Bodicote Branch Newsletter

Bodicote Branch Newsletter Including Balscote & Shutford JUNE 2013 IN THIS ISSUE POPPY APPEAL REPORT 2 SENIOR MEMBERS SOCIAL... 2 FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE... 3 DERBY DRAW... 3 DAY TRIPS... 3 FORGOTTEN WARS... 4 RBL SUMMER RAFFLE... 4 LOST TRAIL... 5 A PILGRIMAGE TO REMEMBER... 6 HAVE A LAUGH.... 13 BRANCH COMMITTEE... 15 DIARY DATES..... 16 THE EXHORTATION They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them 1

POPPY APPEAL REPORT The amount raised so far this year is 12,568.69, 10,015.86 for Bodicote and 2,552.83 for Balscote and Shutford. Both totals are down from last year but 2011/12 was a very good year and we still have over 3 months to go. Preparations have already started for the 2013 collection and we need a few more collectors. The areas that need cover are :- Beadnell Close and Craster Court, ( these are 2 small roads just off the Oxford Road), Broughton to help Barry Hobday, Cherwell Heights and of course a few more to help out at Sainsbury's. So if you can spare a couple of hours in late October/early November just give me a call. I thank everyone for their efforts over the last 9 months and look forward to another successful year next year. John Mills, Poppy Appeal Organiser. Tel: 265629 SENIOR MEMBERS SOCIAL The Social was held on Friday 17 th May in Bodicote Village Hall. As it was the 70 th anniversary of the Dambusters raid on the Ruhr dams, those that lost their lives in the raids were remembered in our prayers, and for those that returned their courage was celebrated in our sing-along during the evening. The number attending, 46, was down on previous years mainly due to those who usually attend are getting older and unable to come or have passed away, so we need to widen our invitation lists. The Social started with a prayer for the Legion and for those who lost their lives in the Dambusters raids. We were entertained by twelve girls of the 3's Choir from Tudor Hall School and they gave an excellent performance both in their singing and guitar playing. The Headmistress of Tudor Hall and a couple from their 2

management team came to see what we do. Bill James provided the music and led a sing-along, he even told a few jokes. Thanks must go to the ladies for providing an excellent tea. Without them we could not function. Maggie Mills. FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE Would anyone who has reserved seats for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall please confirm with Mina Pegram (Tel: 26335) as soon as possible. DERBY DRAW The Branch annual Derby Draw held on Monday 28 th May and the lucky winners were: 1 st Prize 50 Mr J Giddings Ruler of the World 2 nd Prize 25 Mr C Hobday Libertarian 3 rd Prize 10 Mr T Green Galilleo Rock 4 th Prize 5 Mrs C Zammitt Battle of Marengo Last past the Post 5 Clarke Dawn Approach This year's draw made a total of 241.05 profit for our Ex-Service Social Fund. Because of difficulties and costs associated with distribution of draw tickets it has been agreed in Branch Committee that we will change the draw to cover the Cheltenham Gold Cup which is held in March each year. This will enable us to enclose the tickets with the February edition of the branch newsletter and achieve greater distribution with reduced costs. DAY TRIPS A trip to RHS gardens at Wisley was organised for 3 July 2013 but due to a 3

poor response we had to cancel. To break even we needed to sell at least 40 tickets to pay for the coach but we only had 11 names. Our next trip is due sometime in September to the D Day Museum in Portsmouth/Southsea. If enough people express an interest I will go ahead and organise it but I am not prepared to put in all the hard work if people are not interested. If you are interested in going please let me know a.s.a.p. John Mills Tel: 01295 265629 FORGOTTEN WARS - MALAYA AND BORNEO CAMPAIGNS Many hundreds of British and Commonwealth forces lost their lives in these campaigns together with thousands of police and civilians. A new Memorial to those who lost their lives is due to be unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum on 4th August. Veterans are invited to contribute to the fundraising and to join the parade on 4th August. Veterans wishing to contribute to the fundraising campaign can send donations to the National Association's Treasurer, Dick Richardson, at 3 North Drive, Ancaster, GRANTHAM, Lincolnshire, NG23 3RB. He will give a receipt and add your name to the list of donors. RBL SUMMER RAFFLE It is my pleasure to invite you and all the members at the Bodicote RBL branch to join in with our spectacular summer raffle. We have a wonderful array of over 100 prizes this summer, which must be won! First prize is the stylish Kia Cee d or 15,000 cash. Second prize is 5,000 or a luxury holiday. Third prize is 1,000 or a delightful summer house. Runner-up prizes include 4 luxury hampers and 50 25 M&S vouchers. There is also a chance to win one of 50 Poppy watches if tickets are bought 4

before 15 th July 2013. Tickets can be ordered by emailing: raffenquiries@britishlegion.org.uk Or by calling the raffle team on: 01622 794 270 Alternatively, electronic entries can be bought at www.poppyraffle.org.uk Raffles are an important fund-raising initiative here at The Royal British Legion, they help engage donors and are an enjoyable and different way to support the work of the Legion. Last year we raised over 5 million which went to our health and welfare programmes. The closing date of the raffle is 19 th August 2013, we will draw the winning tickets on 30th August 2013, and if you are one of our lucky winners, we ll let you know in writing. Sue Wilbraham, The RBL Raffles Team. LOST TRAIL Louise Adamson is looking for people who remember the American Gl's in Britain. She is producing a series of radio programmes for BBC Radio 4 about the time that the American GI's spent in the UK during the Second World War and is keen to speak to anyone with memories of the GI's. We want to explore all aspects of the impact that the Americans had on Britain during the War - both military and social. First hand memories will be crucial to giving a vivid and accurate account of their time here in Britain. So, if you remember the GI's... I'm very much looking forward to hearing from you. I can be reached in these ways : You can e-mail me at louise.adamson1@btopenworld.com Call the special phone line on 020 313 75987 please leave a message and she will ring back as soon as possible. Or you can write to: GI Britain, PO Box Number 67234, London SE1P 4AX. Louise Adamson 5

A PILGRIMAGE TO REMEMBER As Part of my continuing research into the history of our village fallen named on the War Memorial in St John's Churchyard I have wanted from the start to visit the memorials and graves of those who are from our village. This month my wife and I travelled to Northern France and Belgium to follow this quest. On each memorial or grave I placed a Poppy Cross with the name of the man together with the village and RBL Branch details written on it. All I can say is that was a very poignant and sobering journey which gave me an insight into the way these men served our country and the fortitude of them and their comrades in such terrible conditions. 11 th June. On an overcast morning we left the Eurotunnel Terminal in Calais for the forty mile drive to our first stop, The Étaples Military Cemetery. This cemetery is one of the largest in Europe containing the graves of some 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War of which the grave of Private Sidney James Giddings was one. Looking over the cemetery one was touched by the sheer numbers, most of whom died of their wounds in one of the many Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals that were concentrated in the area. As with all Commonwealth Graves (CWG) the cemetery was immaculately kept and tended by many local workers. Étaples Military Cemetery After paying our respects to Sidney and placing the first of our crosses on his grave we departed for our next stop, the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1 on the Somme some 60 miles away. There we found the grave of Private Sidney Butler of the 19 th Battalion Canadian Infantry who 6

died on 6 th April 1918 in what I can find out was the Battle of the Avre. On his grave we placed the second of our crosses and spent a while in remembrance. 12 th June Today was to be our longest day travelwise. Leaving our hotel in Arras just after 9.00am we travelled 17 miles north to the CWG Cemetery of Noeux- Les-Mines, to the grave of Lance Corporal Edwin Stanley, of the Canadian Infantry who died on 16 th August 1917 in the 7th Casualty Clearing Station following being wounded in the Battle for Hill 70 near Lens. Next stop of the morning was to the Loos Memorial which forms the sides and back of Dud Corner Cemetery. Here we found the inscription to Private Henry G. Hayward of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, who died on 1 July 1916 during the Battle of Loos and has no known grave. Leaving a cross under his memorial we remained for a few minutes remembering him and the conversation I had had with his nephew David Hayward in Bodicote a few days earlier about Henry and his early days in our village. There followed a long drive of some 65 miles to our next stop at Monceau St Waast, although this was made even more difficult by our planned route being blocked by road works, (French road diversions are the limit, having following the diversion signs which stopped in the middle of a country lane with no further directions). Eventually we made it to the village communal cemetery where there was a small plot of seven war graves one of which was that of Private Albert Stanley MM of the 2 nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers who was killed on 7 th November 1918 during the Battle of the Sambre. He lies there together with five of his RMF comrades and a member of the Black Watch. They looked so isolated and forgotten that we placed extra crosses against each of the other six graves as a token of our respect. Our final visit of the day was 16 miles away to the Pommereuil British Cemetery for the grave of Private Albert L Jones, Wiltshire Regiment who died on 16 th October1918 at the Battle of Cambrai. The cemetery containing 158 graves stands near the centre of the village of Pommereuil and was made by the 25th Division after the capture of the village. There we placed our sixth cross on Albert's grave.that was the final visit of the day and we made the fifty mile journey back to our Arras hotel reaching it just after 6.00pm. 7

13 th June. Today was to be a sort of rest day with visits to memorials and a grave near to Arras. After a leisurly breakfast we took a gentle stroll to the Arras Memorial about a mile away from the hotel. The Memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7th August 1918, and have no known grave. There we searched out the memorials to three of our men who were missing in action. Private Sidney Allen, 5 th Battn Ox & Bucks LI who went missing on 27 th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. Private William Steggall, 1 st (City of London) Royal Fusiliers, missing on 15 th May 1917 during Second Battle of Bullecourt, and, Private Frank Lambert Bailey of the 6 Bn Wiltshire Regt. missing on 23 rd March 1918 during the Battle of St. Quentin. A Poppy Cross was placed under each inscription with a quiet prayer said in remembrance of these soldiers. After lunch we made our next stop at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. This massively imposing memorial bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Amongst them are Lance Corporal Henry Simkins Rivers, and Private John Stanley Smith. Henry Rivers of the 1/4 th Bn Oxs & Bucks LI went missing during the First 8

Battle of the Somme on 1 st July 1916. This attack by the 48th Division on the German trenches west of Pozières achieved some success. However, the main attack by the Fourth Army between Pozières and Guillemont was a complete and costly failure. It was during this attack that it is believed that Lance Corporal Henry Rivers was killed. John Smith of the 2 nd Bn Ox & Bucks LI went missing on 30 th July 1916. General Sir Hubert Gough, had ordered the Second Division to take the OG lines on Pozières heights. The attack commenced at 12.15 am on 29 July but the German machine-gunners were ready and their fire was terrific. The attack, except on the right flank, failed at a cost of 3500 casualties in which it is believed that John died. Our final visit of the day was to the grave of Sergeant Frank D Rainbow of 55 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, which formed part of the 55 th Brigade of the British 18th (Eastern) Division. Although Frank Rainbow does not appear on our War Memorial, research indicates that he was born in Bodicote in 1893 so I felt that he merits being remembered together with the others from our village. Frank's Field Ambulance mobile front line medical unit was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain. At the time of Frank's death 55 Field Ambulance were taking part in the Second Battle of Bapaume on the Somme. We placed our final cross of the on his grave and stood in silent remembrance. 14 th June. It was time to leave our base in Arras and head north to the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium. We first travelled sixty miles to Tyne Cot Cemetery near Passchendaele that contains not only the graves of 11,956 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War but the Memorial lists the names of 34952 men whose bodies were never found. It is on the memorial that Captain James Stockton, Private Charles Golby and Private George Simson, all of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry are commemorated. James Stockton, Commander of B Company, 2/4th Battalion lost his life on the 22 nd August 1917 in the mud and carnage of the Third Battle of Ypres, an offensive mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. Charles Golby of the 5 th Battalion died on the same day as James Stockton, possibly in the same engagement. 9

George Simson of the 1/4 Battalion was killed on 16 th August 1917 during the Battle of Langemarck which was the second Allied general attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. We laid the first three crosses of the day at their memorials and spent a while in silent remembrance. With the quagmire and devastation of the battlefield it is no wonder that many casualties were never found and it is estimated that over 40,000 bodies still lie in the fields in the area of Passchendaele and Ypres. Our next stop was at the Menin Gate in Ypres. The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient, and now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches in remembrance to those who gave their lives in Flanders. The two men we had come to remember were Private Allen L Rivers and Private George William Jones. Allen Rivers of No. 4 Company, 2 nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards was killed by a sniper on 9 th November 1914 whilst his Battalion was in defensive positions as part of the First Battle of Ypres in what is known as The Battle of Nonne Bosschen. George Jones of the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment) was killed on 29 th July 1917 just before the Battalion was to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres near Hooge. As with many of his comrades his body was lost in the mud of the battlefield trenches. Their crosses were placed near to their names in our tribute to them. After the Menin Gate our next visit was to the Vlamertinghe Cemetery some 4 miles away in the centre of the village of Vlamertinghe. Here was the grave of Private William Dunn of 6 th Battalion,Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. William died on 29th June 1916 from wounds following action at The Battle of Mount Sorrel, in which the Division, along with the Canadians, recaptured the heights. One more Poppy Cross was placed on his grave with a few minutes reflection of his life. Less than a mile away is the cemetery of Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery the resting place of Gunner George W. Stanley. The cemetery was quite difficult to find in that is accessed through a private back garden 10

of one of the villagers homes, but is probably the most tranquil of all the cemeteries that we visited. George who served with the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery "D" Bty. 47th Bde. died on 31 st December 1917. It is believed that George may have been seriously wounded at the Second Battle of Passchendaele and have died in a Field Hospital near the village. We placed his Poppy Cross at the foot of his headstone. The final visit of the day was to the Dunkirk Memorial. The DUNKIRK MEMORIAL stands a the entrance to the Commonwealth War Graves section of Dunkirk Town Cemetery. It commemorates more than 4,500 casualties of the British Expeditionary Force who died in the campaign of 1939-40 or who died in captivity who were captured during this campaign and who have no known grave. The man we came to remember was Private Albert (Mick) Bailey. Mick as he was known in the village served with the 4th Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and died aged 34 on 19 th May 1940 during the retreat to the Dunkirk beaches. It is believed that he was killed in action during defence of the Escaut (or Scheldt) Canal around the road bridge linking Antoing and Calonne in Wallon Region of Belgium (south of Tournai). His body was never recovered and he is inscribed on the memorial with others who have no known grave. We placed his cross at the foot of his memorial panel and spent a while in remembrance of him and all those others who died in this part of WW2. 15 th June After an early start to catch our Euroshuttle to return to England on arrival at the Folkestone terminal we made a short run to the Chatham Naval Memorial for our final visit of the trip to remember P.O. Francis Charles William Watts. Frank was a Petty Officer Torpedo Gunners Mate with over 13 years service. He was lost at sea when his ship, the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall was sunk by Japanese Carrier Based Torpedo Bombers in the Indian Ocean on 5 th April 1942. We placed our last cross at the foot of his memorial panel in the imposing Naval Memorial set high on a hill overlooking Chatham in Kent. 11

This pilgrimage gave myself and my wife a humble and thought provoking insight to the privations and fears these men from our village went through to give their lives in the defence of our way of life. There are five men listed on our memorial that we did not get to visit: Flight Sergeant Joseph Casebrook who was killed when his Lancaster Bomber was shot down near Stutgart, Germany on 24 th July 1944. He is buried together with the rest of his crew in the Dornbach British War Grave Cemetery in Southern Germany. Private John Stanley of 287th Coy., Machine Gun Corps who died age 20 on 17 October 1918. He is remembered on the The Kirkee Memorial near Poona India which commemorates more than 1,800 servicemen who died in India during the First World War, who are buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan. Private Victor Adolphus Wiggins who served with the 53rd (Y.S.) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment and died on 1 July 1918. He is buried in the village churchyard of St. John the Baptist. Mr. Frederick John Hirons who was the the Village Carrier, used to transport people & goods to & from Banbury Station. Killed on the first bombing raid on Banbury Station in October 1940. He died in the Horton Hospital on 3 rd October 1940 and was buried in Bodicote on 6 th October 1940. The fifth man who is honoured on our War Memorial is John Milne. I have been unable to find any details of John as there are over 130 men with his name who were casualties in WW1, and as far as my research goes I can find none with any connection with Bodicote. If anyone can give me any information about our John Milne I would be grateful to receive it. So ends this journey of remembrance. John Wells. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. 12

HAVE A LAUGH Finding a woman sobbing that she had locked her keys in her car, a passing soldier assures her that he can help. She looks on amazed as he removes his trousers, rolls them into a tight ball and rubs them against the car door. Magically it opens. "That's so clever," the woman gasps. "How did you do it?" "Easy," replies the man. "These are my khakis". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a retired pilot, immaculate in full BA uniform. St Peter addresses him: "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The man gives his name. Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says: "Take this silken robe and golden halo and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." The pilot goes into Heaven resplendent. Next, it's the priest's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Father O Hanlon, priest of Saint Mary's for the last 43 years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest: "Take this cotton robe and stainless steel halo and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." "Just a minute," says the priest: "That man was given a silken robe and golden halo and I get only cotton and stainless steel. How can this be?" "Up here, we go by results," says St Peter. "When you preached, people slept. When he flew, people prayed! 13

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,'lillian, you should have remained a virgin..' - Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter) I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.' - Eleanor Roosevelt Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.. - Mark Twain The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible - George Burns 14 Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. - Victor Borge Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. - Groucho Marx My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Zsa Gabor Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. - Alex Levine Money can't buy you happiness... But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. - Spike Milligan

President Chairman THE COMMITTEE John Giddings John Mills Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Barry Hobday John Wells Sue Pye Membership Secretary Mina Pegram Newsletter Standard Bearer Welfare Members John Wells Ray Harden John Wells Barry Hobday Members Margaret Bristow Stuart Dawson Maggie Mills HELP HELP HELP To help us keep the production and postage costs down and enable us to devote more funds to our welfare causes future digital editions of the Bodicote Branch Newsletter will be published Online. To access the copy go to: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/bodicote/branc h-newsletters where you will be able to select either Word or pdf copies. If however you would like to receive subsequent editions by email please send your email address to the editor at jtwcomerce@talktalk.net Please specify in what format you would like to receive your copy MS Word or PDF. 15

DIARY DATES Tuesday 1 st October Saturday 9 th November Sunday 10 th November Legion Membership Fees Due Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service Please Note If you have any articles or items for the next newsletter in October 2012 2013 please let me have them by Saturday 22 21 nd September 2012 2013 My thanks for all contributions for this edition. All contributions articles will be will most be welcome, most welcome, so come so come on let on us let keep us this all newsletter share your going tales with of daring-do your tales or of otherwise. daring-do or otherwise. Thanks Thanks John Wells Next Issue: October 2013 KOHIMA EPITAPH When you go home tell them of us and say - For your tomorrow we gave our today 16