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NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SOMME BRANCH
Royal British Legion-Registered Charity Number 219279 ISSUE NUMBER 12
Branch BR3530 WINTER 2013/2014
Branch Website: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme
And now, it can be told! Welcome to the 12th edition of the Somme Bugle.
2013 was another busy year for the Branch.
The Officers of the Branch wish you all a happy and successful 2014.
SUMMARY OF BRANCH EVENTS – Steve Berridge
18th – 19th MAY – NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 2013 National Conference was held in Llandudno in lovely Welsh Wales over the weekend of
18th to 19th May.
Treasurer Chris Berridge was the Branch delegate with John and Sarah Mathison attending as
observers. Steve Berridge carried the Branch Standard at the opening and closing ceremonies and the
march past on the Saturday afternoon.
JUNE 5th – CAEN MEMORIAL
Once again the branch was represented at the D Day commemorations in Normandy.
In the morning Steve Berridge with the Branch Standard attended services to commemorate the
airborne landing around Ranville. The first ceremony being held at the Bois du Bavent to
commemorate the Parachute troops of 3rd Parachute Brigade who landed in this area.
National Chairman John Crisford attended all the
Normandy Services. He was so excited - he was on
the edge of his seat!
The Service at The Bois du Bavent - the Paras doing their own thing!
THE SOMME BUGLE
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We then went on to a place very special in my heart being a Green Jacket – Pegasus Bridge - for the
Ceremony to commemorate the first formed British unit to land in France, Major John Howard’s
Letter D Company of the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry whose 5 gliders landed within yards of the two bridges which were successfully captured
intact and held until relieved later in the morning by 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion the Parachute
Regiment. (regular readers of the Bugle will no doubt recall the full story in an earlier issue) Two
ceremonies were held, the first around the original Pegasus Bridge which now lies in the Pegasus
Memorial Museum.
The second smaller service
was held around the six
memorials listing the
members of the six gliders
who took part in Operation
Deadstick. Standing in
front of one of the
memorials I was given a
nudge by the senior officer
present who was to give the
speech “morning Corporal
Berridge” he said it was
only my former CO from
1986ish! Ooh if you could
have seen Rod’s face!
In the afternoon we attended the 3rd British Infantry Division Memorial service at the Caen
Memorial. The Union Standard was carried by Steve Berridge and the Somme Branch Standard by
John Mathison. This was followed by a reception after which the ceremony of Beating Retreat was
held in front of the museum.
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JUNE 6th – BAYEUX
The Royal British Legion service was held at the Bayeux War Cemetery in conjunction with the
Normandy Veterans Association. Last year we had no band due to the Diamond Jubilee, this year
again we had no band, this time because someone had stood it down after the locally organized
Cathedral Service!! Luckily an ATC Piper who was visiting offered his services and some dignity was
restored to the march on. On the parade the Union Standard was carried by Steve Berridge and the
Branch Standard by John Mathison.
Once again a military detachment under WO2 Terry Twining were on hand looking after the events
marshalling, transport and administration.
Later in the afternoon the final parade of the day was held at Arromanche, John Mathison carrying the
Branch Standard. The highlight of the parade, held in front of the Museum was the fly past by the Red
Arrows.
JUNE 30th-BRANCH INFORMAL DINNER
On the evening of 30th June the Branch held an informal
dinner in the presence of the National Chairman, John
Crisford. Before the meal we were entertained by a musical
performance by two gentlemen from Talbot House in
Poperinghe near Ypres who told the story of Lieutenant John
Walcot Gamble of the Durham Light Infantry. It was a very
moving performance and so moved were the (then) Branch
Scribe and Treasurer who were staying in Ypres over this
period that we visited his grave in LIJSSENTHOEK
MILITARY CEMETERY and laid a Poppy Cross on behalf
of the Branch.
JULY 1st – BATTLE OF THE SOMME COMMEMORATION - THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
This year’s 1st July
commemoration was as usual
very well attended. Once again
the Band of the Royal Irish
providing the music.
This year the Royal British
Legion National Standard was
carried by the National Standard
Bearer Norman Espie, the
Branch Standard as always by
Steve Berridge and the parade
commanded by John Mathison.
Photos: Ann & Brian Fitzsimons
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JULY 1st –BATTLE OF THE SOMME COMMEMORATION–FRICOURT GERMAN CEMETERY
In the afternoon after the Branch
Meeting we all gathered at the
German Cemetery at Fricourt for a
service of Remembrance. On
parade the National Standard and
Branch Standard representing the
Royal British Legion on whose
behalf a wreath was laid by the
National Chairman John Crisford.
NOVEMBER 10th – BRANCH DINNER AND SING-A-LONG.
In the evening members and friends of the Branch met up for an enjoyable social evening at “Le
Poppy” in La Boiselle. We were joined once again by our friends, the Band of the Hampshire
Constabulary recovering from a day’s battlefield tour given by Steve Berridge. After dinner the band
provided the musical accompaniment to our now traditional sing a long.
After the dinner a cake was produced by our treasurer, Chris Berridge, to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the formation of the Somme Branch. Only four original members of the Branch are still
current members, Rod Bedford, Steve Berridge, Jackie Bedford and Neil Bedford. The three members
present had the scary “privilege” of Rod Bedford wielding the knife to cut the cake – luckily no
injuries were sustained in the process!
NOVEMBER 11th – ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES.
Our annual Armistice Day service of remembrance was held at the Thiepval Memorial. The band of
the Hampshire Constabulary once again providing the music. The Branch Standard was carried on
parade by Steve Berridge.
Following on from the RBL service we all formed up and followed the band down to the Thiepval
village church for the French service and reception.
In the afternoon the band along with branch members paraded at the Mailly-Maillet village war
memorial. After which the parade marched to the Mailly Wood British Cemetery where another short
service was held.
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LAST POST
It is with sadness that we have to record the death of Branch Member
Geoffrey Bassett who died on November 24th
aged 85
The Branch sends its condolences to his widow and family.
OTHER NEWS
With the centenary of World War One commencing next year John Mathison has sent in a photo of a
new exhibit at the National Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson on the hills above Portsmouth.
This “wees beasty” (as they say up North), is an 18 inch, Railway Gun, BL18 inch Howitzer Mark 1.
It is mounted on a 95 ton sled as opposed to the original mounting which was much larger and
weighed in at 164 tons! The gun was capable of firing a 2,500lb shell up to 14 miles!
FORTHCOMING BRANCH EVENTS 2014 Please note that all events organised by the Branch are open (with the exception of Branch Meetings and AGM)
to all, not just branch members, so if you know of anyone outside of the branch who would be interested in
attending any of the events please let them know, the more the merrier. June 5th Normandy
June 6th Normandy
July 1st 98th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme – Thiepval Memorial 10.30am
November 10th Branch Supper and Sing-a-long
November 11th Service of Remembrance - Thiepval Memorial 10.40am
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