Page 224 - The Bugle 2018

Oxford Branch of the RGJ Assn at the grave of Maj John Howard OBLI, hero
of Pegasus Bridge. L to R: Bugle Major Phil King, Roy Shaler, Maj Terry Roper, Maj Paddy Proctor
managing a project to secure funding for a further Book of Remembrance to remember those from the RGJ and Rifles who have given their lives for their Regiment and Country. This will sit alongside the two OBLI WW1 and WW2 books.
On June 6th we again held the annual service at Major John Howard’s Grave in Clifton Hampden to pay homage to him and the men from the 52nd who took Pegasus Bridge on 6th June 1944. Over 40 Vets, members of the Association and general public attended with a relative of Major Howard, Derek Chivers laying a wreath on the grave at 1216 hrs. Precisely 12 hours after the first of the three gliders landed almost on what was to be known as Pegasus Bridge on that historic day in 1944.
On 8th July three members of the branch, Terry Roper, Roy (stubby) Stephens and Ken Brown considered themselves fit enough to join our fellow Rifleman to take part in The Rifles exercising their
THANKFULLY WE DID NOT NEED TO SHOUT MEDIC AND ENJOYED A WELL-EARNED BEVVY AFTER THE PARADE AND WERE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH MANY OLD FRIENDS
Freedom of Winchester. Thankfully we did not need to shout MEDIC and enjoyed a well-earned bevvy after the parade and were able to catch up with many old friends at the RGJ reunion at Sir John Moore Barracks. On 16th July we held the annual Band Concert at Edward Brooks Barracks courtesy of the Waterloo Band and Bugles with members of the Bugle association swelling its ranks. As usual the music was of the highest standard with a good balance of Regimental and modern music. It is good to see this devel- oping into a family affair and members from other branches attending with over 70 present. We hope for a further increased attendance in 2018
A project for a fitting memorial at the old Cowley Barrack’s that is to become Student Accommo- dation is going well with the developers very much on side and happy to finance and manage this. Plans are also in the early stage to house the original Cassel Memorial that has been replaced by a new one in France in the in St Mary’s Church in Cowley. This was the Chapel of the OBLI. We expect slow progress as the Church authorities will need to agree to a faculty before installation can take place.
The branch is looking forward to new challenges that next year will bring and are keen to encourage those in our area who are leaving The Rifles and looking for a home to join us.
Terry Roper
Chairman Oxford Branch
230 REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES