Page 56 - Bugle Spring 2023

BUGLERS’ ASSOC
BUGLERS’ ASSOCIATION OF THE LIGHT DIVISION AND THE RIFLES
I marvel at the variety of events that the Buglers’ Association of the Light Division and Rifles (BALDR) have undertaken over this period. Although the Buglers’ Branch
of the Rifleman’s Association (BBRA) have taken on much of the Regimental tasks,
the BALDR Buglers have played at over 150 funerals over the period, in particular to mark the sad loss of one of our own. Bugler Norman John William Moffitt was laid to rest on the 17th of November. 15 of our Buglers sounded a poignant farewell and provided pallbearers. Norman had been our Treasurer as well as a gifted bugler and friend.
Although the BALDR took part in the successful Sounding Retreat on Horse
Guards and at the Light Infantry Reunion
in Shrewsbury both in June, we have also undertaken a variety of charity and community events all over the United Kingdom. These have included;
• The Commonwealth Games Torch Handover Event in Shrewsbury Castle in July.
• To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War, Buglers John Strong, David Mence and Kirk Richardson joined the Airborne and Royal Marine Riders in the Ride of Respect 2022 for the Falklands Fallen in cemeteries in Hereford, Aldershot and Portsmouth. Later David and Kirk played at the dedication of a memorial plaque in the Special Forces Grove at
the National Arboretum for Captain John Hamilton MC, who died gallantly at the end of the conflict.
• Buglers Stan Wilkinson, Don Somers
and Norman (Chuck) Smillie played at the official opening of the New Veterans Orthopaedic Centre at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry in November in the presence of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Colonel Ian Sawers.
• Buglers Alan Tamblyn, David Mence and Kirk Richardson took part in a presentation of the history of the Silver Bugle to the Rifles badged cadets Wiltshire ACF in Tisbury in December.
The culmination of all of this comes in November when our Buglers play many commemorative and remembrance
events. Bugler John Strong played at the Remembrance Service of the Bank of America
56 RIFLES The Bugle
in London whilst Buglers
David Mence and
Kieron Rowley sounded
Last Post at Winchester
City Hall. Of special note
is the annual pilgrimage of
Buglers Stan Wilkinson and Don
Somers to Northern Ireland to play at
the Ballygawley Memorial to mark the 35th Anniversary of this tragic incident. They have been doing this for 12 years which is true dedication and commemoration of our fallen Light Infantry comrades and their families.
The BALDR has started the New Year where we left off - extremely busy with a concert
in the North East taking place in February.
We wish you a very Happy New Year ..and of course ‘one for the Bugle’!
DHRS President
The BALDR has started the New Year where we left off - extremely busy