Post by aghart on Apr 11, 2015 17:24:59 GMT
12 members were present for the April meeting and one new recruit. Ron McCarthy, ex 3 RTR who lives in Weymouth has joined our ranks. Now we have one Weymouth resident with us, maybe we can entice more from the town to join us, especially as plans to form a Weymouth Branch of the Association have been abandoned. A minutes silence was held for Maurice Bourne ex 44 RTR who passed away on 20th March 2015.
Due to a lack of interest, plans for a brewery trip to the Badger Brewery at Blandford have been terminated. The Treasurer made a case to increase branch subscriptions from £5 to £10 per year, it was decided that it would be best to hold a vote on this at the AGM in July. RHQ RTR have always maintained that subscriptions should be at £10 per annum so we will simply be catching up with everyone else. The guest speaker for April had to cancel but has been rebooked for September. The guest speaker for May will be Lt Col Gareth Davies formely the CO of the CIS (Signal School) now based at Warminster but who will be leaving the army later this year.
MAURICE BOURNE MM
Maurice served in North Africa with 44 RTR, he won the MM during operation Crusader late in 1941 and also fought at the battles of Gazala and El Alamein. He was a driver and drove both the Matilda and Valentine Tanks. He also fought in Sicily and Italy and landed in Normandy on D-day+1, within 24hrs he had received several shrapnel wounds which were serious enough to not only warrant a casevac to the UK, but also his discharge from HM Forces. He received his MM from King George VI at Buckingham Palace in 1946, having had the medal pinned to his chest by the King he moved down the line and then had to give it back! there was only one medal available and it was needed for all the receipients of the medal that day. His own medal arrived in the post a few weeks later. Despite his failing sight and hearing, Maurice was an active member of the branch, he took part in the branch trip to the National Memorial Arboretum in 2012 where I wheeled him round the Mediterranean garden where he could enjoy the tributes to the Desert Army. Also in 2012 he, with his son David returned to Egypt and took part in the celebrations to mark the 70th Anniversary of El Alamein. He also appeared on TV that year with Dame Kelly Holmes in a BBC1 programe called Britain's Hidden Heritage which had a tribute to the Matilda tank, Maurice shared his experiences on that vehicle.
At Tankfest 2013 he joint the Valentine "re-enactment" group in their tent, drinking tea and telling them all about the vehicle parked outside and what it was like to crew it for real. His final "public" engagement was at the "Not Forgotton Association" annual garden party at Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to HM the Queen. He died four days after his 95th birthday. His obituary will be published in the Summer 2015 edition of the regimental Journal. The Bournemouth & Poole branch will miss you Maurice.
Due to a lack of interest, plans for a brewery trip to the Badger Brewery at Blandford have been terminated. The Treasurer made a case to increase branch subscriptions from £5 to £10 per year, it was decided that it would be best to hold a vote on this at the AGM in July. RHQ RTR have always maintained that subscriptions should be at £10 per annum so we will simply be catching up with everyone else. The guest speaker for April had to cancel but has been rebooked for September. The guest speaker for May will be Lt Col Gareth Davies formely the CO of the CIS (Signal School) now based at Warminster but who will be leaving the army later this year.
MAURICE BOURNE MM
Maurice served in North Africa with 44 RTR, he won the MM during operation Crusader late in 1941 and also fought at the battles of Gazala and El Alamein. He was a driver and drove both the Matilda and Valentine Tanks. He also fought in Sicily and Italy and landed in Normandy on D-day+1, within 24hrs he had received several shrapnel wounds which were serious enough to not only warrant a casevac to the UK, but also his discharge from HM Forces. He received his MM from King George VI at Buckingham Palace in 1946, having had the medal pinned to his chest by the King he moved down the line and then had to give it back! there was only one medal available and it was needed for all the receipients of the medal that day. His own medal arrived in the post a few weeks later. Despite his failing sight and hearing, Maurice was an active member of the branch, he took part in the branch trip to the National Memorial Arboretum in 2012 where I wheeled him round the Mediterranean garden where he could enjoy the tributes to the Desert Army. Also in 2012 he, with his son David returned to Egypt and took part in the celebrations to mark the 70th Anniversary of El Alamein. He also appeared on TV that year with Dame Kelly Holmes in a BBC1 programe called Britain's Hidden Heritage which had a tribute to the Matilda tank, Maurice shared his experiences on that vehicle.
At Tankfest 2013 he joint the Valentine "re-enactment" group in their tent, drinking tea and telling them all about the vehicle parked outside and what it was like to crew it for real. His final "public" engagement was at the "Not Forgotton Association" annual garden party at Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to HM the Queen. He died four days after his 95th birthday. His obituary will be published in the Summer 2015 edition of the regimental Journal. The Bournemouth & Poole branch will miss you Maurice.