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Issue No 135 August 2009

Branch President

Colonel

B S T Archer GC OBE ERD

Summer Edition

Negotium Perseve

Journal of the Royal Engineers Association – Bomb Disposal Branch.

Patron

Her Majesty the Queen

FREEDOM OF UTTLESFORD

33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) were

on parade in their home town of Saffron Walden

on Sunday the 14th

of June and members of the

branch joined with the general public to show

their support and appreciation of the regiment on

the occasion of receiving the Freedon of

Uttlesford District Council in the county of Essex.

Supporters and wellwishers from the public lined

the route from Uttlesford civic centre to the

historic town square of Saffron Walden, where

they joined in with regimental family members

and members of the branch. The regiment had

been holding rehearsals all week and the final

rehearsal was on the Sunday morning with the

regimental square being marked out to resemble

the market square. Branch member

Kev Bryant joined this rehearsal as he was on

parade with the Branch Standard. At 1pm the

Corps band struck-up and the parade had begun.

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The band at the head of the parade was followed

by the regiment under the command of the CO

and branch member, Lt Col David Southall MBE

RE. Four sapper squadrons represented the

regiment.

As the parade reached the access road into the

town square the Corps band broke into the Corps

march, Wings and by this time everyone was up

on their feet clapping and cheering as the regiment

marched proudly and smartly onto the square for

the formal side of the event. The troops on parade

were then inspected by Cllr Alastair Walters

alongside Major General Mark Mans CBE. Once

the inspection was complete the Freedom of

Uttlesford was officially made to the CO.

Among the 120-strong contingent on parade were

60 soldiers from 17 Field Squadron (EOD) who

have recently returned from Afghanistan.

Part of the citation reads “That 33 Engineer

Regiment have the freedom to enter the district of

Uttlesford with the right to march through the

streets of the district with due ceremony, bayonets

fixed, colours flying and bands playing in

appreciation of the services rendered to the

country by its members in hazardous deployments

throughout the world”.

Once all the formalities were completed the

parade marched off the square to the common

where guests and branch members were

entertained in a marquee by members of the

regiment. There were also stalls and displays on

the common manned by members of 33 Engr Regt

for the local town’s folk to see and experience the

skills and crafts of the sappers. Branch members

in attendance were Kev Bryant and Cheryl

Haynes, Ollie and Carol Allerhead, David and

Trish Harrington, Hugh Marshall, Robin Bennett

and Gary Woodman-Simmons.

We would like to thank the commanding officer

and his men for an excellent day and for an

exceptional parade where the drill and turnout

could not be faulted.

Branch AGM

On Friday the 17th

of April 2009 the branch held its

Annual General Meeting at the Houses of Parliament.

The committee officers gave their annual reports

before stepping down in accordance with REA rules.

The following members of the branch were elected/re-

elected to the committee:

President Colonel B S T Archer GC OBE ERD

Chairman Jeffrey Baldock BEM

Honorary Secretary Gary Woodman-Simmons

Honorary Treasurer Michael Collarbone MBE

Deputy Treasurer Mrs Julie Collarbone

Welfare Officer Kevin Bryant

Web Master Peter Markham

Committee Member Julian Allerhead BEM

Committee Member Hugh Marshall

Committee Member John Swanborough

BIRTHDAYS We would like to wish the following members of the

branch our hearty congratulations on the occasion of

their forth coming or recent birthdays.

Major Chris Fowke, who

will be celebrating his 50th birthday on the 27

th of

October. We would also

like to wish Chris and Sue

all the best as they start

their new life in civvie

street.

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The 20th

of July saw

Reginald Saunders

celebrating his 80th

birthday. Reg is seen

in his regalia as

Chairman of the South

Humberside Branch of

the REA and is a

founding member of

that branch.

Brian Sergeant of Cleethorpes

celebrated his 80th

birthday on

the 29th

of July. Brian served

with 10 BD Company and

lives in Lincolnshire.

Douglas “Tug” Wilson of Rushden will be

celebrating his 80th

birthday on the 28th

of

September. Tug is often in touch via the email

system and helps keep an eye on our blind

member Albert Harris.

Celebrating his 90th

birthday

on the 4th

of August will be

Harry Vallance from from

Brackley, Northants. Harry

served in 103 BD Section, 8

BD Company.

Lastly celebrating his 90th

birthday on the 29th

of October

will be Albert Shields of

Haslemere in Surrey. Albert

served with 138 Section of No

3 BD Coy at Nottingham

under Major McArtney from

1940-45

New Members Peter Rowell of Epsworth, Lincolnshire joined the branch as a Life Member of the REA in April this year. Peter was a member of 3 Troop, 49 (EOD) Sqn and attached to regimental headquarters. He served with the regiment from 1980 to 1983.

Andy Brash joined the branch in May of this year. Andy was also a member of 3 Troop, 49 (EOD) Sqn, and served with EOD from 1986 to 1990.

Chris Bull joined the branch in June of this year. Chris is originally from Lincolnshire but resides in Bad Driburg in Germany (No further details available)

Robert Orr joins the branch all the way from Australia, where he has joined the Royal Australian Engineers. Chris joined the branch in June of this year. Kevin Purves, who served with 3 and 4 Troops, 49 (EOD) Sqn from 1980-82 and then with 5 Troop 58 (EOD) from 1984 – 86 joined the branch in July. Kev lives in Gillingham in Kent. Kev was marched with the branch on the cenotaph parade in November of last year.

Christopher May from Cottingham in East Yorkshire became a branch member in late July. Chris served with 6 Troop 58 (EOD) Sqn from 1986 – 91 and served a total of 13 years with the Corps.

Janet Tweedy of Amersham in Buckinghamshire was granted the honour of being made a Friend of the Branch. Janet is the widow of Tom Tweedy who died on Christmas Day 2008. As members may recall from Tom’s obituary in the Spring issue of BD News, Tom served with 49 (EOD) Sqn before being posted over to NI where he was severely injured in a terrorist shooting incident and left paralysed.

We would like to extend to the above new

members a warm welcome

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Derby Draw Once again the branch was very lucky in picking out a fair share of the horses, but unlike any year that we can remember we did not manage to have any of the winners! That said we would like to say “well done” to our membership for always supporting this drive to raise funds for the group and for all those who added an extra donation towards branch funds.

REA AGM

As mentioned in the previous issue of BD News the REA AGM will take place at the Victory Services 63-79 Seymour Place London on

Saturday the 10th

of October 2009 commencing

1600 hrs. A draft agenda has been sent to the

branch secretary and any member wishing to have

a copy should contact Gary (details at the end of

BD News).

REA Annual Dinner

Mentioned in the Spring edition of BD News the REA Annual Dinner will commence at 18:00 hrs, directly after the AGM. Dress for gentlemen will be lounge suits or blazer and flannel with Corps tie; ladies should dress accordingly (whatever that means).

The menu will be:

Smoked Salmon with Lemon and Caper served with Dressed Leaves.

Chicken Supreme with Wild Mushrooms & Tarragon Veloute.

Italian Tiramisu.

English Cheeseboard with Apple, Celery, Grapes and Savoury Biscuit Selection.

Port and Coffee and Mints.

(Special dietary requirements should be notified at the time of booking.

The cost has been confirmed at £18.00p and applications must be received at HQ by 24 September 2009. To book your place please request the booking pro-forma from the branch secretary.

Sapper Sunday-Royal Hospital Chelsea

I know we seem to be repeating ourselves but this event will be on

Sunday the 11th of October. If you are attending do let Lt Col (Ret) Neil Jordan know ASAP on 01634 822 407. Members are encouraged to attend this event.

Field of Remembrance.

The Field of Remembrance opening ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey on Thursday the 5th of November 2009 at approximately 11:00 hrs when a short service will take place. The Corps plot is number 57, which is located close to the West Gate. Members of the Association who wish to attend the opening ceremony should assemble at the rear of the Corps plot by 10:45 hrs at the latest.

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Branch Annual LunchBranch Annual LunchBranch Annual LunchBranch Annual Lunch

The branch annual lunch will

be held on Saturday the 24th

of October 2009 at the WOs

and Sgts Mess, Carver

Barracks, Wimbish. As usual

we would ask those attending to assemble from

11:30 hours onwards for a 13:00 hrs call to lunch.

The menu selected for this year is:

CARROT & CORRIANDER SOUP (served with a bread roll)

***

RIB EYE STEAK (topped with cracked pepper

served with red currant sauce) with

BERRICHONNE POTATOES

GARLIC & HERB POTATOES

BABY CORN WITH PEPPERS

SAUTE MANGE TOUT

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RASPBERRY & AMARETTO CHARLOTTE

***

CHEESE & BISCUITS

***

PORT

***

COFFEE & MINTS

As with last year those wishing to accompany their

meal with wine will have to use the new “chit”

system at the bar, (chits will be sent out to attendees

along with their tickets and they will also be

available at the bar), where you should order and

pay for your wine. Your wine will then be placed on

your table for you prior to the meal commencing.

This year the cost per head for the luncheon will be

£20.00p each for branch members and their first

guest only. Any and all additional guest will have to

pay the full amount of £30.00p. The closing date for

applications is 18th of September. No refunds for

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cancellation will be given after the 9th of October.

The organiser will be away from the UK from the

21st of September to 7th of October. Remember that

numbers are restricted so it is as always, first come

first served! Clear and precise instructions are on the

application form (enclosed) along with the return

address. This years Honoured Guests will include

the COs and RSMs of 33 Engr Regt (EOD) and 101

Engr Regt (EOD) (V) along with their wives.

Archie

In April of this year the branch secretary received an

email from Clive Strowger

the son in law of the Branch

President Colonel Stuart

Archer GC OBE ERD

(Archie). Clive informed us

that Archie had been taken

seriously ill and had been in

hospital for four weeks. We

immediately sent Archie

flowers on behalf of the branch and requested to

be kept in touch and if there was anything that we

could do to assist in any way. We also informed

Clive that the branch would be coming up to its

AGM where we would be electing branch

officials. We stated that it would be against all

our instincts not to re-elect Archie. Clive got back

to us and having spoken to Archie and reassuring

him that we would not put any pressure of formal

duties on him Archie said that he would be

honoured to continue in the position of Branch

President. Clive has again contacted us and we

now know that Archie is back at home having

made some recovery. We know we speak for the

whole membership when we wish him a very best

regards.

Congratulations

We would like to congratulate two branch

members on their recent promotions:

Captain Kevin Grantham promoted to Major.

WO1 Steffan Wright promoted to Captain

RE Reunion

Mundesley Holiday Village

2010

The RE Reunion at Mundesley will be held from

May the 14th

to 21st 2010. The cost for full board

is £320. A deposit of £30 is required from those

members intending to go to this event. There will

be coach pick-up points and the event will also

include excursions to local attractions and evening

entertainments. Any member interested should

request a booking form from the secretary.

Letters to the Editor.Letters to the Editor.Letters to the Editor.Letters to the Editor.

John Forrester of Edinburgh wrote

a short note to accompany his

cheque for the Derby Draw and

enclosed the below photo of

himself while on active service in Italy standing

next to a jeep converted for winter. John says that

after three days of use it did not stand up to

fording rivers and had to be de-converted to its

original form, and continues that it was admired

by all and sundry during the time he had it.

* * * * *

Bert Shields of Haslemere in Surrey wrote to us to

thank us for the super blazer badge that he bought

from the branch. Along with his letter he

enclosed a photo of him and his colleagues who

were at annual camp in Broadbridge Heath,

Horsham. Bert states that “All the BD Boys had to

go to Horsham after the war”

Charities

The branch has recently had discussions on the

amount of monies given in donations and to the

charities that have received these donations. It

was discovered that one charity in particular, The

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Not Forgotten Association, stood out as being the

major recipient of branch funds, in fact the

combined donations to other charities such as St

Dunstan’s and BLESMA etc, did not equal the

donations made to the NFA, and only came up to

two thirds of the monies received by this one

charity. The Not Forgotten Association itself does

an excellent job and we have made special

mention of its work in the Spring Issue of BD

News for 2008, however it is felt that we need to

target our donations to organisations that seem to

have fallen somewhat by the wayside. Included in

this is 33 Engineer Regiment which has recently

had to set up a fund to help give immediate care

and relief to the families of its injured soldiers,

some 15 since December (please see page 7 under 33

Engr Regt for more details). This does not mean that

we will no longer support the Not Forgotten

Association, but it does mean that it will no longer

be the main recipient of branch money as it has in

the past. We are aware also that the branch has

done well by the NFA having been in receipt of

tickets for Buckingham Palace garden parties and

other such events, but this has been restricted to

only a handful of local members being able to

enjoy these treats and also benefiting from them

on more than one occasion. It is felt that our

money now needs to be put where it is most

needed and to that end the branch made a donation

to the 33 Regimental Charitable Trust of £500.

And always in mind is Service Not Self.

For those members who would like to make a

personal donation to the regiment to enable them

to help care for our injured soldiers then please

make your cheques payable to:

Central Bank 33 Engr Regt (EOD)

Please endorse the back

Charitable Trust.

Your cheques should be sent to:

WO1 (RSM) Justin Spreadborough RE,

33 Engr Regt (EOD),

Carver Bks,

Wimbish,

Saffron Walden,

Essex. CB10 2YA.

Whilst on the subject of charities and donations

and of targeting our money to where it really

counts, we have heard from our old friend and

former branch secretary Reg Journet who having

attended the REA Families reunion at Mill Rythe,

Hayling Island wrote to tell us about the talk given

by the Controller REA, Lt Col John McLennan on

the good work that the REA was involved with

especially where benevolence was concerned.

John emphasised the “For the REA this was of

first importance”. Reg’s letter goes on to give

some of the figure handed out by the REA such as

£30,000 given every year to the Army

Benevolence Fund, £5,000 annually to SSAFA

and £7,500 every year to Combat Stress who will

this year be celebrating their 90th

year. This last

organisation helps ex-service men and women

who have unfortunately succumbed to drink and

drugs after experiencing the traumas of war

conditions. Another charity that has been set up is

Veterans Aid which receives an annual grant of

£2,500. Veterans Aid is a voluntary group that

keeps an eye on those sleeping rough on the street,

a large number whom are ex forces. These ex

forces men and women are taken to a centre where

they are given new clothing and shoes and a hot

meal. The ex forces homeless are also helped in

getting long term accommodation and help getting

back into work.

There was mention of many cases of individuals

who also received help more directly from the

REA of the daughter of a soldier killed in Basra

and whose mother could no longer cope and took

her own life. The REA now helps the

grandmother to bring up this young girl. There

are many more stories of help and assistance that

the REA gives. Service Not Self

Many thanks to Reg for passing this on to us.

CAN WE HELP

MILITARY ANECDOTES – Kevin Humphreys

is currently compiling a book on military

anecdotes and is seeking suitable stories for

inclusion in it. Upon completion it is hoped that

the book will be published and all proceeds

derived from the sale will be donated to the

Combat Stress charity. Those with a story to tell

should contact Kevin at

3 Golden Oak Dell

Stannington

Sheffield

S Yorkshire. S6 6FN or on

khumphr@westminster.gov.uk

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Former sapper, Reg Carrison, is trying to contact

former members of 25 BD Coy who were based at

Eltham during 1941. If any of our readers

remember Reg then please drop the branch

secretary a line and he will pass on any letters to

Reg.

* * * * *

The Earl of Suffolk GC. John D Bartleson is

helping gather research for a book on the life of

the Earl of Suffolk who was killed along with his

secretary Eileen Beryl Morden and driver Fred

Hards on Erith Marshes in May 12, 1941. Did

you work with the Earl or have any first hand

information or photos. If so then please contact

John at the address below.

John D. Bartleson Jr.

4501 N Hessian Road

Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462

U.S.A.

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Regimental Cadre

The regiment is still being kept very busy both at

home and overseas. As well as training for

overseas operations the regiment held its annual

cadre. The two week cadre finished on Thursday

the 23rd

of July and the branch was represented at

the passing off parade by the Branch Chairman,

Jeff Baldock. The branch presented a tankard to

the best student Spr Wright of 22 Fd Sqn (EOD)

who was promoted to LCpl along with the

following students: Spr Petit, Spr Wellington of

17 Fd Sqn (EOD), Sprs Dykes and Tomson both

of 21 Fd Sqn (EOD) and lastly representing, in my

biased opinion the best squadron, 49 Fd Sqn

(EOD) Spr Forsyth. Congratulations to them all.

Regimental Casualties

As mentioned previously under charities the

regiment has had 15 casualties since December

reflecting the amount of tasks that the guys are

being involved with as part of a large EOD force

from both 33 Engr Regt and 11 Regt RLC. This

work involves the clearance of abandoned

ordnance and making safe of areas from UXOs. It

also entails search and the clearance if IEDs from

buildings and in particular road side attacks.

Sgt Jason Rose, who you will recall from the

spring edition, had injuries to his legs and back.

Jason has recently finished a course of treatment

at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley

Court and is due to return after a spot of leave.

Whilst the recovery is slow he is able to walk

unaided and is optimistic for the future

Spr Sam Jack lost the sight of an eye due to a

ricochet round that went through to his brain. The

surgeons managed to remove the fragments of the

round and although they also saved the eye they

could not save the sight. Sam is under going a 6

week spell of rehab at Headley Court and is doing

well and is due for a spot of leave soon.

Spr Mathew Weston is the most recent casualty

and unfortunately the most serious. Matty lost

both legs and an arm in an incident involving

IEDs. He is now classed as “seriously injured”

and as such is now on S4 ward at Selly Oak

Hospital with all the other military injured (in a

single room). Matty is still receiving regular

surgery. He is talking and able to take visitors

(controlled via his CVO). The regiment is helping

his family with assistance from the regimental

fund.

There are numerous others who are all in various

states of recovery with the majority being sick at

home and a few who are easing back to work

slowly.

So gentlemen now you know where our donations

are going to and why. Service Not Self.

Charity Golf

Tournament

33 Engineer Regiment

(EOD) will be conducting

a Regimental Charity Golf

Day on 3 Sep 09 at Saffron

Walden Golf Club, Saffron

Walden, Essex.

The aim of the event is to raise money for the 33

Engineer Regiment (EOD) Regimental Charity

Fund which has been established to improve the

lives of injured soldiers. The event will be broken

down into 4 phases.

News from

33 Engr Regt (EOD)

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The event will start at 0830hrs at SWGC with the

first players teeing off at 1000 hrs. There will be

a meal at 1600 hrs followed by the prize giving.

Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2

nd and 3

rd of both

scratch and stableford competitions. There will

also be prizes for the longest drive and nearest the

pin.

The cost of the event will be confirmed nearer the

time but will not exceed £45. This amount will

cover the cost of food, golf and prizes. Money is

to be paid by cash or cheque on the day.

The Event Organiser is Cpl Smith, 21 Fd Sqn

(EOD). All enquiries and further information for

those interested in attending this event should be

addressed to Cpl Smith on Mobile 07904 007703

or email at seabass197@hotmail.com.

Open Day

Saturday the 13th

of

June saw the regiment

hold an open/families

day at Carver Barracks.

It was a very hot day,

and some thought that

it may be the start of

summer, some hope.

There were a number

of branch members

attending with their

families and the

regiment put on a great

display of equipment

and there were many stalls representing local

organisations and charities along with the

regimental PRI outlet selling all sorts of “gizzits”.

There were lots for the children to do from riding

in tanks to face painting. They were also

supervised in working the heavy plant equipment

so as to burst balloons to win prizes. As always

the diving section entertained with various antics.

We have to say that the cooks, (sorry chefs), did

the regiment and themselves proud with not only

producing

great

outdoor

food but

also one of

the stalls

was

guessing

the weight

of a cake and what a cake, whether edible or not

we can not say, but it looked the part. A big thank

you goes to all those involved in setting up what

was a thoroughly enjoyable day.

The regiment said

farewell to the RSM,

WO1 (RSM) Mack

Mackintosh in May on

his acquiring his

commission within the

Corps and subsequent

posting to 33 Engr

Regt (EOD) as the

Training Officer. Not

only was Mack the

RSMM of 101

regiment but the

position also requires the holder to be the Group

Secretary for London Group. When asked to

comment on his tenure at London Group, Mack

said “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 2 year stint as

the London Group REA Secretary; personally I

feel I have a far better understanding of what and

who the Royal Engineers Association is. The

camaraderie, friendship and generosity shown by

all the branches across the Group have been a

credit to the Corps of Royal Engineers. I feel

privileged to have met so many great characters

and such Esprit de Corps. Special thanks must go

to all the branch secretaries who have supported

me throughout my tenure”. We wish Mack,

Andrea and the family all the best for their future.

Assuming the post of RSM at 101 is WO1 (RSM)

“Smiler” Greybrook. We look forward to meeting

up with him in the course of our duties and to

working closely with him as we did with Mack.

A little bit of knowledge isn’t always dangerous

By Bert Homes

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I was with No 7 BD Coy at Bristol and I and

another sapper were approached by our captain

who said that he was sending us to Balham in

London for two weeks where we would receive

updates on German bombs. The captain advised

us that when we go home on a visit, as we were

both London boys, that any food we were given

by our mother’s would be from their rations and

this would be unfair! We got to Balham and on

the first day of lectures we were informed about

the German incendiary bomb and how it would

have an explosive in the head and would explode

after 2 minutes of handling. After the days lecture

I returned to my

parent’s house.

During an air raid I

went with my

father into the

street where the

very incendiary

bombs I had that

day been taught

about falling from

the sky like rain.

One of these

bombs landed a

few houses away.

My father, with his stirrup pump, was making his

way towards it, as was the usual way. I ran to him

and called out for him to come away and managed

to pull him away just as it went up. We never

spoke about it, and I did not tell him that I had

only just learnt a few hours previously of the

precise danger of these types of bombs. Later

while serving in Burma, I often thought of this

incident and that if the only thing I had done in the

war was to save my father’s life, then at least it

was something, especially as he had made it

through the trenches of the First World War

serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Berlin

Saturday the 25th

of April saw the German police

of Berlin deal with a 100 Kg (220 lb) WWII era

Soviet bomb dug up

by construction

workers the

previous day at the

Neues Museum on

the Unter den

Linden. The

surrounding area

was sealed off for

many hours causing

traffic chaos and

residents were

evacuated while the

German bomb

squad officers

worked on removing the bombs two detonators.

The bomb was eventually made safe and taken

away for disposal.

Southend-On-Sea

A Navy bomb disposal team was called to the

coast of Southend-on-Sea following the discovery

of a First World War mine. The Navy Explosive

Ordnance Disposal Unit from Portsmouth carried

out a controlled detonation of the mine at 12.30pm

on Saturday 25th

of April. The unit was assisted

by Southend Coastguard and Essex Marine Police.

* * * * * * * * * *

BD COMPETITION

Well what can we

say about the

competition?

The entries did

not exactly flood

in. We wonder

whether it was too

obscure or too

easy? Perhaps

this made many of

you think it was

not worth the

effort or was it

just not wanted.

Having had only

two replies, and both being correct we awarded a

mug to both entrants. Well done to both Ian

Foulkes and Henry Gymer, it was indeed the old

classic Passport to Pimlico. Included with

Henry’s reply was the following information on

the movie (or should that be talkie). “The film

was made on a site destroyed by a flying bomb in

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the Lambeth Walk. I was with No 2 BD Section at

the time based in Richmond Park, Captain Ruth

was our 2i/c and took one of our empty’s there

and supervised the shaft”.

So well done to the Pimlico 2!

Believe it or not, it was felt that this month’s

moppets were the powers that be at the MOD -

(Mad or Deranged) for going to the High Court to

have the compensation, which was legitimately

awarded to injured soldiers having gone through

medical assessment, lowered. Hopefully natural

justice and common sense by the judges will

prevail. (We will have to wait and see).

* * * * * * * * * *

Petition Whilst remaining politically neutral, as is right

and proper when putting together the BD News

there often comes to our attentions causes and

petitions that we feel are worthy of space in our

journal – this is one of them, so I for one will be

signing – (Ed) Our thanks to Steff for bringing

this to our attention.

The bodies of the two soldiers (Royal Engineers)

murdered in Northern Ireland were flown home

without ceremony. This has angered members of

HM Forces:

"British troops have spoken of their anger

following the disclosure that the bodies of the two

soldiers murdered by dissident republicans were

shipped back to the UK as freight."

"We have been told that the soldiers were not

allowed to have a ramp service because of

political reasons. We were told the Government

didn't want anything that would look like the

troubles had restarted.

"As far as we are concerned these soldiers were

shot dead in uniform by terrorists and they should

be treated in exactly the same way as if they were

killed in Afghanistan. To send their bodies back to

the UK as though they were freight is outrageous”

When a person joins any branch of HM Forces

they are effectively on duty 24/7/365.

The Government are asked to review the crass

rules that allowed this to happen.

The Government are further requested to amend

the rules on Ramp Ceremonies.

Please sign up to the petition and distribute as

widely as possible. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Soldiers-on-Duty/

In Remembrance

Robert PEARSON (1914828 Sapper), of Kelmscott, Western Australia, who died in

April of this year aged 90 years of age. Bob served with No 15 BD Company and No 24

BD Company. Robert joined the branch in December 1987.

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Robert CHAPMAN (14892136 Sapper), of Ashby, North Lincolnshire who died on

the 30th

of June aged 83. Robert served with number 20 BD Company and had been a

member of the branch since January 1988. He was also a member of the South

Humberside Branch of the REA

Robert “Rae” ROGERSON (Captain), who died aged 91 years. Rae served from

1939 – 1946. He served at the Northern Command Bomb Reconnaissance School in 1942

and also served with No 11 BD Coy and No 14 BD Coy.

The Branch Committee and the R E Association staff

convey their sincere condolences to the bereaved families

.

William Stone Henry Allingham Harry Patch 23 Sep 1900 -10 Jan 2009 6 Jun 1896 - 18 Jul 2009 17 Jun 1898 - 25 Jul 2009

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

BombDisposal@talktalk.net Gary Woodman-Simmons Telephone: 020 8994 1172

2 Sutton Close, Sutton Lane South, CHISWICK. W4 3JS

Website: http://royalengineersbombdisposal-eod.org.uk/