Post by aghart on Mar 7, 2024 16:37:32 GMT
MARCH 2024
26 people sat down for the March 2024 branch meeting, with another 17 logged in via ZOOM. John Price ex 3 RTR from Sherborne introduced himself to the branch, he has been a member for 2 years, but this was his first physical branch meeting.
Minutes of the February 2024 meeting were read. It was confirmed that our Korea veterans, Robert Bone & Reg Fox will be attending Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 19th March.
Members were reminded of and urged to support the Veterans breakfasts at Wareham on Sat 9th March & Poole (Foundry Arms) on Sat 16th March. A reminder was given that the RTRA sponsored Church service and Curry lunch is on Sunday 17th March.
Dave Larcombe gave a recap on the “War in Ukraine” talk at the Union Jack Club in London. He also gave an update on the Military app. Sticking with Dave? We were informed that he is now providing Standard Bearer training to RTR badged Army cadets.
It was confirmed that the Chairman & Secretary will represent the branch at the memorial service for General Sir Antony Walker.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Thursday 25th April 2024, ANZAC Day service Weymouth
Friday 26th April 2024, Exercise Tiger service at Portland, Dorset.
Sunday 28th April 2024, Exercise Tiger service at Slapton Sands
The Chairman and Secretary visited the veterans Hub in Weymouth to assess the situation there following the February meeting where we were informed that they need donations to keep going. They informed the branch of what they found and recommended a donation of £200. A vote was taken, and the recommendation was carried.
It was agreed to purchase a wreath to be laid on behalf of the branch by the RTR Bikers at the UK D Day Memorial in Normandy during the D Day 80 service on 6th June 2024.
The meeting then closed, and we then introduced the guest speaker. Mike Randall was there to talk about his father, and his presentation was titled “My father the spy” so, James Bond “eat your heart out. What an amazing, fascinating, and enjoyable presentation came our way.
Mikes father Harry joined the Army before the war looking for excitement, he joined the Coldstream Guards but there was not enough excitement, so he transferred to the Black Watch. Still not enough excitement (The war was now on) so he transferred again, this time to the Parachute Regiment and completed his para training at Ringway near Manchester. He was part of a special group called Phantom force which operated in Yugoslavia and then Greece where Harry was captured near the Corinth Canal.
Harry escaped on his journey to a POW camp Austria not once but twice, but still ended up in the cage. They then dug a “great escape” tunnel but unlike the great escape where they discovered they had not reached the woods? Here they discovered they had not even reached the wire and were still within the camp. On another attempt he did get out of the camp and his small group were using one of those hand operated “up-down” railway carts (like in those western films) to make their escape. When attempting to slow down and get off the brake failed, and they ended up going through a railway station with hundreds of German troops on the platform waiting for their train, Harry and Co were recaptured. During his incarceration he learned German (he even passed exams in German) to help in future escapes. In early 1945 he escaped again but instead of heading west as planned went east and ran into the Soviet Army. Harry stayed with them and learned Russian as well. Note. He and his son Mike both pick up foreign languages easily.
Following the war Harry became a diplomat. As a child Mike lived with Harry and his mum in their various postings including Moscow (1967-68) Mike recalled being followed everywhere by KGB operatives, the family apartment was bugged, and he recalled his father was often “away” on work business. We were told how all these spies, “oops” sorry diplomats had cameras in their cuff links, at dinner parties for foreign embassy staff people knew not to eat the Cherry on a stick that was in every cocktail as it contained a Soviet microphone and was bad for the digestive system.
So much more, but Mike did say that a very famous Soviet defector reached the west via Finland in July 1983 and Harry’s passport (which Mike still has) shows a visa for Finland stamped July 1983. Yet he was based in Beirut in 1983.
26 people sat down for the March 2024 branch meeting, with another 17 logged in via ZOOM. John Price ex 3 RTR from Sherborne introduced himself to the branch, he has been a member for 2 years, but this was his first physical branch meeting.
Minutes of the February 2024 meeting were read. It was confirmed that our Korea veterans, Robert Bone & Reg Fox will be attending Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 19th March.
Members were reminded of and urged to support the Veterans breakfasts at Wareham on Sat 9th March & Poole (Foundry Arms) on Sat 16th March. A reminder was given that the RTRA sponsored Church service and Curry lunch is on Sunday 17th March.
Dave Larcombe gave a recap on the “War in Ukraine” talk at the Union Jack Club in London. He also gave an update on the Military app. Sticking with Dave? We were informed that he is now providing Standard Bearer training to RTR badged Army cadets.
It was confirmed that the Chairman & Secretary will represent the branch at the memorial service for General Sir Antony Walker.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Thursday 25th April 2024, ANZAC Day service Weymouth
Friday 26th April 2024, Exercise Tiger service at Portland, Dorset.
Sunday 28th April 2024, Exercise Tiger service at Slapton Sands
The Chairman and Secretary visited the veterans Hub in Weymouth to assess the situation there following the February meeting where we were informed that they need donations to keep going. They informed the branch of what they found and recommended a donation of £200. A vote was taken, and the recommendation was carried.
It was agreed to purchase a wreath to be laid on behalf of the branch by the RTR Bikers at the UK D Day Memorial in Normandy during the D Day 80 service on 6th June 2024.
The meeting then closed, and we then introduced the guest speaker. Mike Randall was there to talk about his father, and his presentation was titled “My father the spy” so, James Bond “eat your heart out. What an amazing, fascinating, and enjoyable presentation came our way.
Mikes father Harry joined the Army before the war looking for excitement, he joined the Coldstream Guards but there was not enough excitement, so he transferred to the Black Watch. Still not enough excitement (The war was now on) so he transferred again, this time to the Parachute Regiment and completed his para training at Ringway near Manchester. He was part of a special group called Phantom force which operated in Yugoslavia and then Greece where Harry was captured near the Corinth Canal.
Harry escaped on his journey to a POW camp Austria not once but twice, but still ended up in the cage. They then dug a “great escape” tunnel but unlike the great escape where they discovered they had not reached the woods? Here they discovered they had not even reached the wire and were still within the camp. On another attempt he did get out of the camp and his small group were using one of those hand operated “up-down” railway carts (like in those western films) to make their escape. When attempting to slow down and get off the brake failed, and they ended up going through a railway station with hundreds of German troops on the platform waiting for their train, Harry and Co were recaptured. During his incarceration he learned German (he even passed exams in German) to help in future escapes. In early 1945 he escaped again but instead of heading west as planned went east and ran into the Soviet Army. Harry stayed with them and learned Russian as well. Note. He and his son Mike both pick up foreign languages easily.
Following the war Harry became a diplomat. As a child Mike lived with Harry and his mum in their various postings including Moscow (1967-68) Mike recalled being followed everywhere by KGB operatives, the family apartment was bugged, and he recalled his father was often “away” on work business. We were told how all these spies, “oops” sorry diplomats had cameras in their cuff links, at dinner parties for foreign embassy staff people knew not to eat the Cherry on a stick that was in every cocktail as it contained a Soviet microphone and was bad for the digestive system.
So much more, but Mike did say that a very famous Soviet defector reached the west via Finland in July 1983 and Harry’s passport (which Mike still has) shows a visa for Finland stamped July 1983. Yet he was based in Beirut in 1983.