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1 THE GUNNER • JULY • 2011 July 2011
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July 2011
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Here is the Larkhill-based team that brings you The Gunner every month, The RA Journal twice a year and The Blue List annually.
The Regimental Secretary Col (Retd) NG Quarrelle oversees all publications
EditorMaj (Retd) Mike Shawcan be reached on:(Civ) 01980 84 5652(mil) 94322 5652
Deputy EditorMiss Kate Knowlescan be reached on:(Civ) 01980 84 5241(Mil) 94322 5241
Blue ListMiss Lucy Neatecan be reached on:(Civ) 01980 63 4204(Mil) 94322 2204
Gunner PublicationsHQ DRA, Royal Artillery Barracks,Larkhill, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8QT
Fax: 01980 84 5210Email: [email protected]/artillery
Please note: Emails over 5MB will NOT get through to us. Please send photos as original jpegs, NOT in Word documents. Many thanks!
Cover
HM The Queen visits St John’s Wood for last time before The King’s Troop RHA moves to Woolwich later this year. Photographs by Julian Calder.
www.julian.calder.com
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official opinion in any way. All articles and photographs published in The Gunner become copyright of Gunner Publications and must not be reproduced without permission from the editor.
OPSECALL articles and photographs relating to
continuing operations MUST be cleared through your chain of command, and be signed off by your
commanding officer, at a minimum. If you are in any doubt please phone The Gunner: 94322 2204.
The Gunners Today
Gunners Today is a three-phase exhibition that will mark the considerable and ongoing
contribution provided by the Royal Regiment of Artillery to operations since 1982.
Phase one opened to rave reviews on 16 June (see the full story on page 10).
Looking ahead to phase two: this will focus on telling the story of the regiment’s contribution to the major campaigns since 1982 in more detail; namely the Falklands War, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the First Gulf War (Op GRANBY), the Balkans and Sierra Leone. It will be situated in the Breech Cinema area, between the entrance and the new Iraq display and will take a similar format. Work has already started at regimental level. We also intend to modernise the Field of Fire audio-visual experience as part of this project.
This is an opportunity for you to contribute your stories and any articles
and photographs you may have.
For more information please contact Firepower on
020 8855 7755
£320,000
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The total money raised so far for the Gunners Today project is £176,026 – just over half
our target! If you would like to contribute, please go to:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/GunnersToday
coming soonPhase Two
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Editorial July 2011Registered Charity Number 244656
(4) Regimental news
In action(6) 3 RHA and 29 Cdo Regt RA clear insurgent resistance in Helmand.
Up Front(10) Gunners Today grand opening. (12) Fund-raising feats – for Firepower, for the RACF, and for Blesma. (14) The Royal Regiment of Artillery salutes the Captain-General. (16) The RA Assembly. (18) 38 Bty, 40 Regt RA test their kit in Kenya. (20) 20 Bty, 16 Regt RA on duty in the Falklands. (22) FC BISA, the digital age has arrived.
(24) Ubique. (26) Postings and promotions. (28) Regimental Family round up. (29) Letters. (30) In memoriam.
Sport(34) Gunner badminton. (35) 7 Para RHA make waves.
(36) Notices. (38) Competitions. (39) A Neate ending.
Like the BBC, The Gunner has a broad remit to inform, educate and entertain. This editorial, which seeks to let you know as much as we can at this stage
about ongoing cost saving measures and resulting reorganisations, falls firmly into the ‘inform’ bracket.
As you will all know these are particularly turbulent times for those of us involved in the defence of the realm. Cuts and savings for all three services, announced after last autumn’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, and the succeeding Comprehensive Spending Review, are beginning to bite. The first round of redundancies for civilian personnel working for the MoD, for instance, has just been announced. In this first tranche, roughly 8,000 civil servants are being laid off, but as they are all volunteers for early redundancy the impact on them as individuals has thankfully not been too great. As I understand it, the long-term aim is to shed about a third of the civilian workforce so over the coming two or three years there will no doubt be further rounds of redundancies for civil servants, and for serving officers and soldiers, some of which will be compulsory and therefore less welcome.
As the DRA noted in his State of the Union article in this spring’s edition of The Journal of the Royal Artillery, the headlines arising out of last autumn’s two major reviews for the Army as a whole, are a reduction of some 7,000 soldiers, the loss of a manoeuvre brigade and downsizing of the regional forces structure. It has also been announced that the Army will reduce considerably its holdings of armoured vehicles and that it will withdraw from Germany over the next 10 years.
Of course, the Royal Artillery is not immune from the pressures to make savings and for the Gunners the knock on effect will be the loss of a close support regiment, though at the time of writing it has not been decided which one it will be, and a reduction in the number of AS90. The latter means that the five remaining close support regiments (not including 7 Para RHA and 29 Cdo Regt RA who are unaffected) will each be equipped with a mix of AS90 and Light Gun.
As the DRA further noted in his article, beneath these stark headlines there is some good news for the Gunners. In recognition of the high demand for fire support teams, the tactical groups from the disbanded close support regiment will move to reinforce other close support regiments. In addition, Transformational Army Structures work recognised that our specialist MLRS and STA regiments are under-resourced and should each grow or reorganise to five equipment batteries for each capability, thereby allowing for longer intervals between operational tours for the officers and soldiers involved. The outcome is five mirror image composite unmanned air systems batteries, three in 32 Regt RA and two in 47 Regt RA (the latter having lost its close air defence role) which meant that earlier this year three batteries, 42 (Alem Hamza) Bty RA, 43 Bty (Lloyd’s Company) RA and 25/170 (Imjin) Bty RA went into suspended animation.
After the demise of these three fine batteries, HQ Land recently granted permission to raise one new battery in 5 Regt RA equipped with weapon locating radars and sound ranging, and one new battery in 39 Regt RA equipped with MLRS. These are 93 (Le Cateau) Bty RA and 51 (Kabul 1842) Bty RA respectively and these batteries are currently being taken out of suspended animation.
In the meantime, plans for the move of The King’s Troop RHA from St John’s Wood (where the lease on the barracks has expired) to brand new lines in the area of the Rotunda at Woolwich in November are well advanced; it is surely no coincidence that last month HM The Queen made what will almost certainly be her last visit to the Troop in north Lonson, a visit we proudly record on the front cover of this magazine. Lastly, so far as the TA is concerned, we await the recommendations of the second Reserves Review which is likely to have a profound effect on our territorial regiments and the way reservists are utilised on operations in the future.
As I said in my introduction, these are busy times but as always The Gunner will keep you up to date with developments as and when they occur. I do hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as Kate and I have enjoyed putting it together.
The RA Band at the opening of Gunners Today. See page 10 for the full story.
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4 regimental news
The Welfare Secretary of the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund is pleased to receive calls for assistance from the serving and retired regiment at any time. If you need assistance or you know of someone who does, please telephone him on (01980) 63 4309 or (Mil) 94322 2309.
DisbursementsIn May the RACF disbursed the sum of £58,406 on 131 individual cases. From all sources the sum of £157,041 was disbursed on those cases, making an average grant of £1,199 for the month.
RHQ RA, Artillery House, Artillery Centre, Royal Artillery Barracks, Larkhill, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8QT
RA
CF
SABAH SALUTE is the name given to the Royal Artillery Memorial Dedication and Remembrance March to be held in Sabah, Malaysia, in August this year to
commemorate and remember the 400 members of the Royal Artillery and their attached arms and services who died at the Sandakan and Ranau POW camps and on the three Death Marches. On 15 August, the Royal Artillery Marching Contingent will attend the Sandakan Day Service starting at 0700 hours. After which they will start their 164-mile March of Remembrance along the Death March route arriving at Cleary’s Memorial, Ranau on 25 August. They will be met there by the Royal Artillery Ceremonial Party led by Maj Gen Chris Wilson, the Representative Colonel Commandant of the Royal Regiment of Artillery for 2011. On 27 August, the unveiling and dedication of the Royal Artillery Memorial in the War Memorial Gardens, Kundasang will occur. The service will start at 0800 hours. Afterwards there will be breakfast for all in the Memorial Hall. All are welcome. Regular or retired Gunners are most welcome to attend either or both of the two ceremonies if they are in Sabah at the time. If anyone does wish to attend or requires further information please contact: Maj John Tulloch at HQ DRA, on 01980 845398 or email [email protected] .
Regiment Rank and name Date of appointment
16 Regt RA Maj Gen D A H Shaw 2/1/11
26 Regt RA Brig N H Eeles ADC 1/4/11
The King’s Troop RHA Maj Gen R M McQ Sykes CVO 1/4/11
Please update your Blue List accordingly.
Blue List amendments
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Updated Honourary Regimental Colonels
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regimental news
Battery historiesCapt John Skeddy formed 28 Bty on 1 March 1755. On 20 March 1755 the battery deployed to India and saw action at Cheria on 12 February 1756. Between 1755 and 1764 the battery took part in a number of actions; notably Pondicherry. During the 19th century the battery saw action in Egypt before serving in the Peninsula campaign at Corunna before fighting at the battles of Victoria, Waterloo and the Crimea. After seeing further action in the Boer War 1896-1903, in particular at Ladysmith, the battery was mobilised for the Great War. During World War Two the battery saw action in France and on 6 May 1940, fired the first artillery rounds of the war. 143 Fd Bty was raised on 24 June 1825 as part of the Bengal Horse Artillery. Within months, it was engaged in the siege of Bhurtpore, 7 December 1825-18 January 1826. In 1856, Maj Henry Tombs took command of the battery during the Indian Mutiny. The battery was at the siege of Delhi from 8 June to 14 September 1857 during which Maj Tombs and Lt Hills were awarded the Victoria Cross. 28 and 143 Batteries were amalgamated on 1 November 1992. BC: Maj R Forster. BSM: WO2 (BSM) Tidman.
The Rocket Troop Madras Horse Artillery was formed in 1805, at the request of the Madras Government and East India Company and it served with distinction in the Pindari and Mahratta Wars 1817-19. It was redesignated as C Troop Madras Horse Artillery in 1825. In 1840, the troop was sent to China as part of an expeditionary force to fight in the Opium Wars, during which the British forces quickly captured the island of Hong Kong. Then in 1841, it provided artillery support for a combined land and sea force assault on the formidable line of forts guarding the mouth of the Siakiang River, which cleared the way for an attack on Canton and by 1842, after the international port of Shanghai and the strategic city of Chinkiang were captured hostilities ceased. For its contribution in the campaign, C Troop was conferred the honour title Dragon, and given permission to include the China Dragon and the years ‘1840–1842’ in its insignia. After many title changes, it became P Bty RHA in 1889. BC: Maj SJ Estick. BSM: WO2 (BSM) Mathers.
127 Battery was originally raised as No 6 Coy Madras Artillery in 1778. The battery became B Coy 2 Bn Madras Artillery in 1812. In early 1841 the battery was part of an expeditionary force in the First China War. The Madras Artillery made an auspicious start to the campaign. At Canton, in the first major siege of the struggle the artillery bombardment proved so effective the city soon surrendered before a main assault could take place. The last engagement of the war occurred on 21 July 1842 at Chin-Kiang-Fu. After bringing effective fire down upon the fortified city from 400 yards away, artillery joined the infantry in the final assault. In the line with infantry, the gunners stormed the walls of the city and fought the position until all resistance was silenced. To express gratitude, the governor of India published an order of the day entitling the batteries of the Madras Artillery to wear the insignia of a dragon with an imperial crown and the word China on their appointments. BC: Maj JS Bridges. BSM: WO2 (BSM) Farrington.
46 (Talavera) Bty was originally formed on 3 April 1778 as the 6th Company of the Royal Irish Artillery. Previously operating in North America during the revolutionary wars, it was decided to bring the battery back under the command of the Royal Artillery on 18 April 1801. The battery was deployed with the Duke of Wellington (then Sir Arthur Wellesley) to defend Britain’s partner, the Portuguese, against an attack by Napoleon’s Army. The battery was equipped with 6-pdr guns and fought in several engagements, most notably The Battle of Talavera. Despite being outnumbered two to one in all departments and taking severe casualties, the Allies were ultimately successful with the French forces retreating. BC: Capt D Scammell. BSM: WO2 (BSM) MJ Wilkinson.
Regimental events
July2 RA Service of Remembrance, National Memorial Arboretum,
Alrewas5 RACF AGM, Newcome Hall9 Tombs’s Day – 143 (Tombs’s Troop), 19 Regt RA 21 Chin-Kiang Day –P Bty, 5 Regt RA and 127 Bty, 19 Regt RA22 Salamanca Day – E Bty, 1 RHA 27 Louisburg Day – 53 Bty, 5 Regt RA 28 Talavera Day – 46 Bty, 32 Regt RA
August1 Minden Day – 12 Bty,12 Regt RA and 32 Bty, 16 Regt RA2 Arrah Day – 58 Bty, 12 Regt RA 12 Sovereign’s Parade, RMAS26 Java Day –137 Bty, 40 Regt RA 26 Le Cateau Day – 132 Bty, 39 Regt RA
September1 Nery Day – L Bty, 1 RHA 13 Formation Day – 97 Bty, 4 Regt RA 13 Quebec Day - 18 Bty, 32 Regt RA 16 Subalterns’ Dining In Night, RA Mess Larkhill20 Alma Day – 8 Bty, 29 Cdo RA 23 Assaye Day – 10 Bty, 47 Regt RA 25 Lucknow Day – 55, Bty, 26 Regt RA; 56 Bty, 39 Regt RA and
76 Bty ATR (P)
October6 Manila Day -– 31 Bty, 47 Regt RA 16 Leipzig Day – O Bty, 1 RHA 21 Alamein Dinner, Armoury House, HAC24 The King’s Troop RHA Day 25 Balaclava Day – C Bty, 3 RHA 29 Asten Day– 59 Bty ATR(P)
November5 Inkerman Day – 49 Bty 40 Regt RA 5 Kirkee Day – 79 Bty 29 Cdo RA 8 Board of Management, Newcome Hall9 Hail and Farewell, RA Mess Larkhill13 RA Ceremony of Remembrance, Hyde Park Corner14 Arcot Day – 6/36 Bty 40 Regt RA 20 Rangiriri Day – 94 Bty 4 Regt RA 23 Master Gunner’s Committee – 121st Meeting, Larkhill
December4 St Barbara’s Day Service, Larkhill16 Sovereign’s Parade, RMAS
Information supplied to The Gunner is subject to change. Please check with the individual organisers
concerned that the information is still current, or contact SO2 Pol on 01980 845830
P Bty (The Dragon Troop), 5 Regt RA
127 (Dragon) Bty, 19 Regt RA
46 (Talavera) HQ Bty, 32 Regt RA
28/143 Bty (Tombs’s Troop), 19 Regt RA
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6 in action
op oMId haFT
Task Force Helmand launched an ambitious air assault operation into the hotly contested areas of Loy Mandeh, Malgir and Kopak. Planned and
partnered with the ANA, the operation was to become one of the largest air assaults since operations began, with 22 aircraft supporting the infiltration.
Operation OMID HAFT (Dari for Hope Seven) intended to clear and hold the Malgir area and the crossings over the Nahr-e-Burgha canal which in turn would open up Route Neptune, making it a safe and viable route for local nationals.
A composite company was formed by 1 Rifles to provide the screen to the south in Alikozai. This, and the surrounding area, is widely considered to be one of the last strongholds of the insurgency. The company was under no illusions with regard to the insurgents’ fighting potential. In the week prior to OMID HAFT, a 24-hour raid was conducted,
resulting in 18 separate engagements against which my fire support team, Witchcraft 54, initiated fire missions from both mortars and Apache helicopters (Hellfire and cannon).
The planned L-Hour was 0330 hours under cover of darkness, prior to raids onto a number of compounds of interest. The insertion of 120 troops went relatively s m o o t h l y ,
allowing for swift movement across the ground and the eventual ANA-led clearance of various compounds. By first light the establishment of Check Point Zarawar and a temporary check point was complete and the focus shifted to local defence, prior to helicopter underslung resupplies coming in.
The initial period was largely uncontested, with the overwhelming forces on the ground allowing relative freedom of movement into the surrounding ‘kalays’ (villages). This, in turn, helped to build up a rapport with the local nationals and piece together our understanding of how the insurgent network operates in the area. While Witchcraft 54 supported the screen to the south two Afghan ‘tolays’ (infantry companies) cleared the enemy from the north and reached the canal. They then turned south and exploited their position at Check Point Zarawar (by now a permanent check point and home to joint fires observers).
With a reduction in the number of troops due to the surge ending, it was clear that the insurgents had bided their time and were waiting for the optimum opportunity to strike. There has been some small arms fire, countered by a successful HE mortar mission, but their weapon of choice has been improvised explosive devices. The insurgent scouting screen ensures that all ISAF patrols are being watched and makes returning to areas already visited challenging and careful route selection absolutely paramount.
Already there have been four IED strikes with one of them resulting in the tragic loss of Rifleman Lamb. His sacrifice has not been in vain, instead bringing together an already tight knit company and real progress is now being made in the area.
Local nationals are gaining the confidence necessary to be seen speaking to ISAF soldiers and to disregard insurgent intimidation. Intelligence gathering and understanding the insurgents has been greatly enhanced through this as well at the daily allocation of other ISTAR systems. This has enabled successful strikes onto improvised explosive device factories and other compounds of interest.
Witchcraft 54
by Capt Tony Purser
Capt Harry Wallace adds some firepower to his OP
Confidence
No illusions
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7in action
op oMId haFT
The first of 3 Cdo Bde RM’s major operations in Helmand, the decisive phase of Operation OMID HAFT, took place at the end of May. The operation, supported by the tactical groups of C Bty, 3 RHA, and 8, 79
and 148 Btys, 29 Cdo Regt RA, sought to reduce an insurgent safe haven. Afghan National Army-led, the operation aimed at clearing insurgent resistance in the area and extending the area under protection. The operation also witnessed the successful deployment of an Afghan-manned D30 howitzer accompanied by
artillery mentors from the Brigade Advisory Group, to provide fire support for the operation. The shaping phase involved 42 Cdo RM as the supported combined force, before the decisive phase moved the main effort to 1 Rifles in partnership with 6 Kandak of the ANA. While the operation has been widely reported
the following articles provide personal insights to a demanding and significant operation in terms of planning, execution and consolidation.
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88 in action
When I was told that Gnr Joseph and myself would be providing the Fire Support Element
(FSE) [part of a fire support team] for one of the ANA tolays on Operation OMID HAFT, I didn’t quite know what to expect. A tolay is the equivalent to an infantry company and consists of around 80 Afghan soldiers working alongside a team of eight ISAF advisers. Until this point I had been working for A (Amboor) Coy, 2 Bn RGR, part of the 1 Rifles battle group) as a Level 3 observer within a fire support team. Having been used to a daily routine of patrolling with the Gurkhas and providing fire support, I suspected that the deployment on Operation OMID HAFT, on the other side of the battle group’s area of operations, would be a little different!
We moved to Patrol Base Five in preparation for the start of the operation the following day. As troops were inserted by air into the north of the area, the plan was that the tolays would push through from the south, aiming to connect with troops in the north by the end of the first day. We were tasked to clear through a number of named areas of interest, disrupting the enemy and securing the population. The going was slow to begin with but the Afghan soldiers, although slightly unorthodox in their approach, were moving well and carrying out the mission effectively. The advisers were my link to the company, passing on the Afghan commander’s scheme of manoeuvre and allowing me to execute the joint fires elements of the plan. For the most part I was using mortars to support the tolay’s movements, laying them on likely firing
OpERATION OMID HAFT
The Tolay Experience
Capt Dan Davies
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in action
points as we progressed but also co-ordinating ISTAR support to the unit as and when it was required. At the end of day one we had reached the first objective and set up a temporary check point in a compound. For the remainder of the operation we would follow the pattern of patrolling through the day, clearing ground as we went, before setting up in a new temporary check point in the evening.
The operation progressed with little requirement for indirect fire support. However, we did receive a fleeting small arms contact that was not sustained enough to warrant a mortar engagement and also sadly an IED incident that resulted in an interpreter being killed and one of the advisers seriously injured. Gnr Joseph and I did what we could for the casualty evacuation and focused on establishing an emergency helicopter landing site, although Gnr Joseph also did an excellent job of administering immediate first aid to the ISAF casualty.
In total we spent nine days on the ground with the tolay. In summary the ANA worked in a similar manner to our own companies. On one occasion I was impressed to see an Afghan patrol going out without any form of ISAF support and successfully completing what they had been tasked to do; certainly a promising sign for the future. Regardless of their minor shortfalls, the ANA tolay completed their part of the mission and were an effective part in the overall success that Operation OMID HAFT undoubtedly was.
The Tolay Experience
By LBdr Grant Halliday LBdr Grant Halliday
Bdr Hadfield marking the HLS
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10 up front
Gunners Today
On 16 June, the Gunners Today project got off with a bang, actually 12 very
loud bangs – courtesy of The King’s Troop RHA.
CDS, Gen Sir David Richards, together with Lady Richards and the Master Gunner St James’s Park, Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman arrived by launch at Woolwich Pier where they were met by the DRA, Brig Nick Eeles, and the RASM, WO1 (RASM) Daz Hall. After a short stroll to Firepower, they were greeted by the RAA Standard bearers before being introduced to some of the many people who have worked so hard towards this new and exciting exhibition.
Following an exploration of Gunners Today, including a (very) short tour of duty in FOB UBIQUE, assembled generals, gunners and guests gathered in Artillery Square. CDS delivered a moving speech, highlighting the real reason all were gathered at the regimental museum, “to mark an intense and unique period of regimental history; to reflect upon it; to recognise the sacrifices and to honour our fallen”.
LBdr Steven Gadsby GCG, 26, who was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his actions under fire on HERRICK in 2009, then presented his medals for safekeeping to Firepower, which were graciously accepted by Gen Sir David. The RA CPD has been most generous in its support of Gunners
Today, as has The Blavatnik Foundation, and on behalf of
the regiment, LBdr Gadsby then presented its representative, Sir Michael Pakenham with a Union Flag, until recently flying at Camp BASTION.
Formalities over, a fanfare specially composed for the occassion by WO1 (Bandmaster) Colin Hales sounded and the fun began. A gun team from 7 Para RHA (recently returned from somewhere hot and sandy) leapt to it with a lightening-quick demonstration of bringing the Light Gun into action. Then, two sub sections from The King’s Troop RHA barrelled up Number One Street and to the delight of guests and excited locals executed a fire mission in Artillery Square. As the smoke cleared, the Pipes and Drums of 19 and 40 Regts RA took centre stage and had everyone clapping (in appreciation). Following on from this was hard, but the RA Band managed it with aplomb. To yet more clapping they energised and entertained before uniting with the Pipes and Drums for a simply fantastic rendition of Highland Cathedral, The Post Horn Gallop, and finally the National Anthem.
Despite the cold and the imminent threat of a downpour, the regiment treated its guests and the gathered crowds to a display of military might, military precision, and the military heritage we are all so rightly proud of.
The first phase of Gunners Today is the
Cllr Jim Gillman, Mayor of Greenwich and a trustee of Firepower, and CDS
Sir Michael Pakenham accepts the Union Flag from LBdr Gadsby
The team working on the project at Firepower: Lt Col EG St J Brockman, Abby Coombs, Gnr J Bradley, Tpr I Pells, Paul Evans, Mark Smith, Capt B Watson, Capt J Cazeaux, Daniel Warren and WO1 J Holmes
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up front
Gunners Todayresult of all of your hard work. All of your fantastic and on-going fund-raising. The many hours you have spent researching, digging out photographs, contributing articles. But most of all, it is a result of your many (and frequent) experiences on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving your queen and country.
This new exhibition brings the history of the regiment up to date, and makes you, the gunner, the beating heart of your museum. It’s well worth a trip to Woolwich (as if one were needed), and besides seeing your story take centre stage, it’s a chance for you all to see what all of your efforts, on ops, and fund-raising, have achieved.
All of you have contributed hugely to this project, but special mention should be made to The Gunners Today Project Team: Brig WJF Bramble; Lt Col EG StJ Brockman; Capt MJ Cornell; Capt JL Cazeaux; Capt DJP Hickey; Capt B Watson; WO1 JM Holmes; Mr M Smith; Mr P Evans, RAML staff. Opening Ceremony Project Team: Col BW Jenkins; Lt Col A Astbury. And last but not least to LBdr Gadsby for his actions and subsequent contribution to the up-to-date exhibition.
A huge thank you also goes to the following for all their generous support: The Blavatnik Family Foundation, The Royal Artillery Centre for Personal Development, The Royal Artillery Historical Trust, Friends of Firepower, Lockheed Martin Corporation, MBDA, HESCO Bastion Ltd, and Wells and Young’s Brewing Company Ltd.
But the biggest appreciation of all goes to all Gunners, serving and retired, of The Royal Regiment of Artillery. This is your story, your history and your museum. Go see it!
Bdr Gary Prout CGC and LBdr Steven Gadsby CGC
CDS and LBdr Steven Gadsby CGC
Photography by www.redmonkeyphotographic.co.uk
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12 up front
Three peaks present a challenge
It’s not about the bikeAfter four hours of surgery with lots of stainless steel
holding my fibula and tibia in line I began the long road back to fitness. . While immobile I researched the best way to get fit again: cycling. Once the cast came off I was straight into physio and riding a static bike. I had heard about the John O’Groat’s to Land’s End’s bike challenge. Most cyclists prefer to do the reverse route as it has a prevailing wind; however we decided to do it the hard way! With this as my focus I pulled together a team of seven willing volunteers.
We trained hard through the winter into spring and after a final confirmatory ride of 100 miles we set off for the start point. The plan was to do the event in eight days, cycling an average of 108 miles a day. Accommodation had been arranged at various Army and RAF bases en route and we had a first class support team driving our minibus and transit van.
The event did not start as planned. Within 15 miles of John O’Groats one of the riders suffered severe cramps (or was it realisation of the actual distance involved?), three of us were involved in a crash and we were already sapped by a relentless headwind. However, after 125 gruelling miles we arrived at Inverness, tired and sore but glad day one was out the way. The next day was Inverness to Glenfargh and we were snowed on at Aviemore! The descent into Pinochry however, was awesome and we averaged 45 mph from the top of the Cairngorms into the by WO2 (BSM) L Young
On Friday 29 May, six weeks after taking over as BSM 58 (Eyre’s) Bty, 12 Regt RA I found myself staring at my right foot which was facing
oddly sideways after a particularly aggressive session during CO’s PT. With the CO telling me I ought to have drunk more milk as a child and WO2 Harvey sympathetically taking photos while I was loaded into an ambulance, I was off to hospital.
The ‘JOGLERs’ race across Cornwall
By now most readers will be familiar with the format of a three peaks
challenge; basically it’s a case of getting up and down the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon respectively) within a 24-hour period, which includes travelling time between the mountains, in as short a combined time as possible.
With that in mind Lt Pete Smith of 22 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Bty, 32 Regt RA, wrote to tell us about his battery’s participation in The Jim Philippson Royal Artillery Memorial Three Peaks Challenge, organised by 14 Regt RA in June to remember the lives of Jim Philippson and all Gunners killed in
recent operations.Taking advantage of weather conditions,
clever use of daylight hours, very fast moves between mountains and the expert administration of their support driver, Bdr Huntley, the four-man team (pictured) were delighted to secure third place out of 18 teams entered in the senior men’s category, recording a highly creditable overall time of seven hours 27 minutes. They were beaten by a team from 29 Cdo Regt RA (six hours 25 minutes) and an outstanding team from
16 Regt RA who stormed to an impressive win with a time of five hours 57 minutes. A fitting tribute to Jim Philippson who we remember with affection and great pride.
Meanwhile L (Néry) Bty, 1 RHA, when presented with the challenge to raise money for the Gunners Today exhibition at Firepower, decided that the whole battery would attempt a three peaks challenge, which they did in late-March, moving from mountain to mountain in a fleet of minibuses.
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Three peaks present a challenge
It’s not about the bikeFollowing on from the success of the Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle lat year, 11 cyclists,
supported by a four-man admin team from 16 Regt RA embarked on a mammoth cycle ride from London to Venice. The RTO, Capt Wayne Eynon wanted to assemble a team of cyclists and take them on a route which would see them leave London and travel through France and Switzerland over the Alps and on into Italy. Despite the high operational tempo, a surprisingly large number of individuals still volunteered and a strong team of 11 riders emerged.
After a photo at the Cenotaph with CDS, General Sir David Richards and the CO and RSM we set off through London.There was only one minor accident as Sgt Minns clipped Sgt Rimmer’s back wheel causing him to fall. Even with the accident, we still managed an average 16 mph all the way to Dover. That small accident was to be the only accident of the whole trip.
We stayed in campsites along the way and the admin crew would press forward to set our tents up for us. I don’t think Bdr Vorster understood the guidance to bring a pop up tent as the one he brought had elements of a nine by nine. The first day in France was an epic ride of over 125 miles; the most any of us had ever ridden in a single session. Once in our rhythm, the banter and copious quantities of Gatorade would see us through most days. We found ourselves in a local French paper and even had local riders join us for certain legs of our journey. It didn’t matter how many times we asked, no one could tell me the way to Venice.
Averaging over 100 miles per day in gently undulating terrain and ideal weather, we passed through France and entered Switzerland heading for the Alps. The mountain passes were tortuous. The team was spread out all along the road with each man testing himself to his physical and mental limit. Six hours of constant hill work over the Alps was achieved that day (100 miles) but I would not have had it any other way. Everybody slept like a baby that night.
It was mainly flat or down hill from then on with stops at Lake Luzern, Como and Garda; the whole team taking a dip in full kit in Lake Garda and then finally reaching Venice. With no more accidents and banter still very high we had finished an epic 1000-mile cycle. I am glad I got into cycling and I plan to build my own bike for next year’s event; which will hopefully see a fresh team cycle from London to Gibraltar some 1,500 miles over the Pyrenees.
Finally I would like to thank SAAB and RACPD for sponsoring this amazing event.
by Gnr Dawes
An epic adventure for 16 Regt RA
town. The weather on day three was wild with torrential rain and a savage wind. After a much appreciated rest at RAF Spadeadam we set off on day four in fairer weather and were soon across the border heading past Carlisle towards Preston.
As we cycled south the weather improved. Riding across the Lake District was awe inspiring, and we were well looked after by Clive and his team from 214 Bty in Worcester. However, by the time we reached Taunton only three of us remained. We had now covered over 600 miles, experienced every type of British weather and averaged a speed of 14.5 mph. Crashes, a stomach bug and exhaustion had reduced our team but we were still focused on meeting the challenge of completing the route in eight days. So despite a strong westerly wind we made good progress across Dartmoor and into Cornwall leaving us just 45 miles to Land’s End on the final day. With the objective of a few beers in Newquay to celebrate, we smashed the final leg in no time.
The ride had been a huge challenge, but it wasn’t really about the bike; it was more personal than just covering over 890 miles. It was about fighting physical and mental exhaustion, overcoming injury and gritting our teeth through some extreme weather. To top it off we raised over £1700 for Blesma and the RACF and this truly made our suffering on the bikes worth it. Our thanks to CO 12 Regt RA for supporting this epic event.
LBdr Ozzy Osborne wrote of a hard slog up Ben Nevis in driving rain that turned to sleet, snow and ice near the summit; a leg-burning climb straight up Scafell by the most direct route and a successful ascent of Snowdon in brilliant sunshine. Ozzy doesn’t record what time was achieved, but he reports that the battery raised over £2,000 for Gunners Today and by any standards that’s a very good effort by the boys and girls of Néry Bty.
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The Royal Regiment of Artillery
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It has been a busy month for the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The 90th birthday of HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh on 10 June was marked in York by a 21-Gun Royal Salute, fired by the North East Gunners (pictured bottom left). This was the second salute fired in eight days by 4 Regt RA; the saluting battery, 3/29 (Corunna) Bty RA, also fired on the anniversary of HM The Queen’s coronation on 2 June. The Royal Salute punctuated a busy operational cycle for 4 Regt in which it has deployed on active duty every two years for 10 years. The regiment is now back in training for a return to Afghanistan next year. Gunners from 105 Regt RA (V) (pictured right) also fired a 21-Gun Royal Salute at Edinburgh Castle on 2 June to celebrate the anniversary.
Next up, on Saturday, 11 June in Colchester, a Royal Salute was fired on the occasion of HM The Queen’s official birthday. Firing the salute was F (Sphinx) Para Bty RHA (pictured top left). 7 Para RHA only recently returned from Op HERRICK 13 and after well-earned leave the battery had only nine working days to swap operational firing for ceremonial gunnery.
The Captain-General paid a final visit to The King’s Troop RHA at St John’s Wood on Friday, 24 June. Her Majesty is pictured on our cover, and above with the CO, Maj Neil Cross, and their Honorary Regimental Colonel, Maj Gen Matthew Sykes. The Captain-General is signing the visitor’s book; her father King George VI, when he signed the book in 1947, changed the name of the troop from The Riding Troop RHA, to the King’s Troop RHA, as it remains to this day.
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RA Assembly16
Award Winner Branch Region
Joan Wanklyn Memorial Prize Miss Sophie Parker
Royal Artillery Association Medal Mr W H KnealeMr R Cole
Isle of ManBiggleswade
North WestAnglia
Certificate of Merit Miss Lindsay GreenMr John LoveMr Ken PageLt Col Michael KearonMr Colin Burgess
Salisbury & WiltonKingdom Of FifeBiggleswadeBrighton & HoveWidnes
WessexScotlandAngliaSouthNorth West
Kerr CupAwarded to a Ladies’ Section for Greatest Overall Effort in the Year
Leicester & District Ladies’ Section
Midland
Joan Wanklyn CupAwarded to a Ladies ‘ Section of 10 or less members for Greatest Overall Effort in the Year
Colwyn Bay Ladies’ Section
Wales
Artillery House CupMost Money Raised Overall By A Branch For RACF/RAA
Salisbury & Wilton Branch
Wessex
Eire Cup Most Money Per Capita For RACF?RAA
Salisbury & Wilton Branch
Wessex
Caterham Cup Runners-Up To Eire Cup
East Kent Branch South East
Folkestone Challenge Shield Most Money Per Capita To RACF?RAA From A Ladies’ Section
Wakefield Ladies’ Section
North
RA Association Cup Action Or Achievement Of Particular Merit
5th Regt RA
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Over 500 Gunners and their families and friends attended this year’s Royal Artillery Assembly in Blackpool; an event not to be missed by any true-blooded Gunner.During the early part of the assembly the RAA held its AGM, chaired by Maj Gen John Milne ably
assisted by Brig Alan Gordon and Lt Col Ian Vere Nicoll, each of whom reflected how buoyant and optimistic the association is during their upbeat speeches.
With passionate and powerful presentations from the DRA, Brig Nick Eeles, the RASM WO1 Daz Hall and Capt Chris Molyneaux and Bdr Steven Brooker of 16 Regt RA we are now fully informed about what is happening in the Royal Regiment today and what its plans are for the future; and our pride in how our troops are performing on current operations was certainly underlined by the enthusiastic reception they each received.
A very important part of the assembly is the presentation of awards for service to the RAA and special mention must go to Mr Willie Kneale (Isle of Man Branch) and Mr Ray Cole (Biggleswade Branch) for being awarded the RA Association Medal, to 5 Regt RA for winning the RA Association Cup
and to Bdr Marc Joyce, 19 Regt RA on receiving the Mansergh Memorial Award. With many other proud winners, Artillery House would like to send its warmest congratulations to all recipients of awards, a full list of which is published opposite.
The final highlight of the afternoon was listening to Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman who treated us all to a most interesting, informative and motivating talk during the traditional Master Gunner’s Address.
Saturday evening got off to a great start with the Lancashire Artillery Band from 103 Regt RA (V) and the Pipes and Drums from 19 Regt RA
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The 77th Artillery Clerk’s Reunion and Association Dinner took place on Saturday,
7 May in the Central Sergeants’ Mess, Larkhill. This year the association managed to secure General Sir David Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff, as the guest of honour
Inclement weather conspired to get in the way of a formal reunion photograph, however the evening started off in fine form with pre-dinner drinks and a chance for Gen Sir David to meet the committee and association members and the other guests attending the evening; Lt Col Ian Vere Nicoll, the General Secretary of the Royal Artillery Association and Miss Kate Knowles, the deputy editor of The Gunner. CDS was in irrepressible form and thoroughly enjoyed the chance to be among friends and reminisce with colleagues from years gone
by. The reunion sat down for dinner to the accompaniment of the Woodwind Quintet from the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas who provided excellent music, much to the delight of CDS, who is also the Colonel Commandant to the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Following the normal thank yous the reunion secretary proposed a toast to absent friends and introduced the guest of honour. Gen Sir David thanked the association for its invitation and recalled his time as a young officer, a battery commander and a commanding officer, letting slip a few stories that some association members present may well have wished to remain hidden.
The guests and association members then retired to the bar to continue the reunion. The evening, as ever, proved to be a huge success, carried out in a relaxed atmosphere in comfortable
performing a magnificent Sunset Ceremony prior to entertaining us during the Gala Dinner. They were truly magnificent and are to be congratulated.
I simply could not write this report without including our special ‘thank you’ to all those who helped in the organisation and running of this year’s Royal Artillery Assembly. Without some outside help our small team could not come close to putting on such a marvellous and worthwhile event. Most noticeable this year were 12 Regt RA, 14 Regt RA, 16 Regt RA, 19 Regt RA and l03 Regt RA (V) all of whom provided much appreciated support in terms of manpower, transport, equipment, displays, band and pipes and drums and to all those regiments who supported us by allowing their representative to
surroundings. Those that still could, remained until the bar closed, reminiscing and telling many stories, some which may even have been true.
The committee and all association members would like to thank the Royal Artillery Sergeant Major and RSM 14 Regt RA for their continued support and of course the mess staff without whom the reunion would not be half the success it always is.
For further details regarding the Artillery Clerks’ Reunion and Association Dinner please visit our website artyclerkassn.org or contact the reunion secretary, Capt Ian Constantine RCMO 39 Regt RA, Albermarle Bks, Nr Harlow Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 0RF.
The 77th Artillery Clerk’s Reunion and Association Dinner
by Andy Tibble
attend. I would like to add a special thank you to the RASM, the RABSM (WO2 Dave Moffitt) and their team for bringing all the military elements together so seamlessly. Without their assistance we could not have achieved yet another high quality event. Thank you to our small and dedicated team from the North West: Maj Jim Houldsworth, Peter Kelly, Dot Campbell and Maurice Jones who work tirelessly throughout the weekend on your behalf and finally, thank you to all the branches who attended the assembly and to all the standard bearers who, once again, did us and themselves proud.
by Capt Allan Solly
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In early April, 38 (Seringapatam) Bty, the ‘Tigers’, deployed to the British
Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) full of anticipation and expectation. Following a brief but intense period of battle group reception, staging and onward integration in the notoriously sodden Turaco Farm, all the gun detachments, fire support teams (FST) and the command post were ready to shake out and move north to the hastily prepared FOB Edinburgh: a square of razor-wire erected on the northern edge FOB Twiga in order to ‘accommodate’ the joint fires group. After some sterling work by the BQMS, Sgt McDonald, and the ever resourceful Gnrs Smith 967 and Smith 821, the razor-wire compound took shape and became our home for the next few weeks.
The next morning the FSTs moved out for the first of their acclimatisation ‘tabs’. Their departure signalled the start of the battery commander’s phase where the majority of the gun group’s training would be carried out and where the FSTs would get a chance to hone their skills. The Light Guns deployed into the first position to await the commencement of two weeks of live firing and at 0900 hours the following morning we heard the much anticipated words, ‘Hello Salvo 20, this is Witchcraft 21A, fire mission battery, over.’’ The guns sprang into action and Exercise ASKARI THUNDER 7 was underway in
earnest. The next seven days saw a programme
of progressive training that began with basic fire missions from troop tight, consolidated gun positions, through to fire plans which included rotation shoots with a split call sign and joint firing with the mortars of 1 Royal Welsh battle group. Throughout, helpful advice and safety assistance was offered by the Gunnery Training Team, Instructor in Gunnery Maj Ed Nelson and WO2 (SMIG) Lewis, without whom the training would not have been so comprehensive. This phase was particularly notable for a first round direct hit by Gnr Smith 545 and Gnr Shield during a co-ordinated illumination mission, proving the value of an accurate compass bearing and thorough map appreciation.
For the gun group, the highlight of the phase is traditionally the Master Gunner Batuk’s direct fire day. WO2 (MG) Ray, a stalwart of 3 RHA and the mainstay of most offensive support matters, organises a fabulous day of firing. Aside from affording the gun line the rare opportunity to see target end effects, the direct fire day offers so much more to the battery’s experience in Kenya. The spectacle of raw aggression, team work, professional acumen and determination required to man-handle the guns and ammo onto platform provided a snap-shot of junior leadership. While the detachments heaved
the guns over soft silt gradients, and the ‘numbers’ shuttled the ammo to and fro, the 1 R Welsh battle group commander, Lt Col Steve Webb MC, watched on in awe. And as he contemplated this ‘microcosm of junior leadership’, imagine his surprise as the gun line section commander, Sgt Ward, amid the frenzy of engagements and simulated enemy bombardments shouted, “Commanding Officer Sir, BC… Ammo!” No sooner was it said than done, as both the BG commander and BC were seen humping 105mm ammo to the platforms with broad smiles on their faces and more than a bead of sweat rolling down their noses.
Completion of the BC’s phase saw the start of the combined arms live firing exercise. For the FSTs this meant three 48-hour rotations with the rifle companies. This represented the first time on the exercise that the FSTs could integrate fully into the companies and prove their worth.
For the gun line, it was a far more sedate affair, with the firing serials in support of the combined arms live firing exercise often being completed by lunchtime each day. This afforded time in the afternoon for the Master Gunner to create his own brand of chaos in the form of low level infantry serials. Truly, these serials were a welcome distraction from
Tigers, in Kenya?38 (Seringapatam) Bty, 40 Regt RA supporting 1 Royal Welsh Battle Group on Ex ASKARI THUNDER 7
Prove their worth
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the routine of supporting the exercise and more importantly, they were an opportunity to refresh our infantry skills. The gun line was constantly probed by enemy raids and ambushes set. However, in time the tables were turned and the initiative was reclaimed by the gun group as the location of the enemy base was discovered, allowing a final deliberate attack
The end of the live firing exercise also signalled the end of the live firing for the gun line. As a small G4 element helped prepare the Light Guns for handover to the incoming 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Bty, the bulk of the gun line became the opposing forces for the final BG test exercise (FTX). For the BC, Maj Richard Orvis, this was his chance to influence the battle group operations. However there was no time to rest on any laurels as the first serial of the FTX transpired to be a full battle group attack into an enemy stronghold. Nevertheless, the tone was set for six packed days and nights of planning which melded the battle group HQ planning team together through mutual empathy and shared adversity. On the ground, the FSTs stuck to their task extremely effectively, despite the frustrations of weak communications, relentless insertion tabs in gruelling conditions and some truly ‘original left-field thinking’ from the BC.
As the tactical group plied its trade in full, the opposing force wreaked havoc wherever
possible. Under the watchful command of 2Lt Jo Merry, 2Lt Rob Fidler and 2Lt Ben Armitage, and augmented by sections of the Queen’s Own Ghurkha Regt, small bands of determined soldiers set out to raid, ambush, disrupt, delay, attack and of course eventually capitulate to the advancing battel group.
The exercise culminated with the battel group deliberate attack onto an enemy stronghold at the foot of dominating high-ground with commanding views in all directions. Following a four-hour night insertion, harassing fire plan and a seven-hour sequential attack, news of the eventual surrender of enemy forces was given over the battle group command net by OC B Coy, Maj Ed Hill; the insurgent leader being named as a local tribeswoman, fitting the rough description of 2Lt Jo Merry.
In the final analysis, the 38 Bty Tiger’s second visit to Kenya had been a roaring success. Not only had the battery succeed in delivering a most arduous and rewarding live firing package in austere conditions, which saw many of the so called ‘second eleven’ gain invaluable experience on their way to the first team, but critically the Tigers achieved full integration with the 1 R Welsh BG; so critical ahead of our deployment together on operations in Afghanistan in 2012.
Tigers, in Kenya?
by 2Lt Rob Fidler
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We’re flying 20 feet above the ground through a valley, as we pass over some very startled sheep at a speed of 120
knots. Over a lake the Lynx helicopter banks sharply to the left as it dives into an attack run onto one of the permanent Rapier sites on the Falkland Islands. With the nose dipping straight down to the ground, the radar warning receiver (RWR) beeps intermittently, an indication that the active surveillance radar has found us. Suddenly there is a high pitched tone from the RWR as the tracking radar locks onto the nimble helicopter. If this were a real engagement the Lynx wouldn’t have made it back to its ship.
It’s the second pass of the day from the Lynx for the Resident Rapier Battery (RRB) during Exercise TIGER HUNT. The current RRB is 20 Bty, 16 Regt RA and they are deployed to the Falkland Islands on a six-month tour. The Royal Navy Lynx has been stationed on the Falklands (for repairs) throughout April and has been flying once a week against the Rapier sites. I was given the unique opportunity to accompany the Lynx crew on one of these flights; my six-week trip to the Falklands started in mid-March and will end in June. I am currently on attachment to 20 Bty from 16 AD Regt Royal Australian
Artillery as part of the four-month exchange programme, LONG LOOK.
In con-junction with the helicopter
flight, two Gunners and I spent a day on HMS York, a type 42 Royal Navy frigate stationed in
the Falklands. She is a very capable air defence frigate with a range of impressive weapon systems. Throughout the very choppy trip we were treated to a demonstration of the main 4.5 inch gun as well as the Phalanx and a fly-by from the Typhoons and Lynx. There were a few green faces after lunch, including myself; who managed to repaint the interior of one of the corridors.
20 Bty has a big focus on junior leader development and Lt Mike Swaby has kept the
lance bombardiers busy, teaching them the seven questions, basic infantry tactics,
orders and memory retention techniques. While they were apprehensive at first, the lance bombardiers have shown significant improvement; culminating in a good set of section-level ambush orders presented in front of the BC and BSM.
One of the most important parts of the week is the mail call. The only way to get mail into Mount Pleasant Airfield is via air. The flights have recently changed from weekends only to an additional mid-week service, meaning that the mail is coming in thick and fast. The previous delays were the result of Project SHACKLETON, the MPA runway refurbishment project, which involved both runways being pulled up and resurfaced over a six-month period, which meant that flying services were reduced. The main effort of resurfacing the runways is now complete; the final touches including the addition of lights and line markings.
Work aside, 20 Bty has a great social side with regular functions in ‘The Fiery Cross’. The detachment sites host quiz and games nights as well as putting on lunch and dinner for the battery staff every few weeks. The bowling alley has also had a bit of a work over with a seniors and officers night that brought out some of the skills, or lack thereof, from both groups. 20 Bty have also been completing and taking part in extracurricular activities. These have ranged from pulling a fire engine in a charity competition, the refurbishment of the Fiery Cross, re-fencing the compound and much more.
20 Bty is also competing in the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) Cup. When they took over command, the RRB was second in the overall rankings but after the volleyball competition in April managed to become joint first. The next event was the super teams and I was told by WO2 (BSM) Wright that I was to captain the team of six. The BSM gave us plenty of time to train and prepare for the event and when the day came we finished a strong first. This put us top of the overall BFSAI Cup standings; a pleasing result.
20 Bty has made the most of the time and resources on the Falkland Islands and continues to have a good time while maintaining a professional posture; their attitude is work hard and play hard.
From the Outback to the back of beyond
by Lt N Skinner RAA
The 20 Bty team collects their winners’ trophy from the COS The author and Rapier FSC(Main picture) The Phalanx gun on HMS York
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Have you switched to digital? FC BISA is the RA approach to mastering the
information required to operate in the networked information age. It is a software package that runs on the Army’s Bowman digital communications network. It provides Ballistic Computation for Lt Gun and AS90, enables R2 (Met, FSCMs, Target Information and Ammo accounting) and C2 functionality, such as Fire Planning. The current version is focused on RA Close Support units, with General Support utility planned for future versions. FC BISA’s little brother, FCA, which has been used until recently as the principle ballistic computation system, will continue to be held as a reversionary means and will be upgraded in 2013. FC BISA should be seen as more than just software but a network which offers access to the multiple systems operated by the Royal Artillery.
The FC BISA project grew out of the concept for the Digitization of the Land Battlespace. Fielding has taken place incrementally, on BCIP 4F in 2007 followed by an upgrade to FC BISA 3.2.1 (the current version) on BCIP 5, which fielded in late 2009. Fielding to regiments has provided continuous employment for the FC BISA Fielding
GBAD BISA deploys to the Falkland Islands in September this year to support the Resident Rapier Battery from 16 Regt RA, in their ongoing operation providing SHORAD for the permanent committed force.
The GBAD BISA provides a digital C2 capability to enable the effective deployment and control of Air Defence assets. These include Command Posts, sensors, weapons and other defence assets.
FIRE CONTROL BATTLEFIELD INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATION
Team and the system has now been used in BATUS, Germany, UK and the Czech Republic. The recent plan to field a data network to operations has provided an opportunity to enhance Gunner business through the deployment of FC BISA. It will be used in a slightly different configuration to its designed purpose, but one which will optimise the network and better exploit information in Afghanistan.
Fielding and development continues in order to prepare FC BISA for use in Afghanistan with 26 Regt RA on Op HERRICK 15. This will initially provide fire computation and enhanced R2, principally a more efficient circulation of meteorological information. It is assessed that the introduction of FC BISA to theatre will reduce the burden on other comms bearers and free up the voice command net for more critical messages. As experience is gained and the system beds in further C2 functionality should become available. The initial, limited use is driven by the need to test the new network, before exposing the full FC BISA system to it.
Initial trials have proved promising suggesting real benefits, beyond just the computation of ballistic data. The enhanced situational awareness enabled by common FSCM, Met and
Since May 2008, when it last appeared in Gunner, FC BISA
has become the primary means of computation for RA Close Support units, cleared
for firing in both training and on operations. FC BISA
continues to field to RA units, the following regiments
have now converted: 3 RHA, 4, 5, 14, 19, 26, 39 and 40
Regts RA. The remaining regiments will be converted by September 2012. Steady state training for converted
units is now taking place at the ACS Branch, RSA
Larkhill.
GROuND BASED AIR DEFENCE BATTLEFIELD INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATION
What is FC BISA?
History
Maj Marc Stickley
GBAD BISA Ground based Air Defence Battlefield Information System Application
SHORAD Short Range Air DefenceVSHORAD Very Short Range Air defenceLEAPP Land Environment Air Picture ProvisionNEADS Network Enabled Airspace Defence and SurveillanceHVM High Velocity MissileADCIS Air Defence Command Information SystemC2 Command and ControlGl
ossa
ry
Where we are
What is GBAD BISA?
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Have you switched to digital? tagret infomration will have benefit not just to the close support coommunity, but also UAS, MLRS and STA detachments. In time, it is envisaged that FC BISA will do much more, returning the Gunners to pre-eminence in the digital domain as masters of our information.
The future holds many possibilities for FC BISA – it has the potential to meet the needs of the ever-evolving battle space. The ability for FC BISA to work ‘off network’ – continue to provide firing data when the network is ‘down’ – is being developed in time for HERRICK 15. The demands on the HCDR network in theatre are severe and this development is a sensible precaution as well as paving the way for future increments that will no longer be dependent on a particular bearer infrastructure – truly ‘stand-alone’ but capable of running on a network when one is available. FCA too will be reinvigorated in the short term – loading the FCA software onto smaller hardware more suited to the light role and mortars, with the longer term aspiration of moving to FC BISA software.
More information regarding FC BISA, including technical publications, is available on the Bowman User Community Knowledgebase (BUCK: www.buck.dii.r.mil.uk). The following points of contact are also available:• FCBISAFieldingandImplementationTeam(FIT):943225240• FCBISADevelopment:943225523• USSO(ServiceSupport):943718108/07979705232
To report problems (hardware and software) or suggest improvements, use the IR process (USSO SOP 7.002 MOD Form 683 available on the BUCK).
GBAD BISA was originally conceived as an interim C2 capability for GBAD users as they converted to BOWMAN digital communications. It has since evolved into an enduring capability that will co-exist with the LEAPP capability throughout its service life until both systems are subsumed in to NEADS Inc 1. UK Armed forces currently operate Rapier and HVM systems to provide short range (SHORAD) and very short range (VSHORAD) air defence. UK GBAD C2 was previously carried out using ADCIS in the Army and the Rapier Control System (RCS) in the RAF. Both ADCIS and RCS have become obsolete and have been withdrawn from service with the introduction of BOWMAN in GBAD units.
GBAD BISA is a planning, information and command system, which receives manual input from operators and provides visual information and commands. Unlike FC BISA, GBAD BISA does not interface to, or exchange data with any other systems. It has no direct control over any equipment and is always operated as a ‘man in the loop’ system. However, it does make use of BOWMAN infrastructure functions, such as messaging and task execution.
Depending on where GBAD BISA is deployed, specific services are provided. The top level is the Formation HQ, where the GBAD BISA
FIRE CONTROL BATTLEFIELD INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATION
community is controlled. The HQ imports and distributes the Airspace Control Orders (ACOs) and approves Airspace Control Requests, distributes IFF codes, and is used to provide the Air Raid Warning and GBAD information to non-specific GBAD units. Within the Fire Control Centre (FCC) GBAD BISA is used to exercise control over multiple fire groups and units and to quickly issue orders. The FCC also provides access to weapon status information for all subordinate weapon systems. On the individual weapon platforms GBAD BISA provides the Weapon Control Status (WCS) as set by the FCC, and immediate access to orders in both a textual and graphical form. Weapon platforms also use GBAD BISA to provide fast status reporting to the FCC and have the option of a specific display for Air Defence.
Currently all Air Defence regiments (12 and 16 Regts RA) and training establishments including Royal Marines Air Defence Troop are scheduled for conversion to GBAD BISA version 4.1.4. So far the Royal Marines and over half of AD regiments’ batteries have been converted. The next priority is 11 Battery, 16 Regt RA ready for their deployment to the Falkland Islands in September 11. Development of Version 4.2 of GBAD BISA, ready for integration on BCIP 5.5 in early 2013, is ongoing. Alongside BAE Systems, user feedback will be used to deliver an updated product, learning from the roll out of 4.1.4.
The diagram above shows planned and possible uses of FC BISA in a theatre network (based on the 2011 UOR BISA / BCIP Integration Evaluation) ACS Artillery Command SystemsBCIP Bowman, Combat, Infrastructure
and Platform BISABowman The Army communications
systemC2 Command and ControlC4I Command, Control,
Communications, Computers and Intelligence
ComBAT Common Battlefield Applications Toolset
FCA Fire Control ApplicationFC BISA Fire Control Battlefield
Information System ApplicationFSCM Fire Support Coordination
Measures – such as No Fire Lines, Boundaries
FWLR Forward Weapon Locating RadarMLRS Multiple Launch Rocket SystemOFT Operational Field TrialR2 Reports and ReturnsSTA Surveillance and Target
AcquisitionUAS Unmanned Air Systems
GROuND BASED AIR DEFENCE BATTLEFIELD INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATION
The future
Glossary
History and context
What does it do? Fielding and future
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The Worthing Branch RAA held their annual lunch at the Windsor Hotel on 16 June. Brig John Howarth presided and guests included Lt Col Ian Howard-Harwood, Capt Allan Solly and Bob Scott. Pictured left to right are Mrs Howarth, Lt Col Howard-Harwood, Brig Howarth, Mrs Scott, Mr Scott.
Lt Col Tom Simpson and his wife Pat hosted a lunch party for family and Gunner friends on 12 June to celebrate their Golden Wedding. Tom continues to make good progress following a stroke he suffered in 2005.
Lt Dan Carey of 103 Regt RA (V) shows Owen Davies, aged 10, around a Light Gun at the 42 (NW) Bde open day held recently in Preston. Batman (LBdr Craig Dean) and Robin (Gnr
Simon Kitcher) of T HQ Bty (Shah Sujah’s Troop), 12 Regt RA, meet Brig Will Bramble, CRA 3 (UK) Div, at an all ranks ‘smoker’ held during a break in Ex IRON TRIANGLE at Sennelager.
Above: 1 RHA veterans who marched from Calais to Dunkirk in aid of 1st Trust, the regimental charity of 1 RHA. From the left: Martin Bowling (civilian), Stephen Jones (Chestnut Troop), Marcus Ream (B Bty), Wayne Smith (Chestnut Troop), John Broadbent (Chestnut Troop), Ged Taylor (E Bty), Paul Kerr ( E Bty), Gary Smith ( E Bty), Skip Hansford (Chestnut Troop). Left: Stephen Jones presents the money raised to WO2 (BSM) Wilkes of O HQ Bty (The Rocket Troop), 1 RHA.
Gunners working in various headquarters in Kabul gathered with US Gen David Petraeus for a photograph on 28 May. Those present were: Brig Iain Harrison, Col Nigel Jefferson, Lt Col John Mead, Lt Col Robin Stone, Lt Col Mark Wentworth, Maj Giulio Bianconi, Maj Jonathan Buxton, Maj Ben Ingham, Maj Mark Dornan (who works with Task Force Helmand), Capt Richard Fielden, WO1 Fox and WO2 O’Dwyer.
Members of 266 Bty (V), 100 Regt RA (V) conducting a casualty evacuation on route to coming second in the 43 Bde Patrols Competition held on Stanford Training Area.
Members of 20 Bty, 16 Regt, recently enjoyed a visit to the Gunners Today exhibition at Firepower
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The winning 1 RHA male and female tug-of-war teams at the Beat the Army competition held at Laverstock , Salisbury, on 12 May
40 Regt RA recently commissioned a new painting by artist David Rowlands to commemorate the installation of Maj Gen David Shaw, late-RA, as the Governor of Edinburgh Castle on 24 June last year. The painting shows the General receiving the keys to the castle, with the combined 19 and 40 Regt RA Pipes and Drums in the foreground, and soldiers of 40 Regt RA on parade under the trees in the middle distance.
Above: 1 RHA veterans who marched from Calais to Dunkirk in aid of 1st Trust, the regimental charity of 1 RHA. From the left: Martin Bowling (civilian), Stephen Jones (Chestnut Troop), Marcus Ream (B Bty), Wayne Smith (Chestnut Troop), John Broadbent (Chestnut Troop), Ged Taylor (E Bty), Paul Kerr ( E Bty), Gary Smith ( E Bty), Skip Hansford (Chestnut Troop). Left: Stephen Jones presents the money raised to WO2 (BSM) Wilkes of O HQ Bty (The Rocket Troop), 1 RHA.
Gunners working in various headquarters in Kabul gathered with US Gen David Petraeus for a photograph on 28 May. Those present were: Brig Iain Harrison, Col Nigel Jefferson, Lt Col John Mead, Lt Col Robin Stone, Lt Col Mark Wentworth, Maj Giulio Bianconi, Maj Jonathan Buxton, Maj Ben Ingham, Maj Mark Dornan (who works with Task Force Helmand), Capt Richard Fielden, WO1 Fox and WO2 O’Dwyer.
Members of 101 Regt RA (V) attended a Royal Garden Party at Alnwick Castle last month. Left to right: Maj Tim Pennett, WO2 Sam Seddon, Gnr Chris Kay, Gnr Adam Fallon, Sgt Kirk Godden and Maj Eyton Parker.
Members of 20 Bty, 16 Regt, recently enjoyed a visit to the Gunners Today exhibition at Firepower
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WO2 Junner C 5 Regt RA CPO TAC GP 01-Aug-11WO2 Lester KW 101 Regt RA (V) SPSI 01-Aug-11WO2 Hook NA 5 Regt RA CPO TAC GP 30-May-11WO2 Foster DJ HQ RSA ANALYST 01-Jul-11WO2 Merry SA London UOTC PSI 01-Sep-11SSgt Logan ES 47 Regt RA Regt WO 04-Jul-11SSgt Perren MA 19 Regt RA Tech WO 01-Sep-11SSgt Haynes AD 19 Regt RA RQMS (T) 01-Sep-11
To Bombardier Bdr Wise 19 Regt RA 01-Aug-11Bdr Arthur 4 Regt RA 12-May-11Bdr Reeves 4 Regt RA 12-May-11Bdr Hounslow 4 Regt RA 12-May-11Bdr Collins 4 Regt RA 12-May-11Bdr Hope 4 Regt RA 01-Jun-11Bdr Rowledge 4 Regt RA 23-May-11Bdr Watts 4 Regt RA 12-May-11Bdr Cree 47 Regt RA 20-May-11Bdr Callaghan 4 Regt RA 02-May-11Bdr Hughes 4 Regt RA 06-May-11Bdr Speirs 29 Cdo Regt RA 13-Jun-11Bdr Cooper 26 Regt RA 16-May-11Bdr Steel 26 Regt RA 16-May-11Bdr Anderson King’s Troop RHA 17-Feb-11Bdr Emmanuel 12 Regt RA 06-Jun-11Bdr Munton-Ellis 29 Cdo Regt RA 01-Aug-11Bdr Mogridge 29 Cdo Regt RA 01-Aug-11 To Sergeant Sgt Cave 12 Regt RA 01-Mar-10Sgt Winsper 29 Cdo Regt RA 08-Feb-11Sgt Judd 40 Regt RA 14-May-10 To Staff Sergeant SSgt Cook 5 Regt RA 01-Apr-11SSgt Darby 5 Regt RA 01-Apr-11SSgt Keeling-White 4 Regt RA 31-Aug-11 SSgt Campbell 40 Regt RA 31-Aug-11SSgt Gallagher 40 Regt RA 31-Aug-11SSgt Sutherington 7 Para RHA 01-Apr-11SSgt Bown 7 Para RHA 01-Apr-11SSgt Bemrose 7 Para RHA 31-Aug-11SSgt Andrews 7 Para RHA 01-Apr-11SSgt Richardson 4 Regt RA 14-Jun-11SSgt Lees 1 RHA 01-Apr-11
Birthday Honours
Postings
COMMANDS AND STAFFMaj Gen R L Barrons CBE late Royal Regiment of Artillery assumes the appointment of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) 4 May 11 and is granted the substantive rank of Lt Gen with seniority of the same date
REGULAR ARMYRegular CommissionsLt Col S J A Lloyd MBE retires on retired pay 13 Jun 11 and is appointed to Reserve of OfficersMaj J A Baker from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 09 (Belated Entry)Maj B D F Crookes from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 08 (Belated Entry)Maj D C Glendenning from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 10 (Belated Entry)Maj I J Harrop from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 07 (Belated Entry)Maj G E J Jenner from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 05 (Belated Entry)Maj C M Lane from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 09 (Belated Entry)Maj J L Power from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 05 (Belated Entry)Maj A R Taylor from Intermediate Regular Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Maj with seniority 31 Jul 07 (Belated Entry)
Regular Commissions (Late Entry)Capt S J Howe from Intermediate Regular Commission (Late Entry) 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 10 Apr 06 (Belated Entry)Capt A Hough from Intermediate Regular Commission (Late Entry) 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 1 Apr 06 (Belated Entry)Maj R Lee to be Lt Col 12 Jun 11
Intermediate Regular CommissionsCapt D S Davenport retires on retired pay 1 May 11 and is appointed to Reserve of OfficersCapt J J Boutle from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 16 Apr 10Capt R M Hocking from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 9 Aug 08Capt T G Palmer from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 13 Jun 06Capt S E Pringle from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 12 Feb 09Capt J E Moore from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 11 Jun 07 (Belated Entry)Capt R A M Hutchinson from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 16 Jun 09 (Belated Entry)Capt D A C Webster from Short Service Commission 9 Dec 10 to be Capt with seniority 11 Jun 07 (Belated Entry)
Intermediate Regular Commissions (Late Entry)WO1 C A Hamlet to be Capt 25 May 11
Short Service CommissionsLt L D Kirkpatrick to be Capt 12 Oct 10 (Belated Entry)Lt L J MacDonald to be Capt 12 Oct 10 (Belated Entry)Lt P B Button to be Capt 9 Feb 11Lt D L Gould to be Capt 25 Feb 11
TERRITORIAL ARMYGroup AMaj M H Hawkes retires 27 Apr 112Lt (on probation) S W Crisp is confirmed as 2Lt 6 Feb 11 with seniority 28 May 062Lt S W Crisp to be Lt 7 Feb 11OCdt T F Harris to be 2Lt (on probation) 3 Oct 10Capt M R Munafo to be Maj 4 Apr 11Capt (on probation) A G Roynon is confirmed as Capt 1 May 10Maj C A Gallacher TD retires 3 Apr 112Lt (on probation) J A M Gallier is confirmed as 2Lt 30 Nov 07 with seniority 1 Dec 06 (Belated Entry)WO2 D A Wardle to be Lt (on probation) 19 Nov 08 (Belated Entry)C J Hull to be 2Lt (on probation) 28 Sep 08 (Belated Entry)N T Dickie to be 2Lt (on probation) 25 Sep 09 (Belated Entry)
Group BCapt (NRPS) A J Parker retires 1 May 11
OBE
Lt Col John Robert Mead
Col Micahel Gerard Redmond
MBE
Maj Robert James Christopher
Maj Andrew David Lightfoot
Capt Trevor Gilbert Persse
Meritorious Service Medal
WO1 Peter Michael Armstrong
WO1 David John Meacock
Sgt Trevor John Rushton
C-in-C’s CommendationsSSgt JK Draper
WO2 MEW Furlong
Wo2 E Hall
Gazette
Promotions
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update
Photographs of friends, relatives and ancestors who have served in our armed forces often reflect a world that has
passed into history, yet the images remain a personal, often treasured window through which those memories are recalled.
Sadly, images will too frequently deteriorate. Photographs may be stained, damaged or defaced due to the passage of time, through inappropriate storage, through accident or misuse.
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With the benefit of dedicated software, deteriorated images can be digitally scanned, processed, modified and often recovered to a surprising degree, then reprinted and/or stored on disk for future access.
FalconFoto, run by Jeff Clarke, graphic designer, photographer and writer based in Maidstone, offers a professional photo restoration service, usually by post, from prints, negatives or 35mm transparencies, single examples or collections. Prints are supplied on quality photographic paper to required size in mono, sepia, tint or colour.
FalconFoto
Red Monkey Photographic is a partnership of three photographers based in Wiltshire
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of creativeness, passion and experience the team are able to provide a professional approach to all your photographic needs, individually tailored to you the customer at a price you may be pleasantly surprised at. From fun contemporary portrait sessions, full on-site solutions for coverage of events, to weddings covered discretely and professionally. Red Monkey’s photographers can be there to provide quality images that reflect the necessity to balance affordable prices, with bespoke services whilst ensuring the quality you would expect.
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Blackpool reunionWoolwich and India Wartime Boys Batteries Association
raa
Regimental Family
by Maj Gen JR Templer CB OBE
The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps
round up
The 44th reunion in the 69th year of the Woolwich and India Wartime Boys Batteries Association took place at Larkhill during the weekend 3-5 June. FM the Lord Vincent (standing centre) presided at the reunion dinner, with Col Ron Back and his wife Patsy in support. Over 40 members, their families and guests, enjoyed a first class meal courtesy of the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess, 14 Regt RA to whom Graham Tooley extended grateful thanks. As always, the dinner ended with a reading on Tony’s Ode, and a reminder to everybody to be sure to be on parade next year.
On 25 May a memorial was unveiled to the Hong Kong Volunteer
Defence Corps at The National Memorial Arboretum, at Alrewas in Staffordshire. The corps, which was formed in 1854 and disbanded in 1995, most notably fought with courage and tenacity in the battle for Hong Kong during December 1941. Indeed some 200 volunteers were killed in the battle and a further 70 died as prisoners of war.
During that brief but savage battle supported by the HKVDC Artillery Regt and 1 Hong Kong and Singapore Regt RA, as well as three UK Gunner regiments, 5 AA, 8 Coast and 12 Coast, a total of some 3,000 all ranks from the garrison were either killed or subsequently drowned in the Lisbon Maru. A further 400 died of disease from a total of some 10,400 prisoners.
I was honoured to be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the Royal Regiment at the very moving service which was
conducted by Canon Stephen Sidebotham, a former Dean of St John’s Cathedral, while the memorial itself was unveiled by FM Sir John Chapple, a former Commander British Forces Hong Kong. Among the 115 who attended were 14 close relations of members of the corps who fought in the battle.
My reason for being there was that my father commanded a battery in 12 Coast Regt RA and was awarded a DSO for his actions during the battle. I went in the company of a good friend, one Derek Bird, whose father slept in the next bed to my father throughout their time as prisoners of war and who was awarded a George Medal for resistance to torture. Derek laid his wreath on behalf of The Hong Kong (Argyle Street) POW Association.
Neither of us, nor our wives, had been to
Alrewas before and we were truly amazed at the entire memorial.
The Gunner Garden is magnificent among the 160 or so assorted memorials to everyone from the Womens Auxiliary Air Force to Malaya and Borneo Veterans. Derek and I took a particular interest in the Far East Prisoners of War Pavilion, having both been incarcerated in Japanese internment camps in the Phillipines during the war; it was a very moving experience for us to see what others had gone through.
The Arboretum is now 10 years old, with its 160 memorials scattered over 150 acres. The main memorial is to those who have been killed in action since 1945 with all their names inscribed on two massive concentric walls on top of a huge mound. Should you ever be in the area do go, it is well worth a visit and a truly humbling experience.
Pictured above are Thomas Griffiths and John Dolphin, who served together during training in 1966. Despite not meeting since then, 45 years ago, they recognised each other at the RA Assembly in Blackpool. They both remembered the 1966 World Cup Final – they were on duty guarding the 25-pdr and missed the game...Happy days.
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letters
My husband, who served from 1939 to 1945 with 64 Med Regt RA, has just read the letter by Maj Thorne (Creating a bit of a stink) in the May edition of The Gunner about the thunder box in the Sinai Desert.
In the war my husband was a Desert Rat and decided to build his own portable loo for use in the Western Desert. Unfortunately the Germans bombed it, but he was nimble and small in those days and got away.
He used to let his mates use it and we wonder if any of them are still alive and going strong...
Helen ToddLowestoft
Having just spent an enjoyable weekend in Blackpool, I thought I had to write to say thank you to all those who made my brother and I so very welcome. It was our first RA Assembly, but it won’t be our last.
The organisation was of the highest standard, which is perhaps something we take for granted in our great regiment. We made friends with many of those who attended and speaking for myself I cannot wait for the next assembly. Hoping for better weather next time.
J M T StoneAshford
Can I please say a big public thank you in your columns to Mr Brian Bilverstone of ABS Embroidery for all his help and for the embroidered polo shirts and plaques donated for the raffle organised at Blackpool by 12 Regt RA for the benefit of the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund. Thank you!
John ‘Wooly’ WoolgroveBy email
The editorial in May’s edition of The Gunner acknowledges the role played by the Royal Regiment at the Battle of the Imjin River. In April 1951 the artillery of the British 29th Inf Bde which fought the battle was 45 Fd Regt RA (a 25-pdr regiment), 170 Ind Mor Bty RA (4.2-inch mortars) and 11 (Sphinx) Bty RA (SP Bofors).
In the three-day battle 45 Fd Regt fired 23,000 rounds, roughly 1,000 rounds per gun. On the closing day of the battle enemy infiltrators put the guns of 45 Fd Regt in great danger of being overrun. 11 (Sphinx) Bty, using their Bofors in the ground role, and with their high rate of fire, bought time for 45 Regt to withdraw. So desparate was the fighting that the Glosters declined an air
Thunder boxes are go!
Well run assembly
Jim remembers Imjin
drop which would have required the artillery to stop firing. C Troop of 170 Bty, trapped with the Glosters, smashed their gun sights and fought as infantry. They were awarded the American Presidential Citation.
The 29th Inf Bde nickname was ‘The Old Man’s Brigade’ because of the large number of reservists recalled to the colours. I was a national serviceman serving with 11 (Sphinx) Bty and I will always remember what great comrades they all were.
Jim ThomsonSherborne
I write with reference to the deeply impressive obituary to Col John Kynaston published in May. The penultimate paragraph drove me to my reference books, as Panzer Lehr, 5 RHA’s stated opponents on 13-14 June 1944, although undoubtedly ‘crack’, was a Wehrmacht rather than an SS division, and certainly did not deploy Tiger II tanks in Normandy. It is possible their true opponents in the battle of Villers Bocage (which was an unsuccessful British attack by 22 Armd Bde - Operation Perch - rather than an organised German counter-attack) was the 1st Coy of the 101st SS Hy Panzer Bn, with 4 Tiger 1 tanks, under the command of SS Capt Rolf Moebius, supporting 2nd Panzer Div.
A vivid description of the battle is given in Gen Michael Reynold’s book Steel Inferno - 1st SS Panzer Corps in Normandy, where the author is damning in his criticism of the British senior commanders. The British defence west of Villers Bocage was ultimately supported by 160 guns (84 British, including 5 RHA, and 76 American) which later led to statements in American chronicles of the battle that: ‘US V Corps’ artillery intervention had prevented a rout’.
Capt Guy St John BarkerPrague
Young Officers’ Course 33 ran for five months from February to July 1950. Following our final dinner a small party manhandled the ‘Waterloo Cannon’ (possibly the same one mentioned in your July editorial) from its position somewhere up in Equipment Wing and brought it down to the east wing of the RA Mess. Here, the wheels were removed in order to gain access to the building and then re-attached.
It was a simple matter to trundle down the corridor to the main entrance hall where, becoming mountain gunners, the detachment managed to haul the equipment up the stairs and into the dining room. It was then trooped around the room a couple of times before being returned at some speed
Villers Bocage
More tales from the mess
to the top of the stairs.Until this moment the standard of
handling and gun drill had been quite high; that is if one discounts the earlier unfortunate collision with a cast iron central heating radiator in the east corridor. After all, the resulting flood was hardly life threatening.
Sadly, we fractionally overran the steps and the gun, now out of control, commenced what can only be described as an ‘unassisted descent’. I seem to remember that normally there was a large round table in the hall but I don’t think it was present that evening as the gun, which had gained considerable speed, next met the revolving front doors, with devastating results.
As might be imagined, the Commandant’s farewell address several days later lacked its usual warmth and ‘didn’t you do well and good luck’ theme, the main thrust being that he was glad to inform us that each of the 60-plus officers on the course would be charged 30 shillings on his mess bill, a sum which in those days represented well over two day’s pay.
I don’t know if it was true or not but later I heard that this act of exuberance (I suppose vandalism by today’s standards) subsequently achieved a degree of legendary status. I don’t think Paddy Smith (A Neate ending, June) need fear for ‘les autres’; the standards were set some six years previously!
Tony HillBy email
The Blue List 2011 hit my doorstep this week for which I am most grateful. However, it is one of life’s rich ironies that, with each successive defence cut, The Blue List burgeons which used to be the case with the MOD telephone directory (a far more valuable asset than anything I learned at Staff College).
We might all be encouraged that at least one area of the defence sector is witnessing some growth were it not for the disappointment of a correspondingly minimal increase in retired officers who are offering their e-mail addresses.
Lt Col Michael Nicholson MBEGodalming
This year’s Blue List has been expanded to include lists of commanding officers of regiments since 1947 and recipients of gallantry awards since 1964. I would ask that anybody noticing any errors in these lists gets in touch as soon as possible. In the meantime, any retired officer who wants to include his email address (or indeed his postal address) in The Blue List is asked to contact Lucy Neate. Editor.
Bigger better Blue List Thank you Brian
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Maj Gen R J Crossley CB CBEBorn in Sheffield in October
1933, Ralph John Crossley was educated at Felsted School before being called up for National Service in 1952. He found Army life agreeable, was selected for officer training and gained a regular commission into the Royal Artillery in the summer of 1952, the start of a 34-year military career spanning most the Cold War and the small wars associated with the breakup of the British Empire.
After a brief spell with 17 Trg Regt RA at Oswestry, Crossley volunteered for pilot training, spending a year at the Air OP School at Middle Wallop after which he flew with 651 Air OP Sqn in the Canal Zone and then 1910 Air OP Flight in Cyprus, the latter an operational tour flying Auster aircraft in support of units engaged in the war against EOKA terrorists. With several years flying under his belt Crossley next joined 58 Med Regt RA, stationed at Iserlohn, as the GPO and then as an FOO with 118 Bty RA, a posting that led to a Long Gunnery Staff Course at Larkhill, a course that sparked an interest in the technical side of gunnery which, in turn, led him into the world of artillery development and procurement.
In January 1954, while learning to fly at Middle Wallop, a young Ralph Crossley attended a dance in Salisbury where he met Marion Bacon, a trainee nurse at Salisbury District Hospital; they married at St Mark’s, Salisbury in 1957 and moved to Iserohn, the start of a long and happy marriage that lasted 53 years until his death.
After a three-year tour as an IG at the School of Artillery (1960-63), Crossley was selected to attend the Technical Staff Officers’ Course at the Royal Military College of Science, a course that qualified him for future weapons staff appointments and for his next appointment at the Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment, Sevenoaks where he served as a technical staff officer. Here he came under the wing of Col (later Brig) Fraser Scott who recently wrote: “At RARDE I was responsible for him. I was impressed by his competence and drive so I wrote a special confidential report on him grading him ‘A’; in those days if you didn’t grade good officers well early in their careers they didn’t get on the promotion ladder.
I’m glad to say he never looked back…”Crossley next commanded 46 (Talavera)
Bty, a gun battery equipped with M107s that formed part of 32 Hy Regt RA, based at Hildesheim in West Germany; his tour included an operational deployment to Northern Ireland at the height of the so-called ‘Troubles’. Then, after a staff appointment with GS(OR)6 at the MOD and a tour as one of the Directing Staff at the RMCS as a lieutenant colonel, Crossley was selected to command 94 Loc Regt RA at Celle (1974-77) – a testing appointment but one that he and his wife enjoyed enormously, making many friends in the process. After command he was immediately promoted colonel to become Project Manager of 155mm Systems at Woolwich, among other things seeing the multi-national gun, FH70, into service. On promotion to brigadier he next became Deputy Commandant of the RMCS (1981-83) before taking on his final army appointment in the MOD’s Procurement Executive as Director General Weapons (Army) for which he was promoted major general. He was particularly pleased to be invited by the Master Gunner to become the Honorary Regimental Colonel of 94 Loc Regt RA, a post he held in the years immediately preceding the regiment going into suspended animation in 1993.
He was appointed CBE in 1982, CB in 1987 and was awarded the Lefroy Gold Medal in 1986 for furthering the science and application of artillery: as a major general he was one of the most senior officers ever to be so honoured.
The end of a successful army career did not signal retirement; far from it… Based at his family home at Redlynch, near Salisbury, Ralph Crossley next spent four years (1986-90) working for the Avon Rubber Company as their Director of Defence Policy before becoming a member of the Salisbury Hospital Board and eventually Chairman of the Salisbury Hospitals NHS Trust, a position he held until final retirement in 1997, the year he and Marion celebrated their Ruby Wedding with an unforgettable two months spent travelling around the world.
By 1998 he was back in Redlynch where he immersed himself in local organisations and charities. He became a governor of Redlynch Primary School, and almost inevitably Chairman of the Governors, while at the same
time becoming president of the very active local branch of the Royal British Legion. The charities he worked for included Inspire (a local foundation assisting those with spinal injuries); Age Concern and the Hospital Savings Association. As if all this was not enough he also became patron of the veteran’s magazine for his old regiment, 94 Loc Regt RA, and a member of the Parochial Council of St Mary’s Church in Redlynch eventually becoming Church Warden, a post he held until his illness eventually forced him to stand down.
Speaking at his funeral and service of thanksgiving held in St Mary’s on 1 June, the Rev Len Lunn, a close friend of the family, summarised what many in the wider Gunner family will be thinking when he said of Ralph Crossley: “What we should remember is the man and not just his work and many achievements, because his was a fine example of not only how to work, but also how to live.” He also noted how Crossley always got involved, how he cared for individuals, his kindness, his capacity for friendship, his faith and his deep commitment to his family.
Maj Gen Ralph Crossley, one of the Royal Artillery’s most gifted and technically knowledgeable post-war officers, died on 16 May after a long illness borne with characteristic fortitude and bravery. He was 77. He is survived by his wife Marion, his two children Robin and Amanda and four grandchildren Stephanie, Douglas, Edward and James.
in memoriam
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in memoriam
Maj H C Morgan RAMaj Hewlan Morgan, or ‘H’ to his many friends, was born
on 7 September 1966 in Hertford. He exploited his natural intellect at Haileybury and, having secured an army scholarship, he went on to Birmingham University graduating with a good history degree. He passed out from Sandhurst and Larkhill in 1989 and was posted to 2 Fd Regt RA as a CPO where he first toured Cyprus and then encountered combat in the first Gulf War. Maj (later Lt Col) Andrew Gillespie, his BC at the time, in his book Desert Fire, recalled him ‘calmly reporting a contact on the regimental voice net when his gun position had two guns hit’. His subsequent tours with his beloved 22 Regt RA and on the HQ 3 (UK) Div staff brought further operational tours to Ireland, Cyprus and Kosovo.
He commanded 53 (Louisburg) Bty RA from August 2000 to February 2004, with great distinction where his deep compassion, unstinting loyalty and respect for his soldiers really shone through. He then held demanding appointments as SO2 G3 at 101 Log Bde and DCOS 1 Arty Bde before assuming responsibility for Gunner officer careers at APC Glasgow in 2006.
It was in his last appointment as Chief of Staff for Project BORONNA (2008), including the move of HQ ARRC back to the UK, where he showed his incredible fortitude and bravery in his fight against a brain tumour. He was determined to prevail; when told not to drive he calmly took it in his stride as a minor inconvenience and converted to over an hour walk-train-bus commute to his job at Wilton from Basingstoke. He confounded his medical team to the end with his unwavering insistence to overcome the disease and he continued to work until he was forced into hospital for surgery just before Christmas.
Hewlan was proud of his family. His true love was Juliet, whom he married just before Christmas in 1995. They were a true team and her devotion to him during his fight was remarkable. He was particularly proud to see his son, Richard, and daughter, Anna, both make successful starts at Gordonstoun and Eagle House respectively.
He loved sport, particularly cricket and rugby, and even in his last few months he made every effort to support Richard and Anna on the touchline playing rugby, hockey, netball and rounders. Not surprisingly, he continued to live life in full to the end; a trip to Sandown, organising a successful charity lunch, supper with friends, supporting the Gordonstoun rugby tour and a family holiday to St Ives.
Maj Hewlan Morgan was, in many ways, the traditional army officer and the Gunners were his true vocation; indeed his favourite colours were red and blue. His life was characterised by his dogged determination to succeed and his ‘large personality’, which could be relied upon to liven up any party. His untimely death has robbed the Army of a dedicated officer and his family of a loving, loyal husband and father.
My father, Maj William Harris, known to his family and friends as Bill, died
in Peterborough Hospital in the early hours of 10 May last year after a fall in his house seven days earlier that caused him to suffer a cerebral stroke. He was 86. A strong and courageous man, he fought this last seven-day battle of his life like the proud soldier he was.
Bill joined the Royal Artillery as a boy trumpeter in 1938, aged just 14, and having attained fighting age saw action in the closing years of World War Two. He served with many regiments but I particularly remember him as the quartermaster of the RA Range, Hebrides as a captain shortly after he received his commission in 1968, then successively as the unit families officer of 1 Arty Bde, the quartermaster of 36 Hy AD Regt RA and then at BATUS in Canada from where he left the regular army in 1979, at the age of 55. He then worked as an RO at the Ministry of Defence for a further 10 years, finally retiring in 1989. Joining the Army as a boy trumpeter at 14, and retiring as a major at 65, represents 51 years of honourable service to his country and to the Royal Artillery, something he
Maj W Harriswas extremely proud of and rightly so!
I live in Australia and sadly never made it home in time to say goodbye, but I read all my father’s army papers which all spoke very highly of him and his giving nature. Extracts from these treasured papers include such things as: ‘His steady resolve reinforced with a mixture of tact, firmness and cajolery have ensured even the weakest members of the regiment have given of their best…’; ‘He is always ready to offer advice and encouragement to those in genuine need, but is swift to detect and chastise the insincere…’; ‘His endless patience, enthusiasm for the service and wealth of experience give him a patriarchal role in the regiment…’ and ‘He takes a particular interest in the welfare and careers of his staff and maintains high morale within his department, all members of which are highly motivated and give excellent service to the regiment’. These words capture the essence of a remarkable man.
I write this obituary as a mark of respect for my dad, a strong man of integrity and with a heart of gold, for whom I organised a military themed funeral, complete with a bugle player from the Royal Artillery, a female soldier who had played at the Queen Mother’s funeral.
A female t rumpete r would have been totally u n h e a r d of in his day, and would have made him c h u c k l e , but she played excellently and he would have been proud of her. The Union Jack adorned his coffin to symbolise his patriotic duty.
Bill read The Gunner magazine every month and I know he would want to thank his service colleagues for enriching his life and sharing the battlefields of World War Two with him. He would also want to say he was proud of the Royal Artillery and the way the regiment shaped his life and gave him security. He was married to my mother Frankie until she died at 66 years of age; they had three children, a son Laurence and two daughters Muffett and Laurel, two grandchildren Logan and Lawson and a son-in-law, Laurence. We all miss him terribly. Laurel Salmon.
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32 in memoriam
Brig J S Cooper OBEBorn in May 1927, John Cooper was educated at Cranbrook before
attending a short course at St John’s College, Cambridge. In a talk about his early military career delivered to his local Probus Club in 2001, Cooper said: “I volunteered for the Army in February 1945, just months before my 18th birthday; I was expected to report for basic training at Britannia Barracks, Norwich, on VJ Day, but I had mumps so I was the only recruit allowed to join 10 days late.”
After his full academic year at university, which included gunnery training, he was ‘sent to Larkhill to learn gun drill, signalling, driving and technical work’. After this he attended Mons OCTU where the legendary RSM Brittain was in his pomp, receiving an emergency commission in the Royal Artillery in June 1947.
To his delight he was posted to the Middle East where he joined 52 Observation Regt RA in Palestine, with his battery, 237 Observation Bty RA, based in Jerusalem. A vicious, but now largely forgotten,
‘peacekeeping’ operation in Palestine was in full swing – an operation that cost the lives of almost 800 British servicemen, over 100 of them Gunners. Knowing little about flash-spotting or sound ranging, Cooper found himself learning on the job, working on rooftops as one of a number of OPs operating in support of the police to try to locate terrorist outrages, many of them bombing incidents. Always a committed Christian he wrote: “Our camp was just one kilometre north of the Mount of Olives. Our mess was a small, stone building with a circular ante-room on the walls of which was inscribed ‘Pray for peace in Jerusalem’.” He then adds, with characteristic dry humour, “That was indeed what we prayed for, most earnestly.”
After the partition of Palestine, Cooper was sent with his regiment to Libya, spending his 21st birthday at sea in a Mediterranean storm. He applied for a regular commission and eventually flew back to England in an Avro York to attend the RCB. After ‘wasting six months’ at Woolwich and a short locating course at Larkhill, he was granted his regular commission and in May 1948
Mrs Edna StorrIt is with great sadness that I write to inform
members of the regiment that Edna Storr died on 24 April in hospital in North Yorkshire, aged 87. Many will not have known this unassuming, but inspiring lady, who in the later years of her life dedicated herself to help raise the Memorial to the Women of World War Two, which now stands proudly in Whitehall, as a permanent reminder of the invaluable work carried out by
our womenfolk to ensure victory and freedom from Hitler and the Third Reich. Edna’s contribution to the war effort was as a member of the ATS; she served in the mixed anti-aircraft batteries.
I first had the privilege of meeting Edna through her activities with the ATS members of the Ack Ack Command RAA Branch. She and her late husband Alf were absolute masters at wheedling raffle prizes out of the various retailers in both Selby and York, who must have dreaded it when Edna mounted her annual charm offensive on them. These prizes contributed greatly to raising the considerable funds needed to stage the branch’s spectacular annual weekend reunions each year in Imphal Barracks, York. The weekends were a mixture of fun, formality and remembrance and the VIP guest list read like a list out of Who’s Who – Baroness Boothroyd, Kate Addie, the late-Gen Sir Martin Farndale and Gen Sir Alex Harley, to name but a few. Not only did she turn up every year with the most amazing array of prizes, but Edna was always on hand whenever anything needed to be done, be it in the earlier days, putting the branch newsletter in hundreds of envelopes, selling raffle tickets, sorting out the raffles, escort to the branch Standard and always with a wonderfully warm smile, not to mention her mouth-watering truffles and other culinary delights she made for the committee members.
It was also typical of Edna, and a great delight to me, when she without hesitation, agreed to become one of the trustees of the charity, Memorial to the Women of World War Two. Again, she tirelessly raised funds, at times under quite arduous conditions and
not always in the best of health, but she never, ever complained: “I’m alright love,” would be her stock answer in her lovely Yorkshire accent. Through her wonderfully warm charismatic charm, she won over her local MP, John Grogan, to become one of our patrons. Those who have tried to achieve things of national importance will know they need support from people in high places and Edna recognised this early on. It took the charity eight long years of highs and almost terminal lows but finally with only days to spare, we were made a generous grant and financially we were home and dry.
Then the siting of the memorial became an on-going problem but with some nimble footwork from Edna a site in Whitehall was eventually secured. Throughout this veritable roller coaster of a ride, Edna never lost faith and when, very near the end, we were dealt what seemed like a final terminal blow, making not only the site untenable, but leaving a huge hole in our funding, she gamely said: “We haven’t come this far just to give up, that’s not what we did during the war!” And how right she was; it was with the utmost pride that Edna presented the Queen with a bouquet of flowers at the memorial’s unveiling ceremony.
Some people are recognised for brave or wonderful deeds, others without thought of self give their all, in both deeds and compassion for what they believe is right and for the love of others. This epitomised Edna who will be sorely missed by many friends, but in particular her son Philip who arrived late in her life when she was aged 47. He was immensely proud of his Mum, for her wartime service and unstinting work that helped ensure the success of the Memorial to the Women of World War Two. We send our deepest condolences to Philip on the loss of his mother and we say a prayer of thanks for the life of a warm and brilliant, yet unassuming lady who was an outstanding example to us all. DR.
returned to Tripoli as a troop commander. With war looming in Korea, and a locating capability required in that theatre, RHQ and two batteries of 52 Observation Regt RA, including Capt John Cooper, were sent to Hong Kong, travelling there on a troopship with a propeller damaged in the Suez Canal and barely capable of five knots an hour. He always recalled the trip as the ‘slow boat to China’.
His adventurous first three years as an officer over, Cooper returned to Europe spending three years with 28 Coast Regt RA in Gibraltar (1950-53) and 18 months as adjutant of 48 Fd Regt RA in Essen and later in Korea where the regiment deployed for six months in late-1955/early-1956, after the war had ended. Before his tour in Korea he married in 1955 Ann Silvers, a marriage that lasted over 50 years until Ann sadly predeceased him four years ago. They had four daughters.
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Brig J S Cooper OBEFrom the late-1950s Cooper’s career
followed a rather more typical Cold War pattern of regimental duty and staff appointments. He attended the Staff College and RMCS at Shrivenham as a student and commanded 58 (Eyre’s) Bty RA based at Hilden, but it was a junior staff appointment in the Combat Development Branch of the MOD (1962-63) that introduced him to weapons staff appointment that were to become his metier. He was successively on the directing staff at Shrivenham, GSO1 in the MGO’s Secretariat and then the Procurement Policy Staffing Branch in Main Building before becoming Colonel GS Operational Requirements. He was awarded an OBE in 1971.
A highlight of his career, which he wrote about in the spring 1976 edition of The Journal of the Royal Artillery, was working on a joint procurement project with the Germans and Italians on three guns: FH70,
SP70 and RS80. Of the three, FH70 was the only one that made it into service. RS80 was axed from the programme early while SP70, designed as a replacement for the American M109, made it to the trials stage before also being chopped.
Its place was eventually taken by the English AS90. Cooper next became Assistant Director of the P&EE (1975-76) and, on promotion to brigadier, Director P&EE for three years, finally retiring from the Army in January 1980.
In retirement John Cooper became Diocesan Secretary of Gloucester Diocese (1980-85) and then Chichester Diocese (1985-1992). He was admitted as Reader in the Church of England in October 1977 and served as such in Chichester and Gloucester Dioceses.
Born in May 1927, Brig John Sydney Cooper, one of the Royal Artillery’s most popular and successful post-war weapons staff officers, died on 1 January this year after a long struggle with cancer. He was 83. He is survived by his four daughters, Susan, Jane, Catharine and Sarah and 11 grandchildren.
DICKSON – Bob Dickson died on 2 June after a long and painful illness. He served with 6 Regt RA and with 32 Regt RA as BSM 74 Bty (The Battle Axe Company) RA and as RQMS. He was a proud and strong but gentle man. Our condolences go to Beryl, Mark and Penny and their families.EMERTON – Capt Hector W Emerton died peacefully at home on 31 May aged 91 after a short illness. Commissioned into the Royal Artillery Hector spent WW2 in the naval gunfire support world, serving as an NGSFO in the Madagascar operation in 1942, and the Far East in 5 COBU. On OVERLORD he was the NGLO in HMS Arethusa supporting the D-Day assault on the Merville Battery. He was Mentioned in Dispatches. After the war he was a founder member, and subsequently the last president of the Bombardments Units Association, and more recently a staunch supporter of the Amphibious Bombardment Association. FEELEY – Norman Robert ‘Mac’ Feeley died on 11 May, aged 91. After service with the RAF in WW2 he was the chief clerk of 881 (AO) Bty RA TA from 1947 to 1967 and continued to host annual reunions in Windsor until 2007. He received a Lord Lieutenant’s (Berkshire) Certificate in 1962. FRENCH – I am sad to report the death of Harry French. Harry started his army career on 1 March 1945. He served in 36 HAA Regt RA, becoming BSM of 60 Bty, and in all served for 25 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he is sadly missed by all. RIP. FROST – Lt Col Robert ‘Bob’ Frost died at home on 25 April after a long illness, aged 80. Much loved husband and father.GILMOUR – Gnr Craig Gilmour of 207 Bty,
La
st Po
st
105 Regt RA (V), died suddenly of a heart attack on 3 June, aged just 36. He deployed on Op Tosca (Cyprus) in 2009, but his studies for a university degree precluded him from training in recent years. He is survived by his partner, Sandra Thomson, to whom we extend our heartfelt condolences. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends in 105 Regt RA (V). JORDAN – Maj Jeffery Philip Jordan, late of the Royal Artillery, died peacefully on 25 April aged 79. Beloved father of Richard and Phillipa, grandfather to Robert and Sophie. MORTIMER – Mick Mortimer died at home in Leeds on Sunday 26 June with his family around him. Devoted husband of Christine and proud dad of Kevin, Dawn, Donna, Christine and Suzanne. He served in 68 Bty, 42 Regt RA and was subsequently the secretary of the 42 Regt OCA, a job he derived much pleasure from and gave significant time and effort to. Mick will be sadly missed by his loving family and many friends in the association. Christine extends her grateful thanks to all those who have sent kind messages of condolence. ROBERTS – Lt T M J (Terry) Roberts died of a heart attack on 10 June, aged 80. He joined the Gunners as a boy soldier in 1945 and served in the Far East in the 1950s with 23 Fd Regt RA in Hong Kong and then 13 Bty of 14 Fd Regt RA in Korea. He was commissioned in 1971 but retired from the Army the following year. In retirement he was involved in military contract work in the Middle East and Africa. He is survived by his loving wife Norma, three sons Michael, Peter and Simon and six grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends in the Royal Artillery.SMITH – Maj John Barrymore Smith (known
in memoriam
as Barry) died peacefully at home on 4 June. Much loved husband of Beryl and father to Mark, Andrew, Julian and James.SMITH – Capt P G W (Peter) Smith MBE died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, on 24 June, aged 80. He served with the Gunners for 45 years and is survived by his wife Peggy, son Clifford and three grandchildren.TURNER – SSgt Bob Turner died surrounded by his family in Salisbury District Hospital on 25 May after a prolonged illness. Enlisting in 1947 he served with many regiments before being discharged in 1979. He then spent 15 years working for the Family Housing and Welafare Service at Larkhill. A keen sportsman who was never happier than when playing golf at Tidworth GC with his friends. A devoted husband to Norah and beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he will be greatly missed by all.SUDDARY – George Suddary died peacefully on 8 June, aged 96. He joined the RA in 1933 and served in the Waziristan campaign until 1938. Briefly back in the UK as a reservist, he was recalled at the outbreak of hostilities in 1939 and served in France with the BEF, later surviving the Dunkirk evacuation. He took part in the 1st Army campaign in North Africa, and then in Italy. He was discharged in February1946 and became a life member of the RAA, being active with the Lincoln and Scunthorpe Branches before moving to Scotland in 2003 after the death of his wife Ivy. He is survived by his son Richard, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a much loved and respected gentleman who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
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34 sport
RA RFC Forecast of EventsMatch Date Event Location Remarks
Thurs, 28 July
RA 9’s Challenge Cup
Larkhill Challenge Cup , RA Inter Unit Competition
Fri, 9 Sept Army v Royal Navy
Twickenham, The Stoop
Jack Harrison VC Memorial Trophy, Inter Services Competition
The Royal Artillery Golf Championships will take place at the Army Golf Club, Aldershot on Thu 15 Sep 11. All enquiries to Maj PT Parks MBE RHA
Phone: 94342 2245 or email: 1RHA-OHQBTY-QM
Being a keen badminton player and captain of the RA team I like to take any opportunity I can to be on court. In November 2010 I
was given an opportunity impossible to refuse. I was contacted by an AGC WO1 offering me a place on their upcoming tour as they were in need of a couple of skilled players. The touring party consisted of 19 military and three civilians, ranging from total beginners to the very experienced.
Throughout the tour the weather was warm and humid but we still took every opportunity to train solidly for the two-weeks. Training included court time at the highly prestigious Hong Kong Football Club. Off court saw us utilising the club’s gym and leisure facilities.
No trip to Hong Kong could go without some type of R and R and even though the training was intense we still managed to find time for several sightseeing trips, enjoying the local culture and hospitality around Hong Kong and Macau Island. We also spent a day at sea on a junk taking in the coastal sights and some of us even attempted to water ski.
In total we played six matches, five in Hong Kong and one on Macau. Unfortunately our skills were no match for some of the teams but we stayed gracious in defeat. Our consolation was a marked improved in our skills throughout the tour, evident during the final match with most pairings winning at least one game. We also made lots of friends and have even arranged a reciprocal tour for one of the teams to come to the UK next year and possibly have a friendly match with the RA team.
All in all we had a very hard fought but successful tour to Hong Kong. My thanks go out to the Army Sports Lottery, The Royal Artillery Association, 32 Regt RA who assisted with funding for the tour, and finally to WO1 Wills who organised the tour and invited me to be an honorary member of the AGC for two weeks.
The RA Badminton team needs new players and is actively recruiting now. So if you would like to take up the challenge of the fastest racket sport, represent your regiment and possibly be selected for the RA squad then please contact me using the details below. Experience is not always necessary but enthusiasm, willingness to learn and have fun is!
Telephone: 94322 5951. Email: [email protected]
by Bdr Stuart McMahon
Gunner badminton
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sport
Twelve members of 7 Para RHA have set sail on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and in late July
expect to be looking up at the Statue of Liberty as they cross the finish line and enter New York City harbour.
Family and friends gathered at the prestigious Headquarters of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight to watch the crew receive their Afghanistan campaign medals. The CO, Lt Col Gary Wilkinson presented the medals to the crew as the regiment’s medals parade will take place while the crew are mid-Atlantic! Shortly after the ceremony the crew boarded their yacht HMS Endeavour, raised the sails and, to the thunder of one of the regiment’s 105mm Lights Guns firing a salute from the esplanade, sailed out into the Solent on the first leg of their voyage.
Exercise ATLANTIC CHALLENGE, as the voyage has been dubbed, was conceived by the expedition leader Capt John O’Keeffe as an adventurous training exercise to help soldiers and officers from the regiment recuperate from the rigours of Op HERRICK 13. They will be using the 67ft steel hulled Endeavour, one of the round-the-world Challenger boats operated by the Joint Services Adventure Sail Training Centre based in Gosport.
Of the 14-man crew, many have had little sailing experience and some none at all. Capt John O’Keeffe said, “Many of the crew have never sailed before and despite starting in June we are very much expecting to face rough conditions which will test the leadership and skills of the experienced sailors and the resolve of the novices”.
Alongside the aim of creating an opportunity for adventurous training, the expedition is also aiming to raise money for the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund and Help for Heroes. While the expedition has already raised in excess of £3,000 for the charities, further donations will be gratefully received.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the lack of sports articles this month. We really appreciate and look forward to receiving your articles – so please keep them coming in! This month, due to a lack of funds, an increase in costs and more space devoted to advertising, we have had to postpone publishing more of your sporting achievements... Next month we hope to make up for these
shortcomings and include a bumper sports issue.
Exercise ATLAnTIC CHALLEnGE
Donations can be made and progress of the expedition monitored on crew’s website at
www.exerciseatlanticchallenge.com.
sets off with a bang
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36 notices
rayC agmWith kind permission of the Commodore, Yarmouth Sailing Club, the AGM of the RAYC is to be held at the Clubhouse, Yarmouth on Fri 2 Sep starting at 1700 hours. The committee has nominated Brig R Nugee and Lt Col R Bolton to be the new commodore and vice-commodore respectively and Maj J E D Cunningham to be the new rear-commodore (windsurfing). Majs E J Perris, A R Wood and M J Sargent have been nominated by the committee as serving members and Lt Col R A Pizii as a late-RA member. Any other nominations for these posts are to reach the Hon Secretary by 4 Aug.
ra ShooTIf anyone is interested in joining the RA Shoot for the 2011/12 season, please contact the secretary by email to: [email protected]
LarkhiLL ChoraL SoCieTyThe Larkhill Choral Society is a friendlly choir that practices and performs in the Larkhill Garrison Church. Rehearsals are held each Tuesday starting at 1930 hours. No auditioning necessary – just come along and join in. For further details please contact Antonia Robb on 01980 670614.
rayC regaTTaThe annual RAYC Regatta will be held over the weekend 3-4 September. Racing will be on the Solent and the regatta dinner will be held at the Royal Solent Yacht Club, Yarmouth, IOW. Notice of race and entry forms are available from: [email protected]
gunnery STaff oCa reunionDue to ever-diminishing attendance, escalating costs and the refurbishment of the Central WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess, it has been reluctantly decided that there will be no reunion in 2011. It is planned to hold the next reunion in 2012, date and venue to be decided. We will strive to increase attendance from both serving and retired members. A letter was recently circulated to all known members. Any ex-NCOs/GCC Gunnery Staff who have not received the letter, the temporary committee would welcome your views on the way forward. Please contact Barry Tandy on 01980 622422 or by email to: [email protected]
TiCkeTS for TrooPSApollo Cinemas, operating on 14 sites throughout the UK, is offering free tickets to members of the armed forces who are currently serving or have been medically discharged since 2001. Tickets are available via the Tickets for Troops website at: www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk
bfrSS emPLoymenT fairThe British Forces Resettlement Services are holding an employment fair at Tidworth Leisure Centre on 6 Oct. The purpose of the event is for military personnel and potential employers to come together. To register for the fair, or to obtain further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.bfrss.org.uk
DiamonD weDDingBROOKS – COTGROVE. On 30 June 1951, at the Garrison Church, Shoeburyness, Gnr Denis (Ron) Brooks to Miss Margaret Audrey (Peggy) Cotgrove. Present address: 21 Breydon Way, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft NR33 9AU.
goLDen weDDingSBIRD – GARNEROT. On 22 July 1961 at Rickmansworth, Lt Nick Bird to Miss Jeannine Garnerot. Present address in The Blue List.
ra meSS Library bookS requireDThe RA Mess is looking for donations of a cross section of books to create a small library. Biographies, history, fiction, reference books etc. It is hoped that the library will include a selection of ‘quick reads’ for overnight visitors. If you have books to donate please contact the Mess Secretary on 01980 845814 or by email to: ramess [email protected]
ra PLaqueS The following plaques are offered for sale at £4 each: 42 Regt Reunion Oct 1997 (in frame); German Arty School (painted ceramic tile); Army Sub-Aqua Diving Assn; 2nd Federal Inf Bde Malaya 1962. The following are also offered at £6 each: RSA; 45 Med Regt RA; RCDS; 7 Para Lt Regt RHA; 42 Med Regt RA; RA (with regimental cypher and motto); 12 (Minden) Hy Bty RA; 1st Bn 2 Arty US Army; 21 Engr Regt RE; Bull’s Troop; I Para Bty RHA; F (Sphinx) Para Lt Bty RHA. In all cases add P&P at £2.25 for one or £2.65 for two. Please phone David Moore on 01265 364148.
mugabe anD The whiTe afriCana book by ben freeTh
With no regard for his own safety, Ben Freeth has for over 10 years fought to bring justice to the people of Zimbabwe. He has been barricaded in homesteads, stoned, attacked with axes, surrounded by mobs, severely tortured and shot at. Throughout he has been opposed by the police and army of Zimbabwe. In this book he lays bare a beautiful but lawless land fouled by fear; a ‘clockwork orange’ state where racism, greed and violence are common. Signed copies are available price £11. Please contact Ben Freeth on 01795 842341.
iTaLy CamPaign memoriaLA memorial is being planned at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alwrewas, Staffordshire, to commemorate the Italy Campaign to be paid for by public donation. Fund-raising has begun and if you wish to contribute or would like to know more then please be kind enough to contact: Ann Hamlet by email to: [email protected] or telephone 07928 250913.
gunner aCf CaDeT SeekS SPonSorShiPCadet LBdr Jessica Bullock has been selected to be one of 16 ACF cadets on an expedition to South Africa next year. She has until October to raise £1,900 to help fund her attendance, so she is seeking sponsorship and financial support. Jessica can be contacted by telephhone on 01603 627604 or by email to: [email protected]
42 (aLem hamza) bTy raCalling all 42 (Alem Hamza) Bty RA members past, serving and present. There is a popular ground swell to form the 42 (Alem Hamza) Bty RA Association. If you’re interested in being part of it please let me have your email address and contact telephone number. Send details to [email protected] All ranks are welcome to join.
jLrra bramCoTeI served with Alanbrooke Troop at the JLRRA from Sep 71 to Dec 72, leaving as a J/Sgt to join 40 Fd Regt RA. I am tyring to acquire photos and videos of my time at Bramcote. If you can help please contact Hugh McWilliam on 01292 284865 or by email to: [email protected]
SnaffLeS PrinTSI’m seeking to replace taken/damaged Snaffles prints. Do you have any prints that you would consider selling to a private buyer? If so, I would really like to hear from you. Please phone 07909 836366.
SanDhurST inTakeS Six anD Seven Intake Seven is combining with Intake Six to hold the 60th aniversary of our commissioning on Wed, 10 Aug at the RMA. The event will start at 0900 hours with a service in the chapel followed by the Commandant’s parade and a reception and luncheon. The basic cost will be £60. Limited overnight B&B may be available. If not already received, full details and an application form for attendance can be obtained from Maj Jules McColl, Sandhurst Foundation, RMA Sandhurst GU15 4PQ or email: [email protected]
Le offiCerS’ annuaL DinnerThe next LE Officers’ Dinner will take place on Sat 24 Sep. It will be held in the RA Mess, Larkhill. The dinner is open to all serving and retired LE officers and their partners. Dress is black tie. Normal mess accommodation is no longer available at Larkhill/Bulford/Tidworth. However, one- and two-man rooms have been booked at Rollestone and West Down Camps and are available at nil cost; transport will be provided to/from these camps. To encourage attendance the dinner has been offset by £10 per head bringing the cost of the evening to approx £15 per person. For further information please contact Maj Craig Purvis on 01980 84 5928 or by email to: [email protected]
REuniOns
inFORmatiOn wantEd
inFORmatiOn
wantEd
cElEBRatiOns
FOR salE
wantEd
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to place your notice here contact 01980 634204
mobile: 07990 571463 landline: 01264 852674Email: [email protected]
website: www.everleighequestrian.co.uk
g Para bTy (merCer’S TrooP) rhaThe fourth all ranks reunion will take place at The Cliffs Hotel, Blackpool, from 18 to 20 Nov. A number of serving members of the battery will also attend. This year is notable in that F and I Btys are also holding their reunions in Blackpool during the same weekend. All ex-Mercer’s personnel are welcome to attend this very popular and successful reunion, and if not already on the mailing list, should contact Eric Royle by email: [email protected]
1903 air oP - koreaThe next reunion will be held on Wed, 14 Sep at Cullompton, near Exeter. If you have not received a letter, and you wish to attend, please contact Ian or Dorothy Dodd on 01747 838345 as soon as possible, but no later than 8 Aug. If you have photos please bring them with you.
g TrooP (morTar LoCaTing) from fieLD regTS 1970-1990
G Troop (mortar locating) from field regiments 1970-1990 are holding a reunion at the Garrison Rooms, The Garrison Hotel, Sheffield on 29 Oct starting at 1900 hours. Cost is £15 per person, and includes a buffet meal. Rooms are available for those requiring accommodation. For more information please contact Mr Rod Howard by email at [email protected]
néry anD eagLeS - 22nD annuaL reunion
The 22nd annual reunion for former members of L (Néry) Bty RHA and N Bty (The Eagle Troop) RHA will take place at Barnard Castle on Sat 27 Aug. Letters were sent out in May, anyone who did not receive a copy can make contact through the web site at: www.lneryoca.org.uk
36 regT raA 36 Regt RA reunion to be held on the weekend of 23-25 Sep at the Village Hotel, Coventry. For more details contact Monty on 07811442265 or email [email protected]
rha aSSn agm anD reunion DinnerThe AGM and 91st reunion dinner of the RHA Association will take place at the Artillery Centre, Larkhill over the weekend 8-9 Oct. Attendance is open to all past and present members of any RHA unit and their partners. Members who would like to attend should contact the dinner secretary for full details: R J Whiteway, The Hideaway, 18 Immenstadt Drive, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9PT. Tel: 01823 665650. Email: [email protected]
1 rha reunion Dinner 2011The 60th 1 RHA officers’ reunion dinner will be held at the RA Mess, Larkhill on Friday 2 Dec. This year’s era will be Topcliffe 1977-82. Would any former officer of the regiment who wishes to attend and who has not received details of the dinner by 1 Oct please contact Maj Iain Harrop on 01980 602344 or by email to: [email protected].
11 (SPhinx) bTy ra aSSoCiaTionThe 11th reunion of 11 (Sphinx) Bty RA will take place at the Queen’s Hotel, Newport, Gwent on the weekend 23-25 Sep. Cost is £15 per person, which includes a buffet and music. All serving members and former members of the battery are welcome to attend. For further details please contact either Arthur Giles on 02083 052499 or [email protected] or Mal Roberts at: [email protected]
3 rha offiCerS’ reunion Dinnerwarning orDer
The 3 RHA officers’ reunion dinner will take place in the RA Mess, Larkhill, on Fri 25 Nov. The dinner is open to all officers who have served in the regiment, including LE officers who served prior to being commissioned. Further details will follow in due course. The dinner secretary will be Maj Tim Davies who can be contacted at 3 RHA, Caen Barracks, BFPO 30, by telephone on 0049 (0)5051 962 2737 or by email: [email protected]
3 rha PPmaThe 12th annual 3 RHA PPMA AGM and reunion dinner will take place at the Copthorne Hotel, Birmingham, B3 3HJ on Sat, 10 Sep. Accommodation is available at the hotel and can be booked by phoning 0121 200 2727 quoting 3RHA PPMA. For hotel prices and further information please contact Paddy O’Neill by tel: 01206 751999 or by email to: [email protected]
94 LoC regT raA 94 Regt RA reunion weekend will be held 16-19 Sep at The Beaches Hotel, Prestatyn. All ex-members of 94 Regt, relatives and friends will be made most welcome. For further details please contact Drew Strachan on 01343 544580 or email: [email protected]
19 gibraLTar (1779-83) bTy raA reunion for 19 Bty RA (50 Msl Regt RA) will take place on Sat 19 Nov. Loc: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Venue: QOY, Fenham Bks, Barrack Rd, Cost: TBC. Contact: Mark Taylor on 07904 264147 or 01912 395353 or by email to: [email protected]
21 (gibraLTar) bTy ra aSSoCiaTionThe 14th annual reunion will take place on Fri 7and Sat 8 Oct at the Belmont Hotel, De Montfort Street, Leicester, LE1 7GR. Please contact Chris Morgan on 01748 830645 or by email to [email protected]
22 regT ra Warning order and diary date. The 22 Regt RA officers’ reunion lunch will be held at the RA Mess, Larkhill on Sat 10 Mar 2012. Details from Lt Col Chris Bonney tel 01980 845899 or email:[email protected]
SouTh noTTS huSSarS The annual reunion and remembrance dinner of the South Notts Hussars Assn will take place at the TA Centre, Hucknall Lane, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8AQ on Sat 12 Nov. Tickets at £20 are available from the association secretary at the TA Centre
SouTh weST franCePeaceful get-away. Self-contained ground floor cottage studio apartment (sleeps four, one double/one twin). British owned and run. Private terrace with BBQ in cottage garden, idyllic countryside location with stunning views, near Lot Valley, Conques, Gorges du Tarn. Perfect for a chill out and ideal for walking (routes and guides available), canoeing and sight seeing. Adventure parks and other children’s centres within the hour. Skiing in the winter 50 mins away. 6m pool (Jun-Sep). WiFi. Nearest airports Rodez (Ryanair) 25 mins, Albi 1 hour and Toulouse 2½ hours. Visit www.Luchaut.com for details.
ProvenCePeaceful hill village, 25 miles Nice airport. Comfortable, well-equipped villa sleeps four/six (two bedrooms two bathrooms). Large terrace with porches and olive trees for shade, garden with secure pool and parking. Wonderful countryside, superb small river. No smokers/dogs. Details: Couldrey 01785 818228 or 01865 769206. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
tO lEt
Livery Yard in Everleigh (SN8 3EU)• FullorPartLiveryvacancies(includesallfacilities)• SecureAmericanBarnStables• OutdoorSchool(floodlit)(alsoavailableforhirefornon
liveries)• XCountryCourse(alsoavailableforhirefornonliveries)• Horsesavailableforloan• RegularXCountry,JumpingandDressageClinics–ring
for details• HorseTransportavailable• EasyaccesstobothRAandTedworthHuntingCountry
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38 competitions
The closing date for all competitions in this month’s edition is Friday, 26 August 2011. The winners will be drawn at random and notified as soon as possible. Don’t forget to fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Spot the difference
Don’t be fooled by the British summer, be prepared – win a Thinsulate hat and gloves, kindly donated by GarrisonPRI.co.uk, all you have to is spot the five differences in the photos above, fill in the form below and send your answers to The Gunner.
Last month’s winners were: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Mrs S Brown, Wiltshire
WORDSEARCH: Mr E Durran, Kent
Please tick which competitions you are entering. Then fill out all your details and send it to us Gunner Publications, HQ DRA, RA Barracks, Larkhill, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8QT.
Spot the difference Wordsearch
Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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The Gunner wordsearchWhich one of the Gunner barracks listed does not appear in the wordsearch? The names may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. Solve the puzzle and you could win a signed copy of Arabian Days by Anthony Cawston and Michael Curtis, as featured below.
ALANBROOKE ALBERMARLEALEXANDERALLENBYBAKERBHURTPORECAEN
I P U M A R N E D H R B C A E N
E L A V P E I H T V N R Z B P Z
B W I A L P U R O Z A T S C E Z
P I C T O N O B U B L L A A E L
D J B X Z W I J H T G B P L L L
X W T F T M T Z W U A A F A I E
X R S N Y A Z Q Y L R F Z N B D
V S E O P N E Q R Y E T W B U A
Z W D T J S L B U E D A P R J T
Z B S L Y E L A B K N Z R O X I
O K E R B R I K S C A B P O R C
L X C A N G V E N A X X Y K T E
N L Q C E H R R I I E R H E T A
L F B F L A E B F N L J C J E U
R X I Y L M M E N U A R P O W Q
V X D D A Y D N A M R O N D Y L
CARLTONCITADELFINSBURYJUBILEEMANSERGHMARNEMERVILLE
NORMANDYPICTONRAGLANTHIEPVALUNIACKEWENTWORTH
Arabian Days, written by two retired officers, tells unusual and interesting stories of their service together in the Trucial
Oman Scouts in the 1960s. One of the authors, Michael Curtis, was commissioned into the Royal Hampshire Regt, while the other, the late-Lt Col Anthony Cawston, who sadly died in December last year, was a Gunner officer who served with the Royal Regiment from 1945 to 1974, finishing his service as defence attache for Labanon and Syria.
In a foreword to the book, Maj Gen Ken Perkins, himself an adventurous soldier, notes that Cawston and Curtis were typical of British officers who served in Oman, in that they were ‘out of the eye of the Military Secretary and their careers were therefore liable to suffer’. Both probably did, but neither regretted their career choices.
This high quality hardback book, printed on 200 pages of polished paper with 64 photographs, maps, diagrams and a comprehensive index, is available at a special price for members of the armed forces of £15 plus £2.84 p&p. To obtain a copy please contact Michael Curtis, Gastons, Kilmeston, Alresford SO24. 0NL. Or you could try to win a signed copy by having a go at the wordsearch puzzle. Good luck!
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up front
This month’s photo, sent to me by Peter Scott, arrived with a rather intriguing description:
“Perhaps a unique occasion for the regiment, if not the army in general.” What, then, is so unique about this picture of G Troop RHA during basic driver training on Sennelager ranges? They are being taught to drive their new equipment; a German Army Leopard I tank.
Before anyone starts shouting “treason”, let Peter explain.
“The year was 1973 and G Troops throughout BAOR were equipped with the then long obsolescent Green Archer radar,” Peter told me. “Its replacement, Cymbeline, was still not ready and there was consternation about the effects this might have on the morale of the troop.”
Meanwhile, the German Bundeswehr, suffering from a shortage in manpower, had requested help from BAOR to plug the gaps. It was therefore decided that radar troops, what with their equipment shortfall, were the ideal candidates to help the Germans with their manning problem.
1 RHA was selected as a pilot for this new scheme so a bewildered G Troop, including Bdr Peter Scott, was drafted into 201 Panzer Bn based at Augustdorf to form G (Panzer) Troop. “Drill instructors were soon at work on the parade square teaching the rudiments of German army drill and eins-zwei-drei-eins became part of our vocabulary for weeks to come,” remembered
Peter. “Sauerkraut and Wienerschnitzel replaced baked beans and sausages, and we would have given our right arm for a cup of good old army char!”
It was, however, a short-lived arrangement. The DRA was keen for G Troop to wear ball buttons with their German Army issue field grey uniforms. “This appeared to be a sticking point with the Inspector of the Bundeswehr,” Peter explained. “To cut a long story short, after a minor diplomatic incident, the troop was withdrawn back to Detmold, back to our Saracens and good old Green Archer!”
A Neate ending
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