LANCS HQ
6 JUN 11
RHQ RRF
LANCASHIRE HEADQUARTERS
FUSILIER NEWSLETTER NOTES FOR MAY 2011
Bury Wartime Weekend. The East Lancashire Railway Wartime Weekend has been running for nearly 15 years in Bury. It is a three day event, held annually over the last bank holiday in May. The event is well subscribed, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Prior to the move of the Area Headquarters and Fusilier Museum into the centre of Bury the regimental presence at the event had been limited to the Fusilier Band & Corps of Drums supported by a small team from the Fusilier Association. Now that the Headquarters and Museum were based in the centre of Bury next to the East Lancashire railway the event presented a regimental opportunity not to be missed.
The weekend proved to be a good example of a combined regimental event, coordinated by the Area Headquarters. Taking part where a section from 1RRF, a good part of the TA Machine Gun Platoon, Fusilier Cadets from Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force, the Association, Friends of the Fusilier Museum, staff from the Tourist Information Centre and Fusilier Museum. The aim for the weekend was to raise the profile of the Regiment, at the same time as bringing in additional visitors to the Fusilier Museum. With no practical experience of the Wartime Weekend the decision was taken to organise several events in order to establish best practice for 2012. The 2011 events included:
Fusilier Information Stand.All three days. On the platform of Bury Station based on 12 x 12 provided by TA
Craft Exhibition.Saturday only. Organised by TICin Museum
Researching Military Ancestors.Sunday only. Museum Friends Group
TA Recruiting Stand.Monday only. In Gallipoli Garden
Display of Military Vehicles.Monday only. Museum Friends Group.
Military Art Exhibition.All week in Museum.
Cadet Parade.Sunday. Irwell vale. GMACF
The weekend proved successful, bringing in many additional visitors and £800 in income for the Museum. Also, all the hard work also considerably enhancing the profile of the Regiment and Army. That said,there are areas for improvement which will be incorporated into the plan for 2012. Finally,special mention should be made of theNCOs and Fusiliers from 1RRF, the TA Fusilier Machine Gun Platoon, Steve Fitt, Secretary of the Association in Lancashire and Steve Douthwaite Secretary to the Friends of the Fusilier Museum for their help with preparations and for their hard work over what turning out to be a very wet and windy but successful weekend.
Images of Wartime Weekend
- Helen Field with lads from 1RRF, Bury Station
- Fusilier Information Point on Platform of Bury Station
- Machine Gun Platoon Stand on Gallipoli Garden
- Tourist Information Centre – “Land Girls”
GMACF Shooting at Altcar. Shooting is a core activity for the ACF and the opportunity was taken to visit the Fusilier Cadets from Greater Manchester firing the target Rifle at Altcar Training Camp recently. Despite horizontal rain the cadets put up a tremendous performance shooting out to 500m. I am in no doubt that they would greatly benefit from advice delivered by an expert battalion sniper team.
Image of Cadets with Area Secretary Lancashire at Altcar Training Camp
Band on Tour. The Fusilier Band (Lancashire) recently took the opportunity to mix business with pleasure by playing a number of concerts in Belgium. The band formed in 1997 is now some 35 strong and has established a strong reputation for musical excellence both at home and abroad. This year the Fusilier band was invited to play in Belgium and events were arranged in the beautiful mediaeval city of Bruges, at the atmospheric TOC H in Poperinge and finally at the famous Menin Gate in Ypres.
Ypres has a particular significance for the British Army for during the First World War, the British Army held Ypres against repeated German attacks for nearly four years sustaining many casualties as a consequence. As a whole throughout the First World War the antecedent regiments of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers suffered 63,841 dead and many thousands more wounded.
At the end of the tour the Band paid their respects to the last two Lancashire Fusiliers of the First World War to be buried. Private Harry Wilkinson was buried in 2003 and Private Richard Lancaster in 2007,both at Prowse Point Cemetery south of Ypres. The bodies of a further two Lancashire Fusiliers have recently been discovered and are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence pending a formal burial.
It was with great pleasure for the band that during the tour the members were able to meet up with fellow Fusiliers from both Northumberland and Warwickshire
Band Images
- Paying respects at Prowse Point Cemetery
- Playing at the Menin Gate
For your diary.
Friday 29th July. Rochdale Branch Minden Ball, Rochdale.
Sunday 31st July. Association Drum Head Service Gallipoli Garden, Bury.
Monday 1st August. Minden Day. HQ and Museum Staff to celebrate. Bury
Thursday 1st September. Minden Club AGM and Dinner, Bury.
Saturday 24th September. Machine Gun Platoon Annual Dinner, Castle Armoury, Bury.
Thursday 3rd November. Inkerman Dinner, Bury.
Friday 4th November. Lancashire Council Meeting. Bury.
Saturday 3rd December. Oldham Branch Christmas Dinner. Stockport.
For further details contact Linsey in Area Headquarters Lancashire on 0161 763 8969