Post by aghart on May 10, 2019 20:33:18 GMT
15 members were present for the May 2019 branch meeting. A minutes silence was held for John Howell, one of our last WWII veterans who died in early April.
Minutes of the April meeting were passed. Members were given a rundown on the successful branch participation at both the Weymouth ANZAC Day commemoration & the Exercise Tiger 75th Anniversary at Slapton Sands in Devon. It was confirmed that we would be in Weymouth again on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May 2019. This is to take part at the US Memorial Day Service on the Sea Front. This memorial honours the US servicemen who embarked at Weymouth and then landed in Normandy in June 1944. The Secretary announced that he was in contact with the Officer Commanding the team of US Airborne troops who will be in England on 27th May before they go to Normandy to take part in the D Day 75 commerative Parachute drop. This Officer is trying to arrange for himself and some or all of his team to be at Weymouth on the 27th with the aim of standing with the Royal Tank Regiment Association to pay due respect to the US Forces of 1944. If it happens it will be a bit special. It's not definite so we will have to wait and see what develops.
The branch was informed that on Sunday 2nd June 2019 that there are "two" D Day 75 events in Poole. The first is at Broadstone, the second is with the Poole RBL at the Ex Servicemen's Club, which is of course where this branch holds it's branch meetings. This second event is in the afternoon and includes a memorial service, a BBQ and live entertainment. The live entertainment is the "Land Girls" No prizes for guessing which of the two events I'm going to.
Members were reminded that Friday 14th June 2019 is the 100th anniversary of the death of S/Sgt William Watson, Tank Corps. He died in Poole hospital and is buried in Longfleet Churchyard next to the hospital. He was a victim of the Worldwide Influenza Pandemic of 1918/19. The branch will be laying a wreath at his grave on the 14th June.
Numbers were taken of those who plan to take part in the Weymouth Armed Forces Day parade in Weymouth on Sunday 23rd June 2109.
Information regarding the Armed Forces and apperance research study was made available. This was passed to us from HHQ RTR who asked the information be made available. It concerns people who have had their appearance change due to injury during their army service. It was emphisised that it had nothing to do with putting on lot's of weight after you left the army!
It was confirmed that the guest speaker for the June 2019 branch meeting would be the SSM of "Falcon" who is going to give us an idea of what they have been up to and what lies ahead for the Warminster based Squadron. This should be intersting as Falcon are the CBRN Squadron and were involved in the Nerve Agent situation in Salisbury last year.
The Chairman then closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
This was non other than our own Graham Collins, who gave us a brief description of the rededication of an RTR grave in Merseyside. He attended this event.
Lt James Cooper died on 4th November 1918, another victim of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918/19. "NOTE" most victims of this Influenza Pandemic actually died of Pneumonia which was brought on by the Flu. He had served in the 1st Bn South Wales Borderer's in France and then selected for Officer training and eventually commissioned into the Tank Corps in October 1918. He was on pre deployment leave after being commissioned when he fell ill and died. He was in the Tank Corps for only 13 days. He is buried in Toxteth Cemetery, Liverpool. Andy Maddocks ex 1 RTR had been looking for this grave in order to place a cross on it to mark the 100th anniversary of Lt Coopers death. This search took much longer than expected because, unknown to Andy, it was not a military Headstone and the civilian headstone had fallen over and so was not easily visible. He did eventually find the grave, only to discover that it was in need of a bit more than a touch of TLC. It was going to need a Stonemason and to sort out the headstone, and get it put back in place. Andy quickly put together a plan to use social media and get a crowdfunding appeal started to raise the funds needed to have the work completed. This was soon achieved and the work put in place to repair the grave. Things took off from there and in April 2019 the newly refurbished grave was rededicated in grand fashion. Andy had arranged a former Army Padre to lead the service of re dedication, a former army piper was on hand to play a lament. There were three RTRA Standards present, Merseyside, Sefton, and Bournemouth & Poole, carried by Graham Collins. 35 people were in attendance, mainly ex 1 RTR but also Merseyside Police, (Andy had been a Police Officer after leaving the Army.) Graham commented on what a fantastic occasion it had been. So it was well done to Andy Maddocks for doing what he did, and well done to Graham for representing the Bournemouth & Poole Branch, especially as the event was so far away. Graham got a well deserved round of applause for his briefing.
Minutes of the April meeting were passed. Members were given a rundown on the successful branch participation at both the Weymouth ANZAC Day commemoration & the Exercise Tiger 75th Anniversary at Slapton Sands in Devon. It was confirmed that we would be in Weymouth again on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May 2019. This is to take part at the US Memorial Day Service on the Sea Front. This memorial honours the US servicemen who embarked at Weymouth and then landed in Normandy in June 1944. The Secretary announced that he was in contact with the Officer Commanding the team of US Airborne troops who will be in England on 27th May before they go to Normandy to take part in the D Day 75 commerative Parachute drop. This Officer is trying to arrange for himself and some or all of his team to be at Weymouth on the 27th with the aim of standing with the Royal Tank Regiment Association to pay due respect to the US Forces of 1944. If it happens it will be a bit special. It's not definite so we will have to wait and see what develops.
The branch was informed that on Sunday 2nd June 2019 that there are "two" D Day 75 events in Poole. The first is at Broadstone, the second is with the Poole RBL at the Ex Servicemen's Club, which is of course where this branch holds it's branch meetings. This second event is in the afternoon and includes a memorial service, a BBQ and live entertainment. The live entertainment is the "Land Girls" No prizes for guessing which of the two events I'm going to.
Members were reminded that Friday 14th June 2019 is the 100th anniversary of the death of S/Sgt William Watson, Tank Corps. He died in Poole hospital and is buried in Longfleet Churchyard next to the hospital. He was a victim of the Worldwide Influenza Pandemic of 1918/19. The branch will be laying a wreath at his grave on the 14th June.
Numbers were taken of those who plan to take part in the Weymouth Armed Forces Day parade in Weymouth on Sunday 23rd June 2109.
Information regarding the Armed Forces and apperance research study was made available. This was passed to us from HHQ RTR who asked the information be made available. It concerns people who have had their appearance change due to injury during their army service. It was emphisised that it had nothing to do with putting on lot's of weight after you left the army!
It was confirmed that the guest speaker for the June 2019 branch meeting would be the SSM of "Falcon" who is going to give us an idea of what they have been up to and what lies ahead for the Warminster based Squadron. This should be intersting as Falcon are the CBRN Squadron and were involved in the Nerve Agent situation in Salisbury last year.
The Chairman then closed the meeting and introduced the guest speaker.
This was non other than our own Graham Collins, who gave us a brief description of the rededication of an RTR grave in Merseyside. He attended this event.
Lt James Cooper died on 4th November 1918, another victim of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918/19. "NOTE" most victims of this Influenza Pandemic actually died of Pneumonia which was brought on by the Flu. He had served in the 1st Bn South Wales Borderer's in France and then selected for Officer training and eventually commissioned into the Tank Corps in October 1918. He was on pre deployment leave after being commissioned when he fell ill and died. He was in the Tank Corps for only 13 days. He is buried in Toxteth Cemetery, Liverpool. Andy Maddocks ex 1 RTR had been looking for this grave in order to place a cross on it to mark the 100th anniversary of Lt Coopers death. This search took much longer than expected because, unknown to Andy, it was not a military Headstone and the civilian headstone had fallen over and so was not easily visible. He did eventually find the grave, only to discover that it was in need of a bit more than a touch of TLC. It was going to need a Stonemason and to sort out the headstone, and get it put back in place. Andy quickly put together a plan to use social media and get a crowdfunding appeal started to raise the funds needed to have the work completed. This was soon achieved and the work put in place to repair the grave. Things took off from there and in April 2019 the newly refurbished grave was rededicated in grand fashion. Andy had arranged a former Army Padre to lead the service of re dedication, a former army piper was on hand to play a lament. There were three RTRA Standards present, Merseyside, Sefton, and Bournemouth & Poole, carried by Graham Collins. 35 people were in attendance, mainly ex 1 RTR but also Merseyside Police, (Andy had been a Police Officer after leaving the Army.) Graham commented on what a fantastic occasion it had been. So it was well done to Andy Maddocks for doing what he did, and well done to Graham for representing the Bournemouth & Poole Branch, especially as the event was so far away. Graham got a well deserved round of applause for his briefing.