Dr Chris Scott receiving his PhD

Chris Scott recently received his PhD from Cranfield University. Here he is at the Graduation Ceremony

Marking the Centenary of the First World War - An Update from Dr Andrew Murrison MP

14 June 2012

Dear Centenary Colleague,

It’s a while since many of us met in Portcullis House to discuss how we might mark the centenary of the First World War and I thought you might appreciate an update.

The Prime Minister wanted to have personal oversight of what he rightly identified as an extraordinarily important set of anniversaries for this country. To facilitate this he appointed a Special Representative and, accordingly, I have been reporting to David Cameron. 

The UK has taken a leading role with international and Commonwealth partners. A secretariat has been established within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and a core working group has been meeting regularly involving relevant government departments, arms length bodies and lottery funders under my chairmanship. The Prime Minister has been briefed and is absolutely committed to ensuring that government does all in its power to mark the centenary in a proper and enduring manner.

The Imperial War Museums has taken an early lead and, since it was established in 1917, it is right that it, and particularly its Regeneration project, should be at the epicentre of the centenary. The Heritage Lottery Fund has undertaken to act as lead lottery funder for the centenary, establishing a dialogue with the other lottery funding bodies that have an interest in 2014-2018. 

The high level of public interest shown in the centenary of the sinking of Titanic in 1912 is instructive. Scale it up many times and we begin to get a feel for how big the series of anniversaries from 2014 will be. Indeed, the emergence already of a large number of excellent grassroots projects has been striking. These are forming a tapestry of intensely local initiatives based around the personal, human side of the conflict. The IWMs’ Centenary Partnership with its inclusive logo (see below) is an excellent way of drawing these together in an appropriately light-touch way. 

I’ve been round a large number of London’s Embassies and High Commissions in the course of my work and it has been interesting to see how the other belligerents of WWI are approaching the centenary. Each country has its own agenda, desired outcomes and solution for delivering them. I am clear from our preparatory work that the UK’s contribution should focus on remembrance, youth and education.  

There have been a few dissenting voices. Some say that we should only mark the end of conflict, not the beginning or points along the way. One or two commentators have even said that WWI was too long ago, that it is irrelevant to modern life and that we should move on. I think very few of us would agree and the public certainly does not, as recent IWM commissioned polling data has shown.

It would be appropriate to mark the point of entry of the UK into the conflict which means during the first week of August 2014. Naturally, the big event for the UK will be Armistice Day 2018 which, by happy chance, falls on a Sunday. 1 July 2016 leaps out as the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Our partners assume, with good reason, that this will be a prime focus for the UK. So, the three nationally driven anniversaries are shaping up to be 4 August 2014, 1 July 2016 and 11 November 2018.

Naturally, many of the sites of interest are in Belgium and Northern France and there will be much commemoration on the continent. However, it is sometimes forgotten that we have large and historically significant Commonwealth War Grave Commission sites here – Brookwood and Lynness spring immediately to mind - together with other locations of relevance to WWI, notable Folkestone which was the main port of embarkation for men and material. It is important that these are given the full prominence they deserve in our national commemoration. 

Each of us will be able to suggest a number of additional events that are worthy of commemoration. Some will require national governance and others will benefit from more local arrangements. Within our timeframe lie important non-WWI anniversaries that we will want to observe. Some of these relate to ancient conflicts, others will involve living veterans and their families, notably the 75^th anniversary of Britain’s entry into WWII and the 70^th anniversaries of D Day, VE Day and VJ Day.

The UK differs from our continental partners in having a unique relationship with the Commonwealth which is, naturally, informing our perspective on the centenary. The UK’s relationship with the Republic of Ireland has taken a dramatic turn for the better following the Queen’s hugely successful visit to Dublin and the centenary offers an opportunity to develop this further.

Part of the challenge of the centenary is to anticipate the expectations of partner nations and to plan accordingly.  With this in mind, work is underway in collaboration with the UK’s representatives abroad, particularly in Paris and Brussels. 

There is a strong appetite for a centenary focussed heavily on youth. After all, those on the frontline in WWI were young and it is appropriate that they are in the van of our commemoration. 

Consequently, we are looking at an enduring educational vehicle that will be named for the centenary.

I anticipate a formal announcement by government of its proposals later this year, allowing a two year run-up to the start of the centenary. In the meantime, I hope that you will continue to provide input as plans are brought to maturity over the summer. Tim Scott is the project’s desk officer and his contacts are; 0207 2116148; TIM.SCOTT@Culture.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively, please contact me on 01225 358584 or by email; andrew.murrison.mp@parliament.uk

Best wishes,

Andrew Murrison

Gallipoli Memorial at the National Arboreatum

The picture shows the Gallipoli Memorial at the National Arboretum.

Rorkes Drift VC Recipient to get New Memorial

A Cwmbran man who earned the Victoria Cross for his part in the 1879 defence of Rorke's Drift is to be honoured with a new memorial in his home town.

Abergavenny-born John Fielding joined the 24th Regiment of Foot at the age of 20 in 1877.

Two years later he was one of around 140 British troops who fought hand to hand with 4,000 Zulus.

A trust set up in his name will restore a memorial at his resting-place in St Michael's Church, Llantarnam.

The £3,750 funding has come from the Cwmbran Regeneration Partnership, headed by John Cunningham, Torfaen council's executive member for neighbourhood services.

He said: "The Partnership has been successful in helping to lever in several thousand pounds of external funding to support regeneration in Cwmbran.

"By working in partnership we are able to achieve greater results and deliver better projects on the ground for local communities."

Mr Fielding's VC is in the name of John Williams, as he gave an alias when signing-up.

The reason is unclear, although it is thought he may have been running away from home, or at least from the area.

The VC citation describes how Private Williams defended two patients in a hospital ward for over an hour, before running out of ammunition.

With the Zulus breaking down the door to get in, he knocked a hole through the wall into an adjacent ward, where he met up with a Private Hook.

Between them, Privates Williams and Hook held at bay the Zulu advance for a further hour, while smashing holes through another three walls to evacuate eight patients to the protection of the garrison's inner defensive ring.

Speaking on the 130th anniversary of the battle, John Fielding's great-grandson, Robert Cousins told BBC Wales: "The VC itself of course is in the South Wales Borderers' museum in Brecon, but we still have a few mementos.

"There's a small notebook which was given to all soldiers at the time, to record events, and a letter of thanks from the Governor of Natal, who believed that the province could well have been overrun if it hadn't been for the defence of Rorke's Drift.

"It's a fantastic story to grow up with. I'm immensely proud to have such a tale to tell my children and grandchildren."

Incredibly John Fielding, aged 57, volunteered for service again at the outbreak of the WW1, though on this occasion he remained stationed at Brecon.

The eldest of his three children was not so fortunate, dying in action during the retreat from Mons in 1914

John Fielding himself however lived to 75, before dying of heart failure in 1932.

He was the last of the Rorke's Drift VC recipients and his funeral attracted mourners to Llantarnam from all over the world.

Neil Prior

On the BBC Website 21^st March 2012

Litter in Ypres

A note has been received from the Ypres Tourist office which Guild members should be aware of:

"We wish to inform you that the local police has started a campaign against illegal waste disposal in Ypres. We think it is important to inform you, to ensure bus drivers tell their customers about this campaign. Under no circumstance is it authorised to dispose of waste on public roads or anywhere else than in public dustbins. The illegal waste disposal will be monitored with unmanned cameras. It seems obvious this is not authorised but it has been demonstrated in the past that not everyone strictly complies with this rule. We would appreciate it if you could pass on this message to your drivers. Many thanks in advance for working towards a clean Ypres with us."

With kind regards,

Peter Slosse,

Director Tourist Office

Somme Events 1st and 2nd July 2012

30^th June Armed Forces day "Somme Dinner."

This year 30^th June being Armed Forces day and the eve of the Anniversary of the battle of the Somme the Royal British Legion Somme branch are hosting the 8th annual Somme Dinner at the Mercure Hotel Arras France.

The dinner is semi-formal with a short speech and the customary toasts.

We assemble at 19.30 for 20.00hrs we hope to have the dinner concluded at 22.00ish, we have a sing-a-long during dinner and dancing after with Peter Day, carriages at 23.59hrs, when those who wish may retire to the bar.

Tickets are € 50 and include pre-Dinner drinks, 4 course dinner with Wine and dancing to Peter Day.

Dress Gentleman Black tie, Mess kit, Lounge suit or Blazer, Ladies Evening or Cocktail. Medals may be worn.

Pay on line at http://www.rblsomme.org/rblsomme.org/Online_Payment_Page.html

1^st July Somme Commemoration

10.45hrs. The Somme service of Commemoration, Thiepval Memorial Somme France.

The Royal British Legion arrange the service with the assistance of our British Ambassador to France, SIR PETER RICKETTS GCMG and his staff together with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

All RBL and service associations’ standard bearers please muster at the Thiepval memorial at 1000hrs.

There will be a Military band, Regiment yet to be confirmed.

For further details please contact:

Rod Bedford
Chairman (Somme Branch BR3530)
The Royal British Legion
2, Rue des Cordeliers
80560 Mailly Maillet
Somme France

Chairman@rblsomme.org
Tel 0033 322 76 29 60
Mobile 0033 674090882

New French Traffic Laws

Sat Navs which show speed camera locations

As from 5 January 2012, it will be an offence if your Sat Nav has specific speed camera locations listed as "points of interest". Under the new rules it is permissible to have "Danger Areas" containing Speed Cameras marked - but these are up to 4km long on Auto-routes and 1.2 km long on other roads, a speed camera may be somewhere within this area. Some manufacturers are converting their exact locations to "Danger Areas" others are deleting all reference to cameras.

See your satnav manufacturers web site for more details:

Tom Tom

http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5560/?locale=en_GB

Navman

http://service.navman.com/m0100/F0110_DownLoad_Faq.aspx?bullid=101187&faqid=AllFaq

Garmin

http://www.garmin.com/uk/extras-camera-alerts/#france

New Garmin Satnavs have speed camera “Danger Zones” marked, existing models must have speed camera locations turned off.

Breathalysers

From 31 March 2012, vehicles will be required to carry a single use breathalyser in France. They must be the "NC" Standard and British sourced units are unlikely to meet this standard. However the secretary has spoken to Alcosense (0800 195 0088) who are now producing single use equipment which meets the standards. They claim to be the only manufacturer of compliant units in the UK.

Mobile Phones

From Jan. 3rd 2012, drivers caught using a mobile phone while on the road in France are liable to an on-the-spot fine of 130 Euros – and 3 penalty points if you have a French driving licence.

Wenches in the Trenches

Colour Serjeant Church entertains the ladies



John Greenacre with his ladies at the start of the event



John taking his guiding responsibilities seriously at Pozieres!!

On 21 October 2011 sixty ladies from Fallingbostel, Hohne and all over the UK met in a field in Mailly Maillet for an Army Benevolent Fund fund raising event labelled as ‘Wenches in Trenches’. The ladies were preparing to walk across the Somme guiding by four intrepid members of the Guild; Peter Hewlett-Smith (the group leader), Ed Church, Jo Hook and John Greenacre. In the evening the guides gave background talks to help prepare the ladies and Colour Serjeant Church made an appearance to tell about the life of the Tommy. The night was spent (mostly wakeful) in unheated army tents as the temperature plunged well below zero.

The following morning the ladies were bussed to Hebuterne where Ed explained the preparations for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The walk began from Touvent Farm and took the ladies to Sheffield Memorial Park and then over Redan Ridge to the Sunken Road. The ladies were entertained by the guides while walking and during stops in the freezing conditions. Lunch at the Sunken Road was enlivened by the appearance by an Ulster pipe band provided by Rod Bedford!

After lunch the walk continued to Newfoundland Park via Auchonvillers and then finished at the Ancre Cemetery. The evening was spent in a large tent being entertained by a drag act who, if nothing else, should be commended for performing in minimum clothing in freezing conditions. Ed and Peter were singled out as the ‘Saga’ contingent. The night felt a little warmer, probably due to the red wine consumed.

The following day’s walk began at Dartmoor Cemetery and continued through Becourt to the Lochnagar Crater. On through La Boiselle the ladies walked cross country to Pozieres where a lunch break was taken at Gibraltar. As the weather improved a pleasant afternoon was passed walking past Mouquet Farm and up to the Thiepval Memorial where a service of remembrance was conducted by Peter and the group was joined by triple amputee Corporal Andy Reid.

This was a worthwhile and great fun event supported by the Guild. The ladies thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the efforts of the guides and it is planned to be a repeat event, so watch this space!

The Funeral of Frank van den Bergh

The funeral of Guild member Frank van den Bergh took place on Saturday 15th October and was attended by Wybo Boersma and representatives of the Guild in Holland. Above are pictures of the floral tributes which are now in the National Liberation Museum 1944-45 in Groesbeek.