Page 62 - Bugle Spring 2024

SOUTH WEST
18 PLATOON WREATH LAYING
In November Buglers from Winchester gathered alongside Riflemen at RMA Sandhurst and many others who had travelled far and wide. The occasion was the annual commemoration of those from 18 Platoon 4th Battalion The Somerset Light Infantry who were killed during the North West Europe Campaign during the Second World War.
In July 1944 Sydney Jary, the Platoon Commander, became a battlefield replacement subsequent to the battalion’s very heavy casualties during their attack on Hill 112 Normandy, to the South West of Caen. Sydney, who went on to win
the MC, wrote about his men and his experiences. His book was first published in 1987. The Seventh Edition can be purchased from either RIFLES Direct or the Taunton Office of The Rifles.
CARE FOR CASUALTIES FUND RAISER
The Rifles’ charity, Care 4 Casualties, gratefully received a cheque donation from past members of D Company, Poole (Wallisdown Drill Hall location). Initially the reserve soldiers were part of 1 Wessex until 1992 and then 4 D&D until 1998, prior to merging with C Coy 6 RIFLES.
The money was raised by auctioning items of surplus bar memorabilia at a long overdue reunion held at the current RIFLES ARC, splitting the £600 raised between The Rifles charity Care 4 Casualties and the Royal British Legion. The Cheque was presented to CO 6 RIFLES, Lt Col Crispin d’Apice by former member and organiser Steve Nother at The Rifles Bugle Breakfast in July.
SYDNEY JARY
In the 1980s Sydney Jary wrote the book ‘18 Platoon’. It was first published in April 1987. The book is now in its Seventh Edition and is available from RIFLES Direct for The Rifles Office at Taunton (aotaunton@the-rifles.co.uk). The book became a recommended text on the reading lists of several military academies including Sandhurst and West Point. Following Sydney’s death in 2019, at the age of 95, his widow Helene donated his medals to RMA Sandhurst. The medals and contextual information are on permanent display within the Academy’s Library.
62 RIFLES The Bugle