Page 65 - Bugle Spring 2023

NORMANDY
Major (Retired) David Jarratt organised and led an enormously successful association five-day Normandy battlefield tour in early September. 54 association members, from across our branches and the UK, included buglers Kevin Fawcett, Steve Tagg, Brian Johnson, Peter Bate, Malcolm Welsh,
and Major (Retired) David Jarratt from Minden House Buglers. There were also four Standard Bearers; Ady Waites, Colin Cranswick, Bryan Wroe, and Decca Winter. Our thanks to the Buglers and Standard bearers for demonstrating the highest standards of drill and bugling.
The tour started in Belgium at the Menin Gate with the nightly Last Post ceremony. The next morning the group set off from Belgium for Caen in Normandy for a four day stay visiting various Normandy battlefields where the 1st/4th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry saw action. The group were accompanied by our oldest association member and Normandy veteran, Mr Fred Adamson aged 102, who gave his personal insights at the various battlefields he fought at with the 1st/4th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
The group held an act of remembrance
at each of the Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries. The highlights were acts of remembrance carried out at the American Normandy War Grave cemetery, the British Normandy War Grave cemetery, the sounding of Last Post by Kev Fawcett and David Jarratt in the church at Cristot, the site of a 1st/4th KOYLI battle to capture the church on the 16th of June 1944, and most poignantly in Fontenay le Pesnil cemetery at the grave of Fred
Adamson’s best friend, Private Ronnie McGrath late KOYLI.
Following this the entire group attended a civic reception hosted by the Deputy Mayor of Fontenay le Pesnil, Madame Laurence. Fred presented Madame Laurence with a KOYLI plaque.
NORTH
BATTLEFIELD
TOUR
THE VISIT TO DONCASTER BY THE KING
His Majesty King Charles III visited Doncaster on the 9th
of November when he conferred City status on Doncaster. Lieutenant Colonel Graham Whitmore, RIFLES Colonel South Yorkshire, and Vice President of our Association was invited to the civic reception for the King in the Mansion House.
His Royal Highness King Charles III meeting veteran Ben Parkinson with Lt Colonel (Retired) Graham Whitmore 2nd from the left
Association wreath layers at the Menin Gate at the start of the Normandy battlefield tour. Left to Right: Mr Si Stanhope, Captains (Retired) Dickie Dutton, and Jimmy Anderson
Fred Adamson in Fontenay le Pesnil cemetery at the grave of his best friend Private Ronnie McGrath
RIFLES The Bugle 65