The
Friends
of the
Green Howards
of the
Green Howards
APRIL 2008
|
The
Friends of the Green Howards |
THE GREEN HOWARD, Issue
4 APRIL 2008 |
| Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers | ||
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The highlight of the last six months has been the operational tour of the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Many of our readers have been following the regular reports on the regimental website www.greenhowards.org.uk, which has displayed monthly updates with dramatic photographs of our regular soldiers fighting the Taliban. Some have compared the ferocity of the fighting to that of the Korean War. It is for this reason that more pages than usual have been devoted to the new 2 YORKS and their ‘baptism of fire’, patrols, Christmas activities and, alas, casualties. In the next issue it is hoped to publish photographs of their Freedom Marches throughout North Yorkshire and Cleveland in June 2008, when they will receive a great welcome on their return to the county.
The Museum has been growing from strength to strength since the refurbishment of the ground floor. Shop sales have increased dramatically since items can now be purchased by credit card and on line from the home page of the Friends of The Green Howards website.
Historically, the most important event in the last six months is the announcement of the end of Operation BANNER on 31st July 2007. This marked the conclusion, after 38 years, of the British Army’s involvement in suppressing terrorism in Northern Ireland. Green Howards have served on 15 tours in the Province – 3 two year residential and 12 four month or less operational tours. The main article in this magazine is devoted to this campaign and includes some of the more serious incidents in the fight against the Provisional IRA and UFF. This is followed by a reading list from which readers may choose to further their knowledge of the longest campaign in the history of the British Army.
This is my last Editorial, after 12 years at the helm, but I am delighted to announce that Brigadier John Powell, assisted by David Lorimer, will take on the task of keeping Green Howards and Friends informed and in touch with regimental events wherever they are around the world.
My thanks go to all those who have helped me over the past years, particularly
Mark Marsay of Great Northern Publishing, in what has proved to be a worthwhile
and fulfilling experience
Roger Chapman
April 2008
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A FOND FAREWELL TO THE MUSEUM ASSISTANT
A Farewell Party was held in the Museum’s Normanby Room on Friday 18 January to bid farewell to Paul Cooper, who has been the Museum Assistant for over seven years. The function was attended by approximately 25 people, who included Museum and Yorkshire Regiment Staff, Guides, Volunteers, and Friends as well as the late Curator, Major Roger Chapman. All those who attended, and others unable to be present, had subscribed to a going away present to mark Paul’s departure.
Major Bob Martin, Assistant Regimental Secretary of the Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards) spoke of Paul’s service to the Green Howards and to the Museum, before making the presentation. Major Martin had known Paul since he joined the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards in 1986. He recounted Paul’s successful career with the Regiment, which culminated in him reaching the rank of Sergeant. Unfortunately, though, injury forced his retirement from the Regiment after 15 years of service.
Paul was then employed in the Museum by Lieutenant Colonel Neil McIntosh, the Regimental Secretary, in 2001. He soon became an extremely knowlegable and effective member of the Museum Staff. When he leaves the Museum, Paul will immediately start working under Major Martin, as a member of the Yorkshire Regimental Team. This will be in the short term, before a further placement. Wishing Paul well for the future, he was presented with a leather wallet and a Goudy wrist watch.
In response Paul thanked everyone for the generous gifts, expressing delight with the watch. He then thanked all the people who had supported him in the past. He was sad to be leaving the Museum, as he had enjoyed the work and working with the people involved. It was important to him that he felt he was still serving the Green Howards through his work in the Museum.
After Paul had finished speaking, Peter Etherington, a Museum Guide, reminded everyone that the Museum had been built up over many years by dedicated people and over this period the collection had been cared for by old soldiers. Paul was the last of these. In his opinion Paul had brought a new dimension to the job. His work with schoolchildren, the development of the web site ‘Walking with Ghosts’, and his efforts in regimental research. He had displayed great energy in driving things such as Museum cleaning, and had shown a high level of knowledge on all things appertaining to the Museum and Regiment.
Paul had shown his love of the Regiment by turning out on wet cold November mornings with regimental wreaths for the Richmond and Regimental War Memorials, and by his presence, working behind the scenes, in the Museum on Richmond Sundays. All of this was done setting and maintaining the highest standards. Paul Cooper has been a credit to the Regiment and will be greatly missed. On behalf of everyone, Peter Etherington then thanked Paul for his outstanding contribution to the Museum and the Regiment.
The afternoon was concluded by drinks and a light buffet organised by Mrs Janet Nelson, the Museum Shop Manager, and Mrs Pat Cooper, Paul’s mother, who also works in Regimental Headquarters.
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THE SECOND WORLD WAR EXPERIENCE CENTRE
The Centre has always been an invaluable source of help and information for the Museum since it was founded ten years ago. It was started by Dr Peter Liddle, who had already created an immense archive of Great War documents, diaries, letters, interview transcripts and photographs which was later named ‘The Liddle Collection’ and held in the Brotherton Library of Leeds University.
With the help of Founder Trustees, the Second World War collection of archives has grown from strength. Yet it has been the dynamism and commitment of Dr Peter Liddle, which enthused groups of volunteers to preserve evidence of personal experience from veterans from all participant countries in the Second World War.
Now Peter Liddle has retired after nine years as the Centre’s Director. In recognition of his unique contribution to the successful establishment of the Centre, the Trustees have decided to award him the title ‘Life President’, which will enable him to continue to be associated with the Centre in an ‘ambassadorial’ role.
The Friends send their best wishes to Dr Peter Liddle for a happy retirement and thank him for all he and the members of the Centre have done for the Green Howards Museum these past nine years.
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A MESSAGE FROM MAJOR-GENERAL A P FARQUHAR, C B E
It gives me great pleasure to write this forward to the fourth edition of The Green Howard Magazine. A great deal has happened since the last issue, with the Second Battalion (Green Howards) the Yorkshire Regiment having a busy, but productive tour in Afghanistan. I can assure you that they are meeting all the challenges with the strength and purpose you would expect. The Battalion has a key role supporting and developing the Afghan National Army and it was heavily involved in the battle to retake Musah Qalah. It was during this action that, tragically, Sergeant Lee Johnson was killed. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family.
Once the Battalion returns to the UK, it will exercise its right to march through the Boroughs and a series of Freedom Parades will be held across the North-East between the 18 – 21 June. I urge you all to support these events whenever and wherever you can. The Area Headquarters in Richmond will publish further details nearer the time.
A service of thanksgiving to mark the formation of the Yorkshire Regiment was held in York Minster on 22 September 2007. This was a most memorable ceremony, well supported by the Green Howards Association and it was good to see so many friends. As the Yorkshire Regiment matures, so does its new Regimental Association. I hope that many of you will now join this Association, which is having its first reunion on 6 -7 June 2008. Details will be promulgated through Association Branches, but if you require further information do call the Area Headquarters (AHQ) in Richmond. Supporting this Association will be the best way to preserve our Green Howards traditions and ensure a vibrant future.
The Museum continues to go from strength to strength under the stewardship of the curator David Tetlow, ably assisted by his team. The new ground floor development and particularly the shop, is proving a great success. Major (Retired) Bob Martin MBE continues to lead AHQ, achieving real progress on all fronts, not least on the state of the building and ensuring we comply with the numerous pieces of modern legislation. None of this could have been possible without the hard work that Major (Retired) Brian Metcalfe has put in over many years to ensure that our funds are safeguarded and invested in the best possible way. He now retires as the Honorary Treasurer and I would like to thank him, on behalf of us all, for his successful stewardship of our finances. I am pleased to say that Captain Dennis Appleyard remains as a stalwart for our administration, the foundation upon which we build all matters Green Howards.
You will see the forecast of events and I hope, and expect, to see you all at as many of the functions as possible. I am sure we will once again have a great response which will ensure that the Green Howards have another bumper year.
Finally, I know you will all wish to join me in recording our thanks to Major (Retired) Roger Chapman MBE. For many years, we have been lucky enough to have his expertise as editor of the wide variety of successful regimental publications. This success is obvious to all in the quality of our magazines and newsletters over the period of his editorship and I am pleased to say that this has resulted in the winning of several awards. This will be his last edition as Editor; he hands over to Brigadier (Retired) John Powell OBE who is well known to us all as the last Colonel of the Regiment. We wish him the very best of luck following in Roger’s footsteps. John will be joined by Mr David Lorimer, who has been associated with the Green Howards over many years during his career as a journalist with the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. David will become the Deputy Editor and I join with you in welcoming him back into the XIX fold.
I end, as ever, by wishing all serving and retired Regimental members all
the very best for the future.
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Cleaning and refurbishment
The mammoth task of cleaning the uniforms started in earnest in early January.
The dedicated museum volunteers have been working on a rota every working day
of the week to ensure that the collection was at its best for the opening of
the museum on the 4th February 2008.
All uniforms have been vacuumed, all buttons polished and all cases swept and cleaned. The carpets throughout the museum and headquarters have also been professionally cleaned. New lighting has been fitted in the silver cases, top floor exhibition area, the model soldier case and the Napoleon snuff case.
All Regimental and Town silver has been cleaned. The ram’s head snuff- box has been sent away to a local silver repairer to have its impressive Cairngorm quartz jewel fittings repaired. The silver cases have been redisplayed to show off the magnificent collection.
The various original watercolours of the regiment have been carefully cleaned, conserved and reframed by Mrs Maggie Houghton. They will be redisplayed in the Gordon Gallery of the Museum. We wish to thank Mrs Houghton for her assistance.
Interpretation panels throughout the museum are being replaced to help retain the fresh look of the museum collection
The ‘Over the Wall’ Exhibition.
A new exhibition will grace the middle floor of the Museum, written by one of
our Guides, Jim Brown, with assistance from the museum staff. The exhibition
is entitled ‘Over the Wall’ and explores the old Green Howard Barracks
in Richmond from its creation to current use. The exhibition is sponsored by
the Army Museum Ogilby Trust and the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council,
who have provided £2000 towards the display and promotion of the exhibition.
The display is expected to run from February until the end of September 2008
and is a must for all those who remember their time as recruits or training
staff in the barracks on top of Gallowgate Hill over looking Richmond.
Window Displays
A design company is due to visit the museum in February to assist with the exterior
and window interpretation of the museum. The company will focus on the history
of the building and the contents within to promote the museum to visitors to
the town.
Volunteers
New volunteers have started at the museum. We now have a balanced mix of retired
servicemen making up the guides and local people assisting with the digitization
of photographs, conservation and cataloguing, reception and shop work.
Museum Accreditation
Three volunteers are assisting the Curator with the Museum Accreditation Scheme
(to remain a registered museum) as part of the Museum, Libraries and Archives
requirement. We are updating the museum’s Acquisitions and Disposals Policy,
our Forward Plan, Marketing Plan, Disaster Plan, Risk Assessment for Visitors
Plan and Documentation Plan. These documents will then be proof to the MLA that
the museum is professional in its outlook and we will then remain registered
and be able to receive future funding.
The Museum Shop and School Visits
New shop lines have been introduced including a range of Green Howards chocolates
and a local Richmond Swaledale Cheese. I would like to encourage all Green Howards
to show their support for the museum and indulge in one of our new edible products!
A teacher will work at the museum for five days thanks to further funding from
the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. She will work alongside the Museum
Assistant and Collections Officer to give us an understanding of what teachers
and pupils expect from a school visit
Read German Pistol
The pistol captured by Professor Sir Herbert Read (philosopher and writer) when
he was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment during WW1 has caused great
interest at the museum. More information about this fascinating story can be
found on the Green Howards website.
New Member of Staff
And finally we would like to welcome on board Susan Langridge, our new Museum
Assistant. She has already rolled up her sleeves and is assisting with the cleaning
and redisplay of the museum artefacts. We hope you have a long and happy stay
at our museum.
Finally, a large thanks to all the staff and volunteers for their hard work over the past six months.
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OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE Y & L SILVER TIGER
On the 18th October, Brigadier Ronnie Eccles DSO, who commanded the 1st Battalion from 1969-72, which included the first two tours in Northern Ireland, officially presented a York and Lancaster silver tiger statuette to Major General Andrew Farquhar CBE in the Normanby Room.
Brigadier Eccles accompanied by his wife, Glen, spoke of the sad time in 1968 when infantry cuts resulted in the youngest Regiment in the Yorkshire Brigade, The York and Lancaster Regiment (65th/84th Foot), being “given the chop”. He explained how he had the difficult task of allocating officers and soldiers to the other three Regiments. He was proud of the fact that of the six officers appointed to command the 1st Battalion The Green Howards, after December 1968, five were former York and Lancasters – himself, Raymond Ashforth, Leslie James, John Byrne and Stuart Adlington.
As with many regiments, between 1800 and 1939, India figured greatly in their periods of overseas service. The 65th and 84th of foot and their successor, the York and Lancaster Regiment, spent a combined total of some 100 years there. Quite early, in 1823 this resulted in the Indian tiger being incorporated in their Colours and later, in 1866, their cap badge. This silver tiger was commissioned from the Gold and Silversmiths Company Ltd in 1903 after the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902) by the officers of the Regiment to commemorate those soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict. After disbandment in 1968, the tiger was brought out at social occasions, especially for the officers’ annual reunion luncheon, more often than not, in Endcliffe Hall, Sheffield – the last one was on 9th June 2007. The year previously it had been decided by the Trustees to present the 1st Battalion silver tiger to the Green Howards Museum.
Major General Farquhar thanked Brigadier Eccles for this magnificent gift to the Museum. It will be a lasting memory of over 200 years service of this fine Regiment and a tribute to the many York and Lancaster Regiment’s officers and men, who served with the Green Howards.
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ISSUE 4, "THE GREEN HOWARD", - CONTENT
In an 15-page article, profusely illustrated, which provides the historical background to the Troubles of Northern Ireland.
The 14 operational tours of the Green Howards between 1970 and 2004 are detailed, with reference to the above historical background. A description is given of the activities of each tour.
Finally, the article concludes with a list of those members of the regiment honoured for their part in oprerations underatken by the Green Howards in Northern Ireland, and details are given of those members of the regiment who lost their lives serving in Northern Ireland.
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The 1st Battalion in Fort Stanley under the command of Lt Col
Harry Styles took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade in Kowloon.
The death in hospital was reported of WO1 (RSM) "Lofty" Peacock, DCM,
MM.
Lt Col Harry Styles handed over command of the 1st Battalion to Lt Col Wally
Pryke, MBE.
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The new Colonel of the Regiment, Bigadier Peter Inge, granted
a private aufience in Oslo with King Olav V.
The 1st Battalion arrived in Osnabruck as part of the British Army on the Rhine.
The Book of Remembrance in St. Mary's Church, Richmond, brought up to date with
the names of those Green Howards killed or died of wounds in Northern Ireland
since 1971, and the falklands in 1982.
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