Page 127 - Mercian Eagle 2012

East Cheshire Reunion 2011
by Alan Jennings
This year the ECR incorporated the 63rd 7th Battalion Reunion, which I am sure is the longest running Battalion reunion in the country.
I was called up for 18 months National Service in July 1950. When the Korean War started in 1951, National Service was increased to 2 years followed by a compulsory three and a half years service with the TA. I was demobbed from NS in July 1952 and had to report to HQ, 7th Battalion the Cheshire Regiment (TA) at Macclesfield on the same day.
In organizing this ECR, I thought about my first experience of the 7th Battalion Reunion. It was on Saturday 25th October 1952 at Macclesfield TA Centre. “This reunion attracted 175 men of all ranks including two who were in the old 5th Volunteer Battalion,
We also had 6 WW2 veterans attending including Percy Cooke (ex 2nd and 6th Battalion) who is 90 and we had apologies from Charles Sullivan (ex 2nd Battalion) who is also a nonagenarian. Sadly Charles could not attend this year due to ill health.
We also had eight members from the 4th Battalion Mortar Platoon with us,
some of whom had recently returned from Afghanistan, and twenty members of the Stockport Branch Mercian Volunteers.
Lt Col Keith Jeavons who commanded
the 2nd Battalion Mercian Volunteers was delighted to meet up with these colleagues from the 1970s.
While John Holden and I organise and manage the event, we rely heavily on members of the Stockport branch to lay out the tables and prepare the Drill Hall
ex-Corporal W Bamford of Macclesfield (who enlisted in March
1897) and Mr W
Mark Stephenson, of Liverpool (who enlisted in 1885).” (Oak Tree Winter 1952).
it is gratifying that after all these years we still manage to have a similar attendance.
for the event – and what an excellent job they did. John and I appreciate the support we receive from ex members of the 7th Battalion. We think that some 25 men, including 9 ex officers attended this year. Colonel
It is gratifying that after
all these years we still
manage to have a similar attendance. This year 170 members attended the Reunion.
Scott commanded the Battalion in the early 1960s. We are
therefore still maintaining a real link with the
Capt Bigland receives his General Martin award
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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