105 replies to this topic

[John Hartley]

Croonaert & I are once again thinking of trying to organise a get-together for Pals based in the north west (or those who would like to visit our wonderful region to meet us).

At this point, there are no specific plans but we'd invite you to register post here if you are interested (and also any ideas for what we might do).

An opportunity for us "up north" to show we can organise a social event in a beer-making facility, unlike folk "down south" who appear to have dismally failed to even recognise each other.  

John

[Malcolm]

Aye, but yer still doon south tae me laddie!
  

Aye
Malcolm

[Greenwoodman]

Count me in.

[Mark Hone]

I'd like to put in an appearance if possible.

[RoyEvans]

Might be able to make it, would certainly try.

Roy

[peterd]

It depends how North Westernish the gathering is, everywhere is west of Sunderland, but a reasonable venue should be accessible, and I would be interested in coming along.


Please keep me posted (unless others in North East know somewhere better)


Peterd.

[Ken Lees]

I'd like to get to know a few faces to put to the posts, too.

Standing by for further details.

Ken

[CROONAERT]

Where and when is all that concerns me. To be honest, I'd probably turn up if there was only one interested person.
As for what to do, well there are quite a few regimental museums in the area or the IWM North (never been, so won't pass judgement yet), one or two pubs with a military history etc.,etc.  I'd also be willing (if decided upon)to take anyone who turns up on a guided tour of places relevant to the "Accrington Pals", including the memorial chapel, recruiting office(s), drill square, practice trenches and other relevant places around the town.

Dave

[John Hartley]

Well, if Dave doesnt mind "doing the tour", my vote's for that. The Accrington Pals are probably the most evocative of north west units. I certainly can't come up with anyhting better from the south of the region.

What sort of date, then?

John

[Ken Lees]

The Accrington Pals tour sounds good to me.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Ken

[CROONAERT]

If the "Pals Tour" is favourite (bring good footwear - it can be a bit rough on the Coppice), then I'd suggest a Sunday (quieter at some of the town centre sites and parking's easier). Any time is OK with me ,although work committments would make me unavailable for one Sunday in three. If this is going to be it, then let me know a popular date a couple of weeks in advance and I'll get together some sort of "fact sheet" that I can dish out.

Dave. (wondering what he's let himself in for after volunteering for something for the first time in his life!   )  

[Mark Hone]

I'm up for the Pals tour as I live within striking distance of accrington. Please don't make it the weekend of the 25th/26th October as  I'll be on my annual school battlefields tour.

[John Hartley]

Can't do 5 October, but other than that, any Sunday to suit.

Dave - how's your work schedule for 12/10, 19/10 or 2/11


John (always good at getting folk to volunteer) Hartley  

[Andrew Hesketh]

If the date suits I'd be game to pop along.

[CROONAERT]

Can't do 5 October, but other than that, any Sunday to suit.

Dave - how's your work schedule for 12/10, 19/10 or 2/11


John (always good at getting folk to volunteer) Hartley  

The best dates for me would be 26/10 (but forget that one as Mark can't make it), and 3 weekly cycles afterwards (ie. 16/11 etc.). However I'd be able to manage the Sunday a week after all these dates, but you'd have to put up with me be slightly grumpy as I'd have been working the night before! . An afternoon meet on these dates would suit me.

Basically (and I'm confusing myself here) the best dates for me would be 26/10 or 16/11. I'd also be able to (grumpily) make it on 12/10 and 2/11.

28/9, 19/10, 9/11, etc. are definately out of the question for me.


I take it that the "tour" is what's going to happen then. Let's give it a week or so and see what numbers can be expected and on what date (hopefully, one of the above will suit all). We'll make further arrangements then (ie. where and what time, etc.)

Dave (O.M.G. I'm getting myself deeper into it!!!   )

[CROONAERT]

. Please don't make it the weekend of the 25th/26th October as  I'll be on my annual school battlefields tour.

Mark.

I've just remembered!!!! .   Is this the tour that you wanted the info on the 129th Baluchis for?

If so, sorry, I forgot (it seemed like I had sooo much time when it was first mentioned!). I'll try and get you something together before you go (if you still require it, that is).

My apologies,

Dave.

[RoyEvans]

I can't make 5th or 26th October.

Roy

[Mark Hone]

Dave-Don't panic, the tour this October is to Arnhem. The Baluchis will feature on the 2004 tour, our tenth anniversary special. I like to plan the itinerary well in advance! looking forward to the planned Accrington event.

[John Hartley]

Why not just declare it for now to be 16/11 (to fit in with Dave's work and grumpiness committments) and see who can make it ?

Vote now.....................

[Ken Lees]

16th Nov. is good for me.

Will we get a campaign medal?

Ken

[CROONAERT]

Mark.

You're a man after my own heart. Arnhem (well,Oosterbeek to be more precise) is my favourite place after Ieper. I don't know if it's of any use , but I have a list of the original burial places  for all the British, Polish and Dutch resistance casualties for this battle 17-26th September 1944 (ie. 6985006 Pte.Robert A.Dougan,Parachute Regiment, age 20, (Oosterbeek War Cemetery 17.C.13), originally buried beside Amsterdamweg near the present motorway) with map references. If you need anyone looking up on this (it also includes those who died as POW's and of wounds, later), just give me a shout.


John.

16th November sounds perfect to me. (I might still be grumpy if I want to be!   )


Dave  

[Andrew Hesketh]

16/11/03 - I'll be there.

Then again I might not. You see, my third child is due 30/11/03.

So I'll rephrase.

16/11/03 - I'd love to be there, hope to be there, but may be required elsewhere!

[Hill_60]

Dave-Don't panic, the tour this October is to Arnhem.

Mark - Have you ever read 'The Pegasus Patrol' by Jack Turnbull & John Hamblett?

The book (published by Jack Turnbull in 1994, ISBN 0-9523261-0-8) is about the previously untold story of the Ist Airborne Division Provost Company who served alongside the Division in North Africa, Sicily, Italy,Arnhem, Norway and Denmark from 1942 until disbanded in 1945.

I only found out about the CMP's involvement at Arnhem when I made my first visit to the RMP Museum, about a week before I joined the Corps.
I last visited the museum on September 11th 2001 (we all remember what we were doing that day, don't we?). The museum has changed shape since I was training at Roussillon, you now enter though the door that was the enterance to the Guard Room

Copies were available from the RMP Museum:
Royal Military Police Museum
Roussillon Barracks
Broyle Road
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 4BN
Tel: Office 01243 534225
Fax: 01243 534288
museum@rhqrmp.freeserve.co.uk

The piece on Arnhem describes the MP's gallant stand at the Police Station and the murder of the Section Sergeant by the Germans after they surrendered.

[John W]

Why not just declare it for now to be 16/11 (to fit in with Dave's work and grumpiness committments) and see who can make it ?

Vote now.....................

At the moment 16/11 looks good for me. That is if you don't mind somebody from Yorkshire coming?

JOhn

[Mark Hone]

Dave-thanks for the offer. Am I right in thinking that the listing only covers 1st Airborne Division rather than XXX Corps? I have the reference for the Bury Grammar School boy who died with the Glider Pilot Regiment (Sergeant Henry Parkinson of 'F' Squadron). I wonder if there is a record for a cousin of one of my colleagues at school L/Sgt Leslie Westall, Royal Signals attached 2PARA who died on 19th September? Unlikely, as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the the Groesbeek Memorial.
Another former BGS pupil died serving with the Royal Artillery in 'Market Garden'-Gunner Tom Hopkinson. He is buried at Jonkerbos Cemetery. We shall be paying our respects to all three of these men on our tour.
Lee-Thanks for the interesting info on the RMP. I shall see about getting hold of a copy of the book.
16th November (if I can think so far ahead!) should be fine.