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OCTOBER 2019 1

Royal Anglian NewsOctober 2019

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Regimental Matters

Front cover: Poachers Range Day

Appointment • Brig S J Biddick MBE MC is appointed Dep Col of The Regiment for the 1st Bn vice Brig J M Woodham

CBE MC

Brigadier Dom Biddick has commanded 20th

Armoured Infantry Brigade since July 2018. He

previously served on exchange with the US Army, working as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff

of the US Army in the Pentagon. He commanded

the 1st Battalion. This time was defined by

deployment to Afghanistan and the opportunity to

establish and command the US, UK and Australian multinational battalion within the Kabul Security

Force. His Lieutenant Colonel staff appointment

was Military Assistant to the 4* Commander-in-Chief of UK Land Forces. Other posts have

included: SO2 Army Strategy in the MOD during the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review;

Company Command in the 1st Battalion, and SO2

J2 16 Air Assault Brigade. In his early career he served in England, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan

in a range of command and staff posts. He was commissioned in 1996 after a period of service in the

ranks. Brigadier Dom Biddick is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course (2018) and the Advanced Command and Staff Course (2011). He has completed an MPhil in International Relations at

Cambridge University and MA in Defence Studies with King’s College London. He was appointed MBE for service as a Close Observation Platoon Commander in Northern Ireland in 2001 and awarded the

Military Cross following Op HERRICK 6 in 2008. He was appointed Deputy Colonel of the Regiment in

Oct 19.

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• R F L Lynne is appointed Deputy Colonel of The Regiment vice Maj Gen S L Porter CBE

Colonel Richard Lyne is now working on several

challenging recruiting projects at the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command. Over a

varied and challenging career, Richard has served in Germany, the UK, Cyprus, Canada, Norway and

the Middle East and has deployed on military

operations in Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, South Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has

commanded and led soldiers at Platoon, Company and Battalion levels including, in 2011, the

deployment of 3 R ANGLIAN to Cyprus in

support of the United Nations. In addition, he has served in a broad range of operations and planning

staff appointments and on the personal staff of the Chief of the General Staff. Among many professional qualifications, he is a graduate of the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course and the Royal College of

Defence Studies. He was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment from The Royal Military Academy

Sandhurst in 1987. He was appointed Deputy Colonel of Regiment in October 2019.

• Maj Gen S L Porter CBE has kindly agreed to remain in post as the President of the Regt Association

• The Regiment congratulates Col G B Foden on his selection to attend the HCSC in Jan 20

London Gazette Extracts September 2019 Promotions

SSC • OCdt H I M Di-Lieto to be 2Lt wef Aug 19

• OCdt J N H Kelly to be 2Lt wef Aug 19

• OCdt R A Ledsham to be 2Lt wef Aug 19

• OCdt R J Smith to be 2Lt wef Aug 19

• OCdt R Smith to be 2Lt wef Aug 19

LSGCM • Cpl D M T Barritt

1st Clasp to LSGC • Maj G J R Hudson

VRSM • Capt M J Blayney

Retirements • Brig J M Woodham CBE Oct 19

OCTOBER 2019 3




Mrs Teresa Lyell Chief Clerk RHQ

Mrs Teresa Lyell has left RHQ after a long period of

loyal service to the Regiment and innumerable

Regimental and Area Secretaries. Teresa was lunched out and presented with a Regimental print

for her loyal service to the Regiment.

OCTOBER 2019 4

Diary Dates

November 1 Regt Council Meetings

1 Regt Officers’ Dinner Club

2 Cambs Utd FC Game - Regt Benevolence

3 Chapel Sunday - Warley

7 Field of Remembrance - Westminster Abbey

10 Regt Remembrance Service - IWM Duxford

11 Norfolk Regt Cottages Remembrance Service

21 Henry Blofeld talk - Cambridge, in aid of Regt Benevolence

December


7 Regt Carol Service - St Mary’s Church - BSE

19 RHQ Standown

January 2020

3 RHQ Return to Duty


Mrs Teresa Lyell and the Regimental Secretary




New Regimental Shop Have you had eyes-on The Royal Anglian Regiment's new shop? Royal Anglian Direct is live now! www.RoyalAnglianDirect.co.uk. A proportion of the funds from Royal Anglian Direct will be fed back into

The Regiment to support our benevolence and welfare activities.

OCTOBER 2019 5




1st Battalion

Vikings Freedom of Haverhill Sunday 6th October saw the 1st Battalion (The Vikings) exercise their Freedom of Haverhill,

marching with bayonets fixed and drums beating through the high street and to the market square.

Poulters Lunch In September the Poulters held a lunchtime reception for the Regiment at the Naval & Military

club (otherwise known as the ‘IN & Out’) in St

James’ Square, London.

About forty Vikings attended. The Master welcomed

them and General Sir John McColl. He thanked

them for their commitment and dedication to duty.

In response, the CO, Lt Col Phil Moxey thanked the

Livery for the strong bond between us which is

much appreciated by the Regiment. He gave a

resumé of their work overseas and a brief insight into operations to come.

Past Master John Briggs organised the event which was sponsored by each Liveryman present.

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2nd Battalion (The Poachers) During October the Poachers have really begun to get to grips with their new mechanised vehicles and start to understand how to operate them effectively. Both A (Lincolnshire) and B (Leicestershire) Coy

have conducted battle camps at Stanford Training Area, whilst C (Northamptonshire) and D

(Hertfordshire) Coy have continued to qualify drivers and commanders on their vehicles and look forward to getting out on exercise next month. As a look forward to, November will see the Battalion conduct its

main training event prior to Christmas with both a live firing and battle exercise package planned. More to follow in next month’s edition.

OCTOBER 2019 7




3rd Battalion (The Steelbacks)

Steelbacks Cambrian Patrol Success October has been an excellent month for the Steelbacks. Following tough Battalion training in

Brecon in September, the Battalion returned to business as usual with Exercise Steelbacks Compass

providing excellent marksmanship training for the

troops and an opportunity for all the Companies to reunite and focus on honing their warfighting skills.

The Steelbacks’ Cambrian Patrol, led by Lt Jordan Wain, did an exceptional job earlier this month and

won a silver medal in gruelling conditions. With the

Poachers now settled into Cottesmore, mutually beneficial activity between the Battalions has gathered pace. Sights now begin to re-zero on the road to war and preparation for Exercise Wessex Storm next

year where the Steelbacks will be the core of a 450 strong force opposing the Poachers BG, the Queens Dragoon Guards and 6 Regiment RLC as they are put through their paces on Salisbury Plain in February

2020! With all three Battalions in the UK there was a rare opportunity for six teams across the Regiment

to race against 200 other teams from 1 UK Division in the first UK based Bismark Challenge up in York. All teams performed very well across the five mile loaded relay race, all finishing comfortably in the top

third and importantly providing a rare opportunity for a photo of Vikings, Poachers and Steelbacks all representing the Royal Anglians in the Division.

And finally – we should recognise the achievement of

Private Kirk of Number 4 Company, who was awarded the prize for Best Soldier on her Combat

Infantry Course.

The Cambrian Patrol competition is one of the

toughest international military competitions in the

world. It well test soldiers on their basic military skills, determination and physical robustness.

The 3rd Battalion's (The Steelbacks) team managed to secure a very impressive silver medal this year.

OCTOBER 2019 8




Museum News This month the Royal Anglian Regiment Museum attended the Army Museums Ogilby Trust conference. This year’s conference was at the Scottish London Drill Hall, which was a great building, and the talks were

very optimistic from the Military Museum sector.

We also spent another day down at the reserve collection putting away new donations of objects as well as objects that had previously not been identified. One of our newer volunteers who had served with the

1st Battalion has been instrumental in helping to sort out queries on objects for the reserve collection.

General The Lord Dannatt

General the Lord Dannatt gave a talk at the Cambridge Union. Entitled 'Boots on the Ground - D-Day and Today', he described the changing demands on the British

Army in a geo-political context from the end of World War II to now. A fascinating and thought-

provoking talk about the impact of the changing

world and on the soldiers who wear the boots.

An audience of serving and former soldiers and

members of the Cambridge AFC filled the Debating Chamber at the Cambridge Union. They were joined

by former members of military support companies

who now live in Cambridge.

OCTOBER 2019 9




Greeting Lord Dannatt were Vanessa Burkitt (friend of the Regiment whose company, Catherine Jones of

Cambridge was the organising sponsor) and Bill Bailey who worked directly with the General.

The had not met for over ten years. This is how they worked together.

'In 2003 , as a Lieutenant General Dannatt was appointed as Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Force

(COM ARRC) NATO’s premier rapid reaction corps headquarters, with UK and multi-national divisions under his command. During his tenure in command General Dannatt led the ARRC planning for possible

deployments to either Iraq or Afghanistan. I was his Chief G2; his head of intelligence during this period,

where we spent many hours together. He left the ARRC on promotion to full general to take over as Commander-in-Chief, Land Command in March 2005. The ARRC headquarters, with me still in it,

subsequently deployed successfully to Afghanistan and commanded all NATO forces in theatre from May 2006 to February 2007. '

The evening was a fund-raiser for the Regiment's Benevolent charity.

WO1 Towe

Many members of the Regiment will know WO1

Simon Towe well. He was the Drum Major of the 2nd Battalion’s Corps of Drums and on taking up his

current appointment as the Army’s Senior Dum

Major he has achieved a lifetime ambition. We remember that in 2006 he won the Cutlers Sword,

which is presented to the best member of a Corps of Drums in the Army. In November this year he will be

leading the joint Drums concentration for both the

1st and the 2nd Battalion. The Regiment sent its warm congratulations of the award of the

Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) to WO1 Simon Towe.

OCTOBER 2019 10




7th Battalion Officers’ Dining Club The 7th Battalion Officers’ Dining Club held their annual reunion at the Whipper Inn Hotel, Oakham,

organised once again by Major Robert Beech. This event has been on-going for the past 30 years .

Regimental silver was on the table representing the composite regiments which formed the 7th Battalion, and all the Companies from the Battalion were on parade.

OCTOBER 2019 11

Capt Martin, Major Freeman, Lt Wong Major Beech, Major Howe and Captain Hunt Major Smith.

Lt Jaques, Col Williams, Major Cole, Capt Cunningham, Capt Dance and Major Chell.




Association News Lincolnshire

1919-2019 Centenary Re-Dedication of East Kirkby War Memorial

On Saturday 19th October, exactly 100 years to the

day since the War Memorial in East Kirkby, near Horncastle, was originally dedicated the villagers held a

100th anniversary event in order to re-dedicate the war memorial, which was well supported by the entire

Regimental family.

Approximately 150 people attended a Service in the local church, and then marched down to the village

war memorial where followed a re-dedication of the Memorial itself. The 2nd Battalion was represented by

WO2 Rawdon, and No 4 Coy 3rd Battalion by C/Sgt

Edgar, while both the Lincoln and Grimsby Branches sent strong contingents coupled with their Branch Standards, carried by Mr D Metcalfe MBE and Mr C

Long.

Our County Colonel, Geoff Newmarch, read one of the lessons in church and Major Jim Freeman laid a

wreath on behalf of the Regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Bacon, President of the Lincolnshire Association, was also in attendance along with Major Bill O’Driscoll former Area 2 Regimental Secretary with Terry Browning one of our oldest

Royal Lincolns. It was most pleasing to see a very strong turnout of cadets from the ACF.

OCTOBER 2019 12




Far East POW Pilgrimage

OCTOBER 2019 13

Far East POW Pilgrimage, Singapore & Thailand 2020

75th Anniversary The Pilgrimage for 33 and 38 passengers in 2013 and 2015 respectively to The Far East was so popular and such a huge success that the decision has been taken to run another tour for 2020 as part of the 75th Anniversary VJ commemorations. Once again, the tour will be managed by Royal British Legion Battlefield Guide / NFFWRA Associate and Committee member Gerry Norden and the party will journey under the umbrella of Remembrance Travel- the official travel arm of The Royal British Legion. The provisional dates will be depart Heathrow for Singapore on Monday 2nd November 2020 returning Heathrow Sunday 15th November 2020. The first week will be based in Singapore before flying up to Bangkok for week two. During the Pilgrimage the group will take part in remembrance services and wreath laying ceremonies both in Singapore (Kranji), and Thailand. On 11th November we will participate in the remembrance service at Kanchanaburi Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery (CWGC), Thailand. The proposal is to put together (once again), a tailor made bespoke tour primarily for Fepows, wives, widows, families and those with a keen interest in this particular theatre of War. We will endeavour to accommodate personal requests where possible especially in respect of visits to CWGC”S, monuments and memorials. In addition, staff at The Thai Burma Railway Centre (TBRC), will research and establish background history of POW’s where required by travelling relatives. Singapore Includes locations such as Adam Park, The Battlebox/Fort Canning, Changi Museum, Changi Murals, Roberts Baracks and The Causeway. Thailand We will explore and talk about many POW camps travelling between Bangkok and Three Pagodas Pass on the Burma border. Includes train ride on the existing part of the railway built by the POW’S including the Wampo viaduct & Chungkai Cutting. Guided walking tour of Hellfire Pass. Full funding is available for any veteran plus two carers. Given the previous popularity of this Pilgrimage and to avoid disappointment you are advised to book your place at the earliest opportunity. Please contact tour Manager Gerry Norden by e mail: [email protected] or mobile 07736 085860 and for all additional information and enquiries.




Regimental Bulletins

This month RHQ has sent the Regimental family xx Regimental bulletins, which will also be available on

the Regimental Website: • Bulletin 97/19 - Death of Sidney Woods

• Bulletin 98/19 - Death of In Pensioner Cecil

Worrall

• Bulletin 99/19 - Death of Steve Britton

• Bulletin 100/19 - Burial of WW1 Soldiers

• Bulletin 101/19 -Regt Remembrance Service

• Bulletin 102/99 - SSI Post Job

• Bulletin 103/99 - Death of Dick Carter

• Bulletin 104/19 - Cambridge United Football Match

• Bulletin 105/19 - Death of Ronald Impey

• Bulletin 106/19 - Sortie Day Greetings

OCTOBER 2019 14




Henry Blofeld in Aid of the Regimental Benevolent Fund

Henry Blofeld - Dancing Down the Pitch

Thursday 21 November 2019

Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ https://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/tickets/events/henry-blofeld-dancing-down-pitch

His ebullient, breathless story-telling without full-stops, his unique, infectious style and resonant voice have

made his one-man show a riotous success with full houses across the nation. And now at Great Saint Mary’s. Henry's idiosyncratic and colourful, picture-painting commentary reached a world-wide cricket

audience over his 45 year-tenure in the commentary box of the legendary TMS, BBC’s Test Match. Blower’s made every ball sound like an event: every rotation of a Duke’s or a Kookuburra ‘cherry’, the

thwack of a bat, the pandemonium of a run-out or the gymnastics of an un-makeable catch he described

with exuberant energy and verve. He filled the spaces of ‘Rain stops play’ with poetry.

Henry took you to the ground with him observing the colourful, eccentric and random observations of

the pigeons in the outfield, the medium-fast aeroplanes flying over Lords into Heathrow, the buses past Trent Bridge or the butterflies and seagulls. He showed the radio audience pictures beyond the narrow

view of what went on in the middle.

After the show, Henry will be signing copies of his new book ‘My A-Z of Cricket: A personal celebration of our glorious game’ that will be on sale.

Sponsored by Catherine Jones, the Cambridge jeweller, 9 Bridge Street, next to the Round Church. is the organising sponsor of the event. www.catherinejones.com

Funds are raised for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent charity. Charity Commission 1085050

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https://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/tickets/events/henry-blofeld-dancing-down-pitch

http://www.catherinejones.com/


Regimental Carol Service The 2019 Regimental Carol Service, in aid of The Regimental Benevolence Charity and in association with

SSAFA, will be held in St Mary’s Church, Bury St

Edmunds, IP331RT at 1100 hours on Saturday 7th December 2019. The Service will musical

accompaniment from The Royal Anglian Regiment Band as well as the excellent choir of St Mary’s. Seasonal light

refreshments will be served, after the Service, at the

back of the church.

All members of the Regimental Family are warmly

invited to attend, and encouraged to bring their family and friends. It is likely to be a popular occasion and act

as a focus for pre Christmas reunions. Should you know

that you plan to attend the Service, and in order to get the catering correct, would you kindly email RHQ at

[email protected].

OCTOBER 2019 16


mailto:[email protected]


royal anglian news · organised once again by major robert beech. this event has been on-going for...

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