Newsletter - End of an Era

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION royalpioneercorps.co.uk

END OF AN ERA EDITION

PIONEERTHE

PROUD ANDEMOTIONALFAREWELLTHE DISBANDMENT PARADE MARKS THE END OF 23 PIONEER REGIMENT.A REGIMENT WHICH HAS SERVED THE COUNTRY IN AN EXEMPLARY AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER FOR MANY YEARS.

2 | THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION

THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 3

END OF AN ERA

DISBANDMENT PARADE26th September 2014

THE intention was to go out with abang and I certainly think that thiswas achieved. With theDisbandment Parade being held onthe Friday people started to turn up

on the Thursday, the first being Archie Coxwho arrived at 0645 hrs!

Throughout the day what started as asteady stream turned into a rush in theafternoon with large numbers arrivingtogether. Once accommodated they werefed in the Scully Club and on the Thursdayevening all were invited into the SergeantsMess courtesy of the RSM. During theevening Mr Michael Burling presented MrNorman Brown with an engraved mirror inrecognition of the work he does on behalfof all members of the Association.

Early Friday morning more membersarrived some just in time for a paraderehearsal under the orders of theAssociation RSM(!) Mr Geordie Dewsnap.The Disbandment Parade started at 1100hrs when 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC formedup and marched onto the square for thefinal time. Everyone put in a fantastic effortand with HRH The Duke of Gloucester inattendance, the standard of drill andturnout was excellent. During the Parade hemade the following speech:

“Firstly, can I say what a privilege it is tobe present at this parade today. Thisdisbandment parade marks the end of 23

Pioneer Regiment – a Regiment which hasserved the Country in an exemplary, andprofessional, manner for many years.

It is a Regiment which is justifiably proudof its strong identity, culture and ethos. Theheritage dates back several decades. Thiswas no more evident than when theRegiment bade farewell to Bicester, earlierthis year, after some 70 years presence inthe town. Operationally you have served inmany theatres but not least of which, mostrecently, Afghanistan. In roles such as HighThreat Search, Force Protection andMortuary Affairs, you have been right atthe very heart of operational success. Onyour behalf I acknowledge the ultimatesacrifice paid by WO2 Charlie Wood,Corporal Andrew Roberts and Private “Sili”Silibaravi in their line of duty. I know manyof their family and friends are here todayand, let me assure you, our thoughts arewith you.

To those on parade, your turnout andbearing today leaves me in no doubt thatyou have continued to deliver all that hasbeen asked of you right until the very end.You have had notable successes on themilitary skills and sporting front out of allproportion to your remaining numbers. Youremain the undefeated Royal Logistic CorpsGore Trophy Champions and no otherRegiment in the Army, or Marines, has wonthe Commando Speed March more timesthan you. You should hold your heads high.These, amongst others, are notableachievements.

Finally, can I remark on how good it is tosee so many Pioneer veterans here today. Itis especially poignant for me as Patron ofthe Royal Pioneer Association. I lookforward to your march past with pride and Iwould encourage you to continue tocultivate those friendships which have beenformed over your military service. It remainsa truism “Once a Pioneer always a Pioneer”

Thank you.”The ceremonial axes were then blessed

by the Padre handed over to two Pioneersoldiers who are continuing in service. Thisis symbolically important: the axes willcontinue to be paraded on formal occasionsin the future and, along with the axes onour cap badge, will remind others of ourPioneer identity, culture and ethos.Following a brief recital of the history of theRegiment, the lowering and folding of theRegimental Standard marked the end of theparade; the flag and ceremonial axes joinedon at the rear, and the Regiment marchedpast the dais to cheers and a tumultuousapplause from over 600 friends, families,well-wishers and old comrades.

What added to the poignancy of theoccasion was that following on behind theregiment were 100 marching veterans ofThe Royal Pioneer Corps Association –again, to an equally rapturous applause.

In the rear was our In Pensioner MickyHull in a wheelchair being smartly pushedby Mr Peter Thomas – the history books cannow declare that Pete was the last Pioneerto march off the square.

Report: Capt Howes, Adjt 23 Pnr RgtPictures: Paul Brown (unless stated)

23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps formed upand marched onto the parade square for the final time

The first reference to Pioneers serving with the Britishmilitary was in 1346 - we will be back one day...

THE first reference to Pioneersserving with the British military wasin 1346 when the English Army wasbusy fighting in France. Pioneersthen were paid extra because they

were deemed to have been trained to ahigher standard than their colleagues in therank and file, and because they contributedspecialist skills to the King’s Army.

As time moved on and the nature ofwarfare changed, the presence of Pioneersremained.

The beard and white apron – which havebecome so symbolic of the Pioneers –originated during the Napoleonic wars atthe turn of the 19th century.

These items provided protection duringhis blacksmith duties by preventing splintersof metal from entering the skin and limitingburns sustained when handling explosives.The Pioneer Sergeant could easily be seencrossing the battlefield carrying hiscollection of tools including the large andterrifying axe – smashing open fortificationsand providing close support to the Infantry.

In WWI it was the Labour Corps whichprovided the bulk of the manpower forsome of the most important, butunglamorous, work of the War. ByArmistice Day there were nearly 400,000Labour Corps soldiers in the Army, whichrepresented nearly 10 per cent of itsstrength. It was these men who clearedroads, built railways, dug trenches anderected barbed wire defences the lengthand breadth of the Western Front – often inrange of the enemy who harassed themday and night with deadly fire.

The Labour Corps was disbanded in 1920but not before a colossal cleaning efforthad been completed to clear the battlefieldsof most of the visible ordnance and detritusfrom the war.

With the outbreak of war once again in1939, the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corpswas formed. Renamed The Pioneer Corpsin 1940, it was filled with mostly older

soldiers who could provide essential militaryassistance both in bomb damaged Britainand to the field Army fighting across theworld.

Their tasks included providing supportand manpower to civilian emergencyservices, acting as stretcher bearers,providing force protection, guarding POWcamps and operating supply depots, toname but a few.

These essential tasks were alsooccasionally interrupted by direct fighting;for example, at Boulogne in May 1940,Pioneers fought a desperate rearguardaction allowing withdrawing Irish andWelsh Guards to be evacuated before theythemselves were finally pulled onto shipsafter having fought alone for six hoursagainst German armoured forces.

There were other important heroic eventsfor which the Pioneers would becomefamous. Indeed, the names Scully andTancred will be instantly recognisable toanyone who has ever served with thePioneers and it is these men, and manyothers, who evoked the Pioneer Spirit whichwe continue to emulate up to this day.

After the War the Pioneers remained inthe British Army’s orbat and in 1946 weregranted the prefix ‘Royal’ to their name forrecognition of their war-winningcontribution in all the WWII campaigns.The Royal Pioneer Corps (RPC) went on toprovide assistance to every conflict foughtby the British Army; notably Aden, NorthernIreland and The Falklands.

The First Gulf War became the last war tobe fought by the RPC before amalgamationin 1993. 23 Pioneer Regiment, of course,superseded the Royal Pioneer Corps andcontinued to provide the Army withspecialist Pioneer skills throughout all itssubsequent conflicts.

In Bosnia and Kosovo the artisan Pioneercame to the fore; in those deploymentshighly trained Pioneers rebuilt schools,houses and transport infrastructure whilst

uncovering mass graves and securing thepopulation. When the British Militaryentered Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in2003, the Pioneers were right at theforefront of operations.

They provided everything from prisonguards to Force Protection, and fromMortuary Affairs Operators to High Risk IEDSearch teams. IED search became ademanding and, sadly, deadly Pioneer taskduring the Afghanistan conflict. In 2010WO2 (SSM) Charlie Woods was killed whileconducting an IED search in HelmandProvince and, in 2012, Cpl Andrew Robertsand Pte Ratu Silibaravi were killed byindirect fire while operating from CFBURMA.

In addition to these fatalities, four morePioneer soldiers received serious, life-changing, injuries as a result of IEDs. Thelast Pioneers to be deployed on operationswere in the Mortuary Affairs role; the lastteam returned in 2013.

Although that marked the end ofoperations for Pioneer Soldiers, until veryrecently Pioneers continued to providemanpower in support of battle-grouptraining exercises internationally in BATUS,Canada, and Belize.

Moreover, within the UK, specially trainedsoldiers from the Regiment have driven andescorted vehicles returning from operationsat a variety of RAF bases and earlier thisyear individuals were tasked to support themilitary activities following the flooding inthe south-west (Op PITCHPOLE).

END OF AN ERA

Pict

ure:

Sco

use

Brad

ley

PIONEERTHE

END OF AN ERAOne of the most active and successful sporting regimentsin the Corps and arguably the wider Army

THE regiment has recently been oneof the most active and, arguably,successful sporting regiments bothin the Corps and wider Army.Pioneer soldiers have

wholeheartedly subscribed to the CO’sintent for the Regiment to “Sprint to theFinish” – and have delivered in spades.

This can be seen when glancing at theRegimental silver cabinet which is burstingwith trophies won at Corps, Army andInter-Service level.

The Pioneers set their exceptionally highsporting standard early in the year byretaining the annual RLC Military Skills“Gore Trophy” award. This was followed byvictory in the RLC Cross CountryChampionships for the 4th year in a row.

In March this year, the Pioneers wonevery single first place trophy at thedemanding Commando Speed March,including the fastest team trophy for thethird time in four years. Success inendurance events is only part of the story;23 Pioneer Regiment reigned supreme inother sporting events such as RLC MountainBiking, RLC Duathlon, RLC Twenty20

Cricket, RLC Orienteering and the SupportCommand (UK South) Minor Unit BasketballChampionship. The Regiment also sentteams to the RLC Ski Championships, andhosted a 104 Log Bde Boxing Night inwhich they competed in seven of the elevenbouts. The demise of the Regiment certainlyleaves some large sporting shoes to fill byother units in the Corps.

The recent commissioning of the ‘PioneerSpirit’ award is a fitting legacy for aregiment which has done so much topromote sporting and competition successthroughout the Corps and beyond.

2013 marked the start of the CO’saspiration to place a Pioneer on everycontinent. Officers and soldiers from theregiment went on AT expeditions to Florida(Sub-Aqua diving), Spain (rock-climbing),India, South Africa and New Zealand(trekking). Although unable to make it toAntarctica, a team nonetheless made it toGreenland (Nordic Skiing).

For the participants, the expeditions werearduous and rewarding in equal measurewhich no doubt created life-long memoriesto be savoured.

2014 will see the last of the Pioneer ATexpeditions depart. Lt Doyle-Tanner will leadan expedition to California (sky-diving), LtCostin to Greece (rock-climbing) and Lt DuPlessis to Australia (sub-aqua diving).

These expeditions have proved to be aninvaluable morale booster to the regimentin this difficult period.

Whilst requiring a fair degree ofplanning, organisational ability andleadership on the part of the young officerleading them, for many Pioneer soldiersthey represented the last opportunity intheir military careers to do somethingchallenging yet extremely good fun.


Pict

ure:

Sco

use

Brad

ley

IT has been a reasonably turbulentcouple of years since the A2020decision was made to disband theRegiment. In the intervening period,although 268 soldiers have been made

redundant, 130 have been transferred toother trades – a success story which is oftenoverlooked.

That is not all though: a key part of anydiscussion of the ‘Pioneer Legacy’ would beincomplete without a mention of the 87Pioneers (Cpl – WO1) who will continue toserve and share their knowledge andexperience to the benefit of the widerCorps. Crucially, many of these will spendsubstantial periods of their remainingservice within the training environment andtherefore play an invaluable role shaping

the next generation of soldiers and helpingto imbue them with that ‘Pioneer spirit’.

Furthermore, the RPCA lives on. Theannual reunion weekend for 2015 hasalready been booked – sadly not on StDavid’s Barracks, needless to say – but thefact it’s happening is reassuring nonethelessto all those Association members (includingmany serving officers) who still lookforward with fondness to the annual get-together and chance to catch up withformer colleagues and friends. In fact, theRPCA can still boast of a strongmembership and camaraderie – in no smallpart due to the sterling work of NormanBrown who works tirelessly to publish the‘Pioneer’ magazine and distribute it toassociation members.

Lastly, and as already mentioned, theRegimental symbol – the ceremonial axes –will continue to be paraded on formal RLCoccasions and will still feature on ourheaddress. They will serve as a potentreminder to others of the Pioneer identity,culture and ethos long after the Regt hasdisappeared. ■

LABOR OMNIA VINCIT

The ceremonial axes will still be paraded at formal RLCoccasions and will still feature on our headdress


END OF AN ERA

8THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 5

Registered Charity Number1024036

PatronHRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO

Vice PatronMajor General G W Field CB

PresidentBrigadier C B Telfer CBE

ChairmanColonel A Barnes TD JP

Controller / EditorialNorman Brown Esq

Design / EditorialPaul Brown

☎ telephone01869 360694

✉ [email protected]

✈ websitewww.royalpioneercorps.co.uk

✇ facebook groupwww.facebook.com/groups/chunkies/

✇ facebook pagewww.facebook.com/royalpioneercorps

✇ youtube pagewww.youtube.com/user/royalpioneercorps

Back CoverCorps of Drums march for the last time at Bicester

Picture: Tracy Brown

The Royal PioneerCorps Associationc/o 23 Pioneer Regt RLCSt David's BarracksGraven HillBicester OX26 6HF

EDITORIAL

Front Cover23 Pioneer Flag lowered

for the last timePicture: Paul Brown

2 Disbandment ParadeFinal Parade of 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC

10 EditorialThe Editor has his say

12 Final Parade through Bicester Town105 ‘Old Comrades’ marched

18 Going Full CircleTwo stories with a strange twist

18 Past EventsDetails of various past events

19 Future EventsDetails of various future events

19 Command Dinner NightWhat it feels like to be a Pioneer

20 The sale of Graven HillA new housing estate to be built

21 Tattoos on ParadeAn extra gun on parade!

22 Pioneer Reunion WeekendA sad goodbye to Bicester

32 New Medal Awards / Heroes ReturnNews on awards and schemes

33 Pioneer Tattoos at the ReunionMembers obtain Pioneer tattoos

34 The Fighting PioneerA new painting unveiled by HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO

39 Association ShopA list of a few items for sale. TheAssociation now accepts Paypal.

40 A memoir of 44 CompanyErnest recounts his service in 44 Company,Pioneer Corps

45 Back after 74 yearsFritz Lustig returns to the Isle of Manwhere he was interned

46 D-Day Facts and Figures70th Anniversary of D-Day remembered

48 Memories of National ServiceCpl Allen recounts his service

49 The StrathallanSunk by a U Boat with the loss of 16 lives

50 Evening Dinner Following Paradethrough BicesterAnd award of sporting trophies

52 Photo GalleryBicester Parade

54 Photo GalleryMixed photo gallery

56 AGM MinutesThe minutes of the 66th Annual GeneralMeeting

58 Blast from the PastPhotos from our archives - do yourecognise anyone?

CONTENTS

THE ASSOCIATION has certainly had a verybusy six months. It started with theplanning for the Final March throughBicester Town on 26 July 2014 when “OldComrades” were invited to march behind

23 Pioneer Regiment RLC. The 105 “OldComrades” were very impressive as theymarched through the town and raised greatapplause. A large number of Associationmembers also attended as spectators.

Planning for the Reunion Weekend followed,it was the intention to celebrate our finalReunion with a good send-off and I think wemanaged to achieve this. Our thanks must go to23 Pioneer Regiment RLC not only for theirsupport this year but for the last 22 years. Withthe reduced numbers currently in the Regimentthis has led to more work for the few leftbehind, a special mention must therefore bemade to the Quartermaster’s staff who workedvery long hours to enable that we had aweekend to remember. They managed to‘borrow’ extra beds (and the accompanyingbedding!), they had to erect tents andmarquees, they had to decorate the MT Hangerto make it presentable for our farewell “Redand Green” Ball – they achieved this and thenon completion had to tidy up and make good!

THANK YOU on behalf of all members whoattended.

We had 620 booked in for the ReunionWeekend, this does not include the many whoturned up for the day or members of theRegiment. The ‘Red and Green’ Ball was a greatsuccess, it was closed by the Fijian Choir giving adisplay before the “Survivors” photograph wastaken at 0315 hrs.

On pages 63-65 is a selection of letters frommembers who said how much they appreciatedthe weekend, we only had one complaint(except for those who moaned that they wereaccommodated at St George’s Barracks) and wehave published that message. One from 620 isnot a bad figure!

Members of the Association Council have alsobeen busy disposing of all Association property,the most expensive items (silver etc) have beendonated to various establishments where theywill be displayed and the Pioneers remembered.The Arab Dhow was presented to Bicester Townduring the reception in Garth Park followingthe Parade through Bicester (see page 17).Other items have been sent to Bisley,Shrivenham, Sandhurst, Deepcut and HQ Landsome sports trophies depicting the MauritianPioneers have actually been sent to Mauritius

PIONEERTHE

THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 5THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 11

22

27

31

4134

60 Press Cuttings 1944Stories from our archives

62 Letters / Messages to the EditorA selection of letters received

67 Book reviewsThree books are reviewed

68 Last PostMay they rest in peace

70 And Finally..Closure with a little humour

71 Last but not least...Reunion Weekend 2015

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

26

■ Photos that were took at theDisbandment/Reunion Weekendand also the Bicester Paradewill be going online shortly.

■ Ex W02 Bob McGuinness sadlylost his fight with leukemia anddied on 27th October. Rest in Peace Bob.

■ Michael Robinson (ex WO2) istrying to find Dave Long, if youcan assist please contact:[email protected]

■ Adrian Rumsey is trying tocontact Ray Ball (from Leicester)who may have joined the IrishPolice. Contact via Facebook.

Can you spotthe mouse?12 members foundthe Cuneo mouse in

the last edition. The winner wasFrank Berry. Well done Frank!

The mouse was an easy oneto find as well! It was on Page39 on top of the Litter Barrel.

Can you spot the CuneoMouse in this edition?

Terence Cuneo painted‘Sword Beach’ which shows theactivities of the Pioneers whowere among the first British

troops to land on the beachesof Normandy on D-Day.

In most of his paintingsCuneo hid a small mouse whichwas his trademark andsomewhere in this Newsletterwe have hidden a Cuneo mouseand it’s not the one on thispage!

Names of correct entries willbe entered into a draw and thefirst ‘out of the hat’ will win aprize.

Entries should be submitted(by letter, email or telephone) by15th December 2014.

Good luck.

and are to be displayed in the British LegionClub there. Items of smaller value wereauctioned during the Reunion Weekend.

The two years’ work in preparing the Pioneerpainting came to fruition when it was unveiledby HRH The Duke of Gloucester after theDisbandment Parade on 26 September 2014.Maj Taff Teague has spent many hours in theresearch for this painting and it has been wellreceived by all who have seen it. It is intendedto sell prints of the painting, the first 550 willbe signed by the Commanding Officers’ of both23 and 168 Pioneer Regiments and of course,the artist. Orders for these signed prints arenow being taken, although at the time of goingto press we do not have final costings.

As was mentioned during the Annual GeneralMeeting, next year’s reunion is to be held at theRoyal Court Hotel, Coventry from 3 – 5 July2015. The initial cost will be £140 per head for athree night stay, this includes 3 breakfasts, acarvery meal on the Friday and Sunday nightsand a Gala Dinner on the Saturday night. Thebeer will be happy hour prices during theweekend - £2.20. It is intended that theAssociation will subsidise all members attendingby £10 per night– full details are shown on thebooking form which is enclosed with this

Newsletter. This year our attendance at the Cenotaph is

to be the largest yet with over 85 membersbooked to march. This doubles last year’sattendance and once again we will be led byour President, Brigadier C Telfer. Let us hope weget a good mention by the BBC.

The WOs & SNCOs Pnr Reunion Club organisean excursion to the Army v Navy Rugby game atTwickenham each year, last year 130 attended.Next year it is to leave from St George’sBarrack’s, it is intended to allow non Clubmembers to attend on a fill up basis on a firstcome first served basis. A booking form isincluded with this Newsletter.

I hope you find this Newsletter interesting,we are always looking for new material, haveyou a story to tell? If so please send it to uspreferably with photographs.

Finally if you move please let us have yournew address, a largenumber of Newslettersare still being returned“Gone Away”.

Seasons greeting to allmembers and theirfamilies.Norman Brown


Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn

(unl

ess

stat

ed)

23 Pioneer Regiment RLC marched through BicesterTown for the last time on Sunday 27 July 2014

THE day started with a ChurchService at St Edburg’s Church,Bicester. The Regimental Padre,Major Kevin Mentzel gave thefollowing sermon:

“First thank you, Churchwardens andPCC and all of the St Edburg’s family forinviting 23 Pioneer Regiment to what willbe our final service in this church and inBicester.

Charles Masheder, the Rector ofAmbrosden, and a loyal supporter of the

Pioneers, was much looking forward topreaching this morning. Unfortunately, hehas been somewhat under the weather forthe last week or so and is very sorry he isunable to be with us this morning. Hewishes us all the best this and we wish hima speedy recovery. A few hours ago, notfar from here, something that had been avital part of people’s lives and given peoplea livelihood, that inspired loyalty and firedpeople’s imagination was blown apart. At5.00 this morning three of the cooling

towers at Didcot power station wereblown down in a matter of seconds – I wasthere.

There had been a lot of resistance to thetowers being demolished, they had beenan important part of people’s lives andwere an iconic feature of the Oxfordshirelandscape – how many people, on drivingnorth up the A34, perhaps from beingaway on holiday or on business – or onops – on seeing the Didcot cooling towers,have thought “We’re nearly home!”? >


BICESTER PARADE27th July 2014

NEWS

The cooling towers will be missed, so will thePioneers, which have had a long and proudassociation, with both Didcot and Bicester.

The Pioneers’ tasks on a battlefield can be tracedback through the annals of military history – therehave always been a few grafters doing the hardwork – clearing the way for fighting troops with theaxes, digging trenches with their shovels – or,unimportantly, but unglamorously, digging latrines orgraves.

Often unseen and unsung, the work of thePioneers has been vital to the success of manymilitary operations.

The 23 Pioneer Regiment of today evolved from 23Group Pioneer Corps initially formed in the 1st WorldWar as the Labour Corps, and due to the invaluablework of the Pioneers in the 2nd World War, theywere granted the ‘Royal’ prefix in 1946.

It was not until 1993 that the Royal Pioneer Corpswere absorbed into the newly formed Royal LogisticCorps, also comprising soldiers from the Royal Corpsof Transport, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the ArmyCatering Corps, and the Postal & Courier ServiceRoyal Engineers.

The Pioneers have had a long association withBicester dating back to 1940 when Pioneers weredigging trenches and moving stores, later buildingand manning the stores depots at Bicester andArnott with their innumerable sheds and hangarsand miles of railway tracks.

And since the 2nd World War, Pioneers have goneout from Bicester to serve in Cyprus, Malta, theFalkland Islands, Iraq, the Balkans, Afghanistan – andmany other places – sadly, not all to return.

In 2005, 23 Pioneer Regiment were honoured tohave been granted the Liberty of Bicester inrecognition of their long and loyal service to thecountry and proud association with the town ofBicester.

And, more recently, the naming of Pioneer Squareis a further honour. >


Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn

‘But now what?’ we may ask. What’sthe point of it all after all this blood,sweat, and tears over many years? Well,we are not alone in asking this question.The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes,reflected in the same way some 3,000years ago when he said ‘Vanity of vanities,All is vanity’.

In the passage that the CommandingOfficer read to us, we see the author ofEcclesiastes observing, somewhat wearily[read verses 1-3]. And be asks, v.10 ‘Whatgain has the worker from his toil?’ It canall seen somewhat gloomy, resigned, anddespairing. Is that all there is?

As Peggy Lee sang: Is that all there is?Is that all there is?If that's all there is my friendsThen let's keep dancingLet's break out the booze and have a

ballIf that's all there is.If that’s all there is. I would suggest that

there is more. It’s all a matter of

perspective. I’m told of a shoe manufacturer who

decided to open the market in a distantdeveloping nation sent two salesmen tothe undeveloped territory. One salesmancabled back: "Prospect here nil. No onewears shoes." The other salesman reportedenthusiastically, "Market potential terrific!Everyone is barefooted." - It’s all a matterof perspective.

Yes, the writer of Ecclesiastes observesthis oft-repeating cycle: ‘a time to seek, atime, to lose; a time to keep, a time to castaway’.

However, the writer of Ecclesiastes alsooffers another perspective: [read vv 10-11].

‘He has put eternity into man’s heart’. I,for one, find that a most illuminating anduplifting, and encouraging notion. Itmeans, yes, that everything has its time,but it is only in eternity that all thingsmake sense. Rather being cynical andgloomy, the author of Ecclesiastes putsmundane realities into a heavenlyperspective.

The Apostle Paul writing to theCorinthians encourages them – and us – tohave this perspective:

‘So we do not lose heart. Though ourouter nature is wasting away, our innernature is being renewed every day -because we look not to the things that areseen but to the things that are unseen; forthe things that are seen are transient, butthe things that are unseen are eternal.

(2 Cor 4: 16,18)So what next for the Pioneers? As

Ecclesiastes says: there is a time for war, atime for peace. Who know what’s aroundthe corner? We live in interesting times.Some will soldier on in the Army, wearingthe RLC cap badge that includes thePioneers crossed axes, some will soldierwith a new cap badge, and many will beembarking on new adventures in civviestreet.

But all of us should thank God for thePioneers, for this good and nobleenterprise: ‘He (God) has made everythingbeautiful in its time.’ (v.11) >


NEWS

And we should thank God that ithas been our privilege to have beenpart of it: ‘everyone should eat anddrink and take pleasure in all his toil -this is God’s gift to man.’ (v. 13).

So thank you, Bicester, for yourinterest, support, and loyalty to thePioneers over many years. ThePioneers march on into history today -but I’m sure in the years to comemany will stagger back to SheepStreet for a few lemonades.

Thank you. Amen.” >


PIONEERTHE

Mai

n Pi

ctur

e: S

cous

e Br

adle

y

The Foreword for the programme for theService was written by the CommandingOfficer, Lt Col David Clouston:

On behalf of 23 Pioneer Regiment can Ifirstly express our thanks to everyone at StEdburg’s Church for hosting the service sowell today. We are also grateful to the Mayorand Councillors for facilitating the paradethrough to Garth Park later this afternoon. Itpromises to be a great occasion.

The words written on the back cover aretaken from the Liberty of the Town scrollwhich was presented to the Regiment backin 2006. That liberty was greeted inrecognition of the long standing connectionthat the Regiment has with the town. TheRegiment was further honoured, in 2013, byhaving Pioneer Square named in recognitionof our continued engagement with thetown. At that opening I made an observationthat Bicester has become home to many ofmy soldiers over the decades and,furthermore, for some it is the only homethey have ever really known. That is somestatement but you only have to talk tomembers of my Regiment to realise how trueit actually is.

In reorganising the Regiment today Iwould ask that we all spare a thought forthe families, in particular, of those soldierswho have paid the ultimate sacrifice in theirline of duty: WO2 Charlie Wood, Corporal‘Ginge’ Roberts and Private ‘Sili’ Silibaravi.We will all remember you this day and theprice you paid.

Looking ahead, the Regiment’s future isnow reasonably certain. We will disbandformally in September this year but a smallnumber of soldiers will remain in theBarracks carrying out final associated tasks.We should see the arrival of the newRegiment by late 2015. I can only hope thatthey receive the same extremely warmwelcome that our Regiment has over theyears. We have been honoured to beassociated with the town and on behalf ofall those whom I represent a very warm‘Thank You’ to you all.

Following the Church Service the Regimentproudly marched through the town to GarthPark, 105 ‘Old Comrades’ followed,remarkably all in step! Mr Ian Dewsnap, aformer drill instructor, gave the commands.The ‘Old Comrades’ were led by Mr DustyBryant carrying the Association Standard.

It was a moment of pride as the soldiersand Old Comrades were acknowledged by acrowd of over 1,000 spectators whoapplauded, cheered and whistled as theymarched past. The salute was taken by MrsLynn Pratt, the Mayor of Bicester.

The Commanding Officer, 23 PioneerRegiment RLC, Lt Col David Clouston saidthat he was grateful to everyone who turnedout and said it left him with a lump in histhroat.

During the reception the silver-piece ‘ArabDhow’ was presented to Bicester Town bythe Commanding Officer.

In the evening a Regimental Dinner tookplace in the Scully Club where all membersof the Regiment sat down to a first classmeal. Each person received an engravedtankard and a slate place mat as a reminderof the Regiment. During the evening theCommanding Officer presented manyawards, mainly for sporting achievements,which had been won during the year. >


NEWSThe silver-piece in the form of an

Arab Dhow mounted on a baseshaped like the island of Cypruswas commissioned in 1968 when518 Company were disbanded. Theinscription reads: “Presented byofficers and soldiers who servedwith pride in 518 Company RoyalPioneer Corps “. It was hoped tokeep alive the memory of 518Company, which upheld, in alltheatres in which it served, thehighest traditions of the Corps.

The Company was formed in Oct48 and employed at CADLONGTOWN as part of 10 Gp. Itwas selected to support the SuezOperation in Dec 56 and deployedto CYPRUS, arriving 11 Nov 56where it was used on campconstruction. Amalgamated with524 Coy (in Cyprus) in Dec 59. Adetachment was sent to KUWAIT inNov 61. Company moved to ADENin Nov 62. Employed on the Dhala

Road and in support of theRADFAN Operation (Dec 64). 1 mank.i.a. Responsible for thebackloading of stocks and portoperation Oct-Dec 67. DisbandedJan 68. The Company was re-formed in June 1970 as the RoyalPioneer Corps’ first Field ForceCompany and was based at GravenHill, Bicester.

Oxfordshire Deputy LordLieutenant, Brigadier Ian Inshaw,spent five years as Bicester GarrisonCommander. He said that theregiment had been disbanded twicebefore, with the foundations in the19th Century Crimean War and theLabour Corps in 1917. He addedthat he would put a tenner on at500/1 on it being reformed in thenext 70 years.

Perhaps it may be resurrectedagain one day but for everyonepresent this felt like the end of 23Pioneer Regiment. ■

The Silver Arab Dhowwas presented toBicester Town


Pict

ure:

Nor

man

Bro

wn

Brig

adie

r / M

ayor

Pic

ture

s: Pa

ul B

row

n

Colo

nel i

n Ch

urch

Pic

ture

: Sup

plie

d

PIONEERTHE


PAST EVENTS■ ON 6 May 14 Mr Dougie Durantrepresented the Pioneer contingent atthe Army Dog Unit Northern IrelandParade at the National MemorialArboretum where he paid his respects toall dog handlers who were killed in thetroubles including his old friend CplDerek Hayes who was from Lincolnshireand was Killed by a booby trap bomb inCrossmaglen in Armagh along with hisdog Ben. Great honour to lead theparade.

Today I also saw a traction enginecalled the Pioneer - the owner wanted tonick my Pioneer umbrella!

■ 130 travelled from Bicester toTwickenham on May 13 2014, most ofthem wearing the red and green 23Pioneer Regt RLC rugby tops, to watch theArmy v Navy Rugby Match.

Once again the Army won 30 v 17. Thisyear was the first time that Twickenhamwas a sell-out for this match with 82,000attending. 57 of those leaving fromBicester were members of the WOs &SNCOs Pnr Reunion Club, it is hoped tocontinue this custom in future years.

■ ONCE AGAIN members of the RPCNostalgia Group made their way toRedcar for their 8th reunion which washeld on the 2/3 May 14 at the ClarendonHotel Redcar.

A total of 44 members of the groupfrom all over the country made the tip tomeet old and new friends and to raisemoney for charity - this year’s beingAutism.

Members started to arrive about1000hrs on the Friday. Dave Parris pickedup Mick and Julie Radbourne with histaxi from Reading to Redcar. On arrivalhe gave a bill to Allan (Sooty) Sutcliffefor the amount of £200. After we pickedhim back up off the floor we all startedthe weekend.

The Friday night was a fancy dressand horse racing night held with the helpof local man David Williams, this wasfollowed by a Karaoke with the locals inthe Clarry. Saturday night was the mainnight for the Reunion. There was anauction held by Allan Sutcliffe and KevinYoung with the help of their wives Lizand Anne-Marie. The Tombola was doneby Michael and Julie Radbourne, allprizes having been donated by membersof the group. So for that we thank youall. A local girl and Allan’sGranddaughter Kelsey Sutcliffe fromSkelton sang a few song’s on the night.And a few of the ladies had tears in theireyes with them.

The only sad bit of news during theweekend was to hear that it will be ourlast reunion weekend in the ClarendonHotel as Russell and Sarah Clark aremoving on after hosting the reunion forfour years, we all wish them the best ofluck in their new venture. They havesupported the group and could not bebetter hosts to us all.

So from all of us from the RPCNostalgia Group, “Thank You”. We willbe back next year at Redcar at a newhotel and this time Russell and Sarah canjoin us socially with all the staff from theClarry.

The total raised for Autism over theweekend was £537.50. A big thank youagain to everyone who helped us raisethis amount and we hope to see you allnext year.

Going full circleReturning a silver cup to Liverpool Chamber of Commerceand after 46 years a return to a very familiar building

ON 12 July 2014 Lt Col JohnStarling and Mr Norman Browntravelled to Liverpool to return asilver cup to Liverpool Chamber ofCommerce.

This cup had been presented to 17 GroupPioneer Corps in appreciation of their workin Liverpool Docks. The inscription on thecup reads:

Presented to Lt Col The Hon HCAlexander DSO of the 17 Group PioneerCorps by the Members of The UnitedWarehouse Keepers Conference, LiverpoolIn appreciation of services rendered 1942 –1944

During the handover Lt Col Starling gavea brief talk to the Chamber of CommerceStaff explaining why the cup had beenpresented. The RPC Association had, thanksto Mr Peter Thomas, added twoinscriptions, one of which stated:

Returned to the Liverpool Chamber ofCommerce on the Disbandment of thePioneer Trade July 2014

17 Group moved to Huyton, Liverpool on27 Aug 41 for fire watching and labour

duties in Merseyside and stayed at thatlocation until 24 Jul 44 when they moved toLondon to repair bomb damagedproperties. The war diary of the unit showsthe following on 19 Sep 44:

“CO went to Liverpool to be presentedwith a Cup by the Liverpool UnitedWarehouse Keepers Conference inappreciation of the work undertaken firewatching by the Coys.”

Whilst walking through Liverpool we sawthe following sign outside a nightclub – itcould only be Liverpool!

IN EARLY 1968 Pte Norman Brown leftSimpson Barracks, Northampton oncompletion of basic training, his firstunit was Headquarters 23 Group RPC,Bicester as a potential clerk.

The Headquarters in those days was inBuilding 19 (the bungalow behind theguardroom). Some 46 years later theAssociation moved from its old office inBlock 3 to Building 19 and he is nowsituated in what in those days was theAdjutants Office.

■ Handover of the silver cup and a sign in Liverpool ! Pictures: Norman Brown

NEWS

AMONG THE guests at the dinnerwere one Lt. Gen, three MajGens, 5 Brigadiers and 5 Colonels.All former COs’ and RSMs’ of theRegiment were also invited

together with all serving Pioneer WOs.During the meal selected personnel were

asked to give their views on “What itmeans to be a Pioneer”. The first to give hisviews was former RSM Bob Fox, thefollowing is an extract from his speech.

“I’ve been asked to speak for around 40seconds on what it means to be a Pioneer;I’ve been a Pioneer for more than 40 yearsand I’m still learning about the actions ofour forebears, so the chances are this storymight overrun.

The Pioneer Spirit of ‘First in/Last out/Lastman standing’. Versatility,Anything/Anywhere, with a can do attitude.We laugh in the face of adversity andremain cool and calm. Above allprofessional all the way. We trained asinfantrymen and have artisan trades, and Iremember the works parties we send downthe sites in many Ordnance Depots likeBicester and Kineton. A strong Esprit deCorps, comradeship, brotherhood, a familyfeel with friendships that last a lifetime.Coming here to Bicester “The Home of thePioneers” is like coming home, as was onceNorthampton before its closure. We are

called names like Chunkies and sometimesworse, but they knew we could do theirjobs and they could not do ours. I amproud to be a Pioneer, The following poementitled The Fighting Pioneers sums up myfeelings:

Just listen to my song of joy – come on,boys, make a crown.

I want to tell a story which makes old-timers proud.

It didn’t take us centuries – in fact, noteven years

To earn our official” name, the “FightingPioneers.”

You have heard of the “Fighting Fifth”,the “Diehards” and the “Bays”,

The “Lincolns”, the “Bedfords”, of“Fusilliers” and “Greys”,

The “Scotties” in their kilts, or noble“Grenadiers”,

Now you’ll hear a bit about the “FightingPioneers”.

Of course, we are not all fighting men.Lord Haw-Haw made that gaff,

He called us wreck and ruin and termedus all riff raff.

I hope old Hitler told him how we heldhis “Jerry Band”

When we fought them back at Arras andfought them hand to hand.

We fought them beside the “Durham’s”with picks and hammer shanks,

We pinched a lot of Tommy guns andsneaked his blinking tanks.

We had a lot of shooting too, and slewthem by the score.

We earned out share of honours, andhope to win some more.

I’ve told you just a little bit, in time you’llhear the rest;

We hope to have another go, somewhereEast, or maybe West.

We’ve had enough of jokes and fun, nowstop you’re blinking sneers

We’ve won our place among the best –we are the “Fighting Pioneers”.

The above poem mentions Lord HawHaw, it must be remembered that he wasactually captured by a Pioneer Capt (CaptJeffrey Perry). It should also be rememberedthat we fought a rear-guard action atBoulogne, the Welsh Guards abandonedtheir weapons at the Docks. The Pioneerspicked them up took them back to UK andreturned them to the Guards – we did notget a letter of thanks”.

Another Warrant Officer asked to give hisviews on what it feels like to be a Pioneerwas WO2 John Donaghue. His speech:

“To be a Pioneer is to be the minorityamongst the majority.

The majority strife to be us the minorityWe the minority will always be right

amongst the majority”.

What it means to be a Pioneer■ Group photograph before the Command Dinner Night Picture: Paul Brown

To mark the disbandment of 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistic Corps a Command DinnerNight was held on Tuesday 10 June 2014



PAST EVENTS■ ON 5 June 2014 Messrs Brown, Bryantand Dewsnap together with 6 membersand their wives of 23 Pnr Regt RLCattended Founders Day at ChelseaHospital.

The salute this year was taken by theCountess of Wessex. After the paradethe normal picnic was held on the lawnsof the hospital.

Even Frankie Gerrald enjoyed the pre-packed lunch and even agreed that itwas good value for money!

■ THIS YEAR the Past and Present PioneersOfficers Dinner was held in the BicesterGarrison Officers’ Mess, Ambrosden andwas very well organised by Maj Billy Dilkes,QM Bicester Garrison.

It was the 68th year and HRH The Dukeof Gloucester KG GCVO was the PrincipalGuest and Brig CB Telfer CBE was in thechair. Others present included Major-General GW Field CB OBE vice Patron ofthe RPC Association and 56 serving andretired Pioneer Officers.

The CO 23 Pioneer Regiment, Lt Col DClouston, gave a brief update on thedisbandment of the Regiment and thedisbursement of his troops.

■ THE NORTHAMPTON Branch will beholding a Christmas Party in January2015 (when prices are cheaper!).

Details will be sent out toNorthampton Branch members whendetails have been finalised.

■ EACH YEAR the WOs & SNCOs PnrReunion Club organise a trip toTwickenham to watch the Army v NavyRugby match, this is a great opportunityto meet former colleagues.

Next year the coach(s) will be leavingfrom St George’s Barracks, Bicester.Members of the club will again receivesubsidised travel but it is expected thatthere will be vacancies for Associationmembers.

These will be allocated on a first comefirst served basis. A booking form isenclosed, please note that this must bereceived by 1 Feb 15.

■ AS ANNOUNCED at the AnnualGeneral Meeting the Pioneer Reunion for2015 is to be held at the Royal CourtHotel, Coventry from 3 – 5 Jul 2015. Thecost for the weekend is as follows:

3 Nights (Fri. Sat & Sun) £140 –Association members will pay only £110.

2 Nights (Fri & Sat) £120 – Associationmembers will pay only £100.

1 Night (Sat) £100 – Associationmembers will pay only £90.

(i.e. Association member andwife/partner for 3 night stay will pay£250)

This cost includes a carvery meal onboth Friday & Sunday nights and a galadinner on the Saturday evening!

It is intended that we will run a coachto the National Arboretum at a smallcharge.

There will also be happy hour barprices in selected bars throughout theweekend.

The hotel has a gymnasium and aswimming pool which are free to use.

A Booking form is attached – this mustbe received by 20 May 2015.

FUTURE EVENTS

Graven hill purchaseThe sale of Bicester’s Graven Hill site has been completedfrom the Ministry of Defence

THE SALE of Bicester’s Graven Hillsite has been completed withCherwell District Council, through acompany limited by shares, takingownership of the site from the

Ministry of Defence (MoD).In February this year councillors voted to

purchase the land from the MoD to enablethe delivery of the UK’s first large-scale self-build community of up to 1,900 homes.Contracts between Cherwell and theDefence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO),which is the MoD’s property and servicesprovider, were exchanged in March andhave now been completed.

Cllr Barry Wood, leader of CherwellDistrict Council, said: “The sale of this site isrepresentative of several years’ work behindthe scenes to secure this purchase andcompletes the first stage of our vision todeliver the UK’s largest self buildcommunity.

“From then on the focus will be onresidents as they start to choose, design andbuild their dream homes to put Bicesterfirmly on the map with the creation of theUK’s first self build community.”

In addition to the homes, the 187 hectaresite will also accommodate one millionsquare feet of commercial space and createup to 2,000 new jobs and apprenticeships.

Planning consent has been granted forthe new homes along with a primaryschool, employment space, pub/ restaurantand a small number of local shops. Morethan half of the site will be set aside forcommunity woodland with public access,parks and open spaces.

The self-build concept will be delivered invarious forms as councillors are keen to

meet the needs and budgets of all futureresidents. This will include kit homes whichare purchased from catalogues, watertightshells, group/ community self-build schemesand custom build projects where the ownerdesigns the property but employscontractors to build it. The properties willvary in size and design according to theresidents’ needs but are likely to includedetached, semi-detached and terracedhomes of differing sizes, apartment blocksand bungalows.

The Graven Hill project will adhere to theethos of the Eco Bicester One Shared Vision,which uses the aspirations of the futureeco-town to promote sustainabledevelopment across the area throughmeasures including a low carbon energystrategy.

The MOD will continue to run itswarehousing operation on the site until2019, although limited areas of the site willbe vacated to enable roads andinfrastructure to be laid ahead of the firsthomes being built in 2015.

Wendy Ivess-Mash, the DefenceInfrastructure Organisation’s deputy head ofprogramme and project delivery said: “I amdelighted the sale has now completed andthat this secures the way ahead forCherwell District Council to implement itsexciting plans for the site. Graven Hill wasone of the MOD’s larger surplus sitesplanned for housing and the completiondraws to a conclusion significant input andcollaborative working by both sides togenerate the development opportunities forthe site.”

For information on the Graven Hill projectvisit www.gravenhill.org.uk

■ Draft plan of the development Picture: Cherwell District Council

NEWS


NEWS

Lovelypair ofguns onmarch

Pte Emily Wren proudlymarches through Bicesterfor the final time with 23Pioneer Regiment

We recently posted this photograph ofEmily on the Association’s facebookpage and it certainly caused a bit offuss.

The Ministry of Defence has relaxedthe rules on tattoos and a spokesmansaid: “Tattoos have become moreacceptable in society over the lastdecade and, in recent years, there hasbeen an increasing number ofpersonnel with tattoos on visible areas”.

A previous rule on excessive tattooshas also been lifted but its stance onoffensive, obscene and racist tattoosstill stands.

Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn


Pict

ures

: Tra

cy B

row

n / P

aul B

row

n

PIONEERTHE

REUNION WEEKEND26th-28th September 2014

Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn

Farewell to Graven Hill, thanks to 23 Pioneer Regimentfor an excellent 22 years of reunion weekends

FRIDAY afternoon started with theAnnual General Meeting of theAssociation which was held in theScully Club (the minutes are shownon page 56).

After this it was “Bring a Boss” in theCorporals Club (although the Club was ina marquee on the MT Square). Also in theafternoon a viewing was held for RPCAssociation Property which was to be soldby sealed bids. The fairground also openedon the Friday afternoon and attractedcrowds throughout the whole day.

In the evening everyone moved to theSergeants Mess where over 400 portionsof Fish or Pie and Chips were served in twohours. Mr Cudgie Smilie presented MrNorman Brown with a very large cake withthe Pioneer badge on top, it was intendedto raffle this cake on the evening butsomeone decided to steal the cake fromthe Sergeants Mess (it was found during

the clean-up in Block 3, badly damaged – Ihope someone has a guilty conscious).

Saturday morning started with the usualChurch Service at the War Memorial whichwas preceded by a march of the OldComrades led by the reformed Corps ofDrums with Dusty Bryant at the front. Asthere were so many marching thecontingent had to be split into twocolumns one controlled by Mr IanDewsnap and the other by Mr PeterThomas. The Last Post and Reveille wasblown by 3 buglers from the Corps ofDrums and they sounded very good.

Following the Church Service there wasthe usual march past by the Old Comradeswith the CO 23 Regt RLC and theAssociation Chairman, Col A Barnes,taking the salute. A group photograph wasthen taken on the steps of the Officers’Mess, this was the largest group photoever taken at a Reunion Weekend.

The afternoon consisted of stalls andexhibitions as well as the fairground whichwas kept very busy, there was also plentyof rides for the children with free popcornand candy-floss as well as pony rides.Pioneers being Pioneers the beer tent wasalso kept busy.

Saturday evening saw the “Red andGreen” Ball in the MT Hanger. The eveningstarted with an auction of 10 items ofAssociation Property – this raised £985 forthe Association, thanks to all the bidders.The ball went very well and a ‘SurvivorsPhoto’ was taken at 0315 hrs, this waspreceded by the Fijian Choir who even atthat time sang very well.

I thought it would be appropriate tothank 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal LogisticCorps, for not only allowing us to hold ourReunion this year but also for the last 22years, they have always looked after us sowell. THANK YOU. ■

NEWS



Pict

ures

: Tra

cy B

row

n un

less

sta

ted

PIONEERTHE


NEWS

Pict

ure:

Sco

use

Brad

ley


Pict

ure

Left:

Trac

y Br

own

Pi

ctur

e M

iddl

e an

d Ri

ght:

Paul

Bro

wn

Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn


Pict

ure:

Sco

use

Brad

ley

NEWSPi

ctur

es: T

racy

Bro

wn

Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn


NEWS


Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn

/ Sco

use

Brad

ley

/ Tra

cy B

row

n / S

uppl

ied

Pictures from this years eventswill soon be available to view

in the online dropbox

PIONEERTHE



NEWS

Pictures from this years eventswill soon be available to view in the online dropbox

PIONEERTHE

Pict

ures

: Pau

l Bro

wn

/ Nor

man

Bro

wn

/ Sup

plie

d / T

hank

s to

Mat

t Mck

erlie

for t

he la

st p

ictu

re (w

hat a

nig

ht!)


NEWS IN BRIEF■ PERSONNEL FROM 23 PioneerRegiment RLC travelled to Aldershot tobuild a War Monument at Tiehurst CareHome.

The CO received the following letterfrom the Manager:

“Dear Lt Col Clouston, on behalf ofresidents, staff and visitors at Ticehurst, Iwould like to offer our sincere thanksand gratitude to you, RSM Lane and 23Pioneer Regt for giving their time tobuild our war monument.

Many of our residents haveconnections with the British Forces andwill appreciate having the opportunity tosit and reflect on their memories andhold their own Remembrance DayService.”

Photograph on Page 54 shows MrsLaura Dewsnap (yes one of Geordieswives) with the workers from 23 PioneerRegiment.

■ TRAIN COMPANIES have extended theoffer of Armed Forces travel documentscheme to tens of thousands of volunteerreservists.

The deal signed between rail companiesand the Ministry of Defence now meansthe HM Forces Railcard will now cover allactive volunteer reservists, their spousesand children.

The railcard will save reservists a thirdoff fares for family days out and trips tovisit friends, meaning they get to enjoytime with loved ones for less.

With growing numbers of volunteerreserves supporting the country andworking as part of a fully integrated force,train companies have worked closely withthe Ministry of Defence to make thebenefit available to all active troops.

www.hmforces-railcard.co.uk/

■ WE OFTEN receive, both by letter andon Facebook, enquiries about backcopies of the “Royal Pioneer” magazines.

Members might like to be aware that acomplete set of these Magazines datingfrom 1940 when the first edition waspublished to 1993 when the Corps wasmerged on formation of the RoyalLogistic Corps can be found atwww.rlcarchive.org

The Magazines can be browsed frompage to page or searched by a word orphrase of choice for those wishing tolearn more of individual officers orsoldiers who served in the RPC, themagazines can be a very useful source ofresearch.

At the very least they can providegeneral background information to anofficer’s or soldier’s time in the Corps andare full of memories of key activities andmilestones over the 64 years of RPChistory.

They also make fascinating readingespecially the older issues which containmany articles on our history.

Access to the magazines is on a payper view or subscription basis.

■ SINCE APRIL 2014, reservists have beeneligible for MOD Standard LearningCredits scheme, which provides financialsupport for a range of learning activities.

All around the country and across theRN, Army and RAF, regulars are using theirStandard Learning Credits (SLCs) to takecourses in anything from a diploma inteaching or project management skills toan MSc in leadership and management.

New medal awardsThis Autumn, the first of the new military awards, a result ofthe independent medals review, will be issued.

THE MINISTRY of Defence MedalOffice is now planning theimplementation of the new awards.A phased approach has beenadopted to allow time for their

design and manufacture. The details are:Cyprus 1963-64. Those servicemen who

served in Cyprus during the period 21December 1963 to 26 March 1964 will beawarded the General Service Medal (1962)with clasp ‘CYPRUS 1963-64’. Applicationsfor the new clasp will be accepted from 1March 2015 onwards. The first of theawards will be despatched towards the endof that month. (However these timingsremain under review).

Berlin Airlift - The General ServiceMedal 1918-1962 with clasp ‘BERLINAIRLIFT’ will be awarded for at least oneday’s service to all aircrew, RAF and civilians,who took part in the Berlin Airlift operationfrom 25 June 1948 to 6 October 1949inclusive. Applications for the new clasp willbe accepted from 1 March 2015 onwards.The first of the awards will be madetowards the end of that month. (Howeverthese timings remain under review).

There are also changed to existing Medalsand Clasps that are to be awarded underrevised qualifying criteria:

South Atlantic - The qualifying periodfor the award of the South Atlantic Medalwithout the Rosette will be extended from12 July to 21 October 1982, when theairfield at Mount Pleasant was madeoperational. Applications for the SouthAtlantic Medal, under the new timeextension, will be accepted from 1 October2014 onwards. The awards will begin to bedespatched towards the end of that month.

Cyprus 1955-59 - Those whoparticipated in the suppression of acts ofterrorism in Cyprus between 1 April 1955

and 18 April 1959 will qualify for theGeneral Service Medal 1918-62 with clasp‘CYPRUS’ if they served for 90 days ormore. The qualifying period has beenreduced from 120 days, bringing it into linewith the qualifying period for service duringthe Kenya anti-terrorism campaign.Applications for the clasp ‘CYPRUS’ underthe new qualifying period will be acceptedfrom 1 October 2014 onwards. The first ofthe clasps will be despatched towards theend of that month.

Full details on how to claim the newawards are available athttps://www.gov.uk/the-ministry-of-defence-medal-office but please note the abovedates from which applications will beprocessed. With the exception of the SouthAtlantic Medal, RAF and Civilian Pilots areencouraged to submit copies of their flyinglogbooks to provide evidence of eligibility.Please note all applications will be dealtwith in date order.

Heroes return extendedThe Big Lottery Fund has extended its Heroes Return 2programme to enable veterans to make second trips

AS DAWN broke 70 years ago onthe 6th June 1944, the first of156,000 allied troops stormed theNormandy beaches. By sunsetthere would be 10,000 casualties.

It would be one of the most momentousdays of history and the start of a twomonth epic struggle to liberate Normandy,one that would cost over 225,000 dead,wounded or missing in action.

In salute to their memory the Big LotteryFund is proud to have supported over 250UK Normandy veterans who made a HeroesReturn journey back to the shores of Franceto join the 70th commemorationceremonies to pay their respects to lost

comrades.The Big Lottery Fund has awarded over

£28 million to ensure that over 57,000Second World War veterans, widows andcarers have had the opportunity since 2004to go back to battlefields to attendcommemorations.

The fund has extended its Heroes Return2 programme to enable veterans to applyfor funding to make second trips.

The programme deadline for closure willnow be at the end of 2015.

Applications can be made by telephone(0845 00 00 121) or by visiting theirwebsite www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn

NEWSNEWS

More Pioneertattoos at the reunion

Micky our in pensioner and our outpensioner Eddie Butler showing off theirnew Royal Pioneer Corps tattoos

It is hoped that the tattooists will be at the Reunion Weekendat Coventry in 2015.(Ed note: Both Pioneer tattoos have the Kings Crown capbadge. From Association records they both served with theQueens Crown)


Pict

ure

of M

icky

: Tra

cy B

row

n

Pic

ture

of E

ddie

: Edd

ie B

utle

r

PIONEERTHE


Pict

ure:

Ant

hony

Ric

hard

Gre

nvill

e Co

wla

nd

The painting depicts selectedhistorical military events of thePioneers in war and operations

THIS painting was commiss-ioned to commemorate theremoval of Pioneers fromthe British Army Order ofBattle both Regular and

Army Reserve.It represents selected historical

military events of the Pioneers inWar and on Operations from WorldWar 1 to Operation HERRICK(Afghanistan).

168 Pioneer Regiment, RoyalLogistic Corps (V), Army Reservewas disbanded 26th October 2013.

The last Pioneer Unit of theRegular Army to be disbanded was23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal LogisticCorps on 26th September 2014.

“LABOR OMNIA VINCIT”Motto: Labor Omnia VincitMarch: Pioneer CorpsColours: Scarlet Red and

Brunswick GreenPatron Saint: Saint Joseph, our

Lord’s earthly Father,the husband of Mary

The presence of individualPioneers with infantry Regimentswas common throughout the 17thand 18th Centuries. Military labourunits were present at the CrimeanWar and ‘pioneers’ are referred toin records of campaigns in Francefrom as early as 1346.

There is also a description of asoldier we might now describe as a‘Pioneer’ in the Book of Nehemiah,part of the Old Testament.However, there is little evidence todirectly link these ‘pioneers’ to thePioneers of today. During the FirstWorld War, regiments or corps ofthe British Army had their own‘Labour Companies’ and infantryregiments often had their own‘Labour Battalion’ for fieldengineering tasks. On 21st February1917 the Labour Corps wasformed.

They worked in Forward Areasmaking and repairing roads anddigging trenches, very often undersustained enemy fire. Many awardsfor gallantry went to members ofthe Corps.

Despite its disbandment in June1920, the Labour Corps is nowrecognised as the predecessor ofthe Royal Pioneer Corps.

At the outbreak of the SecondWorld War the Auxiliary MilitaryPioneer Corps (17th October 1939)was formed. On 22nd November1940 it was re-titled the PioneerCorps. In addition to British

soldiers, the Pioneer Corps washeavily composed of men from theBritish Empire and Nazi-occupiedEurope.

On 26th November 1946 anArmy Order announced that inrecognition of their past service HisMajesty the King had beengraciously pleased to approve thatthe Corps should in future enjoythe distinction of “Royal”. In 1950it was decided that the RPC shouldform a permanent part of theRegular Army.

On 23 July 1991 the Secretary ofState for Defence announced thatthe Royal Pioneer Corps wouldcombine with the Royal Corps ofTransport, the Royal ArmyOrdnance Corps, the Army CateringCorps and the Postal and CourierService of the Royal Engineers toform a large Logistic Corps.

On 5th April 1993 units of theRPC both Regular and ArmyReserve amalgamated into theRoyal Logistic Corps.

1. The Labour CorpsThe Labour Corps was formed on

21 February 1917; the Corps grewto some 389,900 men (more than10% of the total size of the Army)by the Armistice. Of this total,around 175,000 were working inthe United Kingdom and the rest inthe theatres of war.

Labour Corps units were oftendeployed for work within range ofthe enemy guns, sometimes forlengthy periods. In April 1917, anumber of infantry battalions weretransferred to the Corps. TheLabour Corps Area EmploymentCompanies were formed in 1917for salvage work, absorbing theDivisional Salvage Companies.

In the crises of March and April1918 on the Western Front, LabourCorps units were used asemergency infantry.

The Corps always suffered fromits treatment as something of asecond class organisation: forexample, the men who died arecommemorated under their originalregiment, with Labour Corps beingsecondary.

The scene depicts a descriptionof Labour Corps working underartillery fire on the many miles ofrailway in Flanders taken from thebook “With a Labour Company inFrance” written by Capt TC ThomasOBE MC, Commanding Officer58th Labour Company, LabourCorps.

NEWSNEWS


2. The Defence of Boulogne1940 5 Group Auxiliary MilitaryPioneer Corps

During the Battle of France in1940 a large Pioneer formation, 5Group Auxiliary Military PioneerCorps was ordered to Boulogne on20 May. 5 Group, consisting ofabout 1,500 men was ably lead byLieutenant Colonel DJ Dean VC (aVC which he won during the FirstWorld War).

On arrival in Boulogne ColonelDean found that two Battalions ofthe 20th Guards Brigade, the 2ndIrish Guards and 2nd Welsh Guards,under the command of BrigadierWAFL Fox-Pitt, had arrived fromEngland with orders to holdBoulogne “to the last man and thelast round.” Colonel Dean reportedto Brigadier Fox-Pitt for instructions.

The Irish Guards had taken up aposition with their right flank at LaPostel on the coast and their left onthe banks of the River Liane; theWelsh Guards holding a line fromthe left flank of the Irish Guardsand along the western slopes ofthe Mont- Lambert ridge, whichcommanded the greater part of thetown and harbour, to St. Martin.The two Battalions covered a six-mile front and were, therefore, thinon the ground. Brigadier Fox-Pittasked for 150 Pioneers to be sentto reinforce the Welsh Guards andthis was done.

The German 2nd ArmouredDivision was now closing inrelentlessly on the town. During theafternoon of the 22 May 1940 anattack with tanks and artillery wasmade against the Irish Guards, butthis died away after an hour’sfighting. As darkness fell a furthertank attack was made on the frontheld by the Welsh Guards andagain the enemy was repulsed, butit became apparent that he wasfeeling out for a weak spot in thedefence. By nightfall Wimereuxbecame untenable and ColonelDean withdrew 5 Group intoBoulogne and, on instructions fromBrigadier Fox-Pitt, took up aposition covering the area from theWelsh Guards left flank at St.Martin to the coast, this movementbeing completed by the early hoursof the morning of the 23 May1940. Scarcely had 5 Group AMPCtaken its place when a furtherGerman attack, still feeling for theweak spot, developed against the

Pioneer front, but after somefighting the enemy again withdrew,to be followed by a more resoluteattack against more of the Pioneerroad blocks. Here, since they wereonly opposed by rifle fire, theleading tank commenced climbingover the road block, but this hadbeen anticipated and when thetank was at an angle whichprecluded its guns from firing onthe defenders the road block wasdrenched with petrol and set onfire, the tank beating a hastyretreat. Under cover of the pall ofsmoke from the fire a further roadblock was constructed.

Throughout the whole of thisoperation the defenders were beingdive-bombed and shelled bymortars. In the early evening of the23 May 1940, and during ColonelDean’s absence, Colonel Stanier ofthe Welsh Guards had called at 5Group AMPC Headquarters andinformed the Adjutant that theGuards were withdrawing to theharbour for evacuation, at the sametime paying high tribute to the 150Pioneers attached to his battalion.He also stated that the bridgeacross the river, the only Britishescape route, was shortly to beblown up.

Since he had been given tounderstand that the Guards were tohold Boulogne at all costs, and inview of the fact that it was littlemore than twenty-four hours sincetheir arrival in France, thisinformation was received byColonel Dean with some surprise.Unfortunately the Welsh Guardshad commenced their withdrawalbefore Colonel Dean received themessage and had an opportunity ofrealigning the Pioneers at the eightroad blocks which he held.

In consequence his right flankwas now exposed and Germanadvance troops infiltrated throughthe gap. Using men of 47Company, which he had held inreserve, he relieved two of hisforward positions; four others wereable to retire without trouble; theremaining two were over-run by theenemy and the men killed,wounded or taken prisoner.

This short action withinsufficiently trained andindifferently armed troops was abloody affair and the Groupsuffered a number of casualties.With the enemy now at close >

THE FIGHTING PIONEER by Anthony Richard Grenville Cowland


quarters Colonel Dean’s responsibilitybecame two fold, to fight a rearguardaction in order to protect the retiring WelshGuards and to try to save as many of hisown men as possible, a task which thepaucity of officers to other ranks on thePioneer establishment made more difficult.The Group was slowly withdrawn to theGare Maritime where they manned thebarricades which had been left by theGuards Brigade.

5 Group now held all approaches to theharbour. Here the 150 Pioneers who hadbeen lent to the Welsh Guards, but whomthey left behind on embarkation, rejoinedthe Group and here, too, were foundsufficient weapons and ammunition toequip those Pioneers who were stillunarmed.

This store of rifles and ammunition hadbeen left behind by the Guards on theinsistence of the Naval authorities whowere concerned at the over-crowding andover-loading of their destroyers. The Groupwas now under continuous heavy tank andmortar fire from across the river, and riflefire from the German infantry closing in onthem. Towards midnight Colonel Deanrecovered consciousness and again resumedcommand. Except for intermittent rifle firethe fighting had now died down. The GareMaritime continued to burn fiercely. Therearguard of Pioneers, now reduced toabout 600 all ranks, was withdrawn to thequay where company commanders sortedout and reorganized their men inpreparation for the final stand theyexpected to make at daybreak. Stragglersfrom other companies had joined up withthe Group during the preceding day.

Shortly after 0200 hrs on the 24 May1940 it was reported that a vessel wasapproaching the harbour and in the hopethat it was a British ship Colonel Deansignalled it with his torch, upon which HMSVimiera backed slowly in to the end of themole in the eerie silence which lay upon thetown. Rounding up many stragglers fromother regiments in the area Colonel Deangot them on board and finally 5 Groupembarked soon after 0300 24 May 1940after fighting alone for six hours. With1,400 men on board the Vimiera sailed forEngland, the last ship to leave the portbefore it fell entirely into German hands,and all organized resistance in Boulognecame to an end. Over a period of years itbecame the practice of the officers of the68 Company RPC(V) (which was to become102 Pioneer Squadron RLC(V)) to honourand drink a toast to ‘The Defenders ofBoulogne.

3. Corporal JP Scully GC & Lieutenant CChittenden GM Auxiliary MilitaryPioneer Corps

This scene depicts Corporal JP Scullybowed under the weight of debris which hebore for seven hours during the night 13March 1941, thereby saving two peoplefrom certain death. Corporal Scully wasawarded the George Cross for this act ofbravery.

Two sections of 256 Company PioneerCorps were engaged on rescue work inBirkenhead on the night of 13th March,1941, under the direction of Lieutenant CChittenden.

Corporal J Scully located a man andwoman trapped under debris and withgreat difficulty penetrated to the spotwhere they were buried, covering themwith his body whilst wood of suitablelength was being procured to shore up the

debris. Corporal Scully and LieutenantChittenden had fixed temporary props inposition and a long plank was inserted totake most of the weight. Realizing theever-present danger of the mass of debrisfalling on the injured persons through theinstability of the temporary props, CorporalScully inserted his body beneath the plankto provide additional support. Gradually theweight increased until the temporary propslipped leaving Corporal Scully supportingone end of the plank and LieutenantChittenden the other. At this stage CorporalScully could have got away but knowingthat if he did so the fate of the trappedpersons was sealed he remained under theplank.

Slowly the weight of shifting debrisincreased forcing Scully down until he layacross the body of the trapped man whilstLieutenant Chittenden, still holding one endof the plank, reached over and supportedthe corporal’s head to prevent him frombeing suffocated by having his face pressedinto the debris. Although fast becomingexhausted Scully continued to talkencouragingly to the woman.

The man was unconscious. He remainedin this position throughout the night until,seven hours later; a rescue party was ableto extricate him and the injured people.When they first entered the house the twoPioneers realised the risk of injury or deathas the high walls nearby appeared about tocollapse at any moment. Had this occurredboth would have been buried under manytons of debris. Corporal Scully risked his lifeto save the two people and although theposition looked hopeless LieutenantChittenden remained with him. CorporalScully was awarded the George Cross andLieutenant Chittenden the George Medal.

4. Private J Tancred Pioneer CorpsPrivate Tancred served with 187

Company Pioneer Corps during the alliedadvance through Italy in 1943. Whilstcarrying ammunition to the fighting troopson Monastery Hill, Monte Camino hediscovered a wounded officer. PrivateTancred carried the officer overnight (16Hours) to an Aid Post, encountering andavoiding the German machine gunpositions en route.

The officer was taken for treatment andit is believed that he survived. However,Tancred died of exhaustion as he rested.His Commanding Officer at the time, MajorGR Vivian, describes his conduct as ‘gallantand valiant beyond all words of expression’.Private Tancred was never cited for anaward.

It is no reflection on anyone that Tancredwas not awarded any specific honour, forcourage was the common currency onMonastery Hill and he would have been thelast man to wish for any preferentialtreatment over infantrymen who enduredso much more in greater danger.

On 24 November 1966 at Northampton asilver statuette depicting Private Tancredcarrying the wounded Officer, waspresented to the Central Officers’ Mess ofthe Royal Pioneer Corps by Officers of theArmy Emergency Reserve, RPC. This stoodproudly in the Officers’ Mess 23 PioneerRegiment RLC.

On 17 January 1983 a new Field ForceCompany came into being which wasofficially designated 187 (Tancred)Company, Royal Pioneer Corps. On theAmalgamation into the Royal Logistic Corpsthe Company was renamed 187 (Tancred)Pioneer Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps.

These units were the only Company/Squadron in Army Order of Battle to benamed after a Private soldier.

5. The Mulberry HarbourThe Mulberry harbour was a portable

temporary harbour developed by the Britishin World War II to facilitate rapid offloadingof cargo onto the beaches during the Alliedinvasion of Normandy. Two prefabricated orartificial military harbours were taken insections across the English Channel fromBritain and assembled off the coast ofNormandy as part of the D-Day invasion ofFrance in 1944. 11,000 Pioneers wereemployed in the construction and runningof the British Mulberry Harbour inArromanches France 1944.

6. The sinking of the troopshipLancastria

It is estimated that 4000+ souls whowere lost aboard the Lancastria on 17thJune 1940.

At 1548 hrs the requisitioned Cunardcruise liner, Lancastria came under attackfrom enemy aircraft. She received threedirect hits from a German Junkers 88bomber and within 20 minutes, the16,243-ton luxury liner sank, taking withher an estimated 4,000 victims. The sinkingis the worst single disaster in Britishmaritime history, and claimed more victimsthan the sinking of the Titanic and Lusitaniacombined. It is also the largest single lossof life for British forces in the whole ofWorld War 2.

It is a disaster which has remained largelyforgotten by the history books and that inpart has led to a silence which continues tothis day. The exact death toll may never befully known and estimates range from aslow as 2,500 to over 6,000 lives lost.

The Lancastria’s acting Adjutant haddesperately attempted to compile a list ofthose boarding from the small fleet ofvessels ferrying men and refugees out toLancastria and initially put the figure atalmost 9,000 embarked, a figure backed upby a number of survivors. That figure maybe exaggerated and it is certainly disputedby the British Government. Recently,authors such as Brian Crabb have managedto pull together a full list of those known tohave perished aboard Lancastria but there isevidence to suggest that many moreindividuals boarded the Lancastria thanofficial records indicate. This depicts PrivateWilliam Steel 39 Company, Auxiliary MilitaryPioneer Corps winning his Military Medal.His citation read: On the 17th June 1940Pte Dean of the 39th Company, AMPC wason board SS ‘LANCASTRIA.’

The first bomb which struck the shipkilled or wounded the crew of a nearbyBren Gun. Pte Dean had nothing to do withthe Gun Crew or the Gun, but seized it andcommenced to fire with the idea of keepingthe enemy aircraft to the ceiling of theGun. After firing the Gun for severalminutes, he was struck on the head by apiece of flying debris and rendered semi-unconscious. He was revived by Cpl Mellorwho tried to persuade him to leave therapidly sinking vessel. Pte Dean refused todo so, at the same time urging hiscomrades to leave the vessel. He continuedto fire the Gun until the water had reachedthe part of the deck where he wasstanding. By remaining on the ship to thelast, Pte Dean risked being drawn under bythe suction from the sinking of such a bigvessel, at the same time, at the risk of hisown life, and by his own devotion to duty


and courage, he undoubtedly saved thelives of many of his comrades who werebeing machine-gunned in the water, bycontinuing to fire the Bren Gun at theenemy aircraft. Over 250 Pioneers lost theirlives on board the Lancastria.

7. The Aden EmergencyThe Aden Emergency was an insurgency

against the British Crown forces in theBritish controlled territories of South Arabiawhich now form part of the Yemen. A stateof emergency was declared in the BritishCrown colony of Aden and its hinterland,the Aden Protectorate. The emergencyescalated in 1967 and hastened the end ofBritish rule in the territory which had begunin 1839. On 30 November 1967, Britishforces withdrew and the independentPeople's Republic of South Yemen wasproclaimed. It was during this time themembers of the Royal Pioneer Corps weredeployed to Aden. They were involved in anumber of tasks including localemployment, fortification of field defencesand patrolling. A number of casualties weresustained during grenade attacks and smallarms fire. This scene depicts 518 CompanyRoyal Pioneer Corps patrolling in support ofthe Royal Marines.

8. Army Graves Registration Team(AGRT) Falklands Conflict 1982

In 1982 An Army Graves RegistrationTeam from the Royal Pioneer Corpsdeployed to the Falkland Islands to recoverand identify British and Argentine personnelkilled during the conflict and relocatebodies into military cemeteries. All thecasualties were buried in temporary graves

and it was the task of the team to carry outthe operation in a dignified manner. Of the255 British servicemen killed during theconflict, 81 had been temporarily buried onthe Islands. 44 of these were at Ajax Baynear the old Refrigeration Plant that hadbeen used as a Field Hospital, 29 bodieswere at Teal Inlet, 4 at Estancia House andone at San Carlos Settlement. The threeremaining single graves were Goose Green,Port Howard and Darwin and were leftundisturbed in accordance with the wishesof the next of kin. This was no easy taskbut the Commander of the operation MajM Wilson concluded in an article he wroteand was published in the Pioneer MagazineOctober 2009:

“I look back now, many memoriesprevail, but, above all, of the high standardsof self discipline, morale andcompanionship of the Team throughout.These are the happy memories. There areother memories, of course, less happy,private memories that will always be withme”.

After the Falkland’s War the Army WarGraves Service became a major Pioneerresponsibility renamed to Joint War GravesService and later changed to MortuaryAffairs.

9. Cyprus 1955Pioneers were stationed in Cyprus during

the National Organisation of CypriotCombatants (EOKA) campaign, a guerrillaorganization aimed at over-throwing theBritish administration. The tasks carried outby Pioneers during this time were theconstruction of a wing to the Kyrenia Homeof Sick Children, a cinema to seat 200,

digging a 9,000 metre telegraph cabletrench, escorting the military mail, themovement of ammunition and fuel, in theislands forest fire-breaks were cleared toprevent cases of arson and finally theprovision of a guard force for the NicosiaCentral Prison which housed 700 EOKAterrorists, which the scene depicts.

10. BAORAfter the Second World War, Pioneers

were employed throughout NorthernGermany in Defence Platoons. Theyguarded all the major HQs and othermilitary establishments. Also managing civillabour support these became PioneerLabour and Support Units. The scenedepicts the major role carried out byPioneers of 70 and 114 Companies, RoyalPioneer Corps in support of 8 Regiment,Royal Corps of Transport and 50 MissileRegiment, Royal Artillery and the number oflarge Cold War Exercises carried out duringthis period.

11. Pioneer Labour and Support UnitProviding Civil Labour to the military has

been a Pioneer responsibility since theSecond World War, employing 10s ofthousands of civilians throughout theworld. During the Gulf War in 1991 anumber of Pioneer Staff were deployed tothe region with the sole purpose ofemploying local labour to assist the BritishArmy. Its main responsibility was toestablish labour requirement, locate andnegotiate a price with local contractors anddeliver the labour daily to its place of need.

By the end of the conflict its staff of 15Pioneers was employing in excess of 600

■ Taff Teague shows off ‘The Fighting Pioneer’ painting at this years Reunion Weekend Picture: Paul Brown

NEWS

PIONEERTHE


civilians. The majority were labourers, butthere were also drivers, clerks, translators,mechanics, electricians and even a desertnavigation instructor. 200 labourers wereemployed as a pool and formed intoplatoons supervised by one or two youngPioneer Corporals.

This was the last time Pioneers wouldcarry out this task on Operations as theRoyal Pioneer Corps.

12. Northern Ireland Op BANNER 1969to 2007

The painting depicts the Pioneer PrisonGuard force at the Maze Prison during thelate 1980s. The Saxon vehicle representsthe Roulement Transport Squadron tourwhich Pioneers carried out in 2001.

On the 21 May 1988 Corporal DerekHayes, aged 28, a soldier of the RoyalPioneer Corps was killed at Crossmaglenwhen an IRA booby trap bomb exploded.He was asked to investigate a partly hiddenbox in a ditch.

As his Labrador approached it, the deviceexploded. He is one of the many Pioneerswho have lost their lives during the conflict.This part of the painting also represents allPioneers who served either in the Pioneer/Infantryman Role in Northern Ireland duringOperation BANNER.

13. Gulf War One 1990/91One of the many tasks carried out by

Pioneers during the Gulf War was Prisonerof War handling.

The scene depicts 2 Platoon, 518Company, Royal Pioneer Corps conductingthis task. The Platoon was commanded byCaptain Steve Berry and Sergeant JimHamilton.

The prisoners were searched, segregated,given blankets and water. They were heldfor a short time and handed over to theRear Operations Battle Group.

Pioneers carried out a number ofdifferent roles camp construction, guardingkey locations, HQs, War Graves andchemical decontamination, to name but afew.

14. Counter Improvised ExplosiveDevice Teams Afghanistan

More recently, in Afghanistan, Pioneershave assisted with the high-profile role ofproviding Improvised Explosive (IED) searchcapability. Checking the groundmethodically with different pieces ofspecialist equipment, Pioneers from 23Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corpsfound and isolated 100s of devices hiddenin the dusty ground -all designed to kill ormaim. During this time a number ofPioneers lost their lives or sustained lifechanging injuries.

15. Force Protection Iraq/AfghanistanThis scene depicts the tasks carried out

by Pioneers during OperationTELIC/HERRICK (Iraq & Afghanistan).

Pioneers provided the Kabul PatrolCompany, Guard Force for the Prison atShaibah Logistics Base and Force Protectionfor the Combat Logistic Patrols. They alsoheld the responsibly for the running andpatrolling of Umm Qasr Town and Port andthe running of Mortuary Affairs. Twocomposite Squadrons from 168 PioneerRegiment, RLC also deployed on Op TELIC.

16. The Badges of PioneersTop Left: The Badge of the Labour Corps,

Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps and Royal Pioneer Corps. The Labour Corpsformed 21 February 1917 originally worethe Royal Arms as cap-badge, with theletters LC as shoulder titles until ACI 837 of1917 authorised the issue of a new badge,described in heraldic terms as; “A rifle, ashovel and pick ‘piled’ on them a laurelwreath, all ensigned with a crown. Beneath,motto Labor Omnia Vincit”. This badge wasagain taken into use on the creation of theAuxiliary Military Pioneer Corps on 17October 1939 and was continually worn byPioneers until 1985. Top Right: RoyalPioneer Corps 1985 to 1993.

In 1983 it was decided to change theCap Badge of the Royal Pioneer Corps.

The Re-Badging parade took place onWednesday 13 February 1985 at Simpson

Barracks Northampton. The new badge isdescribed in heraldic terms thus:

“Two Pioneer Axes in saltire beneaththeir heads and surmounted of pioneersword and laurel wreath below the same ascroll inscribed Royal Pioneers and thewhole ensigned by the Royal Crown allargent.”

Centre Badge: The Royal Logistic Corps1993 to Date

The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) wasformed on Monday, 5 April 1993, by theunion of five British Army corps:

Royal Pioneer CorpsRoyal Corps of TransportRoyal Army Ordnance CorpsArmy Catering CorpsRoyal Engineers Postal and Courier Service

The RLC cap badge is an amalgamationof the cap badges of the forming corps:

The crossed axes are from the RoyalPioneer Corps

The star is from the Royal Corps ofTransport

The laurel and garter band is from theRoyal Engineers

The shield in the centre is from the RoyalArmy Ordnance Corps

The motto, "We Sustain", is from theArmy Catering Corps

The inscription on the garter band "Honisoit qui mal y pense" can be translated as"Evil to him who evil thinks". It is oftenseen on the insignia of Regiments andCorps with 'Royal' in their title.

17. The Regimental Cypher.The Regimental Cypher was introduced

to 23 Pioneer Regiment in 2000. Itcomprises of Two Pioneer Axes in saltirebeneath their heads and surmounted ofpioneer sword. This is the Regimentalsymbol and appears on the RegimentalFlag, Tee Shirts, and stationery and letterheads. Pioneers are extremely proud of thesymbol.

18. The Three PioneersThe Three Pioneers represent the

different periods of dress in our history.The Pioneer on the left is dressed asPioneers were during the 1940s. ThePioneer to the right is dressed in uniform ofthe 1980s, note the Brown Beret (1983)worn by Pioneers prior to the amalga-mation into the Royal Logistic Corps. ThePioneer in the centre represents the modernPioneer who served in AfghanistanOperation HERRICK.

During Operation HERRICK three Pioneerslost their lives, Warrant Officer Class 2Charlie Wood (Centre) was killed by anexplosion while he cleared a road of IEDs,Corporal Andrew Roberts (Right) andPrivate Ratu Silibaravi (Left) died after amortar rocket attack on their operatingbase. They were the last deaths onoperations and represent the tens ofthousands of Pioneers to lose their livesduring the service of their country.

The ArtistAnthony Richard Grenville Cowland. Born

in Hove, Sussex, England 1956. Brought upin Barbados, Singapore & UK.

He is a full time Artist. His works include:airliners, architecture, automobiles, aviation,bridges, dance, engineering, equestrian,exhibitions, horses, houses, interiors,landscapes, marine, military, museums,ocean liners, oil rigs, people, photography,portraits, ships, sports cars, travel, wildlifeand yachts. ■

■ Proud Mum, Pauline Roberts admires the new painting “The Fighting Pioneer”. Paulines son,Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts (Ginge), 23 Pioneer Regiment, RLC was killed in Afghanistan. He is depicted in the painting and he is the third soldier across in the middle of the painting. The soldier on the middle left is Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi, 23 Pioneer Regiment, RLC and hewas killed the same time as Ginge. The soldier in the middle is WO2 Charles Henry Wood, 23Pioneer Regiment, RLC, who was killed in operations in Afghanistan whilst serving with the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force. Picture: Paul Brown

PIONEERTHE

THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 39THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 19

▲ Tie Pinlovely£2.00

▲ Cufflinksbronze£6

▲ Tie Pinlovely£2.50

▲ Wall Shields85-93 badge£20

BlazerBadgesilk & wire£7

▲

▲

▲▲

▲ Cufflinksnew badge £5

▲ Buttonsboth badges available £1.50 each or 6 for £8

Corps TieTwo different stylesare available. Onewith the older‘Blackpool Tower’cap badge andone with the newercap badge.£8.50 each

Blazer Badgesilk & wire£8

▲

Pioneer MugDrinks tastebetter out ofthese!£6

▲

BronzeStatueTheWorkingPioneers£145

▲

▲ Wall Shieldshand painted £20

Pioneer ActivePolo ShirtTop quality.Available inBlack, Red,Green and awomen's cutElectric Pink! £13

▲

“No Labour, No Battle”Military Labourduring the firstWorld Warby John Starling andIvor LeeA new addition to theshop and only justpublished. Priceincludes a £10 donationto the RPC Association.Hardback.£30

“Royal Pioneers 1945-1993” by Major Bill ElliottThe Post-War History ofthe Corps was written byMajor Bill Elliott, whogenerously donated hiswork and rights entirelyfor the Association’sbenefit. It was publishedby Images, Malvern inMay 1993 and is on salein the book shops at £24. £10

▲

“A War History ofthe Royal PioneerCorps 1939-45”by Major E H RhodesWoodThis book, long out ofprint, is now available onCD-Rom at a cost of £11

▲

Association ShopPlease support the RPC Association and place an order for Christmas today...

Blazer Badgesilk & wire£8

Prices include postage, cheques payable to RPC Association. We now accept Paypal - address is royalpioneercorps.co.uk THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION | 39

Report: Ernest Henry Handley 14234238Pictures: Michael Handley

ON Sunday 1st June 2014 Lt Col JStarling and Mr N Brown travelledto Windsor to meet a 96 year oldex Pioneer on the invitation of hisson Michael.

He is Ernest Henry Handley (Servicenumber 14234238), his date of birth was21 February 1918. He currently lives inStockport but had travelled to Windsorprior to visiting Belgium and thenNormandy for the 70th Anniversary of DDay. Ernest’s memory was amazing, herecalled most of the soldier’s names andeven their home town. He managed to ‘addlife’ to the War Diary which at times did notrecord what the Company was doing.

During the early part of the war he wasin a reserved occupation, working in anaircraft factory. However, when it wasrealised that extra manpower for the forceswould be required for the build-up for theinvasion of France one in ten in reservedoccupations were conscripted. Ernest drewthe short straw and received his call-uppapers. He served initially in the GeneralService Corps for his basic training whichwas carried out at Blackpool (mostpersonnel at this time initially joined theGSC for basic training). His trainingcommenced on 16 July 1942 and he wastransferred to the Pioneer Corps on 26August 1942 and posted to 5 Centre

Pioneer Corps – this Centre was formed atHuyton, Liverpool in 1939, moved toDenbigh in July 1942 and was disbanded inOctober 1942.

From 5 Centre he was posted togetherwith thirty other personnel to 44 Companywhich was then located at Cleethorpes.This Company had moved to the East Coastafter its return from France with the BEF.On the party’s arrival at the Company theyhad to display all their kit on their bedsready for inspection by the CompanySecond in Command.

His kit was perfect and the 2IC asked ifhe had had previous military service, Ernestreplied that he had not. He thinks this wasthe reason that shortly after he was postedto HQ Section where he remained for theremainder of his time with the Company.He worked initially as the Pay Corporalbefore receiving promotion to ActingCompany Quarter Master Sergeant.

Whilst at Cleethorpes he states that theCompany worked repairing bomb damage,a point not shown in the war diary of theunit. Maj AC Burrows MC was the OC onhis arrival with 44 Coy but he moved to 49Group as the 2IC in March 1943 and wasreplaced by Maj TP Kennedy. Also in March1943 the Company received mobilizationorders and started training.

The Company moved to Kelwick Parcy,Pocklington in April 1943 and then toShardlow Hall near Derby in May 1943. InMarch 1944 they moved to Bournemouth

and were billeted in hotels (a luxury forthem). They were administered by 9 BeachGroup. The job of a Beach Group was toorganise and cope with the landing of anassault force. Such a multitude of tasks -clearing beaches and exits of mines, makingadditional exits, supervision and unloadingof all craft, both troops and stores,organising dumps for ammunition andpetrol, signal systems, beach dressingstation for wounded. There was alsorearward movement for evacuating moreseriously wounded and POWs. All thiswhilst under a constant hail of shelling,mortar and small arms firing!

The luxury of the hotels was not to last,they were ordered to “Swop”accommodation with the Americans andmoved once more under canvas to Hursley,near Winchester to allow the Yanks thehotels. The 2IC, Capt WD Roberts waspromoted and appointed OC as MajKennedy had been medically downgraded.When Ernest and his friend George Taylorwere in Trafalgar Square whilst in Londonwaiting for D-Day they saw Maj Kennedy,Ernest thinks he was on his way to theMOD to be de-mobbed. Maj Roberts waslater to be awarded the MC for his workwith 44 Coy – full details are shown below.

His friend, George Taylor, a bookie fromBlackpool, was very nervous about D-Dayand wanted Ernest to desert with him.Ernest informed him that this course ofaction would spoil his life and he would

Ernest joined 44 Company in 1942. This Company after landing in France had workedfurther forward than any other in the Corps, building bridges to speed the advance.

A memoir of 44 CompanyErnest’s son Michael took the above photograph in 2008. The wall of a farm building was on the head of a T-junction where a left turn led to the Germandefences but a right turn led to Crepon and on to Bayeaux. Ernest had told him about it so we set off to look for it, because bitumen had been used, thewriting was not overrun by moss/lichen and so survives to this day.


always be looking over his shoulder.George did, in fact, desert and Ernest wasasked if he had any idea where he wouldgo, and he replied that they should checkthe trains to Blackpool. Later in the warErnest saw George but he was then inanother unit.

Most of the Company embarked from StGeorge’s Docks, London on 3 June 1944,the OC, two Lieutenants and 185 men oncraft 3758 and two Lieutenants and 41men on Craft 3759. The war diary shows LtInwood and 39 men were left behind forlater craft. Ernest was one of those leftbehind. They sailed later that day on HMTroopship “Neurelia” but not to Normandy,they were part of Operation Fortitude the“Decoy” Armada and sailed towards Calais.They were heavily shelled by German gunsfrom Calais and stayed close to the SouthCoast to avoid being sunk. OperationFortitude was the code name for a WorldWar II military deception employed by theAllied nations as part of an overalldeception strategy (code named Bodyguard)during the build-up to the 1944 Normandylandings. Fortitude was divided into twosub-plans, North and South, with the aimof misleading the German high commandas to the location of the imminent invasion.

NeureliaBuilt: 1912 at Barclay Curle & Co., Glasgow.Tonnage: 9, 082g, 5, 656n, 9, 900 dwt.Engines: Twin Screw, 2 x 4 CylinderQuadruple Expansion 6, 000 I.H.P. 15.7knots trials, 14.5 Knots Service.Passengers: 128 First Class, 98 SecondClass.

Launched 12th September 1912,completed 18th November 1912. Thelargest ship in the British India Fleet at thistime. Yard No. 497.

Both Fortitude plans involved the creationof fake field armies (based in Edinburghand the south of England) whichthreatened Norway (Fortitude North) andPas de Calais (Fortitude South). Theoperation was intended to divert Axisattention away from Normandy and, afterthe invasion on June 6, 1944, to delayreinforcement by convincing the Germansthat the landings were purely a diversionaryattack.

The main part of the Company landed onGold Beach King on 7 June but Ernest andhis party under Sgt Clarke did not arriveuntil 10 June, they had, in fact, beenreported missing, they also landed at Vers-sur-Mer on Gold Beach King. Ernestdescribed the difficulty of climbing down arope ladder off a cruise ship in rough seaswith an 80lb pack and carrying a rifle. Onlanding on the beach he was wadingashore when he stepped in a large hole(probably made by a tank after it left alanding craft) and immediately was up tohis neck in water but still managed to keephis rifle dry above his head. On the ship heand his mates had managed to acquirelarge amounts of cigarettes and had filledtheir pouches and pockets. The beach waslittered with thousands of cigs’ that had tobe thrown away after being immersed inwater. After moving to Bayeux theCompany was employed on mine clearance,they even had to clear their own bivouacarea. A note in the war diary stated that theCompany had been “Sized” whilst in theUK, the tallest being in 1 Section and theshortest in 10 Section – this proved usefulfor Bailey Bridge construction and wasfavourably commended by Commander RE,30 Corps Troops.

Following the Normandy breakout, 44Company at one stage passed along the‘road of death’ in the Falaise where theretreating German Army had been attackedby Typhoons as it tried to break out, Ernestremembers the enormous piles of Germandead awaiting cremation as well as themany horses killed in the action – it is oftenforgotten that even in 1944 a lot of theGerman Army was still horse drawn.

The Company were then to be attachedto the Royal Engineers with their mainemployment on Bridging. They becameproficient Bailey Bridge builders. Ernest saidthey followed the Guards ArmouredBrigade throughout their advance intoGermany even waiting in vain in the heavyrains in support of Operation MarketGarden towards Arnhem.

During July the Company experiencedconsiderable artillery shelling but sufferedno casualties as they were well dug in. Atthe beginning of August 1944 they movedto La Rousellerie 5 Aug) and then to LaBigne (7 Aug), Saint-German-Du-Crioult (17Aug), Landigou (19 Aug) and Touquettes(23 Aug). The war diary for 23 Aug states“At position West of GRACE whilst the Coywas moving to a new position CplsMeldrum & Irvin were killed and Sgt Ibinsonwounded by an explosion. No witnessesand cause could be established.” Ernestclearly remembers this incident as he alwaysmade sure the stretchers were the last itemsloaded onto the trucks. They haddisobeyed orders which had stated theymust stay on main road, do not enterhouses or pick anything up. As the Coywas packing up to move on they had gonethrough a hedge (for a toilet break) found aBazooka which they picked up.Unfortunately it had been booby-trapped.

(Ed note: during the interview Erneststated that he thought Sgt Ibinson also diedfrom his wounds. However the Associationrecords show that he was not killed. Itshows him being posted to the Y List (Xand Y Lists controlled non effectivepersonnel) on 30 Aug 44 - this is probablythe date when he returned to UK, He wasthen posted to 6 Centre Pioneer Corps on26 Feb 45 (he must have been in hospital,sick leave etc between these dates). He wasthen posted to 724 Prisoner of WarCompany in May 45 and was finallydischarged in Jan 46. When given thisinformation Michael traced ChristopherIbinson's marriage in Mar-Jun 1947 inDurham East, spouse's maiden nameWanless, they had a son James in 1949.Christopher was born in 1919 inSunderland and he died in Jul-Sep 1967aged 48 years.)

On 28 Aug they moved to near Menillesand on 30 Aug crossed the River Seine nearVernon and moved to near La Chapelle.The following is a report signed by MajRoberts on the work of 10 Section:

SUBJECT – Work of Pioneer Corps Sectionsin Forward Area 44C/WDTo: CO No 41 Group Pnr Corps

Sir,I beg to forward an account of the work

done by 10 Section, 44 Coy Pnr Corps,under Lt O L Roberts, on the night 23/24August 44.

At 22.30 hrs Lt OL Roberts receivedinstructions from OC 210 Field Coy RE toproceed with his section, in tipper lorries toan RV north of STE GAUBURGH – STCOLOMBE, map ref Sheet 8G/1 – 636392.


Ernest in 1945 at Esthorf

Ernest (second left, middle row) in 1945 at Esthorf44 Coy Pioneer Corps cricket team at their self-made cricket

ground close to Coy HQ where Ernest was based under MajorW D Roberts. He was billeted with HQ in the only restaurant

in the village which was owned by the Meyer family. The littleblond German boy is Herr Meyer the son of the owner whowas running what is now the Sandkrug Hotel in 2006 when

we stayed there. Ernest is second left in middle row who wasa full Corporal; 4th left is a senior officer who dad thinks wasa Lt Col; at the end of the middle row is Sgt Jack Armstrong.

Ernest, 2014

Ernest, 2014

OC 210 coy would then meet Lt Roberts,and No 3 Platoon RE and guide them toLAIGLE where they were to build a class 40Bailey bridge, probable length 70 feet.

Lt Robert’s party, proceeded by No 3Platoon moved off at 23.00 hrs.

The night was particularly dark owing toheavy rainclouds, and No 3 Platoon, whowere leading the convoy, took a wrongturning. Lt Roberts realized this andstopped his section. He sent a DR after 3Platoon to tell them that they had takenthe wrong road, and that he would proceedwith his section and tipper lorries to the RVas ordered. He then continued his way andarrived at the RV at approx 0130 hrs,having had a most difficult journey alongextremely dark roads. It was also rainingheavily at the time. The lorries were notallowed to show lights, as there werebelieved to be some enemy in the vicinity,and at one point they had to make adetour as they were told the enemy washolding the road.

No 3 Platoon had not arrived at the RVwhen Lt Robert’s party reached it. Hewaited there until the OC 210 Fd Coy REarrived there at 0210 hrs. It was stillpouring with rain, but the men were quitecheerful and anxious to get on with thejob. OC 210 Fd Coy was unable to contacthis No 3 Platoon and decided to do the jobwith 1 section of No 1 Platoon which helocated, and 10 Section Pioneers. TheSection of No 1 Platoon RE was very tired,having been working since early morning23 Aug.

They arrived at LAIGLE at approx 0400hrs. It was absolutely pitch dark. Thedamaged bridge was reece, and bridgingcommenced at approx 0500 hrs, as theyhad to wait for the RASC Bridging Platoonto arrive.

The section of No 1 Platoon RE laid outthe launching rollers, whilst the Pioneersunloaded the bridging, and then helped tobuild the bridge. At this point they wereworking in an area held by the leadinginfantry, but there was not muchopposition, being mainly sporadic mortarfire, and some LMG and rifle fire.

Lt Roberts states “I am proud to say thatmy men, although realizing their dangerousposition, took no notice of the firing andcontinued to work as hard as possible."

At 0800 hrs the RE section of No 1Platoon was withdrawn, as they werecompletely exhausted. The Pioneer sectioncontinued working on the bridge, and at0900 hrs Div Engineers arrived to help finishthe task. The bridge was completed at1000 hrs.

The OC 210, who had been workingwith them the whole time, complimentedLt Roberts very highly on the way he andhis men had worked. The CRE 11thArmoured Div, also sent a messagecongratulating the Pioneers on the workthey had done.

The OC 210 Coy RE then told Lt Robertsto recce a camp site and get his menbedded down as they were absolutely tiredout. This was done, and as the sectioncame out of the town the infantry were stillmopping up pockets of resistance.

Lt Roberts states “No words I can saywould be sufficient to praise the efforts ofmy section, who worked themselves to astandstill under the most difficultconditions.”

In case it should be wondered why No 1Platoon RE were withdrawn at 0800 hrs,whilst the Pioneer section continued untilthe task was completed, the reasons are as

follows:-a. No 10 Section Pioneers had been

resting the whole day 23 Aug, until calledout at 22.30 hours as it was anticipatedthat there would be some night work.

b.The section of no 1 Platoon RE hadbeen working all day 23 Aug, and wouldnot have been employed on this task hadnot No 3 Platoon RE gone astray.

I enclose two copies of this report in casethey should be considered of sufficientinterest to warrant onward transmission toDDL 2nd Army.

30 Aug 44Signed W D Roberts Major FieldCommanding 44 Company Pioneer Corps

Further moves quickly followed, to Dangu(31 Aug) Hebecourt and then to Warlusnear Arras (1 Sep). Next they crossed theSomme at Albert and through Bapaume toArras where Ernest recalls seeing the VimyRidge Canadian WWI Memorial at nighttime and all disbelieving that it could behappening again just 26 years later. Thecolumn received enthusiastic welcomes bythe civilian population in each town theywent through.

They moved through Lens and intoBelgium at Tournai on 3 Sep followed byCharleroi arriving in Brussels on 4 Sep anddrove through massed cheering crowds inthe Grand Place offering their “liberators”chocolates, fruits, food and wine inabundance. In just four days they coveredover 300 miles as Ernest recalls “Jerry wasretreating so fast that we had a job keepingup with him”

They moved to Deurne near Diest on 7Sep and on 10 Sep bridged the AlbertCanal at Beernigen, on 14 Sep they movedto Bourg Leopold and then assisted 209 FdCoy RE in launching a Bailey Bridge overMeuse and Escart Canal – the bridge a 130foot double.

They continued the rapid advance and on24 Sep had breakfast at Eindhoven andarrived at Nijmegen at 1200 hrs, on oneoccasion they actually advanced over 200miles! Apart from the limited CompanyTransport all the vehicles were supplied bythe Royal Engineers.

They were then held up as the Germanshad broken through at Veghel and had cutthe road. On 25 Sep they were about 4miles from the German border.

The war diary for 26 Sep stated that theCookhouse was hit by shellfire but therewere no casualties. Ernest disagrees withthis statement. The cook sergeant had justhung up his jacket in the cookhouse priorto the shelling and then ran for cover.When he returned his jacket was in tatters,he was then in shock and had to bereturned to England!

On 27 Sep the war diary states “Muchshelling and aerial bombing” – theobjective was a bridge over the River Waal.This bridge was blown up the following dayby a floating torpedo.

4 Sections crossed over the Waal on theevening of 30 Sep and started working onroads. 3 Sections were working onNijmegen bridge during the night.

The Company moved to the west ofNijmegen on 6 Oct and found it muchquieter and moved to a school on theoutskirts of Nijmegen on 11 Oct. On 17Oct working with 11 Fd Coy RE theybridged the Maas-Waal canal. On 3 Novthey moved from Nijmegen to BourgLeopold a distance of 73 miles.

On 2 Nov the Royal Engineers, who they

were supporting, submitted the followingreport:

Dear Col Evans-LombeI am anxious to put on record the

excellent work done by numbers 9 & 10Sections, 44 Pioneer Company which havebeen under my command since June.

During the past five months the bulk ofour work has been maintaining, the narrow,indifferent continental roads in suchcondition that they will stand up to theenormous volume of traffic of this Corps –a scale of traffic never envisaged by thedesigner of the roads. This work isextremely monotonous and has demandedinfinite patience and long hours from thePioneers. In addition, the worse theweather conditions, the more urgent theroad repairs became and the more readilyhave the Pioneers responded.

Our work has not been confined to roadwork, and the Pioneers have figured largelyin the following tasks. A Bailey bridge wasbuilt by us at CONDE SUR SEULLES duringthe hours of darkness and the ChiefEngineer expressed his pleasure at thespeed with which the bridge was built. Allthe unloading in the restricted site wasdone by Pioneers.

In the advance beyond ARGENTAN wewere on the move from 0900 hours until2100 hours – the Pioneers travelled in badweather in open Tipper Trucks. At 2200hours they were called out and moved upto LAIGLE where they arrived at 0500 hourswith the assistance of a few Sappers of theField Park Company of the 11 ArmouredDivision they completed a 70 ft BaileyBridge by 0900 hours.

They assisted the construction of theapproaches to VERNON Bridge across theSEINE again working all night. They tookpart in the building of the BERINGEN Bridgeacross the ALBERT Canal (night work). Theevening after NIJMEGEN Bridge was severedby enemy action, Bailey Bridging equipmentwas unloaded by these Pioneers on theBridge, although it was being shelled, andenemy aircraft were dropping flares.

The Pioneers spent two days assistingSappers who were erecting a camouflagescreen on NIJMEGEN Bridge which duringthis time was under observed enemy shellfire and subjected to bombing attacks.

The Company carried out certainoperations across the NEDER RHINE and thePioneers went up to within a few 100 ydsof the enemy and loaded up silently andsuccessfully the assault boats which had tobe used.

The forgoing by no means gives the fullextent of our activities but I sent it to youas I feel it will be of value to those who arecompiling statistics and facts about the partplayed by the Pioneers during this war.Yours,Copy to:- Lt col R E Black RE

On 4 Nov 44 they moved to Bunde (57Miles) and again helped 209 and 210 FdCoys RE in constructing Bailey Bridges.

The war diary for 6 Nov shows thefollowing:

1 & 2 Sections – with 209 Field Coyconstructing Eastern approach ofBORGHAREN Bridge having complete theirportion of bridge construction

3 & 6 Sections – support 11 Field Coyconstructing a bridge at URMOND

7 Section – with 128 Bridging Coy RASCnear MUNSTERBILSEN

8, 9 & 10 Sections – with 21 Field Coy


constructing approached to West side ofBORGHAREN Bridge having complete theirportion of bridge construction

4 Section arrived from Nijmegem on 8Nov and 5 Section returned on 16 Nov.Heavy rains at the end of Nov made roadsdifficult and roads had to built up to keepabove the rising water level. Borgharenbridge was out of action as the approacheswere under water.

On Christmas Eve the Coy moved fromBunde to Holsbeek a distance of 85 milesand money changed back from Guilders toBelgium Francs. Further moves quicklyfollowed Louvain (28 Dec), Cognellee (31Dec) Yvoir (3 Jan) and returned to Nijmegenon 7 Feb. This series of moves was as aresult of the German breakthrough in the“Battle of the Bulge” to the South. Ernestrecalls the sudden moves from aroundMaastricht south around Liege to thecitadels of Namur and Dinant where theCoy bivouacked overnight as part of XXXCorps contingency defence of the northwestern bank of the Meuse in the event ofthe Germans breaching the US Ardennesdefensive battle. Here they were employedon keeping roads open due to soft groundand the volume of traffic. Sections wereworking all night on roads, log dumps weremade along the verges to assist in layingdown stretches of corduroy roads.

On 17 Feb the Coy moved to theReichwald Forest in a convoy with XXXCorps Main and Corps Engineer Troops. On21 Feb they built a Bailey Bridge over arailway at Hommersum. On 4 Mar theymoved to Goch and then Kavelaar on 6Mar before returning to Nijmegen on 9Mar.

On 18 Mar the Coy moved to aconcentration area near Asperden andsupported the British 2nd Army ‘OperationPlunder’ the crossing of the Rhine near Reeson 23 Mar. Following the successfulamphibious crossing they helped during24/26 Mar to build ‘LAMBETH’ bridge overthe Rhine – during this they suffered 1killed and 11 wounded. The large AlliedMilitary Cemetery at Kleve holds the 44 Coyfatality and many other RPC losses amongstthe combat troops who took Rees.

On 26 Mar, the OC, Maj Robertssubmitted the following recommendationsfor Mention in Despatches (All wereawarded and these were published in theLondon Gazette on 8 Nov 45 – page 5454)

SUBJECT: Mentions in DespatchesCONFIDENTIALTo: Commanding Officer44C/RECSNo 41 Group, Pioneer Corps

No 801477 W/Sgt Sydney WILKESOn 24 Mar 45 at approx 14.15 hrs this

NCO was wounded whilst engaged onRHINE BRIDGING OPERATION. Six others ofhis section were also hit, one being killedoutright. Sgt Wilkes assisted in getting theinjured man to the RAP and he did notdisclose that he had been wounded until allhis men had been attended to. Hiscalmness and cheerfulness under fire had amost steadying effect on his section.

No 102775 W/Cpl Albert BUCKLEYOn 24 Mar 45 whilst engaged on RHINE

BRIDGING OPERATION, this NCO displayedkeenness and initiative of a high order. Hewas working on the bank in charge of anunloading party. There were a number oflorries standing by to come forward singlyto the unloading point. The drivers were

not available, so Cpl Buckley drove awaythe unloaded lorry, and brought the nextlorry for unloading. He then got out of thecab and supervised the working party untilthe lorry was unloaded, when he returnedthe empty lorry and brought down anotherfull one. This happened at least six times tomy knowledge.

No 13023510 L/Cpl David BALLThis NCO was left in charge of the

remainder of no 9 Section after it hadsustained seven casualties including theSection Sgt. Owing to his willingness andkeenness in returning to his task, althoughthere was an amount of spasmodic shelling,the remainder of the section worked on adisciplined and organized manner. ThisNCO was responsible for restoring theirmorale at the moment when all his menwere considerably shaken both from theshelling and having seen the injuriessustained by their comrades.

No 131003891 Pte Alexander WATTThis soldier, although 42 years of age,

worked hard and well throughout theoperation. He was directly responsible forkeeping part of his section together at atime when there were none of his sectionNCOs immediately available. His sectionsustained seven casualties, and Pte Watt’sexample helped to maintain the morale ofthe remainder of his section at a high level.His coolness and cheerfulness were at alltimes exemplary.

26 Mar 45Commanding 44 Company Pioneer Corps

On 28 Mar the Coy moved to Esserden(crossing the Rhine). A series of movesquickly followed: Enschede (3 Apr),Sudlohne (6 Apr) Freren (10 Apr), Steinfield(13 Apr), Bassum (14 Apr) Emtinghausen(19 Apr). Here they worked with 210 FdCoy crossing the River Weser at Verden tobuild a bridge from East Bank this wascompleted on 22 Apr.

On 23 Apr the Coy took up defensivepositions near Reide and moved back toEmitghausen next day. On VE Day the Coywas split as follows:

3 sections (Lt G H Glaze) with 209 FieldCoy at HASSEL

3 sections (Lts J Aitken & M Brown) with211 Field Coy at ZEVEN

2 sections (Lt V Westaway) with 11 FieldCoy at ESTORF

2 sections (Lt O L Roberts) with 210 FieldCoy at ATHESDORF

Before establishing their base in Estorfthe Coy went on to Hanover where theycommandeered the showers of theHannover FC to enjoy the luxury of theirfirst shower since June. Visits to the ArmyClub in Nienberg were welcome as Englishbeer could be drunk.

Ernest recalls that 44 Coy converted anold brick barn in Estorf into a theatre andcreated football and cricket pitches, on hisvisit in 2006 he found that the theatre,although built up to what is now the villagecommunity centre and the football pitch isstill in use. No trace could be found of thecricket pitch! When they were in the hotelthe hotel owner produced an identical copyof the photograph which is shown on page41.

In Aug 45 the Coy administered 30 CorpsTrade Training School (Ed note: a fulldescription of this appeared in the Oct 12Newsletter).

Maj Roberts left the Coy in Oct 45 on

release from the Army. The following is acitation for his award of the MC:Name RobertsForenames William DemaineRank Capt (T/Maj)Number 256704Unit 44 CoyTheatre North West Europe

Action for which commended Major Roberts landed in Normandy on D

+ 1. His Company has been engaged onforward bridging operations under C.R.E.30 Corps Tps Engineers throughout thecampaign, frequently under enemy artilleryfire. At the assault crossing of the Rhine hiscompany worked on “Lambeth” Bridgeopposite REES, Germany. In spite of Mortarfire the bridge was thrown across and openby 0730 hours on 26 Mar 45.Major Robertsencouraged and heartened his menthroughout 48 hours of exhausting work.His presence and example when casualtieswere being sustained, materially helped inthe rapid completion of the bridge at a verycritical time. His conduct throughout thecampaign has been worthy of high praise.

Recommended By Lt Col S J StanbrookCO 41 Group 14 Jun 45Col de PassDDL Second ArmyLt Gen Comd Second Army 12 Jul 45Honour or award MCLondon Gazette 24 Jan 46 page 640Previous Awards MID 22 Mar 45 NWE

Initially recommended for MBE butupgraded.

The Company returned to the UK on 22Dec 45 and proceeded to Thetford and wasdisbanded at Cambridge on 3 Jun 46.Since landing in France this Coy hadworked further forward than any other inthe Corps.

During the Battle of Tilly-sur-Seulles inNormandy in early June ’44 Ernestremembers being sent forward with asection to fill in shell holes at the roadjunction which changed hands 23 timesbefore being held.

On the way to collect hardcore in thevillage he saw a sign which stated that theGermans shelled the area every hour on thehalf hour. After loading the truck he and acouple of mates went into the villagechurch where they found an organ. One ofhis friends could play and decided to try it,the sound of his playing must have beenheard by the Germans as they immediatelystarted to shell the area.

When they returned to camp an officerasked if that was the time for the shellingas it had occurred outside the normalschedule, Ernest would not confess theyhad caused the shelling.

Many years later, on a visit to the church,Ernest told his son to reach under theorgan and on a ledge would be the key tothe organ, the key was still there. Severaltimes during this battle they were strafedby the odd German fighter plane.

From January 1946 Ernest returned toEngland and administered the return ofsupplies and equipment for his Coy asacting QMS.

Also collecting and returning AWOLs anddeserters for disciplinary proceedings aswell as POW camps where his considerablefootball skills and knowledge attracted himto the way the German POWs played thegame. (the spectre of world Cupdominance clearly evident then?)



When Ernest was on leave in 1945 hewas a Substantive Corporal but Acting StaffSergeant (CQMS) – he missed the rank ofSgt, because while playing football on ashort leave he split the cartilege in his kneeand this delayed his return. Because of thishe missed his substantive rank of SSgt andwas discharged as a Cpl but still retainedhis “3 stripes with Crown” to show to hissons.

On 6th June this year Ernest and his sonMichael attended the 70th Anniversary of DDay and Michael sent the following report:

Ernest and I attended the D-day 70thAnniversary Memorial Ceremony at GoldBeach King (Ver-sur-Mer) last Friday.

Because of time and the crowds wedidn't venture into Arromanche so we didnot see any presence from the RPC.

Michael has also forwarded the followingnewspaper article, the journalist may havemade one or two slight errors of fact butthe Pioneer Corps had good coverage inManchester and Stockport.

The Gold Beach America Museum in Ver-sur-Mer now includes 44 Coy Pioneer Corpsfollowing the visits of Ernest and his sonMichael. It is worth including on anyNormandy tours.

Michael states I wish I had made contact

with you years ago because with the diaryand all the place names in France, Belgium,The Netherlands and Germany our tripswith dad could have been so much moreproductive.

He did, however, recall very clearly placeslike, Crepon, Creully, Bayeux sleeping in thelarge attic of a building next to the railwaystation which is still there, Tilly-sur-Seullesstrafed by Messerschmitts in July whistmending the roads for the tanks, VillersBocage terrible civilian losses due to Allieddecision not to drop warning leaflets and soavoid warning Jerry, Aunay-sur-Odon,Argentan huge piles of German deadawaiting disposal due to French refusal toallow burial on their soil, Falaise uttercarnage in the narrow high sided lanes,Vernon to cross the Seine, Albert for theSomme, Bapaume, Arras and Vimy Ridge,Lens, Tournai, Charleroi, Brussels and thealmost Roman welcome in the Grand Place,Leuven staying overnight in a brewery,Diest, Eindhoven, Nijmegen then drivingsouth past Maastricht in a hurry to theArdennes staying overnight in Namur andDinant overlooking the Meuse whilst theAmericans repulsed the "Bulge", backnorth for Kleve and the Rhine crossing atRees.

Then in Germany dad is less detailed - hesaw the night sky lit up by the bombingraids on Bremerhaven and drove throughthe streets of Hamburg where he saw manycivilian corpses - then Hannover and theFootball Club showers and 'proper' toiletsin the players' changing rooms. Staying andvisiting Nienburg where there was a verygood 'mess'. Finally setting up base and HQin Estorf in the commandeered restaurantof the Meyer family whilst they lived overthe stables.

On 18th August 2014 Michael and hiswife visited Leuven, Aarschot, Diest (wherethere is a citadel that must have beenwhere 44 Coy 'kipped'), Beringen,Leopoldsberg, Lommel and Geel. All placeson the route from Brussels to Eindhoven,we used the old roads and avoided themotorways to see the most probable routeof 1944.

In Leopoldsberg (which is in Flandersand, therefore, definitely Flemish speakingnot French thus not Bourg Leopold!! as inthe Coy diary) we visited a large WWIIMilitary Cemetery of over 700 graves - 16unknown Brits, 31 Canadians, about 10Australians/New Zealand/S African, 20+Poles, 4 Dutch and the rest all British. Manyair force men from aircraft lost to and frombombing missions.

There are 12 Pioneer Corps graves. Theyare:13063620 Pte Norman BLOMLEY died 5Oct 44 aged 2514542399 Pte Roy BROWN died 19 Oct 44aged 4113077217 Pte Reginald Frank JAMES died 5Nov 44 aged 2513086185 Pte Francis Dunn LLOYD died 13Oct 44 aged 3213010521 Sgt Michael MALONEY died 18Oct 44 aged 49 (327 Coy)13068520 Cpl Samuel OVEREND died 1 Jan45 aged 32407885 Pte Arthur Patrick PEART died 8Feb 45 aged 2913089087 Pte Wilfred SMITH died 13 Oct44 aged 4013097780 Pte Charles Henry SPEAR died 5Oct 44 aged 234917962 Pte Wilfred Douglas STONE died 5Oct 44 aged 252992088 Pte Murdo WHYTE died 9 Dec 44aged 3613006711 Pte Stanley WINTERBOTTOMdied 12 Sep 44 aged 35 (44 Coy) –Mentioned in Despatches. ■

Article published in Mr Handleys local newspaper Ernest in 1942

Report: Robin LustigRobin Lustig

IT’S blowing a gale, and thunderouswaves are crashing against the sea wall.I've brought my 95-year-old father tothe pretty little town of Peel, on thewest coast of the Isle of Man, and the

weather is not being kind.We're standing on Marine Parade, in

front of nine Victorian red-brick houses,four storeys high, with magnificent viewsover the water to the ruins of Peel Castle,parts of which date back to the 11thcentury. Houses here sell for up to half amillion pounds; a two-bedroom penthouseflat is on the market for £200,000.

But we're not here to buy a holidayhome. This is where, in 1940, just monthsafter the beginning of the Second WorldWar, my father was interned, behind highbarbed wire fences, after having beenofficially categorised as a "friendly enemyalien". He'd arrived in Britain the previousyear, a refugee from Hitler's Germany. Andthis is the first time, after 74 years, thathe's been back.

The summer of 1940 was a scorcher. Somuch so that my Dad and his fellowinternees were occasionally allowed outfrom behind the barbed wire, down to thebeach for a quick dip in the sea. To myfather's amusement, soldiers with fixedbayonets stood guard. What were theyfrightened of? That a prisoner wouldsuddenly make a break for it and startswimming across the Irish Sea to Ireland?

Then, as now, much of Marine Paradewas hotels and guest-houses. Their ownershad been given seven days' notice to getout -- because with the German armypoised menacingly along the coasts of

France, Belgium and the Netherlands,Churchill was taking no chances. Heworried about the 80,000 Germans andAustrians, refugees or not, who were livingin the UK, and issued his famous order:"Collar the lot." (When Italy entered thewar in June 1940, another 19,000 Italianswere added to the list.)

And so it was, that on 4 July 1940, myfather was arrested at the school inDerbyshire where he'd been working as apart-time gardener and cello teacher, andcarted off. A few weeks later, he was puton a train to Liverpool and then on a ferryto the Isle of Man. The island had alreadybeen used to intern potential enemy aliensduring the First World War -- so it hadsome idea what to expect.

The world of the internees was suddenlyrestricted to no more than 250 metres of aseafront promenade, each end sealed offwith barbed wire and armed guards. As myfather and I stand on a corner, looking up aside road that leads away from the sea, hesays: "I never knew what was up therebefore. We couldn't even look round thecorner."

But it could have been worse.Unexpectedly, my Dad's cello turned up,having been sent, without his knowledge,by his sister who was living in Cambridge.(He had expressly asked her not to send iton, for fear of it being damaged, but hisletter arrived only after she had alreadydispatched it. The fact that it survived intact-- and that he plays it to this day -- is oneof the many minor miracles of our familysaga.)

There were several musicians livingbehind the wire in Peel, and soon a scratchorchestra had been put together. It wasagreed that their morale-boosting concerts

for fellow-internees were likely to be ofgreater benefit than any other chores theymight have been set, and for the rest of histime on the island, my father's time wasspent rehearsing and performing.

Now, he says, it feels extremely strangeto be back. We sit on a bench on thepromenade, buffeted by the wind andspray, and after a while, he says the longerhe looks at those imposing Victorian villasbehind us, the more familiar they become.

On the way back to the airport, we stopoff at the Manx Museum in Douglas, wherethey have an invaluable archive of materialrelating to the internment of aliens in bothworld wars. We look at files of governmentorders, specifying exactly how much foodeach internee should receive (even whatcontingency plans should be made if notenough kosher meat was available) andhow many blankets they must be allocated.

But what they can't tell us is exactly howmany people -- men, women and children -- spent time on the island behind barbedwire. The records are far from complete,especially from Peveril Camp, where myfather was held. After he was freed, thecamp was used to house British Fascists,Mosleyites, and IRA suspects -- perhapsbecause their records were considered ultra-sensitive, they were destroyed, along withthose from my Dad's time.

So how did he get out? Simple: heenlisted in the British army -- and eventuallywas marched away from the barbed wire,taken to Douglas to board the ferry back tothe mainland, and told that the moment heset foot on the ship, he would be regardedas a member of the British armed forces.

One small step for an internee -- from His Majesty's prisoner, to His Majesty's soldier. ■

Fritz Lustig with his son visit the Isle of Man. Fritz was interned on the island and after 74years is revisiting. 13803534 Fritz Lustig (born 21 March 1919) jointed 3 Centre on 5thOctober 1940 and transferred to Intelligence Corps on 19th May 1943.

Back after 74 years


Fritz in Marine Parade, Peel, In 1940 this was Peveril Camphousing 150-200 mainly Jewish internees from Germany and

Austria behind barbed wire fences

Fritz Lusatig 95, on the seafront at Peel forthe first time since being interned there 74

years ago

Report: Norman BrownPictures: RPCA Archive

As the 70th Anniversary of D-Day has recently past I thought a brief summary of D-Dayshould be shown, as can be seen the Pioneers landed 26 Companies on D-Day itself - over6,000 men. By D-Day plus 79 there were 231 Companies. Over 68,000 Pioneers.

Facts and figures on D-Day

DDAY - 6th June 1944 was thebiggest seaborne invasion and thegreatest military campaign theworld has seen. Here are some factsand figures from this day.

Allied troops landed in Normandy 156,115American 73,000(Omaha & Utah beaches + airborne) 73,000British 61,715(Gold & Sword beaches + airborne) Canadian 21,400(Juno Beach)Airborne troops 23,400(included in figures above)Aircraft supporting the landings 11,590Sorties flown by allied aircraft 14,674Aircraft lost 127Naval vessels in Operation Neptune 6939

Naval combat ships 1213Landing ships and landing craft 4126Ancillary craft 736Merchant vessels 864

Personnel in Operation Neptune 195,700American 52,889British 112.824Other Allied 4988

By the end of 11 June (D+5) 326,547troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tonnesof supplies had been landed on thebeaches. As well as the troops who landedin Normandy on D-Day, and those insupporting roles at sea and in the air,millions more men and women in the Alliedcountries were involved in the preparationsfor D-Day.

D-DAY CODESIn the planning and lead up to the Allied

invasion of Europe in 1944, secrecy wasparamount. A huge security blanketcovered every aspect of the operation,including the exact place and date. Codenames and acronyms became vital. Theseare just a few:D-Day - the date of the operationH Hour - the hour of the invasionBolero - the build up to D-Day in Britain

Op OVERLORD - the overall invasion planOp NEPTUNE - the seaborne invasionOp FORTITUDE - a long-term operation toconceal the true location of the D-DaylandingsMulberry - artificial harbours towed acrossthe ChannelHam & Jam - the signal indicating thebridges at Benouville (Pegasus Bridge) andRanville were secured by Allied ForcesUTAH - Code name for most westernbeach between Pouppeville and LaMadeleine, 3 miles long, assigned to the US1st Army, 7th Corps. Casualties were thelightest of all the landings – out of 23,000troops, only 197 men were killed orwounded, it was divided into zonesassigned Tare Green, Uncle Red and Victor.OMAHA - Code name for the beachbetween Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes andVierville-sur-Mer, 6 miles long (largest).Taking Omaha was the responsibility of US1st Army, 5th Corps, with sea transportprovided by the US Navy and elements ofthe Royal Navy. The movie ‘Saving Private


Ryan’ portrays some of the events here. The1st Infantry assault experienced the worstordeal of the D Day operation. TheAmericans suffered 2,400 casualties but34,000 Allied troops had landed bynightfall. Divided into Charlie, Dog, Easyand Fox zones.GOLD - Code name for beach fromLongues-sur-Mer to La Riviere, 5 miles longand includes Aromanches where theMulberry Harbour was established. British2nd Army, 30th Corps landed here and bynightfall, 25,000 troops had landed andpushed the Germans six miles inland. Therewere just 400 British casualties. Divided intoHow, Item, Jig and King zones.JUNO - Code name for beach spanningeither side of the port of Courseulles-sur-Mer from La Riviere to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer,6 miles wide. Canadian 3rd Infantry Division& British 2nd Army, 1st Corps. Out of21,400 men landed there were 1,200casualties. Divided into Love, Mike and Nanzones.SWORD - Code name for beach stretching5 miles from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer toOuistreham at the mouth of the RiverOrme. British 2nd Army, 1st Corps withFrench & British commandos. It was ninemiles north of the city of Caen – a majorroute centre of Northern France. The Britishlanded 29,000 men and suffered just 630casualties. Divided into Oboe, Peter, Queenand Roger zones.

Pioneer Involvement on D-DayOn D-Day, thirteen Pioneer Companies

landed on the beaches with the first tide,and ten more with the second. By the endof D + 2, the finish of the initial assault,three Group HQs and forty two Companieshad landed, and by D + 5, the totals hadincreased to ten Groups and sixty three

Companies.Alongside other troops, Pioneers coming

ashore on the first few tides landed‘wetshod’ which often meant a long wadeis full equipment. Some had to swim ashorefrom grounded craft and it must beassumed that most of the men reportedmissing at this stage were drowned.

The conduct of No. 13079390 Private AMOORE, of HQ 41 Group, deservesmention. Due to the sudden movement ofthe craft he, with two other soldiers, wasthrown head first into the sea with eightypounds of kit and equipment on his back.One of the men, Lance Corporal Webb,could not swim and sank. Private MOREdived under the water for him and swamwith him to the beach, a distance of aboutthirty yards. His promptitude and braveryundoubtedly saved the life of his comrade,and it was a magnificent feat to swim fullyloaded towing a non-swimmer even thoughaided by a small lifebelt.

Most of the Pioneers landing in the earlystages came under heavy artillery and smallarms fire but casualties were surprisinglylight.

Various parties of Pioneers becameinvolved in same of the fighting beforestarting work on the beaches. Sixteen menof 120 Company (Major TCHAPLINE)distinguished themselves by rounding upeighty six German Marines. MajorTCHAPLINE caused much dismay amongstthem by telling them he was a Russian andthat thousands more of his countrymenwere landing. 225 Company (MajorMULLARD) also captured one officer andtwenty-six Germans. A party of 53Company (Major PRINCE) behaved verybravely and coolly when an aircraft crashedonto a petrol dump and started aconflagration which spread to anammunition depot. The men of thisCompany formed a chain to save theammunition and to localize the damage.

The task of the one Companyincorporated in each Beach Group was tolay flexible causeways from landing craft toshore, often working waist deep in water,clearing beach obstacles, making roadwaysoff the beaches and forming beach dumpsof ammunition, petrol, Ordnance stores and

R.A.S.C. supplies. Other tasks for whichPioneers had been specially trained werethe operation of RHINO ferries whichtransported vehicles from ship to shore, andthe clearance of dead and wounded fromlanding craft and beaches and carryingstretcher cases to Field Dressing Stations.Much of the work was carried on underintermittent fire with the continual risk oftouching a land mine.

Airfield Construction Companies had alsolanded. They worked unceasingly until anairstrip was completed by the night of D +3. Special Smoke Companies were alsooperating to prevent enemy, observation ofthe beaches. One Company established asmoke point on an old battleship anchoredoff the estuary of the Orne. The ship washit twenty times by shell fire and once bytorpedo, but casualties were light.

For the assault an Assistant DirectorLabour was allocated to each of the twoCorps; their function were to act as labouradvisers, to supervise labour in the beach-head, and, after the landing, to usePioneers where they were most needed. Allanticipated commitments had been coveredin planning, but the problem of how labourwould have to be used in the first few dayscould not be entirely foreseen. A seniorlabour representative was thereforenecessary to advise on new allocations andto coordinate the Group HQs. As GroupCommanders landed they took overoperational command of their Companiesand brought the Companies which hadbeen affiliated to a particular service for theassault, back into the general labour pool.

There was no doubt that the realistictraining, battle drill and battle inoculation,which the assault Companies hadundergone in the U.K. were essential andvaluable. Since the Pioneer part in theassault was considerable, neglect of theirtraining might have had a serious effect onthe success of the operation.

Prior to the start of the campaign, theestablishment of a mobilised PioneerCompany was increased to include 24shovels and 12 picks. For their special taskthe Beach Companies were given 100 ofeach. This increased allotment should havebeen extended to all Companies wholanded up to D + 40, because until then theactivities of the enemy Air Force made itessential for all Companies to dig in fromthe first night of landing.

Six thousand five hundred tons ofammunition were landed on the beacheson D-Day, 80,000 tons during the first tendays, and units of the Corps were mainlyresponsible for the unloading, stacking and

issuance of this immense tonnage. By12th June a million gallons of petrol,oil and lubricants had been stacked in

depots on the beaches,this again beinglargely the work ofPioneers. ■



Report: Cpl A J Allen 23100516 Pictures: Cpl A J Allen 23100516

Cpl Allen recounts his memories of his time doing national service at 71 Company and 260 Company, Royal Pioneer Corps

Memories ofNational ServiceI

N January 1955, at the age of 18, Istarted my National Service andreported to the Training Centre atHorsley Hall, Gresford, Wrexham.Horsley Hall was a large semi derelict

house which contained the NAAFI.A few of the other rooms were in use for

administration purposes, but the soldierswere billeted in timber buildings around thelarge grounds.

After completing 8 weeks basic training Iwas sent on a Cadre course to the moremodern Hermitage camp, also in Wrexham.

My next posting, in May 1955, was to 71Coy R.P.C. Buckingham (Tingewick camp,which is about 2 miles from Buckingham).The Pioneers were attached to the RAOCand used the same camp to form CADBuckingham. Both Pioneers and Ordnanceworked on moving ammunition on two oldwartime aerodromes, known to the soldiersas areas.

The two old airfields were at GreaterHorwood and Hinton in the Hedges.Ammunition was moved from Hinton toBrackley railway station and from Horwoodto Winslow station.

The Pioneer and Ordnance soldiers were

billeted in timber billets at Tingewick,warmed in the winter by two coal stoves.

During my posting at Buckingham I wenton two courses, namely Nuclear Protectionat Wilton, near Salisbury, and Fire Fightingat Aldershot.

Insufficient time left to serve meant thoseof us who joined in early 1955 were notsent to Egypt when the Suez crises eruptedin late summer 1957.

My final posting was to 260 CompanyBasingstoke (Sherfield on Loddon).

The Pioneers had their own camp atSherfield and were attached to the RAOCat nearby Bramley to form CAD Bramley.The work at Bramley once again wasmoving ammunition.

CAD Bramley had its own railway systemand about 30 miles of railway tracks in thecamp which had been an ammunition areafor many years, possibly since the FirstWorld War. The Pioneers were billeted intimber huts, even more basic than those atTingewick.

In January 1957 I was demobbed fromBasingstoke.

What has happened to the camps since? I visited Horsley Hall a few years ago to

find a partly demolished Hall andovergrown grounds. I had great difficultyfinding the Hermitage camp but did

eventually locate it and could onlyrecognize the old Guard Room. The campat Tingewick when I last visited had beendemolished and only the concrete bases ofthe timber buildings remain. Cattle weregrazing over the site and possibly some ofthe camp had been taken into the nearbygolf course.

The 260 Company camp at Sherfield onLoddon has been demolished and only theentrance to the camp where theGuardroom was is still recognizable, as canbe seen in the attached photo.

Large pine trees now grow on the area,and part of the camp may have been takeninto a new housing site nearby.

CAD Bramley is still used as a base fortraining purposes for the Territorial Army(now of course renamed the Army Reserve),but much of the site has been taken forindustrial buildings and residential use.However, the road sign is still in placeadjacent to Bramley Rail Station, directingtraffic to CAD Bramley. ■

Report: Norman BrownPicture: Supplied

The Strathallan was built at Barrow-in-Furness and was launched on 23 September 1937and handed over to P & O for service in March 1938

The StrathallanT

HE Strathallan weighed 23,722 tonsand measured 668 ft x 82 ft andwas powered by Parsons gearedturbines with twin screws andcapable of 21 knots.

In 4 February 1940 the ship wasrequisitioned by the Ministry of WarTransport as a troopship.

In November 1942 it participated inOperation Torch, the landings in NorthAfrica.

At 0223 hrs on 21 December 1942 UBoat 562 fired a spread of four torpedoesat the convoy KMF-5 which was about 40miles north of Oran. Only the ship of theconvoy commodore, the Strathallan was hitby one torpedo which struck on the portside in the engine room.

The explosion killed two engineer officersand two Indian crewmen on watch below,damaged the bulkhead separating theengine and boiler room and fractured atank causing oil to enter the boiler room.The ship immediately developed a 15degree list to port and the master orderedthe nurses and troops to abandon ship incalm seas in the four motor boats, 16lifeboats and rafts.

After it became clear that the ship wouldnot sink fast, the evacuation was stoppedand the troops ordered to the starboardside to help its stability. The 1,300 survivorsin the boats and rafts were picked up byHMS Verity.

HMS Laforey took the Strathallan in towand 2,000 survivors were transferred toHMS Panther.

It still appeared that the ship could besaved but at 1315 hrs oil came in contactwith the hot boilers and the fumesexploded, sending flames up through thefunnel.

The ship was soon ablaze amidships sothe master ordered the ship to beabandoned. All men went aboard the tugexcept a skeleton crew and were thentransferred to HMS Laforey . The shipcapsized to port and sank 12 miles offOran.

The Strathallan had 440 crew members,26 gunners, 248 Queen Alexandra nursesand 4408 British and American troops(among them 296 officers, some possibly ofthe Headquarter staff of the 1st US Army)on board. Of this number, only six crewmembers, five nurses and five troops werelost.

The following list which was forwardedto us by the family of 13035077 CQMS THCallam shows the nominal roll of survivorsfrom the lifeboat E15 of the Strathallan:

10 Salvage Unit15990 Lt AE PRICE13009043 Sgt LINDSAY A

13035077 Cpl CALLAM TH13071366 Cpl JONES HH13044431 LCpl EMSHE A13013212 Pte ANDREWS W6546382 Pte BUNCE S13017869 Pte BISHOP J58322496 Pte BUFTON D13081233 Pte CHAPMAN D6465779 Pte DANIELS T13082691 Pte DAWE C13115423 Pte DIDDAMS H13110952 Pte DINARDO A2185308 Pte HAMLIN888174 Pte HANRATTY W6465250 Pte HART J13080007 Pte HOLLIDAY T274310 Pte HUDSON D6460960 Pte JENKINS L13105023 Pte JOHNSON S13099199 Pte JONES J952368 Pte JONES H13075811 Pte LORIMER D1531139 Pte McDONALD D13088984 Pte McNICHOLAS J13115912 Pte METCALF A6212203 Pte NORMAN G13091919 Pte ORME J1536046 Pte PLANT S13099250 Pte RIGBY T13075669 Pte ROBINSON R13067079 Pte SAVAGE J13115514 Pte STARKEY K6472847 Pte VAUS J13091977 Pte WADDINGTON FC13107749 Pte WILLETTS W13081780 Pte WISEMAN E13075909 Pte WILSON A5956653 Pte McGLORY J7040622 LCpl TILES W (ACC attached)

23 Company PC (Stationed at PHILIPPEVILLE from November1942)13091766 Pte TORTOLANO B

296 Company PC (Stationed at BOUGIE,North Africa – dock operating coy)2368471 Pte MARSDEN E13051163 Pte McKINLAY G

204 Company PC (Station at Algiers –working in Docks)13063118 Pte LUMBER RH

2 Company PC (Stationed at Algiers –working in Docks)13052693 Pte BROOMFIELD A

263 Company PC (Stationed atPHILIPPVILLE 5 sections on docks and 5sections on smoke duties) 13073536 PteFODEN WE

The following is the final record of U –Boat 562:

10th & Final Patrol Mediterranean From07-02-1943 until 19-02-1943 13 days

Following a considerable lay-up time atthe La Spezia base, over six weeks, whichwould suggest that the U-Boat might havebeen undergoing damage repairs, U-562sailed from La Spezia for the EasternMediterranean, on what was to be her finalwar patrol.

On the 19th of February 1942, in aposition NNE of Benghazi, Libya, U-562 wassighted by a Wellington aircraft (38Squadron), forming part of an escort of anAllied convoy (XT 3) on passage fromAlexandria to Tripoli.

The U-Boat was subjected to attack bythe Wellington bomber and the BritishDestroyers HMS HURSLEY and HMS ISIS.Depth charge attacks by the Britishdestroyers were successful and U-562 wasdestroyed in this action.

There were no survivors from the U-Boat's complement of 49 officers andratings. ■


■ WO2 Rob Aspinall receives the same Warrant Picture: Paul Brown ■ Dusty Bryant Picture: Paul Brown

■ Regimental Sport Award Winners Picture: Paul Brown

■ WO2 Martin Lewis receives his Warrant Picture: Paul Brown


PIONEERTHE

EVENING DINNER AFTER BICESTER PARADE GALLERY

■ Reg sorts out the Port fines Picture: Paul Brown

■ Ready for grace Picture: Paul Brown ■ Paul Casey caught smiling Picture: Paul Brown

■ Regimental Dinner following parade through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown

■ Has Sarah defected to the East? Picture: Paul Brown ■ Sgts Mess after the dinner Picture: Paul Brown

■ Fond farewells Picture: Paul Brown ■ Still waiting for grace Picture: Paul Brown


■ John Robertson and Bob Popkin Picture: Scouse Bradley ■ Marjorie Flemming and Ross Bennett Picture: Scouse Bradley

■ The Axe Men Picture: Supplied ■ Association members with the Mayor of Bicester Picture: Paul Brown

■ Association members arriving for Church Service Picture: Scouse Bradley

■ Heather Wood and Josh Campbell Picture: Scouse Bradley ■ Taking the salute Picture: Supplied


PIONEERTHE

BICESTER PARADE GALLERY

■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown ■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown

■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown ■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Scouse Bradley

■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown

■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Paul Brown ■ Association members march through Bicester Picture: Scouse Bradley


■ Michael Burling presents Norman with a lovely gift Picture: Paul Brown

■ Mrs Laura Dewsnap with the workers from 23 Picture: Mrs Laura Dewsnap

■ Cudgie Smilie presents a cake to Norman Picture: Scouse Bradley

■ Dougie Durrant at the National Arboretum Picture: Dougie Durrant ■ The Pioneer traction engine Picture: Dougie Durrant

■ Pioneers at Founders Day, Chelsea Hospital Picture: Supplied

■ Norman Brown with the Duke of Gloucester and the CO Picture: Paul Brown ■ The mobile bar at the Army/Navy Rugby, Twickenham Picture: Supplied


PIONEERTHE

MIXED GALLERY

■ Nostalgia Group at Redcar Picture: Kevin Young ■ Nostalgia Group at Redcar Picture: Kevin Young

■ Tom Appleyard return The Peacock Trophy Picture: Supplied ■ A Cadet carries the Association Standard Picture: Supplied

■ Taff Teague and Graeme Russell, Reunion Weekend Picture: Tracy Brown

■ CO arrives in a prison cart Picture: Supplied ■ Labour Corps Veteran Picture: Supplied



AGM MinutesThe 66th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Pioneer Corps Association

THE 66th AGM of the RPC Assoc washeld in the Scully Club, 23 PioneerRegiment RLC, Bicester on Friday26th September 2014.The President opened the meeting

at 1500 hrs by welcoming all present to thelast AGM in St David’s Barracks and hostedby 23 Pioneer Regiment. He congratulatedthe CO and all ranks of the Regiment onthe first class standards achieved on thedisbandment parade on the previous day,before handing over to the Chairman andthe Secretary.

After receiving apologies from Brig HJHickman, Lt Col D Fletcher, Maj DRobertson, Mr G Lloyd, Mr D Fender, Mr WMullen, Mr M Prince, Mr D Keeling and MrD Burton the Chairman requested 1minutes silence in memory of thosemembers who had sadly died during thelast year after their names had been read bythe Secretary. They were: Ex Pte Roy Scott,Ex Cpl Darren McCormick,Ex Sgt GeorgePugh, Ex WO1 (RSM) Joe Smilie,, Ex SSgtJimmy Dunbar, Ex Cpl Norman Parker, ExSgt Harold Rossney , Ex Cpl ThomasWhipps, Ex Sgt Henry Ratner, Ex Pte RonaldSymonds, Ex Pte Lewis Martin, Ex Cpl RexPetheram, Ex Pte John Roberts, Former LtCol William Lanaway, Former Capt GeorgeTurnbull, Former Capt Don Belgum, Ex SgtRobert Goddard, Ex Pte Simon Moran, ExCpl James Farrar, Former Brigadier andDirector of the Corps John Ryall, General SirJohn Stibbon, Ex Cpl Bill Goode, Ex PtePeter Thomas, Ex Cpl Albert Jackson, Ex PteDavid Suckling, former Maj RobertWildgoose, Ex Cpl Harold Tipping, Ex CplBill Plested, Ex Pte William Kemp, Ex PteArthur Spriggs, Ex Pte Cyril Hawksworth,Ex Pte David New, Former Lt Col ArthurBiggs, Former Maj Geoffrey Perry, FormerCapt Henry Rudge.

ITEM 1. MINUTES OF 65th AGM1. The minutes of the 65th AGM were

unanimously agreed. There were no pointsarising.

ITEM 2. REPORT ON PIONEERACTIVITIES

2. Lt Col D Clouston CO 23 Pnr Regt RLCgave the following report:(Ladies)Gentlemen, It is good to see so many ofyou return to Bicester for this final PioneerWeekend here in St David’s Barracks. It wasalso good to see so many of you representthe association when we paraded throughBicester earlier in June – what a day. Thesupport and encouragement from the localcommunity was overwhelming. Numberstoday are up on previous years – testimonyto many things but not least of which thesignificance of today’s parade. I’m alsoconscious of the enormous amount of timeand effort put in by Norman. Heunquestionably wants to do the very best

by us all. Simply put, without him itwouldn’t happen. Norman – on behalf ofeveryone here; thank you.

I would now like to address some keyareas as they affect the Regiment.

Firstly, People. People have always been,and remain, right at the very heart ofeverything we do here. Last year I briefedthat the Regiment saw 96 of our soldiersselected for Redundancy with the vastmajority of those being Pioneer LCpls andPtes. Numbers in this final Tranche were 87– of which 60 were volunteers. These wereagain, almost exclusively, Pioneers.

Numerically that approximates to 10% ofthe Army redundancies. It would be fair tosay that of the non volunteers there wereno surprises and they simply needed a littlemore time to put their affairs in order. Theywill leave Colour Service in June 2015. Thisis proof, as if proof was needed, of theoutstanding work that has been going onhere to prepare our people for the future.

We have also continued to have a verysuccessful rate of transfers.

To date around 100 Pioneers have beentransferred to other capbadges or othertrades within the RLC. We have done ourvery best to deliver, to our soldiers, whatthey seek. For some that is “soldier on” forothers it is redundancy. Inevitably, noteveryone has managed to achieve whatthey seek but I remain confident that oursoldiers leave the Army with the very bestpreparation we could have given to them.

I know many of you here today havehelped my soldiers find wider employmentand again, on their behalf, I am gratefuland pass on their thanks.

Moving onto change. We now sit at 2Squadrons – 144 (HQ) Squadron and 187(Tancred) Squadron. This amounts toapproximately 190 personnel. Now we haveheld our disbandment parade, those whowill continue to serve will be assigned outfrom the Regiment. My direction is that thatby the time Christmas comes, our Rear OpsGroup will have formed leaving anextremely small footprint here to essentiallymanage the Barracks and see out our finalredundees. The Barracks will become fullyoccupied again in the Summer of 2015when 1 Regiment RLC arrive.

Sporting success.The Regiment continuesto have a proud tradition of fitness andmilitary skills. Despite our dwindlingnumbers we remain, and now forever willbe, the RLC undefeated Gore Trophychampions. We also won the CommandoSpeed March trophy for a third time – as aresult of which we have been allowed toretain the old trophy which will be etchedwith the Regimental cipher. We have wonso many other trophies I simply don’t havethe space here to list them all. The resultsare out of all proportion to our numbersand testimony to the indomitable “PioneerSpirit”

I am conscious that this will be the lastRegimental update by Commanding Officer23 Pioneer Regiment. When I look back atwhat I have written I feel proud that theRegiment has continued to fight and,importantly, win. I have often said it comes

from a determination to succeed, anunwillingness to get knocked down and,above all, an overall strength of character.All of these attributes, we have inabundance.

To the future – look after each other. Weare all soldiers and will always remainPioneers.

ITEM 3. REPORT ON BENEVOLENCE3. Maj R Corbey Controller Benevolence

The RLC gave the following report:Unfortunately, in benevolence terms the

Pioneer is a dying breed. The number ofapplications for assistance that we havereceived since 2009 has progressivelyreduced from 259, 218, 179, 176, 128respectively and we are unlikely to reach110 this year. The good news is that youare dying at a much slower rate than theother Forming Corps!

Total expenditure on RPC grants is likelyto be slightly higher than last year at£40,000, albeit the number of cases hasreduced. The reason for this is that overthe years we have steadily been increasingthe level of grant - £315 to the currentaverage level of £424 – in order to equalizegrants as close as possible across theForming Corps. We should not forget thatwe are also admirably served by ABF TheSoldiers’ Charity and this year their level ofsupport to the RPC will be not far short ofour own total.

There has been no significant change inthe type of application received and nounusual or noteworthy cases this year. Forthe RPC the need majored on increasinglyexpensive home adaptations/repairs toenable disabled people to live at home as aresult of their lack of ability to meet nursinghome fees, mobility aids and EPVs.

The current national financial situationhas resulted in our pensioners experiencinga lack of return on savings. This, in turn,means that they do not have the money topay for replacement household goods,heating, holidays, clothing and in somecases, food, plus of course, increased debt.We have helped with all of this and willcontinue to do so.

ITEM 4. PIONEER PAINTING4. Maj (Retd) R Teague gave an update

on the Pioneer Painting which had beenunveiled by HRH The Duke of Gloucesterearlier in the afternoon.

Full details of the painting can be seen atpage 30. There will be 550 Limited Editioncopies produced and signed by the lastCommanding Officers of 23 and 168Pioneer Regiments.

Number One print will go to the RLC andnumber 23 and 168 to both COs’, number32 to the Roberts Family, 34 to CharlieWoods mum, two other copies will be setaside for Heather Woods and the Ratufamily. 100 copies will be set aside for thoseon the disbandment parade.

It is intended to raffle other importantnumber e.g. 68, 70, 100, 101, 102, 144,170, 187, 206, 518, 521 and 522 at nextyear’s reunion. The remainder of prints willbe sold on a first come first served basis by

President: Brig CB Telfer Chairman: Colonel A BarnesSecretary: Mr N BrownMembers Present: 78


the Association.

THE FUTURE STRATEGY OF THE RPCASSOCIATION

5. Col Barnes gave a resume of thefuture strategy of the RPC Association.Theremoval of the Pioneer CEG from the Armymeans that the Royal Pioneer CorpsAssociation will move to representingmembers who all no longer serving inPioneer Units, although of course we willstill represent a mixture of serving andretired ex-Pioneers.

So where does the RPCA go from here?Given the very significant changes to

Pioneers in the Army, the RPCA Council haslooked at how it needs to change andadapt to the significantly changedenvironment.

Twelve months ago the Council set uptwo sub committees; one to consider theassets owned by the Association, andanother to consider the future role andfunction of the RPCA Council.

A great deal of work has been done byboth sub-committees and I am pleased tobe able to say that the way forward hasnow been worked through.

The purpose of this summary is to explainthe Councils way forward.

The Royal Pioneer Council will continue,although its membership will reduce in sizefrom the current 18 to approximately 10.Members of the future Council will havespecific roles or functions, in addition totheir wider Council membership andrepresentational role. The Council is likely tomeet four times per year to considerroutine and ad-hoc issues.

Members of the Council will continue torepresent the views and interests of thePioneer fraternity on the current range ofRoyal Logistic Corps committees, includingthe Heritage Committee, MuseumCommittee, RLC Association, RLC Trusteesand Benevolence Committees.

The Constitution of the Association willcontinue to provide for a Patron, a Vice-Patron and a President.

The RPCA Office and Secretary willcontinue to be based here in St David’sBarracks. Norman Brown will continue in hisrole as Secretary of the Association.

Funding of the RPCA currently comesfrom the RLC along with any income wegenerate from the twice yearly RPCADraws.This situation will not change.TheCouncil have however negotiated increasedfunding to support the RPCA AnnualReunion which will offset the costs forthose attending the summer weekendevent.

For the foreseeable future; from 2015,the Reunion will be held at the Royal CourtHotel in Coventry.

An arrangement has been negotiatedwith the hotel – and as I mentioned earlier,with additional RLC financial support – toprovide a weekend programme whichincludes accommodation on Friday andSaturday night with breakfast on Saturdayand Sunday, and incorporates a carverymeal on Friday evening and a Gala Dinneron the Saturday.

The cost for all attendees will be in theorder of £130 per person for the wholeweekend – excluding ‘refreshments’ whichwill, as now, be met personally.

We plan to hold a short MemorialService, similar to our existing service, at theNational Arboretum on the Saturdaymorning and coach transport will bearranged for those not able to make theirown way from and back to the hotel.

The Pioneer Memorial will be relocatedand rebuilt in a Memorial Garden which willbe created outside the wire of the new RLCHQ at Worthy Down.

The move will not be possible until the

new HQ RLC is built in approximately 2017.This move will be funded in full by the RLC.

The Pioneer Newsletter will continue inits current format so long as Norman Brownand his son are able to produce it. Thesame applies to the web site and theFacebook page.

The Pioneer plot at the Field ofRemembrance at Westminster Cathedraleach November will continue whilst thenumbers of Pioneers attending remainsbuoyant.

The Cenotaph Parade each Novembercurrently has a good RPCA commitmentand the Council anticipate that that this willcontinue.

Annual Dinners are currently held forOfficers and WOs and SNCOs in respectivemesses at 23 Regt in Bicester:

The WOs and SNCOs Pnr Reunion Clubcurrently hold two functions each year; oneat the Army V Navy match and also a LadiesDinner Night.

The Officers’ Annual Dinner will continue,but will from this year be held in theBicester Garrison Officers Mess and it islikely that it will continue to be held therefor the foreseeable future.

The Northampton Branch is the onlybranch of the Association and expected tocontinue.

65 Branch members attended a functionheld in Northampton last January and it ispossible that gatherings in the future willbe held throughout the country.

Historical questions are raised by family,friends and others regarding ex Pioneers ona weekly basis and this generates a smallincome for the Association.

These questions have always been fieldedby either Norman Brown or Lt Col JohnStarling and this arrangement will continue.

The Pioneer Corps of Drums - recentlyreformed is now thriving. The Council havesupported this development and willcontinue to do so.

Benevolence for ex-Pioneers has for sometime been provided by the RLC fromDeepcut. This arrangement has providedextremely well for those of us in need andthe Council are happy for the arrangementsto continue.

RPCA property - it is planned that by theend of the summer, the RPCA will nolonger own any property.

All ‘significant’ property items have beensigned over to other organisations to bekept for posterity. These include The RoyalMilitary Academy, the Defence College atShrivenham, The RLC and the RLC CorpsMuseum and Regiments across the Army.

Property not of interest to otherinstitutions, but of interest to the PioneerCommunity is being offered by auction tomembers of the RPCA and I know thatmany here will be keen to bid formemorabilia this week-end.

In summary, your Association is adjustingto the future, rather than undergoingsignificant change. Its central focus will bethe Pioneer Community of ex-Pioneers,whether serving or retired. The future ispositive and the Council is preparing itselfappropriately.

I and my colleagues on the Council willbe happy to address any question you haveeither now or perhaps over the week-endon a one- to -one basis.

ITEM 6. GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT6. Mr N Brown gave the following report:

a. Accommodation – Once again wehave had to accommodate a large numberof personnel in St George’s Barracks, thisyear we have had to supply beds for arecord number.

It would be appreciated if those stayingin either Barracks would strip their beds

prior to leaving.b. Thanks. I must thank the members of

23 Pioneer Regiment who have worked sohard to make this weekend a success.Special mention must be made to theQuartermaster’s staff who have workedwonders in not only arranging extra bedsbut erecting tentage, marquees etc.

c. Membership. It is pleasing to reportthat the number of active members hasincreased in the last few years and is nowstanding at nearly 3,000 mark.

d. Auction. You will notice in theprogramme that the Association will behaving an auction, this will take the form ofsealed bids and will work on the sameprinciple as EBay. In other words if youcomplete a card with your maximum bid, if,for example, you put £10 for an item andthe second bidder has a bid of £7 your willpay £7.50 for the item (50p increments).!

e. Cenotaph Parade. This year the Association has been

allocated a total of 54 tickets after I havealready received 48 requests for a ticket soif you would like to join us please let meknow. I also have tickets for the Field ofRemembrance.

f. Next year’s Reunion. Next year theReunion is to be held at the Royal CourtHotel, Coventry starting on Friday 3 July.The total coast of a three night package willbe £140, however it is hoped that theAssociation will subsidise members.

The package includes 3 nightsaccommodation, 3 breakfasts, a carverymeal on the Friday, a gala dinner on theSaturday and a carvery meal on the Sunday.We will also have happy hour prices onselected bars during the whole weekend.

It is hoped to run a coach to the NationalArboretum on the Saturday. A bookingform will be sent out with the AprilNewsletter.

g. Thanks. Finally I would like to place onrecord my appreciation of the help given tome by the Regiment not only during thebuild up to the Reunion Weekend butthroughout the year.

I would also, once again, to show myappreciation for the work carried out by myson Paul for all his work, not only inpreparing the Newsletters but for all theother work he does on behalf of theAssociation during the year.

ITEM 7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEXTREUNION/AGM

7. The date of the next reunion/AnnualGeneral Meeting will be 3 – 5 July 2015.

ITEM 8. CLOSING REMARKS FROM THEPRESIDENT

8. Having thanked all present for theirsupport in attending this re-union, thePresident referred to the fact that theAssociation would need to be moreindependent than it has ever been.

The excellent work that has been doneby the Council and in particular by NormanBrown in increasing the active membershipto close on 3,000 is an encouraging signthat whilst the direct link to the servingArmy is now at an end, the Association canbe successful in the future if membersremain actively involved.

Everyone present was asked to spreadthat message.

The President closed the meeting withbest wishes to all for an enjoyableweekend.

ITEM 9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

9. There being no further business themeeting closed at 1540 hours.

N BROWNSecretary

Blast fromthe Past


Here are a selectionof photographs fromour archives. Do yourecognise any ofthese Pioneers?


PIONEERTHE


Report: Norman BrownRPCA Archive

THE following have been taken fromour archives which detail Pioneerrelated events from variouspublications. These cuttings are allfrom the year 1944.

The Times 17 Feb 44RACING GREYHOUNDS DRUGGED

After a trial lasting three days at theCentral Criminal Court, William John Spicer,39, alleged to be a deserter from thePioneer Corps, and Charles Arthur Wells,37, auxiliary fireman, were found Guiltyyesterday of conspiring to defraud byadministering drugs to greyhounds atHackney Wick Stadium. Spicer wassentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment,and judgement on Wells was deferred untilthe next session.

Hansard 13 Jun 44BRITISH REGIMENTS

(AUSTRIAN PLATOONS)Mr. Bartlett asked the Secretary of State

for War whether, following the precedentcreated in the case of the Danes, he willconsider the advisability of groupingAustrians in the British Army into Austrianplatoons attached to British regiments.

Sir J. Grigg The position of the twogroups is somewhat different.

The Danes were enlisted in a body forcombatant duty in the Buffs. The Austrianswere originally enlisted into the PioneerCorps. When the restrictions on aliensserving in other corps were relaxed theAustrians who volunteered were transferredto other branches of the Army where theirtrade and other qualifications could bemost fully used.

To withdraw them now and regroupthem in Austrian platoons of Britishregiments would involve wasting skill andexperience, and in my view would not be inthe best interests of the Service.

Hansard 20 Jun 44WOUNDED SOLDIER, MANCHESTER

(COMPLAINT)Mr. J. Henderson asked the Minister of

Health if he is aware that Private ThomasDoran, 4462241, of the Pioneer Corps,who fought throughout the Africancampaign and who was recently woundedin. Italy, was discharged from a certainmilitary hospital, of which he has beeninformed, on 7th June on two crutcheswith a kit weighing 70 lbs. to carry, withouthis family being notified of hishomecoming; that consequently there wasno one to await his arrival at the CentralStation, Manchester, and he arrived homein an exhausted condition; and will he takeimmediate steps to prevent a recurrence ofthis treatment of wounded soldiers whichhas caused indignation in Manchester.

The Parliamentary Secretary to theMinistry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh) There

are, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware,other and distressing features in this casewhich are not referred to in his Question. Iam sending him a full report of the facts,which includes information about theparticular point raised in the Question.

This information shows, in my opinion,that no blame is to be attributed to thehospital.

Mr. Henderson Surely the hospitalauthorities have charge in this matter, andis it not elementary that, before a woundedsoldier is released under the conditionsnamed in the Question, the authoritiesshould take precautions to see first, that hehas the necessary assistance and transportright to his home, and second, that hisrelatives are made aware of hishomecoming? Is it not a scandalous thingto see a wounded soldier hobbling alongon two crutches and struggling with a kitof 8o lbs., and is my hon. Friend aware thatthe people of Manchester are veryindignant indeed?

Miss Horsbrugh I would remind my hon.Friend that I am sending him full particulars,but in view of what he has asked, I mustsay that the man was going on leave andthere was no need for him to take thesethings.

He was given leave from the hospital. It isa distressing case, and I think it would bebetter if my hon. Friend were to read thefull answer I am sending him and then, ifhe thinks it necessary, he can raise thequestion again.

The Times 20 Aug 44ON THE ROAD TO DEAUVILLE - A RAPIDPURSUIT - QUIET AFTER THE FIGHTINGFROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IN NORMANDY AUG 25So fast are the allied forces moving after

the enemy retreating towards the Seine,even in the coastal area where things werefor so long difficult and slow for us, that tosee any action anywhere means almostimpossibly long journeys on incrediblycrowded roads.

Today I managed to see something of thebattlefields around the mouth of the Orneand down to battered Troarn, which will befor ever associated with the 6th AirborneDivision and certain Commandos, but thelimit of progress before the time came toturn back was Deauville,

From there one could just look across theRiver Touques to Trooville, where, as latelyas yesterday morning, a few groups of theenemy were still holding out at points eastof the centre of the town. Trouville, likeDeauville, was quiet this morning, andthere was no great demand for the boatservice which is being worked across theTouques in place of the demolished bridge.learned, however, that Deauville had beenby no means quiet yesterday when manywomen and girls, alleged to have consortedwith or assisted the enemy during theoccupation, had their heads shaved inpublic.

BELLS RUNG AGAINPeople were talking of the aged priest

who for four years refused ever to have thebells of his church rung and of the delightwith which he set them ringing a few daysago when Belgium and Dutch troops of theCanadian First Army came triumphantly intoDeauville. There were young men of the FFIwith rifles patrolling in the town thismorning and their information was that theallied troops were then in Honfleur andmeeting a certain around of resistance fromstrong-points.

An outstanding impression of the day’sdrive was the almost complete absence ofsigns of battle apart from those which notbe cleared quickly, such as shattered andshell-pierced buildings, half cut-down trees,bomb-cratered roads, and occasionalwrecked tanks, mostly German, eitherstanding on the roads or with their tracks inthe air on the grass verges.

Works on the roads is continuous,including widening and tarring in placesand the construction of roundabouts andby-passes. Amid the remains of a bomb-shattered village to the west of Troarn menof the Royal Engineers and the PioneerCorps, using a bulldozer, a mechanical“grab” and a pneumatic drill to help thework or picks and shovels, toiled stripped tothe waist in the hot sunshine to make theroad passable again.

The Times 15 Sep 44EVACUEES STILL RETURNING - PIONEER

CORPS HELP WITH LUGGAGEIncoming traffic at Paddington Station

yesterday was no lighter than during thelast few days. The return of evacuatedmothers with their children continued.Apparently the cessation of flying bombattacks and the announcement5 of therelaxation of the black-out regulations inLondon have so cheered the evacuees thattheir one thought is to get home.

A philosophic railwayman whose workhas been greatly increased by the hugeinflux of luggage cheerfully remarked, “Icannot blame them. They have been led tobelieve that it’s all over, bar the shouting.It’s a pity though that they have not stayedaway, for we would have liked to havebrought them back at the proper time inapple-pie order and in much greatercomfort.”

Yesterday the arrival platforms werestacked with luggage from end to end, andin order to deal with it more expeditiouslythe station staffs were augmented by menof the Pioneer Corps and of the CivilDefence service. The help of husbands whohad found time to get to the station togreet wives and children was alsowelcomed. A constant stream of taxi-cabsflowed through the station exit bearinghappy families on the last stage of theirjourney home. “Let’s hope that they won’thave be be sent back,” was thesympathetic thought of the railway official.

Although perhaps not so pronounced as

Press Cuttings for 1944The following have been taken from our archives. These cuttings are all from the year 1944.It is the intention in future Newsletters to print details from other years.


at Paddington, the traffic problem persistedat other stations. Crowded trains arrived atEuston and King’s Cross. Piles of luggagewere built up on platforms. Prams,although awkward pieces of luggage,provided accommodation for stowawaydolls and other precious toys. One moundof luggage was surmounted by a largewooden toy engine, no doubt carefullyplaced there by a railway servant as anobject worthy or reverence.

The hard-working porters are consolingthemselves with the thought that this greatrush home cannot last much longer.

Daily Sketch 21 Sep 44THEY GO EVERYWHERE – AND THEY’LL

DO ANYTHINGThe men of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer

Corps have used their picks and shovels –and their rifles – in battle zones across theworld. Their official motto is on theirbadge.

Their unofficial motto is: “We do thedifficult immediately. The impossible takes alittle longer.”

These men wage war with a pick andshovel chiefly – but are ready to use at asplit second’s notice. The jobs they arecalled upon to do are legion; their ages varyfrom the teens to the fifties. In a single daythey may be stretcher-bearers, airfieldconstructors, road-makers – and fightingsoldiers.

They are the men of the Pioneer Corps,masters of trained technique and swiftimprovisation, yet men of whose courageand skill we hear little of.

In their ranks you’ll find a grand blend ofA1 young soldiers with “old sweats” of thelast war. Wherever we have carried the warthey have been among the first to go intoaction.

Greatest moment in the history of thePioneer Corps came on D-Day. Thirteenpioneer companies went in on the first tide– there are about 400 men to a company.They had to wade ashore with fullequipment. It was quite a way to thebreaches, and the rough seas continuallythreatened to sweep them off their feetagainst the Tide.

Hansard 23 Sep 44MILITARY SERVICE (BUILDING TRADE

OPERATIVES)Mr. Molson asked the Minister of Labour

how many men have been called up fromthe building trades for service in the armedforces since 31st March, 1944; and howmany of them are in the constructionalcompanies of the Pioneer Corps.

Mr. Bevin So far as can be ascertainedthe number of men in building and civilengineering occupations who have beenposted to the Forces since 31st March,1944, is 10,371. These men were posted tothe Navy, Army and Air Force, and I cannotsay how many of them are now inconstructional companies of the PioneerCorps.

Mr. Matson Would the right hon.Gentleman make representations to theSecretary of State for War to see whether it

would be possible for some of these mento be released for work in bomb-damagedareas?

Mr. Bevin I cannot do that. If I take thesemen out of the Army, I have to call-up anequal number from another strainedindustry. Most of these men are young menand essential to the Army. I must keepcertain trade sections in the Services and Iwould have thought that my hon. Friendwould have realised this during the advancethrough Holland.

Mr. McEntee Is the Minister aware that,at the present time, instructions are stillwith the local employment exchanges forthe calling-up of slaters and tilers; and inview of the fact that we cannot providecover for people who have been bombedout, does he not think that these peopleshould not be called up?

Mr. Bevin I do not know whether I haveany instructions for slaters and tilers, butthere are no slaters or tilers to call upanywhere.

Mr. McEntee Well, there are, and theywere being called up as recently asyesterday.

The Times 8 Nov 44GOVERNMENT AND GAS STRIKE - MEN

ORDERED BACK TO WORKFROM OUR LABOUR CORRESPONDENT

Besides calling in soldiers as anemergency measure to maintain supplies ofgas from the works of the ManchesterCorporation in the Bradford area of the city,when the night shift went on strike onMonday, the Government have taken thefurther action, through the minister ofLabour and National Service, of orderingthe strikers back to work.

The Minister of Labour is using hispowers of direction in circumstances whichare set our in the following announcementissued yesterday by the Ministry of Fuel.Men of the day shift also went on strikeyesterday. For work-people employed by apublic utility undertaking to break theircontracts of service, with the probableeffect of depriving the inhabitants of thearea, either wholly or to a great extent oftheir supplies, is a criminal offence. Thepenalty may be a fine not exceeding £20 orimprisonment for a period not exceedingthree months.

In the statement the Ministry of Fuel said:“Some 10 days ago the workers

employed at the Bradford Road gasworksnotified the Corporation that unless theirpayments for night shift working wereincreased they would, as from Mondaynight, November 6, cease to do night shiftsand confine themselves to day shifts.”

“As the wages and conditions ofemployment of these workers are regulatedby agreements of the Gas Joint IndustrialCouncil, the Corporation, in agreementwith the union, decided that the increasescould not be granted. In view of the threatto withhold labour from the night shift,arrangements were made for the military tobe available to maintain essential supplies.”

“When the night shift was due to starton Monday night a number of the men

concerned refused to work and militarywere put on. At 6 o’clock this morning,when the first of the two day shifts wasdue to start, the men presented themselvesfor duty, the military left in their lorries, butthe men then intimated their refusal toundertake the work.

SUPPLIES IN DANGER“In consequence, essential supplies have

been in danger, and alternativearrangements have had to be made at shortnotice. The men on the 2 pm shift havefollowed suit.”

“In view of the emergency created bytheir action, the men who refused the nightshift on Monday night have now received adirection from the national service officer ofthe Ministry of Labour and National Serviceto perform the night shift to-night. Failureto obey this direction will render them liableto proceedings.”

“The position of the men who refused toperform the day shifts today is beingconsidered by the Director of PublicProsecutions under the Conspiracy andProtection of Property Act, 1875, whichmakes special provision designed tosafeguard the public in certaincircumstances against acts likely to deprivethe public of their supply.”

Supplies of gas in Manchester will becurtailed from 8.30 this morning. A few ofthe men who stayed out on Monday nightchecked in for duty last night.

The strike spread yesterday to StockportCorporation gasworks. Mr GordonMacDonald, Northern Fuel Chief, assuredfactories and homes that they would gettheir gas. Men of the Pioneer Corps tookover last night./

Mr MacDonald said that Ministry ofLabour directions would be served on themen at Stockport who withdrew theirlabour.

Hansard 12 Dec 44YOUTHS (TRAINING)

Mr. Thorne asked the Secretary of Statefor War how long a man has to be in theArmy before he is sent overseas; whether aman is medically examined before beingsent abroad; if he is aware that Private J.Lott, No. 14817533, had only been in theArmy 10 weeks when he was sent overseas;and what action he intends taking aboutthis case.

Sir J. Grigg On the general questionwould refer the hon. Member to theanswer I gave my hon. Friend the Memberfor Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 11th July.

In accordance with the usual practicePrivate Lott was medically examined beforehe went abroad. He had completed histraining and was considered fit for overseasservice in the Pioneer Corps.

The Times 18 Dec 44NEWS IN BRIEF

William Joseph Stewart, of the PioneerCorps, who was sentenced to death atStaffordshire Assizes for the murder in aBanbury lane of Miss Laurie Grimsley, hisfiancée, has been reprieved. ■

History of the Pioneer CEG

It is our intention to produce a Historyof the Pioneer CEG within the RLC. Weare looking for anecdotes and memoriesof service to assist in the compilation ofthe records.

Please send any memories,photographs etc to the RPC Associationin Bicester. If sending photos pleasename any personnel on the photo and

date the item. Photos will be returnedafter digital copying. Records may also besent electronically. Email: [email protected]

The more records received the betterthe record of our time in the RLC.

We wish to personalise the recordrather than just copy entries from theSustainer.


The Expendables

FIRSTLY May I say a HUGE thank youfrom some of the old School 187Coy we all had a real blast! I haveattached some pictures of the 1992March – September tour of south

Armagh. Northern Ireland as 3 Platoonadjoining the 2nd Battalion of Light Infantrycarrying out " Operations A Coy"

One of the pioneers hardest tours ever!Comprising in technical field craft, air

reaction force and quick reaction force withthe use of the Lynx, Puma, Wessex andChinook helicopters, tactical vehicle checkpoints whilst working very closely with theRoyal Ulster Constabulary! Close operationspost, Intel and Special Air Services.

Offering ground and air support tomaintain the presents of the security forcesduring the troubling and volatile NorthernIreland.

After R & R the platoon was split up andre-deployed over a few weeks so the ladsdidn't get the opportunity to say BYE!

Contacts were lost and 22 years went by.Earlier this year I ( Mark Ritchie) teamed

up with Thomas Graham and Carl Edwardsand agreed to run our own reunion butfound this wasn't viable but it made perfectsense to have our reunion at the main RPCreunion as it was the perfect venue! It wasthe last place we were altogether just afterSimpson barracks.

The reunion was a complete success, thebrothers in arms now nicknamed “TheExpendables” have reunited and have madea pact to continue yearly!

And will continue to seek out the rest of3 Platoon to bring them all back togetherso a massive thanks to Facebook, the RPCAssociation and Norman we salute you andyour team! It’s been emotional!

I think the lads would like their storypublished in the next issue of themagazine! Very kind regards Mark Ritchie.


New plaques atSimpson Grange

IT IS with great thanks to members ofthe RPC Nostalgia Group andmembers of the Royal PioneerAssociation that the new plaques arenow in place on the plinths outside

the site of the old Simpson Barracks,Northampton.

The temporary ones were taken down,one was given away as promised and theother was auctioned off, the winner ofthe auction was Kevin Kittle who is nowthe proud owner. We would like to thankall the members who raised the money forthe new plaques which are on Blackgranite and gold leaf. But we would liketo thank David and Lisa De Souza who ontheir own in just a few days raised themoney for one of them on their own.

We heard that Lisa worked very hard onthis, so a very big thank you. Also thankyou also to Richard Smith of WT Drage &Sons, Old, Northampton for the very goodwork they did in making the plaques, andmaking myself and Allan Sooty Sutcliffevery welcome when we visited them.

We did not hold a parade as you allknow we had one a few years ago withthe old plaques of which we had a goodturnout at the time.

And we and our members felt that oneparade was enough of which ourmembers agreed with us.

So thank you all again from the Ownersand Moderators of the Nostalgia Group,we hope you will all enjoy seeing them. Kevin (Digger) Young

■ The new plaque at Simpson Grange, Northampton Pictures: Kevin Young

Write in or email us...

The Royal PioneerCorps Associationc/o 23 Pnr Regiment RLCSt David's BarracksGraven HillBicester OX26 6HFor email us at: [email protected]

■ A BIGcongratulations toyou and your sonin putting thisgreat collecting ofphoto's together,

i have just gonethrough theunknown album,and found at least3 photo' thatbrings backmemories of mytime at 522 coyKineton. Keep upthe good work.DavidMalcolmson

■ WELL Normanit was my firstreunion the onlyregret I have ismissing all pastreunions welldone for all thehard work youand your teamput in respect toyou. Phil Harratt

■ THANKS for agreat weekend itcertainly won't bemy last lookingforward toCoventry nextyear. Paul Boardman

■ THANKSNorman for agreat weekend.Michael Mulvey

■ A truly greatreunion if not alittle sad that it'sthe last one atour pioneer homesee you next year.Glyn Evans

■ CHEERS for atotally brilliantweekend Norman,I just wish I'dhave come yearsago see you inNovember at thecenotaph. Steven Young

■ WHAT anamazing group ofmen! The end ofan era but thePioneer ethos willnever die. Massivethanks to RegLane and NormanBrown. Brilliantset up! Billy DilkesI second that!Andy Parr

■ I would like tothank Normanand the rest ofthe 23 PioneerRegiment for anexcellentweekend, it wasgood to see oldfriends and new,remembering thegood old days,hope to see youall next year. Tony Cursons

■ GOD bless andthanks for afantastic dayyesterday, a proudSQUADDIE mom.Kate Clarke

■ THANKSNorman and Regfor an awesomereunion, it wasgreat to see myRed & Greenfamily, see yousoon. James Upfield

LETTERS

Remembered in our heartsMANY THANKS for our Newsletter receivedyesterday. We were shocked and saddenedto hear that Bill Goode had passed away on30th Dec 13. It was only Christmas timewhen we sent each other a Christmas card.Bill was a great sport and would helpanyone out, it is such a shame he will notbe there for our last reunion in Bicester butI think he will be in spirit, don't youNorman? Would you please pass on our

condolence to his family. Lastly we would like to thank you and

your son Paul for all your hard work inmaking the Pioneer reunions mostmemorable, not forgetting theCommanding Officer and 23 Regimentpersonnel. The Pioneers will always beremembered in our hearts. Wishing you allthe very best for the future,Christine & Louis Powell.

PIONEERTHE


Sadly missedSIR, I would like to enter the followinginformation into your next magazine:Unfortunately my husband StephenLawford Horne passed away in Februaryafter suffering many years with cancer.

He achieved the rank of Sgt and servedin many places, Belize, Gibraltar, Cyprus (9Sigs), Germany and finished his 22 years inWorthy Down.

He was only 64 years old and is sadlymissed by his widow Carol and son Louis. Carol Horne

Wonderful dayTHANKS for a wonderful day (26 Jul) toremember. I have just watched the videoand my wife was in tears.

It was great to see Col Dick McDonald ,Stuart Woodward, Bob Popkin, John Doble,Dennis McKeown and no old comradesmeet would be right without Pat Fleming.

I will be turning out in September andwhen you have them to hand can you letme have details of the RemembranceParade dates.

You and Paul must have spent hoursupon hours scanning and indexing all thosephotos much appreciated and will try andremember a few names for you.

Thanks again for a well organisedfunction. See you in SeptemberJohn Robertson

Smart andprofessionalBEYOND a shadow of a doubt this year'sCorps weekend was the best one yet. Weboth know the effort needed to organisean event of this size, they do not happenwithout a lot of hard work from yourselfand many other sources, you are to becongratulated on both the turn out andorganisation.

Also when you get the opportunity fromone ex RSM to the real one, the paradewas first class, getting on parade is not theeasiest of drill manoeuvres hoping everyonecan count, it was one of the best I haveseen. The whole parade was very smart andprofessional.

The food at both the lunch and dinner inthe mess was first class, it was obvious toall who attended that the regular soldiershad put a lot of time and effort intomaking our day a big success.

I wanted to take this opportunity tothank you and everyone involved in makingour last Corps weekend at Bicester afantastic success, the Friday was buzzingand vibrant.

There was a lot of new faces attendingwhich was great, the total numbers on thebook come as somewhat of a surprise,which, is down to your efforts

I do not think I would be too far outwhen i say without you we would not havean association in its present form.

Once again thanks Norman. Tom Appleyard

Relative’s ServiceTHE ASSOCIATION often provide details ofa relative’s service in the Pioneers Corpsand the Labour Corps. The following are afew of the replies that we have received:

I am enclosing a small donation asthanks for your assistance in recentlyproviding to me information concerningmy late father’s WW2 involvement withthe RPC. As I said in my email to you – ifonly it was as easy in obtaining the sameinformation concerning his RoyalEngineers service.

Once again many thanks for yourassistance. Keith Layton

HI Norman, very many thanks for yourreply. I never expected to receive such afulsome reply, let alone at 22:20 on aSunday evening! I will certainly apply for acopy of his record of service and will dulyforward it on to you on receipt. Richard Tate

THANK YOU for your letter dated 7 Apr,the information you sent has filled in afew gaps. I was amazed to see that myfather went over to France just 2 daysafter the 6th June 1944 and that he wasposted to Belgium, Holland and Germany.Yours sincerely, TGJ Russell

WELL Norman, this is more than I couldever have wished for - I will love youforever!!!!

I will send a donation to the RPCAssociation at the Bicester address and Iwill also let Harry Robinson Budge's son(also Harry Budge) have a copy of theremarkable information you havesupplied, he has his father's medals, butknew very little about the man who was asoldier.

My mother was Harry Robinson Budge'sstep-daughter.

She and my father both served in theRoyal Air Force in WW2.

Harry Jnr joined the Air Force when hewas old enough and made it a life longcareer, similarly his younger brother (nowdeceased) joined the Oxford & Bucksalthough for not such a long period.

I also did a few years in the WRAF. Ihave every admiration for the Pioneersand I am more than grateful for thetrouble you have gone to. Warmestwishes, Sandra Tyrrell x

THANK YOU so much for theinformation. My nan said it confirmedsome things she already knew about mygreat grandfather's service during WW2.Nyssa Mlaouhi

Wonder of the internetI RECENTLY visited the grave of mygrandfather Pioneer J H Warham inBelmullet, Republic of Ireland, with mymother who lost her father when she was 3years old.

I have been trying to find out some moreinformation about my grandfather and,thanks to the wonder of the internet andyour marvellous RPC Association magazine Idiscovered your letters page (page 61 ofOct 13) showing a photo of the grave andthe information you kindly provided on the

circumstances of his death. It's strange theway a simple encounter like this can bringcomfort to family so many years after theevent. I shall waste no time in passing thelink to your magazine article to my mum soshe can at last know why her father cameto be buried in Southern Ireland. Thankyou. Kind RegardsSteven MackEd note: thanks to John Killeen forsubmitting the letter – we omitted his name in the Newsletter.

23 PioneerRegiment willforever have aspecial place inmy heartREST ASSURED I will be thinking of you allon this special weekend? My short 2 ½years with 23 Pioneer Regiment will remainmy most memorable.

The dedication, professionalism, braveryand team spirit amongst this small butunique part of the RLC was quite simply thebest I have had the privilege to serve with.23 Pioneer Regiment will forever have aspecial place in my heart.

I wish you all the very best for yourdisbandment parade.“Labor Omnia Vincit” Dom Fletcher

It was great tosee so manyWELL WHAT a emotional weekend it hasbeen, thank you to Norman Brown andeverybody who made it a success.

It was great to see so many I have servedwith, all stood side by side one last timeand I'm sure the ones that didn't make itwere thinking about the good old days overthe weekend, and reminiscing of what apleasure it was, thank you all for being partof my life and taking me on a journey that Iwill always remember as I was a young boyback then.

You all contributed to making me a veryproud respectful man that I am today, butwe all know that a pioneer soldier wouldn'thave wanted that any other way.

God bless you all and those watchingover us as we miss you all so very much. Mike Watson


LETTERS

■ HI Norman, asyou know I haveretired from theTA, I would like tothank all whohave supportedme during my 34years’ service. Cpl Tom Stewart

■ THANKS foranother greatweekend NormanBrown we had afantastic time. Seeyou in September.Jayne Parker

■ HI Norman.Thanks to youand Paul for allthe photos thatkeep coming.Only 1 complaint,they are muchmore interestingthan the work Ishould be doing.Guess whichwins. All the best.Patrick Baird

■ THANKS forlast weekend, theMarch throughBicester wasawesome and Iwas chuffed tobits to be part of it.DaveRavenscroft

■ ON behalf ofme and Sharon Iwould like to saya massive thankyou for onceagain laying on aspectacularweekend. Thankyou! Obviously abig shout out tothe RSM and theRegt personnelwhose hard workand due diligencemade for anemotional parade.Well done allinvolved. John Langridge

■ THANK youNorman Brownand all helpers ofthis grand event!We laughed, wedrunk, andlaughed somemore but afeeling of sadnesstoo! So we dranksome more!!Thank you allagain. Mark Ritchie

■ JUST got homefrom an awesomeweekend with theR&G Family. Fartoo many peopleto mention, but itwas greatcatching up witheveryone. SadFriday for 23 PnrRegt but theyperformed afantasticdisbandmentparade andReunionweekend. 2people deserve aspecial mentionReg Lane andNorman Brown.John Frame

■ AS the sayinggoes 'All goodthings come to anend' & tomorrowit comes to anend for 23 PNRRegt, good memories alwaysoutweigh thebad, & I've gotsome really goodmemories, nodoubt we allhave, whereveryou are, raise aglass for 23, hiphip hurrahAndy Lewis

■ 23 Pnr Regt -Thanks to all thatpulled off yesterday's event.Awesome turnout by all and Bicester Town.Thank you. I hopeyou all had a cracking dinnernight in theevening tooespecially RegLane and NormanBrown R&G.Allen Batchelor

■ WELL this oldsoldier eyes arefilled with tearsand happymemories, had agreat day AtBicester where Imet mates I hadnot seen fordonkey’s years. Sonow this oldsoldier is going tolay down his headto sleep and Ihope to wake in a better placeDave Parris

We will rise againFIRSTLY I would like to thank NormanBrown, W01 RSM Lane and of course themember of 23 Pioneer Regiment for anoutstanding and very memorable weekendof which I and others will never forget.

The Disbandment Parade was gutwrenching to say the least as the Flag waslowered for the final time I had a tear in myeye as I and others have fought for it andsome have died for it.

Then to add insult to injury the handingover of the Pioneer Axes to the RLC, theyhad better look after them and return themto their rightful owners when thegovernment see sense and rises thePioneers from the ashes to be a once moreprofessional fighting unit as it once was ashistory has shown before.

Meeting great friends that I have notseen for years some fighting their ownbattles with personal loss and illness wassomething I will never forget, I hope you allrecover but for some it will be a long battle,but you should all know it’s not a battlethat you will be on your own with as every

member of 23 Pioneer Regiment is withyou.

As we say in Northern Ireland "The Crackwas Great" and thanks to all who boughtme a birthday drink and "yes" I'm stillsuffering and thanks for the pink bag withshandy and a card indication that I'm partWelsh (its only hearsay) you know who youare I will get my own back later.

The final days party, well what can I say?the best I have ever been too I still bear thescars in the form of a tattoo on my left armbut it's one worth having, my head is stillbanging mind you that’s from travellingback to NI in a vehicle with RickyMcCracken, Martin Thomas and Taff Jones

And finally Steve Barron and his lovelywife bought me a very nice bottle of portwhich I will put aside and drink at 00.01hours on the 1st January when I sneak offfrom my party to toast my absent friendsand to all my Red and Green brothers andtheir families. I will not forget you stay safeand we will rise again. Dougie Durrant

No ramps for chairNORMAN please take me off your mailinglist I won’t be coming to another reunionanywhere after the shambles on how thedisabled was treated all were sent to StGeorge’s Barracks no ramps for my chairthe transport would not take wheelchairsthere was no ramps to get to theaccommodation but there was at St David’scars parked at the rear car park campervans and cars were parked on the squareprovo would not allow cars in to campunless you was a senior rank a lot of thedisabled who wanted to come to the partywas unable to due to the distance to travelthis was un excepted by those who couldnot come the fair was a rip off can of coke£1 candy floss again £1 I met people Iknew from the old corps they also neverturned up due to the way the associationtreated the disabled badly. Chris Wintour

Ed Note: I am sorry to hear that you do notwish to be associated with the Associationany longer. I understand that you wereaccommodated on the ground floor at StGeorge’s Barracks - even the ground flooraccommodation at St David’s Barracks hadnine steps down to it. The booking formthat you submitted did not show that youwere disabled. As to the car parking thatwas the decision of 23 Pnr Regt, thedecision was made to allow caravans ontothe camp on the Friday afternoon as therewere no toilet facilities on the rear square.We did have a mini-bus shuttling betweenthe square and the camp for those whofound walking the 300 yards difficult. Thefair was free. As for the candy floss at £1,the first 500 portions were free. As for thecoke no one else has complained about itbeing £1. I have tried my best to help thedisabled in any way possible.

Mouse taking saluteIT LOOKS if the Cuneo Mouse is taking thesalute of the Old Comrades on paradebeing led by Brig H G L Prynne as he, (theMouse) is stood on the litter bin on Page39.

I was saddened to learn of the death ofCapt Don Belgum, he was at Det A, 5 PCLUat Hannover whilst I was there.

He had some very good stories aboutwhen he was in the RMP prior to becominga member of our wonderful Corps.

Also when he was not available for theScouts meeting as you mentioned, he usedto get me to take over as I was able toshow the Scouts knots and splices that I

had learnt about when I was in theShaftesbury Homes (as an Arethusa Boy).

Both Paul and yourself must becongratulated on the excellent work onbehalf of former members of the Corps andalso keeping in touch with 23 Regt RLCwhich most of us are very disappointed thatthe powers that be have decided todisband.

Who is going to fulfill the role that thePioneers have played within the Army sinceits (the Labour Corps) formation in 1917and reformation in 1939. Regards Frank Berry Ex Sergeant

PIONEERTHE


28th September 2014I have just got home from the poignant

disbandment of the Pioneers and theexhaustive but outstanding ReunionWeekend. I thought it was about time that Iwrite my first ever letter for the newsletter,particularly when the occasion was stillfresh in my memory. Also since 23 PioneerRegiment will shortly no longer be with us. Iwould also like to take this opportunity tothank a few people. However before Ipersonally reflect on the weekend, I wouldlike to add that I have not served with ThePioneers (I have done a few assault Pioneercourses with the Anglians but that is as faras it goes). However I have grown up with aPioneer mad father who lives, breathes andliterally ***** Pioneers! Hence for all theright reasons I feel like I have beenindoctrinated into the Pioneers!

It was sometime in 2001 that I setup thePioneer website for him. At the time he alsowanted me to do his Northampton Branchnewsletter. He couldn't do it as at the timeas he was rather computer illiterate (he stillis). Later (I think in 2004) he somehowroped me into doing the Associationnewsletter. If you have ever seen Norman’sdesk and his office you can imagine howdifficult a task it was to find things for thenewsletter. The material was scattered here,there and everywhere (little has changed!).

The plan was to set the first newsletterup and then train Norman in the relevantsoftware programs so he can do it allhimself (alas this was not to be!). Later Iremember saying to him that if we aregoing to do this lets try and make eachissue better than the last. I think we haveachieved this (up to now). Sometime duringthis period the newsletter was gettingbetter, however the photography being sentin was mostly dire and unusable. I wasalready practising and learning photographyso I started to take more and more photos(more on this in a moment).

My time during the above period enabledme to attend various events and functions. Istill remember going to my first GenerationDinner Night (and suffering the nextmorning). I should have called it a day afterthat night! It was a privilege last year to beable to take my son to the Dinner (hesuffered the next morning as well). Mythanks go to the serving Pioneers that nightwho made his night one to remember!

Over the above period of time I havegained an amazing amount of informationand understanding about the work and theversatility of The Pioneer Soldier from themany stories that go into the newsletter. Ihave met an amazing amount of people, somany that it is a struggle to remember alltheir names. During this period I would liketo say I have gained a few friends along theway. I hope you understand that I do nothave enough space here to thank each andevery one of them - you know who you are.However I would like to say thank you to:

23 Pioneer Regiment – Thank you forinviting me to the various functions and inparticular thank you for inviting the oldman and myself to join you in Cyprus.Some of the photos that I took in Cyprushelped me to achieve a 93% score on anOpen University course that I was studyingat the time. I am putting together acollection of some of the ones I took in theBuffer Zone that have not been published(some look amazing in black and white).

RSM's - Thanks go to all and in particularReg, Wayne and Will. Words cannotdescribe.

Mess Members – Thank you to you allfor your warm hospitality and many stories.

The Mrs – Thank you for being sounderstanding and letting me experiencethe spirit and the esprit de corps thatdistinguishes The Pioneer. Also thanks foralso taking photographs this weekend. Shehas took some good photos when I wastied up elsewhere (quite a few of themhave made it into this issue).

Bar/Catering Staff - The unsung heroes.I would like in particular to mention acouple of people who over the years havepoured thousands of pints of beer, servedthe food, tidied up, cleaned everyone'srooms and done countless other tasks.These are Annie, Julie, Rosie and Wendy.

I mentioned earlier that I would comeback to photos... I am going to do a set ofwhat I consider to be the best PioneerPhotographs that I have took. Each one willinclude a story of what the photo is about.There will be 10-12 very large prints per set.All proceeds will go to buying the messstaff a present and to replace the cake thatwas stolen! If anything is left over it will goto my chosen charity, Combat Stress.

Unfortunately at the Weekend I was inearshot of a couple of people moaningabout Norman and Dusty. I am not going toname them on here but I shall just say thatyou normally find it is the people who aremoaning who are really the ones that dovery little. It is all too easy to bitch andmoan and there will always be a smallminority out there that like to grumble andspoil it for everybody else. It can be worseon Facebook where the instant form ofmodern day communications can have itsdisadvantages. People should think beforethey write a public message in a group,hiding behind social networking, ratherthan face to face or in a letter. The term forthese individuals is ‘Keyboard Warriors’.

Before you bitch and moan at Normanthink about the amount of people he hashelped over the years. He has helped withthe benevolence cases of many Pioneers. Hehas helped to reunite hundreds of people.He has helped many people out on apersonal level too, which I am not going togo into here. He has tirelessly scanned anddigitised vast amounts of historicalphotographs and stories (one thing he doeswell on a computer!). He has answeredhundreds if not thousands of requests fromthe relatives of Pioneers, asking about whattheir Pioneer relative did who served inWW2 and other conflicts. He has helpedthe authors of many books, he makes surethat every year the Pioneers get a mentionat the Cenotaph and you may think I ambiased in saying this, but he has the bestnewsletter of any Army Association. I cango on and on but I think you get themessage. Also I will take this opportunity tomention Dusty – he has carried the Pioneerstandard through Bicester and at this year'sreunion parade and led the Band, not badfor a 72 year old! Someone stole Dustysberet out of the Sgt’s mess, something thathe was going to leave to his GreatGrandson, whoever took it please do thehonourable thing and return it.

I think 23 Pioneer Regt and the old manhave pulled off an incredible and very wellorganised weekend. Norman sent me an

email today, it said “I had 281 emails whenI put the computer on, I am now totallyknackered!”.

I would like to take this opportunity tothank everyone who actually helped the oldman out at the Weekend - you know whoyou are. Also I would like to say thank youto a few people who I bumped into on mytravels this weekend who took time out tohelp the old man. He was suffering quitebadly with his knee and for someone whois 67 this year he doesn't do to badly.

Norrie Taylor - There was a massivequeue of people outside Norman’s officeand I drove up with a car completely full ofNorman’s boxes. Most of them quite heavyand they all needed to be unloaded. Onlyone person helped me to bring these boxesin, he also assisted with the allocation ofaccommodation. Thank you Norrie.

Martin Lewis - Everywhere I drove to hehad already moved, or arranged the moveof Norman’s stuff or he was already there.Thank you Louey.

Billy Dilkes - Instrumental in sorting outthe accommodation for people at StGeorge’s. No doubt resolved a lot of issueswhich took a lot of pressure away from theold man.

John Starling - for sorting out theAuction and working late at night sortingout the bids and also for his work ashistorian of the Association. Also TaffThomas and others whom I saw helping outwith the Auction items.

Corps of Drums - Norman has given theCorps of Drums every support and I knowhe was pleased to see them form up andplay at the last reunion at Bicester. Theysounded very good indeed and I have heardnothing but praise for their performance.

Taff Teague - Stood all day in that hottent discussing the new painting. Iunderstand he was instrumental in gettingthe painting to where it is, particularly thesignificant historical details. It looks brilliant!

Cudgie Smilie - Cudgie organised amassive cake and presented the cake toNorman (photo on page 54) and for whichNorman was hoping to auction later. Itpains me to say this but unfortunately thecake was stolen from the mess.

Michael Burling - He went out of hisway to get that lovely mirrored engravedbadge done for the old man (photo p54).

There will be many others that deservethanks but I am also cream crackered andcannot remember so apologies to those Ihave missed off.

I don't know about you but I always findthat when you leave an Army Base to gohome after an event, the base can be adesolate, quiet and soulless place.

This feeling was exasperated furtherwhen walking out to drive home andseeing how sad the place looked withoutmany of the Pioneer pictures and objectsleft.

My memory of this period will be in themany thousands of photographs that I andmany others have took over the years.

It has been an honour. The spirit of thePioneer will live on.

Labor omnia vincit. Red and Green.Paul Brownp.s. if you can, please bid on the auction(going on facebook shortly), please show yourgratitude to the mess staff, let’s buy them apresent and let's get Norman his cake so hecan eat it and no doubt share a slice with you!

Poignant and outstanding Weekend

Report: Norman BrownPictures: Supplied

GLOUCESTERSHIRE washome to a wealth ofprisoner-of-war campsand hostels, and manyItalian and German

prisoners spent the war yearshere.

“Inside the Wire” exploresthe role of the camps, theircaptives and workers, togetherwith their impact on the localcommunity. The book draws onMinistry of Defence, Red Crossand US Army records, and isrichly illustrated with originalimages. It also features thecompelling first-hand account ofJoachim Schulze, a GermanPOW who spent the war nearTewkesbury. This is a fascinatingbut forgotten aspect of theSecond World War.

The Association historian, LtCol John Starling is named inthe acknowledgements aftersupplying a large amount ofinformation which is containedin the book. Most of thesecamps were controlled andguarded by members of thePioneer Corps. INSIDE THE WIRE – THE POWCAMPS AND HOSTELS OFGLOUCESTER 1939-1948by Ian MC HollingsbeeISBN 978-0-7509-5646-2

A nurse in wartimeReport: Norman BrownPictures: Supplied

MARY Mulry waseighteen years oldwhen she arrived inLondon from Irelandto begin training as

a nurse. The year was 1939. In this extraordinary diary

Mary recorded in intimate detailher experiences as a nurse onthe Home Front and laterworking on the frontline inEurope. In London, she nursedcritically ill children duringbombing raids and narrowlyescaped with her life in one ofthe worst nights of the Blitz. InNormandy, arriving on the heelsof the D-Day invasion, shetended to Allied soldiers andGerman prisoners of war. Inwar-torn Belgium, shewitnessed harrowing casualtiesfrom the Battle of Arnhem.

Yet romance, glamour andadventure were never far awayfor Mary, even if herelationships often had to becut short. “I always seem to besaying food-bye to men whom Imight have loved had therebeen enough time,” she wrote.

Nurses were not allowed tokeep diaries on action service,but Mary – fortunately for us –was not one for following rules.Her rebellious spirit, sharp witand irrepressible personalityshine through the pages of her‘very private diary’, publishednow for the first time.

Mary Morris (Nee Mulry) wasborn in County Galway in1921. After completing hernursing training in London from1939, she joined the QueenAlexandra Imperial NursingService Reserve in 1944. Shemarried Captain MalcolmMorris in London in 1946, andthey settled in Britain after thewar. Mary later returned tonursing and never stoppedwriting. She died in 1997, andis survived by four children andeight grandchildren.

The Pioneer Corps suppliedmen to both Field Hospitals andCasualty Clearing Stations andreceive numerous mentions inthe book, the following aresome examples:

“We met up with our PioneerCorps escort at Bayeux”

“The water supply is nearlytwo kilometres away. The

resourceful Pioneer Corps havefound some water barrels in thedisused barn, and now we havea special water tent. Alldrinking water must be boiledof course.”

“The Pioneer Corps are ourArmed Guards, rifles at theready, standing on the edge ofour compound. They aredelightfully unmilitary, ratheruntidy, soldiers. Many arebasically conscientiousobjectors. They are multi-nations from all walks of life,some very well educated andwith useful specialist skills.There is an officer with anunpronounceable name whom Icall ‘Chezzy’. He has told me alittle of the background ofsome of these men. Many arerefugees from Germany beforethe war. Chezzy speaks fluentEnglish and German, also Polishand Russian. I think he is aPolish Jew, loves music and is aprofessional pianist in civilianlife.”A VERY PRIVATE DIARY – ANURSE IN WARTIMEby Mary Morris (Edited by Carol Acton)ISBN 9780297871552

Report: Norman BrownPictures: Supplied

SPYMASTER charts theextraordinary life ofThomas JosephKendrick, one ofBritain’s most senior

spymasters in Europe in the1930s.

Placed at the heart ofEurope’s espionage hub,Vienna, he crossed paths withKim Philby and Edith Tudor-Hart, figures that would rockthe core of MI6.

After Hitler overran Austria in1938, Kendrick was swampedby a human catastrophe inwhich he and his staff workedlong hours to save over 200

Jews a day. But anotherdangerous game was afoot.Dubbed “the elusiveEnglishman”, Kendrick’s realname was eluded the Abwehruntil a double agent denouncedhim. His arrest by the Gestapocaused panic in Whitehall andMI6 circles.

After his release, hedisappeared from public viewbut not from the ranks of theBritish Secret Service.

In WW2, Kendrick re-emerged as the spymaster chiefagainst Nazi Germany.

This story of betrayal, steelynerve and daring honours agentleman who bore thesecrets of his nation with totalloyalty.

Out of the shadows of MI6secrecy his full story emergesfor the very first time.

Historian Helen Fry haswritten widely on WW2including ‘The M Room, SecretListeners who Bugged theNazis’, “’Churchill’s SecretSoldiers’, ‘Inside NurembergPrison’, and ‘From Dachau to D-Day’.

Helen has appeared on TVdocumentaries on Channel 4,Channel 5, ITV and BBC liveinterviews for the 70thanniversary of D-Day inNormandy.SPYMASTER: THE SECRET LIFEOF KENDRICKby Helen FryISBN:9781 5004 18830

InsideBOOK REVIEWS


Secret life

The Last PostTHOMAS PETER PTE 23354006 13 APR 14 (Aged 76) AberdareServed 1956-1958 in 196 Coy.

JACKSON ALBERT GEORGE CPL 14393518 4 APR 14(Aged 89) Uxbridge Served 1943 - 1946 in 260 Coy, 102 Coy(landed in Normandy on D Day), 129 Coyand 103 Coy.

MARSDEN AS (TONY) PTE 24577071 22 MAY 14 Hyde, Manchester (Aged 50)Served 1981-84

SUCKLING DAVID GEORGE PTE 23174177 24 MAY 14 (Aged 77) CoventryServed 1st Sept 55 - 29th Aug 1957

WILDGOOSE RL MAJ 481601/19035655 22 MAY(Aged 87) 14 Kennilworth, WarksEx WO1 Queens Regt, commissioned intoRPC 1 Jan 70 and retired on 15 Feb 78

TIPPING HR CPL (23505899) 22 MAY 14(Aged 76) Steeple Claydon, BucksServed 1957-1972

PLESTED WILLIAM (BILL) (23920666) 28 JUN 14 (Aged 69) Higher Brackley, ManchesterServed 1963-1971 in 522 & 518 Coys(including 2 tours of Aden)

KEMP WILLIAM RATTRAY (14620896) 4 JUL 14 (Aged 89) PerthServed from 3 |Jun 43 to 19 Apr 46. JoinedRPCA on 18 May 50.

SPRIGGS AJ (23846172) 22 NOV 13LeicesterServed in 518 & 522 Coys (Dog Section)

HAWKSWORTH CYRIL (21447420) 5 AUG 14 (Aged 76) Hamsworth, Pontefract.Served 1958-1960 in 251 Coy RPC.

HORNE STEPHEN LAWFORD (24285257) Sgt 9 Feb 14 (aged 64) Mablethorpe, Lincs.Served from 1972 to 1994.

NEW DAVID (24551789) 1 SEP 14Long Melford, SudburyServed 1980 - 1985.

O'DONOVAN BTP (BRIAN) (24078460) LCpl 27 Sep 14 HuntingdonServed 1960 - 1982.

KENT AT (ALAN) (24175893) Sgt 11 Oct 14 Bicester.Served 1970 - 1992

MITTON HAROLD ARTHUR (23389746)Pte 11 Oct 14 Northampton.Served 1959-1962. Appeared in many TV Programmes and wasalso a clown.

BIGGS ARTHUR LT COL (327977) 1 AUG 14(Aged 92) Datchworth, Hants.Retired in Jun 1976.

A Service of Thanksgiving was held atTrinity Church, Knebworth on 14 Aug 14and Brig CB Telfer, Col RF McDonaldtogether with Lt Col RJ Bennett who servedwith him in the Cyprus (Turkish Invasion) 51years ago.

Lt Col RF McDonald writes:Arthur Biggs was born on 17 Aug 21 at

Malton Norton, Yorkshire into a devoutMethodist family.

He was a passionate Christian andcontinued to lay preach into his 90thyear.

There were, at times, some innerconflicts given his forty-eight years’service with the military but as a Christiansoldier he achieved the balance he needed.

Arthur was called up in May 1941 toLancashire Regiment and wascommissioned into that Regiment inSeptember 1944, the same year hemarried Rhona then serving in the ATS.

He was seconded to the King’s AfricanRifles in East Africa and learned to speakSwahili.

He left the Army after the end of the warbut re-joined into the Corps in 1951. Atvarious times he served in the Canal Zone,Cyprus, Malaya, Germany, UK and theMOD.

I first met him in 1960 when he was theOC521 Company then at Didcot. In 1963he had an emergency tour to Cyprus (withRoss Bennett as his CSM).

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1968he commanded 45 Group in BAOR followedby a tour at HQ FARELF, Singapore where Imet him again.

He returned in 1971 to the MOD andafter this completed his last tour as aserving officer as the SSO Hohne.

Full retirement was not for Arthur and bebecame an RO as the SSO Mulheim, anappointment he greatly enjoyed.

As a fluent German speaker he did muchto encourage and embrace Anglo/Germanrelations in the Mulheim area and was neverhappier than when he exercised hislinguistic skills.

He finally retired from military life in 1989moving to Norfolk where he quicklyengaged with his church and his passion forchoral music – he had an excellent voiceand a hidden talent for playing theharmonica!

He subsequently moved to Datchworthnear Hitchin and remained in the area untilhis death on 1 Aug 2014,

I had the great pleasure to attend his90th birthday and saw him several timeslater, always as bright as a button, withendless stories and memories.

He was without question as genuine aman as it is possible to be, considerate andkin.

But above all, a devoted family man andtrue Christian.

To his family we extend our sincerecondolences.

Since the last newsletter it is with great sadness to reportthe following deaths


■ Sgt Horne Picture: RPCA Archive

■ Arthur Biggs at his 90th birthdayPicture: RPCA Archive

RUDGE HGT (HENRY) (44731)10 Jun 14, Cleveland, Australia (Aged 79)Served in 524 Coy from 1955 to 1958before emigrating to Rhodesia.Thefollowing letter was published in ThePioneer in June 1979:

"Thank you for your reminder that mysubscription to the magazine had expired. Ihave prevailed on the Rhodesiangovernment to let me have a little foreigncurrency, and enclose a bank draft for £5,being five years subscription. No doubtwith inflation, it will not last the full fiveyears, but tell me when the money runsout.

I look forward each quarter to my RoyalPioneer to hear about many friends andcolleagues in the Corps. I am encouragedto hear of the continuing success of theTAVR in the face of government economies.Here in Rhodesia, the war is as theAmericans say, "for real".

Gone are the days of pleasant summerTA camps "playing soldiers". Instead, justabout every able-bodied man is being calledup for periods of a month at a time,sometimes three or four times a year. Nextmonth I am off to do my latest stint as a fillin staff captain at Brigade HQ.Unfortunately they do not have Pioneers inthe Rhodesian Army, despite my constantrecommendations.

Officially I am on strength of theRhodesian Corps of Engineers and I keeptelling them how much better they couldfunction with a good Pioneer troop - so farmy pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

I would ask you and all friends in theCorps not to believe everything you read inthe newspapers about Rhodesia. We arefighting a war of survival on three fronts,but the opposition is pretty pathetic, andwe are winning.

Our biggest enemy is not the communistterrorist but the rest of the world who willnot let us settle our affairs in peace. Evenwith the security situation, Rhodesia is still abeautiful place in which to live. Most

people here, white and black just want toearn a living and bring up their children inpeace and not have the country's futureused as a political football.

One thing which is gratifying is the spiritof the Rhodesian security forces, it is agreat little army and I consider myselffortunate to have the privilege to serve withthem.

Accept my congratulations for a splendidjob keeping the magazine to such a highstandard and for providing all ex Pioneerswith a means of keeping in touch with theCorps.

My regards to ail former friends in theCorps and particularly in the TAVR." On hisreturn to UK he was Deputy Administratorof Lamport Hall, a large and magnificentStately Home only a few miles fromNorthampton. He then emigrated toAustralia.

PERRY GEOFFREY HOWARD (295150)Maj 15 Sep 14 London (NW6)Geoffrey Perry broadcasting from the samemic from which Lord Haw Haw did his lastbroadcast 2 days earlier, Radio Hamburg.

The capture of William Joyce – the mostnotorious British traitor of the SecondWorld War more usually known as LordHaw Haw – was nothing more than afortuitous accident. By extraordinaryserendipity the man who completed thearrest was a German Jew serving with theBritish forces in the Pioneer Corps.

Formerly known as Horst Pinchewer heenlisted into the Pioneer Corps at Liverpooland joined 3 Centre Pioneer Corps fortraining on 19 Nov 40, he was dischargedto a commission on 8 Sep 43 and thenchanged his name to Geoffrey HowardPerry.

On the evening of 28 May 1945,Geoffrey was scavenging for firewood witha colleague near Flensburg, close to theborder with Denmark, when they wereapproached by a man who appeared to bea German civilian. Speaking exceptionally

good English, the man asked whether theywould like him to show them where morewood could be found. Knowing that Joycehad gone into hiding Perry was suspiciousas soon as he heard the stranger’s voice andchallenged him “You wouldn’t be WilliamJoyce by any chance, would you?” heasked.

Joyce responded by reaching quickly intohis pocket. Geoffrey produced his ownautomatic and without waiting to becertain whether the man had a gun, shothim, aiming low. No serious harm wasdone, Geoffrey’s shot went through theman’s buttocks.

(Ed note: Speaking to Geoffrey a fewyears ago when he attended a Past &Present Officers Dinner, he explained thatthe one shot had made four wounds inJoyce’s buttocks where the bullet and gonein, out, in again and out again! He said thatthey only had 1 field dressing for fourwounds). Although Joyce had one Germanmilitary card in the name of Fritz Hansen,he had a second that identified him asWilliam Joyce. Geoffrey was relieved todiscover that he had wounded andapprehended the wanted traitor rather thanan unarmed German civilian.

After his capture Joyce was flown back toBritain and tried and sentenced to death.He was hanged at Wandsworth prison inearly January 1946, the last person inBritain to be executed for treason.

Geoffrey had a very successful businesscareer after the war, launching Perry PressPublications, a contract publishingcompany. He sold it to the Thompsonorganisation in 1963 and becamemanaging director of Thompson magazinesin 1964. He launched Family Circlemagazine, the first British publication to besold exclusively at supermarket checkouts inthe mid-1960s.

His wife who had retained all his wartimepapers and memorabilia, urged him towrite a memoir, his book, When LifeBecomes History was published in 2002.

■ Geoffrey Perry broadcast from Radio Hamburg Picture: RPCA Archive



Report: Norman BrownCartoon: MAC

IN THE military there are always “Urbanlegends.” One I heard from a bunch ofRAF Aerial Riggers in Singapore, I wasn'tthere so I cannot confirm the story, butknowing Aerial Riggers it's the sort of

thing they would do. Anyway, this is thestory I heard.

During a show at the Royal Tournamentat Earls Court in London many years ago,one of the displays was a no command drilldisplay by the Queens Colour Squadron ofthe Royal Air Force.

As they march into the arena all thelights are out, the airmen with L1A1's areat port arms, as they enter the arena theyfire blanks into the air, then the lights comeon and commence the display.

Apparently one of the aerial riggers wasin the rafters with a dead duck (boughtfrom some butchers in London still clothedin its feathers), when the lights came on,the dead duck was dropped into the arena.

The sight of the duck and howls oflaughter from the audience threw thecolour Squadron completely off theirdisplay.

From what I heard the Officer I/C theQueens Colour Squadron had to bephysically restrained from attacking theriggers.

THE FOLLOWING is a minute from ameeting of the 51st Meeting of theBenevolent Fund Meeting held on 11Dec 52: A sum of £75 0 0 has beendonated by Col G L J Tuck (ex CO 11

Group BEF) to the funds. These are the funds brought back from

France during the Dunkirk Evacuation andrepresent the profits for the sale of Beer to11 Group BEF.

They were only recently discovered, inFrancs, in the Bank of England.

IN THE during Operation Desert Storm, Ifound myself in a world that hadchanged little since Biblical times. Withso few creature comforts available,packages from home containing cookies

and canned goods were received with greatanticipation.

When I got a box from my sister, I happilytore into it, only to discover just how farfrom home I really was. She had filled itwith packages of microwave popcorn.

THE ANNUAL inspection at our unitwas a gruelling affair. After myroommate Bill and I scrubbed,polished and straightenedeverything in sight, we stood at

attention as the inspecting general enteredour room. He looked for dust over thewindow frame and inspected our lockers.As he turned to leave, he placed his handon a laundry bag tied to the end of ourbunk beds. There was a crackling sound."What is in that laundry bag?" hedemanded.

"Love letters, sir," answered Bill."What are love letters doing in your

laundry bag?" the officer barked.Bill's response was loud and clear.

"They're dirty, sir!"

TWO SOLDIERS were in the road inAfghanistan discussing whether theanimal they were looking at was adead donkey or a dead mule. Theyjust couldn’t come to an agreement.

Along came the Sgt and they asked himwhat it was. He says in a stern manner,"that's an ass, bury it!" As they weredigging the hole another soldier camealong and asked if they were digging a foxhole? No they replied.. "an A**Hole!"

THE HARD bitten troop commanderwas frustrated in his efforts to makea soldier out of one particular Pte.The young man lagged behind onpatrols, feigned illness and managed

to spend most of his time at headquarters.One day, though, he changed his ways, andwe asked the troopy why. "Threats andpunishment didn't work," he admitted, "soI had to use the ultimate weapon. I wrotehis mother."

PADDY MOORE now an instructor inchemical warfare at the ApprenticesHarrogate asked soldiers in his class:Anyone knows the formula forwater? Sure. That’s easy, said one

recruit. What is it? H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O.What, what? asked Paddy. H to O,explained the recruit. You are officermaterial son!

AT THE beginning of the Army-Navyrugby game, the coin toss in made.The Navy captain shouts, HEADSfollowed by the Army captainshouting LATRINES. ■

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the British Army or the Ministry of Defence. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that The Pioneer publication is accurate as possible,no responsibility can be taken by the Royal Pioneer Corps Association for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any loss, damage or distress resulting from anyarticle in The Pioneer itself, howsoever caused, is equally disclaimed by the Royal Pioneer Corps Association.

And finally... Urban Legends, Minutes, MicrowavePopcorn, Love Letters, Ass Holes,Mothers, H2O and Latrines...

'...and now the good news. When you're finished all this we'resending you back to Afghanistan for a well-earned rest.'

PIONEERTHE

Coming up in the next newsletter ...■ News ■ Forthcoming events ■ Your stories ■ Your Letters ■ Cenotaph 2014■ ‘The Record’ Labour Corps Magazine - first published in 1917 ■ Photo Gallery ■ Reviews ■ Press Cuttings ■ And much more!

Report: Norman BrownPicture: Supplied

Last but not least...T

HE Pioneer Reunion Weekend in 2015is to be held at the Royal Court Hotelfrom 3rd to 5th July 2015. The Hotelis in Coventry, hence relativelycentrally located.

It is home to many Army Reunions and Iwas invited to attend a Reunion at the Hotelearlier this year. I must say the organisation,food, beer and room was excellent (i did notgo swimming!)

RPC Association members will receive a£10 a night subsidy e.g. prices will be £50for 1 night, £100 for 2 nights and £100 for 3nights. This subsidy does not include wives orpartners. For example, an Associationmember and partner would pay £250 for athree night stay. This includes:• Overnight accommodation and breakfast• Carvery Dinner on Friday night• Carvery Dinner on Sunday night• Gala Dinner on Saturday night• Happy Hours prices in selected bars over

the weekend• Gymnasium and Swimming Pool

It is intended to run a coach to theNational Arboretum on the Saturday at acharge of £5 per head. We have so far had avery favourable response. See you there. ■

PIONEERTHE


■ Group photograph took at this years Reunion Weekend Picture: Paul Brown

LABOR OMNIA VINCIT

Documents

Newsletter - End of an Era