Page 136 - Mercian Eagle 2014

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The Staffordshire Regimental
Association
By Jim Massey
Summary of Events
The review of our year starts with our Remembrance Week. We are proud to play a full part in these and we joined the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey, turned out in force on Remembrance Sunday and had a contingent at the Cenotaph. These are good opportunities
to meet with both serving soldiers and our comrades in the other three associations. On 21st December, dozens of people just happened to appear at the King’s Head public house in Lichfield. No orders were given, no letters were sent out, but people just turned up anyway. This is becoming a Mercian Regiment event and wherever you are from, please come this year.
Our Association has supported numerous events within the Midlands including the annual ANZAC Day service on Cannock Chase on 27th April and the annual Mercian Regiment Pilgrimage to Crich on 6th July. Great War Commemoration has been important this year and we took part in Hednesford, Rugeley and Cannock parades on 2nd August and the Walsall Parade on 4th August. Other branches have visited North West Europe, including Burton Branch who travelled to Ypres in May and Hednesford Branch who travelled to the Somme and Ypres in June.
It is also the seventieth anniversary of 1944 and we remembered the efforts of 2nd North Staffords (Anzio), 59 Division
in Normandy (which included 5 Stafford battalions), 1st South Staffords in the Second Chindit Campaign and 2nd South
Staffords at Arnhem. There is a parade and service at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire where 1st Airborne Division were based prior to launching Operation Market Garden.
Lichfield and Hednesford Branches sent a strong contingent to join this annual occasion. Also in September, we had
two branch trips to Arnhem to join the seventieth anniversary celebrations. Dave Lovell of Stafford Branch began planning his trip around two years ago and was reinforced by members of Fenton and Wolverhampton Branches. Garry Gunner of Dover Branch also took a group to join in the huge commemoration, which attracted over 200,000 people. Moz Wilkes and
Foz Forrester led a group of runners over. Their starting ceremony was performed by Francis Clarkson (daughter of Maj Robert Cain VC) and Joyce, who is related to L/Sgt Jack Baskeyfield VC. We all thought that this group who ran over did extremely well and everyone in the Association was proud of their efforts.
Watchman
On 18th December we buried Colour Sergeant Watchman IV, the old Regimental Mascot, outside Burton Town Hall in a ceremony which was moving and dignified, but not over the top. The Mayor of Burton took a full part and we all agreed that it was right to remember such an old stalwart, who served us faithfully from 1999 until 2009 and managed to reach the age 15. On a happier note, the current mascot is thriving, Corporal Watchman V has taken part in
WO2 Greg Hedges and Corporal Watchman V at the burial of Colour Sergeant Watchman IV Burton Town Hall 18 December 2014
WO2 Greg Hedges & Corporal Watchman V receiving the Freedom of Tamworth from the Councillor
John Garner, Mayor of Tamworth 28 April 2014
a numerous parades (including most of those that are listed in this article), funerals and other public events. The highlight of his year must be receiving the Freedom of Tamworth Borough. As Tamworth is where the Mercian Regiment was formed on 1st September 2007 it was a great honour.
Changes
It gives us enormous pleasure to announce that Lt. Col Giles Woodhouse has become the new Association President and Maj Glyn Ireland has become Chairman.
Captain Austin Miller remains on our Committee and will continue to run our Website and produce the Stafford Knot. We would like to thank Brigadier Andrew Williams who has been President since 2011 and gave up when geography (a posting to Glasgow) and intray (a busy desk in Glasgow), combined to make it impractical.
Hednesford Branch to Ypres Menin Gate. Trevor Evans and Gordon Partridge visible
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