Page 77 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

SOUTH WEST
The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester entered the New Year closed to the public due to lockdown restrictions, but welcomed a new director, Elliot Metcalfe in January.
On the 17th May, the museum re-opened with a special ceremony, with guests including military historian James Holland and representatives from 6 Rifles.
During the summer, the Keep were able
to host a special VE/VJ Day commemoration weekend, which had been postponed from 2020. This was particularly special as it was attended by some of our last remaining regimental veterans of the Second World War and their families.
The museum team have been working
hard behind the scenes and were particularly pleased to discover a rare and un-opened 24 Hour Assault Ration pack issued for D-Day in 1944, which had previously been mis-identified within the collection. It is currently the only known complete example to survive.
2022 is set to be an exciting time for the museum, with lots of events and exhibitions planned, including an exhibition on the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment in Bosnia.
A rare and un-opened 24 Hour Assault Ration pack issued for D-Day in 1944
The Jurassic March
On the morning of 17 Sep 21 a group of 200 plus volunteers paraded at Lulworth Cove for a Drumhead Service conducted by Chaplain Tim Daplyn (ex LI) prior to heading off for a challenging 3 day march to Lyme Regis. The service included 62 pairs of empty boots to give a visual representation of the Rifles Fallen. The event was the brainchild of Paul ‘Coco’ Cocoran (ex 1 LI) who having raised in excess of £96,000 organising a previous march along Hadrian’s Wall in 2019, (where veterans inscribed a brick with the name of a fallen soldier and carried it with them), decided once again to march, this time the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Riflemen from C Coy 6 RIFLES lead the Volunteers off towards Weymouth.
The money raised from this event
will greatly help each charity, but just as importantly, each individual who undertook the challenge. Many of the Volunteers have been fighting battles of their own, suffering from PTSD and all those taking part agreed that before, during and after the Challenge, it helped them immensely.
On the third day having conquered ‘Golden Cap’ (the highest point along the south coast), the determined Volunteers marched into Lyme
Regis with heads held high to the sounds of the bugle, and with the Mayor of Lyme Regis and the whole Town clapping them in. There were no injuries, accidents, or other incidents to detract from an absolutely fantastic achievement.
So far, the current balance from The Jurassic Coast March is: Rifles Care for Casualties £80.000, Light Infantry Museum £3.819.00 & RNLI £1.271.00.
‘Bringing good friends together to do great things!’
Military historian James Holland at the reopening of The Keep Museum
2022 is set to be
an exciting time for the museum, with lots of events and exhibitions planned
Lt Gen Tim Evans CB, CBE, DSO and Brig Tom Bewick OBE presenting medals at the finishing ceremony with Paul ‘Coco’ Cocoran (with beret)
The Jurassic March Medal
RIFLES The Bugle 77
London Dinner at The Cavalry & Guards Club
After the cancellation of 2020 London Dinner due to Covid restrictions, 35 Officers from the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Officers’ Club sat down to dinner at the Cavalry & Guards Club in Piccadilly, London on 12th November. The AGM was a lively affair with 20 members attending and was followed by a most successful evening, meeting up again with friends and colleagues after such a long absence, enjoying an excellent meal in the grand surroundings of the Club, and plenty
of wine to assist the evening along its way!
THE KEEP MUSEUM DORCHESTER