Page 250 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019
P. 250

Rifles and RGBW Regimental Association News
Gloucestershire & Racing Remembers 18th November 2018
The county of Gloucestershire in conjunction with the owners of Cheltenham Racecourse came up with an eye catching way of commemorating the 100th anniversary of The Armistice of 1918.
Using the open space offered by the racecourse they were able to have re-enactors demonstrating cavalry skills, lay out a First World War Filed Hospital as well as having vintage aircraft of that ere.
Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Retired Rob Dixon and the sterling organisational skills of Len Keeling and Rob Howells 100 former members the Glorious Glosters volunteered to form an Honour Guard all dressed in World War One uniforms. The task of obtaining the uniforms, storing them and sizing them to fit the volunteers who had also to be organised could only have been achieved by a well drill team. Hats off to the whole of those involved.
         Back Badge Service and Lunch
The annual Back Badge Church Service was held at St Mary De Lode Church on Saturday 23 March on a fine brisk Spring Day. The service was followed by a march through the city led by a combined band of the Army Cadet Force and the ACF Rifles Bugles, Standards flying, and the Associ- ation marching element being supported a Rifles detachment of the Gloucestershire ACF. The lunch was taken at Walls Social Club
  The March Past
  Members taking their leave of the Vicar of St Mary De Lode flanked by the Standards
   Devizes Reunion 02 June 2019.
Numbers were down for the Devizes
Reunion, which though originally a
Wiltshire Regiment Reunion has expanded
to include all regiments of the Association.
The decline in numbers is partly due to diminishing numbers but for 2019 the closeness for the DERR event (described below) probably had a greater impact on reducing attendee numbers.
Having assembled in Devizes Market Place, on a bright sunny summer’s morning, movement to St John’s Church was carried out individually, to cater for the differing paces of the older and bolder members. Once assemble in the church the standards were marched in, laid up whilst the service was conducted by the Venerable Alan Jeans.
Thereafter a short form up inside the Devizes Town War Memorial where the Association Chairman reviewed the membership and Lieutenant Colonel John Venus MBE laid a wreath on behalf of the Association.
The formal aspect of the day completed everyone retired to the Devizes Town Hall for lunch and a gift of a pint of 6X from the Wadsworth Brewery.
  248 RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES
The Honour Guard of the Glorious Glosters being inspected by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Edward Gillespie OBE
 Lt Col (retd) John Venus MBE laying the wreath flanked by the Standard Bearers













































































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