NEWSLETTER- JANUARY 2014.   

Branch Meeting Wednesday 15^th.

BIRTHDAYS OF NOTE.

Many happy returns this month go to NORMAN OSBORNE  who will celebrate his 85^th Birthday

on 21^st JANUARY.

STANDARD ON PARADE

The Secretary received a request for our Branch Standard to be on parade at the repatriation

of Captain Richard Holloway. R.E.

Captain Holloway unfortunately lost his life while serving in Afghanistan.

Bert Martin paraded the Standard with Honour and Dignity.   Thank you Bert.

Our sincere sympathy goes to Captain Holloway's Family and Friends on their sad loss.

ENTERTAINMENT.  Tonight we are welcoming the return of Jacky Smith who will take us on a tour of Portland, Dorset.  Then at our meeting on 19^th February we look forward to seeing

John England with his presentation entitled Holton Heath.

INFORMAL  LUNCHES.

The next lunch will be held on Tuesday, 21^st January , at the GURKHA RESTAURANT SANDFORD.  Then on Tuesday, 4^th February.  we return to the FERNDOWN, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB.

Our lunch in March will be on Thursday the 6^th at POOLE EX- SERVICEMEN'S CLUB, NORTH ROAD.   Lists on the table tonight. Don’t forget that if you are unable to attend meetings and would like to go to our lunches do contact Peter Piggott.

Please let Peter know if you need to cancel as this assists the caterers with food preparation

BRANCH ANNUAL LUNCH.   This will take place on Saturday 3^rd  May 12 Noon for 1P.M. at the Cumberland Hotel, West Cliff, Bournemouth.   The cost will be £16.00 for Members

Ladies and Guests.   The menu is distributed with the Newsletter tonight.

Please provide all written names and numbered menu choices, on attached sheet.

( Please make sure that each diner has an individual Menu choice listed).

Final date for bookings and payment is  1^st April.

BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.  This will take place at the Branch meeting on

19^th  MARCH. At this Meeting the election of  officers will take place and the Branch Accounts will be presented.  

BRANCH SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2014

These are NOW due.   The cost this coming year is to remain at £8.00.

EVENTS   2014

BRANCH EVENT.

Saturday 3^rd  May      

The Branch Annual Lunch will be held at the Cumberland Hotel. East Cliff. Bournemouth.

FORECAST OF NATIONAL EVENTS 2014

The following events of interest for 2014 have been notified to HQ REA

TBA                         Minley Weekend

31       May              Trooping the Colour - Maj Gen Review   (Applications by 14^th  February)

05       June             Royal Hospital Chelsea Founders Day Parade  (Bids by 14^th March)

07       June             Trooping the Colour - Colonels Review   (Applications by 14^th  February)

11-12  June             Beating the Retreat, London.

14       June             Queens Birthday Parade   (Ballot close 28^th February)

13-14 or 20-21-  September  (TBC) Corps Memorial Weekend*

11       October        REA AGM and Annual Dinner*

12       October        Sapper Sunday at Royal Hospital Chelsea.

06       November    Field of Remembrance, Westminster.

09       November    Remembrance Sunday

* National Events            Booking details available from Branch Secretary

                  Branch Welfare:  Please contact Welfare Member,

                  Peter Piggott, 

THE FIRST WORLD WAR SNIPPETS.    The Proposed Memorial Arch in Folkestone.

Folkestone is well ahead with plans to erect a Memorial Arch at the top of the 'Road of Remembrance.'  This is the route which the men would have taken on their way to the fleet waiting to convey them across the Channel.

The start of WW1 was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on 28^th June 1914.

At that time of year visitors to Folkestone were strolling along the cliff-top promenade, listening to the music from the bandstands and enjoying afternoon tea.  In early August things changed drastically when troops began to embark from the town to the battlefields of Europe.

Folkestone became the largest army camp in Britain when the embarkation of troops from Southampton was transferred there  in 1915.  Millions of troops, during the next 4 years, passed along the 'Road of Remembrance.'

The charity raising money for the Arch, the proposed building of a museum, also tidying up and landscaping the road, is called "Step Short".   It is planned to have the official inauguration in August.

For more visit :   www.stepshort.co.uk