BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy return of the day for tomorrow the 25th to Ray Brown, hope that you have a good one.

 With best wishes

 John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to John Plumb tomorrow the 21st, hoping you have a good day,

 With best wishes,

 John Atkins

 

 

birthday

Happy birthday PATRICK HOWLETT [79]? to late for your bus pass.did you get the card?

BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday to DAVID FRAMPTON [15th] just one more year and then his bus pass    have a good day                                              

list of members for reunion

B ALLEN / ROSE
B DOLPHIN
C CARD / FRIEDA
C CRIXON / JANET
D BEST / JOAN
D LEESE
T BRIDGEN
D SMITH /WIFE
D SOWERBY /JEAN

I MACINTOSH /FLORENCE
J AITCHISON /BARBARA
J ATKINS / MARGARET
J COOPER /WIFE
M DECARTERET /WIFE
J MATTHEW /MIRIAM
J PRIEST /MARTHA
K SHAW /MARGARET
MATTHEW /WIFE
NOBBY EVANS /WIFE
R BROWN PAULINE
REG BROWN /SUSAN
S FREEMAN /SON&WIFE
S MACKAY
T AYLES
T LYONS /WIFE
T SMITH / WIFE
T SUSSEX
T WORT / IRENE
J KELLY / WIFE
J LOUCH / WIFE
P RYAN / JEAN
B BENNETT /MARIA
K BUFFERY /JEAN
P PLUMB
R FROST
G BLAXLAND /MARGARET
N DOYLE
A GILLARD
R BORLEY
C BEST
R KENDON
Cpt P THELLUSTON / WIFE

This is the list that I have of members that have informed me that they will be attending the reunion this year, if there is anyone on the list that will not now be able to attend can they please let me know ASAP, also if there is anyone that is booked in to the Premier Inn that find that they cannot attend will they please let me know and I will cancel for them and book someone on the list that needs a room.

John Atkins

Reunion 2011

Will all members please note the costing for this years reunion will be £8 per person, which will comprise of £5 for buffet £2 for the charity and £1 towards the poppy wreath and flowers for Ann Taylor for covering the service at the NMA on the Sunday.

I am going to ask members for there suggestions this year as to which charity they wish the proceeds to go to, Doug Best will be doing the raffle for the charity of his choice so do the members going to the reunion wish to put the money in with Dougs or Help For Hero's, other suggestions that members can put forward will be appreciated.

I will be sending out Email to those on computers with my home address to send their cheques and phone those that do not have a computer, Can all members please let me have their cheques before the end of May, if anyone cannot attend please let me know before the end of May as after then their money will not be able to be refunded.

John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Ted Pentecost for today 10th, have a good one.

Best wishes

 John Atkins

 

 

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Kevin Alexander on the 9th also, have a good one.

 With Best Wishes

 John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many Happy returns of the day to Adrian Gillard on 9th, have a good one,

 With Best Wishes

 John Atkins

Lofty

Lofty Davies,then and now.

Lofty

Lofty is coming over to my place for a roast tomorrow ( Tuesday). I will show him this site as he does not have a PC. Please sennd messages if you wish.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day Monday 7th to Brian Allen our one and only (Grumps) have a good one pal.

 With best wishes

 John Atkins

LISA

LISA WELCOME TO THE BB Lisa is the Daughter in Law of are old pal RON BEST (RIP)  she is logged in as LISAH17 hope you enjoy looking around the SITE Im sure give it time you will get the hang of it

regards DEREK LEESE

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns to Fred Fearns 2nd March hoping you have a good birthday, With best wishes for the coming year and many more in the future.

 John Atkins

Freds photo's put into one album

One for you Don.

Me and the Aussie Dame (Jenny) looking for some guy named Russell lol !!

New Zealand

Any news of our ex-comrades in NZ. Hope they are all well.

 

Regards.  Doug.

HALEY SKYDIVING

HALEY THE HELP FOR HEROES GIRL Skydiving at LAKE WANAKA NEW ZEALAND
She is the MAD ONE of the family

I'm back

Just been released from Hospital  2 major OPs only just survived them ,just edited my email a/c& I'm knackered,off in a few days to Lippeland and rehab then back for a 3rd OP not so major this time I'll get back when I' ve had rest . Frank

Sergeant Patrick Hanlon

August 28, 1965 Based at Celle, near Hambury, Germany, Sergeant Patrick Hanlon of The Princess of Wales''s Royal Regiment was refereeing an impromptu football match when the top floor of a nearby biscuit factory suddenly caved in.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358850/Hero-soldier-Sergeant-Patrick-Hanlon-saved-10-German-workers-daring-rescue--daughter-selling-memorabilia.html#ixzz1EYC1G9G6

NMA service

I have been informed that the Royal Horse Guards will be holding a service at the NMA on the same day in June for their 350th, there will be around twenty five attending including two trumpeters, I do not see that there will be any problem with it.

John Atkins

Some Photo's from Helene Meikle

Some of the band members by kind permission of Helene.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Denis Sowerby on 19th, have a good one and don't go giving Sid any of your chocolates as you know they are not good for him, but thinking of it they are no good to you either so keep them for me when I see you, hope you enjoy your meal.

 John Atkins

Museum @ Hartlepool

Had a great afternoon yesterday. Visited the Heughbattery Museum at The Headland, Hartlepool.  Well worth a visit if/when in the area. Has a long history, going back to the 1800s.

Visit/review the website.   www.heughbattery.com 

Majority of exhibits are cannon and artillery weapons, but some really interesting items.

They recently took delivery of a Chieftan Tank, Saracen APC and Ferret Scout Car.Sadly, no Saladin.

The previous owner had to remove them off his site, so he donated them to the Battery.

The armour have no insignia. I!m hoping to get printed "Eagle" transfers to attach to the turrets.

Regards  Doug.

For your amusement

Was driving to work this morning when I saw an RAC van parked up. The

driver was sobbing uncontrollably and looked very miserable. I thought to

myself 'that guy's heading for a breakdown'

Brigadier Heathcoat-Amory

Brigadier Heathcoat-Amory

Brigadier Roderick Heathcoat-Amory, who died on 27th July 1998, aged 91 was awarded an immediate MC at El Alamein in 1942. He was originally recommended for an immediate DS0 with endorsements by his Brigade Commander and the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces, General Alexander. But the award was downgraded to an MC by General Montgomery, commanding the 8th Army. On the night of November 1 1942, Heathcoat-Amory was in command of a squadron of the Royal Dragoons, who broke through the enemy minefields at Alamein. It took until daylight before they were clear of the minefields, but Heathcoat-Amory pushed on to his objective through enemy positions, regardless of the opposition. Under his direction, the squadron was subsequently responsible for the destruction of more than 100 enemy transport vehicles, a tank and several guns; and they also captured of a very large number of prisoners. The citation for his MC commended Heathcoat-Amory's conspicuous ability and devotion to duty throughout this hazardous operation covering four days behind the enemy lines".

Roderick Heathcoat-Amory was born on January 30 1907, the fourth son of Sir Ian Murray Heathcoat-Amory, Ind Bt. The second son, Derick would become Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold Macmillan, in 1958, and the first (and last) Viscount Amory in 1960. Roderick’s great- great grandfather John Heathcoat, who in 1808 had invented the bobbin net machine, a revolutionary mechanism for making silk and cotton nets, had started the family firm of Heathcoat and Co. In 1816, the Luddites, fearing the machinery would put men out of work, destroyed 55 machines at Heathcoat's plant at Loughborough. As a result, he moved to the more peaceful area of Devon, taking his workforce with him. A man of vision and a model employer, he built up a prosperous business near Tiverton. Young Roderick began his education at Ludgrove preparatory school. His parents visited him just once during his five years there, but that was unexceptional in those days. At Eton he paid insufficient attention to his studies, and failed to get up to Christ Church, Oxford.

Having heard good reports of New Zealand, Heathcoat-Amory decided to go there to make his fortune. Discouraged by his failure to do so in a short time, he came home and joined the Army, obtaining a commission via the Supplementary Reserve. After passing the necessary examination, he was granted a regular commission in the Royal Dragoons. He went out to join the regiment in India, at Secunderabad, where he enjoyed polo, pig-sticking and shooting although, as he would firmly point out, military training began at 6.30am and continued until lunchtime: One incident from his time in India always stuck in his mind. He recalled how during a military review at Delhi, the Viceroy's wife, Lady Willingdon, sent for the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Phillip Chetwode, and said she thought there should be more entertainment. Might it be possible, Lady Willingdon wondered, for a wild animal fight to be arranged? “Certainly your Excellency”, replied Chetwode. “Shall I apply to the Bishop of Lahore for some Christians to throw to them!” This, Heathcoat-Amory recalled, did little to improve an already frosty relationship.

In 1935, as Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia threatened a wider war, the regiment left India for Egypt. But in the event the situation quietened down, and in 1936 Heathcoat-Amory returned to England, making the most of the chance to hunt with the Warwickshire and to hone his skill as a pilot. In 1938, the regiment was sent to Palestine to deal with the Arab rebellion, but by the time war broke out the next year Heathcoat-Amory was back in England, halfway through the Long Equestrian Course at Weedon. After an unsuccessful attempt to transfer to the RAF (for which he was already too old), he was posted back to Palestine where the regiment was then being mechanised. In May 1941, equipped with armoured cars, the Royals were sent to the Western Desert, to carry out reconnaissance duties and to harass the Germans. Soon afterwards they were posted to Syria to take preventive action against the Vichy, pro-German government of that country During a patrol in Syria, Heathcoat-Amory's armoured car overturned on a sand dune, landing on top of him and breaking all his ribs on one side and three on the other. While convalescing, he had a part-time job as Liaison Officer with the Polish Brigade, after which he returned to the regiment in February 1942.

In June and July 1941, the Royals were engaged in the Gazala battles, where the 8th Army was out-fought by the superior guns and tanks of the Germans, and retreated to the El Alamein position. Here Heathcoat-Amory was given command of ‘C’ Squadron, took part in the victory at Alam Halfa at the end of August, and on November 1 was given the task of leading the way through the German minefields at Alamein. After Alamein, the Royals were in the van of the Army's drive to Tunisia, but here Heathcoat-Amory went down with nephritis, and was evacuated to hospital in Alexandria. He recovered in time to land at Taranto, Italy, in September 1943, but as the front there was static, the Royals were posted back to England to be re-equipped and trained for the North West Europe campaign. At the end of July 1944, they landed in Normandy and became the Advanced Guard of l2 Corp, then of 30 Corp, and were involved in the battle to reach Arnhem. The regiment saw some tough fighting in Holland, crossed the Rhine, fought its way up to Bremen, and at the end of the war had the task of disarming the 120, 000 German troops in Denmark. At the end of the North West Europe campaign, Heathcoat-Amory was mentioned in despatches. Heathcoat-Amory's next appointment was to command and then disband the North Irish Horse, followed by a similar assignment with 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment. This melancholy task over, he was sent to the Staff College, Camberley. In January 1949, he was given command of his regiment. Heathcoat-Amory's final appointment was the command of 11th Armoured Brigade, TA, in Yorkshire. He retired in 1958 and settled in Yorkshire, where he was Joint Master of the Sinnington Hounds for 12 years, helped with the point-to-point races and the Pony Club, and also served on the rural District Council. In 1971, he was High Sheriff. A lover of all outdoor sports .Heathcoat-Amory caught his first salmon at the age of 90. He had a deep love of nature and after the war made many trips to Africa to see the wildlife. He enjoyed life to the full and took great pleasure in helping others to do the same.

Roderick Heathcoat-Amory married, in 1947, Sonia (nee Denison), the widow of his cousin Gerald Heathcoat-Amory, who had been killed in Normandy In 1939 They had a son, the MP David Heathcoat-Amory, and a daughter.

" good old Royals

Name them

Colonel Hans Von Luck

Colonel Hans Von Luck

Colonel Hans von Luck, wartime Panzer leader, died in Hamburg on August 1 1997 aged 86. He was born at Flensburg on July 15, 1911.

In his memoir, Panzer Commander, published in America in 1989, Hans von Luck recalls the astonishment he felt when, in the 1960s, he was invited to the Staff College at Camberley to lecture to young British officers on the German experience of the Normandy battle of 1944. The consciousness of having been the servant of an evil regime, doubly drummed into him through five years as a prisoner of the Russians between 1945 and 1950, made him reticent about talking of his war. But when he stood up to address his first Staff College audience, it was to hear himself described by Camberley's CO as "a fair and courageous opponent". The awkwardness passed, and he was regularly invited back.
Staff College audiences were particularly interested to hear what a German had to say about the controversial Operation Goodwood, the British 2nd Army's apparent attempt to break out of its bridgehead at Caen in July 1944. As commanding officer 125 Panzergrenadier Regiment, von Luck had played an important part in repelling the most massive Allied tank attack of the entire Normandy campaign. On one occasion he even ordered the commander of a flak battery at gunpoint not to train his 88mm guns skywards looking for aircraft, but to use them against the advancing British tanks. "Either you're a dead man or you can earn yourself a medal," von Luck told the reluctant flak commander, levelling his Luger pistol at him. Faced with this steely determination, the young officer complied, and the anti-aircraft guns became anti-tank guns, with devastating effect on the British armour.
The repulse of Goodwood brought acute disappointment verging on outrage to the Chiefs of Staff, the press and the British public, and its effects reverberate among military commentators to this day. That three complete armoured divisions - whose way forward had supposedly been eased by an immense carpet of bombs dropped by 2,000 aircraft - should have been stopped in their tracks by vastly inferior German forces, was considered a disgrace. Tedder, Eisenhower's deputy for the NW Europe campaign, furious at the squandering of such massive air power for such limited objectives, called for Montgomery's head. Montgomery, in a perhaps retrospective adjustment of his aims, said that no breakout had been planned; Goodwood had been a "battle of position" intended to draw German forces into a war of attrition and allow the Americans to break out on the western flank of the bridgehead - which indeed they later did.
On the German side, von Luck's initiatives - besides the flak battery, he had rounded up much other artillery and got it pointing in the right direction - earned him the praise of the corps commander. He was used to such notice. From early on in his career he had been a protege of Rommel, who in 1942 had had him brought from the Russian front to North Africa to command his "pet" unit, the 3rd Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion. Poland, 1939; France 1940; Russia 1941-42; North Africa 1942-43; NW Europe 1944; and finally the Eastern front again just before the final collapse in 1945, von Luck had been in the thick of just about every campaign of the war.
Hans von Luck was born into the Old Prussian officer class. An ancestor had fought against the Tartars in the 13th century; another had served Frederick the Great in the Seven Years War. Remarkably, given such a military background, his father was a naval officer, which accounts for von Luck's birth at Flensburg. But the father's career was an aberration. Hans von Luck went to army cadet school, from where he was posted to a cavalry regiment. But from this he was uprooted and sent to one of the first motorised battalions in the Reichswehr. At first he was disappointed not to be a cavalryman, but the move ensured that he was in at the birth of Germany's formidable panzer forces. In Saxony in 1932 he met Erwin Rommel who trained him in infantry tactics.
In August 1939 von Luck's armoured reconnaissance regiment was on manoeuvres on the Polish frontier when it had its blank cartridges exchanged for live ammunition. At 0450 hours on September 1, it rolled over the Polish frontier to begin what would, for von Luck, be more than five-and-a-half years of almost continual fighting. By the middle of September, with the Polish armies routed, von Luck's unit was in Warsaw.
For the invasion of France and the Low Countries in the following spring, he found himself in a panzer division commanded by Rommel. The young company commander had already made an impression on the famous general, and when, on May 28, 1940, the commander of 37 Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion was killed in northern France, Rommel appointed him, over the heads of many more senior officers, to lead the unit. In the aftermath of Dunkirk, von Luck's battalion continued the pursuit of the French Army southwards, encompassing the surrender of Fecamp without having to bombard the picturesque resort.
Von Luck's third campaign began at 4am on June 22, 1941, when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. His panzer division was part of the Northern Army Group aiming for Minsk as a prelude to assaulting Moscow itself. Von Luck actually managed to insert a patrol into the suburbs of the Russian capital before counterattacks and the onset of winter flung the Germans back. By that time he knew that Rommel, in North Africa, was asking for him and, though his divisional general would not at first release him, by the spring of 1942 he was reporting to his old boss in his desert HQ.
For von Luck the fight against the British in the desert was always to be the most "sporting" contest of the war. The deep bitterness of the French campaign and the dehumanizing ethos of the Russian front, were absent. The to-and-fro nature of the struggle meant that both sides got to know each others units - sometimes each others personalities - quite intimately. A captured German medical officer might be "swapped" for a supply of synthetic quinine of which the British were in short supply. Towards the end of the campaign, in a Tunisian desert bivouac, a bedouin suddenly came to von Luck's tent and presented him with a letter. It was from the CO The Royal Dragoons and read:
Dear Major von Luck, We have had other tasks and so were unable to keep in touch with you. The war in Africa has been decided, I'm glad to say not in your favour. I should like, therefore, to thank you and all your people, in the name of my officers and men, for the fair play with which we have fought against each other on both sides. I and my battalion hope that all of you will come out of the war safe...
After the close of the Tunisian campaign von Luck spent some time in Berlin before going to Normandy where, on D-Day, he was commanding a tank regiment of 21 Panzer Division near Caen. When he saw the massed parachutists and gliders of 6 Airborne Division descending on Normandy early on June 6, 1944, he longed to counter-attack at once. But his formation was forbidden to move without a direct order from Hitler, who slept in until noon. Later, after the repulse of Goodwood, he fought his way back to the Germany's Rhine frontier and was involved in some tough fighting against the Americans in the Vosges Mountains.
Had he finished his war there, his future might have been different. But in February 1945 his panzergrenadiers were switched to the eastern front, where he was taken prisoner by the Russians in the desperate fighting on the Oder around the fortress of Kustrin in April. He then faced almost five years' grim labour in the Soviet Union, first as a coal miner, then as a building worker in the Caucasus.
He was released in the winter of 1949-50, but found his hometown in ruins. His private life was in ruins, too. He had formed an attachment during the war to a girl he was not then allowed to marry, because she had a Jewish great-grandparent. By the time he returned from imprisonment her circumstances had changed. They remained friends but he found a new life as a coffee merchant, spending some time in Angola. He married and fathered three sons.
His British Staff College visits brought him into touch with Major John Howard, whom, had his unit been allowed to move forward, he might well have driven off Pegasus Bridge in the small hours of D-Day. Through Howard he met the American historian and presidential biographer Stephen Ambrose who wrote a foreword to Panzer Commander.
Von Luck also advised the Ministry of Defence on its 1979 instruction film Goodwood. He was even asked to lecture on the topic to the Swedish Military College; this small neutral state regarded his July 1944 counter-attack as a classic of its kind, with a lesson for any country that might find itself subject to amphibious invasion. Howard and von Luck were often to be seen together, both at D-Day reunions, which initially he had been reticent about attending, and at seminars arranged by Ambrose when he was a professor at New Orleans.
His wife Regina and sons survive him.

C/O Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick

I'm sure many of you will remember Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick who was our C/O. I came across this obituary in the Daily Telegraph recently and thought you might like to know. It was dated 18 Oct 2002.

General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick, who has died aged 89, was that rare combination, an outstanding front-line commander and a highly successful staff officer; after winning an MC in Palestine in 1939 and a DSO in Germany during the Second World War he became C-in-C, BAOR, and Commander, Northern Army Group, in 1968. In April 1945, the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, equipped with Grant tanks and scout cars, were ordered to capture Tostedt and advance north to cut the Hamburg-Bremen autobahn. The town was defended by infantry armed with bazookas, anti-tank and self-propelled guns, and there was at least one Tiger tank in the area. The obvious approaches to the town were blocked by demolitions, and alternative routes were extremely difficult for the tanks. Fitzpatrick, the commanding officer, made several reconnaissance missions, in person, under heavy fire, and by the time the daylight failed the 8th Hussars had driven back the enemy and captured the town. With the assistance of an infantry battalion, Fitzpatrick mopped up the remaining resistance during the night and consolidated his position. The next morning, on arrival at the autobahn near Hollenstedt, the regiment came under fire from 88 mm guns and took a number of casualties. By skilful manoeuvring, Fitzpatrick by-passed the opposition at Hollenstedt and pushed down the autobahn towards Hamburg, destroying eight 88s on the way. Halting only for nightfall, Fitzpatrick drove relentlessly on towards the river Elbe. After a stiff action in which many infantry positions and anti-tank guns were overrun and 200 of the enemy taken prisoner or killed, he finally reached the river. The 8th Hussars subsequently captured the concentration camps at Belsen and Fallingbostel, and liberated thousands of Allied prisoners of war and internees. Fitzpatrick's leadership was recognised by an immediate DSO.

Geoffrey Richard Desmond Fitzpatrick was born at Ashvale, Aldershot, on December 14 1912, the son of Brigadier-General Sir Richard Fitzpatrick, DSO. He was educated at Eton and RMC Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) in 1932. The regiment was ordered to Palestine in 1938, and Fitzpatrick won his MC in operations against Arab terrorists. In 1940, the regiment was mechanised and Fitzpatrick, then adjutant, moved with his unit to Syria in 1941 to take part in operations against the Vichy French. Fitzpatrick saw action in the Western Desert, where the Royals were equipped with armoured cars and deployed as a reconnaissance regiment. He attended Staff College at Haifa, and in June 1942 was appointed brigade major of 2nd Armoured Brigade, playing a key role in the planning for the battle of Alamein. It was entirely due to his work over many weeks that the brigade's move forward to the assembly area, and subsequently to battle, on the nights of October 23 and November 1, went without a hitch. During the battle, Fitzpatrick was constantly at Tactical HQ and often under heavy fire. As a result of his efforts much valuable information was passed back which enabled divisional, corps and army commanders to make plans that led to the Germans' defeat. He was appointed MBE. After a spell as GSO1 at 1st US Corps and a period at the War Office, Fitzpatrick re-joined the Royals at Hilvarenbeek in Holland in October 1944 to take command of A Squadron. The town was the centre of a salient into the enemy positions, and its tall church tower was a valuable observation point. The verger was resigned to most of the problems associated with the church's position on the front line, but he called on Fitzpatrick to remonstrate about the gunners attached to the squadron, who were doing their ranging during his choir practice. The Germans regretted the capture of the church tower and attacked A Squadron's positions every night. Fitzpatrick decided that the only way to keep them quiet was to be aggressive throughout the day. In one of several successful sorties, he dismounted part of his squadron and led his men in an infantry attack. Early in 1945, Fitzpatrick was posted to command the 8th Hussars, joining the unit in Holland and finishing the war at Hamburg. After a number of staff appointments, he went to Camberley as an instructor, before taking command of the Royals in the Canal Zone in 1951. Six years later, he was appointed Chief of Staff 1st (British) Corps in BAOR and, in 1959, he was selected by Lord Mountbatten to become Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence, during the formation of the unified MoD and the Defence Staff. An appointment as Director of Military Operations at the War Office followed in 1962.

Fitzpatrick's colleagues at the time credit him with the possession of a photographic memory; however complex his brief, once assimilated, he could recall it at will. In successive years, from 1964, he was made Chief of Staff BAOR, GOC-in-Chief Northern Ireland and Vice Chief of the General Staff. On his promotion to general in 1968, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief BAOR and Commander Northern Army Group. In 1970, his final Army appointment was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. After retiring from the Army in 1973, Fitzpatrick was appointed Lieutenant-Governor and commander-in-chief of Jersey where he made many friends during his five-year tour of duty and became a highly proficient sailor. Retiring to Suffolk, Fitzpatrick devoted many hours to regimental work, but found time to enjoy fishing and shooting. A perfectionist in everything he did, his somewhat formidable presence was lightened by a sardonic sense of humour. In 1969, when the Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Dragoons were amalgamated to form the Blues and Royals, Fitzpatrick, as Colonel of the Royal Dragoons, handled the many problems involved. He was appointed ADC to the Queen in 1959. He was Colonel of The Royal Dragoons (1964-69), ADC General to the Queen (1970-73), Colonel Commandant, RAC (1971-74), Colonel of the Blues and Royals and Gold Stick in Waiting to the Queen (1979-98). He was appointed KCB in 1965, GCB in 1971 and GCVO in 1997.

Desmond Fitzpatrick died on October 12. Mary Sara Campbell whom he married in 1944, died in 1996. He married secondly, in 1998, Lettice Errington (nee Stafford-King-Harman), the widow of Major George Errington. She survives him together with a son and a daughter of his first marriage.

re: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1410496/General-Sir-Desmond-Fitzpatrick.html

Ian Kempster

Hi Gents 

I have just found this note from Margaret  on face book, is there any one out there that can help her with her request.

Margaret Kempster My husband, Ian Kempster, enlisted in Feb 1971 and was discharged in Aug 83, he served 3 tours in N Ireland, 3 tours in Cyprus, and 4 tours in Baor, he recently died and I am looking for anyone who might have known him and had a photograph of him hidden away somewhere. I Hope you can help me.

Regards George Mcginlay

MARK GANGE

Welcome to the ROYALS BB Mark hope you enjoy looking around and that you find a few old Pals.

Mark was in the Regt 1961-1969 then was a BLUE/ROYAL till 1971

he was in the Officers Mess for a time and then in the REGT POLICE with Jock Sweeney and Paddy McCormack

regards Derek Leese

Ref Email

Members that want my Email address please go into my site and click on my profile and you will find all the info on there.

John Atkins

(Multiply I D johnie68}

BRIAN HILL

Welcome to the Bulletin Board Brian hope you enjoy it..Brian was in the ACC and was a cook in the SGT,S MESS in DETMOULD 

REGARDS DEREK LEESE

R I P trooper JOHN Mc GUINNESS [1938-1945]

Flag this messageInformation From Household Cavalry Home HQ - The Passing of a ColleagueWednesday, 26 January, 2011 9:30From: "Paul Stretton" View contact detailsTo: "Paul Maj Stretton DII" Dear Member of The Blues and Royals Association,


I must sadly report the death on 17 January 2011 of 318014 Trooper John McGuinness (93) who served with the Royal Dragoons from January 1938 to January 1945.


He was serving with The Royal Dragoons in Palestine when WWII broke out and was subsequently captured and held as a PoW in Germany for over 4 years. He was always proud of his service with the Regiment and maintained his links with the Association.

A funeral service will be held Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church Tile Hill Lane, Coventry CV4 9TA on Friday 28th January at 9 a.m. Any Association members able to attend would be welcomed by his family.

The condolences of the Association go to his widow and daughter at this difficult and sad time.


THE ROYAL DRAGOONS REGIMENTAL COLLECT

O God, in whose sight all creatures are manifest and to whose eyes all things are open,

grant that the works Thou requirest of the 1st The Royal Dragoons may never be done to be seen of men,

but always for Thy Glory, and that, waiting on Thee to renew our strength,

we mount up with wings as eagles at Thy word, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

(TOBIAS,1930)



PF Stretton

George Blaxlands photo's

George has sent me these photo's to put up on the site.

John Atkins

Welcome to George Blaxland

Welcome George (  ID     Blax123  ) to the BB, George was in the Regiment in 1960/62 he was in Asqn in Neesoon and I believe he went to HQ in Ipoh, but I will let him fill us in with the details, we hope that you will enjoy being with us on the BB George.

BARNARD CASTLE 1947

Photo sent in by John Harvey

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Ian Wilson, hope you have had a good one, sorry for the delay as I just realised it was today.

Best wishes

 John Atkins 

JOHN (DOUGLAS) HARVEY

Welcome to the BB John hope you enjoy looking around John was in the ROYALS 1947-1949 not sure of his full details, maybe he will tell us more.

regards derek leese

Welcome to Robin Ward

Welcome to the BB Robin (ID IS 5462rjw), Robin joined the regiment in Aden in 1960 he was in 3rd Troop Asqn. I will let him tell you all about his time in the Royals.

from PAUL STRETTON HQ

Information from Household Cavalry Home HQ - Channel 4 TV Series - D-Day To BerlinThursday, 20 January, 2011 10:02From: "Paul Stretton" View contact detailsTo: "Paul Maj Stretton DII" Dear Member of The Blues and Royals Association,

I’m aware that Home HQ recently put out something similar to this but this is an approach by a friend of a serving officer who, as you will see, is making a series for Channel 4. I fully accept that the generation of former soldiers being targeted here may not be receiving this email but if it does get to any of them that's great. If you have knowledge of someone who you think might fit the bill perhaps you would be kind enough to make contact with them.
""Dear Roly,

We have been speaking to veterans on the phone initially to see what campaigns they were involved in during this period, what details they recall in terms of what rations they carried, what kind of weaponry they typically used and any other particular memories that stand out for them. If they are not happy to talk about a subject we do not pressurise them to do so.

Once we have established the veterans who are happy to speak to us on camera about their time in Europe we are aiming to conduct the interviews in their homes or at a central location where we might be able to interview two or three of them in the same day. We are aiming to take no more than three hours out of each interviewee's day.

A very brief series overview is below:-

We are making an ambitious 6 part series for Channel 4 which will re-tell the story of D-Day to Berlin . The series will use a combination of archive and re-created battlefield action sequences but the most important element that we are looking to drive each programme and bring it to life is firsthand testimony from the people that were there at the time.

I’m looking for veterans, involved from D-Day onwards, who might be willing to share their stories with us for this new series. At this stage I’m simply hoping to talk to and meet as many veterans as possible with a view to filming interviews with them from the end of January onwards.

Hope this is of some help – if you need any more information then do let me know.
Hopefully see you soon.
Hettie.
Henrietta Mitchell| Impossible Pictures Ltd | 58 Davies Street 1st Floor London W1K 5JF| Main : +44 (0)20 7408 2550 | Direct: +44 (0)20 7408 2590 www.impossiblepictures.co.uk ""

Thank you.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Brian Ingram tomorrow the20th, have a good one mate.

With best wishes,

John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Tony Boon on the 19th which over there will be to day, have a good day Tony and hope that the floods are a thing of the past now for you in Brisbane.

 Best wishes

 John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day on the 18th to Frank Carter, hoping you have a good one but go steady on the hard stuff.

 Best wishes

 John Atkins

Malaya Medal.

Just had a phone call, asking me if I had received the above medal.

I confirmed, yes. Received by post from the Military Attache in London. (3 Yrs. ago)

I surmised the caller was going to invite me to a presentation locally.

Regards  Doug. 

WILLY CREAVIN (RIP)

Paul Graver has asked me to pass on the following
Willy Creavin ex BAND has passed away Paul recieved the info from
Lyn and Billy Baines
Regards Derek Leese

Fradley Arms

Yesterday I made a phone call to the manager of the Fradley Arms with regards to the function room for the reunion, I was informed that the Fradley Arms has been refurbished and that now the function room that we used last year does not now exist, there is now only a small meeting room and the rest by what I can make out is incorporated in to the bar area, the manager has told me that for us to have our reunion their this year he will make sure that the area next to the meeting room will be reserved for us and that the buffet will be laid out in the meeting room, Now I do not know at this time how or whether it will be possible to do a raffle with other people being in close proximity to the area set aside for us, I myself feel a bit dubious as to how this will work out but after talking to Denis and Derek we are of the opinion that at this late time there is not a lot that we can do to find anything in that area to hold the reunion this year but maybe if it did not work out for us at the Fradley Arms this year that we should look for some other venue for next year., now I will leave it to you all to make your own comments and opinions and post them onto the site, The manager tells me that he will do what he can to make sure we are well catered for and that he will keep the price to somewhere near the same as last year for us.

John Atkins

NIGEL BUCKMAN

Welcome to the bulletin board Nigel hope you enjoy it. Nigel was my SQN CLERK in BSQN 1968 WHAT A SMALL WORLD

REGARDS DEREK LEESE

Once a Tanker always a Tanker

This is what my family got me for Christmas. Is great for Snow days.

Trying to get out of the Garage.

Fun with the Nor Easter in MASSACHUSETTS

Massachsetts Jan 12 2011

Noreaster Storm started 0200, 15 inchs by midday. these taken about 1230 and still 8hrs till snow stops, they tell us we may end up with 24+ins.

Queensland Floods

Hi Guy's still raining here we have just been cut off.the Pine river has just crossed the road and Strathpine has now got to evacuate.It is going to get worse as we have got the King tides this afternoon.Will keep intouch.

PAT SIMPSON (RIP)

Sorry to have to report the passing of SAMMY SIMPSON,s wife PAT.
Just had words with Sammy and he tells me she passed away on Saturday morning
if i get more info i will post it on the BB
REGARDS DEREK LEESE

Is it spring yet

Well we reached 13 deg here in Paderborn today all the snow is gone except for the dirty stuff on the side of the road, sun was shining birds singing I noticed that a lot of the Daffs are showing their heads, the Rhodos & azaleas are looking fine with big fat flower buds on them,I suppose its to much to hope for an early spring,  still a bit of  frost in the ground when that's gone I can get the remaining bulbs planted that came late. Frank

Reunion 2011

This is the list of members that have informed me of there intention to attend this years reunion, if there is anyone on the list that will not be attending let me know as soon as possible and any member not on the list that wishes to attend to also let me know ASAP, May I also ask if anyone that is booked in at the Premier Inn finds that they will not be able to attend the reunion, let me know and not cancel their booking as I will do it for them and book someone in that is looking for somewhere to stay that is on my list, by doing this I will have a better chance of getting them a room there.

John Atkins


B ALLEN , / ROSE
B DOLPHIN,/
C CARD,/ FRIEDA
C CRIXON ,/ JANET
D BEST, / JOAN
D LEESE /
T BRIDGEN
D SMITH / WIFE
D SOWERBY/ JEAN
F O'SULLIVAN / SON
I MACINTOSH / FLORENCE
J AITCHISON/ BARBARA
J ATKINS / MARGARET
J COOPER/
M DECARTERET/ WIFE
J MATTHEW/ MIRIAM
J PRIEST / MARTHA
K SHAW / MARGARET
MATTHEW / WIFE
NOBBY EVANS/ WIFE
R BROWN/ PAULINE
REG BROWN/ SUSAN
S FREEMAN/ SON&WIFE
S MACKAY/
T AYLES /
T LYONS /
T SMITH/ WIFE
T SUSSEX /
T WORT/ IRENE
J KELLY/ WIFE
J LOUCH / WIFE
P RYAN / WIFE
B BENNETT / MARIA

K BUFFERY / JEAN
P PLUMB
R FROST
A GILLARD
N DOYLE
R BORLEY
C BEST
G BLAXLAND / MARGARET
R KENDEN

John Charman

Welcome John Charman to the BB, site ID is jm2mc11.

 

 

Happy New Year

May I on behalf of the admin team of the 1st Royal Dragoons site wish all our members and families a very Happy and prosperous New Year.


John Atkins

Senior Citizens

It was NOT the Senior Citizens who took:

The melody out of music,
The pride out of appearance,
The courtesy out of driving,
The romance out of love,
The commitment out of marriage,
The responsibility out of parenthood,
The togetherness out of the family,
The learning out of education,
The service out of patriotism,
The Golden Rule from rulers,
The nativity scene out of cities,
The civility out of behaviour,
The refinement out of language,
The dedication out of employment,
The prudence out of spending,
The ambition out of achievement, or,
God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from
personal relationships and interactions with others!

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party ...... even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproof caps .... with a hammer.
I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going.
I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm very good at telling stories; over and over and over and over...

I'm not really grouchy: I just don't like traffic, waiting in long lines, crowds, lawyers, unruly kids, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now. I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere

I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.
I'm having trouble remembering simple words like.....
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days, and when did they let kids become policemen? I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150? I'm a walking storeroom of facts.... I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.

Have a great New Year and ...
"Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up."

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns to John Matthew on the 1st  January, wishing you all the best in 2011.

 John Atkins

 

Nominal Roll for Recce Troop January 1968

Were are you now?

Photo Album 2010-12-27

Recce Troop

Christmas decorations

Thought you might like to see my christmas tree ,(well times are hard )
Frank

Christmas Greetings

To all members: I do trust that you are having a peaceful and restful Christmas Day. May this coming New Year be one of happiness for you and your loved ones. I realise that at 'our age' we venture into the autumn of our life but I put my trust in the One who said, ' Because I live, you will live also.' The best, I feel, is yet to be for you and for me.

Malay message.

Salamat hari dan natal tahun baru bahagia

                                                               To you and yours

                                                                                        Frank

 Learnt that from a Malay Doctor in a German heart hospital after my Bypass OP in 2002

snow and ice

I got family living in Bournemouth he tells me he cant get out of the house because he is snowed in.& that he has had to get his bother-in -law to bring him some food ! I asked  him   how deep it was he says 4 inches. so I went out and dug my car out from under 20 inches of snow ploughed down the drive though mtr high ruts of snow & ice where the lorries  delivering to the local DIY store had been manoeuvring. drove on to the bank then realizing  that my tank was almost empty got to the filling station filled up with the last of the diesel they had  they had all ready run out of petrol and normal diesel ( it must be my lucky day ) the attendant says she can close now until the weather changes because the tankers can't get through.My relative used to be an HGV Driver.mmmmn. what ever happened to the tough guys who's winter attire used to be shorts and sting vests. who used to get though despite all adversities  I 'spose its down to the E U and health and safety rules again I was once told by an HGV driver that if he had a puncture he had to call recovery out because he was delivering foodstuffs. Frank

Welcome Allan Horne

Welcome Allan to the Bulletin Board, Allan was in the RAPC attached to the Royals.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Birthday greetings also go to Barbara Aitchison on the 20th, have a great day Barbara and you also go steady on the hard stuff and get young Jim to take you out for a slap up meal, tell him you are worth it , John Said so???

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day on the 20th to John Cogan, have a good one and go steady on the vino.

 John Atkins

 

 

military pensions.

Got this from another site.

The government have altered how they  your military pension is affected by annual inflation. they have changed the link from RPI to CPI .which will decrease the value of your pension year on year.

below are some examples of the loss .supplied by the Forces Pension Society, illustrating the cost of the change from RPI to CPI.

a/double amputee 28 year old corporal pounds 587,000 by the age of 70.

b/ 40 year old  Sgt 212,000 by age of 85

c/ 40 year old Major 319,000 by the age of 85.

Please sign the petition which is very easy to do ,just click on to link below

 

http.//www.ipetitions.com/petition/protect-our-military-pensions/

please pass on to make this petition grow

Frank

Christmas

Hi Guys I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and a very happy New year.

James Hamilton-Russell.

Today I phoned Mrs Hamilton-Russell to enquire about Jake she tells me to let you all know that he is doing well and to thank you all for your interest, she tells me that they have been over to France to visit there daughter there recently and are going over again for xmas.

My little friend the blackbird

This is the blackbird that I mentioned in a post yesterday, he was here waiting for his food again as normal this morning.

Replaced photo's of the Arboretum

I have put back these photo's which I accidenly deleted along with the comments owing to a senior moment. (my apoligies)

Scam Emails

To all members,
I have been in contact with Multiply with regards to the Scam Email's, I have now received a reply and for those Emails sent to members by unknowns have had their memberships on Multiply removed and blocked for breaking the code of conduct rules, if anyone receives these Email's please let me know and I will report it to Multiply for them to get them blocked also.

John Atkins

LINDA PUGH

Welcome to the ROYALS BB Linda hpe you enjoy it...Linda for you who dont know her is the Wife of Mick Pugh (RIP) Who many members will remember for his Humour

Regards DEREK LEESE

CHURCHILL ON ISLAM

This short speech below was written by Winston Churchill and delivered by him in 1899 when he was a young soldier and journalist.

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!
Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce; and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualist deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property;either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslem's may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith.

It has already spread throughout Central Africa , raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled; the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome ."


Sir Winston Churchill; (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 London )

Hostpital results

Hi guys got my results today and it was all good cancer on my back is beninne so that now they can operate on my kidney in late January.Thank you for all your good wishes,they really helped me through a rough patch thanks lads.

Reply from Multiply,regards scam Emails

Hi John,

These are spam bots that are obtaining User ID's at random. We've put some measures in place to prevent these going forward, but like with many spammers, they continually change their methods. We're still working on a permanent solution, so for now just make sure you don't click on anything in a message sent from someone you don't know, and report the user ID to customer service.

Thanks.
- Jack

BEWARE..... DOWNLOADER TROJAN

Today I had a message sent to me via MULTIPLY which when I opened it downloaded a nasty.... it was sent to me by ROXIFER, if you get this in your email account don't open it.. It purports to be a WINDOWS APPLICATION and is a security/virus scanner.

If you open it, it will try to force you to download the application. As soon as it starts it will take over the control of your system and it is impossible to get rid of the pop-ups etc.

The only way I managed to get rid of it was to go in to the REGEDIT facility and erase each and every key relating to the program. If you do not know what you are doing in REGEDIT don't play around in there as you will crash your system and have to reload your operating system

PAUL STRETTON

Dear Member of The Blues and Royals Association,

The following is an extract of the foreword "Across the wire", which is the result of dedicated research by the Centre for Mental Health. The document is attached for your information and you may find it an interesting and poignant piece of work with issues that may have affected a large number that have served in the Armed Forces:

In theory we have been at peace since 1945, but only in 1968 has a serviceman or woman not been killed in action somewhere in the world during that period. The majority have been members of the regular forces, but their numbers also include members of the reserves, rightly categorised by the term ‘twice a citizen’.

Sadly, we also see and hear of young men and women who have suffered terrible disablement, following injuries from which their parents and grandparents would not have survived. These are the outward and visible reminders of the debt that the nation owes to those who literally put their lives on the line on its behalf.

However there are, equally sadly, a large number whose service results in medical conditions that are not so obvious. Throughout history the plight of veterans who find it difficult to return to normal life has been both visible and all-too often ignored. Many young people broke away from chaotic and dysfunctional lifestyles to join the armed forces, which could be accused of providing an entirely false form of existence, in which servicemen are looked after from morning until night, but then discharged, unprepared for the daily demands of civilian life. They do not want to go back to chaos, where those around them, who have not shared their experience, do not understand the nuances of what they are going through. Drink, anxiety and depression

lead too many into the hands of the criminal justice system.

Some face the additional problems of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), again nothing new, but society has changed since the days following World War I, when the British Legion established clubs in which veterans, whose families and friends did not understand what they had been through, could share experiences with comrades in arms, in other words practising, unwittingly, what is now called counselling or talking therapy. The nation

owes a debt to them all, a debt that has been inadequately honoured for too long.

<<...>>
PF Stretton

HMKG 04 Norwegian Military Tattoo.flv

This was sent in by IAN hope you enjoy it

WELCOME PETER WINFIELD TO THE BB

I spent part of my National Service with the Royal Dragoons in Malaya in1960-61 after being transfered from the 13/18th Hussars when they returned home late 1960 to take up a tour in Germany after they had retrained in Chieftains from the Saladins and Saracens.

This is some of the message that Peter sent to me, I am sure that he will find quite a few comrades from his time in the regiment.

Welcome Peter

Soldiers Pensions Petition

Sorry but yet another petition. In view that this government wants to dock war widows pensions I thought it timely that I posted this one. If we don't raise our voice then we only have ourselves to blame.

26,000 signatures to date.

This one is a worthy cause:-  http://soldiers-pensions.co.uk

 

APittanceofTime (1).wmv

SCAM EMAIL

There seems to be a scam Email going around from KYCHAFYZOYP which appears to originate from LATVIA, DO NOT OPEN the video as there is a warning that there is a TROJAN in it, it appears someone has had access to the BB, as it has appeared twice, derek had one which he passed to me and I deleted it. The other person that received one was Fred aka (handyman 1927) who passed on the warning to me.

John Atkins

MESSAGE FOR MEMBERS HAVING PROBLEM GETTING ON THE BB

As we have had new members join us on the BB recently, some have had problems getting onto the site , the first thing that you need to do once you have logged in is to right click on the page and add it to FAVOURITES so when you want to come on the BB again just go into your favourites and click on 1st THE ROYAL DRAGOONS and you should not have a problem accessing the BB, the only time that you may need to log in again is if you have deleted your cookies as this also takes out your log in details for the BB, other than that I have not yet had a problem getting onto the BB. Please give this a try and let me know if it works for you ok.

John Atkins

watch_popup.htm

I was sent this today from a friend in America.

John Atkins

TO ALL OUR FORCES PERSONEL

> > Send this on after a short prayer for our soldiers
> >
> > THE FINAL INSPECTION
> > The soldier stood and faced God,
> > Which must always come to pass.
> > He hoped his shoes were shining,
> > Just as brightly as his brass
> > 'Step forward now, you soldier,
> > How shall I deal with you ?
> > Have you always turned the other cheek ?
> > To My Church have you been true?'
> > The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
> > 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
> > Because those of us who carry guns,
> > Can't always be a saint.
> > I've had to work most Sundays,
> > And at times my talk was tough.
> > And sometimes I've been violent,
> > Because the world is awfully rough.
> > But, I never took a penny,
> > That wasn't mine to keep...
> > Though I worked a lot of overtime,
> > When the bills got just too steep.
> > And I never passed a cry for help,
> >Though at times I shook with fear.
> > And sometimes, God, forgive me,
> > I've wept unmanly tears.
> > I know I don't deserve a place,
> > Among the people here.
> > They never wanted me around,
> > Except to calm their fears.
> > If you've a place for me here, Lord,
> > It needn't be so grand.
> > I never expected or had too much,
> > But if you don't, I'll understand.
> > There was a silence all around the throne,
> > Where the saints had often trod.
> > As the soldier waited quietly,
> > For the judgment of his God.
> > 'Step forward now, you soldier,
> > You've borne your burdens well..
> > Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
> > You've done your time in Hell.

John Atkins

DEFENCE CUTS

MORE HUMOUR SENT TO ME BY ROGER FROST

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Happy Birthday Barry (8917baz)

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Cedric Auty tomorrow the 9th November,Wishing you all the best for the future,

 

 With best wishes

 John Atkins

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Terry Messer tomorrow 7th November,heres hoping that you have a good day and many more birthdays to come, with best wishes,

 

 John Atkins

card humour

humour no2

A Marines Wife Confesses
This came from a


Marines wife. It says it all:


I sat, as did millions of other Americans, and watched as the government
Under went a peaceful transition of power a year ago..
At first, I felt a swell of pride and patriotism while
Barack Obama took his Oath of office.

However, all that pride quickly vanished as I later watched 21Marines,
In full dress uniform with rifles,
Fire a 21-gun salute to the President.
It was then that I realized how far America's military had deteriorated.
Every one of them missed the bastard.

A touch of humour

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.

"Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?

"Morris Feinberg," he replied.

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims."

"I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop."

"I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."

"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a fu$$ing wall."

Specialist appointment

Hi guys just to let you know saw the specialist today and he said that he could operate on my kidney,there is a slight snag they have found a lesion on my spine could be a birth defect but have to have a bone scan next Friday will let you know how I get on.

John Kelly and Wife

GORDON MARSH

Gordon WELCOME BACK to the BB...Gordon has signed in twice so i will delete his first login.he has now signed in as GORDON 22772538. Gordon served 1960-1964 and was a L/cpl in training wing HQ Sqn 1963 his nickname was TICH

REGARD DEREK LEESE

DIARIES 2011

Flag this messageHousehold Cavalry Pocket Diary 2011Monday, 1 November, 2010 12:11From: "Paul Stretton" View contact detailsTo: "Paul Stretton" Message contains attachments1 File (579KB)Diary 2011 Order Form.docDear Member of The Blues and Royals Association,

A limited number of exclusive Household Cavalry Pocket Diaries 2011 are available for Association members to purchase; all profits from the sale of the diaries will go to the respective Association's Welfare Funds. Please see the attached order form for description and purchasing.

<<...>>

PF Stretton
Major (Ret'd)
Regimental Secretary The Household Cavalry
Home Headquarters
Combermere Barracks
WINDSOR
Berkshire SL4 3DN
Telephone:
Windsor Mil 94253 5132
Direct Dial: 01753 75 5132 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01753 75 5132 end_of_the_skype_highlighting