Page 79 - Bugle Autumn 2024

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TEAM VENTURE
If you had walked through Waterloo Train Station on the
final weekend of July 2022 you would have passed a slightly unusual scene. To raise money for charity Capt Rob Treasure (1 RIFLES), Capt Rob Cross (1WG) and Capt Charles Newman (RA) undertook a 24hr static row. The reason for doing this? To raise awareness for their unassisted row across the Atlantic Ocean.
When they launch from La Gomera on 12th December 2024 as part of The World’s Toughest Row- Atlantic 3,000 miles of open ocean will lie between them and their destination in Antigua. By maintaining a rotation of 2hrs on and 1hr off the oars, they will compete to win the trio’s category and become the first official all serving military trio to row any ocean. Weathering Atlantic storms, temperatures as high as 40C and losing on average
20% of their bodyweight along the way; the Atlantic Crossing is a challenge like few others. The record crossing time for a trio stands at just over 35 days. Despite having completed well over the mandatory 120 hours of on-water training, the team still have a long way to go to reach the start line!
The trio will look to raise £200,000 for their four chosen charities, which include Macmillan Cancer Support and Care for Casualties. To help fundraise, they swam across the Channel as a team; swimming preparation they’re hoping that they won’t need during the row!
If you would like to follow the team as they build up to
their departure you can follow them on social media as @ TeamV3nture. Alternatively, you can reach out to them over email on, TeamV3nture@gmail.com or donate on their JustGiving page, https://linktr.ee/teamv3nture
D-DAY80
RIFLES COMMEMORATION AT PEGASUS BRIDGE
D-Day 1944 saw the action by Major John Howard’s D Company, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who, in the very first Allied action of D-Day itself, seized the two bridges over the River Orne and the parallel canal at Bénouville.
The 2024 RIFLES deployment consisted of the Salamanca Band and Bugles of 6 RIFLES, 6 Regimental Buglers from 1RIFLES and 13 junior ranks from 2 and 5 RIFLES, all volunteers.
We were kindly accommodated by French hosts in the Salle des Fêtes in Sannerville, where we gave an informal concert for the Mayor, the Regional Member of Parliament and many locals. We then supported the evening act of remembrance organised by the French authorities at the Sannerville Commonwealth War Grave, with Riflemen picketing the Memorial Stone.
The next day we sounded Retreat at the Pegasus Bridge and, at midnight, the entire RIFLES group doubled across the Bridge in front of, around and even through several thousand spectators who had gathered, before the Act of Remembrance at the glider landing site, led by Major Howard’s daughter Penny and granddaughter Kerry.
The following day we greeted the determined marchers from the Always a Rifleman Programme, who had walked from England to Pegasus Bridge. Each walker was awarded a commemorative medal by General Sir Robert Pascoe, a former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets, the successors to the Oxs & Bucks.
Great thanks go to the Commanding Officers of 1, 2, 5 and 6 RIFLES for releasing those Riflemen who volunteered for the trip, and the Salamanca Band & Bugles. We thank especially the Bandmaster, Captain Lee Clayson and his outstanding musicians for their dedicated and imaginative work over the several days.
(Photographs by Rfn Danny Scott, 5RIFLES)
We thank especially the Bandmaster, Captain Lee Clayson and his outstanding musicians for their dedicated
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