Page 72 - Bugle Spring 2023

CENTRAL
As the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic fade slowly behind us, activities in the Central Region have begun to gather pace. The high intensity of the operational and training workload faced by regular and reserve battalions has meant that we have not seen as much of them as we might have wished, but our other three Pillars have kept us busy.
The retirement of the Regional Secretaries (West) and (South), who will not be replaced, has led to a RHQ RIFLES reorganization and
a change of name from the Midlands Region to the Central Region. It has also led to an expansion, both in terms of Community Engagement and support to cadets in our “golden thread” counties, and oversight of veterans’ welfare and benevolence there and elsewhere. Herefordshire, which was part of the Midlands Region until 2017, and which has strong connections with Shropshire through a shared KSLI heritage, has returned, and
the Central Region now also includes, for the first time, the counties of Gloucestershire and Bristol. All three counties have many RIFLES- badged detachments in their respective ACFs and a good number of Herefordshire Regiment, Gloucestershire Regiment, KSLI, Somerset LI, SCLI, LI and RGBW veterans
in their Association branches. The welfare support of RIFLES veterans who have settled in Wales and in other counties across Central England and East Anglia has also become the responsibility of the Shrewsbury Office.
Community Engagement in the Midlands/ Central Region in 2022 has included the distribution of “County Regiment” brochures
in Shropshire, Merseyside, Birmingham, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol, and liaison with local government representatives, both face to face and through social media. Uniformed Riflemen and veterans attended Remembrance Sunday commemorations
in the Region’s eighteen Freedom Towns and at the memorials for our ten RIFLES Fallen. Formal events, including Networking Breakfasts and Soundings of Retreat are planned for 2023.
RIFLES support for ACF and CCF annual camp training has been limited in 2022, with most forces able to cover their requirements from within their own resources. The KSLI Trust provided financial support for an Adventurous Training package undertaken by Shropshire ACF in August, whilst a team from Hereford and Worcester ACF took first place in the RIFLES Cadet Cup, run at Swynnerton in September.
The establishment of a North West Branch of The Rifleman’s Association (TRA) based in Merseyside will, hopefully, be followed in 2023 by a TRA Branch covering Central England. The Forming/Antecedent Regimental Associations continue to meet throughout the Midlands and pursue an active social programme.
The first LI Reunion for three years was held
in Shrewsbury in June 2022, with just over
a thousand veterans and their families in attendance.
Supporting the welfare of veterans, recently and less recently discharged, and their families, remains the most important task of the Regional Offices, and throughout 2022 we have continued to work closely with
Supporting the
welfare of veterans, recently and less recently discharged, and their families, remains the most important task of the Regional Offices
the Rifles Benevolent Trust, SSAFA, RBL and other military charities and, most recently, The Always a Rifleman Programme, to tackle the many and complex issues affecting our Riflemen. The addition of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol and Wales to our territory will, undoubtedly, bring new challenges in 2023.
Lt Col Andrew Trelawny and Mrs Heather Morgan in The Rifles Office (Central), supported by Mrs Debbie Hards in the Taunton Office, remain grateful for the support of 1 and 2 RIFLES, of A Coy 6 RIFLES in Hereford and Gloucester, of E Coy 8 RIFLES in Shrewsbury and Birmingham, of the County Colonels (Lt Col Nick Jenkins in Shropshire, Col Marius Coulon in Birmingham, Lt Col Sean McEvoy
in Merseyside, Col Damian Griffin in Coventry, Col Andy Taylor in Herefordshire, Lt Col Tony Ayres in Gloucestershire and Lt Col Mike Motum in Bristol), the Light Infantry and
Rifles Association branches in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Bristol, the RGJ Association branches in Birmingham and Merseyside, the RGBW Association branches in Gloucestershire and Bristol, and the Buglers Association. We very much look forward to maintaining full contact with our regulars, reservists, cadets, veterans, and communities in 2023.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR RFN LUKE WHITNEY
On 24 Jul 22, the third anniversary
of the death of Rfn Luke Whitney (2 RIFLES) was marked with a short service at his graveside in Tipton, West Midlands. In attendance were Rfn Pointon and Walker from 2 RIFLES, and veteran buglers Don Summers and Stan Wilkinson from The Rifleman’s Association Buglers Branch.
Mourners and buglers
72 RIFLES The Bugle
SHREWBURY OFFICE NOTES