Page 70 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

MIDLANDS
Midlands Office
The retirement of Lt Col Mike Motum from the West Regional Office in Taunton has led to a reorganization of the RHQ RIFLES Regional Structure. The Midlands Region now includes Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, as well as Shropshire, Birmingham, Coventry and Merseyside, whilst our veteran support responsibility now extends to Wales as well as to the West and East Midlands, the North West, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. Busy times ahead!
Supporting the welfare of veterans, young and old, and their families, remains the most important task of the Regional Offices, and throughout the first half of 2022 we have continued to work closely with The Rifles Benevolent Trust, other military charities and, most recently, The Always A Rifleman Programme, to tackle the many and complex issues affecting our Riflemen. Our new database enables us to keep a better watch on those who have settled in the Midlands Region at the end of their service.
As well as our Forming and Antecedent Regimental Association branches in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Birmingham and Liverpool, all of which have been active as we emerged from the coronavirus lockdown, we have recently welcomed the formation of a North West Branch of The Rifleman’s Association. We hope that a Central England Branch will not be far behind.
The Rifles Office (Midlands) remains grateful for the support of 1 RIFLES and 2 RIFLES, E Coy 8 RIFLES in Shrewsbury and Birmingham, A Coy 6 RIFLES in Gloucester and Hereford and the County Colonels (Lt Col Nick Jenkins in Shropshire, Col Marius Coulon in Birmingham, Lt Col Sean McEvoy in Merseyside, Lt Col Damian Griffin in Coventry, Col Andy Taylor in Herefordshire and Maj Tony Ayres in Gloucestershire).
70 RIFLES The Bugle
THE RIFLES REGATTA
After cancellations in 2019 and 2020, the annual RIFLES Regatta took place at Sea View Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight, organized by Regional Secretary Midlands, who is also Commodore
of The Rifles Yacht Club. Despite the many operational and training commitments faced by all our battalions, sufficient officers, young and old, regular
and reserve, serving and retired, found time to take part in two days of racing in eight of the
Mermaid keel boats based at Sea View.
In the end, experience and cunning triumphed over youth and physicality in the overall competition,
but the prizes were shared amongst the various representatives of the Regiment as follows:
Overall Winner and Best Non-Battalion Crew –
RHQ RIFLES
Runner Up and Second Best Non-Battalion Crew – HQ Inf Riflemen
Best Battalion Crew – 3 RIFLES
Best Young Crew (under 30) – 1 RIFLES
The winning RHQ boat on a downwind leg
GLOSTERS WREATH LAYING IN CASSEL
In 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk,
the 2nd and 5th Battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment fought a fierce battle in the town of Cassel in northern France. The monument honouring their bravery has just been moved to a new location in the military cemetery, and Glosters veterans took the opportunity to attend the unveiling and pay their respects.
Among them was 94-year-old Clifford Rowland, who laid a wreath. Clifford and his wife Irene are still active members of the Somerset Branch of The Rifles and RGBW Association.