LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION



THE RIFLES (MIDLANDS) REGIONAL NEWSLETTER

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NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2012 10 September 2012

LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS

LI REGIMENTAL REUNION WEEKEND

10-12 JUNE 2012

1. Once again, judging from the reaction of the members attending, the Reunion was a great success. There are certain aspects of the reunion, as always, that need improving and the feedback is already coming in which will be fully addressed. The numbers were much the same as last year but a disappointing turn out for the Association Dinner with bottoms on seats down from 220 in 2011 to 150 this year. It did not deter those who did attend from having a really good evening with Lt Col Ian Sawers taking the lead role singing all the County Songs, with some vigour; due to the low numbers we were grateful for his fairly loud renditions, complete with appalling local accents!

2. Many new faces were seen this year which means that the message is getting through to more people that the Reunion is worth attending. The Rifles were added to the title this year and it was right to do so as they have been in existence for over 5 years and there are many Riflemen now leaving who have only served in the Rifles with no reunions yet set up for them. Quite a few of those have left or are leaving with life changing injuries and hopefully we can encourage them to attend until they get

their own reunions going.

3. The Rifles Band and Bugles were not available due to covering a Royal visit in

Germany but the Waterloo Rifles Band and Bugles, 7 Rifles from Oxford, covered for the Association Day. The weather conditions were not good but it did not deter them from providing excellent performances both in the marquee area and the parade and Sounding Retreat. Due to the Band having a Freedom Parade in Poole on the Sunday the main band had to depart before the dinner but the 'stay behind' group of 4 Musicians and 4 Buglers, admirably led by S/Sjt Martin Roberts and Bugle Major Terry McCann provided the musical entertainment for the evening.

4. The parade was very well attended with the LI Contingent so much bigger that it was a problem fitting it on the square. We will now have to rethink the parade format and ideas will be sought on how best to cope with this increase. Many apologies to the KOYLI and Durham Contingents for getting the order of Seniority wrong with the KOYLI demoted and the DLI promoted! The first and hopefully the last time! Many thanks go to Lt Col John Wykeham for carrying out the role of Reviewing Officer, which was in recognition of the excellent service he has given to the Light Infantry and in particular the Reunion over many years. Many thanks go also to Fr Michael Fish for conducting the Drumhead Service and the Dedication of the Leeds Branch Standard.

5. We await the feed back but the bar worked a little better than last year and the only really long wait was after the Parade and Retreat when some 200 to 300 people descended on the bars; even the largest of pub bars would have trouble coping with that sort of crowd. This area will need further investigation.

6. A Tombola stall was set up to raise money for the Reunion Fund and it raised an excellent £500. This was managed by Shrewsbury Branch, headed up by Dennis and Lavina Crook. Very well done to all concerned.

7. Nesscliff was once again in use. It was decided that due to the extra cost we would not use this facility but a number of people stated they would stay so it was re-introduced and once again Maj Paul Evanson (ex 2LI), the Camp Commandant, in true Light Infantry style, took up the challenge and with his very small team provided the full service. In the end 60

members took up the offer.

8. It is not possible to thank everyone who played a role in this year's reunion but I need to mention a few:

All Rifles Office Staff around the country.

Heather Morgan from the Shrewsbury Office who, once again issued some 1300 day passes and took the many phone call queries from those who were not sure on various matters.

Doc Halliday for the excellent management of the draw, making £4660.

The Draw winners were:

• £1000 – Mr Andy Endacott c/o Capt Terry Marsh

• £500 – Mr Peter Heutson Doncaster Branch

• £250 – Mrs Marie Gaut c/o Eddie Gaut ex 3LI

• £250 – Mr Ian Gregory Son of Jack Gregory

• £50 – Major Ron Berry DLI, 1, 2 and 3LI

• £50 – Mr Dave Hoare Shrewsbury Branch

• £50 – Mr S Reynolds Truro Branch

• £50 – Mrs Viv Xiourouppa c/o Josh Warwick ex KSLI

• £50 – Mr Bill Stapleford Durham Branch

Reg Hanmer for once again coming to the rescue with loan of mini buses and tentage and also for being "wilco".

Ted Coxon, SPSI E (Rifles) Coy, who, although E Coy was deployed still found staff to help.

Decker Winter, QPSI E (Rifles) Coy without whose assistance life would have been very difficult. He is also the 'official photographer' for the reunion.

Capt Dave Sharpe, for permitting the use of the RST.

Cpl Darren Crook and his RST team without which the weekend would have been extremely difficult to manage.

This weekend would not be possible without the support of the ex members of the light infantry. Come back next year!

See you all on 7, 8 and 9 June 2013 at Copthorne Barracks.

E (RIFLES) Company 4 MERCIAN

9. The 2010 – 2011 training year culminated with the safe return from Op HERRICK 14 of L/Cpl Crump, Rfn Empson, Summerfield, Comer who were attached to 3 MERCIAN and Rfn Courtney from 1 RIFLES. Cpl Overton returned from Op HERRICK 15 in the spring of 2012, having completed a successful tour with the REME.

10. The last training year saw 4 MERCIAN introduce Op INKERMAN which was aimed at getting the soldiers within the battalion re trained and re skilled. E Coy has seized this opportunity to put soldiers on courses and we have now gained additional PTI’s (both basic and intermediate), Endurance Training Leaders, RMQ 1-3 / CMCQ qualified soldiers, and an additional chef. I am pleased to report that E Coy have taken up most of the battalions allocated places on courses. The fact that E Coy has been able to re skill is testament to the dedication of the soldiers. Most of the Company work shifts or weekends. In order to fill the training gaps, a lot of time off has been taken from our civilian employment or soldiers have organised cover for their shifts to enable the Company to meet its requirement to be a fully functioning part of 4 MERCIAN.

11. We have also had a fantastic opportunity for adventurous training which was been arranged by 143 Brigade, which E Coy has taken full advantage of. This year soldiers have been to Malta for scuba diving and Norway for Nordic skiing. L/Cpl Bate has passed his mountain bike instructors course and is available to teach and take groups on this challenging activity. 143 Brigade have recently published the adventure training programme up until March 2013, which E Coy will endeavour to fill.

12. Major Watson took soldiers from the Company to Cyprus in April 2012 where they took part in Ex Lion Star 3 (LS3) or Lion Star 5 (LS5). LS3 was aimed primarily at those deploying on Op HERRICK 17 and those soldiers were put through their paces on a six day FTX. Those soldiers not mobilising for HERRICK were put through LS5 were taken through OBUA skills, platoon attacks and a range package at Pyle ranges. LS3 culminated with a fast and furious beach assault from landing craft, an advance to contact and helicopter assaults on the final objective. For those who have never been on operations in Iraq or Afghanistan it was a great insight of what is to come, as the soldiers exercised in temperatures in excess of 40 degrees centigrade. The Duke of Westminster was one of the high profile visitors to the Company on the exercise. He was impressed with the skills and physical robustness of the riflemen from E Company who he saw. Just to make the whole experience complete, the adventure training package that was offered was excellent. Soldiers were able to take part in parachuting, scuba diving, rock climbing, mountain biking or mountain walking. Ex Lion Star was a fantastic exercise, and was enjoyed by all the soldiers who took part. It demonstrated the role that the Territorial Army has to support the regular army, and that the TA can be a fun and attractive second career for Ex-Regulars or civilians alike.

13. Latterly the Company has been preparing for Op OLYMPIC. We have mobilised 20 soldiers who will take part in the biggest sporting spectacle which the country has ever see. E Company is proud to be playing its part in ensuring that the Olympics are enjoyed by everyone.

14. Finally the summer months are still busy for the Company. We have soldiers mobilised for the Olympics and Afghanistan. Recruits and instructors are away for five weeks during Summer Challenge and courses are still happening. Although training nights this summer are not as well attended as they were in May 2012, we shall pick up the pace again in September with a full training programme.

15. Sadly the Company lost one of its soldiers in April 2012. L/Cpl Shane Scott died after a brave fight against lung cancer. Scotty was a bugler and a great stalwart E Company and representative of the Light Infantry Association. He promoted E Coy and The Rifles at public events throughout the country. He will be sadly missed by every soldier who has ever served with him.

Swift and Bold

Capt Gordon Kaye 2IC E ‘RIFLES’ Coy,

4 MERCIAN

HEREFORD; SOUNDING RETREAT AND RECEPTION – SAT 14 JUL 12

16. The Regional Secretary was woken from his reverie when informed that Castle Green in Hereford had been doubled booked with Historical Hereford Day (HHD). He appreciated that the HHD was an immovable object and so compromise was counselled. Sounding Retreat was to be billed as the finale of the day and all looked excellent on paper. So the Shrewsbury Office reverted to its normal reactive mode awaiting the first of the: “Hello Major! Got a bit of a problem ….” calls.

Come the day, the Secretary headed south down the local Nad Alley A49 and swept onto Castle Green with his workhorse car, loaded to the gunwales with regimental flags, collecting tins, seating plans and miles of sellotape for those wilful place cards. Normally faced with a deserted Green apart from a few errant Tyrell crisp packets and empty Bulmers cider cans he was confronted with a somewhat more congested parade ground, through which he had images of the Band and Bugles having to weave its way. There was further consternation when two knitting revolutionary ladies (14 July Bastille Day) had to be persuaded to make way for royalist guests.

As the last mead quaffing revellers rolled off to the Cathedral, the guests arrived and the Regional Secretary, with the help of the Hereford & Worcester ACF cadets and the Hereford Branch stalwarts, cut about as if there had been no close shaves. On marched the Waterloo Band and Bugles who gave a cracking performance and the Olympian warmth of the audience underlined the strength of the links between Herefordshire and the Rifles. It was a truly fitting finale to Historical Hereford Day.

KEY FORTHCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2012 – SEPTEMBER 2013

17. Regimental events in other Regions are published in The Bugle. Bids to attend those Association events marked with an asterisk* should be sent as soon as possible to this Office, using the proformae at Annex A to this Newsletter. The key regional events are listed below:

a. Sat 06 Oct 12 *

LI Association Shropshire Reunion Dinner at the Greenhous Stadium, Shrewsbury. (Please return Annex A soonest if attending).

b. Thu 08 Nov 12

Field of Remembrance – London.

c. Sun 11 Nov 12

Remembrance Sunday – Freedom Towns.

d. Mid May 13

Shropshire Regiments Trail.

e. Sat 25 May 13

Shropshire Agricultural Show.

f. Fri 07 – Sun 09 Jun 13

LI Regimental Reunion (Shrewsbury

and Nesscliff).

g. Sat 13 Jul 13

Freedom of Ross-on-Wye.

h. Fri 09 and Sat 10 Aug 13

Shrewsbury Flower Show.

LIGHT INFANTRY ANNUAL REGIMENTAL REUNION WEEKEND SHREWSBURY 07-09 JUNE 2013

18. The annual Regimental Reunion will take place at Copthorne Barracks Fri 07 Jun and Sat 08 Jun 13. Nesscliff will be available for accommodation again with an initial limit of 200 members. Details of the cost etc will be published in the Spring 2013 Newsletter.

NOTICES

19. The Bugle. If you are interested in receiving a copy of The Bugle Magazine please contact this office.

20. Historical Information Requests. Anyone wanting historical information on an individual who served in the KSLI and other local regiments is asked to contact The Curator, SRM, The Castle, Shrewsbury SY1 2AT (Tel: 01743-262292) and not this Office. 

21. Shropshire Regimental Museum (SRM). The SRM now has a new website, with its online shop and Paypal payment system, Regimental History, Research Service and much more. Please click on the link below.

shropshireregimentalmuseum.co.uk

22. New Recruits Required. The Loyal Newport Volunteers (raised in 1803) and now The Civic Guard for Newport, Shropshire

are actively seeking new members for a variety of ceremonial duties throughout the year.

 

"Brown Bess" Muskets, 1803 style uniforms and full training will be supplied.

 

Please contact Kingsley Tompson on –

01952 550927 for further details.

 

23. Your e-mail Address. Please could you let the Rifles Office have your e-mail address so that future Newsletters can be hot wired to you.

N A de C Jones

N A de C JONES

Major (Retd)

Regional Secretary

Tel No: 01743 262430

e-mail: aoshrewsbury@the-rifles.co.uk

Distribution:

RHQ Rifles (Winchester)

All Association Members

Rifles Regular and TA Battalions

E (RIFLES) Company 4MERCIAN

Rifles Offices

Horn

Someren

ANNEX A TO

SH/122

DATED 10 SEP 12

To: RIFLES OFFICE FROM:

COPTHORNE BARRACKS NAME:

SHREWSBURY

SY3 8LZ BATTALION/PLATOON:

ADDRESS:

POSTCODE:

TELEPHONE NO:

E-MAIL:

LI ASSOCIATION SHROPSHIRE AUTUMN DINNER, PROSTAR STADIUM, SHREWSBURY -

SAT 06 OCT 12

I wish to book ..................................................... tickets @ £20.00 per person.

Names of Regimental Guests (including Spouse):

Names of non-Regimental Guests:

If possible I would like to be seated at the same table as:

I enclose a cheque for £ ......................................... made payable to the RIFLES ADMIN ACCOUNT (SHREWSBURY)

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM, WITH A STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE FOR TICKETS

NO LATER THAN FRI 21 SEP 12

(THERE IS NO NEED TO RESPOND TO THIS FORM UNLESS YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE DINNER)

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