Notice Board

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAJOR GENERAL

EXCELLENCE IN ACTION

I hope you are already aware of the impending publication before Christmas of a new book on the Household Division. It is entitled 'Excellence in Action' which of course is a superb encapsulation of what the Household Division stands for in both aspects of its dual role - operational and ceremonial - and indeed in every other aspect of its existence.

The publishers have recently shown me early production material and it is clear to me that this book will be of a very high quality and a 'must have' for everyone serving in, or connected with, the Household Division. Indeed, quite apart from our own interest, its publication will be invaluable in keeping us in the public eye. There has not been a book on the Division as a whole in the last 20 years so its publication will fit very well with more recent publications on the Household Cavalry and individual Foot Guards regiments.

The next stage of production is the gathering of fully up to date material from Household Division elements in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is underway.

The production plan includes a subscription offer that enables subscribers to have their name in the book and to be invited to the book launch. It would be marvellous to see much of the Household Division shown in print in this way. It will make an excellent Christmas present. With this in mind, it is possible to have the names of the recipients placed in the subscribers' list in the book, by providing a list of the names with the order.

The subscription period has been extended to the end of September so the opportunity remains for anyone, regardless of whether or not they are in the Household Division, to secure a place in the book. I strongly commend it to you. You will find a leaflet and subscription details by clicking on www.tmiltd.com

Bill Cubitt

W G CUBITT
Major General Commanding the Household Division

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The story of the seven regiments which compose the Household Division, commonly referred to as the Guards, has been often told, individually and jointly. To the world at large, the image of the Guards has been coloured by their ceremonial duties as the regiments dedicated to the protection of the sovereign - whether on duty at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards, or at great national occasions such as The Queen's Birthday Parade, which the public know as the Trooping of the Colour.

Yet in the 21st century the Guards have never been more active and engaged in their role as highly effective operational military units, whether in Bosnia, Iraq or, more recently, Afghanistan. Excellence in Action is a new, richly illustrated publication which offers a true, wide-ranging colour portrait of the Household Division which reflects the tradition of excellence of the individual formations in the context of today's role as an elite fighting force.

Subscription offer extended until 30 September 2007:
Take advantage of the special pre-publication discount price of £37.50 (incl. UK p&p) and ensure your name is included in the book.
Overseas addresses £41.25 (surface mail). Airmail rates also available. The RRP on publication will be £45.00.

Contribute now:
The Editor is happy to receive first-hand accounts, memories and anecdotes, preferably typed in one-and-a-half spacing, along with photographs and memorabilia of all kinds.

 A Long Long War

Voices from the British Army in Northern Ireland 1969-98

Some time ago I placed a message on this page about a book being written by Ken Wharton concerning the conflict in Northern Ireland during the period 1969-98. This book is now published under the heading A Long Long War. The review can be found on www.helion.co.uk (the publishers) and can be ordered on line at a price of £22.50 which is a 10% reduction from the recommended price and that which you will find in book shops. Credit Cards will not be charged until April 2008. Have a look at the Helion (click on the name for the link) site and you will find the book just a short scroll down and on the left hand side. Click on the book cover to give you more detail.

Are YOU interested in joining the

GRENADIER CAMPING AND CARAVAN CLUB

Then you should contact the Chairman of the Club, JOHN BLAY

at 01444 451215

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Mr Michael Austin of the OxfordshireBranch is in the process of arranging a five day tour of Berlin in March 2008 hopefully leaving on Thursday 6th March 2008. Many served in Berlin during their service and perhaps would like to visit their old haunts and see how things have changed.

Travel is by Air from Luton Airport to Berlin although he is looking at the possibility of being able to offer the choice of flying fram another airport in addidtion to Luton. Travel within Germany will be by executive coach.

Hotel accommodation at the 4 Star Excelsior or similar for four nights on a half board basis. Excursions will be aranged for all three days in Berlin.

Cost is based on sharing a Twin/Double Bedded Room would be £359 per person with a supplement of £75 for a single room. These costs are based on a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 50 people travelling, included will be the excursions although nit the entrance fees.

If you are interested then please phone Michael Austin (01993 812764) or e-mail michael.g.austin@btinternet.com and ask for further details about the tour. He will require your name, address (with postcode) telephone no or email address.

Regimental Representation.

I have been having some correspondence with Norman Mitchell of the Gloucestershire Branch for a number of years concerning the surviors of the 6th Battalion at Mareth. Norman has now entered The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. and when I was talking to him recently he was telling me that there were 27 members of the Household Division in the Hospital 9% of the total Pensioner population. Of those 27 there are 8 Grenadiers and these are :

Norman tells me that all six Battalions of the Regiment are represented in these Pensioners

Following this I thought it might be an idea to see how many Grenadiers there were serving as Yeoman Warders at The Tower of London and Kevin Kitcher has been helpful on this one and has given me the names of the following:-

The
Grenadier Guards
Norfolk Dining Club

Grenadiers at Littlecote

Many of you will know of the connection between our Association and Littlecote House which is part of the Warners Holiday Group and one of their adult only venues. Colin Knight (Gloucestershire) and John Southern (Reading) are the co-ordinators of the very successful events that have taken place there over the past three years. They have now decided to raise a web site particularly concerning Littlecote and the events which have already taken place and events which will take place in the future.

You can register your interest on line to receive future offers. If you wish to view the site then click here   to do so. If you wish to contact Colin the email address is knight@grenadiersatlittlecote.co.uk and for John southern@grenadiersatlittlecote.co.uk

Forthcoming Events:

Proposed River Cruise (Rhine & Magical Moselle) - June 2008

I have a two page detail and Itinerary and this can be obtained from either Colin Knight or John Southern by using the email addresses above. I am told that there are 40 people already have their names registered as being very interested.

 An Active Service - The Story of Sid Dowland and his Service in The Regiment and the SAS

An Active Service.

An Active Service traces the story of a young Sid Dowland from civilian life into the tough environment of the Guards Depot in the 1930s and then on to a Guards Service Battalion in London and pre-war Egypt. The outbreak of war finds Sid taking part in the retreat to Dunkirk and then service in North Africa before volunteering for the SAS. Captured after a disastrous raid in Sardinia, he escapes from the Prisoner of War camp in Italy before making it back to England. The end of the war does not signal peace, as the Guards are sent into action in Palestine and subsequently to the jungles of Malaya, where Sid finds that his SAS experience is in great demand.

This book is a tale of adventure, but will be of interest to anyone studying the Second World War or the early days of the SAS. Most of the historical information is previously unpublished, and much of it is drawn from SAS operation reports in the National Archives and from the war diaries of the Grenadier Guards. The story is accompanied by many previously unseen photographs from private collections, and is brought to life by a series of high quality and accurate drawings depicting the uniforms of the day.

This is an enjoyable human story, but is also an accurate account of military life during the war years, which will be of interest to anyone researching or studying this period.

UPDATE.

'An Active Service' was published in November 05 with an aim of raising money for the regimental association and to record the story of a great Grenadier. It has so far made a couple of grand in royalties and book profits, all of which has been paid to either the central fund or to individual branches. The publisher has done two print runs and is now looking at producing the book in paperback. A German publisher is also interested in buying the publishing rights. There are currently only 100 copies left from the two print runs. It is now possible for Grenadiers to buy the remaining hard backs from the publisher at 50% discount if they identify themselves as Grenadiers.

For those who have not previously seen a copy, the book covers the service of Sid Dowland. Sid joined the regiment in 1935 and served in the 1st,2nd and 3rd Battalions. He was a member of the SAS and SBS and was captured on a raid in Sardinia in 1943. Having escaped from the POW camp, Sid returned to regimental duty and the Grenadier training Battalion at Victoria Barracks, Windsor. He later served in both Palestine and Malaya where he was the Pioneer Sgt of the 3rd Bn. The story is about life as a Grenadier through the 1930's and then to Dunkirk and the the years after the war. This is the story of an ordinary man told from his perspective and will be enjoyed by Grenadiers young and old

The book is published by Helion books and can be found on their web site at: http://www.helion.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=62,119,125&CAT_ID=590&P_ID=15341

It'll cost you about a tenner but you will be raising money for the association. If anyone has read it I would be grateful if they could find the time to review the book on either the Helion or Amazon sites as this will support sales.

AN ACTIVE SERVICE                   
The Story of a  Soldier's Life in the Grenadier Guards & SAS 1935-58          
Author:   Richard Dorney
Imprint: Helion & Company Ltd
Extent: Format 224pp 230mm x 145mm
Illustrations: Binding: Hardback
c 50 drawings & photos, 3 maps

ISBN: 1-874622-48-5

A profit of £5.00 for every book purchased goes to Association funds.
All Royalties from the book go to the Grenadier Guards Association Central fund.
Publication Date: 9 September 2005.

Please remember that although this book is available through all major retail outlets including
Amazon.co.uk, all orders through this office will generate profits for the Association.

It is very much hoped that you will be able to help the association by supporting this project.

An Active Service - Order Form

Name: ..........................................................................................

Address: ......................................................................................

....................................................................................................

............................................................. Post Code.....................

Branch of the Association.............................................................:

I would like to order ………copies of 'An Active Service' at a cost of £         each. I enclose a cheque for £……………

Please forward by post to:
Grenadier Guards Association, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, SWIE 6HQ. (020 7414 3285)
Please make cheques payable to 'Grenadier Guards Association'

Northern Ireland Veterans Association.

"Grenadier Grins" by John Browne

(11/06)

The essential family spirit of The Regiment is amusingly recalled in a personal recollection by former Grenadier and Member of Parliament John Browne. The stories are sometimes funny and often poignant, encompassing days as a Caterham recruit, battalion life, Churchill's funeral, the TA and Parliament. With some 45 photographs and cartoons, they recall the flavour of a time already beginning to fade from view. Some of the tales are based upon outrageous experiences. Rendered with affection in a witty salute to the Grenadier Guards,

All profits from this edition will be donated to Grenadier Charities, in celebration of the 350th Anniversary.

PRICE: Members of the Grenadier Regimental Family may order Grenadier Grins (RRP Sterling £18.99 or US $32.00) at the specially discounted price of Sterling £10.99 or US $20.00, plus postage (UK/BFPO Sterling £4.50, US $15.00, Europe Sterling £6.50, ROW 'Sterling £8.00 Airmail per book).

TO ORDER
Please supply ______copy(ies) of Grenadier Grins

If paying by cheque/PO please make payable to The Grenadier Guards Association + include relevant postage

I enclose a cheque/PO to value £ ___________________

Name: _________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

              _____________________________________________________

             _____________________________________________________

PostCode:_____________________

Telephone number. _________________________________

Send orders to: The Grenadier Guards Association, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, SW1E 6HQ

This entry is for the older Grenadier and concerns The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, "The Home of the Chelsea Pensioner" You are eligible to become an In-Pensioner if * You are over 65 years of age *In receipt of an Army Pension or War Disability Pension for Army Service (which you surrender on entry) * Free of any obligation to support a spouse or family.

The Hospital offers * Comprehensive Medical and Nursing Care * Free full Board and Lodging * Comradeship.

For more information contact: The Secretary, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3 4SR. Telephone: 020 7881 5204/5246   Fax: 020 7881 5463   E-mail roylhospch@aol.com

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