Grenadiers Reunited
4 NOVEMBER 2007
James White

New member:
21006024 Kenneth Charles Holmes (Cloggy) No. 1 Companies of the 2nd and 3rd.  (My very brief sojourn on secondment to 1st  for guard duties in khaki uniform at Windsor Castle in 1947 doesn't really count) and the Guards Independent Company of the Parachute Regiment. lives inThe Meon Valley, Hampshire in the centre of the triangle of the cities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester served 1947 - 1953 I served with the 2nd Battalion in Sennelager, Germany. I had been in a factory boxing team before joining up and fought in the Army firstly as a middleweightand later as a light heavyweight.  As a result of some little success I was chosen to be a PTI and following courses in Berlin at the P & RT School and then at the PT School at Aldershot, I received my crossed swords. I then joined the Guards Independent Company at Pirbright as a Lance Sergeant and was present on the parade at Aldershot when King George VI presented the Parachute Regiment's first colours.  After that I rejoined the regiment in the 3 rd Battalion at Chelsea and was in the Escort to the Colour on the Troop in 1951 when, because of the King's illness, Princess Elizabeth took the salute. The battalion went to North Africa, and Egypt and I served with No.1 Company,
I left the army and joined the Southampton City Police and latterly commanded a branch of Regional Crime Squads. I have included this last part as I met some of my fellow comrades during this time, not may I add, because they were villains!!!!

Jim says Ken has a few piccys from his time but would love a Squad  Photograph. Sergeant Peacock's Squad in 1947 at the Depot.Caterham.  Can anyone help?

I'm in dept to the Regimental Adjutant for the Update below. I know that "the list" has been very greatfull for the clear, no holds barred information that we have received from the Regiment over the last six months in respect to our Regiment and whilst they been undergoing very difficult operations.

From Major Baker:
The 1st Bn were returned safely to Lille Barracks Aldershot by 19 Oct 07, fortunately with no further casualties. There has been considerable praise for their achievements from many quarters both within and outside the Army, and there is no doubt that they have “made their name”! There are many tales of “derring-do” and let us hope that some of them are officially recognized in due course. The final casualty list was sadly 5 Grenadiers killed in action, 32 sufficiently seriously wounded as to be casevac’d to Selly Oak, of which 3 legs, 2 eyes and a hand were lost. It is a great tribute to the medical services that none of those casevac’d back to the UK died thereafter. It is also a great tribute to the training of our Gdsm that the lives of ALL those who lost limbs were undoubtedly saved by the prompt and intelligent 1st Aid given by their colleagues at the scene of the incident.

 The Battalion are currently on leave, returning on 6 Nov. Thereafter, they are holding a Battalion Thanksgiving Service at the Garrison Church Aldershot on 8 Nov (to which anyone from the Regimental family is welcome, but since seating is limited, it is probably best restricted to those who got involved during the tour in some way or other) and a Battalion Reformation Parade which will be held at Lille Barracks in the presence of The Colonel. After that, the Battalion go on their proper Post Operational Tour Leave until 21 Jan 08. When they return from leave, they will embark on a busy year which will include a move to Wellington Barracks, company strength deployments to the Falklands, and possibly a Battalion exercise in Kenya. There is a documentary on Panorama BBC 1 at 9pm on Mon 5 Nov which features the Queen’s Company in Helmand Province, which I’m sure will be of interest to many of you.

Taking on the Taliban - The Soldiers' Story

Panorama follows a unit of 35 British soldiers on the frontline in Afghanistan during a recent six month tour which ended with one of them dead and 12 seriously wounded. This Panorama Special follows 'The Queens Company' into numerous fire fights in order to tell the personal story of a small band of men facing the biggest challenge of their lives and features dramatic footage of the most intense battles involving the British Army for half a century. And as the casualties mount, the programme through these men looks at the cost of the fighting and what is being achieved in Afghanistan.

Nijmegen Company has moved to Woolwich from Wellington Barracks. It’s a good barracks, but otherwise more than a little inconvenient in terms of getting to Central London or Windsor for public duties, and for families living in the Windsor-Aldershot-London triangle getting in to work.All being well, the Band will now not be going to Cyprus, but they are due to be the resident band at RMA Sandhurst from Feb to Apr 08.

Many will have heard rumours of The Colonel’s Fund, Grenadier Guards. This has grown from Anthony Roupell’s courageous Etape bicycling effort. The Colonel’s Fund will launch in November (with Colonel as its Patron) and you will all receive details during the weeks after launch. Please would you take this as a Warning Order, and resist the urge to deploy all your charitable giving to Help for Heroes or any other worthy causes, at least until you’ve seen what The Colonel’s Fund is all about.

Finally, I very much regret to report that Brigadier Peter Prescott died in hospital yesterday, 31 Oct 07. His funeral will take place at St Mary’s, Rolvenden, Kent, at 11am on Wed 7 Nov 07 to which his many friends are welcome. A memorial service will be held later in London, but there are no details yet.

Jim says you may be interested in going to this weblog of the journalist attached to the Bn in AFG

http://afghaniblog.livejournal.com/176523.html

From John Woodhouse:
Hi Chalky  I thought I would drop you a line to let you know that I was reading a book that someone gave me called; Jungle Warfare, by J.P.Cross. I was looking at the pictures and found a few of the 2nd Battalion in Belize. I am sure one is a very young looking Scouse Barcus crossing a river. There is another on page 205 of three Grenadiers getting out a Puma helicopter at Salamanca camp. Unfortunately my memory is not that good and I do not remember the lads names but know they were all One Company.  I would be happy to send a copy of the photos to anyone who would be able to identify those in the book.- Jim says: John didnt send any date but Im guessing it was 1971/1972 tours.

Jim says while we are on books my daughter bought me an interesting book on the cold war, an unusual book in that it contains a DVD (on Nuclear defence - yes get under your mattress!) and copies of documents, although it doesn't cover the Regiment or much of the BAOR it is really an History of events from 44 up to 91 and will be of interest to many of you who wondered why you spent your military career in Germany, and what all those exercises where about, remember  "Active Edge/Iron hammer" and all that!! Cost £21 on Amazon at first glance.  "The Cold War Experience" by Norman Friedman published by Carleton
 
I'm also reading that book by Reg Seale, a quite remarkable labour of love to produce this, and worth a buy if you want to know about the men from Worcestershire and Herefordshire's involvement in the Regiment, including naming all known Grenadiers from that area,  Title is 'Grenadiers of Worcester & Hereford', any would be purchaser contact him on 01905 826154 ex dir of at 15 Impney Way, Spa Fields Droitwich WR9 7EJ
 
Jobs for the Boys:
         DHL requires Security Coordinators to work on there bases within Iraq. Job responsibilities, liaising with the US Military, attending daily Intelligence meetings, briefing aircrews, collating and coordinating information for forwarding on to the Country Security Manager. If you are interested in this challenging job please contact Keith Smith, Iraq Security Manager with your CV to keithrobert.smith@dhl.com  or James Smith,   Smith.James@dhl.com we are definitely looking for four (4) if any one is interested forward/ email their CV’s me /keith asap  cheers buddy take care
The following was in response to a querry set last week by B Benchley.

From G Chamberlain in reply to a request from last week:
I suspect that it is not a case of RHQ at time not keeping records, more a case of RHQ at this time not knowing where to find the information.  The final set of colours were presented to the 3rd Bn by her Majesty Princess Elizabeth on 25 May 51 and the Regimental colour bore Company Device No. 4. The Portcullis.  Source of information, a little book entitled THE COLOURS OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS, published in 1958, and obtained for me from RHQ by the then Lt. Webb Carter 14 coy.  If any one wishes to challenge that near if not totally definitive verdict feel free, but I can account for every Company device used on the Regimental colours from that day to this, and there is no alternative configuration available.  I am not trying to be a smart arse, it just happens that Colour history was one of my passions, still is, as the then 14 Coy Commander Maj. B.C. Gordon Lenox was aware, as indeed was the then Lt. Webb Carter  Trust me!  While on the subject, the 2nd Bn Colours of the era were presented on 7 May 53.  [Device 6, the thistle] and the earliest record I have of the 1st Bn is device 7 presented on 6 June 67.  My guess is that they were presented with colours in the early 50s device 5, but that one is a calculated assumption. Before thanking all for leave to fall please, where are the 3rd Bn Colours now gentleman please?  In my latter years they where resting in the Guards Chapel, Pirbright, during which time I escorted them a time or two, to the tailors shop and back, cased of course, but where are they now please?   BFN GDC

From Charles Cornell
In reply to B.Benchley,s request for info re. 3rd Bn. new colours.  These were presented to the Bn. at Windsor Castle in 1956, to commemorate the Tercentenary of the regiment.
 
From Pete Cooper.
Reference the query from B. Benchley about the presentation of new colours to the 3rd battalion. This took place at Buckingham Palace on 25 May 1951, being presented by the then Princess Elizabeth. (I was there). They therefore would not have received new colours on their return from Egypt in 1954.

Jim says confused?? I was but Gerry Chamberlain followed up his original massive with this which sounds to me a reasonable reason why:I have found a little more information. I stand by my last.  Presented 25 May 51, but minus the 10 WW2 Battle honours, to be embroidered upon the return of the Bn to UK [Would that have been from Egypt?]  I have the documentary evidence.  I repeat that my guess is that the colours were either re presented, or re dedicated in 56 after the missing ten battle honours had been added.  I continue to stand firm, and rest my case.  BFN GDC

PS  I repeat an earlier question, where are those colours now SVP?
 
From:George Rimell
Little bit of info for you I have just returned from three weeks in South Australia.I arrived in Perth for four days and then travelled by the Indian Pacific Railway for two days and two nights to Adelaide, South Australia.I met up with Patrick O'Donahue and a very sprightly 92 year old Jim Hunt who by the way Joined the regiment in 1934 and served under three kings,George 5th,King Edward and George 6th.We had a real good chinwag and a few beers.I later had a three night cruise on the River Murray which was very interesting.I took out a video copy of Guarding the Queen which Patrick O'Donahue is going to pass around his members.
 
From Charlie Short:
It has just been announced on BBB Radio Linconshire that  the Red Arrows will preform at the 2012  Games in London, so one or two of your members will be pleased, And I, can sit in my back garden and watch them rehearse.
 
Jim says: I checked their website out after the last outburst and as yet there is nothing to back this up, but it probaly is right if, as Charlie says above he will be sitting in his garden watching them practice for something that might take place in 5 years time- good old RAF dont you love them!
 
Grenadier Calender - From RHQ
 
You may be aware that a small dedicated team here at Regimental Headquarters Grenadier Guards have completed the design of the Regimental 2008 calendar.

The Grenadier Guards 2008 Calendar provides, through out high quality photography and explanatory text, an overview of the Regiment and the roles that we perform, and our operational activities across the world.

The major benefit to The Grenadier Guards is that a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the calendar are given back to us as a donation to the Colonel’s Fund, therefore, the more we can sell through the Regiment, the bigger the donation will be next year.

I would ask that you spread the word to your family and friends, although some may already have received information about the calendar, having received a promotional postcard.

The calendar will become an annual publication, as we continue to support our Grenadier Guards charities.

Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy your calendar throughout the coming year.

The calendar is in full colour, in A3 format and printed on high quality paper.

Each calendar is priced at £9.99 plus Postage and Packing.

To order your calendar you can:-