Branch History

                                        THE DEUTSCHLAND BRANCH

 

                                  Founded on the 1st of October 2005

 

A résumé of the branch since its founding by Bob Wortley Branch Secretary.

 

Before reporting on the progress of the branch over the last two plus years I would like to begin by saying a very sincere thank you to the following individuals and branch membership of our superb Association.

 

To Jack Spackman (Bristol Branch) who was my very first contact with the Association back in August of 2005. Jack thanks for your patience and good advice on the phone which pointed me in the right direction.

To Mansel Lewis (at that time National Postal Membership Officer) who I can only describe as my mentor in the founding of this branch. Mansel and his good lady Katie have since proved to be staunch supporters and friends of our branch.

To Fred and Annie Burden (National Membership Secretary. Regalia Officer and Webmaster) for their patience and friendship since the very beginning. You both honoured us by attending the Dedication Service for our Standard and, I like to think, enjoyed a long weekend with us here in Bad Fallingbostel.

To Les Nichol and all members of the Durham Branch who from the very start expressed their support and confidence in our branch succeeding by kindly making a donation towards the purchase of our Standard.

To John McAulay and all members of the Doncaster and South Yorkshire Branch who, likewise, donated towards the purchase of our Standard. A special thank you, to you John, for keeping us updated on your Branch, the `Prickly Heat´ is a firm favourite of mine.

To Fred Burden and all members of the Colchester and District Branch who, likewise, donated towards our Standard.

 Finally to Geoff Parkes and all members of the Birmingham and District Branch.

and to George Tullis (National Secretary). George I really enjoyed our telephone conversations, thank you for your advice and support.

 

 

As already mentioned, the branch was founded on the 1^st of October 2005, and at the Inaugural Meeting, six of the seven founder members were present, Bob Wortley RGJ, Alec Norwell QRIH, Tom Orr RA, Stewart Sandeman BW, Pete Riese QOH, and Brian Greenwood RA. The seventh founder member Dave Wakelam Int Corp, unfortunately was unable to attend.

At this meeting the Branch Officers and Committee were elected, the Branch Rules ratified, the Branch Administrative Year set, the level of Branch Annual Subscriptions agreed, a voluntary donation made by all present to enable a Branch Bank Account to be opened and three bank signatories nominated, Branch Regulations for Members Dress on Meetings and Public Occasions agreed and implemented and proposals for the Appointments of a Branch Honorary Patron and President discussed.

 

Perhaps the most important agreement reached on this meeting was, that due to the fact of our location being outside the United Kingdom, that the Ordinary membership of the branch would never be large and that the main governing factor of the membership would have to be good comradeship and “esprit de corps” and that all Associate and Honorary Branch Members were discreetly screened before being

accepted into the branch. This has proved its worth by the slow but steady and stable growth of the branch over the last two years with a good mix of Ordinary, Associate and Honorary Members who are without a doubt very dedicated to the aims and principals of the Association and Branch.

 

Since this Inaugural Meeting we have not looked back and in an attempt to keep this report brief but informative I will cover the highlights of the branch to the present.

In November of 2005 it was agreed by all that to be a `proper branch´we had to have a heart, that is to say, a Branch Standard. So our aim for 2006 was not only recruiting but also the funding and purchase of our own standard.

 

This funding was achieved by each member making a donation and the kind donations received from the Colchester and District, the Durham and the Doncaster and South Yorkshire Branch Membership by February of 2006. With the able assistance of Fred Burden who pointed us in the right direction I was able to place the order of our standard with AA Flags Ltd of Durham (many thanks to Mandy Scott and her team for an excellent product and service. I can  sincerely recommend this firm). By April the standard had arrived and the planning of the Dedication Service began.

A suitable venue, that is to say a military Church, was soon identified and with the kind permission of the Station Staff Officer and the agreement of Padre John Duncan, Royal Army Chaplains Department, (Padre John subsequently became the Honorary Branch Chaplain) to officiate at the Dedication Service, in the All Saints Church, St Barbara's Barracks, Bad Fallingbostel, on the 27^th of June 2006.

 

Amongst the Guests of Honour, on a beautiful Sunday morning, were the Bürgermeister (Mayor) of Bad Fallingbostel, Herr Arnold Richter MBE and his good Lady, Fred and Annie Burden, National Membership Secretary and Association Webmaster, George and Celia Townes and the Colchester and District Branch Standard, Brian Croft, Chairman of the Bad Fallingbostel-Heide Branch, Royal British Legion and his good Lady and the Branch Standard (we have since affiliated to this branch), Michael Bridgeman, Chairman of the North Germany Branch, Royal Artillery Association and his good Lady and Herr Ortsbrandmeister (Area Fire Chief) Hans-Heinrich Thies and his good Lady representing the FFW Meißendorf (we have very close ties to this organisation).

 

After a lovely service a reception was held in the nearby Y.W.C.A. which was permitted and organised by the manageress, Margaret Phillimore MBE, a staunch Honorary Member of the branch.

During the Year 2006 the branch participated in the following events;

AGM FFW Meißendorf 4^th February. RAA North Germany Branch and Reservistenkameradschaft Celle Games Evening 24^th February.  Easter Fire FFW Meißendorf 15^th April.  Stalag X1B (375) Memorial Service 23^rd April.  British Day Hamburg 2006  26^th and 27^th August  Bad Fallingbostel-Heide Branch RBL Open Day 3^rd of September. Remembrance Sunday Church Parade (Standard Party with wreath) All Saints Church, St Barbara's Barracks, 12^th November.  Volkstrauertag (Standard Party with wreaths) Bad Fallingbostel and Meißendorf,19^th of November.  British Day Reception Hamburg 21^st November.

 

The branch year cumulated with our first Annual General Meeting held on the 9^th of December.

On this AGM the aims and objectives for the branch in the year 2007 were discussed and agreed. The three main ones were, recruiting, finding a permanent home for the branch and the receipt of the `PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA MEDAL for the nine members of the branch who qualified for it.

 

The Highlight of 2007 was without a doubt the receipt and presentation of the PJM, on behalf of the Malaysian High Commission, to branch members, by The Commander, 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, `The Desert Rats`. Brigadier A S F Storrie OBE.

 

 

 

On Friday the 21^st 0f September 2007 in the Red Rat Room of the Station Officers Mess in Bergen – Hohne, in a simple but impressive evening ceremony organised by Major Simon Copley – Smith of Brigade Headquarters, we proud veterans received our medals from the Commander. Simon, known as `CS´, is now an Honorary Member of our branch.

All of the recipients of the medal agreed that it was an evening that none of us would ever forget and would always be indebted to Brigadier Storrie and his staff for their generosity, hospitality and giving us the feeling that we were still part of a great family.

 

During the Year 2007 the branch participated in the following events;

Pilgrims visit to Becklingen Commonwealth War Cemetery 6^th May, Veterans Day Weekend 29^th June, Veterans Day Church Parade 1^st July, British Day Hamburg 1^st and 2^nd September, Remembrance Sunday Church Parade (Standard Party with Wreath) All Saints Church, St Barbara's Barracks, 11^th November, Volkstrauertag (Standard Party with Wreaths) Bad Fallingbostel and Meißendorf, 18^th November.

The branch year cumulated with our second AGM held on the 8^th of December.

Upon looking back on the year 2007 we realized that our three main aims and objectives had all been achieved. The branch strength had increased to 23 members, the PJM had been received and presented and indirectly through the PJM Presentation, a home for the branch was almost in reach through the kind interest shown by the Commander.

 

The first meeting of 2008 was held in the Church Hall of All Saints Church, St Barbara's Barracks on the 18 of January. This venue had been found by the Commanding Officer of 2 CS Bn REME, Lt Col David Bryson and offered to the branch as a permanent meeting place which was gratefully accepted. Colonel David was also instrumental in our Standard finding a permanent sanctum in the All Saints Church in which it was Dedicated. If you should ever visit this Church please look to your right as you enter it, and you will see a beautiful tall light oak display cabinet facing towards the Altar. Inside of it you will see our Branch Standard and the National Flag of Malaysia. On a brass plaque attached to the front of the cabinet you will read the following;

`This Cabinet was constructed with the kind permission of, Lt Col David Bryson. Commanding Officer, 2 CS Bn REME, by artisans of the Civilian Detachment Workshop as a sanctum, in this House of God, for the Standards of the Germany Branch National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association. May 2008`.

I wrote the wording of this plaque as a lasting thank you to Colonel David for his kindness and generosity to our branch.

 

It was in May that Tom Orr, our Chairman, discovered, whilst in barracks, that some rooms stood empty that would be far more suitable as a permanent home for our branch. Tom, being a good soldier, therefore asked the right person who said yes. So again, through kindness and generosity, this time from the Station Staff Officer and Brigade HQ, we were helped and on Sunday the 29^th of June, after the Veterans Day Church Parade, Colonel PM Smith OBE. MA. RLC, Deputy Commander Hohne Garrison and his wife Sheila officially opened The `Nee Soon Rooms` Home of the Deutschland Branch. Before the reception that followed our Padre, John Duncan, spoke a benediction for our home and branch.

 

It is now almost mid July as I close this résumé for the time being. I hope it has been informative and interesting to the reader.