Rhodesian Light
Infantry Regimental
Association
UK Branch Newsletter
OCTOBER 2007
Dear AllWell , at last our region is finally constituted and established as "The UK Branch of the Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association ." I would like to thank you all for your support in getting us this far.
I would also like to give a big welcome and congratulations to our new Committee members.
| CHAIRMAN: | MARTYN HUDSON |
| SECRETARY : | Brig ( Ret ) VIC WALKER |
| COMMITTEE : | MARK PILBEAM |
| SHAUN RYAN Executive Council UK Liaison Officer |
It has been a great honour indeed to be appointed chairman of the UK Branch RLIRA and it is my intention as the first priority to grow the membership. I have always been told that there is strength in numbers, so I want you all to mention the association to any former members of RLI that you might know and convince them to join us. We have a potential for over two hundred members and I am sure we can achieve this.
Being a member of a worldwide association such as ours gives you a great opportunity to contact and meet former friends that you might not have seen or contacted for 25 years. The Regiment played a very large part in our lives so we are all connected with it and its traditions. This means such a lot in our lives. To me the best years of my life were in the RLI and my memories are of fun and friendship and that is why I became involved with RLIRA.
Every association has its problems and needs, ours is no different, yet we have done so well this year and we have had our successes too. I would like to see our Branch as a social club and our Annual meetings kept to a very casual format, although we need to keep within the guidelines of the Constitution and there are rules to follow, and a few formalities observed.
The newsletters we produce are your newsletters, we need your news, views and anything else you would like to share.
In conclusion I am motivated and inspired to push this Branch to great success and I welcome any ideas or proposals to achieve this.
Martyn Hudson
Chairman
We now have over 120 members and there are still a lot of applications in the post awaiting completion, listed is the up to date membership for the UK and I can confirm that everybody is now registered on the website. The European members will continue to be a chapter of the UK Branch until they wish to be self-sufficient.
List of Registered Members UK Branch RLI Regimental Association with addresses, email / postal.
(To view the complete list login to the secure section)
EX RLI MEMBERS Written to / contacted who are already members of RAA
Chalmers,Desmond Battleborough Grange Hotel, Bristol Road,Brent Knoll,
Somerset. TA9 4HJ
| Dickens,Stephen | 84, Chuch Walk, Burgess Hill, RH15 9AS | Sp Cdo 1RLI |
| England,Roger | 12, Wellington Avenue, Banbury, Oxon.OX16 3QL | 1RLI/SAS |
| Fielder,Neville | Longmead Arms, 47, Longmead Avenue, Bishopstoke | |
| Eastleigh, Hants. SO50 6ES | 1RLI | |
| Gill, Michael | 9, Blueberry Rise, Elton Brook, Northampton.NM3 5HG | 2Cdo RLI |
| Grieg,Peter | 13,St.Margaret’s Place, Stradisall, Newmarket.CB8 8YP | 1RLI/Rh MC |
| Horton,Evan | 39, Meadcroft Close, Horley, Surrey. RH6 9EJ | 1RLI/1RR |
| Kruger, Paul | 39, Coastline Village, Ostend Road, Walcott,Norfolk, | |
| NR12 0NE | RR/RLI | |
| Lewis,Owen | 113, French’s Wells, Woking,Surrey.GU23 3AU | 3CdoRLI/GreyScouts |
| Lowe,Dave | 49, Longmead Avenue, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh | |
| Hants. SO50 6ES | 1RLI | |
| McDonagh, Neil H. | 145, Folkstone Road, Dover, Kent | RAR/RLI |
| Marsberg,Trevor | 77,Elmpark Court,Elmpark Road, Pinner,Middlesex HA5 3LL | RLI |
| Pearson, Trevor | 51, Eriswell Road, Lakenheath, Brandon, Suffolk. IP27 9AH | 1RLI |
| Shepherd, Kathy | The Flat, 266,High Street, Aldershot, Hants.GU12 4LT | 1RLI |
| Sinclair, Don | 12, White Dirt Lane, Pimco Buildings, Clanfield, | |
| Nr Portsmouth.PO8 0QL | 2 Cdo RLI | |
| Taylor,Lance | Hapana Basa Cottage, Great Brington, Northampton.NN1 4JB | 1RLI |
|
Townsend,
Blue
20,
Victoria
Road,
Devizes,
Wiltshire.SN10
1ET
1RLI Walsh, George Flat 34, Dennis Cadman House, RBL Village, Aylesford, Kent. ME20 7RU Wandel,Edward F. 30, Glendale Close, Horsham,West Sussex. RH12 4GR 3Cdo WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN Please advise if you know where they are. |
||
| Barnes,Gary | London | RLI |
| Benz, Markus | Switzerland | RLI awaiting details |
| Bowker, Shaun | Ireland | RLI |
| Carey, Tony | Ireland | RLI |
| Cook, Terry | England | RLI |
| Dempsey, Des | Dublin, Ireland | RLI |
| Fensome, Michael | Llanelli, Wales | RLI |
| Grainer, Mark | London | RLI |
| Harley, David | Scotland | RLI |
| Kemp, Les | Norwich,Norfolk | RLI |
| Lottering,Errol | Letchworth, Herts | RLI |
| Mcfarland, Steve | Linconshire | 1RLI awaiting details |
| McKinnon, Robert | Warrington,UK | RLI |
| Melvin, Scot | UK | RLI |
| Miller, Chris | Now in RSA | |
| O’Connor, Eamonn | Ireland | RLI |
| Partridge, John | UK | RLI |
| Thomson,John(Ginger) | ||
| Tydings,Tony | Middlesex | RLI |
| Van Schalkwyk, Charlie | Turnford, UK | RLI |
| Van Schalkwyk Robbie | RLI | |
| Whitehead, P | London, W3 | RLI |
Over the last couple of months I have had a few inquiries regarding the Combat Infantry Badge I have included an article from last month’s LION & TUSK magazine on how to obtain a badge. However if anyone would like to get hold of a badge I will be in Australia and New Zealand in January and could pick some up to save paying postage, please let me know.
THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE (CIB)
The Rhodesian Services Association in New Zealand is now holding stock of the unofficial Rhodesian Combat Infantry Badge, We have been asked to arrange worldwide distribution with the exception of Australia, For Australian residents please contact Tony Young directly pzemedic@bigpond,net.au
The initiative of this CIB has been driven by the Australian Branch of the Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association, however the Badge is not restricted to ex-RLI servicemen, and it is open to all appropriately experienced Rhodesian ex-infantrymen, Basic Eligibility
This is the basic criteria which must be met for eligibility for the Rhodesian Combat Infantry badge, with these being:
- You must have served as a member of the Rhodesian Security Forces,
- You must have been an infantryman who completed basic infantry training,
- You must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit was engaged in active ground combat
- You must have actively participated in such ground combat and being employed in their primary roles as an infantryman,
Designated Rhodesian Infantry Units:
Infantry unit service is to include but not necessarily be limited to: BSAP Support Unit; PATU; Grey Scouts; Rhodesia Regiment; Rhodesian African Rifies; Rhodesian Light Infantry; Selous Scouts;
Special Air Service,
Eligibility of Infantry unit members who did not take part in ground combat:
A number of Rhodesian infantry units were self-contained entities which involved having some of its infantrymen multi-skilled in Motor Transport, Signals, Medical, Quarter
Master or Catering type roles, etc
If such persons completed basic infantry training and were assigned members of an infantry unit which was deployed into an operational area, they are deemed to have been performing both infantryman and specialist roles at the time,
It is not necessary for such persons to have participated in an actual ground combat for them to be eligible provided that, during a deployment with an infantry unit, elements of that unit were involved in ground combat action,
Evidence of Eligibility
Due to deficiencies and loss of Rhodesian service records, claims of eligibility, and wearing of the Rhodesian CIB needs to be on an understanding of honor & trust
Wearing the Rhodesian CIB
The CIB is primarily intended for ceremonial, commemorative or other special occasions when medals may be worn with civilian clothing. The badge should be worn on the left side, centrally placed approximately 1 cm immediately above medal riband or medals or, without medals, as a lapel badge.
Prices in NZ$
The Rhodesian Services Assn stock is purchased from the Australian Branch of the RURA. They (the RURA) are directing their profits towards the repair of the Troupe statue which is currently in the UK. Any surplus from the Rhodesian Services Assn sales will be directed towards our various ongoing Museum Collection projects.
CIB $22.50
Engraving of regimental number $12.50 Postage to any address in NZ $2.50 Postage overseas $1
Please note:
Engraving takes approx 1 week. We will combine postage - i.e. you only pay one postage fee for a number of badges (2 or 3) to one address
Orders
A register will be kept of all badge recipients. For this
Register please supply the following details with your order:
Name
Reg number (even if you elect to not have the engraving)
Units in which you ser
The years that you served from/to any other award
Your postal address
Payment
Our preferred method is by Pay Pal or by personal cheque (this also applies overseas orders from UK, USA, Canada but NOT South Africa); direct deposit Rhodesian Services Assn account details will be supplied if required. We cannot accept credit card or EFTPOS. Cheques to be made to Rhodesian Services Association and posted to PO Box 13003, Tauranga 3141, New Zealand.
THE TROOPIE STATUE
Shaun Ryan, our UK Executive Council Liason Officer has informed me that things are progressing with regard to the statue which will be repaired and moved to the grounds of Hatfield House. The Colours will be placed in Lord Salisbury’s family chapel.
A final reminder of The Book Launch of MASODJA, Friday,9th November, at 1730hrs by invitation only.
.Just a reminder of our first UK Branch meeting on Saturday, 9th February,2008. Full details will be sent out again in mid December together with an Agenda and Meeting format.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST NEWS LETTER UNTIL DECEMBER.
Martyn Hudson
Chairman
Tel : 01234 376712 mobile 07788788095 after 7pm and weekends.