Other and older news and event reports are on the Regimental Association Page (Click HERE)

SEPTEMBER 2008

Updated Sunday 7th September

Ian (Flip) Kerr

UPDATE 7th SEPTEMBER

Good news today Folks Ian had all the tubes taken away today, so he is doing much better. I know he is doing well because he told Margaret to ask me if I would start his car up (ha ha), so he is on the mend. :-D  Margaret said he could be out of intensive care this week.

Cheers for now Jim.
PS Regards from Ian & Margaret.

Highland Branch BBQ and Pipe Band Display

As always a great display by the band and a reasonably well attended BBQ (some 107 all in from as far afield as London, Edinburgh and Nottingham). Regrettably the weather (what happened Padre?) proved to be very wet indeed just as the band marched on. The food was excellent as was the chatter.

Thanks to all who made the effort to come - in some cases hundreds of miles - to attend.

Photos from Margaret Munro, Pat Gillespie and Sandy Dewar amongst others are here

Edinburgh Branch Cristmas Dance

Anyone interested in organising a bus to go visit our Lowland Comrades in Edinburgh at their Christmas Dance?

Email me!

AUGUST 2008

'The March to Kandahar: Roberts in Afghanistan'

The Seaforths, then the 72nd, among other regiments took part exactly 128 years ago in Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Roberts's famous march to Kandahar to avenge the defeat at Maiwand.  I have written a book about this event soon to be published by Pen and Sword.  Is it possible to mention the book to those interested in the history of Highland Regiments. (The 92nd, later the Gordons, took part also.)  The book is called 'The March to Kandahar: Roberts in Afghanistan' and will appear in October, although on the Pen and Sword website it seems to be under 'November releases'. Its cost is £19.99.

  I include below a brief publishers' extract about the book.

           With good wishes and in hope,

              Yours sincerely,

                Rodney Atwood

British involvement in Afghanistan has historically been fraught with disaster. In brilliant contrast was Frederick Roberts’s famous march from Kabul to Kandahar in 1880 during the 2^nd Afghan War. Roberts led 10,000 picked British and Indian soldiers over 300 miles in twenty-three days to defeat the Afghan army of Ayub Khan, pretender to the Amirship of Kabul. Success was due to careful planning, the quality of the force, the determination of Roberts and the support of Abdur Rahman, Afghan ruler. The march made Roberts one of late Victorian England’s great military heroes; the battle restored British prestige after defeat at Maiwand.  His victory enabled the Liberal Viceroy of India, Lord Ripon, to extract his forces from an Afghan imbroglio with an Amir on the Afghan throne who for thirty-nine years maintained friendship with British India.  It also overcame the threat to Roberts's reputation from the political storm raised at his hanging over eighty Afghans in revenge for the massacre of a British envoy and his escort.  Roberts subsequently advanced to command the Indian Army, working closely with future Viceroys to influence Indian defence policy on the North-West Frontier. The poems of Rudyard Kipling and Roberts’s own best-selling autobiography, Forty-One Years in India, further established his reputation, and when he died in the early months of the First World War visiting Indian soldiers on the Western Front The Times hailed him as ‘one of the most famous and best-beloved of British soldiers’.

Ian (Flip) Kerr

Just got this from a friend of Flips in Berlin, Jim Robinson, thought you might like to know.

Pat Gillespie

Hi Folks Just thought I had better keep you all up to date on Ian, he was admitted into Hospital last week suffering from stomach pains and was passing blood. Today  he was operated on and I'm told he had his  Darm  (Intestines) removed. Margaret told me the operation took  five hours and that Ian was now in intensive care . However she did say the operation went well, but time will tell and he is not out of the woods yet.So we know the wee guy is strong, let's hope all goes well in the next few days.No visitors will be allowed until he is returned to his normal ward. I will keep in touch with Margaret and inform you of his progress.
                                                                     
Cheers for now Jim

Ian is in the Wald Krankenhaus,  Section 12  Room 143.

 

Kenny McSween ex BSM

For all band members out there just to let you know that Kenny is in Dr Gray's Hospital (Ward 7) West Road Elgin IV30. Spoke  to Florence this morning Sat 30th and she says he is comfortable, any change will let you know a wee card would be nice, just to let him know we are thinking of him.

Jed Geddes

FLASH NOTICE:

BBQ

Transport - 1230hrs Elgin Town Hall on Sunday 31st August 2008.

The following may be of interest to any of your QO Cameron Highlander members / readers.

GG and Goody in Iraq - click thumbnail for full version

Singapore photo

Thought you would like to publish this photo of Queen's Own Highlanders married quarters Singapore 1962.  Alistair MacPherson (mortars) with family and friends. Click thumbnail for full version

Jock Houston

I have just been informed that Cpl Jock Houston passed away yesterday,He was in the Mortars in Osnabruck [the first time]Berlin, Sharjah and Edinburgh. He was demobbed in 1972 and lived in Kirkcaldy;this is all the info I have. If I receive anymore I shall pass it on   (Danny Carruthers - Secretary Edinburgh Branch)  UPDATE:

I have just been informed that the funeral will take place at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Tuesday 2nd September at 11.45am. 

MESSAGE FROM THE REGULAR BATTALION:

GENERAL

Hopefully this covers everyone; with so many constituent parts it would be easy to miss someone out!!!

IRAQ

The pace of life is ever frantic and there is much change afoot within Basra and within the Iraqi Army, so our own priorities and tasks have changed accordingly.  Overall the work is varied and demanding, although everyone is getting stuck in and is keen to make a difference.

Following the Commanding Officers’ return from Numinayah and the deployment of 53 Bde to Baghdad, there has been a period of much uncertainty.  The period which followed saw a somewhat piece meal assignment of MiTTs to task.  The current laydown is complex but all roles filled byt the battalion are crucial.  Battalion Headquarters is split between the Contingency Operating Base (‘the COB’) and the city, with the bulk of the manpower providing a MiTT which lives alongside the Iraqi 50^th Brigade in downtown Basra in a former Iraqi Naval Base. 

Living with the 50 Bde MiTT is a Battalion MiTT with Major Toby Christie and WO2 Eddie Murray at the helm, which has to ‘commute’ to work to be with its designated Battalion.  Further south and some way out of the city, Major Barry McMaster and WO2 Euan Philbin cover the third and final Battalion of the 50^th Iraqi Brigade.

The first to leave the COB, however, was actually the Special Operations Company MiTT under Major Adrian Reilly and WO2 Tony Ronaldson, now located just south of the COB in Camp Wessam which is the location of the Iraqi 14 Div HQ.  It is unfortunate that they had to leave Camp Douglas (so named in memory of Lance Corporal Alan Douglas who died during Op TELIC 7) but the name of the camp will endure.  This MiTT trains and mentors a specialist company, which in time will be the unit of choice to conduct more complicated search and strike operations in the city.  The Special Operations Company is tasked directly by the Iraqi 14^th Division which runs operations in Basra city and its immediate surroundings. 

Finally, we have a MiTT about to begin work in arguably the poorest part of the city, the Hyaniyah.  This MiTT is headed up by Major Jes Giles and WO2 ‘Shuggy’ MacInnes and will work under the command of a US HQ.  Waterloo Company under Major Callum Lane and WO2 Pete Marshall continues to work from numerous locations across Basra with residual responsibility for WO2 Bob Barnett’s Warrior Group which acts as 7^th Armoured Brigade Commander’s reserve.

Initial experiences of MiTTing have been very satisfying.  The Iraqi Army is keen to do business with us and is improving daily.  Its success on operations has given it a new-found confidence which reflects the general optimism in Iraq at the moment.  The Iraqi Jundi (soldier) is humorous and keen to learn and generally holds the British Army in high regard.  It is hard to believe that we are over a third of the way through the tour.  For most, the time is passing quickly and variety - of which there has been much - is keeping everyone going. 

Living conditions are reasonably austere forward of the COB and deliberately so.  Now is not the time to begin building large camps across the city so we operate with only the very basics forward.  Solar showers, boil-in-the-bag rations and the intermittent burst of air conditioning in old warehouses are the norm.  For most, that is eminently more pleasurable than being confined to the COB and it is amazing to see just how ingenuity can transform 2 square metres of concrete floor into a home from home.

AFGHANISTAN

Further East, B Company and the ‘omlettes’ (Operational Monitoring and Liaison Teams) continue to perform in demanding conditions in Afghanistan.  It is now two weeks since the funeral of Sgt Jon Mathews, who was killed in action while mentoring the Afghan National Army.  Notably, the work he was doing was crucial to the stability of Afghanistan and will be driven forward by those who continue to serve in this vital role.  The OMLTs currently have about six weeks before the end of tour and wish them the safest return.

B Company is now back in Camp Bastion having completed an arduous and successful tour.  They gear up to return to Germany via the Cyprus decompression package laid on by Capt Arthur Frame, WO1 (RSM) Hugh Wilson and WO2 (RQMS) Gordon Law.  Once a quick decompression phase in Fallingbostel is over, they will go on Post Operational Tour Leave prior to deployment on Ex BONNIE RETURN back in Scotland, Oct 6^th – 16^th .

FALLINGBOSTEL

Finally, no SITREP would be complete without mention of the Rear Party back in Fallingbostel, holding the fort and performing equally important but often less glamorous tasks.  All deployed members of the Battalion hugely appreciate  the efforts being taken by all back there to keep us going out here and to make sure that life continues at home.  The Welfare Office has been extremely busy and we all take great comfort in the knowledge that the families in Fallingbostel are making the most of our absence through an action-packed calendar of events.  Without the continued support of all on Rear Party, things would be very different for those deployed.

S J GARMORY

Captain

Adjutant

The Highlanders

4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Malaya Veterans - reception in Edinburgh

Here are some photos taken last night at a Malaysian reception for Veterans in Holyrood Park on 19th August.   It was a fantastic evening.

Thanks to Margaret Munro for the pictures.

Andy Cranston -70th birthday

Here are some taken last night (Fri 22nd) at Andy Cranston's "Surprise" 70th Birthday Party in Gorebridge.   Most of the Q O Hldrs there hadn't seen Andy since Berlin!!

Thanks to Margaret Munro for the pictures.

British Heart Foundation

I am doing a sponsored climb of Ben Nevis on the 27^th Sept for The British Heart Foundation, having had by pass surgery in May 2008 I feel that this may be away of thanking BHF for the treatment and care I received.

Would it be possible to add my link to the web?

Bill Jackson   www.bill-jackson.com

Donations may be made using the link here    http://www.justgiving.com/billjackson

JENNIFER SQUAIR

UPDATE: On behalf of Graham, Margaret and families I would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming support at this difficult time. Special thanks to everyone who attended the funeral of Jennifer, who was "Simply the Best"!

Regards
Albert Duffus

Entries from friends in the guestbook - click the link for the latest page.

Guestbook entries

A DEDICATED HOSPITAL WITHIN THE UK FOR SERVING MILITARY AND VETERANS

Care for the armed forces is worth signing up for – over to you!  The Petition was up to 10,700 when we signed it – and there’s a deadline of 19th August to get signatures, so please act quickly and send it on to plenty of people.

I have been  sent the  following message .    My understanding is that Selly Oak is good but it's just not able to deal with the numbers coming back.  Like that outrageous business at Ashford where the NIMBY's tried to stop a Families Hostel near Headley Court , this seems to me to be one that the whole military family should get behind. As you will see below, time is short but it should still be possible to get some real numbers behind this one. If you  feel able to help please sign up by visiting the link below, and also please pass it on.

Just some background,  2 Para alone have on this tour sent back over 50 casualties to the UK and from having been to Selly Oak myself I know that many cannot be accommodated so when all of the casualties from other battle groups are added to the figure, how is ONE ward in an NHS hospital going to cope? It cannot cope: the individual troops are sent home to recover relying on NHS visiting services which themselves are over committed.

A lot more names are needed for this petition and quite cynically, Downing Street has put a time limit of one month for this to be achieved.

Do what you can.  Please petition to

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Wounded/

Edinburgh Branch Newsletter - July 2008

The branch newsletter is here. It can be downloaded here.

Military Band Reunion (members of the 1961 amalgamation band).

We met at Dusty Millers home in New Romney, Kent on Sat 21st June.  Dusty and his wife Sheila provided the food and drink, enough to feed the whole military band. It was a fantastic day, lots of laughter and lots of stories, changed of course from what actually happened;

thats what happens with the passing of the years, as we all know.

Talk about absent friends  and wondering where they are now. If any members of the original band happen to read this and want to get in touch contact Willie Irving at wdi72@tiscali.co.uk.

Those in the photo are left to right standing - Butch Friell,Joe Russell, Michael O'Shaughnessy, Bruce MacKay, Willie Irving and Flash Elliot.

Seated;  Alan McCrudden and Dusty Miller

Click thumbnail for full picture

Previous month's news and event reports are on the Regimental Association Page (Click HERE)

Friends of the Regimental Museum

A letter from Lt Col Bobby Towns is here. Please read the whole thing and action where necessary or if you can help the Museum in any way. One of the main points is:

"Regularly I read comments on the website of how rightly proud you all are to be members of the “Blue Mafia” and therefore, I was surprised to find this is not supported in the numbers that contribute to the running of this excellent facility by making a donation or subscription through the Friends of the Museum Scheme.  Less than 5% of all those who served in the QO HLDRS have made or regularly make contributions.  I would like to think this low percentage is because you don’t know about this appeal which has now been in place for some time and I would ask all who receive this communication, not only to consider a contribution, but in addition to play a part by passing it on to all QO HLDRS (and anyone else who you can persuade to contribute) in your address books"

[Direct Debit/donation form in pdf format is here] Please print off and return or pass a copy to anyone you know who might want one

The Museum also needs help in other ways

Work Party

"When required I would like to have a number of QO HLDRS available to assist with this and therefore have in mind a database called the Fort George Fifty.  I calculate that, based on past experience that this will be the number required (taking into consideration “Sick Chitties etc”) to support a Fatigue Party of 10 on any particular day!  To volunteer your services please email me at bob@townssb.freeserve.co.uk simply adding Fort George Fifty and please include your address, Telephone Number and where possible Mobile Number.  Please note that an NCO IC is not required!

RESEARCHING ARMY ANCESTORS?

RESEARCH - SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Before you start any research on soldiers from World War One it might be worth visiting the 1914-1918 website for some useful advice from someone who has been down the research path.

Look at this website as well: National Archives (Army) as they have a guide to tracing your military ancestors. If you have a question about  regimental history  or are looking for photos etc - use the information request form here to contact Regimental Headquarters who will pass details to the Museum staff.

Details of most individual soldiers are not usually kept within the museum's archives.  Very often, more information on individual soldiers are held at one of the following locations:

The National Archives (for Enquiries Pre-1920)

Note - during World War Two 60% of the service records from the First World War were lost or destroyed.

World War One Soldiers' Documents

The Service Personnel & Veterans Agency (for Enquiries Post-1920)

Please try and add regimental numbers, units etc - as much detail as possible to help us help you.

GUESTBOOK

OTHER INFORMATION

Please note:

Please check/sign the Guestbook - keep in touch! Lots of messages for you being left here! (Click Regular View at the bottom when you get to the entry page to see latest entries)

Other daily military news from MoD Oracle:

Jobs for ex military personnel: 

Scots Guards Club Edinburgh

Members of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) are welcome at the Scots Guards Association Club, 2 Clifton Terrace Haymarket Edinburgh  Tel: 0131 337 1084

From: George Robinson - Committee member

The Malaya, Brunei and Borneo Veterans' Association (Scotland)

This association was inaugurated in Perth in September 2006 and currently has a membership approaching 200. Anyone interested in joining us application forms & information is available from

Bill Jackson  15 Glenalmond Terrace  Perth PH2 0AU (Tel: 01738 639693) or email Bill_jackson@blueyonder.co.uk