Post by aghart on May 4, 2022 9:58:12 GMT
16 members present and 8 on Zoom for the May 2022 branch meeting.
We stood in silence for Pete Barker (1 RTR) a branch member and Zoom participant who died recently after a domestic accident. We also stood for William Parker a 101-year-old RTR veteran. Members of the branch will attend his funeral in Thursday 5th May 2022.
The branch was given a recap on the very busy and successful 3 event weekend two weeks ago. The remembrance of Tpr Brett Hall (Afghanistan 2009) was detailed and e-mails from General Ridgeway and Brigadier Dick congratulating the branch on its efforts were read out. The Exercise Tiger commemoration at Slapton Sands was next and members were informed of the huge difference staying overnight and going by minibus made to the weekend. Finally ANZAC day at Weymouth, where the Royal Australian Navy Commander (equivalent to Lt Col) spent a lot of time with branch members especially Reg Fox and Pete Dore our two WWII veterans. We may even see this officer as a guest speaker in the next 12 months.
Diary events for May and June were confirmed, this included Falklands 40, & D Day events in Poole, and US Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day in Weymouth. members were given details of the Northern Ireland Veterans Association service at the National Memorial Arboretum on 10th September 2022. Those going to the capital for the Tower of London visit on 22nd August were reminded that this is not a branch "package holiday" and that transport and accommodation arrangements were an individual responsibility.
It was confirmed that we would be holding a service at the Sgt Essex memorial bench at Moreton on Wed 2nd November 2022, the 80th anniversary of his death at El Alamein. People were reminded that the new veteran's hub at Longfleet in Poole (free bacon sandwich) is open this Saturday at 10.00hrs.
Members were informed that subject to military changes, the guest speaker for June 2022 would be WOII Bethell the RTRA link WO.
Dave Roberts and Mike Everton confirmed that initial preparation for the January Ladies Lunch in 2023 had begun.
The meeting then closed, and the guest speaker was introduced.
Rebecca Smith from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) presented a most interesting Zoom presentation on the history and work of the CWGC . She did a first-rate job especially as she was an emergency stand in. We were supposed to have this as a live presentation by a local CWGC volunteer who unfortunately fell ill the day before. Disaster loomed until Rebecca donned on her superhero cape and came to the rescue.
There was too much to information to put on here but a question at the end and the answer may well be of interest. The CWGC is only responsible for military graves from the WW1 & WWII period. The 4th of August 1914 is the day of declaration of war by Great Britain. The 31st of August 1921 is the official end of war (as per the Order in Council that declared the war ended, as required by the Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act.
The 3rd of September 1939 is the day of declaration of war by Great Britain. The 31st of December 1947 is the date agreed by the participating governments to produce a post-war period roughly equal to that of the First World War.
More recent graves with Military headstones are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Therefore, you will not find more recent casualties on CWGC website. The MOD chose the CWGC style headstones but with slight modifications to avoid confusion. MOD Army headstones are clipped at the top to show that they are not CWGC (see photo). RAF headstones are slightly different too, no mention of the RN though, as I forgot to ask. Also, in recent years there has been an issue with Portland Stone and headstones have been made from an Italian stone. It appears the issues have been resolved and Portland Stone is back on the menu! NOTE FEARNAUGHT II SITE, The add attachment button for the photo is not working and I could not upload the photo.
We stood in silence for Pete Barker (1 RTR) a branch member and Zoom participant who died recently after a domestic accident. We also stood for William Parker a 101-year-old RTR veteran. Members of the branch will attend his funeral in Thursday 5th May 2022.
The branch was given a recap on the very busy and successful 3 event weekend two weeks ago. The remembrance of Tpr Brett Hall (Afghanistan 2009) was detailed and e-mails from General Ridgeway and Brigadier Dick congratulating the branch on its efforts were read out. The Exercise Tiger commemoration at Slapton Sands was next and members were informed of the huge difference staying overnight and going by minibus made to the weekend. Finally ANZAC day at Weymouth, where the Royal Australian Navy Commander (equivalent to Lt Col) spent a lot of time with branch members especially Reg Fox and Pete Dore our two WWII veterans. We may even see this officer as a guest speaker in the next 12 months.
Diary events for May and June were confirmed, this included Falklands 40, & D Day events in Poole, and US Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day in Weymouth. members were given details of the Northern Ireland Veterans Association service at the National Memorial Arboretum on 10th September 2022. Those going to the capital for the Tower of London visit on 22nd August were reminded that this is not a branch "package holiday" and that transport and accommodation arrangements were an individual responsibility.
It was confirmed that we would be holding a service at the Sgt Essex memorial bench at Moreton on Wed 2nd November 2022, the 80th anniversary of his death at El Alamein. People were reminded that the new veteran's hub at Longfleet in Poole (free bacon sandwich) is open this Saturday at 10.00hrs.
Members were informed that subject to military changes, the guest speaker for June 2022 would be WOII Bethell the RTRA link WO.
Dave Roberts and Mike Everton confirmed that initial preparation for the January Ladies Lunch in 2023 had begun.
The meeting then closed, and the guest speaker was introduced.
Rebecca Smith from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) presented a most interesting Zoom presentation on the history and work of the CWGC . She did a first-rate job especially as she was an emergency stand in. We were supposed to have this as a live presentation by a local CWGC volunteer who unfortunately fell ill the day before. Disaster loomed until Rebecca donned on her superhero cape and came to the rescue.
There was too much to information to put on here but a question at the end and the answer may well be of interest. The CWGC is only responsible for military graves from the WW1 & WWII period. The 4th of August 1914 is the day of declaration of war by Great Britain. The 31st of August 1921 is the official end of war (as per the Order in Council that declared the war ended, as required by the Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act.
The 3rd of September 1939 is the day of declaration of war by Great Britain. The 31st of December 1947 is the date agreed by the participating governments to produce a post-war period roughly equal to that of the First World War.
More recent graves with Military headstones are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Therefore, you will not find more recent casualties on CWGC website. The MOD chose the CWGC style headstones but with slight modifications to avoid confusion. MOD Army headstones are clipped at the top to show that they are not CWGC (see photo). RAF headstones are slightly different too, no mention of the RN though, as I forgot to ask. Also, in recent years there has been an issue with Portland Stone and headstones have been made from an Italian stone. It appears the issues have been resolved and Portland Stone is back on the menu! NOTE FEARNAUGHT II SITE, The add attachment button for the photo is not working and I could not upload the photo.