitness For Role evaluation ;

65

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES courses camps of 14 days duration normally conducted
REGIMENT at Bardia Barracks (near Liverpool south of Sydney
-some 1112 hours travelling by vehicle). Students from
The role of UNSWR is to produce officers for the all three depots attend this training.
Australian Army Reserve. In the past the Regiment has
been organised as a battalion with rifle and support Apart from the reorganisation of the Regiment, there
companies. Potential officer cadets have enlisted as
private soldiers , gained experience in the ranks, been shave been some changes in the hierarchy. Brig R p
promoted to Corporal and subsequently Sergeant and
then commissioned. Amos , RPD, EO, RL retired as Honorary Colonel on 5

This approach was favoured because of the greater October 1991 and was succeeded by Brig P c
experience achieved by graduating officers. The
economies recently implemented in the Australian Parsonage, RFD , EO , the only former Commanding
Army (not unlike those implemented recently in the Officer to also have been commissioned in the
British Army) have led to economies, more direct focus Regiment. Lt Col C J Dunston , RFD handed over
on its result and consequently the reorganisation of the command to Lt Col G M Tamsitt, RFD on 1 February
Regiment to operate strictly within its officer producing 1991.
role. lt is now more like a OCTU/ROTC Unit where
potential officers have little, if any, contact with soldiers 2nd BATTALION
prior to graduation .
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND INFANTRY
REGIMENT

During the past 12 months, 18 officers, both male 2nd Battalion , Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
and female, have graduated from the Regiment into the will be Trooping their Colours at a parade in
Army Reserve. Christchurch , New Zealand, during the weekend 31
October-1 November 1992.
The Regiment's current strength is 400 which is
located in depots at Kensington adjacent to the They have kindly invited any Queensman , serving or
University of New South Wales , Wollongong and retired , to attend . They cannot help with travel but say
Newcastle. These three depots cover students that food and accommodation would be assured .
attending the University of NSW, Macquarie University,
University of Wollongong and University of Newcastle. Anyone interested in taking up this offer is requested
to contact Lt Col John White in Regimental
Officer training takes place at weekends and at Headquarters for further details .

HMS CHATHAM LETTERS

OFFICER CADET'S GRAVE

From: Capt. A. J. N. Hogg A.F.C. Royal Navy to the From: Lt Col P A 0 Storie-Pugh MBE TO to the Editor
Editor
Royal British Legion Village
HMS Chatham Aylesford
BFPO 253 7 January 1992
7th March 1992
Sir,
Dear Colonel White ,
I thought that readers might be interested in a
. Thank you for your letter dated 12 February 1992, response I have received from Col Toby Sewell to my
1nform1ng the ship of your pending amalgamation with earlier letter about Officer Cadet Phillips's grave at
the Royal Hampshire Regiment. I am , of course , sorry Kandy. I quote:
to hear of the Regiment's change of name . However, 1
do hope this is not going to affect the ship's affiliation , 'I was interested at the possible surprise that there
or the historic links that the Regiment has always had should be a grave of an Officer Cadet of The Queen 's
with the Royal Navy. in the Indian sub-continent. The explanation must be, I
think , that all English Officer Cadets for the Indian Army
With best wishes to all Queensmen and hopes for a were enlisted in The Queen 's Royal Regiment, and
smooth integration . We too are changing squadrons therefore wore the Paschal Lamb for their journey to
but for us the upheaval is insignificant compared to India to attend OCTU at Bangalore or Oehra Dun. That
yours . Officer Cadet Phillips should be on his own in Ceylon
may mean that , poor chap , he died on board , or was
Yours sincerely very ill , on a troopship whose first call was Colombo
Tony Hogg before going on to disembark other troops at Madras,
Calcutta or Bombay'.

Yours faithfully
Piers Storie-Pugh

66

FOUNDATIONERS AT for Change - there being remarkably scanty reliable
WELLINGTON COLLEGE news at Regimental level in BAOR . In staying at the
Rag I saw the December 1991 edition of your very fine
From: Sir Roland Guy GCB CBE OSO to the Colonel of Regimental Journal and, like many others , was very
the Regiment saddened at the detail of the changes which now affect
Wellington College you all.
Crowthorne
13 December 1991 During my 24 all too short years in the Army, from
Sandhurst cadet onwards, I have been privileged to be
Dear General in contact with members of all of your Regular
Battalions as working colleagues or acquaintances. I
1 am writing to you as Vice President (Chairman) of have been , without exception , impressed by their
the Governors of Wellington College. decency, professionalism and esprit de Corps and
have come to think of The Queen 's Regiment as a very
When Wellington College was founded in memory of good one indeed. Sappers support all kinds of people;
the great Duke , a main purpose was to provide an we develop an eye for quality!
education for the sons of deceased Army officers. Over
the years the original Charter has been liberalized , and Believe me when I assure you that your Regiment
the Foundation can now also help the sons (13-18) and has many good friends and all serving soldiers who
daughters (16-18) of Commissioned Officers in all have a soul at all can easily see the heartache and hurt
branches of the services who have died whilst still caused by this unexpected series of decisions. Being a
serving and of ex officers provided they were in receipt practical person I shall do whatever I can, wherever, to
of retired pay at the time of their death. This help takes ensure that anyone I encounter under your capbadge
the form of an education at Wellington on reduced fees , is well looked after and given all proper consideration
the size of which depend on the means of the surviving due. I hope that other sensible people will do the same
parent . and ensure that this painful time is not made ·Worse by
insensitivity. Our hearts go out to all of you and we will
lt has become apparent that a number of people who make sure that your new Regiment's steps do not stray
cou ld have benefited from the Foundation in the or falter due to any failure on our parts to support them
education of their chi ldren were not aware of its well -wherever that might be.
existence . I am therefore sending this letter to inform
you that we are only too pleased to elect Foundations Yours very sincerely
who fall into our charitable ambit. Inevitably, as the Michael McCabe
number of conflicts in which Britain is involved declines ,
and as our Armed Forces shrink, so the demands on GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE (1944)
our Foundation shrink too ; but we do want everyone to
know that we can help. lt is not necessary for From: The Head Master to the Regimental Secretary
Foundationers to be registered with Wellington before Lichfield Cathedral School
they apply for election; in other words , a late change in The Palace
circumstances will not debar someone seeking election Lichfield
to the Foundation. 17 February 1992

All enquiries about the Foundation , including Dear Colonel ,
potential admissions, should be addressed to the I was much interested to read in a recent edition of
Bursar, Colonel David Cook, Wellington College ,
Crowthorne , Berkshire RG11 7PU . If it would be the Journal of the Queen's Regiment (in which this
possible and you would agree to include a note about School placed an advertisement) an account of your
this in your Regimental Magazine , I would be very Regimental Cricket match on the Glorious First of
grateful. June.

Yours sincerely
Roland Guy

OPTIONS FOR CHANGE This brought back memories of the 1 June 1944,
when as a junior Subaltern in the Royal Berkshire
From: Maj M C McCabe RE to the Editor Regiment, I was on a Battle Course at Sedburgh ,
21 Engineer Regiment attached to a battalion of the Queen's Regiment, then
British Forces Post Office stationed at Lancaster. On that day, while the
48 remainder of the Course , with blackened faces went
5 January 1992 out for the final day's intensive training , a 15 cw1 truck
arrived to take Lieutenant D. N. Carr back to Lancaster
Dear Colonel White to play in the traditional Glorious First of June match . lt
poured with rain all day, no cricket was played and
Having returned from operation GRANBY and the much gin was consumed, and as a result I still have
usual clear up I have only just had the chance to return very happy memories indeed of your Regiment. I have
to England and pick up more background on Options often thought that the Fuhrer would have been
astonished at our sense of priorities, just five days
before D-Day, and that his downfall was thus assured.

67

I apologise if you find this extremely boring , but I just
thought it might amuse you!

With very best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
David Carr

'Huntly.'

THE ALBUHERA BAND THE LAST DROP

From: Maj J C Rogerson to the Headmaster, There was this chap. Retired , getting on a bit, and
0/dborough Manor School, Maidstone, and others. knowing that he was running out of steam . At odd times
he had wondered where he went from here but had
Army Schools Liaison never seriously applied his mind to the problem .
Officer
Canterbury Now, having just come out of hospital , a widower,
children married , he realised that , as time went on , he
24 March 1992 would become a burden on his family and friends . So,
being Sandhurst trained , he made an 'Appreciation of
The Albuhera Band of the 2nd Battalion The Queen's the Situation', and the only cold blooded 'Conclusion'
Regiment held a Band Seminar and Concert on the 19 he could reach was that he should blow his brains out.
March 1992 in the Oldborough Manor School , However, that required more guts that he had, was a
Maidstone, Kent. messy business, and , anyway, he had sold his gun.

Eleven Kent schools were involved, with nine music He decided that, as an ex Para, the most suitable
teachers and seventy seven music pupils attending the way to go would be to jump from the top of a tall
music workshop , and over two hundred attending the building.
concert. W02 R Raynor, the Kneller Hall Bands
Recruiting Warrant Officer, started the day off with a No time like the present. lt would be a long drop, and
presentation on military music. he remembered that on one operational jump he had
read a map as he came down . So he grabbed a
On behalf of the Commander, The Recruiting and magazine as he left, went to the top of the Centre Po1nt
Liaison Staff I would like to thank all those who made building , opened his magazine, started to read , and
this very pop'ular and successful event possible, and in stepped into space.
particular the Headmaster for allowing the event to take
place in his school as part of the school's Industry He found that he was reading a notice about a home
Week . for retired officers of the three services, called 'Huntly'
- a place like a Wardroom or an Officers' Mess, but with
A very special mention to the Commanding Officer of no chores. Good Lord, he thought , why didn't I ever
The Second Battalion The Queen 's Regiment for read the advertisements. By that time the pavement
allowing his band to come during their emergency tour was getting pretty close so he kept his legs together,
rear party commitments. Finally, many thanks to Band knees bent, hands above his head, and as his feet
Master lan Peaple and all the Albuhera Band for their touched the ground he did the best front roll he had
enthusiastic musical contribution . They were qu1te ever done . He got to his feet , stopped the next taxi , and
superb and a great credit to their regiment . I know from told the driver to go to 48 Pall Mall where the Officers'
speaking to the staff and pupils who attended that they Association, which runs Huntly, has its office .
enjoyed a very informative and constructive day of
excellent music. Now he has it kushy, his relations are relieved of all
concern , and eventually he can be buried in sacred
John C Rogerson ground .

68

ARTICLES

CAMBRIAN PATROL 1991

by lt G 0 Saunders, 2 QUEENS

Late one August evening as the sun set majestically The first task was to select and train a team without
over the plains of Wainwright Training Area , I was breaking them in the process. With only three weeks
sitting outside my pup-tent, pondering on our recent available we set about building up thigh mu scles ,
tour month tour of the Falkland Islands as well as what hardening the soles of our feet and getting used to the
lay ahead of us on Exercise Pond Jump West, here in weight loads (found mostly from radio batteries). We
Canada. This idyllic scene was suddenly dashed by the spent many days tabbing round the hop fields of Kent,
wide grin of my OC and the file of papers entitled abseiling off St Margaret's Cliff and paddling around
'Cambrian Patrol'. Having heard various rumours and Chattendene 's watermanship area. All culminated in a
some confirmed stories about this most inhumane of final test of skills and SOPs down at Cinque Ports
tortures, I retired to my mosquito net having written just Training Area. With two days rest before the off, the
one word in my diary- it simply read 'Bugger'. team stood as: Lt Gavin Saunders, Sgt Mick O'Reilly,
Cpls Nigel Wirtz and Daniel Mills and Ptes James
Spread over three days, the Cambrian Patrol is Taylor, Richard Vassiliou , Jeremy Stevens and Mark
designed to practise Infantry units in long range recce Riggs . Sgt Del Kennedy ran our back up team with two
patrols. Using the arduous terrain of the Brecon drivers, LCpl Mark Hall and Pte Peter Sellman .
Beacons, the Black Mountains and Sennybridge Area ,
it has the reputation of a hard , no-nonsense After the drive down we received our ord~rs at a
competition , where teams are pitted against no-one Brigade HQ complete with 105mm Light Guns ,WOs by
apart from themselves and their capacity for mental the score and a TV camera crew that seemed to get
and physical endurance. everywhere. Our task was to patrol about 35 miles to

The 2nd Battalion teams under Lt Gavin Saunders and Lt
Hamish Bell which won the Silver and Gold Medals in the
Cambrian Patrol competition.

69

. - . - ... . .. - ·- -- - - ---

set up a base from which to carry out a close target Cpl Wirty, Cpl Mills and Pte Vassilou.
recce and return to friendly lines. Scoff, a quick set of
orders, a kit inspection (weight about 651bs each) and motivating style . A snap ambush ensued , toll owed by a
we were off. We bid farewell to our vehicles after a rapid extraction up a hillside that a 6 month old on all
lights-off, 'watch the edges' drive through the forestry fours could have beaten us at. Then , out of the mist
blocks to our drop off point, on a bend of some remote appeared an angel of mercy daubed in green and grey
road . A short tab later and we arrived at our first as if to pluck us out of a bad game of Dungeons and
obstacle: a 20 metre wide river with a two inch thick Dragons. The energy in our legs suddenly returned .
rope running across it. This obstacle took us an hour to Totally ignoring the ever present threat from the
complete as several ideas fell by the ways1de , marauding camera crew we surged forward scrambling
'drowned' in muttered abuse from both sides of the aboard the RAF Puma. The engines whined and the
water. The task finally completed , we set off on the first rotors beat and we were away - but please Lord not
of the mind-numbing marches. another sickener! Our prayers had obviously been
answered and , as we hobbled from the heli-pad at
Seventeen hours later and interrupted only by a brief Sennybridge Camp, a sense of achievement flooded
over one and all - wide toothy grins returned with a
agent stop, to view and identify some captured vengeance .
equipment, we started our approach to the patrol base
location . Unfortunately the enemy had guessed our An experience I shall never forget. The Cambrian
likely approaches and several wide detours were called Patrol provided our small band with several memorable
for before we finally headed for our much sought-after events as well as silver medals but, I think we would all
resting place. At several RVs heads lolled and lead agree , nobody remembers the drive home.
weights seemed to hang on every eyelid . lt is amazing
how a map can look like a pillow to sleep-deprived eyes
in the light of a Welsh dawn!

With the hide set up and communications
established, the close recce team departed for its
target - a dam , two kilometres away. Several hours
were spent crawling to and from , in and around every
conceivable approach before returning to heaven-
sleep, in an 'oh, so comfortable' sleeping bag . We
knew that it could not last.

Having averaged six hours sleep, the extraction
began . One descent of a steep slope employed the
well proven method of collapsing the legs and sliding
for it - not much tactically, but brilliant for morale! We
met our next agents only minutes after they had
suffered an enemy ambush . We sprang into action ,
administering first aid and evacuated the casualties by
helicopter. We set off once more and , as it grew dark,
we met the next agent who , with a toothy smile,
showed us a river and pointed to the far bank. An icy
dunking later- Pte Stevens giving us his impersonation
of Tarka the Otter and the rest of the team with wedding
tackle repositioned next to their larynxes - we headed
for Sennybridge.

lt has always amazed me how, as soon as one
crosses the boundary into Britain's most notorious
training area, the wind gets up and the rain suddenly
lashes down - that night was no exception! We pushed
on to a safe house , quietly hoping for sleep, but openly
expecting something much worse. We were not
disappointed -another tab! Another safe house and yet
another tab later morale was on a real downer but by
then the end was in sight - we hoped.

We arrived at the last safe house, were quickly
briefed for an ambush before being despatched up yet
another river by cunningly disguised members of the
NCOs' Tactical Wing in their usual inimitable

70

EXERCISE ROADMASTER 1992

by W02 Alan Lawson, 6f7 QUEENS(V)

This February 6/7 QUEENS(V) entered two teams
tor Exercise Roadmaster, the Army driving
championships. The teams compri sed myself and LCpl
Pat Morley, and LCpl Jon Fisher and Pte Jim Nolan. All
tour of us have had some experience of such driving
events, having entered Roadmaster last year - and
survived! The MTO, Lt Adrian Smith, cleared the way
tor us, and we were all set for three days of hard
physical and mental work.

The events this year were based at Tidworth , in LCpl Morley at the wheel and W02 Lawson on the starting
Aliwal Barracks, home of the Queen 's Dragoon grid for Exercise Roadmaster 1992.
Guards. We arrived there on the Friday afternoon , after
a morning trying to breath some lite into our rather
decrepit Land Rovers at Horsham. For anyone seeing
these championships for the first time it must come as
a shock, with great ranks of Rovers stretching across
the parade ground . This year there were over 140
entries, mostly from the Regular Army, along with a
number of teams from the Royal Navy, RAF, and Land
Rover itself at Solihull. Alter arrival the Rovers were
inspected by the REME , to ensure that everything
worked, and that we did not have any unauthorised
modifications . This proved no problem for us, as
although the rules of the British Army Motoring
Association may allow such things as spotlights, roll
cages , intercoms and rally seats, this cuts no ice with
our OM ! We had , as they say, 'bog-standard' wagons,
both considerably older than their drivers. Once
inspection was over we booked in , stuck our numbers
on our doors, and thought about the first navigational

stage.

The championships are in three phases, all leading On Saturday afternoon it was the cross-country
to an overall score. On the Friday and Saturday nights section , in three separate stages. First was an
were the navigational tests , each of which involves orienteering event over Salisbury Plain , in which we
plotting a route to find dozens of hidden markers. The had to visit twenty markers as fast as possible - a
routes roamed over Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, and bone-shaking experience. Then came a slalom
we were to travel across everything from 'A' roads involving reversing around cones, stopping exactly on
down to farm tracks and bridleways. Navigation is the a spot and all manner of other driving skills, and finally
key, and it isn't easy when time is extremely tight and a regularity section , involving following a marked
the route is given out in sections. These sections may course in an exact time. The course was on a tracked
be in the form of traces of a route cut up and jumbled vehicle training area, and was pretty severe. A tracked
about, a large number of grid references , spot heights FV432 was used several times to pull unfortunate
and road numbers run together. After the route is crews from the muddy pools and ditches, and a couple
plotted you have to find it and follow it. In the fogs of the of Rovers turned over - something which really takes
Friday night many wagons ended up hopelessly lost, some doing!
broken down or stuck in ditches. One drove straight
through two hedges and over a lawn , but the worst we On Saturday night came another navigational
suffered was to be chased across some fields by an section , over a different 120 miles of country roads and
irate farmer in his 5-series BMW who thought we were tracks . I'd better mention here that speeding and
poachers! We also suffered the fate of many half-ton 'racing' was strictly forbidden , with radar traps in
LR drivers, in that our rear halt-shaft broke, while on a several places. Hidden marshals watched for any
particularly hairy bit of track. We struggled from then infringement of the rules , and the local police assisted
on , with front wheel drive only and finally made it back. throughout. After completing that , we tumbled into our
Alter that first night my team was lying 18th overall, with sleeping bags for a few hours rest.
LCpl Jon Fisher's lying 35th . Our Saturday morning
rest period was spent trying to find a spare half-shaft We woke later on Sunday morning to find that our
and then persuading the Land Rover works team other crew had broken down with a flat tyre and leaking
mechanics to fit it for us, which they very kindly did. radiator, and did not complete the final stage. Our
They were all on triple time for the event , and reckoned wagon was not in much better shape and I spent a long
that our repair would cost over £600 in labour alone time thinking about how to explain all this to the MT
-l uckily they let us off. NRPS, CSgt 'Dixie' Daley! The only thing which cou ld

71

appease him would be if we won someth ing, and when also came 18th overall , against some very experienced
the results were announced we discovered that we had opp os ition .
done just that.
We'll be back next year, we hope, and then we'll do
LCpl Pat Morley and I had won th e Infantry better than 18th, and retain our trophies. In the
Championships, beating all oth er Regular and TA meanwhile, how do I explain to the MTO that it's vital
Infantry teams, and LCpl Jon Fisher and Pte Jim Nolan for our Rovers to have six halogen headlights and
were this year's Army Cross-Country Driving bucket seats?
Champions - not bad for a Home Defence TA Unit! We

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT AND SPECIAL FORCES

by Capt P H Legg (formerly 5 QUEENS(V))

The tenth anniversary of the Falklands War is a (BUFFS) joined an Independent Company and took
part in some of the first raids on Norway and France.1
timely reminder of the importance of British Special Full Commando units were later formed from
Commands - 3 Commando being created from
Forces w1th wnom The Queen's Regiment and its Southern Command. Cpl E G White (RWK) won the
predecessors have had many links. DCM with 3 Commando at Vaagso in 1941.2

The Army Commandos were formed in 1940. All The pressures of war, however, meant that men
volunteers were seconded from their units and usually from the Home Counties served in many different
retained their old cap badges , even after the Commandos. Capt C Parish and Capt L N R Wilson (R
introduction of the green beret in 1942. Sgt G Antrichan SUSSEX) were with 'D' Battalion - formerly 50 and 52
Middle East Commandos - of Layforce on Crete in
1941 _3

R R Cooke (RWK) won the MC for his part in the
ill-fated raid in Rommel's supposed HQ in 1941 by 11
(Scottish) Commando 4 Pte S J Dann (E SURREYS)
was with 6 Commando on D-Day 1944.5 The infamous
Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry was
commanded by Lt Col C E Vaughan (BUFFS), and Lt
Col D S Lister (BUFFS) led 4 and then 10 Commando.6
In Burma, Pte J T Coker and Pte G H Webb (RWK) both
won the MM with 1 Commando at Kangaw in 1945.7
Sometimes the regimental links were rather tenuous.
Several foreigners who joined the Middle East
Commandos and 10 (Inter Al lied) Commando wore the
badges of some Home Counties regiments for no
obvious reason .

The Special Boat Section of the Army Commandos
operated throughout the Mediterranean 1941-43 and in
the Far East 1944-45B Capt R K B Allott(MX) served
with 1SBS and Capt B N Eckhard (BUFFS) with 2SBS .
Maj H V Holden-White (R SUSSEX) won the MC with
2SBS and later served in Burma. Sgt B W Ogden-
Smith (E SURREYS) worked with Combined
Operations Pilotage Parties and was awarded the
DCM and MM . Maj J G B Courtney (RWK) of 2SBS was
awarded the MBE and MC . In 1942 he escorted US
General Mark Clark on a secret mission to liaise with
the French in North Africa , prior to the Allied landings.

Lt Col C E Vaughan, The Buffs, Commandant of the In addition to the Commandos , World War Two saw
Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry. (Picture the formation of numerous smaller special forces and
by courtesy of the National Army Museum). 'private armies'. The Special Boat Squadron of the
SAS included Maj A F E Lassen . Having previously
been awarded the MC and two bars, Lassen won a
posthumous VC for his actions at Lake Comacchio ,
Italy in 1945. He was one of many Danes who had
enlisted in The Buffs, and he was later commissioned
in the General List.9 Lt Col D L Lloyd-Owen (QUEENS)

72

won the MC with the Long Range Desert Group as a Some individuals also served with the Chindits. Lts P
captain , later co mmandin~ the unit and eventually G Stibbe and G H Borrow (R SUSSEX) both served in
becoming a Major General. o the earlier 1943 campaign . Borrow was awarded the
MC but, as Wingate's ADC , he was later ki lled with the
Sgt L E S Smith (RWK) won the MM for service in general in the aircrash of 24 March 1944.15
Italy with the Special Engineering Unit (30 CDO), a unit
trained in diving and speciali sing in searching enemy Since the disbanding of the Army Commandos in
HO's. 7 Lt J EM Turpin (RWK) won the MC with the Sea 1946 the Royal Marines have continued the role of
Reconnaissance Unit in Burma in 1945.11 This was one special forces. Infantry attachments to Commandos
of the first such awards made to frogmen by the Army. become rare , but one QUEENS subaltern did
have with 40 Commando in the Falklands in 1982. The
Maj D Brook-Hart (E SURREYS) won the MC serve of Friendship' between The Queen's Regiment
serving with 'Phantom '. Phantom was GHQ Liaison
Regiment, a specialist unit in its own right which also 'Bond
had sub-units with Commando and Airborne and the Royal Marines, therefore , is still part of a living
formations. 12 Maj R G Cranham (E SURREYS)
co mmanded 71 st Independent Company, The tradition.
Queen 's Royal Regiment. Th is unit was trained for
beach development and served in Italy and N W References to individuals:
Europe, where Cranham was twice mentioned in 1. QO Buffs Association - The Quarterly News
2. P Young - Commando
3. C C Messenger - The Middle East Commandos
4. E Keyes - Geoffrey Keyes VC
5. R Neillands - The Raiders
despatches. 6. C Messenger - The Commandos 1940-46
7. H Chaplin - The QO Royal West Kent Regt
Others were engaged in more clandestine work.
PSM M Trotobas (MX) was killed whilst serving with the 1920-1950
SOE in France in 1943,13 and Col N Ekserdjian (E 8. G Courtney - SBS in World War Two
SURREYS) was on special service in the Balkans. 9. M Langley - Anders Lassen VC MC of the SAS
10. W Kennedy Shaw - Long Range Desert Group
In 1943 2 QUEENS joined 3rd Indian Division 11. B Wright -The Frogmen of Burma
Special Force - better known as the Chindits. This
Long Range Penetration Force operated behind 12. P Warner - Phantom
Japanese lines in Burma in 1944. 2 QUEENS provided Middlesex Regiment Association
and 22 Columns , commanded originally by Lt 13. Queen 's Surreys Museum -The Queen 's in Burma
Nos. 21 Metcalfe and Maj T V Close respectively . 14 14.
Col J F
They did a lot of damage to the enemy and won the 1944-45
battle honour 'Chindits, 1944' 15. B Fergusson - Beyond the Chindwin
Remainder - The Journal of The Queen's Regiment

EXERCISE PASCAL QUADRANT

by Sgt Harris, 1 QUEENS

Exercise Pascal Quadrant was designed to train ,
test, and select stunt skiers for the next James Bond
film . At least that's what the lads told the local girls!

Tangier Company 1 QUEENS ran a 10 day ski
exercise in the Austri an Alps , in the Paznautal region
based on the village of Galtur which has been home of
the 4 Armd Div and RM ski championships. At 1700m
with slopes rising to 2300m with snow depths of 2m to
4m , sun, and miles of uncrowded runs it was the ideal
place to take the boys. By the end of our 10 days we
had endeared ourselves to the locals with our antics
including a full , mock court-martial for Pte 'Tony' Moore
who ate all the compo chocolates resulting in a
snowballing by firing squad assisted by a few
bystanders .

A community service was provided , by dressing Pte
'Marcus' Lloyd Williams up as a cuckoo and then
launching him four times into a snow drift from the top
window of the house. At 4 o'clock many German and
Austrian holiday makers waiting for their buses home

were seen to be checking their watches!

Ptes 'Tony' Moore , 'H' Holley, 'Dean' Clark, Pte Lloyd Williams, the Duty Cuckoo Clock on Exercise
performed stunts unbecoming their level of skiing and Pascal Quadrant.

73

threw themselves off any slope - with some pretty Howlett provided the punters with the sort of acrobatics
amazing consequences. More sedate skiing (on black that would make experienced pilots feel sick. In fact as
ice slopes) came from Ptes 'Sven of the Met' Svenson, one we ll-heeled lady with a very Sloany accent was
'Saddam' (what else) Hussein , and that man Pavy, all heard to say as 'Empty Head' Howlett hurtled by
of who were complete non-skiers at the beginning but pushing the mach numbers , 'Oh No, Squaddies'!
are now serious hot dodgers.
She was right. Tangier Company, 1 QUEENS,
The JNCOs racing teams of Cpls 'Kev' Minnis, came , saw, and conquered the slopes of Austria , and
'Goldie' Goldsmith, 'Dinga' Bell, and 'Empty Head' some new skiing talent for the future was discovered .

EXERCISE LONDON'S BURNING

by 2Lt M Tennant RM , serving with 2 QUEENS

Having just finished playing rugby against Troops
Hereford , my feelings towards a trip to Portsmouth
were not entirely charitable. I would , at the time , have

preferred to stay in the bar and reflect on our
misfortune. However, with a select group from 9 and 10
Platoons, a coach set off for HMS Nelson. After sorting
out the accommodation for the night, a brief run ashore
was required to prepare us for the cold and wet day
ahead. ('Run Ashore' (Noun) Naval terminology for trip
downtown to sample alcoholic beverages)

In the morning we travelled to the fire fighting school Ptes Maynard , Maxwell and Sutton of C Company 2
at HMS Phoenix. Once installed in our protective QUEENS at HMS Phoenix, the Royal Navy Firefighting
clothing we were given a safety brief, an introduction to School .
the breathing apparatus and a demonstration of the
different types of hoses available for fire fighting . A very that can be tilted at various angles to simulate a list.
vivid demonstration of how not to put out a fat fire was The idea was to block all the holes before the water
given , with a bucket of water being thrown onto a pool level became so high that the co mpartment would have
of flaming oil. The resulting fireball was sufficient to to be evacuated in real life. Even though this exercise
ensure that nobody made that mistake if ever the required the teams to be sprayed with freezing cold
chance arose . water for nearly 20 minutes at a time , the adrenalin
ensured that nobody's enthusiasm was dampened.
We went on to fight a fire within the mock-up of a
ship. This in itself brought out the enormous difficulties These lessons were not quite as useful to the
involved with zero visibility and the intense heat modern Infantry soldier as the fire fighting ones.
developed in a confined space. lt also brought out the However, needless to say it was , at the very least, a
sudden realisation that on ship you cannot simply let it good introduction into what our sea-going counterparts
burn out! lt will eventually engulf the whole vessel must face . At the end of the day we we re pleasantly
causing an enormous loss of life. The fin al surprised by the executive coach that appeared to take
demonstration gave us a good idea of how to fight a
normal house fire with everyday fire extinguishers. This us home . lt came complete with video player which
also brought out simple but effective rules that must be allowed us to watch the day's exploits thanks to Pte
followed . For example the fact that smoke really does Cruickshanks' hard work on the cameras. Many thanks
layer and it is easier to breath the closer you get to the must go to Lt S Martin, Royal Navy, for his kind help in
ground. organising a very enjoyable day's activities and also to
the staff of th e centres who entered very much into the
We moved on , later in the day, to the Damage spirit of the day.
Control Centre where we came across the problem of
blocking holes in a ship's hull caused by shrapnel. This
IS a very difficult task with water coming through the
hole at very h1gh pressure. Once in our immersion
su1ts, we entered the mock-up unit. Th is is a chamber

74

CRISPIN'S DIARY

by Col C G Champion ·-·

On my final day of Service on the Active List I was
much privileged to be invited to Turn the Page in 'The

·-·Warriors Chapel' and to be then royally entertained

both by RHO and by Lt Col David Wake and his
officers . Next day I was 55 and unemployed, but with a
pension and the promise of a gratuity to come . The Job
Centre declined to pay Unemployment Benefits
because of my Service Pension , notwithstanding my
regular contributions to the system since joining The
Queen's Own in 1954. However, they did undertake to
pay my National Insurance contributions - big deal!

Thanks to good advice from the Officers' Association A windy day at Bedgebury School - Mrs Dawn Champion,
my CV was 'highly polished' whilst a series of the Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells and Col Crispin
lunch-time courses in the Old War Office Building Champion, all proceeding at 30 knots.
taught me the intricacies of WP5.1, Lotus 1-2-3 and MS
DOS. So, with my new Word Processor and a small As Bursar my daily routine is as unexpectedly varied
forest's worth of paper I fired off 146 job applications: as are the problems. One moment I might be
too old, lacking experience, over qualified , under constructing the all important , intricate and
qualified or just no answer at all! lt was all as frustrating occasionally nail biting budget; or explaining to the
as being delayed on the Start Line. Then- bingo- three Governors how the School Shop managed to run at a
jobs offered all at once and the decision to sign-on as loss last year (!) or I could be refereeing a shouting
Bursar of Bedgebury School was as easy as apple pie . match between the 'non-smoking' laundry ladies
versus the 'smoking ' upper floor cleaners all the while
I was lucky on two counts ; firstly to find a job after not forgetting to get the blocked loos unblocked! I travel
just seven weeks and secondly to land on my feet at to conferences (no change there) which includes a
Bedgebury. My accounting took a turn for the better as, national Bursar's shindig ; this year in Jersey.
undaunted by the RAEC telling me that a RN
sponsored Accounts Course in Portsmouth was full , I So for the next ten or so years the flags will fly at
turned to the RAF who kind ly found me a place on the Bedgebury on Albuhera Day which is remarkably fitting
as Bedgebury Park was the home of General the 1st
same course! Viscount Beresford . I hope that daughters of the
Regiment will continue to board at this excellent and
Bedgebury Upper School , some 12 miles south of ever improving school where I will be delighted to show
Tunbridge Wells , is set in delightful Bedgebury Park, off Bedgebury to members of the Regiment.

adjacent to the Forestry Commission showpiece, the
Pinetum . Lower School is six miles away in Hawkhurst.
Between them they educate 430 girls ranging from
rising 3 in the Kindergarten to 18+ in the large and
highly successful Vlth form . One of the first girls to walk
into my office was Caroline Boucher, Lt Col Simon
Boucher's niece. There are 21 Army daughters
currently in the school and in recent years 'Regimental '
chi ldren have included Sarah Jane Tarver, Joanna
Boucher, Caroline McCully, Alison Tennent, Renelle
and Serena Bartlett, my daughter Virginia, Frances
Jones who was the first Falkland Scholar and
Alexandra Yorke who is now in the Lower Vlth .

PRINCESS MARINA COLLEGE

by Cpl Wall, 1 QUEENS

In August 1989 I was summoned to the Adjutant's Arborfield and what does an Infantry Section Com-
office in Tidworth . mander do at a REME Junior Technicians College? '
Not very good initial thoughts to be conjured up before
'Cpl Wall , you have been selected for a posting in commencing a two year tour away from the security of
December to Princess Marina College at Arborfield as the Battalion . Having arrived at the college I discovered
a SAA Instructor'. that my job was to instruct junior entry soldiers from the

'Princess who?,' I thought and , 'where on earth is technical trades of the REME, RAMC and RADC , in

75

their basic training along with a host of some 50 other Instructor was replaced by the Secretary of the Army
cap-badged instructors from the Infantry, RAC , RE, Orienteering Association and so I soon found myself
ACT and RAMC. lt was probably the most difficult running twice a week for the college in both Civilian and
adjustment that I have or ever will have to undertake Military events irrespective of my teaching
and it was an appropriate time to learn how the other commitments. Suddenly Princess Marina College
half live. seemed a commendable post1ng although according to
its history it had few Queen 's badged instructors
As an Infantryman I yearned to take these young posted there , which was both good and bad. Good
Einsteins on exercise for their first time. However, after because I could make up my own dress regulations
only a few hours in the field and just getting into the and get to wear my Victor's beret! Bad becau se the
momentum I heard the cry, 'ENDEX!' 'Why Sir?' I Coldstream Guards RSM tried to jail me for remaining
enquired of my Platoon Commander. 'Too windy, Cpl seated during the Loyal Toast at my first Regimental
Wall. Can 't have the little darlings exposed to these Dinner!
winds for too long,' came the reply . Some of the
Apprentices complained that life in the cadets had With so many different cap badges, traditions and
been harder than this! customs the College boasts the most active
Regimental rivalry in the UK. Having been briefly joined
All the less exciting aspects of the College had to be by Cpl Mills 2 QUEENS and Cpl Chamberlain 1
QUEENS we set about the College with Regimental
weighed against 14 weeks leave a year, which always history lessons that would make even Cpls Belsham
made good and bad even up. Playing Basketball three and McCartney proud! lt seems sad that we have
times a week was never a problem either as the Chief managed to make part of the Army well aware of The
Instructor (Lt Col) was the College Basketball captain
who always seemed keen to send me away to the Queen 's Regiment and know a little of our history only
Inter-Corps Championships to play for the Infantry to learn that our name is soon to disappear. Hopefully
because he said it gave experience to use in his team .
I was also able to improve my Orienteering skills which my replacement can do for our new Regiment what we
I had recently developed in the Battalion. The Chief did for The Queen 's Regiment here at the college.

FATIGUE PARTY IN TURKEY

by Cpl A C Wombell 3 QUEENS

Having volunteered on 9 January 1992 for a two Base Support group. There is a comparatively small
week vacation in Southern Turkey, departing on the unit by American standards, being only 460 strong, of
21st and then subsequently finding myself along with which 30 were temporarily stationed at lncirlik.
three other companions hastily packing to leave the Equating to our own beloved REME , they form a small
following morning, the old adage 'never volunteer' part of any forward mounting base for operations. Their
immediately springs to mind. All things being taken into
account it turned out to be a relatively simple procedure sole purpose in life is to provide and maintain tentage
to quickly throw all my personal, ~nwanted equipment facilities to whomever requires it. In lncirlik this
amounted to a tented complex which housed 1800
1nto a box and then place it into the stores. A quick trip
to the airport the following morning and an RAF men . We now found out the purpose of our visit , to
Hercules plane took off, with four adventurers aboard clean tents.

bound for Turkey. The tent cities from Desert Storm and from the

A short hop was taken from Cyprus to the United humanitarian projects to assist the Kurds are now all
States Air Force Base lncirlik, which is located
approximately 30 km south east of Adana . On touch being amassed and stored in lncirlik prior to shipment
down , a quick view through the windows while taxiing back to the USA. Away with all the ideas of travelling to

proved the base to be quite interesting. An enormous unexplored areas of Turkey and on with the coveralls!
operation unfolded before our eyes, fighter aircraft,
support vehicles and a large contingent of ground staff Every piece of frame and fabric required sorting,
inspecting , cleaning and finally repacking . The task
were to be found the complete length of the runway.
The base was home to the Americans , British, French was one of unshrinking piles of equipment. No sooner
and Turkish who are all involved in Operation 'Provide
Comfort' which is the protection of the Kurdish had a little headway been made , than another forklift
population of Northern Iraq . On being welcomed by a would deposit an even larger amount than had just

been dealt with. 'Would this ever end?' was heard to

echo around the work yard every day as the task
continued .

small party of the British contingent a quick and All was not doom and despair. Shopping trips to
painless trip was made through customs and
immigration , and there we were , keen and ready to Gaziantes and Kahramaras to name but a few proved
explore our new environment. interesting . Most of these trips were taken at the

weekend by bus. At the pre-arranged times people
The follow1ng morn1ng after leav1ng our tented could be seen to stagger back to the bus beneath piles
accommodation we reported for work. Dunng the of carpets , copper and leatherware. Other trips
duration of our stay we were attached to the 49th Bare arranged included refuelling flights at 26,000 ft over

76

Northern Iraq , watching Turkish F4's, Ameri can A10 's an end. Saying our goodbyes to all the friends that had
and various other aircraft draw up to collect fuel much been made during the one month stay, we watched our
the same as cars do at a garage. replacements land . Then full throttle, bound for

Alas , as all good things must, our stay finally came to England and a little spot of leave .

SKI ORIENTEERING

LCpl Ferber, 2 QUEENS

Although I now have several biathlon seasons
behind me, it was a great surprise to have been
selected by the British Orienteering Federation to
represent my Country at ski-orienteering in the World
Championships. I spent the time available to me
running in as many orienteering competitions as
possible -and getting lost in several -and in arranging
accommodation and a ski training programme. I left
England on 14 December 1991 , travelling to Nordseter
in Norway where I was to stay for the next three weeks
over Christmas and the New Year, brushing up my
skiing techniques.

I spent the first week with 1 QUEENS who kindly
gave me free food and accommodation and more
importantly gave me someone to train with. When 1
QUEENS went home for Christm.as I joined the Irish
Guards. Their team was lead by Lt The Hon Edward
Daman-Dawsaw, probably the only team captain to
stay in Norway over Christmas , buy his team presents,
take them downhilling , paying for the hire of the skis
and have his team singing Christmas Carols while
drinking champagne and Guinness at the bottom of the
downhill run . To complete my time in Norway, I spent

the New Year with the Statfords.

After training in Norway, I flew back to England , LCpl Ferber, 2 QUEENS, at the World Ski Orienteering
packed my car and drove to Zwiesel in Bavaria via Championships.
Minden . I arrived on 6 January 1992 and it had rained
all day and was to for most of the week. Luckily there I attended the training camp with Sally Sahne, captain
had been a lot of snow in the previous week which of the British Team and teams from France, Germany,

permitted good skiing for training and the Infantry Russia , Switzerland and the USA. The atmosphere in
the camp was very friendly with teams helping each
Championships.
I managed to acquire accommodation , thanks to the other with skiing and orienteering techniques.
organisers , and the nickname 'Gipsy Skier' from 1
QUEENS team. I entered a Biathlon event, racing for I found there was a big difference between 'Ski 0'
the Queen 's Division Team (consisting of members of and 'Foot 0 ' due to speed, distance and terrain to
3 R ANGLIAN and myself) . I came second in the name but a few reasons . On one of the evenings
individuals and the Queen 's Division also took second towards the end of the camp we took part in a local
place in the team event. sprint event. The track was about 700 metres and had
been pisted with one hill and was lit by floodlights. All
After the Infantry Championships I moved to Faltur, the locals turned out to watch and suppo rt the teams.
Austria, once again staying with 1 QUEENS . Here the The longest race was only 4 laps with the shortest
training was better than Zwiesel and I had one race for being 2. A local team won by the end of the night. But
the AMTC Silberhutte Team in the 4 Division it was a good experience just to take part. At the end of
Championships, competing in the 4 x 10 kilometre the training camp more teams started to arrive . In total
Relay where I came fourth . The rest of the time was there were 20 countries participating, more than ever
spent training and supporting the other teams with a before. These included Hungary, Canada, Armenia,
day ski mountaineering on one of the local peaks some Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania , Norway, Denmark,
1000 metres above Galtur. Sweden , Finland, Italy, Latvia, Austria and
Czechoslovakia.
I left Galtur before the end of the Championships
and made my way to a hostel in Pontarlier, France, In the Championships I had three races: the long
which would be the venue for the World Orienteering individual , the individual sprint and the relay . The first
Championships in a week's time. But for the first week was the individual long , about 30 kilometres. What a

77

disaster from start to finish! I was trying to go too fast finish when we again took different routes . My route
and not looking at the map often enough. Everything was quite slow and by the time I reached the next check
seemed to go wrong and snowballed . The only good point I thought he must have passed me, but 20
thing was that my next race could go better. I came minutes after I had finally finished he came in . My
64th out of 68. In the 12 ki lometre sprint I spent more placing was 60th ou t of 68.
time studying the map and skied a little slower. I had a
much happier race but still made a few mistakes. My Th e who le championships were a remarkab le
final placing was 61 st. experience and a good insight as to how other
individuals and teams train and the standards they
The final race was the relay which was to be my best achieve . I now hope to be selected for the World 'Ski O'
race by far in the World Championships . Although the Cup next season . With more orienteering experience
British Team did not enter a relay team I was able to run throughout the com ing year and harder physical
as an individual. On the way round I met up with one of training I hope to do much better next yea r. Finally 1
the Bulgarian team . Sometimes I wo uld lea d, would like to thank my Battalion, RHO and the other
sometimes he would, and even when we took different agencies who contributed towards my expenses and
routes to the same check point we would meet all those who helped me in many ways to train and
together. That was until about 10 kilometres before the compete for the National Team.

World Air Rifle Championships

by Sgt A C S Bellas

The World Air Rifle Field Target Championships
were held in Florida, USA, between 8 and 10
November 1991 . Sgt A C S Belas of The Queen 's
Regiment attached to the Army Careers Information
Officer, Chichester, was selected to take part as a
member of the British ten man team.

Field target shooting has expanded considerably
over the last few years with competitors using highly
specialised air rifles and capable of putting ten shots
into a .25 inch group at 50 yards. The targets consist of
some 30 falling plates in shapes of potential air gun
quarry with the hit zone varying in size from .25 to 1.50
inches in diameter. The targets are placed at random
ranges from 8 to 55 yards and the ski ll is in estimating

the range and wind and in being able to knock over
such a small target.

Sgt Belas, and other members of the British
contingent arrived a week early to acclimatise both
themselves and their weapons - air rifles'
performance can be dramatically degraded because of
high temperature and humidity.

The competion was held over three days with Sgt A C S Bellas who came 7th in the World Air Rifle
indifferent weather and exceptionally hard targets that Championships, a member of the British team which won
really tested the very best in the world . Sgt Belas came 7 of the 10 events including winning the British Air Rifle
7th in the world , with Great Britain achieving seven out Team competition.
of the top ten positions including the competition
winner.

78

THE LONG ROAD HOME

by Capt 8 Dwyer, 3 QUEENS

On a cold winter night in the Falklands the
conversation was of warmer climes . From stories of
places we had been to, we thought of places we
wanted to go. Being in the South Atlantic the obvious
choice was South America . Out of interest, plans were
discussed and we con tinued to dream .

Soon after th is we were visited by the Commanding
OHicer, Lt Col AAA Beattie. The opportunity was taken
and ou r plans we re put to him and agreed. We now had
from the end of our tour in October until the first flight to
Cyprus in the New Year. Our plans of sailing with the
fishing fleet changed on 15 October when we were told
we could sail with HMS Alacrity to Montevideo,
Uruguay, on the 23rd . This increased our pace
dramatically and we were helped tremendously by Maj
Mark Rayner and CSgt Jock Mclaughlan.

On 23 October six of us waved goodbye to the
Falkland Islands. The group consisted of Cpl Simon
Barnett, LCpl s John Rice and Ken MacNab, Qnsm
Simon Foddering , Dmr Tony Shaw and myself. As we
sailed West, the snows of the Falklands turned into
sunshine and we arrived in Montevideo on the 28th on
a beautifully clear morning . Two excellent days were
spent in Montevideo, and as well as experiencing a
Navy run ashore, we confirmed plans for the way
ahead.

We moved north to Brazil and after convincing the Return from the Falklands via the Amazon Jungle. Cpl
border guards that our medical supplies were not illicit Barnett (left) and party with George (the guide).
drugs we headed west to Foz du lguazu . Whether it
was our knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese that seven days long and , whi le there were two short stops
helped , or their frustration of our not knowing enough , along the way, the time is mainly spent re laxing . We
we don't know . Foz borders Argentina and Paraguay travelled on deck watching native canoes go by,
and is the site of 28 waterfalls that stretch over 4 fi shermen mend their nets and the pink Amazonian
kilometres. Being set in the jungle the visual spectacle, dolphins dart through the water. Having only £2.00
along with the noise, smell and heat makes it one of the between us we ate only what was provided on the ship .
most impressive sights in the world. After a week we had had our fill of badly cooked pasta ,
rice and black beans .
After a short visit to Paraguay we had a 24 hour bu s
trip to Rio de Janeiro on the East Coast. Here the Our arrival in Manaus , in order to collect funds , was
Consul not only directed us to cheap accommodation marked not with any great celebration but with four of
but also fed us on arrival, quite remarkable service! We us going down with dystentry. This required several
stayed in Rio for three days seeing not only the weeks to relieve though initially two of the group were
beaches of the Copacabana, but also the statue of confined to bed for three days, or at least the WC next
Christ at Corcovada, the Sugar Loaf and Rio nightlife. door. When we were all mobile again we hired a local
guide, George, and his boat to take us through the
We moved on to Salvador, the centre of Afro- jungle. Over three days we hunted alligators, visited
Carribean culture in Brazil. Though a modern city the vi llages, caught piranhas, showered in waterfalls ,
Afro-Carribean links with religion , dance and food gives drank (and swung) from vines and learnt jungle
a unique way of life . Our attempts to samba were survival. Th is was an incredible time as we were no
encouraged and the dances, outside in large longer seeing places at a distance from buses or boats.
courtyards , went on until the morning . The religious Every1hing was now much more real and more exciting .
Candomble festivals are fascinating with groups of
women in various costumes danci ng around an altar We pressed on to Santa Elena on the Venezuelan
chanting. However, we only saw three hours of the border. Here we hiked across the local hills before
eight hour festival. We left Salvador on 11 Novem ber moving up to the capital , Caracas. Here we saw all the
and travelled for two days to Belem . Along the way we local sights and a doctor. With Christmas approaching ,
were constantly chatting to the locals who , even with
the language problem , were very interested in our
journey and very obliging . In Belem we boarded a small
passage boat to sail up the Amazon. The journey was

79

and no political clearance for Colombia, we flew to
Miami , Florida. Within 24 hours we went from having
four ill young men in a slum with no water to all of us
enjoying solid food , clean sheets and hot water. With
modern medicine, and a good meal , we were now more
social. We hired a van and toured Florida, travelling to
New Orleans as we ll. We flew to St Louis and then on
to Heathrow.

We had travelled 7,000 miles overland and had seen
more than we had ever hoped . While it had never been
easy it had certainly been worth it.

Cpl Barnett and his catch from the Amazon.

VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY - A PERSONAL VIEW

by Maj T S Fisher, 1 QUEENS

Wednesday 26 February 1992. The CO has been correctly for the future and relish the thought of a new
interviewing Warrant Officers and SNCOs since 0800 cha llenge and genuinely look forward to 'Endex', I still
hours, but Officers won't learn their future for another detect in myself just a hint of reservation . Cold feet?
hour. Drink another cup of coffee and find something to No, definitely not that, but nevertheless there is a
sign. The process started months ago, so what certain intangible feeling of impending bereavement.
difference will waiting a few more minutes make? 0900
hours and the CO walks through the door bearing a There is plenty of life left in the old dog yet, although
package and a letter. Look nonchalantly surprised! physically the best days have been spent. (A
'Good morning Colonel , - busy morning'? particularly hard fact to face) . I find myself spending
more and more of my last days at Regimental duty
I open the letter, planning and assisting in the final demise of something
I've held sacred throughout my adult life . The
'Sir, Regiment.

I am directed to inform you that No 5 Selection Board Did I waste the prime years of my life? Were the last
has selected you for premature retirement .. .' Relief? 35 years of toil , dedication and beliefs of so little value
Anti climax? A turning point in one's life? Panic? 1 don't that they can be destroyed at the stroke of a pen ?
know . The letter is purely the 'activate ' signal for all the Intellectually one knows that this is nonsense, yet .
provisional plans made , then evaluated and remade
since last October, and anyway there is still a company The Regiment will go on , albeit in a different guise ,
to run and the CSM is waiting for me to join him for the and I shall watch it blossom and grow with , I hope, as
room inspection . much pride as I presently feel , but it will be an academic
emotion as I shall never have served in it.
The days and weeks which have followed have
attracted an almost overwhelming avalanche of The decision to apply for voluntary redundancy was
information in the form of letters, signals , returns , a personal matter for all who did so. I suspect that
returns to confirm that returns have been sent, some will live to regret the decision , whi lst others will
briefings and booklets , all well-intentioned and seize the opportunity to expand their experience and
designed to assist the Redundee to make the transition continue to grow . From this chair the future looks
to Civilian life as painless as possible . The Regiment exciting , filled with promise and the chance to seek new
has been particularl y supportive with offers of horizons, new challenges and the chance to take
assistance and continued backing for as long as it opportunities so far only dreamt about. Voluntary
might be needed (which has been surprisingly re- redundancy, to me, was almost serendipity, and
assuring) . Alth ough , hopefully, I have planned yet .

80

SEVEN MONTHS WITH 7/10 UDR

by Lt C D BOWN, 1 QUEENS

The introduction of Platoon Commanders from the make them a joy to work with , particularly in difficult
Regular Army into the UDR on a 6 - 9 month situations .
attachment began in early 1990 to cover the short1all of
UDR Permanent Cadre (PC) subalterns . I had already Most of my patrols were carried out as routine RUC
heard good things about the UDR from one of the first tasks often as joint patrols . Relations with the RUC
Platoon Commanders to go on the scheme and as were generally good , especially with the Markets
there was no sign of 1 QUEENS going to Ulster for section at Musgrave Street. However, there wa s
some time , I decided to apply. occasionally some friction when the Army way of
operating conflicted with the RUG's interpretation of
In mid-July 1991 I arrived at Palace Barracks, how things should be done. lt was generally accepted
Holywood where I joined C Company, 7/10 (City of that one needed the other and in most cases a
Belfast) Battalion, The Ulster Defence Regiment for a diplomatic solution could be found between ground
seven month tour. My experiences were those of a PC commanders .
Platoon Commander in the City battalion as the six
UDR battalions differ greatly in character, as to the PC 7/10's 'patch ' is a busy one and there were few days
and part time (PT) companies within them. 7/ 10 UDR when something didn't happen . During my time there
consists of three PC (full time) com panies and three PT were frequent days of IRA inspired disruption which
companies , in total over a thousand men and women . caused chaos in the City Centre and there were some
The battalion is split between three separate locations , frantic moments when there were more bomb calls
with one PC and one PT company at each . The than teams to deal with them. The increased tempo of
battalion HQ is at Malone Road . The majority of the the terrorist campaign towards the end of 1991
battalion is male; however there are significant stretched all units in Belfast. The UDR are , however,
numbers of Greenfinches , particularly in the PT on a 'never ending tour', living with the same threat at
work and at home indefinitely.

compa nie s. The second part of the company cycle was less sexy
and mostly consisted of guarding key points in Belfast.
The Commanding Officer, Training Major, These included The Royal Courts of Justice , the
Quartermaster and Regimental Sergeant Major are all Telephone Exchange and Musgrave Park Hospital.
attached for two years from Regular units. There are The guards were long and monotonous, though
also a number of Regular Army posts in the Intelligence potentially dangerous , and their aim was to control
Cell and Training Wing . With the formation of Th e entry and deal with an incident should one arise. The
Royal Irish Regiment, it is hoped that, in time , these IRA bombing attack on Musgrave Park Hospital proved
posts will be filled from within the Regiment. what can happen .

At the time of writing the terms of service for PC I also operated outside Belfast on short two week
soldiers are changing to come in line with the Regular rural tours in company strength . In the seven months
Army and the new regiment . At present soldiers can that I was there we completed two tours in Rathfriland
leave with 30 days notice and all live at home . The and one in Coalisland . As a new arrival , I found these
UDR has been sending most of its soldiers on shorter rural ops added a new and exciting dimension to the
courses at Ballykinler rather than sending them on the usual routine .
longer Regular Career courses . This is set to change .
Recruits have already started to do a 22 week course The third part of the cycle had the company in
(instead of 10) and hopefully more NCOs will attend the reserve when it carried out, ideally, some form of
Brecon courses. The amalgamation will also give in-barrack training . When 1991 came to a close we
soldiers the chance to work away from Ulster with the found ourselves back in the City Centre as the need for
General Service Battalion . This will provide a much soldiers increased dramatically. During the tour my
needed break from the repetitive nature of Northern company managed to carry out CO IN training at Lydd
Ireland operations. Officers, since 1986, have attended and Hythe for a week and also field firing at Magilligan
the full Sandhurst and PCBC courses rather than the for three days.
short TA courses. Thi s is a start to ensuring that, in the
long run , the senior command posts are filled from the As a Platoon Commander in 7/ 10 I found that I had
Regiment . more responsibility than in a Regular Unit. As well as
the operational side, I also found myself sorting out

7/10 UDR work a three element cyclical system leave, training programmes, patrol orbats, ammunition
between the companies. The main element is the City indents, company training documents, courses , reports
Centre patrol. Th is usually lasts for approximately eight and a whole host of additional work. lt would be
weeks and is the most intensive. The Battalion TAOR impossible for one man to carry out all these duties
is all of East Belfast, however most of the patrols are alone so I was extremely grateful to have an excellent
carried out in the City Centre and the Republ ican areas Platoon Sergeant who shouldered much of the
(Sho rt Strand and the Markets) . Because your soldiers administrative work. One of the most obvious
live and work in the community they have an enviable differences between the UDR and other units was the
amount of local knowledge with which one can never soldiers themselves. UDR soldiers live at home and
hope to catch up over seven months . This experience, are generally much older than their Regular
together with their mature outlook and relaxed nature , counterparts . At present many of them have been in

81

the same job for many years without any variety or paradox that the terrorism and sectarian divide have
promotion . Their terms of service also allow them to
leave at short notice. I found that on sorne occasions , helped to strengthen many aspects of Ulster society
particularly when the pressure was on , that they were
more outspoken against the uncertainties of Service and there is much from which we , on the mainland
life, and on some occasions there were problems with could learn .
attendance. These problems were fortunately rare and '
most of the platoon proved to be hard-working and
highly professional. The slow promotion rate also During my tour with 7/10 UDR I learnt a great deal
ensured that there was a wealth of experience to fall not just about anti-terrorist operations but also about
back on, particularly with the Junior NCOs and Platoon
Sergeant. the UDR and Ulster. I shall always remember them as

Despite a busy schedule I still found that I had time a mature, experienced and thoroughly professional
to see something of the 'Real Ulster'. Nothing could be organisation . For them there is no break from the threat
further from the media image. A strong community
spirit combined with many of the traditional values of terrorism , either at work or at home . They work long
being lost on the mainland, ensure that non-terrorist
related crime is low. For most, the standard of living is hours, carrying out repetitive and often tedious work
high , mainly due to cheaper housing . Ulster also enjoys with little obvious progress. Perhaps the best example
some of the most unspoilt countryside in the UK. lt is a
during my tour was from a junior NCO who was called

back from Rathfriland because a UVBT had been
placed under his car. His wife and young children were

lucky to escape alive. This was the second attack on
him and his family but he is still serving with the UDR.

lt is that kind of bravery and dedication that I shall
remember.

A SHORT PERIOD OF BORDON

INTERSPERSED WITH LONG PERIODS OF EXCITEMENT!

by Capt A Ferguson, 8QF(V)

Low ratio selected ... vehicle lined up OK ... start the chance to take a closer look at the vehicle and to
crawling forward .. . hit the gas .. . engine revving .
find out from Capt Keating how Warrior performed in
concentrate on the hill. Hit the gradient whole the Gulf.

vehicle climbing and leaning backwards. Speed slows, The company was split into syndicates for an hour of
but plenty of power to keep moving . Gravity pushing instruction about the 432 in a hangar. A crammed
me back into the seat, I am concentrating on the crest presentation of facts, figures , capabilities and essential
of the knife-edge in front. safety drills was well received before our convoy of six
APCs headed out of barracks to the Longmoor Training
'Ease off on the gas, hold the vehicle level on the Area.
point of the hill', advises the instructor. I can feel

several tons of armoured vehicle swaying on the apex. All vehicles had the large mortar hatches open so
A glance down the front of the vehicle and the drop everyone had a good view of the demanding terrain on
appears almost vertical. The harness is tight and I can the area. The instructors gave a demonstration of the
432's abi lities across country before everyone had the
afford a smile. In the back of the 432 half a dozen
soldiers will now be trying to get a firm grip on anything chance for some driving experience both across
solid. They don't have to wait long! country and over the testing man-made obstacles.
Some people obviously handled the vehicles better
'Just touch the gas and ease forward , then foot off than others, as two trees bore witness! Despite the
the pedal and let it run down on its own .' The vehicle advice of the instructors the ride was always far from
pivots down sharply and I am staring at the ground comfortable. Pte Keating seemed to be one of the
instead of the sky. The vehicle accelerates down the better drivers, although some dismissed this by
hill and jolts as it levels out at the bottom. 'Select high suggesting that she had an unfair advantage, her
ratio and move ahead to the right.' The 432 speeds up father being the Wing's 21C!
and my pulse starts to ease off. Fantastic!

Thi s was certainly something a bit different for us. By late afternoon the company regrouped for orders
Every so often in the TA, the opportunity arises to have for the next phase of the exercise. The 432s had
a go at something totally new and exciting . This performed without any problems despite rough
weekend was one of those occasions. The Fusiliers of handling by inexperienced drivers. At last light the
C Company, 8QF(V) spent the two days training at the company deployed by 432 to the drop-off point and
Armoured Infantry Wing of the School of Infantry at occupied hide locations.

Bordon. After a short but comprehensive briefing by Close recce patrols went out to their selected
Capt Keating the company was given an eye opening objectives with mixed success. A determined attack on
demonstration of the capabilities of Warrior in the the patrol base at first light was successfully beaten off
hands of an experienced driver. Rapid acceleration, before the position was abandoned . After a short
high speed manoeuvreability forward and backwards withdrawal , Endex was declared and the company
and nose diving braking ability. This was followed by packed up for the move back to Balham.

82

A QUEENSMAN IN THE ANDAMAN SEA

by W02 R Malam

1am currently serving in Hong Kong with the Royal
Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and in October
1991 led a Sub Aqua diving expedition to the
submarine banks and ocean reefs of the Andaman
Sea, west of Thailand .

Our expedition flew from Kai Tak airport in Hong
Kong to Phuket in Thailand. We then travelled south by
road to Patong Beach to meet our charter vessel ,
despite several locals attempting suicide on their
mopeds. We were given a tour of the ship and its
facilities and finally retired to our newly acquired cabins
with the words , 'Only open the portholes if you wish to
submerge before tomorrow' , ringing in our ears.

After a six hour overnight trip , we arrived in the
Simian Islands , a paradise of lush green vegetation
surrounded by fine white sand beaches and crystal
clear water. The first dives allowed the group to shake
out and begin to appreciate the true value of diving in
waters free of pollution , frenzied boating activity and
the ravages of careless people .

As the day ended , the MV Fantasia headed further A shark veering off W02 Matam.

out to sea for the Burma Banks situated about one
hundred and fifty miles off the Thai west coast.
Diving at night was considered much too dangerous
so our last dive began late in the afternoon . lt was not
Dawn broke to find us in the middle of nowhere, no surprising however that as the sun began to set and the
land or ship in sight, just a small white plastic bottle light go, all buddy pairs returned to the surface by the
marking the mooring, a triumph for satellite navigation. boat, impeccable navigation or night time nerves?
We were sitting over a Coral Reef called Silvertip which
rose sharply from the seabed to about eighteen metres The main dive of the next day was to be a shark
below the surface and was constantly swept clean by feeding session . We formed up on the reef upstream of
oceanic currents. The sea was completely calm and the bait to await the main event. After a short while
shimmered in the early morning sunshine . We ate several Nurse sharks arrived and were shooed off, a
breakfast on the top deck, a sense of foreboding and few larger sharks appeared but were still not too
anticipation pervaded us all. This was where big interested and left. At last a six foot White Tip did take
oceanic sharks lived , a sight we had all come to see. the fish from the hand of the Divemaster and swam off
contentedly into the depths. The old fish were then
With the movie 'Jaws' firmly in mind, we made our placed on a coral head to keep the Nurse sharks
first descent, all eyes searching for the first shark occupied , a fresh tuna was loaded onto the bait rod and
sighting . We were not disappointed as suddenly, cut a few times to release it's blood. The Nurse sharks
gliding gracefully and confidently around a coral head descended upon the coral head and were so intent on
came a five feet long Nurse shark. Our breathing their meal that they did not see a large Silver Tip
increased , pulses raced and eyes widened , was this a approaching at speed , it bulldozed its way into their
really wise move? At the forefront of everyone's mind midst and scattered them. lt then turned and spotted
was a passage in our well-thumbed copy of the Divers our bait, a rod with food on both ends . lt first seized the
Medical Companion that stated 'the best way to half bait, then circled menacingly to gain enough
your chance of shark attack is to dive with a buddy! ' confidence to attack the other end. lt shot in again only
This is probably why one of our number was happy to to be fended off by the rod that it then proceeded to try
dive with two! to eat. Discouraged again it began to circle the group in

The afternoon dives were spent concentrating on a very agitated fashion . We returned to the boat this
the abundance of life and amazing underwater time , without our previous bravado and overconfidence
visibility. Although more at ease with the big fish we but with a new sense of awe and respect for one of
were still surprised when a curious Nurse shark was natures most successful marine creatures.
discouraged with a simple tap on the nose . A short time
later several White Tip, Silver Tip and Grey Reef Subsequent dives were not an anti-climax. In the
sharks appeared , the larger of which circled our group Surin Islands we were lucky to see Barracuda, Sea
with interest, but no action. We therefore returned to Turtles and two huge Stingray gliding effortlessly
the boat full of confidence and bravado about how around the sea bed . Even a relaxing Leopard shark
close they had swum to us and how nonchalantly we that fortunately did not wish to say 'cheese', fell victim
to a photo-call.
had observed them .

83

Back in the Simian Islands we experienced deep of caves and gullies , arches and sub aquatic cliffs.
and shallow dives among the coral heads. These were Elephants Head with it's cave rns, tunnels and grottos
interspersed along the seabed like so many blocks of and Sharkfin Reef, a solitary blade of rock risi ng from
flats , each having its own lifestyle and community of
lurking Moray Eels , aggressive Clown Fish and the seabed to the surface. Unico rn and Lion fish
majestic Angelfish to name but a few . One unfortunate fl ourished and sharks circled at the limit of visibility.
Puffer Fish automatically self-inflated after suddenly When the boat finall y set a course for Patong Beach, a
coming face to face with a diver, who could blame it? school of Dolphins played around the bows. lt was with
this final sight that we bade a sad farewell to the
The final days were spent on Fantasia reef , an area
Andaman Sea , the expedition was over but would
never be forgotten .

DRAGONS IN THE CATHEDRAL

AND OTHER LINKS WITH THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

(An article written for Canterbury Cathedral Chronicle, Spring 1992)

lt is fitting that Canterbury Cathedral, Mother Church ,lrm, .if Q UEEN ELI ZA BETH I
of England , should have its strongest links among the
Armed Forces with England's oldest Infantry Regiment ShoiVWS ha (G<Jicl.:n 1 Drajon Supporter .from u h~Ch, With
of the Line - The Queen's Regiment - the 'County u dJanyc v{ uncru rc and poswrc, dc n1 cs the Dr agon Badge ,,,
Regiment' of Kent , Surrey, Sussex and Middlesex. The
Regiment's main badge includes the Tudor Dragon THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT
inherited from one of its six famous forbear regiments ,
The Buffs, and many examples of this Royal Beast are
in the Cathedral.

The Dragon is taken from the coat of arms of Queen
Elizabeth I who, on May Day 1572, reviewed the
London Trained Bands from which a company was
raised to fight the Spanish in the Netherlands. These
men were the earliest forbears of The Buffs and Queen
Anne honoured the regiment with the Tudor Dragon in
1707 in recognition of their ancient origin and Royal
connection.

The Buffs were officially linked to East Kent in 1782
and first established a Depot in Canterbury in 1817.
This became a permanent base in 1873 and they were
granted the Freedom of the City 75 years later in 1948.
The City Council transferred this honour to The
Queen 's Own Buffs The Royal Kent Regiment in 1961
and then to The Queen's Regiment on its formation in
1966. The Council subsequently gave the Regiment
special recognition by including on all city signs on
main roads leading into Canterbury, 'Home of The
Queen's Regiment'.

So, where can the Dragons be seen in the
Cathedral? The majority are in the Warriors' Chapel 1.
Those most clearly visible are on the gate, donated in
memory of the last Colonel of The Buffs, Major General
Valentine Boucher, and in the centre of the magnificent
East Window of the chapel presented by the Regiment,
with the altar cross , candlesticks and carpet, in memory
of the 1,500 Buffs killed in the Second World War.
Another Tudor Dragon is on the reredos which
commemorates some 6,000 Buffs lost in the First
World War. Many other Dragons are of course on the
sets of Colours which have been laid up over the years
for safe keeping by the Dean and Chapter and are now
hung from the walls .

84

The East Window of the Warriors' Chapel replaced
one erected in memory of those who fell in the Crimean
War, which was destroyed by enemy action in 1942. lt
depicts the royal arms2 of Queen Elizabeth I, badges of
The Buffs, arms of the cities of London and Canterbury
and of former Colonels of th e Regiment, which are also
shown on the shields above the window. Prominent
among these are the arms of Prince Georg of
Denmark, Colonel 1689-1708, and King Frederik IX
Colonel in Chief of The Buffs 1947-6 1, of the Queen's
Own Buffs 1961-1966 and of The Queen 's Regim ent
1966-1972, who in 1952 unveiled the window. This
Danish connection led several hundred Danes to serve
in The Buffs in World War 11. Many, including Major A F
Lassen MC who won the Victoria Cross, gave their lives
and are remembered in prayers each day.

The Regimental centrepiece of the Warriors' Chapel
is a four-sided lectern bearing four Books of Life. These
contain names of those who gave their lives serving in
The Buffs in both World Wars, in the Queen's Own
Rifles of Canada, allied to The Buffs and now to The
Queen 's Regiment and, finally, members of The
Queen 's Regiment itself who have been killed or died
since 1966 while serving. The latter book and the
present lectern were dedicated by the Dean on 20 July
1990. Then , as always , a beautiful display of fresh
flowers was arranged by one of a small team of ladies
connected with the Regiment who have made this their
special responsibility .

Each weekday at 11 am, following the striking of six The Buffs (or Warriors') Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral.
bells on the Ship's bell of HMS Canterbury, there is a
short ceremony to Turn the Page of a Book of Life . This India, in 1846 by the 31st Foot, later the East Surrey
tradition started in 1926 and for many years was Regim ent. When the Ensign carrying the Regimental
performed by a soldier stationed at The Buffs Depot Colour fell mortally wounded and the result of the
with the best turn-out on daily guard-mounting. He fighting was in the balance , a Sergeant McCabe seized
marched alone from the barracks through the the Colour and dashed with it onto the enemy
Canterbury streets to the Cathedral. At the ce remony ramparts. This put new life into the attacking regiments
he had to remember the first name on the newly-turned who then took their objectives in desperate hand to
page and report it to the Regimental Sergeant Major on hand fighting . The Colours were laid up in 1850 with
his return . If correct, he was allowed the remainder of the names of the officers killed carrying them inscribed
the day off duty. Needless to say, the RSM had all on silver plates fastened to the pikes. The following
these names recorded! The daily ritual was carried out verse illustrates the significance of these and other old
throughout the Second World War, regardless of air Colours:
raids and their consequences. Indeed , on one
occasion , a sixteen-year-o ld Band Boy calmly 'A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,
performed the duty, oblivious of glass falling around lt does not look likely to stir a man's soul;
him as the result of a raid in progress at the time . With 'Tis the deeds that were done 'neath the moth-
the temporary departure of the Regular Army from eaten rag ,
Canterbury in the 1970s the problem arose as to who When the pole was a staff and the rag was a flag .'
should co ntinue to Turn the Page but enthusiastic A fragment of the Regimental Colour from Sobraon
former Buffs living in , or in the vicinity of, the City, was enclosed in the lid of a salt cellar used, to this day,
volunteered to continue the tradition . Now serving in the Salt Ceremony in the 1st Battalion of The
Queensmen again take their turn although sadly they Queen 's Regiment. Every newly-joined officer is
are no longer permitted to march through the streets. invited to 'Take salt with the Regiment' and to sign the
Salt Book. Sobraon Day itself is also commemorated
The Tudor Dragon also appears on memorial s to annuall y when their present Regimental Colour is
The Buffs elsewhere in the Cathedral. For example , ir
the South Aisle of the Nave there is a memorial to Buffs
ki lled in the Zulu Wars 1875-79 and, in the North Aisle,
another to members of the regiment who gave their
lives in Chitral and Punjab 1895-1898.

Also in the North Aisle are interesting links with oth er
forbear regiments of The Queen's. These include the
remains of the Colours carried at the battle of Sobraon ,

85

handed over to the 'Sobraon Sergeant' and , preceded cadet units and five Regimental Associations . However
by the Band and Drums , is marched from the Officers' it is approaching the end of another chapter in its long
Mess through the ranks of the battalion to the history, having been ordered to amalgamate by March
Sergeants' Mess where it remains until midnight. 1993 with the Royal Hampshire Regiment to form a

Next to the Sobraon Memorial and Colours is a new regiment of two Regular and two Volunteer
memorial to General lnglis who , as a Colonel , battalions to be cal led 'The Princess of Wales's Royal
commanded the 57th Foot, later part of the Middlesex Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)'. Despite a
Regiment (DCO) , at the Battle of Albuhera in Spain in different name and capbadge it will carry forward the
1811 . During hours of fierce infantry fighting he was best traditions of its seven distinguished forbear
shot through the lung . Refusing to have his wound Infantry regiments from Kent , Surrey, Sussex
dressed , he kept exhorting his men 'Die Hard , 57th . Die Middlesex and Hampshire . Certainly the Tudo;
Dragons will remain in the Cathedral, the ceremony of
Hard'. The nickname of the 57th and later the Turning the Page wi ll continue each day and the new
Middlesex Regiment became the 'Die-Hards'. Colonel Regiment will still be immensely proud of its many links
lnglis recovered after the battle, and died in Ramsgate with this ancient and beautiful House of God.
in 1835 following a distinguished career. As three of the
six former regiments now in The Queens, ie The Buffs ,
31st and 57th, all fought at the Battle of Albuhera with
great gallantry, its anniversary was adopted as the Notes

main Regimental Day. it is commemorated annually in (1) The Warriors' Chapel (otherwise called St
all battalions by 'The Silent Toast' drunk by officers and Michael's Chapel or The Buffs Chapel) is also known
sergeants to the 'Immortal Memory' of those killed at as the Holland Chapel after Lady Margaret Holland
the battle and to all who have contributed to the who had it rebuilt in 1437 to house the magnificent
heritage of The Queen 's Regiment.
tomb where she and her two royal husbands are
In more recent times , the Regiment has continued its buried. lt is only a coincidence that, for some years
tradition of gifts to the Cathedral by donating a sharp after their return to England after serving in the
treble bell in 1961 as a 'lasting token of goodwill from Netherlands from 1572 to 1665, The Buffs were called
The Queen's Regiment to the Cathedral'. Important the Holland Regiment.
Regimental Services have also been held in the
Cathedral , particularly when Colours have been laid (2) There is an interesting link between the arms of
up. The last such set belonged to The Queen 's Own Queen Elizabeth I and Lady Margaret Holland .
Buffs The Royal Kent Regiment (1961-66) and now Margaret Holland and her first husband John Beaufort,
hang in the South West corner of the Warriors' Chapel. half-brother of Henry IV, were grandparents of
Other Regimental Services followed the exercise of Margaret Beaufort through whose marriage to Edmund
the Freedom of the City by the 3rd Battalion in 1988 on Tudor the royal succession passed to their son Henry
leaving Canterbury for operational duty in Northern VII , the first Tudor monarch . Proud of his Welsh
Ireland and by the 2nd Battalion in 1991 on returning to ancestry, Henry adopted the red dragon of Romano
the 'Home of The Queen's Regiment' after 20 years Celtic origin as a royal badge and supporter as can be
service elsewhere in the world. On both occasions the seen in the centre of Christ Church gate and
battalions' Colours emblazoned with the Tudor Dragon (unexpectedly in the context) in the middle panel of the
in the Regimental badge were borne proudly to the Royal Window in the Martyrdom , between the portraits
Cathedral. At the Enthronement of Archbishop Carey of Henry's parents-in-law Edward IV and Elizabeth
the Regiment was kindly invited by the Dean and Woodville. Henry Vll's grand-daughter Queen
Chapter to send a small representative party and the Elizabeth I changed the colour of the dragon from red
Drum Major of the 2nd Battalion in full ceremonial dress to gold. When awarded to The Buffs in recognition of
had the privilege of carrying , for the Lord Mayor of their ancient and royal origins it became green and
Canterbury, the Vision Sword which incorporates the changed position from rampant to passant.
Regiment's badge.
(3) The Museum of The Buffs is in the Beaney
Today, The Queen's Regiment has three Regular Institute, Canterbury and the museum of The Queen 's
battalions, three Territorial Army battalions, many Regiment is in the Inner Bailey of Dover Castle .

BOOK REVIEW Dedicated to his three grandsons, the book gives an

LIFE OF A BRITISH POW IN POLAND eye-opening account of life behind barbed wire . lt is
honestly and vividly written to describe the camps , the
marches, the treatment by their guards and the
May 31st 1940 to April 30th 1945 happiness of final freedom. The story of the
by James Stedman late RWK experiences of this young Private soldier from Kent , a

(Published by Merlin Books Ltd, of Braunton, Devon, captive for 5 years , is recommended reading for all.

price £3.95p) Copies of the book may be purchased price £3.95p

This short story on just 48 pages has been written by including postage and packing direct from the author
James Stedman who was drafted into the Queen 's (now Vice Chairman of the Medway Branch of the
Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1939 and within Queen 's (Queen's Own Buffs) Regimental
eight months became a POW until he was released at Association) at the following address:
the end of the war.
James H Stedman

105 Broadway, Gillingham , Kent ME8 6DP

86

DRUMMER OF THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT
by Michael Sutty of London

Michael Sutty of London has produced an 8 inch
hand-painted statuette in cold-cast porcelain of a
Drummer of The Queen 's Regiment.

By special arrangement these figures are being sold
to members of the Regiment at a concessionary price
of £99.88 including VAT, if collected from RHO. The
cost of postage and packing is £4.11 p each including
VAT.

If you wish to take advantage of this offer please
complete the form below and return it to RHO, with your
cheque payable to 'The Queen's Regiment Account No
0579577' , by no later than 1 August 1992.

~------------------ - -------

Please return by 1 August 1992 to:

Regimental Headquarters
The Queen 's Regiment
Howe Barracks
Canterbury
Kent CT1 1JY

DRUMMER OF THE QUEEN 'S REGIMENT BY MICHAEL SUTTY OF LONDON

1. I wish to order statuette(s) .

2. Delivery Signed : ....... ... .. . . . .... Date: .... .. .
a. I will arrange collection from RHO . Rank , Initials ,
b. Please send to me at the address below. Name , Decorations:
Address :
3. Payment. I enclose a cheque payable to 'The
Queen 's Regiment Account No 0579577' for the
following :

a. statuette(s) at £99.88P'- - - - - - Post Code: ... .
(Delete as applicable)
each
b. Postage and packing a ' - -- - - - -

£4 .11p each
c. Total

87

FOR YOUR DAUGHTER FOR YOUR SON

THE ST AUGUSTINE'S
URSULINE CONVENT
AND
SCHOOL
THE ABBEY SCHOOL

YOUR CH ILD NEEDS A SECU RE BASE IN THIS CHANG ING WORLD

INTRODUCTORY SERVICE BURSA RI ES
SE RV ICE DISCOUNTS
HO LIDAY DATES
TRAVEL

HALF-TERM AR RA CEMENTS
TUITION

CU RRI C ULUM
SHARED SIXTH FORM

PASTORAL CA RE

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
SEPARATE EDUCATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

CLOSE FAMILY LI N KS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEVER MORE THAN A FEW STEPS AWAY

CON TACT US AT

CANTERBU RY ROAD, WESTGATE-ON-SEA, KENT
TELEPHONE: 0843 83 443 1 or 0843 83244 1
FAX: 0843 835365 or 0843 8355 79

LICHFIELD TRURO HIGH SCHOOL
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

A first class preparatory school INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR 360
edu cation in magnificent surroundings for GIRLS AGED 3-18 !BOARDING FROM 8 YEARSJ
boys and gir ls between the ages of 4 and 13 +.
BOYS AGED 3-7
Day and boarding places.
Academic and Choral Scholarships. HEADMI STRESS; MRS J.F. MARSHALL, M .A. ICANTABJ

Further information from the Headmaster. * OUTSTANDING EXAM INATION RESULTS 190%1 pass rate
T he Palace, Lichfield , Stafford shire
WSI3 7LH at G C S E and A. Level1n 1991 100% 1n 11 subtectsl
Telepho ne: Lichfield 263326
* Full Range of G C S E and A Level courses

* Excellent record of Umvers1ty success
* Small classes
* Good diSCipline
* Separate Jun1or Department
* Nursery class for g1rls and boys
* W•de range of extra-curncular actiVIties mcludmg yeaHound

sw•mmmg

* Chnst•an trad1t1on

Full details and prospectu s from :
The Hea dm istress 's Secretary
Truro High School, Falmouth Road
Truro, Cornwall TR1 2HU
Tel : 0872 72830

88

HOLMEWOOD HOUSE
SCHOOL

LANGTON GREEN, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT
Telephone: 0892 862088

Headmas/er : D . G. I VES, M. A .(Oxo n)

I.A.P .S. Day and Boarding Preparatory School for
Boys and Girls aged 3- 13

Out standing A cademic Record , Strong Music, Art , Dram a and Spo rts Department s,
excellent faciliti es

ACA DEM I C.~ MUSIC SC HOI. A I{SH II'~ OFFEHEil A N :'oil/A I.U

FOR FREE PROSPEC TUS APPLY TO H EADMASTER 'S SECRETARY

LAWRENCE ... CALDICOTT ...

HOUSE Farnham Royal, Bucks. SL2 3SL

CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND ~~
BOARDING SCHOOL
Ages 3 to 13+ ( Boarding and Day Boys' Preparatory School
lAPS 250 pupils)
I.A.P.S.
Boys are prepared for Common Entrance
Small classes in a caring but disciplined and Scholarship examinations to Public School.
environment.
Facilities available for most forms o f outdoor
Broad Curnculum to cater for a w1de range of games. indoor games. music. art, technology.
Educational needs .
• Excellent facil1 t1es mclude Computer su1te, new computing. chess. cubs and dram a.
Science Build1ng and Indoor Heated Sw1mmmg
Pool. Country location . on the edge of Burnham
• W1de range of extra curncular opportun1t1es Beeches, near to M4 . M40 and H eathrow Airport
• Full programme of sport, drama and mus1c for
all pupils and only 20 miles from London .
• Scholarsh1ps for Academ1c, Sportmg and
Mus1cal talents . ... ...Telephone: 0753 644457 for prospectus
• Bursanes for H M Forces. Local and
D1plomat1c Serv1ces and others on appl1cat1on 89
• Arrangements made for pup1ls transport to and
from A1rports. Stat1ons etc .
Please contact The Headmaster for further

details and on appointment to view
The School on : (0253) 722178

ST EDMUND'S SCHOOL LAVANT HOUSE

Canterbury, Kent GSA Girls' Independent grounds only two m iles
Day and Boarding School. from Ch ichester and girls
President : The Archbishop of Ca nterbury 5-18 years can join in a wide ra nge of
sporting and extra
A co-educational A w ide ra nge of subjects c urric ular acti viti es.
independent school fo r GCS E and ' A' Level is
ta ught in small classes w it h For f urt her info rm ati on
of 600 pupils excellen t examina ti on co nta ct t he Headmistress,
set on a hilltop res ult s. Lavant House , Chichester.
W est Sussex P01 8 9A B.
ove rlo okin g Th e Sc hool. w hic h has it s
Ca ntcrhury own Ridin g Stables and T elep h o n e:
heated swimmin g pool , is Chichester 102431 5272 11
Boardi ng and day Places si tu ated in beau t iful
Age range 4- 12 (J un iors). 13- IS( Senio" )
Em.y access to London and the Channel Pon ' Children of HM Services families welcomed
and discount given
Exce llent fac il it ie; and pastoral care
A Church of En gland foundation
HMC. lAPS. CSA

9 former pupils gained I, t clas' degrees in 1990/9 1
Canterbury Cathedral Choriste" hips
Academic and Mu, ic Sc holarships
Reduced fees fo r Ser vice families

Prospectus from The Headmaster,
St Edmund 's School ,

Canterbury, Kent, CT 2 SH U: 0227-454575

NEWIANDS SCHOOL(S) SIR ROGER MANWOOD'S
, SCHOOL
SEAFORD, EAST SUSSEX
Sandwich, Kent CT13 9JX
THE PREPARATORY :1 THE MANOR Tel : Sandwich (0304) 613286
(7- 13+) (1 3- 18)
Fax No: 0304 615336
BOARDING. WEEKLY BOARDING & DAY • Founded 1563

Some things we' re proud of that we'd like you to consider: MIXED GRAMMAR SCHOOL 11-18
(650 Pupils) (Sixth Form 165 Pupils)
• Trad itions wh1ch go back over 100 years and modern developments
I02 Girl and Boy Boarders and 550 Day Pu pils
(including co-education) which enhance the quality of life
• A family atmosphere of care and concern in our boarding communities * Majority of Boarding Pupils from Service fa milies.
• A style o f discipline which is fi rm but friendly
• A wide and challenging cuniculum Board ing Fees £4050 per annum . No
• Our very good academic and sporting records
• Our wealth of extra-cunicular activities 1n sport , music. drama . Thition fees. * 'A' Level Pass Rate 93.4% 1991 .

art , computing, scouti ng and hobb1es * Featured in "Good State Schoo ls Guide".
• Our su pport Learntng Unit which has a distmgUtshed record o f
* Fl ouri shing C lu bs and Societies * Own Combined
success in assisting dyslexic boys and guls and those for whom
English is the1r second language Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme *
• The partnership and links between the Senior and J untor Schools Exce ll ent Ga mes fac il iti es
(ensuring academic continuity and facilitating regular contact
between brothers and sisters attending bot h schools) * App li cations Particul arl y Welcome fo r Boarders at
• Our large services connection to whom we give generous fees age I I. Close to Sa ndwich Stati on for train s to London
discounts
• Our TRAVEL and ESCO RT arrangements which tnclude coaches to and Dover for Cross-Channel Ferry Services.
Southsea and Aldershot, Minibuses to Kent and Escorts to Luton ,
Heathrow and Gatwlc k Airports and London (Victona Station) Full details and a prospectus may be obtained
by writing or telephoning to the Headmaster
FURTHER INFORMATION FROM
THE PREPARATORY, .... ... .... .. Telephone (0323) 892334
HEADMASTER ' .. ..... ... ... ....... Roger C Clark BA..MA (EO)
THE MANOR, ........ ...... ..... ... .. Telephone (0 3 2 3) 890309
HEADMASTER, .. Brian F. Underwood MA.,Oip.F.D (Oxon)

Fa'" ·· ·· ····· ······ ········ ·· ······ ·· ··· ········ .......... (03 23) 891599

90

DovJER CoLLJEGJE

H .M.C.
Full Boarding, Weekly Boarding, Day

11-18

•Co-education

Scholarships both for academic achievement and character
Excellent results at A-level

•Small school family atmosphere

Services discount 200Jo plus special additional 150Jo

•members of the Queen 's Regiment
Enquiries to The Headmaster
Dover College, Dover, Kent CT17 9RH

Telephone : (0304) 215079

ST BENEDICT'S •CANTERBURY

CONVENT SCHOOL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Andover POSTED?

Girls Boarding and Day School For more than twenty years in East Kent we have
been looking after the homes of Owners posted
Five to 16 years abroad . Most building societies and banks know
our Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements
Boys Day th ...ee to nine years Nursery Class from three years safeguard your legal rights in letting your homes
while away. We offer full and personal property
Girls four to 16 years management and maintenance service .
From August , our Management Team includes
Pupils are prepared for GCSE and Common Entrance Major Mike Aylward - Ex Regimental Officer.
examinations. Thirteen subjects are offered to GCSE leve l. For more details without any obligation , phone or
Over 95 per cent of our pupils go on to further academic write :
education. The happiness of our girls and the development
of the whole personality is our prime concern. Emphasis is Canterbury Property Management
29 St. George's Place
placed on good manners, courtesy and consideration for Canterbury CT1 1UT
each pupil to reach his or her full potential. Children of all Tel : 769520n61693

denominations are welcomed. Supervision before and
after school is by arrangement and transport is available

to and from school

lFor prospectus please contact Mrs J Mson,~hi
the School Secretary. Tel, (0264} 772291
. ISIS

St Benedict s Convent School, "'""'"

Penton lodge,

Andover, Hants SPll ORD

91

Get the best of

Both Worlds

When you leave th e Army
join the TA - all th e fun of
so ldieri ng - little of the rout ine .
W e need your experience.
TA Cent res at:

Bn HQ 5 QUEENS (V) 6f7 QUEENS (V) 8QF(V)
HQ Coy
A Coy Canterbury Horsham St John's Hill
Horsha m St John's Hill
B Coy Canterbury
C Coy Dover Farnham Camberwell
Camberley
Guildford Edgware
Cobham Bright on Hornsey
Ho u n s lo w Worthing Balham
Crawley St Ma ry Gray
Gillingham Haywards Heath
Maid s ton e Linglield
Sunon
Hastings Cobham
Seaford Ki n g sto n
Homsey
D Coy

Come along any drill night
and see for yourself.

Details of service, full addresses of TA Centres
and day of drill night, can be obtained by
ringing the Orderly Rooms at Canterbury
761397/462769, Horsham 66111 or (for
St. John's Hill, Clapham Junction)
071-924 3122

join the T. A.

THE EX SOLDIERS HOBBY

92