Page 222 - Bugle Autumn 2014

First World
War Centenary
commemorative
events
On 6th July, the RIFLES and R.BERKS Association played a part in the Royal County of Berkshire Multi Faith Service of Remembrance and Reflection in Reading Minster marking the 100th Anniversary of the Start of the Great War that was attended by over 700 people. The Bishop of Oxford led the worship and was supported by Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu Faith leaders representing their church communities in Berkshire. Mrs Mary Bayliss, Lord Lieutenant, and the
Rt Hon Mrs Theresa May, Home Secretary, and Brig Andrew Hughes, Commander 145 (South) Brigade and the Mayor of Reading attended. The RIFLES were represented by Lieutenant Colonel James Bryant, CO 7RIFLES and Lieutenant Colonel Tim Lerwill OBE, County Secretary Berkshire.
The Regimental Colours of 2RGBW sloped by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Colin Tremellen and Colonel (Retd) Desmond Redding and a silver bugle carried by WO1 Sean Lennon, RSM 7RIFLES, led the Procession and Recession and the RIFLES Waterloo Band & Bugles provided the music.
Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council’s commemoration was a Service of Remembrance in Tidworth Military Cemetery on 30th July. The focus was for County communities to gather and commemorate the sacrifice made by 10,000 soldiers from Wiltshire during the 1st World War, 417 of whom are buried
there. Names of each Fallen were inscribed on an RBL Cross and placed by Dignitaries and children on a wall of Remembrance. The Association Padre, the Venerable Alan, Archdeacon of Sarum led
the worship of Remembrance
which was attended by Councillor Jane Scott OBE, Leader of the Council, Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant, and wreaths were laid by Major General James Cowan, GOC 3rd UK Division and Brigadier Piers Hankinson, Commander 43 Wessex Brigade among others. Colonel Mike Cornwell OBE, County Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Ridley QGM MBE and Major Jack Thompson represented the WILTS.
Second World War
70th commemorative events
Two platoons of The RIFLES were
deployed in support of the 70th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings (D Day) commemoration programme: 1RIFLES was tasked to support Regimental (Ox&BucksLI) events centred on PEGASUS Bridge; 4RIFLES was tasked to support National events in BAYEUX and ARROMANCHES; while both were to support an event
that was to become the “Midnight Vigil”. These events would be graced by Royalty, including the Royal Colonel 4RIFLES,
and the Prime
Minister making them
High Visibility and
therefore requiring
detailed Regimental
coordination. Thus it
was that the County
Secretary, Lieutenant
Colonel Tim Lerwill
who had the experience of planning and executing the 60th Anniversary, was “parachuted” into the process in late April and routine RIFLES County business was placed on hold. OiC RIFLES was Captain Joe Murray whose grandfather Sir Len Murray then serving with 1KSLI, landed
on SWORD Beach and was injured in the fighting.
As in 1944, the Action started East of the River ORNE with a wreath laying
ceremony at the Project 65 stèles – each one representing one glider and engraved with names of its crews – in the grounds of the Pegasus Memorial Museum. This was followed immediately by a joint RIFLES / AAC Remembrance Service at the glider landing site (45m from the Bridge) where Lieutenant Colonel Tim Lerwill, representing the Colonel Commandant, laid a RIFLES wreath alongside General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, Col Comdt AAC, and Lieutenant General Jacko Page Col Comdt PARA.
...selected members of 1RIFLES were presented to The Duchess of Cornwall
When ‘maroon berets’ and Old Comrades rushed off to lunch, Lerwill and 1RIFLES remained to welcome HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall. While The
Prince of Wales met Glider Pilot Regiment Old Comrades, selected members of 1RIFLES were presented to The Duchess of Cornwall. Congratulations must be given to all who were presented for their diplomacy as the Royal Colonel 4RIFLES, told each one that “the 4th Battalion is the best RIFLES Battalion”!
The County Secretary then moved “swiftly” to the Mémorial Museum in Caen to coordinate and manage a ceremony in
General Sir Robert Pascoe KCB MBE at the Project 65 Stèles
220 REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
THE RIFLES