Page 72 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

SOUTH WEST
The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester re-opened with a bang on Monday 17th May.
At 10.00am on the balcony above the entrance, Bugler Steve Chard sounded Reveillé. On the roof Lt-Gen Sir Andrew Graham (late of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) played the pipes – probably the first time this has happened on the roof of the old Depot of the Dorsetshire Regiment!
At the entrance stood two Sword Orderlies from the Dorset Yeomanry Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry. Beside them stood three Standard Bearers, under Ken Chivers, from the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Old Comrades. The Rev Dr John Travell led with a prayer he had composed especially for the event, remembering those whom the Museum commemorates, those who keep the Museum going and all who contributed so generously to the COVID Appeal, offsetting all the Museum’s losses in 2020.
Director Elliot Metcalfe welcomed everyone and pronounced his Museum “back in
business”. The Mayor of Dorchester added his good wishes, describing how the Keep
is an important landmark and part of the local community. Military historian James Holland then spoke briefly about the Keep’s magnificent collection and archive before presenting a book, The Keep in 50 Objects, to Mrs Hazel Savage. Standing at his side was Ben Waterfield of 6 RIFLES, holding a bugle with a bullet in it.
At 7.30am on 1st July 1916 Bugler Will Starn of the 1st Dorsets, Grandfather of Hazel Savage, sounded Advance for what was the opening of the Somme Offensive. Later that morning Will was hit by a burst of machine gun fire. Four rounds hit his arm while a fifth lodged in his bugle, which was hanging on his chest. Evacuated from the field, two days later he celebrated his 20th birthday in hospital. Presented to the Museum by Will himself in the 1960s, the bugle has long been a prized exhibit at The Keep and his story features in the recently published book, The Keep in 50 Objects. His family now have a copy.
The event was well covered by all the local radio stations and in local newspapers and regional magazines. Early reports of visitor numbers are encouraging. We’re back!
Four rounds
hit his
arm while a fifth lodged in his bugle, which was hanging on his chest
Tiverton ACF Fundraising
Tiverton detachment have won the ABF Revision Trophy again this year for raising the most money of any ACF detachment in the country, the total being £4049.00. This amount was raised by the cadets during lockdown who took part in virtual fundraising events put together by the detachment. A further £1704.00 was raised for a variety of other charities such as the Children’s Hospice South West, the local Tiverton Food Bank and Macmillan Cancer Trust. This makes the fifth time in six years that the detachment has won the Revision Trophy and the first ACF Detachment to do so.
Heroic Cadet
Cadet Stanley Halsey from Tiverton has been presented with a ACFA certificate for Praiseworthy Action. Earlier in the year, at Tiverton High School, Stanley put his first aid skills to good use when a fellow student began choking. Cadet Halsey imme- diately took control of the situation and applied back slaps, managing to dislodge the obstruction. His
fast intervention prevented a more serious situation developing.
BACK IN BUSINESS