1

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

2

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.

3

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

4

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.

5

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