Page 104 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

The following guests and VIPs attended:-
Mr. Trevor Beattie
The Rt. Revd. Geoffrey Annas Mr. & Mrs Malcolm Millichap Mr & Mrs Michael Heenan Brig Andrew Williams OBE Col (Retd) David Sneath
Maj (Retd) W O’Driscoll
BMB
Bishop of Stafford
Mayor of Stafford
Leader of Stafford Borough Council
Deputy Colonel Mercian Regiment (Staffords) Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Association Royal Anglian Regiment
102
Re-Dedication of the 46th Division
Memorial Bellinglise
11 – 13th March 2011
For many years the 46th Division memorial near the village of Bellinglise has laid in
a dilapidated state. Many people spoke about starting a fund raising campaign to have it restored, but nothing happened.
In 2010 this dream became a reality following a chance meeting of Trevor Evans (Hednesford Branch of the Staffordshire Regiment Association) and Mr. Trevor Beattie from Brimingham. How much persuasion Trevor Evans used will never be known, but by the autumn, work had been agreed, paid for by Trevor Beattie and this led to a plan to rededicate the memorial.
Once a date had been agreed,
(Trevor Beattie’s diary being the primary consideration) the Staffordshire Regimental Association informed the Worcesters & Foresters and the Royal Anglian Regimental Associations and the event was put together. Right from the start there was
an informal agreement to treat each of the Regiments as equal partners, the occasion would be relaxed and no ‘one up man ship’ was allowed.
We began with a Battlefield Tour conducted by Major John Cotterill and Lieutenant Colonel Mark Holden. This explained the capture of the St. Quentin Canal by the Staffords Brigade, the follow through by the Sherwood Foresters Brigade and the Royal Lincolns and Royal Leicesters, which led to the break out and ultimate breach of the Hindenburg line in September 1918. The tour took place on Saturday 12th March.
The Rededication started at 1100 hrs on Sunday 13th March. The congregation formed up in a hollow square consisting of the 4 MERCIAN Band, Congregation and Branch Standards.
The Rt. Revd. Geoffrey Annas Bishop of Stafford conducted the service.
Wreaths were laid representing:- The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment The Royal Leicestershire Regiment The Sherwood Foresters Regiment The South Staffordshire Regiment The North Staffordshire Regiment
The 46th Division Memorial is on the
east side of the road N44, on the high ground above the village of Bellinglise. It is approximately 9 kms / 4 miles north of the town of St. Quentin.
We are extremely grateful for the generous donation made by Mr. Trevor Beattie who funded the restoration of the 46th Division Memorial and for making the arrangements to have it restored.
Branch Standards marshalled by Trevor Evans
Brigadier Andrew Williams and Mr. Trevor Beattie
Mr Bert Millichap and Bishop Geoffrey Annas
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
The Memorial
137 Staffordshire Brigade at Riqueval Bridge after capturing the St. Quentin Canal.