Page 112 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

Droppin Well Memorial
The 39th Memorial Service for the Droppin Well Bomb took place
on Sunday 5th December 2021
at Tamlaghtfinlagan Church in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland. The arrangements were made on behalf of The Cheshire Regiment Association (CRA) by The Limavady Branch of the Association.
This service is in remembrance of the events which took place on the night
of 6th December 1982 when an INLA Bomb killed 11 soldiers (8 x Cheshire,
2 x ACC and 1 x Light Infantry) and 6 young civilians as well as injuring more than 30 people. The bomb although only fairly small, it was in fact a handbag bomb, was placed next to a supporting pillar which collapsed the building on those inside the Droppin Well when the bomb exploded.
The following took part in the service:
• The Lord Lieutenant of the
County of Londonderry, Mrs
Alison Miller.
• The Mayor of Causeway Coast
and Glens, Councillor Richard
Holmes.
• Relatives, and friends, of the
civilians who lost their lives in the
bombing.
• Veterans, friends, and relatives,
from the Cheshire Regiment Association, some of whom had travelled over to Ballykelly for the service.
• Members of the local community.
The multi-denominational service was led by Reverend Harold Given, Church of Ireland, and assisted by Reverend Phillip Houston, Ballykelly Presbyterian Church. The Right Reverend Monsignor Bryan McCanny, Catholic Church, although a regular at this service
was unable to attend this year due to personal reasons.
The afternoon started with a church service with bible readings by The Lord Lieutenant and Rev Houston. At the end of the service the names of all those killed, civilian and military, were read out and then the Exhortation was followed by The Last Post, a silence and The Reveille before a Piper from 2 Royal Irish played a lament, to many a teary eye.
Following the church service, a Wreath laying ceremony followed in
the adjacent Memorial Garden starting again with The Last Post, a silence and Reveille.
Wreaths were laid, to an accompanying lament from the Piper again, by The Lord Lieutenant, Mr
Peter Gresty, Chairman CRA, WO1 M Phillpott, The Mercian Regiment, and
by family members of some of the civilians killed in the bombing, a wreath of red roses had appeared prior to the service in memory of Pte Terry Adams, ACC, so this was repositioned as part of the day. Poppy crosses were then laid by Mr Alan Grundy, Mr Steven Nulty, Mrs Susan Jones and Mrs Michelle Rowlinson.
Sadly, we could not offer the normal warm drinks and refreshments in the church hall following the service so many dispersed straight away whilst a few went back to the Drummond Hotel to remember friends.
Planning for the 40th
Anniversary, on 4th December
2022, has already started with a much bigger attendance anticipated.
110
Worcester & Sherwood Foresters
Regimental Association
Lt Col (Retd) Keith Jeavons TD, Acting Chair
The situation has improved slightly since the last edition of the ‘Eagle; branches are beginning hold their meetings and other events. The Association Newsletter has been a life- line, keeping members in touch with events, both locally and nationally.
For this we are indebted to Mr Mark
Dack. the Newsletter editor. The advent
of a quarterly newsletter produced by the Communications Officer; Mr Sam Phillips at Regimental Headquarters is welcome as it keeps members abreast of the work and activities of the three Battalions and other areas of the Mercian Family.
Excellent use has been made of ‘Zoom’, E -mails, and the telephone in keeping members in touch. A cheery call is a great help to those of us who may be house bound. Many members have been involved with acts of kindness during this period of isolation and hopefully we can now look forward now to our regular meetings.
We look forward to the Annual Reunion in June 2022, plans are already being formulated to ensure that this event will
continue. The regimental museums are now open once again and would welcome visits from members and friends. 2022 is a new beginning let us use it to breathe life back into the work of the Association.
Message From the Secretary
Maj (Retd) Bob Prophet
Having handed over the post of Association Secretary some three years ago, I am delighted to be back in the hot seat which has been kept warm so efficiently by Nigel Fish, Chairman and Secretary of Worcester Branch. I thank him for his diligence and wish him well as he concentrates on things in Worcester. Despite the frustrations of
the past year or so, many Branches have managed to meet electronically if not in person and, as we appear to be heading again for open infantry country, face to face meetings will become the norm. The WFRA has weathered the storm remarkably well and members are congratulated on their resilience! Inevitably, we have lost a few but none, apparently, to the dreaded Covid-19.
At the end of November, the Executive Committee held its first meeting for two years (much business having been carried out by e-mail in the interim) although the sudden snowstorm that day prevented
one or two from making it. That meeting was followed by our first AGM for two years; some thirty hardy souls assembled
in Lichfield Social Club, but it is known
that many others were stymied by the weather and the continuing need to self-isolate. Nevertheless, both meetings were successful, and the prospect of the Association’s continuance is good. At the end of the AGM, our President presented Merit Awards to three members – Gordon Carran and Brian Smith (both Derby Branch) and John Walters (Worcester Branch); Peter Ravey and Ken Truswell (both Chesterfield Branch) were unable to attend as they were isolating and will receive their certificates
at home. All five Members are to be congratulated on the valuable service and devotion which they have shown since joining the Association.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE