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NOTICE BOARD .
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS !
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
So now we know !
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NS(RAF)A members: Re: National Service Medal.
HOUSE OF COMMONS. LONDON SW1A OAA. 23 May 2006
I enclose this reply of 20 May that I have now received from the Defence Minister, Tom Watson.
I recognise that this will be a disappointing response for some of you but hope that it is, at least, helpful in clarifying the Government's position.
Information regarding a National Service Medal and a Government-sponsored memorial for those who performed a period of National Service in the Armed Forces.
There is no official British medal specifically for those who performed a period of National Service.
It has never been the Government's policy to consider service in the Armed Forces as the sole justification for the institution of a medal.
I am certain that you would agree that it would be divisive to offer National Servicemen a medal simply for being conscripted, when those who volunteered for service would be excluded from receiving any award.
Medals were issued to National Servicemen in exactly the same circumstances as those who volunteered for service.
As a result, if they served during the war years they were eligible for the range of medals instituted after World War II, including the 1939/45 Star, 1939/45 War Medal, the Defence Medal and the Campaign Stars for the various campaigns in which they served.
Those who volunteered for service, or were called up between 1946 and 1960 were equally eligible for the various clasps to the General Service Medal for the operations in which they may have served in Malaya, Cyprus, Kenya and the Suez Canal Zone, or for the campaign medal instituted for the Korean War.
Even today, many people leave the Armed Forces without having received a campaign medal during their service. This does not imply that their contribution to the defence of the country has not been appreciated.
It has been mentioned that the arrangements made by the Australian Government for National Servicemen who were conscripted into the Australian Armed Forces between 1951 and 1972 should apply in the UK !.
As you may know, the Australian Government consciously withdrew from the Imperial Honours System some years ago and has since instituted a number of specifically Australian medals, including ones recognising service performed many years previously.
As a result, any approval which The Queen may have given, as Queen of Australia, to proposals to institute retrospectively a medal for National Service performed by Australian Service personnel, would have been on the advice of Her Australian Ministers.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which we have consulted, advised that this does not set a precedent for the UK to follow suit.
I must stress that National Servicemen have not been forgotten.
Finally, the Government is recognising all Service personnel, including National Servicemen, who have died since the end of the Second World War, while on duty or as a result of terrorist attack, by the creation of the Armed Forces Memorial, which is also to be located at the NMA Alrewas.
Details about this project, including information about the design can be found at http.//www.forcesmemorial.org.uk or by writing to:
The Armed Forces Memorial Project Team Ministry of Defence. First Floor, Zone A
St Georges Court. Bloomsbury Way. London. WC1A 2SH
Minister for Veterans
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Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal:
In essence, the Queen has accepted the medal for wear by all her Commonwealth subjects who served during the emergency, including her High Commissioner in Australia, but she has had to accept the advice of the Honours and Decorations Committee (quoting the Imperial Honours System) to deny UK citizens the right to wear the medal.
Thus, the medal can be accepted but not worn -- but holders of the medal have been told by Whitehall that the wearing of the medal will not be policed !
The "Fight4thePMJAssociation" are not pleased and are recruiting.
To be able to join the Campaign for Permission to Wear the Medal use Google and enter: Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.
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H M Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge.
Free (on application to the Veterans Agency) to all Men and Women who Served in HM Armed Forces up to and including 31st December 1984.
It is regretted that the Badge cannot be issued posthumously as it is a Survivors Badge which is to be worn on civilian clothing.
Application form is available for downloading from the Veterans Agency website.
Postal: Veterans Agency (Veterans Badge), Thornton Cleveleys, Norcross, Blackpool. FY5 3WP.
E Mail: help@veteransagency.gsi.goc.uk Fax: 01253 330561.
Free helpline: 0800 169 2277 (UK only). 44 1253 866043 (overseas).
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Trafalgar Square plinth:- Group Captain Leonard Cheshire V.C.
I would be most grateful if you could kindly communicate the following to
your members of the National Service (RAF) Association:
Group Captain Leonard Cheshire V.C. (who was commander of 617 Squadron ("The
Dambusters"), after Guy Gibson) opened Chipstead Lake Cheshire Home, near Sevenoaks, in July 1977. It provides a home for over twenty Residents who
have various severe disabilities, as well as providing an Activity Centre
for a similar number of Day Clients with disabilities.
Various proposals are being discussed to use the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar
Square as some form of memorial to the role of the RAF in the Second World
War.
I have just submitted a private petition to the Prime Minister to use
this plinth as a permanent memorial to Group Captain Leonard Cheshire V.C.
and to his wife, Sue Ryder. My detailed petition can be found on:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Cheshire-Ryder/
In her 1992 Christmas message, Her Majesty the Queen said the following of
Leonard Cheshire:
"Curiously enough, it was a sad event which did as much as anything in 1992
to help me put my own worries into perspective. Just before he died, Leonard
Cheshire came to see us with his fellow members of the Order of Merit. By
then, he was suffering from a drawn-out and terminal illness. He bore this
with all the fortitude and cheerfulness to be expected of a holder of the
Victoria Cross. However, what struck me more forcibly than his physical
courage was the fact that he made no reference to his own illness but only
to his hopes and plans to make life better for others. He embodied the
message in those well-known lines:
"Kindness in another's trouble; courage in one's own"".
Please read my petition and, if you agree, please add your signature.
Many thanks.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Cheshire-Ryder/
Howard Chinner"
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LAND ARMY / TIMBER CORP LADIES.
If you have any relative or friend who served the Womens Land Army or the Timber Corps during WW2 - they are entitled to claim a Badge as well.
Details from: DEFRA. 5e Mill Bank. C/o 17 Smith Square. London. SW1P 3JR.
Tel: 01845 335577 or e mail: womenslandarmy@defra.ps.gov.uk.
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RAF Ensigns and RAF Table Flags.
7ft x 5ft RAF Ensign c/w eyelets: £7.50 ea plus p and p.
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RAF table flags, 10 inches high / gold base and tip (see pics in Gallery/ Notice Board web pics.)
£2.99 each plus p and p.
Midland Imports, Tel 01782 760507.
E mail: sales@midlandimports.com
Website: www.midland-flags.com for full rang of available items including most of the worlds National Flags and other specialist items.
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RAF Berets / badges: Suppliers are:
Sabre Sales of Poole: Tel 023 9283 3394
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NU Global.
RAF Berets, Side Hats and metal badges. Details: NU GLOBAL LTD, 27 LANCELOT DRIVE, STRETTON, BURTON-on-TRENT, DE13 0GJ. TELEPHONE: 01283 512475. E-MAIL Nick@waller44.freeserve.co.uk.
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BLAZERS.
Blazers www.chums.co.uk/offers price £39.99 and a free shirt thrown in.
Enquiries: 0871 911 0601. 24 Hour order Line: 0871 911 9999.
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Try your local Charity Shop for a Blazer as well. PH.
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BLAZER BADGES.
THE GOLD WIRE BADGE Co.
11 Dalehead Drive.
Shaw.
Lancs. OL2 8JT.
Tel: 01706 846648. e mail: sales@thegoldwirebadge.co.uk
Website: www.thegoldwirebadge.co.uk
Specialists in Blazer pocket Badges - will make a one off, of any RAF Station / Unit / Squadron / Association /Branch etc as required.
Also have RAF Badges (Queens Crown) in stock.
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Royal British Legion Wreaths.
NS(RAF)A roundel centre.
The large size wreath (for laying at Memorials) with the NS(RAF)A roundel and letters in the centre panel is available in 2 styles. (Picture on the www.nsrafa.org website ).
The one made with Poppies costs £18.
The alternative of red / white and blue Carnations (for the RAF) costs £21.
Both prices include delivery to any UK address within 48 hours from ordering.
Orders can be placed with: Mrs Kennaird. Royal British Legion Village. Hall Road. Aylsford. Kent ME 20 7NX. Tel 01622 717172.
e mail: pkennaird@britishlegion.co.uk
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Want a copy of your Service Record.
Write to:
RAF Disclosures.
DPA Room 220,
Trenchard Hall,
RAF Cranwell,
Sleaford,
Lincs,
NG34 8HB.
Tel: 01400 26 followedby:
For ones own personal records: ext 8172 / 8173 / 8174.
For 3rd party enquiries: ext: 8162 / 8163 / 8168.
Enclosing details of your service number, and possibly, address at that time.
One of our members told me they also need proof of identity, such as copies of either, passport, utility bills or driving licence.
We have also been advised that a charge may now be made in certain circumstances.
PGH.
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Air Historical Branch.
This has now moved from RAF Bentley Priory to RAF Northolt. West End Road. Ruislip. Midx. HA4 6NG. Tel No: 0208 833 8163.
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RAF El Firdan (9MTBD and 751 MU).
This Group has about 200 members and holds an annual re union.
Contact: John Leatherbarrow on 01257 462554.
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RAF (Egypt) Memorial commemoration Service:
took place on Sunday 14th May 2006 at the St Clements Dane RAF Church in London.
For further information regarding this memorial contact:
John Mitchell, 7 Hanbury Drive. Winchmore Hill, London N21 1SZ.
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RAF WEST KIRBY ASSOCIATION.
If any ex West Kirby personnel want further information please contact: Clifford East, 82 Sileby Road, Barrow on Soar, Loughborough, Leics. LE12 8RL.
Tel: 01509 414303.
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RAF Melksham re union.
This is planned for 23rd and 24th September 2008 and is for all ex Melksham personnel.
An overnight stay will be arranged.
Details from: Derek Lord: 01626 890207.
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RAF BRIDGNORTH Association.
Re union at RAF Cosford August 9th 2008.
For details: Mick and Su Briggs
Michael.603@btinternet.com
O1902 373862
Haydn Smith: Tel: 01452 547691.
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RAF SWINDERBY Association.
Mr L Wall. 34 Freshfields Lea. Preston. PR2 1TJ. Tel:01772 722702
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RAF LYNEHAM Association.
Mr Jim Semple: Tel: 01793 728206.
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Recommended reading for any ex National servicemen.
"Kitbag Hill", Mr C J Whitehouse, the co-author and Publisher of this booklet which includes a potted history of RAF Hednesford and his "account of times remembered by a National serviceman".
(ISBN 0 9512903 0 4 on which Copyright still exists) from: Marquis Drive Visitor Centre. Brindley Heath Road. Hednesford. Staffordshire. WS12 4PW. Tel: 01543 878690 enclosing £6 to cover cost and Postage etc.
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"An Erk's-Eye View" - Memories of National Service in the R A F 1952-54 by Ted Caton (ISBN 0 9533030 0 4). at a cost of £7.50, plus £1. p & p. Please send a cheque for £8.50 (payable to E Caton) at 108 Moulsham Drive, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9PZ.
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"Sweet water blues" - Memories of National Service in the RAF by John Mitchell at a cost of £9.95 plus �1 p & p. Please send a cheque for £10.95 (payable to Mr J Mitchell) at 7 Hanbury Drive, Winchmore Hill, London. N21 1SZ.
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"No Brylcream - no medals" - A book of humour and unfortunate tragedies by Jack Hambleton, a WW2 conscript MT driver !
Cost £5.95 (P and P included) from Jack Hambleton. 166 Thornbridge Rd. Sheffield. S12 3AN.
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"West Kirby And Beyond" which is subtitled "An RAF National Serviceman looks back", written by Dennis Tomlinson. UK price is £8.50 plus £1.25 p and p. (Please add £2.50 for outside UK and Air Mail rates are available on application) and the full reference is ISBN O 95345052 X
It is Published by Ameliel Press, 66, Greenborough Road, Sprowston, Norwich,NR7 9HJ.
Please make payment to Mr D Tomlinson.
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"Memories of Royal Air Force Bridgnorth, Shropshire"
Clive Gwilt has written and published a 30 page booklet. It has what appears to be an excellent fully detailed history of the base. It also contains assorted photographs of individuals, buildings, etc. There is also a plan of the base with an index listing all 375 buildings. The booklet is available from the Bridgnorth Tourist Information Office. Listley Street. Bridgnorth. Shropshire. WV16 4AW. for £3.00 inc p and p within the U.K.
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"Bridgnorth re visited".
Thoughts, recollections, and experiences of ex SAC Jim Brown.
Copies available at a cost of £6.20 (inc p and p) from: "Marham" . 14 Shepherds Way. Saffron Walden. Essex. CB10 2AH. (Ch made out to Mr J Brown please).
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"Mayhem in the Med'
A Chronicle of the Cyprus Emergency 1955-1960',
by R G M L Stiles. ISBN No. 1902366387 Hardback, 392 Pages, £28.00
This work is the culmination of ten years research and fills a major gap in
post war British military history. The contribution made to this campaign
by the Royal Air Force (including RAF Regt) is detailed in full.
The hardback volume is 392 pages long and contains many previously
Un published photographs, most of which were submitted to me by veterans of
the conflict. The book is written in an easy to read, journalistic style
and includes full obituaries for all personnel killed, (military and
police),78 RAF), plus honours and awards, unit dispositions, etc.
This work covers an important period in the history of the Royal Air Force.
A period normally eclipsed by the Suez operations.
Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of this work should contact the
publisher direct. Copies can also be ordered from leading high street
bookshops and online book sites such as Amazon.com.
Publisher Details
Savannah Publications, 90 Dartmouth Road, Forest Gate, London, SE23 3HZ
Tel: 0208 244 4350 Fax: 0208 244 2448 E-Mail: savpub@dir.co.uk
website: www.savannahpublications.com
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"White Knees Brown Knees", The ISBN is 0-905389-01-8 hard covers.
287pp. 150 photographs. Price £15.99 inc P and P in UK. Add £7 to this figure for overseas airmail service.
The Tome weighs a Kilogram.
Enquiries and orders to Douglas J Findlay, Glenesk, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, DG14 0SZ.
For those who served in the Canal Zone information on where and when you served and your unit or regiment and your nickname at that time would help the author to personalise a dedication in your copy.
Voice copies of the book are available to blind persons in South Africa via Tape Aids for the Blind.
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In Defence of the Realm.
An "erk-some" account of National Service In the Royal Air Force. 1954 to 1956.
By Peter Voyce.
£10 inc p @ p to Peter Voyce, 24 Churchdale Road. Frechville, Sheffield. S12 4XT.
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Suez - The Hidden Truths.
John Hunts personal recollections as a radar operator combined with a mass of information, documents, newspaper articles and photographs relating to the Suez crisis.
An excellent read. Copy from: John Hunt. 14 Carriefield. Bamber Bridge. Preston. Lancs. PR5 8BS. (Cost £6 - inc p and p).
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"YESTERYEAR": Specialising in Nostalgia Recordings
Just released Scrapbook Series
A beautifully presented set comprising CD, DVD & 20 page Colour booklet
The National Service Years
Produced in association with British Pathe & ITN
DVD
Excerpts from original archived newsreels
Includes: RAF Regiment Training 1949, Withdrawal From Palestine 1948
Royal Navy Catapult Trials At Sea 1952, Trooping the Colour 1956
CD
Includes songs by: Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Boone, Anne Shelton,
The Goons, Tommy Steele, Muddy Waters, Harry Belafonte
£14.99 + £2.00 post and packaging
To place your order or enquire about other WW11 related recordings
please contact Elaine Thomsitt our appointed agent:
Email: yesteryear@elainethomsitt.com Tel: 01202 - 883726
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THE ROYAL AIR FORCE'S MUSICAL VOLUNTEERS
The Royal Navy has traditions, Army regiments cherish customs, but the Royal Air Force merely has habits! This cheeky, oft-heard, but affectionate allusion to the comparative youth of the RAF reflects the reality that military man's mastery of the air has yet to achieve its first century. However, the Junior Service has come a long way since 1918 and most of our so-called 'habits' reflect the characteristic strengths, skills and qualities for which the RAF is renowned and respected.
Delivery of air power is the raison d'�tre and abiding core business of our Service, but there are also many supporting roles where professionalism and commitment are no less apparent: one of these is Royal Air Force Music. RAF Music Services and the three established bands - Central, College and Regiment - are not only important sustainers of the Service ethos, esprit de corps and public image, but they are second to none in the delivery of first-rate military music. The similarity with front-line capabilities does not end there: in common with all other forms of military output, the RAF's professional musicians are expected to deliver value for money from finite resources. So, just as there are shortfalls in ISTAR and helicopter support - to name but two operational pinch-points - the supply of military music is invariably stretched to meet demand; the frequency, breadth and geographical spread of events needing Light Blue music are simply too great.
Enter the RAF's voluntary bands! Back in 1918, along with the traditions and customs of our sister Services - many of which we subsequently eschewed in favour of our own aforementioned 'habits' - the fledgling RAF inherited voluntary bandsmen from the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps. This welcome musical legacy - a range of semi-official, part-time corps of drums, brass bands, military bands and pipe bands - not only facilitated, in due course, the formation of prestigious professional organisations like the Central Band, but immediately instilled in the new Service a tradition of voluntary music which has endured and continues to drive RAF Voluntary (brass, woodwind and percussion) Bands and Pipe Bands to this day.
Now, 90 years on, there are eight RAF voluntary bands and four RAF pipe bands1, each helping to fulfil the excess demand for military music, mostly, but not exclusively, at local level. Guided by the RAF Ceremonial Office and HQ Music Services, inspired by the high standard of their professional counterparts and co-ordinated by the RAF Voluntary Band Association (RAFVBA), RAF voluntary bands operate at stations throughout the United Kingdom - at Cosford, Halton, Honington, Kinloss, St Athan, Waddington and Wyton - and in Cyprus at Akrotiri. Their underlying aim is to provide an outlet for amateur musical talent among serving personnel, but in practice their primary task is to support Service events at their home base and at other stations in the immediate area. Voluntary bands range in size from 20 to over 40 musicians and comprise serving men and women of all ranks (including RN and Army personnel working with the RAF), and civilians (civil servants, families and friends) who play regularly under Voluntary Band Instructors (VBIs). Each VBI fulfils the crucial role of musical director, bandmaster and administrator, and is the only professional post in each band. Our current VBIs - the majority are permanently appointed to Civil Service posts funded by their units - are much respected for their musical talent, dedication and (most importantly) enthusiasm; every one has years of professional experience in a top military band or as an instrumentalist and conductor.
Voluntary bands undertake routine engagements in uniform at military parades and mess dinners, and also help to keep the Service in touch with the community by performing concerts in schools and town halls, often in aid of local or national charities. Engagements are many and varied. For example, the RAF Halton and Wyton Bands play regularly in London parks during the summer and the RAF St Athan Band appears frequently before matches at the National Stadium in Cardiff. Most recently, the Halton Band became the first RAF voluntary band in living memory to play at the Cenotaph in London. Engagements are not confined to the United Kingdom: Cosford, Halton and Waddington have recently supported British military events in the Falkland Islands, Germany and the USA, respectively. In spring 2007, RAF Halton's Clarinet Quintet was even called upon to accompany an Air Force Board Dinner in Admiralty House! When larger public events require pooling of resources, the RAFVBA acts as co-ordinator: examples are the Royal Star and Garter Homes' Tattoo at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth, and the Asian Tsunami Disaster Relief fund-raising concert in Ministry of Defence Main Building. With the encouragement of its President, Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Baldwin, the Association has also previously organised massed band concerts at Colston Hall, Bristol and in Peterborough Cathedral.
If you would like to find out more about RAF voluntary bands, or the RAFVBA, please go to www.rafvoluntarybands.co.uk. Although the bands often have full diaries - the larger bands average an engagement every week throughout the year - they are always keen to support military events and local communities. If you would like to book a voluntary band, or a smaller ensemble, please make contact direct or call one of the RAFVBA representatives listed on the website. Also, with frequent postings and overseas deployments, voluntary bands are invariably on the look out for new members. Although some trades - including those responsible for tuning the rigging wires on biplanes - were barred from belonging to voluntary bands during the First World War for fear of damaging their hearing, this restriction no longer applies and all standards of brass, woodwind and percussion players are welcomed!
RAF voluntary bands are here to serve, but they need your continued support too.
[by Wing Commander Trevor Kirkin, Chairman RAF Voluntary Band Association]
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