Page 229 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Herefordshire County notes
2013/2014 has been a momentous year for The Rifles in Herefordshire as we finally regained an Army Reserve presence. The result of 8 years hard lobbying, it has been a most popular decision in this highly supportive county. Our flag now flies proudly over Suvla Barracks, Hereford, home to some 200 RIFLES
badged reservists and army cadets.
his heart was with the Herefordshire Regiment and he was a regular attendee at Regimental Functions until recently. Commissioned into the KSLI, and posted to 2 HEREFORDS, he was posted with a draft of Hereford soldiers, to 2 DCLI in the Normandy Bridgehead. On
Initially, hopes of achieving this outcome
were dashed by the long awaited Basing
Announcement which stated that, whilst E Coy,
in Shrewsbury, was to be saved to become
part of 6 RIFLES, no third platoon was to be
allocated to Herefordshire. Then, at the 11th
hour an opportunity arose, allowing the situation to be reviewed. It had become apparent that a presence in Suvla Barracks was not required by the reorganized Wessex Yeomanry. In a remarkable show of common sense and goodwill, E Company was authorized to take over the Yeomanry manpower in Suvla Barracks, and establish an additional platoon there.
Nevertheless, we held our breath until the appointed day, 1st April 2014, hoping it was not a gigantic MOD April Fool. That evening,
in Shrewsbury, a detachment from 10 Pl, as it is now known, represented Herefordshire at the handover of E Company to 6 RIFLES. In attendance were the County Colonel
and Lt Col John Marsham, former Dep Hon Col
E Coy.
arrival however, whilst waiting for transport, they were hi-jacked by 1 HEREFORDS whose CO, then Lt Col Jack Churcher, had sent a vehicle round the Bridgehead to pick up ‘waifs and strays’. Ken stayed with the HEREFORDS until 1946. He was awarded the Military Cross and the Order of Leopold with Croix de Guerre.
The Centenary of World War 1 is a growing theme. Ross-on-Wye commemorated it on the Rope Walk on
14th June, with the Recruiting team from Shrewsbury and the ACF playing lead roles. A series of further events are planned, notably next year, the 100th anniversary of the Suvla landings in Gallipoli in which the HEREFORDS fought.
A Flag Raising Ceremony on Mon 23rd June at Shirehall
was attended by Gen Sir John Foley and Maj James Hereford, representing the Army and RIFLES respectively. Former Bugle Major S Wilkinson from Shrewsbury, sounded the Bugle Calls. This Ceremony, on the Monday of Armed Forces Week, is now a
Then, on 22nd April, a rebadging ceremony
for 10 Pl was held in Suvla Barracks, attended
by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Darnley, the High
Sheriff, Maj Patrick Darling, the Chairman of
the Herefordshire Council and the Mayors of
Hereford City, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye. C (Rifles) Coy Hereford & Worcester ACF, commanded by Maj Tony Ayres, had been the only wearers of The Rifles Cap badge in the county since 2007,
so it was appropriate that they handed over Rifles Berets and Cap Badges to the new Riflemen, led by their OC Maj Tony Freeman.
In her address, the Lord Lieutenant said that the County were delighted that the County Regiment was once more back in Suvla Barracks, its home since 1908.
Maj Ken Crockford, the last surviving Herefordshire Regiment WW2 Officer, died at his home in Godalming after a long battle with cancer (see obituaries). Col Andy Taylor (Commandant Hereford & Worcester ACF) and Maj James Hereford attended the funeral on 16th June and Buglers were provided by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles. Although he subsequently served with the RASC/RCT,
The Rifles are well and truly on Herefordshire’s map
Fittingly, the handover took place at the Bar of ‘The Volunteer’
permanent fixture, with attendance increasing year by year.
Finally, in June, Maj James Hereford retired as County Colonel, after a busy and successful seven years. We thank him for his relentless enthusiasm and energy, promoting the interests of The Rifles in Herefordshire. Due to him,
the Regiment’s standing in the County thrives
and prospers. The Rifles are well and truly on Herefordshire’s map, with three Freedoms gained, formal adoption by the County and, as described earlier, a RIFLES Army Reserve presence finally established. James has also provided significant support to the Regiment, making arrangements for casualties of our recent campaigns, including repatriations and services for our three Herefordshire riflemen killed in action. These tasks he took on with typical sensitivity and attention to detail, deeply appreciated by the families and all in our tight knit community.
James has now passed the baton to Brig Martin Vine, who will build on these sound foundations. Fittingly, the handover took place at the Bar of ‘The Volunteer’ in Harold Street, a Hostelry well known to generations of Riflemen from Suvla Barracks.
Brig Martin Vine, County Colonel Herefordshire
Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum
The past 12 months has seen much activity in the Museum, principal amongst these has been preparation for Re- Accreditation (case submitted June 2014 and still awaiting outcome) and general activity in support
AGM about his time in Command of 1 RIFLES and Afghanistan deployments.
Acquisitions to the Museum continue and this year we have acquired several significant medal
groups:
The Richards brothers from World
War One - both joined the Herefordshire Regiment in August 1914 and served at Suvla Bay. Pte George Richards was awarded the Military Medal for services in France in 1918, and Pte Arthur Richards who was killed in Action, in France in September 1918.
Maj WAP Crofts – Military Cross gazetted in March 1945.
Lt K H Crockford – Military Cross gazetted in January 1946. Maj Crofts had been Lt Crockford’s Company Commander and had written the citation for the award of his MC. Colonel Andy Taylor, Honorary Curator
of the First World War centenary. The regular band of willing helpers has taken on a range of minor tasks to enhance the Museum’s profile – we now have an embryonic website (http:// herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/) thanks mainly to John Scott which we are continuing to build and the Museum opened to the public twice a week
in June and July. The opening of the Museum brought a small but steady flow of interested visitors.
The Friends of the Museum continue to be in good heart and provide most valuable support to the Museum. Colonel James de la Billiere gave a most interesting address at the Friends
Perks Embodiment Notice
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWS 227