NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2014

NEWSLETTER - November 2014. Branch Meeting Wednesday 19^th.

BIRTHDAYS OF NOTE.

This month we celebrate two members birthday's.  They are John Scammell who will be

90 on the 26^th November, also Brigadier John Goodson O.B.E, who will be 85 on the

20^th November.  We wish both Members  " Many happy returns of the day".

ENTERTAINMENT.

Tonight we will be hearing about the history of " Christchurch  Barracks" from John Barker.

At our meeting in December on Wednesday 17^th.  we will welcome Wimborne Musical Theatre, who will entertain us at our Christmas party, with a selection of songs from the shows and also some Xmas music. An excellent early start to Christmas!

INFORMAL  LUNCHES.

The next lunch will be held on Tuesday 2^nd December at FERNDOWN, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB.   This will be A Christmas Lunch consisting of two Courses, also included Mince Pies and Crackers..  A draw will take place. The cost has been set at £8 .50.  You must agree that is a good price.

Please take note.

As a good many Members and Ladies etc are expected to attend;

A date of 29^th November has been set for the final day for booking,  You will not be allowed to book after this date!    Any late bookings will have to be refused.    

As all our monthly lunches are now held at  FERNDOWN on the First Tuesday of each month the January lunch has been arranged for Tuesday 6^th.^.

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  Mike Herbert  on 01202  674612.

Please let Mike know before Noon on the Sunday before the Lunch  if you need to cancel as this assists the caterers with food and seating.

ADVANCE NOTICE BRANCH SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2015.

These will become due on 1^st JANUARY. The cost this coming year will increase to £12.00. The reason for this rise is the increasing cost of Production and Distribution of the monthly Newsletter and Branch expenses. Full details will be available in time for the Branch A.G.M in March.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADES. 9^th NOVEMBER

The branch was represented at Parades held around the district again this year.  Wreaths were laid on behalf of the branch, in Bournemouth by  Jim Tongs and at Poole by Vice-Chairman Peter Piggott.  Thank you both for representing us in paying tribute.  A word of thanks to all Members and Ladies who attended

Unfortunately our standard was not on parade this year, as Bert Martin was Veterans Marshal at Poole However Bert did parade the Standard on the Remembrance Day outside the Civic Buildings at Poole.

If you would be willing to be trained as a Standard Bearer Bert Martin will be more than pleased to give you all the necessary training.

NEW MEDALS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This Autumn, will see the first of the new military awards, a result of the independent medals review.   The details are;  New Clasps.  Cyprus  1963-64 period:21^st  December 1963 to 26^th  March 1964 will be awarded G.S.M.(1964) with clasp.   Applications  will be accepted from 1^st March 2015.

Berlin Airlift; Will be awarded to all who took part in this operation from 25^th June 1948 to 6^th October 1949.   Applications accepted from 1^st March 2015.

South Atlantic: Medal period extended to cover 12^th July to 21^st October 1982.  Applications from 1^st October 2014.  Cyprus 1955-59. will qualify for G.S.M. Dates are if you served for 90 days or more between 1^st April 1955 and 18^th April 1959. you can apply now.  Details from Branch Secretary.

WORLD WAR  ONE SNIPPETS

Romsey, Hampshire: Preparing Horses For Battle

The British Army sent around a million horses to the Western Front. Fewer than one in ten returned.
Romsey Remount Depot prepared more than 120,000 horses for war, sending them to Southampton where they embarked for France.
The Remount Depot was opened in 1914, at Pauncefoot Hill. The horses, many of them semi-wild from North and South America, arrived by train at Romsey station and were led through the town to a vast military village, spanning more than 500 acres and with a complement of more than 2,000 men. Most of the horses were later sent on to Swaythling Depot to be shipped to France.
One ‘war horse’ is remembered above all others: Warrior, the mount of Major General Jack Seely of Mottistone. Born and raised on the Isle of Wight, Warrior went to war in 1914 and survived the horrors of Ypres, Passchendaele and the Somme. His newspaper obituary in 1941 was entitled, ‘The horse the Germans could not kill.’
In 2014 commemorative horse statues are planned both on the Isle of Wight and at Romsey’s War Memorial Park. The Park was built using hardcore from the dismantled Depot and was officially opened by Major General Seely in 1921.                                                                                                                        'Text courtesy of the BBC. Find hundreds more World War One at Home stories at bbc.co.uk/ww1'

Branch Welfare:  Please contact Welfare Member,

Peter Piggott