North West Branch Report

In August some of our Buglers were the guests of 5 Rifles, who celebrated Salamanca Day with a really enjoyable families day and we helped to entertain them with a concert performance alongside the buglers of 5 Rifles under the direction of their Bugle Major Gary Freeland.

On 14th September 2019, the Association participated again in an event that is very close to its heart namely the Northern Ireland Veterans Association Memorial Service, held at the National Memorial Arboretum near Stafford, which this year commemorated 50th Anniversary of OP BANNER. Our Buglers have participated in this event for several years and the pride of marching our Light Division comrades down to the Northern Ireland Memorial is very special, especially this year with Craig Rosser playing the bass drum with great style. After sounding the Last Post at the Northern Ireland memorial service, the Buglers marched to the LI and RGJ memorials and after a short service and wreath laying at each, they sounded the calls for our Light Division comrades who never came home. After the commemoration, many joined comrades at the Lichfield Rugby Club for refreshments and an excellent lunch generously hosted by the Central England Branch of the RGJ Association and listened to an excellent bugle concert. A great Light Division occasion. KSLI and DLI memorials: the latter marking the closure of the DLI Officers’ Dining Club on 9th June. Kirk Richardson played here. One significant new memorial is in memory of Corporal Derek Wood and Corporal David How, members of the Royal Signals who were brutally murdered by Republicans who were part of a funeral cortege in Belfast, March 1988. Six of our buglers had the honour of sounding the calls at the unveiling of this poignant memorial –Don Somers, Stan Wilkinson, Peter Noble, Norman Smillie, John Vernon and John Strong.

Given the continued reduction in military bands and the difficulty in sustaining bugling within the Regiment, it is clear that the role of the Buglers’ Association in maintaining our bugling heritage and supporting the wider Regimental family will continue to be increasingly important. Moreover our new sound and amplification systems will help develop the Light Division sound. Any former buglers from antecedent regiments, the Rifles or the Rifle badged cadets who would like to join the Association, please contact our Chairman Alan Tamblyn (alan.tamblyn@buglers.co.uk).

Finally, we would like to thank all those who contribute to the Association so generously, in particular the RGJ Association and the KOYLI Trust. The Association is extremely grateful for your support and we look forward to supporting the Regiment in the years ahead.

Buglers also attend the National Memorial Arboretum regularly throughout the year at both the unveiling of new memorials and attending memorial services at existing ones, including this year the

The branch has had a busy year during 2019.

The year started with our AGM and the usual committee meetings. Various members of the branch attended the following during the year

Regimental Reunion, The National Arboretum, Liverpool Rifleman's dinner Remembrance Sunday, Rifles recruiting stand, Armed Forces Day, Local Parish Church Service for Liverpool pall's 100th anniversary and again at the Parish Church for the Parachute Regiment Arnhem 75th anniversary.

So, bring on 2020, we as a branch are ready for more of the above

On 8th September 2019 the branch President (Sean McEvoy) and Chairman. (Dave Judge) attended a service at the parish church Liverpool, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the return from Russia by the 17th Bn Liverpool Pals The 17th Bn the Liverpool pals were sent to stations, and factories, from whence they came/ worked/educated and where they transported to

and from during mobilisation.

A very informative day. From the European front to the Russian tundra. And getting home a year after the end of WW1. Pals indeed.

The Northern Ireland (NI) Veterans Association Service of Remembrance to Commemorate OP Banner 50th Anniversary Commemoration took place at the National Arboretum, Staffordshire on Saturday 14th September 20194

Liverpool Pals inspection 1915

Russia as WW1 was ending in 1918. they returned to England in 1919 one whole year later.