Reunion issues

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Vic

Just to clarify, my comment "easier for yourself and others still serving". It should not be mistaken for it was easy to do for you guys- not at all. I realise that it must have been difficult for those of both Battalions to endure the change as it occured but as "Leaders" do, you accepted the inevitable and got on with it. That for me is what makes a good leader regardless of Rank. Your point about one Battalion is an interesting one and reinforces the point I made about the need for RWF and RRW Comrades to remain steadfast in maintaining their identity for as long as those members still exist. It seems to me that some people are looking at an easy option for administration purposes with the comrades situation, well perhaps the wrong people are controlling administration. It is no coincidence as well you know, that Quartermasters are ex-rankers and for very good reason. I must admit my knowledge of the Association set-up is limited to the extreme and I dont for one minute pretend that I understand the politics of it all but I am left with many doubts about the way changes are being made and the speed at which they are happening.

From some of the comments I have read over some period of time, it seems that Ex -Servicemen in our Association speak when asked and question with vetted questions. Whilst being totally against all forms of anarchy and for control and organization, I believe in the freedom to express ones self freely. We are not serving soldiers, we no longer dance to every tune on a whim and we dont "get on with it, and complain later". If high ranking officers wish to head the Comrades, they should forget their heady days of Command and lead as fellow Ex-Servicemen with respect for the same regardless of rank, and if that is not possible well hey, there is always Westminster.

[tony.t.corbett]

Well said Gwynn, I new my instincts were right all those years ago with my selection process. this as deffinately been an eluminating blog. alas I fear it will not get much time at the AGM unless someone has already posted a point for discussion,like a soap on a rope wet it and it is difficult to get hold of,Vics revelation is even more alarming. Looks like we could be heading back to were we started with the numbers game, wonder how General Jackson feels now?
TC

[Vic Hughes 53]

Tony,

Please note my point is not based on fact merely a supposition. Everyone is aware that infantry battalions and in line with other arms will be taking a hit from 2015 onwards. Upto 7 Inf Bns' are likely to be affected and obviously this will come from across the differing Inf Divs. We would all be naive not to think we as 1 & 2 R WELSH are not suscepitable to further cuts or changes.

I hope this clarifies this issue and that my food for thought does not result in this thread being directed away from the original RWFCA issue.

Best Regards


Vic

[peterlansley]

Does anyone think that the powers that be might amalgamate all infantry battalions into one(i.e the rifles.) therefore what would happen to all comrades if that should occur. Just a thinking that if that happened where will we be.

[Bricoates]

Vic
Your points are of important to RWFCA matters and thank you for them, but what Peter said is also important, can you imagine numbered rifle regiments with the 1^st and 2 RWR in brackets (To be forgotten) with the H.Q in say Yorkshire or Wiltshire, from past expirience looking from the outside, it really hurts, we need to hold on to our independence,values and tradition before our name and funds vanishes over the Border to be forgotten, and to think that the Top brass will fight this kind of move, pull the other one.

Brian

[BennytheBall]

Hi All
I have just spoken to Des Williams over the phone (he rang me reference Richard Jones funeral) and he informed me that the Standard Bearers Competition and the Shooting Competition have been cancelled due to the lack of support only 1 entrant for the Standard Bearers Comp and he was from a RWRA Branch. He also mentioned that there were only 130 sitting down the the Annual Reunion dinner on Saturday evening and 70% of those that booked are RWRA members,(is that not trying to tell us something)? so my question is? with all this "spouting off" about keeping the RWFCA Reunion alive, has this done us any justice by the lack of support for it?

Des (Arthur before him)and the girls at Wrexham work very hard on the organisation side of things to lay on what has been in the past and hopefully this will be a success, but I feel this year and years to come, unless we "rally around" and give more support then it won't.

As I said before there will be lots of so called ex RWF members in Wrexham over the Reunion weekend drinking in the Fusilier or the Nags Head etc etc, but very little will be supporting the AGM and Dinner.

I was going to put my "pennies worth" in at the AGM, but having thought what is the point if the support isn't there, I'll only be laughed of the park.

To All those that will be supporting the functions at the Reunion I "salute" you.

Yours
BennytheBall

[Lofty-25]

Benny,

Having only joined the London Branch 20 months ago, i was asked by the late Don Matthews to take on the roll of standard bearer for the branch (although not knowing anything about standard bearing), as the standard bearer we had, had other responsibilies and the standard had not been on any duties for a while, plus the fact i was the youngest member of the London Branch.

My first duties as a standard bearer was at Don's funeral, which i struggles with as i am waiting for reconstruction surgery on my shoulder (which i will now have shortly after the Reunion), so i informed our secretary (Gerrycc943) that there would be no way that i could do the Standard Bearers Competition at Wrexham, so that was the reason that the London Branch would not participate in this years competition

Myself and Wayne Davies 48 (London Branch) will be attending our 1st Reunion, we will both be at the AGM and at the Dinner saturaday night

[ap1]

A fair point about the numbers attending Benny, it must be very disheartening for Des and the girls. This will be the 4th reunion I have missed due to overseas work commitments.

In the interest of balance Benny.

15 forum members have "spouted off" on this thread. From my guestimate calculations:

10 are active branch members of the RWFCA, within that group I think 5 of them are or have been Branch Secretaries.
1 is a serving member of the new regiment and formerly a member of 1 RWF.
The remaining 4(Including myself) are all 22yr + former WO's & SNCO's who contributed a days pay to the association for every year of their service.

Thanks

[Paul Hinge]

Hi

Benny has hit the nail right on the head....I had a similar conversation with Des yesterday.

Vic is absolutely right to raise the concerns re the loss of 7 Inf Batt in the next round of cuts and yes Tony you're right General Jackson although very much a soldiers, soldier when in front line command was seduced by the previous Westminster administration to fall in line with the Americanisation of the British Armed Forces when our strength in adversity has always been the county/family linkage that regiments such as the RWF provided...indeed they were very much assigned recruiting areas throughout the UK and we as a country will regret the day that we ever followed that line. So let’s start a campaign to ensure the Armed Forces stays relevant to Britain and not the USA.

For us to continue to be a relevant entity we must support all that the RWFCA puts on in our name otherwise we will wither on the vine and die out! Now I know that sounds dramatic but it's the reality of the situation.......support us or lose us......that's the message!

Can I ask everyone to pass around the message that we need a Scale A parade for the AGM at 1200hrs on Saturday 3rd Sept at the Memorial Hall? If you have any questions for the President or Chairman re the RWFCA or our relationship with the RWRA then please put them in writing through a Branch to be with Des by Friday 26th August.......It's our chance to ask the perhaps awkward questions but it's also an opportunity to hear everything from the horse’s mouth and not just from the well honed rumor machine!

Cofion/regards

Hingey

[sid burns]

Benny I'm a so called ex RWF member and if I choose not to attend the AGM and the dinner that is my choice!! I did with others attend a Wrexham branch meeting a few years ago in the hope that the current members would change a few things and maybe move into the real world, but to avail hence we didn't attend again.

Sid