Post by aghart on Mar 9, 2013 17:04:45 GMT
13 members were present for the March branch meeting. A number were still a bit unwell so not a bad turnout at all. A possible new member came along to give us the once over, hopefully we will see him again. We did have a group of 5 young officers visit us as well, they are on their troop leaders course at the Armour Centre. They came along with the guest speaker.
The Loyal Toast, the regiment, Green Fields (nil return) and welfare were all dealt with. It was confirmed that A Sqn 1 RTR had received our letter asking for a branch visit and we are awaiting developments on that front. Names were taken for the RTR sponsored church service and curry lunch on 17th March at Bovington. I am pleased to say that 17 members and wives of this branch will be attending and supporting the Royal Tank Regiment.
Details of ticket application for Founders day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea were given, we have however submitted a nil return.
We have been invited to the annual Burton Village (Christchurch) armed forces and veterans day. It was agreed that as a local event we should support it and it is planned that we will take part in the parade with the branch standard at the head.
No decision has been made yet regarding the Nottingham branch remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum. We have been represented there in 2011 and 2012, but it is a long day when you include the round trip from Dorset.
There was no further business so the Chairman closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
Capt Tristan Bishop, RTR, is currently serving at the RAC Training Regiment and agreed to give a presentation on his first few years in the army as a new troop leader.
Following Sandhurst, he went on his troop leaders course which involved D&M and Signals at Bovington, Gunnery at Lulworth and a tactics phase which included 5 days on vehicles at Warminster ( A Sqn 1 RTR ). On arrival at 2 RTR in Tidworth, he found himself taking 8 soldiers to Austria for a month, snowboarding! Of course it is blatantly obvious to anyone that following initial employment training, it is vital for soldiers to learn about the dangers of Austrian snowboarding, just in case they ever have to deal with Taliban snowboarders hiding out in the Alps!
Now fully acclimatised to snow conditions, he went with 2 RTR on Herrick 13 to Afghanistan in charge of a Mastiff troop. He explained that Mastiff was a popular vehicle but it paid to get one with working air conditioning. After Afghanistan, it was Castlemartin ranges and the following year off to BATUS. By the time he went to Canada he was a reasonably experienced troop leader and was subsequently employed as part of the range safety team at BATUS. It was interesting to hear his adventures as a brand new officer in dealing with the "old hands" who did not want to deal with a new "nig" officer. As our chairman said on thanking Tristan for his presentation, it was nice to hear the new boy struggles from the officers point of view.
In the post meeting drink and chat, the young officers present were thrilled to talk to Maurice Bourne MM and Mac McKanny. both veterans of WWII. They were amazed and listened in stunned silence as Mac told how as a radio op with virtually no gunnery time, he was put in the gunners seat of a Sherman Firefly and promptly took out a Panther tank with a first round hit. He then told them how in Holland as their tank was broken down, they explored an old farm house and captured a group of Germans who has acquired boxes of Dutch Cigars that they planned to sell. They were liberated ( the cigars that is) and passed around the men of the regiment prior continuing the advance. One of the benefits of being on the side that is winning.
Another successful branch meeting.
The Loyal Toast, the regiment, Green Fields (nil return) and welfare were all dealt with. It was confirmed that A Sqn 1 RTR had received our letter asking for a branch visit and we are awaiting developments on that front. Names were taken for the RTR sponsored church service and curry lunch on 17th March at Bovington. I am pleased to say that 17 members and wives of this branch will be attending and supporting the Royal Tank Regiment.
Details of ticket application for Founders day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea were given, we have however submitted a nil return.
We have been invited to the annual Burton Village (Christchurch) armed forces and veterans day. It was agreed that as a local event we should support it and it is planned that we will take part in the parade with the branch standard at the head.
No decision has been made yet regarding the Nottingham branch remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum. We have been represented there in 2011 and 2012, but it is a long day when you include the round trip from Dorset.
There was no further business so the Chairman closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
Capt Tristan Bishop, RTR, is currently serving at the RAC Training Regiment and agreed to give a presentation on his first few years in the army as a new troop leader.
Following Sandhurst, he went on his troop leaders course which involved D&M and Signals at Bovington, Gunnery at Lulworth and a tactics phase which included 5 days on vehicles at Warminster ( A Sqn 1 RTR ). On arrival at 2 RTR in Tidworth, he found himself taking 8 soldiers to Austria for a month, snowboarding! Of course it is blatantly obvious to anyone that following initial employment training, it is vital for soldiers to learn about the dangers of Austrian snowboarding, just in case they ever have to deal with Taliban snowboarders hiding out in the Alps!
Now fully acclimatised to snow conditions, he went with 2 RTR on Herrick 13 to Afghanistan in charge of a Mastiff troop. He explained that Mastiff was a popular vehicle but it paid to get one with working air conditioning. After Afghanistan, it was Castlemartin ranges and the following year off to BATUS. By the time he went to Canada he was a reasonably experienced troop leader and was subsequently employed as part of the range safety team at BATUS. It was interesting to hear his adventures as a brand new officer in dealing with the "old hands" who did not want to deal with a new "nig" officer. As our chairman said on thanking Tristan for his presentation, it was nice to hear the new boy struggles from the officers point of view.
In the post meeting drink and chat, the young officers present were thrilled to talk to Maurice Bourne MM and Mac McKanny. both veterans of WWII. They were amazed and listened in stunned silence as Mac told how as a radio op with virtually no gunnery time, he was put in the gunners seat of a Sherman Firefly and promptly took out a Panther tank with a first round hit. He then told them how in Holland as their tank was broken down, they explored an old farm house and captured a group of Germans who has acquired boxes of Dutch Cigars that they planned to sell. They were liberated ( the cigars that is) and passed around the men of the regiment prior continuing the advance. One of the benefits of being on the side that is winning.
Another successful branch meeting.