‍The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Association

‍Serving the veterans of the current & former Infantry Regiments of Gloucestershire, Berkshire & Wiltshire

‍Dear  ‍Visitor ‍

‍IN MEMORIAM

‍On Tuesday 14 November 2023 Brain Wright, a former RSM, Officer and gentleman of the 1^st battalion died at his home in Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon. A service will be held at Torquay Crematorium, and dates/timings will be published when finalised. The Somerset County Chairman has been in contact with his Son and Daughter (Bob & Sadie) and they have requested full Association support at his funeral. Regimental Drape, Wreath, Hat and belt will be supplied by the County Chairman, but volunteers as standard bearers and a bugler. Bob and Sadie cordially invite all Gloster friends and families to the service.

‍Capt. Denis Waters formerly of 9, Bracken Close, Honiton, Devon EX14 2YS died on the 12th of November 2023 peacefully at home, aged 91.

Denis's funeral will be held at the East Devon Crematorium, London Road, Strete Ralegh, Whimple EX5 2PT on Friday 1st December 2023 at 1.45 p.m.

A Celebration of Denis's life will continue following the service at The Otter Inn, Weston, Honiton EX14 3NZ.

Denis Waters gained his National Service Commission in January 1952 and he joined 1^st battalion The Wiltshire Regiment in Hong Kong in June 1952. Much of his time in Hong Kong was spent in D Company and like most of the Rifle Companies in 1 Wilts their primary role was raining the draft reinforcements for the Infantry Battalions serving in Korea. Denis completed his National Service and returned back to the UK.

Having settled down into civilian life Dens, like many of his National Service contemporaries, found he missed the comradeship of found in an Infantry regiment and joined the Territorial Army, joining 4^th Bn The Wiltshire Regiment. Denis must have been a smart officer, for on no more than four occasions between 1956 and 1958 he carried the Regimental Colour on formal parades. With the 1959 amalgamation of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and The Wiltshire Regiment and the subsequent morphing of the rump of 4^th Battalion into 1 Wessex, Denis Waters became an active member of the Wiltshire Regimental Association and was a committee member up until its demise.

‍On Saturday 16 November Fran Cowley died peacefully at his home aged 96. Details of his funeral will be released when known.

Frank Cowley was called up for National Service in 1945 and did his 6 weeks primary training and 10 weeks Corp training at Colchester.  The Band of the Gloucestershire Regiment were looking for musicians, so Frank applied and joined their Band.  Within a matter of weeks Band Master Dalrymple of 2^nd Battalion the Wiltshire Regiment claimed him back into the Wiltshire Regiment at the Regimental Depot in Devizes.

At this time, he was a good cornet player and as he met many professional players who joined military bands, he acquired more musical skills and a fantastic tone.

He was with the Wiltshire Regiment for 3 years and then joined the Great Western Railway Band at Swindon and eventually became their conductor.  It was around this time that he also won many championship prizes and was voted the 4^th Best Cornet Player in Britain.

He formed his own brass band called Swindon Brass.  He is not only a top cornet player but also a trumpet player and even in 2018 is still able to play the Post Horn Gallop on a Post Horn.

Frank Cowley has over countless years attended many funerals of Wiltshire, DERR. And RGBW servicemen and played the Last Post and Reveille and is still doing so even in his 90’s, playing those emotive calls in his clear and beautiful tone.  He has also provided the Last Post and Reveille for the Ferozeshah Reunion when they were originally held in the Swindon TA Centre in the mid 1990’s and more recently whilst they have been held in the Wyvern Club in Devizes. His last public engagement was playing the Last Post and Reveille at the Interment of the Ashes of the Colours of the 62^nd (Wiltshire regiment of Foot) in Nay 2023 at The Wardrobe.

‍On 11 November 2023 Mick Berry, who served with 1^st Battalion the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, died.  Unfortunately no further details have been given.

‍WELCOME BACK TO THE ASSOCIATION

Last week an enquiry was made to the RGBW Regimental Association website by Maxine Fiddy, the daughter of Thomas Fiddy, who served as a National Serviceman with The Royal Berkshire Regiment and The Wiltshire Regiment. Thomas used to be a regular visitor to the annual Forbury Park Memorial to commemorate the Battle of Maiwand. Since the loss of his wife Thomas had not had a link to the internet/emails. Maxine’s request was to ask if it were possible to re-establish the Association links with Thomas. 

The solution is simple with Maxine’s email address she acts as Thomas’s proxy address and that way Thomas can remain in contact with the Association.

So Thomas, welcome back into the Regimental fold, hopefully re-establishing the links we will see you at the annual Maiwand Reunion in Jul 2024 and maybe the Reading Branch may be seeing you in the near future.

Lesson for us all and is that using close relatives as proxy email addressees may help us to re-establish contact with our more elderly or less IT literate members

‍LAST CALL

FEROZESHAH COMMEMORATION SERVICE 2023

‍St James' Church, Church Walk Devizes SN10 3M

The Commemoration of the Battle of Ferozeshah will be held in Devizes on the 3rd of December 2023

Meet at The Wyvern Club, 51a Church Walk SN10 3M from 1230 hrs Church Service at St James' Church 1330 hrs.

A Curry Lunch will be available at the Wyvern Club after the service. Please indicate on your return if curry is not acceptable. An alternative of chicken fricassee or a Ham or Tuna filled roll will be available only if requested (please state which). Any special dietary requirements should also be mentioned. Please be specific to avoid any embarrassment.

Name...................................................................

I will be attending the Ferozeshah Commemoration and will require a total of ………. places at £7.50 per person.

(Unfortunately, I have had to increase the charge to cover the hire of the Church & Organist, the hire of The Wyvern Club Hall, kitchen and one extra bar staff for the period, the cost of wreaths to be laid in the Church and the food for the lunch).

Payment can be made by Bank Transfer to; Sort Code 07-08-06 Account No 36000179. Please include the reference as; Your surname & F/Shah e.g., Minty F/Shah.

If paying by Bank Transfer and you want an alternative to a Curry for lunch, you will need to inform me of your choice by email. normanminty@yahoo.co.uk

If you would prefer you can pay by cheque.

Please send this return with your cheque made out to N Minty:

N Minty

6 Elm Tree Close Devizes

SN10 3ER

‍ANOTHER LAST CALL

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL – SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023

1. Introduction. On 21 November 1953 a Thanksgiving Service marking ‘The Return of Men of the Gloucestershire Regiment’ from Korea was held at Gloucester Cathedral. This year is the 70th Anniversary of that occasion. The anniversary will be marked on Saturday 25 November 2023 at The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and The Holy Indivisible Trinity (Gloucester Cathedral).

2. Background. Following the Battle of the Imjin River, in late April 1951, 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment was reconstituted to again become a fighting force. Following reinforcement they were soon helping the war effort by guarding bridges over the Han river and by conducting operations in the Solma-ri valley, the area of its recent battle. Before departing for the UK in November the battalion remained on active duty in Korea. They all left the Korean peninsula with very mixed feelings. Those who had become prisoners of war in late April 1951 remained in captivity, under arduous and the most testing of conditions, until after the ceasefire on 27 July 1953.

3. Saturday 25 November 2023. The Thanksgiving Service in 1953 marked ‘the Return of Men of the Gloucestershire Regiment’ from both the Battalion’s operational tour and their comrades who had become prisoners of war. This very special focus of the 70th Anniversary will take place at Gloucester Cathedral and within the context of Choral Evensong. The Service will begin at 4.30 pm and attendees are asked to be seated by no later than 4.25 pm. It will last approximately one hour. All are welcome but it will be helpful if those intending to be present could notify the regiment in advance. This can be done by one of three ways and preferably by no later than Friday 17 November 2024:

•Contact either Capt Len Keeling or Mr Martin Talling of the Regimental Association.

•Please inform Mrs Debbie Hards, Administrative Officer, The Rifles Office Taunton – aotaunton@the-rifles.co.uk // 01823 333434 // The Rifles Office, 14 Mount Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3QB

4. Detail and Dress. During the Service the Carne Cross will be placed on the Altar and an Act of Remembrance will be included. Those wishing to lay poppies, poppy crosses or wreaths are encouraged to do so individually, within the Memorial Chapel, after Choral Evensong. As many will know the Memorial Chapel has its own special place within the regiment. Civic attendees will wish to wear chains of office. Serving military may wear either ‘Greens’ or No 2 Dress with medals. Those wearing combat dress are also most welcome. Veterans are asked to wear their medals. Finally, Standard Bearers from the Association will welcome attendees at the South Porch.

Mike Motum

M J R MOTUM

Lt Col (Retd)

Member, RGBW Management Board

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‍The Rifles & RGBW Regimental Association

The Wardrobe, 58 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EX, United Kingdom. ‍
Copyright 2023 The Rifles& RGBW Regimental Association

www.rgbw-association.org.uk