Post by aghart on Jun 5, 2019 20:31:28 GMT
13 members were present plus 6 guests, so 19 bums on seats for the June 2019 branch meeting.
Minutes of the May 2018 meeting were carried. Members were informed of the successful branch participation in the US Memorial Day service in Weymouth on Bank Holiday Monday and the D Day 75 event at the Poole RBL Club (which is where we hold our branch meetings). We were informed that the branch supported the London Branch in honouring an ex WWII RTR soldier on his 100th Birthdaty. The Bournemouth & Poole Standard along with the London Branch & 2/3/6 RTRA standards were paraded at his home on the day. The branch was reminded of the plan to lay a wreath at the grave of S/Sgt Watson at Longfleet Church in Poole to commemerate the 100th anniversary of his death. The wreath was handed over to the Vice President who will do the deed on the day.
Members were reminded of the Weymouth Armed Forces day parade on Sunday 23rd June. Details of the Veterans Big Breakfast at Salisbury in late June were made available. A reminder of the RTR gathering at Wool RBL Club, on the Friday evening before Tank Fest was given, 19.30hrs till throwing out time. Details of the afternoon tea with entertainment organised by the Not forgotten Association were given. This event is being held in Cambridgeshire, so no names were forthcoming. It was announced that the branch had received a cheque for just over £174 from donations made at the funeral of John Howell. On the donations front? The Secretary informed the branch that individual donations from members and non members had covered the cost of the wreaths purchased by the branch to cover the commemreration events for this year. The largest donation was from a non branch member, this individual is a former Tpr from 2 RTR who was touched by the wreath laying and remembrance activities of the Bournemouth & Poole Branch, so much so, he sent a cheque for £100. We of course thanked him privately, but social media allows us to now thank him publicly, you know who you are, and thank you once again.
The secretary made a plea to the older members who may not be on social media, he reminded them of the Branch website and Facebook page. It was explained that the facebook page in particular was a source of news and information that is often obselete or out of date by the time of the next branch meeting. Also it allows them to keep up with events if they cannot attend a meeting. It was confirmed that Lt Col Paul Macro RTR will be the guest speaker for July. He will be talking about the book he has just written, "Action at Badama Post" . Branch members were told that if they plan to buy his book? do it in June then get the author to sign it in July! The chairman then ended the meeting and introduced the Guest Speaker.
WOII Max Belton is the SSM of "Falcon" the RTR CBRN Squadron based at Warminster. He brought with him 5 J/NCO's and Tpr's to meet the old Gits. Falcon was heavily involved in the Nerve Agent incident in Salisbury in 2018. They went to Winterborne Gunner (CBRN Centre) to check their equipment and then deployed into Salisbury. They did over 150 hotline crossings ( from clean to contaminated area's) and had an AM and a PM shift, 3 hours at a time in Full CBRN kit, during the hottest summer for a Generation. All the contaminated items recovered including over 20 vehicles were taken to Porton Down and incinerated. The roof of the home of the Russian victims was removed in order to decontaminate the loft! The operation was codenamed Morlock and was under control of the RAF. The lads who were present gave a few personal accounts of what they were doing. It was all really interesting.
Away from Salisbury they told us what Falcon had been up to and what was on the horizon. Falcon although an RTR Squadron, are part of 22 Engineer Regiment. On 31 August they will become part of 28 Engineer Regiment, 28 Engineer Regiment are going to become the British CBRN Regiment. They will be taking over the CBRN role from the RAF and they will gradually take over the role currently filled by Falcon. Yes, The CBRN role carried out by 1 RTR and then RTR since the late 1990's is coming to an end. The Tankies are going back on Tanks.
An excellent evening.
Minutes of the May 2018 meeting were carried. Members were informed of the successful branch participation in the US Memorial Day service in Weymouth on Bank Holiday Monday and the D Day 75 event at the Poole RBL Club (which is where we hold our branch meetings). We were informed that the branch supported the London Branch in honouring an ex WWII RTR soldier on his 100th Birthdaty. The Bournemouth & Poole Standard along with the London Branch & 2/3/6 RTRA standards were paraded at his home on the day. The branch was reminded of the plan to lay a wreath at the grave of S/Sgt Watson at Longfleet Church in Poole to commemerate the 100th anniversary of his death. The wreath was handed over to the Vice President who will do the deed on the day.
Members were reminded of the Weymouth Armed Forces day parade on Sunday 23rd June. Details of the Veterans Big Breakfast at Salisbury in late June were made available. A reminder of the RTR gathering at Wool RBL Club, on the Friday evening before Tank Fest was given, 19.30hrs till throwing out time. Details of the afternoon tea with entertainment organised by the Not forgotten Association were given. This event is being held in Cambridgeshire, so no names were forthcoming. It was announced that the branch had received a cheque for just over £174 from donations made at the funeral of John Howell. On the donations front? The Secretary informed the branch that individual donations from members and non members had covered the cost of the wreaths purchased by the branch to cover the commemreration events for this year. The largest donation was from a non branch member, this individual is a former Tpr from 2 RTR who was touched by the wreath laying and remembrance activities of the Bournemouth & Poole Branch, so much so, he sent a cheque for £100. We of course thanked him privately, but social media allows us to now thank him publicly, you know who you are, and thank you once again.
The secretary made a plea to the older members who may not be on social media, he reminded them of the Branch website and Facebook page. It was explained that the facebook page in particular was a source of news and information that is often obselete or out of date by the time of the next branch meeting. Also it allows them to keep up with events if they cannot attend a meeting. It was confirmed that Lt Col Paul Macro RTR will be the guest speaker for July. He will be talking about the book he has just written, "Action at Badama Post" . Branch members were told that if they plan to buy his book? do it in June then get the author to sign it in July! The chairman then ended the meeting and introduced the Guest Speaker.
WOII Max Belton is the SSM of "Falcon" the RTR CBRN Squadron based at Warminster. He brought with him 5 J/NCO's and Tpr's to meet the old Gits. Falcon was heavily involved in the Nerve Agent incident in Salisbury in 2018. They went to Winterborne Gunner (CBRN Centre) to check their equipment and then deployed into Salisbury. They did over 150 hotline crossings ( from clean to contaminated area's) and had an AM and a PM shift, 3 hours at a time in Full CBRN kit, during the hottest summer for a Generation. All the contaminated items recovered including over 20 vehicles were taken to Porton Down and incinerated. The roof of the home of the Russian victims was removed in order to decontaminate the loft! The operation was codenamed Morlock and was under control of the RAF. The lads who were present gave a few personal accounts of what they were doing. It was all really interesting.
Away from Salisbury they told us what Falcon had been up to and what was on the horizon. Falcon although an RTR Squadron, are part of 22 Engineer Regiment. On 31 August they will become part of 28 Engineer Regiment, 28 Engineer Regiment are going to become the British CBRN Regiment. They will be taking over the CBRN role from the RAF and they will gradually take over the role currently filled by Falcon. Yes, The CBRN role carried out by 1 RTR and then RTR since the late 1990's is coming to an end. The Tankies are going back on Tanks.
An excellent evening.