Page 61 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

NORTH
REGIMENTAL MEMORIAL
SERVICE IN YORK
MINSTER
The Rifles, The Light Infantry, and The KOYLI annual memorial service and lunch was held on Saturday 2 October 2021 in the Lady Chapel of York Minster followed by lunch at York Racecourse.
During the service the names of Association members and Riflemen who had passed away during the pandemic were read out.
All five of the Regimental Pillars were represented by those who attended the service.
Regular and Reservist Riflemen were represented by Brigadier Mark Wilson Rifles Colonel for the North and Midlands, Major R “Harry” Harrison OC HQ Coy 3 Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Laverick CO 8 Rifles, Major Daryl Dowdall 2IC 8 Rifles, Major Ben Clare OC Y Coy 8 Rifles and WO1 Danny Long RSM 8 Rifles.
Opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
On Remembrance Day a party of our Association members who had travelled down from Yorkshire joined hundreds of veterans from other Associations at Westminster Abbey for the opening of the Field of Remembrance by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, The Rifles Colonel- in-Chief.
Before the opening ceremony our members planted KOYLI Remembrance crosses in remembrance of some of the former KOYLI members who recently passed away.
Ride to the Wall
Despite atrocious weather on October 2nd 2021 over ten thousand veteran riders attended the annual Ride to the Wall at the National Memorial Arboretum. Riders from the Leeds branch of The Rifles Light Infantry and KOYLI Association joined up with over twenty-five veteran riders from the Light Division.
After the main commemoration service, Colonel Nick Illic laid a wreath on behalf of the Regiment, our riders then congregated at the Light Infantry Memorial and paid their respects to our fallen.
Community remember their historic link to the KOYLIs
On Armistice Day 2021 in Pontefract a plaque and bench were unveiled in recognition of the towns long and historical links to the Regiment.
Two of the Barracks buildings are still standing, the Keep and Minden House. Minden House, which was the Warrant Officers and Serjeants Mess, is still owned by the MOD and has been in continuous use since Pontefract Barracks opened in 1878 by the KOYLI, The Light Infantry and now Y Coy 8 Rifles and the Association. Colonel (Retd) Gerry Delany was present to represent The Rifles, Light Infantry, and KOYLI Association.
REMEMBRANCE
SUNDAY PARADE
WHITEHALL
Four members of The Rifles, Light Infantry, and KOYLI Association travelled from Yorkshire and East Sussex to represent our Association in the march past of veterans and lay a KOYLI wreath at the Cenotaph. It was an incredible and moving day with great camaraderie between the various Forming and Antecedent Regiments of The Rifles.
Following the march past of the Cenotaph as the cohorts of 1LI and The Rifles Light Infantry and KOYLI Association entered Horse Guards Road they opened the sedately pace to the Regimental pace of 140 for the Royal Salute taken by HRH Prince William on Horse Guards Parade; proving they are still Swift and Bold.
Rob Smith of the Association’s Pontefract Branch: “It was an amazing honour to receive
an invite to take part in the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph in London. I was so proud marching down Whitehall with the other veterans wearing with pride my poppy and Light Infantry blazer remembering the fallen. It was a special and moving day that I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Meanwhile at Cenotaphs across Yorkshire the Buglers sounded Last Post.
I was so proud marching down Whitehall
Barnsley Bugler Receives Award at Rifleman’s Awards Dinner
Paul ‘Sammy’ Goose ex 1LI Bugler from Barnsley received a Colonel- in-Chief Award at The Riflemen’s Awards Dinner 2021.
Paul received the award in recognition of sounding Last Post
every evening from March to 31 December 2020 from his garden in Cudworth near Barnsley South Yorkshire. This action attracted regional and national attention, enabling him to raise over £10,000 for Barnsley Hospital. Paul was also thanked in person by the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Professor Dame Hilary Chapman DBE who was a guest at the event. Paul’s mammoth endeavour has earned him plenty of local recognition in becoming known as ‘The Barnsley Bugler.’ The landlord of a local pub commissioned a mural of the pub of Paul playing the bugle which was unveiled earlier this year on the exterior wall of the pub.
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