Page 228 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

AT SIR JOHN MOORE’S BURIAL 210 YEARS AGO (“NOT A DRUM WAS HEARD, NOT A FUNERAL NOTE, AS HIS CORPSE TO THE RAMPART WE HURRIED...”)
We have now shared 1a Iverna Gardens, London W8 with Bn HQ 7 RIFLES for nearly two years by the time this article is published. This “jointery” is a new and positive experience for us as we are lodged between the Adjutant’s and the RSM’s office and are thus privy to all the gossip and banter and of course some serious discussion that is within earshot. Sometimes the place is a bit like an outstation of the Battersea Dogs home with the Caretaker’s dog, the ExOs hound, the RSMs rather superior “Rupert”, who likes the sofa in the reception area, and the Adjt’s - a man’s best friend. The downside is that copious amounts of dog biscuits are required to keep all the doggies happy otherwise they all bark to draw attention to themselves.
From 1945 – 2004 the Royal Navy had the building as their London recruiting centre as well as a base for the Naval Provost Staff who had “suitable” single accommodation in the cellar for apprehended AWOL sailors. The fallout from this is that we get the odd call from long-term absentee sailors wanting to turn themselves in after many years on the run – one even enquired about his pension rights!
Remembrance week was, as ever, very busy, with the Rifles plot at the Westminster Field of Remembrance well attended. Sadly, for the Cenotaph March Past we were not able to fill all our 40 slots which was disappointing. Hopefully we will have a better turn out in 2019. Over 10 wreaths were laid at the grave side of our Rifles KIA in the wider Greater London area by now a loyal band of ex regulars and reservist and were one comes all the way from the UAE to lay a wreath in Essex.
At the beginning of 2019 we had the now traditional wreath laying at the Sir John Moore Memorial in St Paul’s with a good Regular and Reservist attendance and very welcome partici- pation of the Oxf & Bucks LI Assn, KRRC Assn, RGJ Assn and the KOYLI Assn from all the way from up North. In fact, we had 52 participants not only from the Rifles but also representatives
from all our antecedent regiments associated with Moore at Corunna or involved with developing his unique training methods and tactics. Thus we were leased to welcome a small team from Corunna Company 1 YORKS from Warminster whose antecedent regiment the 76th of Foot were part of Moore’s force at Corunna.
Special thanks go to the buglers from The Buglers Association of The Light Division & Rifles, Jake Puxley and Barry Dixon, who were superb in the difficult acoustic environment (receding echo) of St Paul’s and more than made up for the lack of ceremony, for tactical reasons, at Sir John Moore’s burial 210 years ago (“Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, As his corpse to the rampart we hurried......”).
In early July we held our 4th Transition Workshop in support those considering leaving the Regiment or who have left the Rifles within the last year. The aim of the workshops was to provide a context for the workplace beyond the military and an insight on career options to those who are considering a second career whilst also painting the picture of opportunity provided by a full military career. The programme comprised of a series of short presentations on life outside the Army in careers such a finance, marketing, start-ups, teaching, 3rd Sector and Management Consultancy. The presentations, which were honest and open, were delivered by former Riflemen. The underlying message was “the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence” and a move into Civvy Str requires a lot of preparation and planning.
On 9 July, and on a more sombre note, there was a good participation of Civic dignitaries, family, friends and fellow Riflemen (Coy Comd, Pl Comd, Pl Sjt, Sect Comd & 4 Rfn) at the Service of Dedication of a memorial stone in the military section of the Croydon Crematorium in memory of Riflemen Danny Simpson, C Coy 2 RIFLES, KIA 10 July 2009 in Afghanistan. Also remembered in the prayers were the four other Riflemen, Cpl Jonathan Horne, Rfn William Aldridge, Rfn James Backhouse and Rfn Joseph Murphy, all of whom died in the same incident.
And finally, on the 19th of July the Rifles Officer’s Club Regimental Dinner was held in the now familiar venue, the Old Library, Guildhall, City of London, with 168 serving and retired officers of the Rifles sitting down.
J-D v M
The Rifles London Office
“THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE”
226 RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES