NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2018

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 17^th October 2018 - Please note any information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle by the last Saturday before the next meeting; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up a new one could they please let Jan know.

Branch subs   

Remain at £15 and are due to be paid to the treasurer now if not already paid. Please send any cheques, made out to REA Bournemouth, to the above address for John Cusack.

Next meeting on 21^st November  

Will be Pete and Jan’s Quite Quirky Quizzes

Vacancies    

A new Social Secretary is still required, and also a new Vice-President

Monthly Informal Lunches

As usual held on the first Tuesday, menu lists on the table at evening meetings. Contact John Cusack for any information or to book/choose from menu if not at meeting.

Birthdays of Note  This month we wish very happy birthdays to Don Richardson who will be 95 on  29th October ,  Derek Bartlett  80 on 6th November,  Tony Jennings  85 on 9th November  and last but not least David Watts 85 on 13th November.

Welfare  Peter Piggott visited Roy Robinson last week. He is back home now after his stay in hospital and feeling much better. We wish him a speedy return to the meetings.  Joan Wilby rang Peter to thank him for the turn-out at George’s funeral.

History of the Corps Song  

It is believed that Hurrah for the CRE was brought to this country originally by one of the Corps units which served in South Africa during the war in 1900, perhaps the 4^th or 54^th Field Companies. The tune is fairly certain to be of Kaffir origin because about 1906 it is on record at HQ REA that an apprentice serving at Chatham Dockyard, (whose father was married to a Dutch woman) and had been employed in the Royal Dockyard in South Africa, was known to sing a song in the Kaffir language with almost the same tune as Hurrah for the CRE.

The words were obviously adapted in about 1905 because the Mr Stevens referred to was Chief Clerk in the Chief Instructor’s Fieldworks Office. He was a remarkably able man, an artist and a Member of the Royal Academy. The Windy Notchy Knight was probably an instructor in the School of Military Engineering Workshops, an ex-warrant officer, but he was far from being ‘windy’. At that time there was also another Knight in the then Training Battalion as a sergeant. Laffan’s Plain was named after a Captain Laffan RE, an early Inspecting Officer of Railways and one time CRE at Aldershot. He rose to become Governor and Commander in Chief, Bermuda and to the rank of Lieutenant General.       

            ,

                                    The Corps Song  -  Hurrah for the CRE

       Good morning Mr Stevens and Windy Notchy Knight - Hurrah for the CRE

We’re working very hard, down at Upnor Hard - Hurrah for the CRE

You make fast, I make fast, make fast the dinghy

Make fast the dinghy, make fast the dinghy

You make fast, I make fast, make fast the dinghy

Make fast the dinghy pontoon

          For we’re marching on to Laffan’s Plain, to Laffan’s Plain, to Laffan’s Plain

                             Where they don’t know mud from clay.

   Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah.

                Ooshta.  Ooshta. Ooshta. Ooshta.  Ikona malee picaninny skoff

                                    Ma-ninga sabenza, here’s another off

                            Oolum-da cried Matabele  Oolam-da away we go

                                          Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah.

                                          Shuush……………………Hooray

Notes

1 Upnor Hard            -           Wet bridging site, on River Medway at Chatham

2 Laffan’s Plain        -           Training area at Alsershot

3 Ooshta                    -           South African Native working cry

4 Ikona malee           -           No money  (Matabele)

5 Picaninny skoff     -           Little food   (Matabele)

6 Ma-ninga sabenza -           Lots of work (Matabele)

7 Oolum-da               -           South African Native working cry

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2018

21^st November          -           Quiz

19^th December          -           Easy Swing Duo and Xmas Buffet

Forecast of National Events 2018.

8^th November                        Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey at 11.00 hours

(entrance by ticket only to be requested from HQ REA)

11th November         Remembrance Sunday