Page 45 - QARANC Vol 16 No 2 2018

South Downs Branch
Thirty-five serving and retired South Downs Branch members enjoyed a historic presentation at the nerve centre of Operation Overlord, in the map room at Southwick House, from where General Eisenhower commanded the D-Day Landings. It was fascinating to see the original wall map on which the progress of three million men and 2,727 ships was plotted, which turned the tide of World War 2. Willie, our museum curator, was full of praise for the QARANC; a Falklands veteran himself, he had seen the hospital ship, SS Uganda, in action. It was fascinating to hear the detail of the D-Day Landings, including the six month ‘imprisonment’ of the map builders, to maintain secrecy; the ingenious ways the ships navigated the minefields in the English Channel, by ‘run-way’ lighting, and the fabrication of troop activity north of the Channel, to distract enemy attention.
Over the last 12 months, members from the branch have attended a Royal Garden Party hosted by the Countess of Wessex, our Colonel in Chief, and a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Members joined with the Royal College of Nursing to honour nurses fallen in the Great Wars. A Turning of the Pages ceremony was held at the RCN Headquarters, where the RCN Book of Remembrance
and a copy of the QARANC Book of Remembrance and names were presented. The Branch attended the Field of Remembrance ceremony in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, and the Cenotaph parade as well as the Army Medical Services Carol Service and supper at QARANC Regimental Headquarters at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley.
This year members joined DMG(S) personnel for their March Corps Day celebrations at Netley, and attended the QA Association reunion lunch at the Victory Services Club in London. A total of 87 QA Association members were present, including a nurse who was on the beaches of Normandy for the D-Day Landings. I had a wonderful talk with her; she had just returned from a battlefield tour.
Looking to the future, we planned our AGM to seek opportunities to build the branch. We look forward to the Glover Lecture on 6 July at QARANC RHQ, where six QARANC personnel, regular and reserve, will be awarded the QARANC annual awards, which are part funded by the QA Association. We are excited to welcome new members who are busy planning a variety of activities... delighted to say I think the gin distillery made it to the Branch calendar!
Lieutenant Colonel Debra Ritsperis
THE GAZETTE QARANC
South Downs Branch Members enjoying their AGM
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BRANCH NEWS