CHAPTER CHATTER - rafregt.org.uk

Chapter Chatter Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of the RoyalAir Force Regiment Association

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President’s Report

With the coming of spring our thoughts mustonce again consider the future progress of ourChapter. Your Executive’s initiative last year ininserting an advertisement in a Canadian /Britishnewspaper produced four replies. Of those onejoined immediately and we are in constantcontact with the others. One problem, which hasbeen discussed in “The Flash”, is the ability tosearch and obtain from the web up to dateinformation on the activities of the Regiment.

As a Chapter our mandate is to maintain andfoster the same Esprit de Corps that we allenjoyed as serving Gunners. In the East we arelucky to have a major concentration of ex-Rockswho are able to get together, sometimesmonthly, or sometimes infrequently, at aluncheon or unfortunately on the passing of amember.

Our members in the Winnipeg area worktogether to enjoy their breakfast meetings. TheWestern sector is so widespread as to offer upour largest concern. In writing this newsletter werecognise this situation and can only offer thecontacts and context we receive from the U.K.

Appeals from our Treasurer David Jeffrey inprevious editions of “Chapter Chatter’ havemanaged to obtain some content from the farwest to help include our comrades out there tokeep in touch. Might I repeat this plea? I amsure that somewhere, each of us has a story ora remembrance to share. All you need do is putyour story down in any form you like, and I willwrite it up into a story you can be proud to haveshared.

At our next Executive meeting I am hopeful tohave a discussion on the present form that wesend out “The Flash’ magazine to you. Currentlywe receive it on an electronic PDF format fromthe U.K. Whilst our members on the internet canprint or download it to read on an eight and ahalf by eleven format, converting it to a printedmagazine suitable for our ‘snail mail’ readerscreates a problem in converting it to a readable‘brochure’ style format. Since the U.K. version isan A4 format the resultant print here is

.A smaller page size with reduced type sizereadable for our elderly eyes

As can be seen in the above version we lose alot of print area. Since there are only 10 suchcopies required I am hopeful that we can rectifythis with approval of a proposal, which I willintroduce for your Executive’s consideration.

Our future plans call for our “Spring Get-Together in early May, with the third “JimDennison Annual Car Rally” to follow in earlyJuly. Details of both events will be publishedonce the actual dates are formalised.

Some years ago David Jeffrey and myself hadthe distinct pleasure to spend an afternoon withour Veteran member from Comox, BritishColumbia, Ken Stoker. We had a wonderfullunch with Ken at the Military Institute in Toronto,where he had us enthralled with his adventuresboth in the Regiment and at home in Comox.Alas Ken has with reluctance asked that weaccept his resignation from the Chapter. We willmiss you Ken, but you will always have a placehere in our hearts.

If you have any concerns or thoughts on howwe can improve our Chapter please let yourExecutive know. We are all joined as membersof our elite Corps.Per Ardua,

Iain C. Purves

CHAPTER CHATTERThe Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of

The Royal Air Force Regiment Association

Number 42 March 2013


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Treasurer’s Report.

As of this date 22 members have returned myrequest for their payment of their yearly dues. Iwill be sending out the membership cards tothem this week. At least three members actuallyadded a little bit extra, as they said, ‘to cover thepostage’. Our thanks for their thoughtfulness!

David Jeffrey

Secretary’s Notice.

Please be advised that when we ask for yourcomments or responses about items either sentto you, or requested by your Executive,regarding proposed changes to the way we aretrying to help with improving the running of theChapter, If no replies are received by yourExecutive within 14 days, then that advisementshall be deemed to have been passed.

Roy Gourley

Membership Report.

On my return to Canada I will be preparing themembership listings , and updating the currentlyavailable personal information. If you wouldadvise me of any changes to your presentinformation it would be greatly appreciated.Many Thanks

Marion Purves

Ceremonial & Kit.

I will be glad to see an end to winter, as I amsure you all feel the same! Regarding ourCeremonial duties we have nothing until theWarrior’s Day Parade in August. I will send youall the details closer to the date If you arerequiring kit, you can deal with the shop at RAFHonington or you can deal with “Derek’sRockape Shop” which is run by an ex-Regimentveteran Derek James. You can view “Derek’sShop” online at the following websitewww.rockapeshop.co.uk. I served with Derek,he is a good lad and I can assure you that hewill give you a good deal on all your ‘Rockape’kit requirements. If you wish to place your orderwith the Chapter please contact meat my e-mailaddress [email protected].

Frank Mills

Sick and Welfare

Three members were reported on ‘sick call’.David Jeffrey, George Stephen and JohnWreglesworth, all are reported as recoveringwell.

Brian Patten

Regular Correspondents

Rita and Cedric “Bill” Billington

For the last few years it has never failed afterthe sending off of the latest “Chapter Chatter”,that an E-mail would arrive from Rita or CedricBillington! Sometimes a simple “Well Done”would be the comment, but most times a littlesnippet of news.

Although the “Bills” live in Nova Scotia thelatest news is that they are hoping to move toPeterborough, Ontario. Hopefully that promisewill come to pass, as Cedric notes, “When weare finally in Ontario I (we) may be able toparticipate more!”

(We certainly hope so! Ed.)

More War Stories

Our Squadron, 63 Field stationed at RAFTengah, Singapore, was preparing for troublebreaking out in the Far East Command becauseof the formation of the Malaysian Federation.The country most upset by this would beIndonesia, so preparation for this meant we hadmany Internal Security Exercises.

In this exercise our Squadron was designatedas “Bad Boys”. We were playing the part ofTerrorists and Rioters’. Our Flight Commanderwas Flt. Lt. Collange and he was ordered tocause trouble at a roundabout on the ThompsonRoad that was manned by a company of theMalayan Infantry Regiment, which had just beenrecalled from UN duties in Cyprus!


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“The BAD BOYS of 63 Field Squadron”

We did our reconnaissance of the roundaboutat about 22.00 hours. I reported to my FlightCommander that there was a ‘four ton truck’ onone of the roads leading from the roundabout.This truck was one from the Ghurkha TransportRegiment attached to the Malayan InfantryRegiment. I asked my OC if I might have a go atstealing it, as it would be a great prize! He toldme to take two ‘Rocks’ along with me in case oftrouble, but only to go when the rest of our flighthad started a riot at the roundabout. The twolads I took with me were SAC Bob Lord (thedriver) and SAC ‘Taff’ Hughes. He and I were toact as the thugs. As the riot started I ran for theone door of the truck, and SAC Lord took theother. When I threw open the door there was asoldier (Ghurkha Transport Regt.) lying acrossthe seats with his SLR (rifle) lying on top of him.

I of course made a grab for the weapon and wasreally surprised that the sling was not attachedto his arm, so I legged away with the rifle andthe Ghurkha in hot pursuit. As I was theSquadron Cross Country, 3 Mile, 1 Mile and 880yards Champion it wasn’t much of a race, somedistance away I took off into the bush.

By this time SAC’s Lord and Hughes hadtaken the 4-ton truck! From my hiding place Icould see the Ghurkha searching up and downthe road for me, but I was not moving. I decidedto strip as many pieces from the SLR as I couldand put them into my pockets. After a period oftime I heard my Flight Commander calling myname, he told me he was with an umpire andthat this part of the exercise was over so I couldcome out now. He went on to say that we haddone well in capturing the ‘enemy’ truck, andthat we had taken one of their rifles as well asdestroying a lot of the ‘enemy’s’ equipment atthe roundabout

When I came out from my hiding place, I couldsee that the Ghurkha soldier was with them andthat he was very upset with me. He grabbed hisrifle and started to walk away, so I asked him ifhe might need the other parts, which were in mypossession. This made him really mad as boththe Umpire and my Flight Commander thenburst out laughing.

As we walked past the Malayan Regimentposition to where the other lads from our Flightwere in trucks waiting to go off on anotheradventure, a Corporal from the MalayanRegiment shouted to me, Johnny you come andtry to take my rifle!” As I moved towards him hefixed his bayonet. This is where the fun started!

My Flight Commander “Lost it”, shouting atthe Corporal ordering him to unfix his bayonet orhe would get me to stick it up his rear end. Hethen suggested in many words that they werenot up to our standards (real words edited out),and if they didn’t smarten up he would get therest of our flight to come back and kick the hellout of them all! He shouted in this poor lad’sface, “Do you know who we are? We are theRAF Regiment and don’t ever forget it!” I don’tthink that lad ever will!

Frank Mills

The Ghurkha Kukri

The lads examine the Ghurkha Kukri

At a recent meeting of some of us at 447 Wingin Mount Hope, we were fortunate enough to beshown a very old Ghurkha Kukri brought backfrom India many years ago by Frank Mills father.The weapon invoked much interest since Frankhad also brought along a pair of ‘souvenir’ kukriknives he had obtained while serving inSingapore. After quite a bit of discussion on themyths surrounding the weapon I asked Willie


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Wood if he would perhaps write an article for uson the fierce ‘Warrior” soldiers

For 1,500 years Nepal existed as a communityof small kingdoms. The evolution as a nationbegan with the rise of the House of Gorham.The most famous of kings in this House wasPrithvi Narayan Shah, who joined all the piecesof the diverse kingdoms together. After the totalconquest of the entire region, Prithvi Narayanwas crowned sole king and ruler. His first actwas to expel all foreigners in 1769 and Nepalthus became the forbidden kingdom toforeigners until it was opened to them again in1951!

It was in 1814 when the formidable GhorkhaArmy started expanding it’s conquests into partsof India and was confronted by the East IndiaCompany. It was in this war against the Ghorkhathat the British came to acknowledge that theseguys were extremely brave and ferociousfighters. They started recruiting Ghorkhaprisoners into the British Army in 1815, evenbefore the signing of the peace treaty in 1816

Lieutenant Frederick Young of the 13th NativeInfantry was the most deserving of the title of thefounding father of the fighting force within theBritish Army universally known as the GhurkhaRifles. Young had been in the battle of Kalingeagainst the Ghorkha army as an aide-de-campto General Gillespie of the Royal Irish Dragoons,who took a bullet in his chest and died in thearms of the young Lieutenant. Young was takenprisoner of the Ghorkha army where he learnedto appreciate them.

The origin of the Kukri is not familiar to me, butI am aware that the larger ceremonial kukri ispurified to be used during Durga Puja to chopthe heads off of buffalo or goats with a singleblow. The war kukri is smaller and these bravesoldiers, with their famous and deadly cry of“AYO GURKHALI” are drawn to do hand to handcombat in their frenzy. This cry put the fear ofGod to both German and Japanese Infantry.

Of the thousands of medals awarded to theGhurkha Rifles soldiers and officers, includingVictoria Crosses, I would like to mention onevery important V.C., which was won by SudabarLalbahadur Thapa of the 1st Battalion, 2nd

Ghurkha Rifles. His heroic actions with his menfor a task that to its commander seemed beyondhuman accomplishment, was achieved in a veryswift action. So swift in fact that the 8

thArmy

commanders were so unprepared for the moveforward and defeat of the German Africa Corpsthere and then. By the time of the surrender of

the Axis Forces in Tunisia, Rommel was alreadyback in Germany. King George VI arrived inNorth Africa to award medals to the victoriousforces including the Victoria Cross to SubadarLalbahadur.

For a look at the Ghurkha Rifle’s history, visittheir museum at Winchester in Hampshire onyour next visit to England

“Willie” Wood

Presentations

In the last edition of “Chapter Chatter’ wementioned that we had still to obtain aphotograph of Brian Patten with his ‘Queen’sJubilee Medal’ Luckily Willie Wood was on handwith his camera and he captured this photo.

Brian Patten with his newly mounted medal.

Not only were the group pleased to see Brian’sdecoration newly mounted, but we were alsohonoured to have two Pingat Jasa Malaysiamedals to present as well. Since our Presidenthad already departed for warmer shores, FrankMills stepped in and presented both RoyGourley and William Woods at the last regularmeeting of the group at 447 Wing in MountHope. Thank you Frank, and congratulations toall our medal recipients.

Roy Gourley proudly displays his medal


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‘Willie’ Woods with his medal

Advertising SurpriseAs a result of our advertisement when we

asked anyone who had worn the ”Flash” tocontact us, we heard and recruited Bert Toons inCalgary, Alberta to the Chapter. In mailing outsome information to the membership I wasamazed to have a reply from Bert wondering ifthe “Nick ‘Bacon listed was perhaps a gunner hehad shared some time with at the Depot. Notonly were we able to get the two mates in touchwith each other Bert forwarded the following E-mail to Nick

“ Hi Nick, when I saw the email list for theChapter I wondered if it was the same NickBacon I was with at Catterick in 1964. It surewas great to get in touch with you after all theseyears. Any rate here is a run down of my past!

I was stationed at RAF Seletar for 3 years,with detachments to Sabah, North Borneo, KongKedah on the Thai border and various states inMalaya.I was on an armed escort to RAFButterworth in June of 1965. The RAF took sixten-ton trucks up to there to move somesensitive equipment down to Seleter. I hadthought you had been posted to RAF Tengah, ifI had known you were at “Butterworth’ we couldhave met.”

Bert went on to detail much more in his notemostly of his stay and marriage whilst inSingapore, and of his return to 51 Squadron inAldergrove, Northern Ireland. However an oldwound that occurred in Borneo and refusing toheal saw Bert being given a medical discharge.

Moving back to ‘Civvy Street’ and returning tohis old job as a painter and decorator timepassed quickly and saw one of Bert’s three sons

move to Canada. The rest was easy, a move toCalgary and a job at the beautiful Heritage Parkin that city as a security guard.

“I think of you often” Bert continues.“Especially when I look at my old photos ofCatterick, especially too of singing ‘Alouetta onthat lake in Yorkshire”

“Nick’ on the left, Bert is on the right.

(Ed. Did we all look so young on enlistment?)

“I always remember when we had a breakthere and I was giving out coffee to the lads, Ihad a hip flask with some Capt. Morgan Rum init so I began lacing the lads coffee. Up came theCO’s driver to say ‘Toons the CO wants some ofthe same coffee you are dishing out to the lads!’Guess he had seen my hip flask, so I had tooblige!!!!”

“Seems there are a good bunch of ex “Rocks’in the Chapter and am looking forward to writingto them”

Thanks Bert for a quick insight into youradventures and time spent in the Corps. Wehope to keep you in mind for some futurestories.

(I have edited Bert’s note to Nick, and trust that Ihave lost none of its sense or context!! Iain)

Hopefully now that Bert and “Nick’s tale hasbeen told, other members might recall similaroccurrences of a similar nature and let us sharetheir stories. Not all might have as successful anending as told above but let us at least hearfrom you!


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Cheraw Revisited!

Over the past few years I have mentioned theannual pilgrimage Marion and I take from ourbase here in Myrtle Beach to the tiny town ofCheraw in South Carolina. What keeps callingus back there, other than to pay homage to thegraves of the men of the 71

stFraser Highlanders

who are interred there in the Churchyard of St.David’s Church Cemetery? Two things gavecause for thought; Marion is of the Clan Fraser,whilst I am of the Clan Cameron.

In previous years it was simply to place aremembrance “Poppy’ on the grave, or to fastena Lion Rampant tiny flag on the green postmarking the pile of bricks which was the lastresting place of the brave Scots so far fromhome.

The Regimental Headstone and border.

A new marker identifies the other resting places.

Imagine our surprise as we entered thechurchyard. The pile of bricks was now neatlyframed by a crisp, concrete border, whilst at thehead of the grave was a beautifully etchedmemorial headstone headed up with theRegimental Crest. The surprise was continuedas we glanced at a beautifully engraved marker.

Detail from the Information Marker

Iain standing beside the Memorial Marker.

On reading the history of the 71st

Highlandersand their part in the Revolutionary War whichbrought them overseas to fight for ‘King andCountry” we found that the regiment wasfounded by a Colonel Fraser, and that 120 menof the Clan Cameron had joined the Regiment


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providing they were to be led by their captainwho was recorded as Captain Cameron.

Over the years I had tried to obtain some formof support from the British Graves Commissionto improve the condition of the graves. At onetime I was told that my story about them hadbeen passed to an officer of the Black Watch.

A most kind lady we spoke to tried to call thelady who had been instrumental in having thehistory and the headstone erected. We were toldthat a service had been held in the ancientchurch and that a piper had played at theconsecration of the memorials. Unable tocontact the lady we were looking for, ourbenefactor called the Town Hall and Mr. DavidW. Sides, the town Director of Tourism droveover to meet us with a beautifully printedbrochure on the 71

stFraser Highlanders.

From the initials on the site marker “SJB’ wefound we are indebted to Mrs. Stephanie Briggsof Cheraw. S.C. for a tremendous amount ofresearch and organisational work. I have writtento Mrs. Briggs and am hopeful that I will be ableto continue with the “Rest of the Story” as PaulHarvey used to say.

Here is the rest of the story. After sending off aletter and a copy of “Chapter Chatter” to Mrs.Briggs she graciously telephoned and we hadthe most marvellous conversation. It seems thatshe too had contacted the British War GravesCommission to no avail.

However she had been curious as to who hadbeen leaving the Remembrance Poppies, andthe Scottish Lion Rampant attached to the postmarking the grave of Lieutenant Colonel A.Campbell. Who it turns out was not buried there,but his remains may be found entombed withinWestminster Abbey!

After three years of meticulous research Mrs.Briggs, with the help of funds from the CherawGarden Club, the Mayor and Mr. And Mrs.Briggs themselves, arranged and had thememorials created. After contacting the BritishEmbassy in Washington, D.C., a handsomeyoung British Officer was dispatch to be presentat the Church Service, on the 11

th. Of November

2012. A local minister played the pipes, asecond minister read the passages from a bibleof the eighteen hundreds era, while about eightycitizens gave credence to the memory of thosebrave Scottish souls who now lie in a properlymarked grave.

Further details of the Regiment’s service in theSouthern Campaign of the American

Revolutionary War can be found by ‘Googling’the above address. A fine painting of a 71st

Fraser Highlander in full field dress was paintedby the renowned military artist, Don Troiami.

To Mrs. Briggs and the generous people ofCheraw my grateful acknowledgement of such awonderful gesture of Remembrance.

In Memorium

It was with a heavy heart that I received anE-mail from Barrie Doubleday informing us ofthe passing of his father and RAF RegimentGunner, Colin Doubleday on January 3

rd, 2013

just five short days from his 92nd birthday. Manyof us will remember Colin as a strong robustman who travelled all the way from BritishColumbia to parade with us on the first paradingof our newly consecrated Standard at theWarrior’s Day Parade in 2006.

Colin was so delighted to be with us on thatoccasion, made all the more memorable sincealong with our Standard we paraded eight otherStandards including the National Standardcarried by John Smart. The excitement wasmade even more memorable when as wemarched toward the saluting base, ourCommandant General of the day, AirCommodore Peter Drissell stepped forward totake the salute as we marched past.

Following the parade dismissal Colin wasamong the many members who accepted theCG”S congratulations. The following year thephotograph of Colin, Maurice Lambert, andsome of the other lads was used for theadvertisement for the 2007 Warrior’s DayParade.

In his E-mail to the Chapter Barrie wrote;

”His short visit with you folks down in Ontarioback in 2006 and attending the Warrior’s DayParade were special days for him. In my 66years I never heard him speak of his Air Forcedays with such fondness as since joining yourAssociation. I spent 30 years with the RoyalCanadian Air Force and I know he was proudand most happy, but still didn’t talk much aboutthose war years. That all came In his later life.Thank you all for giving him the chance to reflectagain on that special time in his life .If there is anotice that could be placed in “The Flash”, or inyour newsletter it would be appreciated.

Warmest Regards

Warrant Officer (Ret’d.) Barrie Doubleday


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A notice was placed in the Parish Noticesimmediately on receiving the news from Mr.Barrie Doubleday expressing the condolences ofthe Corps.

Corps Obituaries

RAF Regiment Wing Commander P.D.(Pat0Lee. MBE died February 28th. 2013.

Retd RAF Sqn. Ldr. Donald (Don) Clark. Diedon January 1

st. 2013.

Former RAF Regt. LAC James P. Johansen.Died 20th October 2012. He served on 28 and48 Field Squadrons and 5 Wing RAF Regt.James was a member of Highland Branch.

Former RAF Regt. Sgt. Colin F. Hope. Died onSeptember 12

th2012. He served on 4025 Ind.

LAA flight, 2753, 2859 and 2723 SquadronsRAF Regiment before posting to the RAFRegiment Depot at Belton Park. Colin was amember of Scottish Branch.

Former RAF Regiment Gunner Colin Doubledaydied January 3

rd2013. Colin was a retired

member of the Canadian Chapter

The Corps extends its sincere condolences toany and all surviving family members.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morningwe will remember them.

Iain Purves (905) 690-0506President/Editor [email protected]

Box 1451,Waterdown, On. L0R 2H0

Roy Gourley (289)-426-1536Secretary [email protected]

88, Sandollar Drive,Mount Hope, On. L0R 1W0

Dave Jeffrey (905) 938-2316Treasurer [email protected]

1 Richelieu Drive,St Catharines, ON. L2M 2B5

Frank Mills (905)-679-1952Ceremonial [email protected]& Kit 98, Greentrail Drive’

Mount Hope, On. L0R 1W0

Brian Patten (905)-388-8288Sick/Welfare Unit 21,

145, Rice Avenue,Hamilton, On. L9C 6R3

Marion Purves (905) 690-0506Membership [email protected]

Box 1451,Waterdown. ON L0R2H0

Website http://ccrafa.ning.com

You are encouraged to address issues andsuggestions to any member of the Executive atany time. Our purpose is to serve your interests.

Per Ardua- We Are Bonded

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