Post by aghart on Jun 5, 2024 14:29:27 GMT
Bournemouth, Poole & District Branch, Royal Tank Regiment Association. June 2024 branch meeting.
35 people sat down with another 31 linked in via Zoom for the meeting. 66 is a new record for the branch. 4 new members were welcomed and one visitor, Sharky Ward who is the President of the Poole branch, Royal Marines Association.
Minutes of the May 2024 meeting were passed, and a recap of activity included the Stephen Ford Memorial service, Stephen was an 18-year-old Royal Navy rating from Poole who was killed in action on board the frigate HMS Ardent during the Falklands Conflict. Activity also included a visit to the Chippenham Veterans Breakfast Club, D-Day service at the US memorial in Weymouth (held on US Memorial Day) The D Day deception talk at the Union Jack Club in London and the Not Forgotten Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Forthcoming events announced were the D Day wreath laying service in Poole & Portland on the morning of 6th June 2024. There is a Royal British Legion reception at the Blue Boar pub in Poole afterwards. Members were informed of the evening events on Poole Quay on 6th June 2024. We were reminded of the service at the Falklands War memorial on Friday 14th June 2024. We were also reminded of the reception afterwards at the Centenary Club.
Members were informed that Blue RTRA membership cards were available from HHQ RTR. Advance notification that a possible RTR event in Arras 20-23 May 2025 (Arras 85) is being considered.
Members were informed of a dry-stone walling initiative called Walling2recovery that may well suit those suffering from mental as well as physical challenges.
Throwing the meeting open to the floor (including Zoom) we were informed that the UK Veterans ID card is proving beneficial in the USA, so the advice is to take it with you if you are going stateside. The branch was thanked for the presence of the standard (carried by Graham Collins) at a recent funeral (Arthur McCardle 1 RTR) in Warrington. With no further business, the meeting was closed, and the guest speaker introduced.
Lt Col (ret) Gareth Davis is well known to the branch, we knew what to expect and were not disappointed. Gareth gave a superb RTR biased presentation on D-Day and some of the early Normandy battles. He began by looking at where the RTR had fought during WWII and then concentrated on Normandy and the RTR involvement. Lots about Operation Goodwood, and the attacks on Hill 112. He showed photos of Tiger I and Panzer Mk IV showing the similarities which explained why every contact seemed to be a Tiger despite the relatively small number of these beasts in Normandy. Film clips taken in Normandy were used to help explain what was going on.
Lots of very interesting information, far too much to document on here, it was a very topical and interesting presentation which was very well received by everyone who was there. The recent high attendance figures at branch meetings clearly show the benefits of a good top quality guest speaker, so no pressure on the committee then.
35 people sat down with another 31 linked in via Zoom for the meeting. 66 is a new record for the branch. 4 new members were welcomed and one visitor, Sharky Ward who is the President of the Poole branch, Royal Marines Association.
Minutes of the May 2024 meeting were passed, and a recap of activity included the Stephen Ford Memorial service, Stephen was an 18-year-old Royal Navy rating from Poole who was killed in action on board the frigate HMS Ardent during the Falklands Conflict. Activity also included a visit to the Chippenham Veterans Breakfast Club, D-Day service at the US memorial in Weymouth (held on US Memorial Day) The D Day deception talk at the Union Jack Club in London and the Not Forgotten Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Forthcoming events announced were the D Day wreath laying service in Poole & Portland on the morning of 6th June 2024. There is a Royal British Legion reception at the Blue Boar pub in Poole afterwards. Members were informed of the evening events on Poole Quay on 6th June 2024. We were reminded of the service at the Falklands War memorial on Friday 14th June 2024. We were also reminded of the reception afterwards at the Centenary Club.
Members were informed that Blue RTRA membership cards were available from HHQ RTR. Advance notification that a possible RTR event in Arras 20-23 May 2025 (Arras 85) is being considered.
Members were informed of a dry-stone walling initiative called Walling2recovery that may well suit those suffering from mental as well as physical challenges.
Throwing the meeting open to the floor (including Zoom) we were informed that the UK Veterans ID card is proving beneficial in the USA, so the advice is to take it with you if you are going stateside. The branch was thanked for the presence of the standard (carried by Graham Collins) at a recent funeral (Arthur McCardle 1 RTR) in Warrington. With no further business, the meeting was closed, and the guest speaker introduced.
Lt Col (ret) Gareth Davis is well known to the branch, we knew what to expect and were not disappointed. Gareth gave a superb RTR biased presentation on D-Day and some of the early Normandy battles. He began by looking at where the RTR had fought during WWII and then concentrated on Normandy and the RTR involvement. Lots about Operation Goodwood, and the attacks on Hill 112. He showed photos of Tiger I and Panzer Mk IV showing the similarities which explained why every contact seemed to be a Tiger despite the relatively small number of these beasts in Normandy. Film clips taken in Normandy were used to help explain what was going on.
Lots of very interesting information, far too much to document on here, it was a very topical and interesting presentation which was very well received by everyone who was there. The recent high attendance figures at branch meetings clearly show the benefits of a good top quality guest speaker, so no pressure on the committee then.