http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/ RAA en-uk Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:15:30 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly The Royal Artillery Association News http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/images/logo.gif http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/ http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=37 800 hundred attended the ceremony at the British cemetery in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus on November the 8th to coincide with Londons parade. Our small band of ex-RA men attended, as four of our regiment were left behind in Waynes Keep - four of us old sweats from 20/57/71 batteries made it our duty to pay our respects. The High commisoner for cyprus laid the wreath on behalf of the Queen and then dignataries from all the services and organisations. It was a very moving ceremony, and the long journey home was worth the effort, four happy old men. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:15:30 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=36 We have been researching for a while the history of our former local AA site, to the north of Sheffield, known locally as Hunshelf, but officially named H14 Ecclesfield. Records show it was set up in 1939 by 187 Batt. AA, Royal Field Artillery. In Feb 1941, it is listed as being manned by 117 Reg. 369 Bty. & in June 1942 ,shown as unarmed. The site was in action during the Sheffield blitz. We have obtained a short colour film of activities on the site, taken by a local businessman, probably late 1940, with quite a few group shots of gun crew & ATS on predictors. We are trying to extract some stills of these, and would like to identify some of those on them. If anyone knows of people who served on the site at that period , we should love to hear from them. Edward Bellamy , Chairman, Chapeltown & High Green Archive Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:11:01 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=35 The Kingdom of Fife Branch Royal Artillery Association meet the first Tuesday of each month at the TA Centre Hunter Street Kirkcaldy between 1900hrs & 2100 hrs. Come join us and help this young branch grow stronger!! Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:00:29 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=34 for the Kingdom of Fife Branch RAA the celebration and commemoration of our armed forces began early. The last saturday in June has long been the day that the Orange order parade themselves through the streets of kirkcaldy and therefore it was agreed between 51 Bde and Fife Council that this was not a good day to hold the veterans march. So with this in mind on saturday 13th June 2009 the Veterans and serving members of all three services living and serving in Fife took to the streets of Kirkcaldy under the direction of the RSM 7 SCOTS, there were in excess of 100 serving sailors, soldiers and airmen on parade along with 100 veterans of varying ages and conflicts. The streets were full of members of the public enjoying the Pipes and drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and supporting the serving members and veterans of our combined armed forces. The Local Gunners Regiment is 105 RA(V) who were not on parade as they were firing Royal Salutes in Edinburgh, Stirling and Belfast for the Queens official Birthday, but this did not mean no representation for the Gunners in fact it meant that some of our branch members parading for the first time and one of the last occasions on which the Standard of the Kirkcaldy&District Branch would be paraded. The Branch representation was led by our Vice Chair Mark Elliott who said "I was proud to lead the branch through the streets of my home town with all these thoroughly deserving veterans from World war 2 and every other conflict to Iraq& Afghanistan recieving applause from the crowds on the street. I never served in a conflict anywhere and felt a bit of a fraud among these men and women". All the Veterans on Parade recieved their Veterans Badges after which there was a civic reception hosted in the Town House by Fife council and the day culminated with the opportunity for all the veterans to join 7 Scots in the bars of the TA centre for a social and to swing a lantern for a while. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:00:02 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=33 We are meeting again on the 4th and 5th July 2009 on Southsea Common all ex RA Paras welcome Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:37:18 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=32 The RAA Camberley Branch met today for a lunch at the New Legion Branch Camberley, Surrey. Twenty three members sat down for a five course meal and a very pleasant time was had by all. Guests were the RAA General Secretary and Sgt Major Mark Kane from 47th Regiment RA (Thorney Island) our affiliated regiment. A raffle was held. Phil Manning (new branch member) Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:32:51 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=31 In a small village in West Sussex called Charlton, in a quiet country lane lies a memorial dedicated to the 98th / 144th / 74th Regiment of the Royal Artillery who served in the 2nd World War between 1939 and 1945. A memorial service was held there today, Saturday 2nd of May 2009 presided over by the Venerable John Holliman for the last time before his retirement. His post is to be taken over by the Reverend Robert Mitchell who was also there. About one hundred people attended and we then retired to the East Dean village hall for a buffet meal and drinks plus a raffle. The trumpeter was Miss Heidi Watkins from the Royal British Legion Phil Manning Tue, 05 May 2009 13:05:25 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=30 we are haveing a fund riaser on 10th may 2009 1pm to 17.00pm at the bank top tavern oldham all are welcome good day out Tue, 05 May 2009 13:04:12 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29 26 Regt RA Officers' Mess will be holding their annual reunion at the Packway Officers' Mess, Larkhill on 13 June 2009. Those that have not recieved their invitation, and wish to attend, should contact the Mess Secretary at 26RegtReunion@googlemail.com. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:03:55 GMT http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28 In March 1989 I was the Green Howard Londonderry City Company Operations Officer based a Fort George. On the night of 8th March, I commanded the Immediate & Subsequent Follow Ups to the attack on an RA patrol on the Buncrana Road. Sadly, Stephen Cummins & Miles Amos were both killed in the attack. Later, the BC, Major Dillon-Lee was murdered in Dortmund, and my 'opposite number' (and friend from Sandhurst) Captain Gary Sparks was killed, on duty, in an air accident in Scotland. This year year is the 20th Anniversary of the attack. As tribute to the fallen, and to raise awarness of the long term psychological impact of such events on survivors, I've decided to write a book about that incident, and my time in Londonderry. Any profit from the project is pledged to a service charity. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who was involved in, or remembers the incident. This is as much your story as mine. Andrew Webster, late The Green Howards: webster1649@hotmail.com Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:19:02 GMT