Page 169 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Oxfordshire (The Ri es) Bn ACF
Exercise Ham ‘n’ Jam XIX
0530hrs, in an empty service station car park, on the rst day of June seems a very unlikely place to be. That is of course unless you’re part of Oxford- shire (The Ri es) Bn Army Cadet Force, in which case this has long been the start point of the annual D-Day Battle eld tour to Normandy and 2017 was no different. Each cadet and instructor arrived bright and early clutching their passport keen to begin the journey through the regiment’s history. A quick journey down to Portsmouth and the tour is on the ferry and waving the UK a brief goodbye. For the drivers this is a few hours to catch up on some missed rest. But for the cadets, never short of energy despite the early start, this is a chance to get to know those of the group they’ve not met before and look forward to the week ahead.
For many of the Cadets, arrival in the French port of Ouistreham was their rst experience of France and the wait to get through passport control was put to good use with a urry of questions ranging from Second World War defences to the cost of a croissant. A short journey from the port and the tour arrives at the home of Major (Retired) Alan Hames who, in 1999, organised the rst trip to Normandy for cadets in Oxfordshire and despite his retirement continues to offer his home as a base for the tour. Following arrival and a quick orientation the cadet’s rst task is to set up their accommodation. With the guiding hand of experienced instructors the cadets have their tents up in no time and are quickly instructed in the essentials of life under canvas for a duration longer than their normal training weekends.
With ‘Home Sweet Home’ set up and ready to go the battle eld tour begins with an over view of the Normandy landings, the cadets and instructors received a visual brie ng about the key events leading up to and during the invasion with particular reference to the actions of The Ri es forefathers. As the rst day drew to an end the cadets were full of questions, some were answered and some left for the cadets to discover themselves over the next week. Day two started early and brought the beginning of 3 days in the Normandy countryside, moving along the Allied landing zones visiting German bunker complexes and allied landing beaches. During this time the tour was guided through the footsteps of WW2 Ri emen by Major Hames and the team, to see rst-hand the sights of their beach landings to the locations of some of their toughest engagements with the enemy. The cadets enjoyed many of the unique attractions of the D-Day beaches including the 360 degree cinema, showing the story of the invasion and the remains of the Allies arti cial harbour.
The Tour was also able to visit a number of the war cemeteries throughout Normandy and see visually the cost and sacri ce of the con ict, something the cadets felt particularly moved by. The Normandy invasion sites also present an ideal opportunity for the members of the Battalion to connect with their very unique regimental heritage. The rst action of D-Day was fought by the men of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The Ox & Bucks), men from the same towns and villages as the cadets walking these battle elds 73 years later. This county
THE FIRST ACTION OF D-DAY WAS FOUGHT BY THE MEN OF THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY...
link to one of The Ri es predecessor regiments has always been a key focus of the tour and this year the Cadets were quick to embrace it and keen to learn more.
On 5th June, following an evening of eager kit preparation the Cadets and Instructors stepped out for the rst of two days of parades and commem- orations. Beginning at the famous Pegasus Bridge, the Tour joined the remaining Veterans of the Ox & Bucks and their families in beginning this year’s commemorations. The tour went on to visit a number of predecessor regimental sights laying wreaths and learning more about the battles of 1944. For 6th June the Battalions representation again joined the Veterans of the Ox & Bucks and had the privilege of spending the day following the route the regiment took through the battle of Normandy, stopping for ceremonies in key locations for the Veterans, each time the last post sounding from and Oxfordshire ACF Bugler.
7 days after our arrival we bid Major and Mrs Hames a grateful farewell, full of fantastic memories and with many cadets keen to return again next year. Lt MAN Hames
...MEN FROM THE SAME TOWNS AND VILLAGES AS THE CADETS WALKING THESE BATTLEFIELDS 73 YEARS LATER
THE RIFLES
CADET FORCES 167