Branch Meeting.
31 people sat down with another 25 logged on via Zoom. We did have our first Zoom crisis when we lost the internet connection for a while during the guest speakers’ presentation.
The recap of June’s activity highlighted the D-Day memorial wall scrub by members of the branch, the 2 x D Day commemorations on Poole Quay on 6th June and the Falkland Islands memorial service on 14th June. There was also the branch visit to the Houses of Parliament, Weymouth Armed Forces Day, and Tankfest 2025.
Forthcoming branch activity announced is the visit to the Army trials unit (ATU) at Bovington on 23rd July, the branch BBQ on 9th August & the VJ Day memorial service in Poole on 15th August. It was confirmed that on 23rd July, Poppies tea rooms at Bovington will open at 0800hrs instead of 0930hrs to allow branch members to enjoy a relaxed pre (ATU) visit breakfast.
Members were reminded that there is no branch meeting in August. Those present were informed of a “Not Forgotten” drive in concert in Dorset sometime in September. We were told that block booking is not possible and those interested should log onto the Not Forgotten website to register their interest In this event.
The meeting then closed, and we introduced the guest speaker, Lt Col (retd) Gareth Davies. Gareth is one of a small group of regular guest speakers that we are fortunate to receive on an annual basis. This year Gareth looked at the RTR during the Italian Campaign in WWII. It was an attempt to balance things as the 12 RTR Battalions in Italy tend to be overshadowed by the 9 RTR Bns that served in North Western Europe from D Day onwards. The presentation was not a typical story told in chronological order but a series of individual stories highlighting members of the Regiment some of the actions they were involved in and the vehicles they used.
He explained that many of the RTR “battle honours” were river crossings and that due to the geography in Italy, assault river crossings were the main ingredient of the fighting there. Gareth highlighted numerous RTR casualties and went into some detail about the circumstances of their injuries and often death. Gareth also showed that in Italy it was a QM (T) nightmare. He highlighted 51 RTR who were equipped with Churchill Tanks, the problem was that they had every mark of Churchill you could think of, from the Mk1 with the 2pd gun through to the 90mm support gun, oh and they had 18 Shermans as well!
He spent some time telling the stories of the RTR POWs (captured in North Africa and held in Italy) who escaped after Italy surrendered and their Italian guards disappeared. Some were quickly recaptured by the Germans whilst others made it all the way home. One ex POW even ended up being inserted into Sumatra as part of Force 136 in South - East Asia. The most important historical fact must be that the 5-man Sherman Tank crews in Italy got the first 10 x man Compo ration packs issued to the army, which of course had to last for two days. I wonder if the tinned Salmon had a wrapper on even then?
A great presentation, even the 3 members of the Royal Marines Association who came along really enjoyed it.
Fear Naught
