Post by aghart on May 6, 2018 12:15:31 GMT
14 members present for the May 2018 branch meeting.
Dave Larcombe had represented the branch at the Standard Parade held in Windsor Castle and he gave the branch a run down on the days events. The Chairman described the wreath laying ceremony in Bournemouth to remember Pte Frazer, Tank Corps who died in April 1918.
The Secretary did the same regarding the wreath laying in Weymouth on ANZAC Day. Still in wreath laying mode: the branch was advised on the success of the Exercise Tiger Memorial Service held at Slapton Sands on 29th April 2018. This was the first time the branch had been involved in both the ANZAC and Exercise Tiger memorials. Finally, members were reminded that we plan to lay a wreath at the grave of Pte Ward (Tank Corps) on Saturday 26th May 2018 at Poole cemetery. Pte Ward died of injuries on 26th May 1918. These injuries were sustained in a RTA whilst he was based in the Poole area.
The Secretary announced that individuals can now order Cambrai 100 coins direct from the RTR shop, so the plan for the branch to buy a batch to sell on has been dropped. The branch was informed that John Howell was interviewed by the Tank Museum so his WWII memories could be recorded. Bill Stebbing is to get the same treatment. We as a branch now only have two WWII veterans in our ranks. The branch was informed that the target amount for the Headstone in Australia (1 RTR vet in a Paupers grave) was within touching distance and asked for one last effort.
Due to Committee members being away on holiday in July, it was decided to postpone the meeting until August (normally no meeting in August) when all the committee wil be available. The Chairman then closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
Lt Col Ian Fake is the outgoing CO of the Technical Training School at the Armour Centre. The TTS was created in 2017 by combining the D&M and Gunnery Schools and creating just one organisation. The CIS (Signal) School was not absorbed because the RAC and Infantry CIS schools have also come together and to put this into the TTS would be too much for the Logistical side of things. The HQ is at Bovington whilst Lulworth has the Gunnery Wing (commanded by an Infantry Major) meaning there is now some empty buildings in Lulworth. Cost cutting was the main reason for this change, Only one CO, only one RSMI, you get the drift!! He explained changes to training, again down to cost cutting, shorter courses, less detail, a B3 driver has to know where the gearbox is and how to service it, but does he need to know how it works? It's not just B3 courses, instructor and cadre courses are facing the similar types of changes. The people there are however working very hard to keep standards as high as possible. The cost cutting is not going away and it is a case of getting on with it and doing the best you can with what you have got. Now that is something we can all relate to.
Ian gave us an update on AJAX, despite some teething problems the RAC are excited about this vehicle and believe it will be a superb platform. So some good news to end with.
Fear Naught
Dave Larcombe had represented the branch at the Standard Parade held in Windsor Castle and he gave the branch a run down on the days events. The Chairman described the wreath laying ceremony in Bournemouth to remember Pte Frazer, Tank Corps who died in April 1918.
The Secretary did the same regarding the wreath laying in Weymouth on ANZAC Day. Still in wreath laying mode: the branch was advised on the success of the Exercise Tiger Memorial Service held at Slapton Sands on 29th April 2018. This was the first time the branch had been involved in both the ANZAC and Exercise Tiger memorials. Finally, members were reminded that we plan to lay a wreath at the grave of Pte Ward (Tank Corps) on Saturday 26th May 2018 at Poole cemetery. Pte Ward died of injuries on 26th May 1918. These injuries were sustained in a RTA whilst he was based in the Poole area.
The Secretary announced that individuals can now order Cambrai 100 coins direct from the RTR shop, so the plan for the branch to buy a batch to sell on has been dropped. The branch was informed that John Howell was interviewed by the Tank Museum so his WWII memories could be recorded. Bill Stebbing is to get the same treatment. We as a branch now only have two WWII veterans in our ranks. The branch was informed that the target amount for the Headstone in Australia (1 RTR vet in a Paupers grave) was within touching distance and asked for one last effort.
Due to Committee members being away on holiday in July, it was decided to postpone the meeting until August (normally no meeting in August) when all the committee wil be available. The Chairman then closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
Lt Col Ian Fake is the outgoing CO of the Technical Training School at the Armour Centre. The TTS was created in 2017 by combining the D&M and Gunnery Schools and creating just one organisation. The CIS (Signal) School was not absorbed because the RAC and Infantry CIS schools have also come together and to put this into the TTS would be too much for the Logistical side of things. The HQ is at Bovington whilst Lulworth has the Gunnery Wing (commanded by an Infantry Major) meaning there is now some empty buildings in Lulworth. Cost cutting was the main reason for this change, Only one CO, only one RSMI, you get the drift!! He explained changes to training, again down to cost cutting, shorter courses, less detail, a B3 driver has to know where the gearbox is and how to service it, but does he need to know how it works? It's not just B3 courses, instructor and cadre courses are facing the similar types of changes. The people there are however working very hard to keep standards as high as possible. The cost cutting is not going away and it is a case of getting on with it and doing the best you can with what you have got. Now that is something we can all relate to.
Ian gave us an update on AJAX, despite some teething problems the RAC are excited about this vehicle and believe it will be a superb platform. So some good news to end with.
Fear Naught