Page 102 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

MANSFIELD BRANCH
After the fund-raising effort of last year, this year has been quiet. We are a small branch and getting smaller all the time although our monthly meetings give us a chance to catch up. Both Branch Standards paraded for the Armed Forces Day in Mansfield. It was only a short march and well within the capabilities of the two geriatric Bearers. Fortunately, it was a warm, sunny day that encouraged a good attendance by the general public.
Armistice Day saw a good attendance by the general public and Civic Officials at our Regimental Memorial in Carr Bank Park. This gathering included pupils and teachers from St Philip Neri Primary School. The children had made a wreath at school which was laid by one of their number under the Mercian Regiment plaque. In addition to
the two traditional bugle calls, a lament was piped by Stuart Gullen a member of the Seaforth Highlanders Association Pipe Band; himself a former member of 3 WFR.
NOTTINGHAM CITY BRANCH
NEWARK BRANCH
Newark Branch meets monthly, with members, wives and widows, and enjoys occasional coach trips out, including the American Forces Cemetery, Cambridge, and the Welbeck Farm Shop and Garden Centre. The Branch also enthusiastically mounts a Regimental Interest stand at the annual Newark Armed Forces Day Parade in late June
as well as attending the Crich Pilgrimage and Newark Remembrance and Armistice Parades.
In 2020 there is a plan to visit Newark Museum to view Regimental exhibits which are currently not on public display. The Branch provides a home for any Regimental Veteran based in Eastern and South-eastern Nottinghamshire and those from other Branches are very welcome to visit our meetings, which are held every second Thursday of the month at 1430 hours at Newark RAFA Club.
Chairman Mick Cowley and Member Ken Thorpe at Crich Pilgrimage 2019
2019 has been an interesting year for the Nottingham City Branch of the WFRA. With the help of Gary Crosby, John Richards and Nottingham City Council, Badajoz Day was a great success as the Red Jacket was raised on the Council House flagpole. This attracted many onlookers.
At the Crich supper on July 6, 3 members of the branch received Merit Awards for their support of the Association. Quite a few members have enjoyed attending coffee
mornings, organised by the Nottingham Forest Community Trust for Veterans. This has brought together all veterans and is a worthwhile event. On Sunday November 10, members attended and marched at
the Remembrance Service on the Victoria Embankment, while others attended the service at Crich on Monday 11 November. An Associate member went to Ypres for the Remembrance Service and laid a wreath on behalf of the branch.
WORCESTER
BRANCH
Sunday, October 27th, 2019, was
the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Gheluvelt. A commemoration service was held at the Interpretative Feature in Gheluvelt Park, Worcester. The park was opened in 1922 by Field Marshal John French, 1st Earl of Ypres, in 1922 on June 17th, to commemorate the Regiment’s part in the battle,
who stopped a major German offensive on October 31st, 1914,
and was recognised as an action of significant importance. This ceremony is organised annually by Worcester Branch and attending service was
the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE, the High Sheriff of Worcestershire Edward Holloway Esq, MP for Worcestershire Robin Walker and Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Allah Ditta. Also in attendance were Captains Jones and Bermingham of the Mercian Regiment and Inspector D Troth of West Mercia Police. The Reverend Canon Paul Tongue, Honorary Padre of Worcester Branch conducted the service.
Afterwards at the Gheluvelt buffet, our branch members, Brian and John Hewlett were awarded Association Merit Awards for their unstinting work in support of Worcester Branch. They were presented the awards by the High Sheriff of Worcestershire.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
WORKSOP BRANCH
2018 and 2019 have proven to be
busy years for the branch. In 2018, the branch responded to many requests for attendance at Armistice events. One such event was to mark the restoration and reinstatement of the statue to Pte Jackson (Sherwood Foresters) at Carlton- in-Lindrick churchyard. A unique memorial to a private soldier who died during the First World War. Members also attended the VC plaque laying memorial for Sgt Johnson in Worksop in October, which was part of the national project to lay plaques for all those who were awarded the VC during the First World War.
Another service we attended was to the First World War fallen of Carlton-in-Lindrick, organised by the local primary school children. At the service children read out the known history of all those from the village who gave their lives during the conflict and this was a great tribute the time and effort the school had put into the commemoration.
At the Worksop Town Hall civic reception after the 2018 armistice parade, and to commemorate the centenary of the 1918 Armistice, the Worksop branch of the WFRA presented to Bassetlaw District Council a marble plaque to remember those Sherwood Foresters from Worksop who gave their lives during WW1. The plaque was received by the Chair of Bassetlaw Council, Councillor Challinor, who stated that he was very honoured to receive the plaque on behalf of Bassetlaw Council and said that it would be displayed in the main reception area, where the public would be able to see it.
For the third year running, branch
Presentation to Bassetlaw Council of a marble plaque to remember those Sherwood Foresters from Worksop who gave their lives during WW1
members also manned a stall at the Worksop RBL Armed Forces Day event where branch members put on a free shooting game for the kids and hand out sweets. It is a very popular stand and we believe it is a good advertisement for the Regiment and the Association.
As a branch, we enjoy many days out and over the past view years have visited
a Civil War Museum, the Duxford War Museum to watch Dakota’s flying and the Ashworth VC Museum. We’ve also enjoyed clay pigeion shooting and many sociable dinners and nights out. In March, we held our AGM and one of the areas that we
are passionate about is the welfare of our members. Sadly we have some members with serious illness and Stuart Gullen, the ‘Branch Welfare Officer’, has done sterling work in visiting members who have had difficult news. It has been heartening to see members support each other in such times and reminds us all what a key role the Association has to play in the lives of veterans. We plough on with good spirits and look forward to more shared memories in the forthcoming year.
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