Page 29 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

71 personnel from 256 (City of London) Field Hospital under the guns at the Imperial War Museum, Southwark
Press, Local Radio Podcasts and live feeds, on the internet in various Chatrooms and Blogs. We made the ITV London news and the BBC will be screening footage as part of the build up to Remembrance Weekend this year.
256 Fd Hosp would like to thank all who supported the event, Military personnel, guests, veterans, entertainers and spectators for making the day a complete success.
Acknowledgement must be passed onto to The Band of The Life Guards for providing an outstanding accompaniment to the service during what must have been a very hot, long and tiring 90 minutes, including the march, and to members
of 4 Armoured Medical Regiment who were providing a display stand but ended up supporting the overwhelmed St Johns Ambulance personnel; the weather having taken its toll on some of the personnel and veterans.
Finally while an event of this size wouldn’t have taken place without an enormous of amount of hard work by so many people behind the scenes special mention must go to three members of LBS, the Mayors Private Secretary Sonia Sutton, Mrs Gillian Allwright and Mr Michael Cleere, PC Carl Watson (Met Police) and the permanent staff of 256 Fd Hosp without whom the event simply wouldn’t have happened.
THE GAZETTE QARANC 27
ARMED FORCES DAY 2013
Malvern Hills – Coltman Honour March
The Coltman Honour March was a challenging 12km stretcher carry, yomp or bimble organised by Commander Defence Medical Group Surgeon Commodore Peter and Mrs Susan Buxton and the Malvern Branch of the Royal British Legion as part of their Armed Forces Day Celebrations on Saturday 29th June 2013.
Teams from MDHU Northallerton, MDHU Frimley Park, RCDM, DMRC, Intelligence Corps (TA) as well as DMS(W) took part raising around £2,000 for RBL charities.
It was by no accident that this event was organised as a stretcher race! LCpl William Coltman VC (Coltman Hse in DMS Whittington is named after him) was stretcher bearer in the South Staffs during WW1 and subsequently became
the most decorated British soldier in the Great War. As well as the VC he gained the DSM and Bar, MM and Bar along with a MiD! All this whilst being unarmed – he was a conscientious objector – but steadfastly went about his business providing care under fire and pulling casualties out of the forward edge of the battle area.
Team DMS(W) at the end of a gruelling 12km stretcher carry, beaten only by MDHU Northallerton Fell Runners (who were dressed in running strips and carrying an inflatable manikin!) and closely followed in by a strong MDHU Frimley Park team.
Team DMS(W) finished in a respectable 2 hours and 4 minutes and raised £140.00 for RBL charities!
This was a tough but enjoyable event which I know Comd DMG and
his wife intend to repeat next year. Hopefully more teams will take part and raise more money for the RBL. David Bates
Team DMS(W) Coltman Honour March – Rear: Mr Cook, Flt Lt Webb, Maj Leighton, SSgt(SSI) Pyburn. Middle: Sgt Ryan, Col Bates and Lcpl Haycock. Front: Casualty provided by Welbeck School. Behind the Camera: Sqn Ldr Cook and Mrs Leighton (support party)