The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
The Wardrobe, Salisbury
The Chairman awarded Roger Smith, from the Severn Branch a president's Certificate of Appreciation at the recent Back Badge Day in Imjin Barracks and the citation from the Gloucester Branch stated;-
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum - The Wardrobe
Help Us Bring History to Life at The Wardrobe
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum, based at The Wardrobe in Salisbury, tells the remarkable story of our antecedent regiments—stretching over 250 years from their formation to the present-day Rifles. While the collection remains rich in history, the museum itself has seen little development in over four decades. Visitor expectations have evolved, and so have the tools we use to share stories.
Few photos from this mornings coffee meet in Swindon.
Good to see you all there, in particular the remarkable Ron Sutton.
The Albany Club held a very successful annual dinner at the Hadley Park House Hotel, Telford on Friday 4th April 2025 a great evening was had by all seeing old.
Good afternoon all.
What a fantastic Imjin Lunch at the Taunton Rugby Club.
I would like to thank the following for thier hard work in putting this Imjin Lunch together.
They are Martin Talling and his team. Also a big thank to the ladies that organised the raffle today. Total raised £500.00. So a big thank you thier, so well done everyone that took part.
Also a big thank you to the rugby club team that ran the floor. But also those of you that came along this afternoon, and supported this fantastic Imjin Lunch this year. Congratulations to all those that won on the raffle, especially the yoga mat winner. I hope to see you all there next year. Safe journey home. Be good, Be safe. Klaus. Here are some photos from the event.
written by Klaus Galeitzke
Funeral Notices - Lt Col J M Greany, late Wiltshire Regiment and WO1 D A Bailey, late DERR
The funeral of Lt Col John Grealy, who has died on Guernsey aged 91 years, will be held at St, Stephen's Church, Les Gravers, St. Peter Port, Guernsey at 14:00 hours on Thursday 24 April 2025.
The funeral of ex-WO1 Doug Bailey, late DERR, will be held at St. Nicholas' Church, High Street, Bromham Wiltshire, SN15 2EU at 14:00 hours on Tuesday 22 April 2025, followed by internment at the Drove Lane Cemetary at Easterton, Nr. Market Lavington, Wiltshire.
Obituaries for both Col Grealy and Mr Bailey will appear in the April edition of the Association newsletter.
Kind regards,
Steven Bowkett
Secretary
The RGBW and Rifles Regimental Association
Dear Members,
The Gloucestershire Parachute Regiment Association would like to invite you and your partner, to an inspirational talk on ‘SAS Sea King Down’ talk, a Sunday Times bestseller, on Wednesday 2 April 6.30pm 2025, at Imjin Barracks, Gloucester. This is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat true story of one soldier's Special Forces operations in the Falklands War.
Mark ‘Splash’ Aston joined the Glosters as a teenager and passed SAS Selection, joining Mountain Troop of D Squadron, 22 SAS. In 1982 D Squadron were sent to the South Atlantic in a direct action role. Splash took part on the landing on Fortuna Glacier, in the taking of South Georgia, and the classic SAS raid on the Argentine airfield at Pebble Island.
When tragedy struck their Sea King helicopter crashed in the freezing South Atlantic, Splash was one of just nine survivors. Evacuated to a hospital ship, Splash defied orders and a suspected broken neck to re-join his unit until the fight was one. It’s an incredible, inspirational story of overcoming all odds to achieve victory.
Entrance is £15 per person, which includes the talk, a curry or vegetarian buffet, tea and coffee. All proceeds will be going to the Gloucestershire Parachute Regiment Association charity - for veterans in distress, and their widows in need.
The author has agreed to sign books on the night – cost of a signed book is £12. There is also a cash bar. Please bring cash: £15 for entrance, £12 book, and bar.
HOW TO BOOK:
To confirm your attendance, please register first by email:
PS Please feel free to forward the attached flyer to your friends who could be interested, thanks very much!
Good afternoon all.
Firstly I would like to thank everyone that attended the AGM today at Pawlett RBL. I also would to thank you for your support for the previous year plus the year to come. Approximately 18 of us in attendance, so well done to you all. I hope to see you at the Imjin Lunch on the 13th of April at the Taunton Rugby Club. Here are some photos from the AGM.
Thank you
Klaus
Chairman.
| The funeral of Capt Ron Simpson, who has died aged 91 years, will be held at the Easthampstead Park Cemetary and Crematorium, Wokingham on Thursday 20 March 2025 at 14:30 hours. Car parking is available at the Crematorium. The location of the Crematorium is: South Road Off Nine Mile Ride WOKINGHAM RG40 3DW |
| Although the address is Wokingham, Association members intending to attend Capt Simpson's funeral should note that the crematorium is South East of Wokingham and South West of Bracknell. |
Good afternoon gentlemen and a belated happy New Year to you all,
Apologises for being a bit behind the golf admin power curve this year but I was waiting for final confirmation of a couple of dates. We have 10 meetings at an excellent selection of golf clubs planned for 2025 as follows
- 24 April 2025 – The Spring meeting at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, organised by John Ledgister. Please note that 24 Apr is a Thursday. As in previous years, this will also include a “fun Texas Scramble team warm-up” on the par 3 course.
- 2 June 2025 – Prince of Wales (PoW) Division Golf match at the Whitefields Golf Club at the Draycote Hotel, Rugby, CV23 9LF. Teams of 8 being organised by Arthur Christian.
- 5 – 6 June 2025 – The Annual Summer Meeting (timed to be held before the Hungerford weekend) at Upavon Golf Club.
- The plan this year is to hold the main competition for the Regimental Trophies on Thursday 5 June and then
- Host the Burma Cup on Friday 6 June. However, for reasons beyond my understanding agreeing a date with the Slashers has been challenging. Despite numerous attempts to engage with the Slashers (going back to July last year) the only reply we received was their schedule of events. With the clock ticking, course availability reducing, no comms from the Slashers (but knowing from their schedule of events that they appeared to be available) I made the decision to book Upavon for 6 June. I received an immediate reply stating that due to the PoW Div meeting they were unable to attend.
- I very much hope that the Slashers reconsider and are able to play in the Burma Cup on 6 June. In the event that they are unable to attend please keep this day free – we have 6 tee-times booked.
- Many thanks to Norman for producing the attached list (by no means exclusive as there are many other options) of accommodation options close to Upavon.
- 10 June 2025 – The Bristol ABF Charity Day at Henbury Golf Club. Please note that this is a new course for the event and it is being held a month later than in previous years. Our 7th year of entering and we have entered 2 x 4-ball teams since 2019. Always well organised and it would be good to play on a new course.
- 16 July 2025 – The Devon ABF Charity Day at Dainton Park Golf Club being organised by Trevor Ongley. Always a great event that gets booked up very quickly so I will be sending out the instructions as soon as I receive them from Trevor – lovely course, fantastic carvery and well worth the effort to drive down there.
- 1 August 2025 – The Slashers Annual Meeting at Puckrup Hall Golf Club (Tewkesbury).
- 19 September 2025 – The Dorset ABF Charity Day at Rushmore Golf Club. An excellent event and an addition since 2021 to our calendar. A lovely course half in Wiltshire and half in Dorset. One of the 2 teams that we entered last year won the event so it would be good to keep our name on the trophy this year.
- 2 October 2025 – The Autumn meeting at Upavon Golf Club.
- 6 October 2025 – The Rifles Regimental Golf Meeting at South Winchester GC. We have been entering teams since 2009, won the competition in 2011 and 2015 and came second in 2013, 2014, 2021 and again in 2024 – it is an extremely enjoyable event and I would like to enter a strong Regimental team this year and get our name back on the trophy.
A reminder that I still wish to encourage more “informal and ad hoc gatherings” throughout the year (many thanks to Andy Taylor for getting a 4-ball together for the Cirencester Seniors Individual open last July). The sort of thing I am thinking of is any of you booking, for example, 1, 2 or 3 tee-times at your club and then a quick message out to members on a first come first served basis. If anyone wishes to do this let me know and I can send out the initial email to get the ball rolling.
Please put these dates in your digital and analogue (i.e. paper) diaries now. Also please pass them on to all golf playing Farmers Boys, and advertise them at the other Regimental events that you attend throughout the year.
Many thanks and I look forward to catching up on “Golf Courses Various” in 2025.
No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform you that 22360965 Private Dennis Keith Victor Mills, a Korean War Veteran of the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment, passed away on the 9th February 2025 in Kent. He is survived by his children Kim, Karen & Paul and Grandchildren Gregory, William & Alan. His funeral will take place at the Barham Crematorium Canterbury Road, Barham, Canterbury CT4 6QU on Wednesday the 5th of March at 3.00 pm. No flowers. Donations to British Heart Foundation Enquiries. A British Legion Standard bearer will be in attendance and the Regimental Association has sent a personalised Regimental Poppy Wreath. It would be much appreciated if any member of the association who resides in the Kent area could attend and represent us, for further details please contact the author:
“By our deeds, we are known”
The Stroud Branch will be meeting at the Old Nelson Brewers Fayre, Stratford Road, Stroud GL5 4AF on Tuesday 4 March at 12noon. Next meeting dates are Tuesday 3rd June, 2nd September and 2nd December which is our Christmas lunch.
The venue may change but details will be published.
| Ladies and Gentlemen, Please see below the text of a notice published this morning by the Rifles Taunton Office: "Many will wish to be aware of the recent death of General Sir John Waters GCB CBE who has died aged 89 years. John Waters was commissioned into The Gloucestershire Regiment in 1955 and assumed command of 1 Glosters in 1975. In due course it is anticipated that regimental and national newspaper obituaries will give their accounts of his considerable career and life. There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Friday 21 February at 2.00 pm at St. Andrews Church, Colyton, Devon, and a memorial service at RMA Sandhurst in due course. To aid planning for catering, those attending the service at Colyton are asked to notify the Taunton Office of The Rifles by 15 February (Mrs Debbie Hards - 01823 333434 or < |
The 13th AGM of the Rifles and RGBW Regimental Association will be held at the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum at The Wardrobe, 58 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EX on Sunday 12 January 2025. @ 11:30
Limited car parking is available, but not guaranteed, in the Cathedral Close at a charge of £10 per day (part day parking is not available, so it is £10 for however long you stay). Otherwise the closest car parks providing payment by the hour are:
- Lush House Car Park
- Old George Mall Car Park
Parking at The Wardrobe can only be provided for members who are infirm or disabled. Any member who requires disabled parking is asked to apply to the Association secretary.
If you intend to attend the AGM please complete the form below
Steven Bowkett
Secretary
The Rifles and RGBW Regimental Association
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We have recently acquired eight old VHS tapes containing films and recordings about the Glosters dating from Korea and up to and including the Tercentenary Parade in 1994. It would be great if we could save these transmissions for future generations and as part of our heritage. Having ditched this technology decades ago. I am looking for someone who has a VHS player and the necessary leads and software to copy these recordings down to either DVD or preferably USB Sticks. If there is anyone out there who could help, please get in touch at
Your assistance in this matter is much appreciated
Martin Talling
County Chairman
Good morning troops.
Although normally we do not have a Coffee morning in December, there has been interest expressed in holding one on the 20th of December. So if you are up for a final 2024 get together can you post your interest so I can forewarn McKenzies of numbers. Thank you.
Good morning all. Once you have repaired your fences, cleared away fallen branches and trees, why not come for a well deserved coffee at this Fridays Swindon Coffee morning.
This Fridays meet will be the last of 2024, I'll let that sink in for a minute.
So young sirs, if you can make it this Friday around 10:00hrs at McKenzies in Wood Street for our monthly get together, please do so. All are welcome..
Looking forward to seeing you there.
You will recall that I included a short piece about the Elizabeth Cross in the August Newsletter. The Elizabeth Cross was launched in 2009. It is granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations, or as a result of terrorism as a mark of national recognition for their loss. The award is available to the families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948, including the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Falklands conflict and operations in Northern Ireland as well as more recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have recently visited the MOD Medal Office (at the aptly named Imjin Barracks in Gloucester) where I discussed the issue of how an Elizabeth Cross is awarded. As I thought it is now automatically awarded since its inception in 2009. However, anyone whose relatives are eligible to receive the award prior to 2009 must apply by completing a form. I have communicated with the MOD Medal Office and received confirmation that the following members of 1 DERR/ RGBWLI, who were killed on active service, or as an act of terrorism are entitled to receive the Elizabeth Cross but it has not been claimed: Corporal J. W. Leahy DERR Died: 08/03/1973 in Northern Ireland Colour Sergeant B. J. Foster DERR Died: 24/03/1973 in Northern Ireland Private M. Swanick DERR Died: 28/10/1974 in Northern Ireland Lance Corporal K. J. Pullin DERR Died: 17/07/1993 in Northern Ireland Lance Corporal P.E. Craddock RGBW LI Died: 27/03/2006 in Afghanistan To ensure that any surviving Next of Kin (NOK) receive what is a fitting award for a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice I must track down a surviving NOK to apply for the award. The official Next of Kin is the first person from the following list who is still alive. This order of precedence is based on Intestacy Law. A. Surviving spouse B. Eldest child C. Eldest/grandchild/great grandchild D. Parent E. Brothers and Sisters of the whole blood F. Children of brothers and sisters of the whole blood G. Brothers and sisters of the half blood H. Children of brothers and sisters of the half blood I. Grandparents J. Uncles/Aunts of the whole blood K. Children of Uncles/Aunts of the whole blood L. Uncles/Aunts of the half blood M. Children of Uncles/Aunts of the half blood N. Other The application form can be found at - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b03f35b40f0b6304641fdab/20180521-ElizabethCrossandScrollApplication-O.doc |
| Please can I ask you to share this message far and wide on Social Media, Websites etc and help me track down the NOK for all those who served to ensure that the family rightly receives the award of the Elizabeth Cross? |
"Summer at The Wardrobe" on 19 July 2025will be a family fun day with a DERR/RGBW theme, with open invitations to all former DERR and RGBW veterans, Regimental Association members, Patrons, Society of Friends members and Wardrobe volunteers.
Invitations will also go to former Wessex Regiment members, to Rifles adult cadets and to the local 5 Rifles community, if they wish to join us.
There will be music (various bands) food and entertainment, as well as an informal BBQ evening for those wanting to stay longer.
