Issue 84 Jun 95

BILL HOLDEN MBE
The 1995 New Year Honours list bore the words : 'Mr WH Holden: For services to the Royal Norfolk Regiment D-Day Veterans' Association: MBE.'
The background deserves far more and is culled from notes made by his Platoon Commander of the time, Captain EA Gray, Mr GDH Dicks MC, four Veterans of the D-V Club and by our Association President, Major General Sir David Thorne KBE.
During the North West Europe Campaign Bill was a Private soldier with the 1st Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment. He was a Bren-gun-carrier driver towing a 6-pounder anti-tank gun on 6 Aug 1944 near Sourdeval, France where Cpl Sidney Bates won his VC. In 1979 he was principally responsible for founding within the Regimental Association The Royal Norfolk Regiment D-Day Veterans Association for those who served with the 1st and 7th Battalions and who landed in North West Europe on D-Day. On his own initiative, he raised monies towards the erection of two memorials to honour the men who died in Normandy in 1944 at the battles of Perrier Ridge in the Bocage country around Vire and at Grimbosq during the crossing of the River Orne. They were dedicated in 1986.
He also established links with the citizens of the Dutch town of Helmond who, as a gesture of their appreciation of the town's liberation by the Norfolks, had formed the 'Vrienden van de Royal Norfolk Regiment'. He assisted them in setting up a memorial in the town square now known as 'Royal Norfolk Plein'.
A further memorial to the Norfolks who died at the crossing of the Groote Molen Beek, a small stream near the town of Venraij, was built by Bill from Norfolk flints. He has made a personal study involving photographing the graves of all 372 Royal Norfolk Regiment soldiers buried in the 32 War Cemeteries in North West Europe. Numerous visits to Holland for Veterans and reciprocal visits to Norfolk by the Dutch people of Helmond have been arranged by Bill.
Even when his own health was not too sound Bill was never deterred from his outstanding work, support for and contact with Old Comrades.
Your outstanding tireless determination and humanity formally recognised. Sincere congratulations Bill.
And see Helmond Visit Sep 1998 by Beryl Griffin Helmond 55 Years on Sep Visit 1999 by Beryl Griffin Helmond Sep 2001 by Beryl Griffin

BRITANNIA
Captain William Gaymer has kindly loaned the editor copies of the journal from 1939 to 1950. This is the 84th issue of the Britannia and Castle Newsletter. Britannia was the 'Journal of the Royal Norfolk Regiment'. In 1939 the annual subscription for two copies, post free, was 2s. 6d.

BRITANNIA 1939
It is interesting in this 50th year after the declaration of peace to look at the journal for Autumn 1939. Issue 26 opened with a Memorandum which stated 'All copy should be typewritten, or clearly written in ink. When type written, double spacing should be employed, and thick paper used. When written in ink, lined foolscap should be used with writing on alternate lines only. A quarter margin should be left on all MSS sent in and on no account should both sides of the paper be used.'
Ready to wear lounge suits were advertised at 6 guineas and overcoats from Ł6 16s 6d. A Jermyn Street Hatter advertised his special flexolite Field Service Cap as 'light in weight, soft and pliable in texture as quite the best possible cap for foreign service, being quite rainproof and having a smart appearance, not a rag.'
1st Battalion news from India revealed that on 14 March Major Cubitt proceeded to Chakrata to assume command of the Chakrata-Kailana Hill Depot. On 19 March 2Lt Cooper-Key joined the Bn and on 3 Apr the families of the Bn proceeded to Chakrata for the hot weather. The golf news indicated 'Freeman Taylor has been a regular player, while even Murdoch and Straghan have aspired to do great things, but apparently have failed to take the game with the requisite seriousness which the little white ball demands.' In the Point-to-Point 'Atkinson won the heavy weight race and has also been the Secretary of the Tent Club. Under his mastership and general use of his 'lorry' car, several members have enjoyed some great hunting. Atkinson, Brinkley and Read have secured their first spears.
Hamond is treading the snowy wastes of Tibet for two months.'
(See B&C 95 for an account of this momentous trek and the subsequent award of the MacGregor Medal and B&C 96 for the obituary for Maj Bob Hamond.)
A photograph of the boxing team lists Fali Bilimoria as the trainer; LCpls Teager, Hopkins, Sutton, Roberts and Ringer; Ptes Barrett, List, Voice, Drewitt, Webster, Lloyd, Wilson, Lee and Spriggs; Bdsm Peploe, Withams and Soper and Lt WH Brinkley (o/c Boxing).
The Sergeants Mess welcomed the arrival of RSM Grix while the Corporals' Room said farewell to Cpls Harris, Cozens, Jermy, Goldsmith, Keeble, Race and Dick who had been promoted.
Back in the UK the 2nd Battalion reported 'a fearsome body of men has evolved who speak another language containing such words as 'sprocket' and 'bogie wheel bearings' and career about the country in a species of small tank, leaving a train of destruction in their wake. Occasionally a favoured few are offered lifts. The experience is guaranteed to cure hiccoughs.'
"There is very little to put in the fashion notes but a more comfortable type of tin hat has been produced, normally worn decorated with coloured sacking. The effect is very chic and with the addition of an umbrella affected by certain officers lends quite an oriental air.'
'Richardson, Elwes and Wilson went to France and enjoyed themselves. One of them so much he forgot to turn up at the Regimental Dinner which coincided with their return. Dillon made us sit up one morning by parking a boat on the Mess lawn. Otherwise we have done very little.'
The Sergeants Mess welcomed the arrival of RSM WG Cripps while the Corporals' Room described 'several of our noted poachers have been seen very active in the adjacent woods and good catches are frequently reported as being prolific.'
Horse Transport reported Cpl Harford had married and that 'the horses have put on a fair amount of condition but officers seldom have time to do much riding now.'
HQ Coy announced the appointment of 2Lt JNR Hallett as MT Officer (see Col Nick Hallett MBE obit B&C 94 Jun 00) and '2Lt PAC Everitt is in charge of the Platoon more commonly known as the 'Dodg'ems' for reasons which require no explanation.'
(They do for me! Can anyone explain? Editor)
The 4th Battalion welcomed Steward, Cary-Elwes, Farrelly, Gaymer, Gaymer, Burne and Strickland-Goodall. The Signallers greeted their new Signalling Officer Mr Barrett and congratulated Cpl Cullum on his promotion and Cpl Palmer on his marriage.
The Sergeants Mess reported 'The ATS were with us in Camp and visited us for a half-hour one Sunday morning. We all hope that by the time our next notes are due the world will be at peace.'
B Coy of the 4th Battalion did things different. 'The Maaster sed to me t'other day, 'Would you like a glass a'ale?' so I say, 'Thank'ee thet I would,' and havim' drunk it up, he say, 'Have yow a nother one Bor,' so I had a nother, an it went on like thet for some tree or fower times, an we go to talkin' about the polickitcal situaation, an he axed me if I thowt there would be a war breaak out, so I say, 'No, Bor, not wile we maake the pen mightier than the sword,' so he say to me he say, 'Well I think yow had better git they mighty pen of yourn on the goo agin an du something about the Jarnal notes,' and at the same time he called for some more ale.'
The Depot related 'The Earl of Leicester, in spite of being over 91 years of age insisted on walking around the Barracks and seeing the work done, asking many interesting questions.
War is, as these notes go to press, most likely, and so we can but wish all in IX of Foot, God Speed, God's Blessing and Good Luck if there is no means of keeping the peace!'
Under a line of asterisks appears the stark message:

Added - September 1939. 'WAR' broken out.

As if nothing at all had occurred, the next edition of Britannia in February 1946 opened with a Memorandum commencing:
'All copy should be typewritten, or clearly written in ink ...'

Thank goodness we now have electric typewriters and word processors with spell checkers (what Maj Miles Green calls 'White Man's Magic') that can deal with spelling errers - sometimes!

FROM THE NORFOLK EDITOR
John Raybould writes: It was a great honour to be invited by Maj William Reeve, the Area Regimental Secretary, to edit the Norfolk part of this Newsletter and a pleasure to accept. There have been many venerable former editors, latterly the late Col Alex Turnbull (1977-1987) and Maj William Reeve (1987-1994). Theirs will be a hard act to follow and the standards set by these illustrious editors will be sustained.
A Norfolk resident for only 22 years I know my credentials for the editing task are slimmer than those of our readers but they are enhanced by impeccable military tutors. I enlisted into A (Royal Norfolk Company) when Colour Sergeant Ben Turner was the PSI, WO2 Alec Barr was the CSM, the late Maj David Standley was OC, the late Brig Peter Barclay was the Deputy Colonel and Col Paul Raywood was CO 6 Royal Anglian. I did have a term of exile in Suffolk as Battalion Intelligence Officer followed by a period as OC HQ (Suffolk) Coy and formerly wore uniform in Central Africa but we don't want to 'swing the lamp'! After commanding A (Norfolk) Company with Maj Bob Godfrey as PSAO (Permanent Staff Administrative Officer) and Maj William Reeve as the Battalion Training Major I continue to serve in the TA, now with HQ 19 Mechanised Brigade based in Catterick. And the most recent Norfolk bond lies with membership of the Norwich and District Branch under the Chairmanship of Paul Boxall. Is that enough name dropping to establish my licence to edit our Newsletter?
What we need from you is news, stories, snippets, anecdotes and reminiscences. If it is worth telling aloud why not write it down and we can record it for posterity. Never mind the 1939 rules for writing - just send it in

LIFE IN THE MILITARY BAND by CBOTB (ie Charlie Baker of the band!)
Having played in brass bands in civvy street, I decided on enlisting in the County Regiment to opt for the Regimental Band. First there was the little matter of six month's training in Britannia Barracks.
Early morning PT, firing a .202, then a .303 and, in those days, the Lewis gun. A bit of boxing, running, hockey and football. Also, one had to attend school for education certificates which eventually meant increased pay.
Having satisfied the MO and the dentist you were given the all-clear and also leave pending your move to Aldershot to join the 2nd Bn The Royal Norfolk Regiment.
When we eventually arrived in Mandora Barracks NCOs from various companies assigned you to your choice of duty. Some went as cooks, MT, Signals, drummers or band. I was met by a band sergeant and taken to the band room.
Next day was fitting for a band uniform and the issue of a cornet. To my surprise on entering the rehearsal room I discovered there were no chairs; members stood to rehearse. Civilian bands sit to rehearse. The Bandmaster, Mr EC Burgess was the senior BM of the British Army. Surprise number two was to discover that not more than four of us came from Norfolk. One was J Cutting from Oulton, near Aylsham who eventually became a Sgt Major. Also from Oulton was J Graves who retired to work for the Prison Services. G Freeman retired to work for the EDP. I worked on retirement for the GPO.
But back to band duties. While at Aldershot engagements were at garden fetes, sports days, church parades, concerts, inter-platoon football, hockey, boxing and running etc. In between those activities bandsmen were taught First Aid and stretcher drill as bandsmen were non combatants and carried no arms. Pay was based on musical ability and on the standard reached with your instrument coupled with knowledge of First Aid.
After a spell in Aldershot the battalion was posted to Gibraltar. Having settled in, duties entailed the Ceremony of the Keys, concerts in Alameda Gardens and Government House guard duties. Apart from the welcome change of climate and scenery, once a year the 'Home' and 'Med' fleets would combine for exercises. It was a fine sight to see ships like HMS Hood, Rodney, Renown and Norfolk plus submarines. The band of KOYLI were also on the Rock so we played them at football etc.
On the move again this time to the land of the 'Char Wallah' and with Corps of Drums we mounted the guard at the Vice Regal's Lodge and played at Battalion dances and troop concerts when we moved up to the hills at Chakrata. It wasn't long after the outbreak of war that the Battalion was posted back to England.
A great many band members died in Europe acting as stretcher bearers. At the end of the war the bands were reformed and the 2nd Bn band toured Italy and the 1st Bn posted to Germany. We were there during the Berlin airlift. Again we played in various concert halls to both British and German audiences. Once we flew home to play at the Royal Norfolk Show. After moving to Dusseldorf we entertained the Germans and the British playing at boxing matches, swimming events, troop concerts and in the Officers' and Sergeants' Messes.
Home again for a tour in Colchester the band was kept busy before a move to Hong Kong by boat on which we gave concerts and played at church services. We performed at the Happy Valley race course during the Hong Kong race season.
Over the years, engagements of note were the laying up of the colours in Sandringham Church, attended by the Royal family; marching through Norwich on the Freedom Parade; playing at Carrow Road and for the Duke and the Queen during their visit to Norwich; a BF Network broadcast from Hamburg and one from the gymnasium in Britannia Barracks.
On my retirement I joined the 4th Bon The Royal Norfolk Regiment eventually being appointed Bandmaster, a position I held until the axe fell on the TA. After helping to form the Royal British Legion Band and becoming their BM for a period I now enjoy complete retirement listening to bands. My son Edmund keeps up the family tradition as BM to the New Buckenham Band.