| WINTER 1962. |
| COMPANY NOTES. |
| 'A' COMPANY NOTES |
| At the time of going to press we are about to lose CSM Upright, who over the past months has devoted such time and energy to keeping this Company at the top of the ladder; we shall be sorry to see him go. CSM Watts will be taking over in the near future, a vast change from the tranquillity of HQ Company to the mighty uproar of a Training Company. As far as Company activities are concerned, the platoons speak for themselves: |
| BALACLAVA - As forecast in the last issue of Leader the Company, and in particular this platoon, has surpassed all previous records on the sports field. We were strongly represented in last term's Company Athletics Team and won a number of cups. In the Regimental team, J/L/Bdr. Freeman beat all comers at the pole vault and also excelled in the 220 yards and 110 yards relay events. This term, the football team came first in the Company League, scoring 14 goals in three matches, and now represents the Company in the Regimental competition. The Cross Country team gained second place out of the 16 platoons in the Regiment and was, incidentally, the first team in the Company. In the Rhyl Cup we were sixth, to help the Company gain second place. For the future, we are looking forward to success in the inter-platoon Rugby, although three of our best Rugby players leave at the end of this term. |
| FALAISE - We are looking forward very much to our Christmas leave, which at the time of printing will not be far off. In the spell between leaves, the Platoon settled down to discuss if the Rhyl Cup could be won again without training. We finished fourth. We lost our Football cup by being beaten in a very close Company League, but we all agreed that if we had to be robbed, we were glad it was by an 'A' Company side. Led on by the ghost of Sgt. Hope, in huge boots, the Cross Country team managed to come fourth. |
| We congratulate J/Cpl. Thorne and J/L/Cpl. McKitterick, who successfully completed their Gold Expeditions. |
| Two important events have occurred in the Platoon: fires may now be lighted, and there are flowers instead of stones in our garden, so everyone's morale is high. |
| IMPHAL - We have just been joined by J/Cpl. Johnston, who takes over as Platoon Sergeant, and we wish him every success |
| In the Rugby world we now have J/L/Cpl. McGurk, J/Gnrs. Moloney, Burrell and Legg, and J/Pte. Weaver in the XL Club. The Platoon team has shown steady improvement with wins over Falaise and Balaclava. Soccerwise, J/Pte. Henry, J/Gnr. Jackson and J/Sig. Kirk are members of the Regimental hobby. The Platoon side was second in the inter-Platoon league, scoring 4 points from 3 games. |
| We are pleased to say that J/Sig. Payne successfully completed his Gold Award Expedition, J/Ptes. Harvey and Findlater passed their Gold Public Service and we have J/Sig. Hayward on the Army Outward Bound Course. |
| KNIGHTSBRIDGE - We congratulate J/Ldrs. Madrell, Long and Kiernan on becoming Junior Marksmen (.22) ,and J/Sgt. Derrick and J/L/Cpl. Valentine on completing their Gold Award Expedition. We hope to see them presented with their badges in the near future. Congratulations also to J/L/Cpl. Valentine on his well-deserved recent promotion. |
| We welcome the new recruits who have just come down from 'R' Company. We wish them success and happiness whilst they are in Knightsbridge Platoon. |
| Finally, we say goodbye to J/Cpl. Phillips (17/21 L.), J/Cpl. Stapleton and J/Pte. McDermott departing to civilian occupations, J/Ptes. Frost and Bolland (R.A.S.C.), J/L/Cpl. Warwick (R. Signals) and J/Gnr. Osborne (R.A.) |
| 'B' COMPANY NOTES |
| The Summer Term ended with some excellent platoon parties and a fine effort from the company athletics team. |
| Sgt. Brown, L.F., left Gallipoli platoon after a long and happy association with them and the company. Sgt. Ongley joined us, and Sgt. McHugh rejoined after a term with 'R' Company. |
| The Company has been well represented in all Regimental activities. In the Corps of Drums, Cleland won the Gen. Pugh Bugle Competition and is the Commandant's Bugler, and Wilson (616) is the leading side drummer. Egypt Platoon is well represented in the Regimental Boxing Team including the captain J/CSM Barnes, and in the Regimental Rugby with J/Cpl. Parr as captain. Somme Platoon this term has the Soccer team captain, J/Cpl. Smith and Gallipoli an active member of the Social Centre Committee, LeBretton. |
| Good results were again achieved on education, J/Cpl. Bingham and J/L/Cpl. Romanis getting G.C.E. subjects, and on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions. This term the following took the Gold Expedition - J/CSM Barnes, J/Sgt. Boylan, J/L/Cpls. Longbottom, Peters, J/Ptes. Gregge and Norman. |
| Lt. Gillespie of Ypres Platoon completes his last term as choirmaster as he is due for posting. This term sixteen Junior Leaders were confirmed by the Bishop of Bangor. |
| Menai Camp this term was held during the weekend of gales. Fortunately one chimney pot was the only casualty, but it was quite something playing soccer in a Force 6 wind. |
| At the time of going to press, preparations are going ahead for a Company Christmas Party to be held by kind permission of Miss Goss in the Social Centre. Each Platoon is preparing a show, and as usual, the P.S. wives' wardrobes are in for a bad time. |
| 'C' COMPANY NOTES |
| It is with deep regret that we report the death of one of our number during the term. J/L/Cpl. Shaw died on 29th October after a short illness. We would like to offer our profound sympathy to his parents. |
| This term has passed very quickly, possibly because we are now busier than ever before with 177 Junior Leaders in the Company. |
| Unfortunately these notes are going to print before the majority of the Inter-Company events are decided. We can, however report that we won the Rhyl Cup. Alamein were first, Rhine eighth, Normandy ninth and Tunisia twelfth of the sixteen platoons, and this was enough to give the Company over-all victory. We (in the shape of Normandy Platoon) also won the Inter-Platoon Cross Country Competition, and supplied the individual winner, J/Sgt. Skinner. We finished second in the Inter-Company Basketball. Normandy Platoon are also to represent the Company in the Football Competition. Since no less than eight of their team are also in the Regimental Rugby side we can at least be sure that there will be plenty of forceful play. |
| Thorne, Davidson, Crosthwaite, Harbach, Charming, Holmes and Goldthorpe have won awards in N.S.R.A. Shooting competitions this term and J/L/Cpl. Thompson has been one of the winning pair in two canoe races which attracted a national entry. J/Sgt. Morton, J/Cpl. Thorne and J/Sig. Davidson have recently attended a short selection course for an expedition to Greece open to all boys who have qualified for their Gold Award in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. We await the result with interest. |
| We have heard from several old Junior Leaders of the Company. J/Cpl. Dickenson and J/Cpl. Canfield are now L/Cpls, J/Tpr. Cece is with his Regiment the Royal Scots Greys in Aden, J/Sig. Bell is still undergoing training at Catterick and by all accounts is enjoying man's service very much. J/Cpl. Head is with 24 Bde in Colchester and J/Cpl. Hamilton has just completed his training with Q.R.I.H. |
| We lose 27 Junior Leaders to man's service and we wish them the best of luck in their future careers. Fortunately, our permanent staff will all be back next term even if, in the case of Sgts. Dean and Howard, for only a few days. |
| Finally we offer our best wishes for a Happy Christmas to all members of the Company past and present. |
| 'D' COMPANY NOTES |
| Winter is upon us again, and feverishly we bank up the fires and prepare for another cold spell. We have had various changes within the Company. We say goodbye to CSM Ward and 'Q' Hanson and welcome CSM Holloway and 'Q' Tubbs. CSM Ward is, we are glad to say, not too far away, in fact in HQ Company. |
| We didn't win the Rhyl Cup although Minden finished second and Cambrai third. However we made up for it by taking the Inter-Company Basketball. |
| The activities of the Company in detail are mentioned by the Platoons themselves: |
| CAMBRAI - To cling to past memories we record here our winning of both the Inter-Troop Cricket and Tug o' War at the end of last term. We started off this term by coming third in the Inter-Troop Cross Country and we have still the football to fight for. Mortimer represented the Regiment in canoeing at Exmouth and came first. Hodges and Reynolds came second. Henderson won the Aberdovey Regatta Cup for the best helmsman in the Regiment. Saxon and Van Buiten have both reached their Gold standard in gymnastics. Cambrai group produced the best log seen on adventure training for a Bronze Award. Clare has started a Guitar Group called the Cambrai Comets. The budgies now number sixteen, having started last term with two. We will be sorry to lose our last Armoured Corps representative at the end of this term. Grace has already booked a ticket on the next Manchester bus trip. |
| DETTINGEN - We lose seven of our stalwart members at the end of term and we wish them the best of luck. We have won the Inter-Company Football League and hope now to go on to challenge the other companies. We have a high percentage of Junior Leaders representing the Regiment in sport, for instance Naylor, football, Hanson, Veck and Poulter, boxing. A good start to the term. |
| MINDEN - All Minden Platoon heartily congratulates Captain Gordon on his promotion from Lieutenant. This term we have seven graduates. These are J/Cpls. McBirney, Plowright, J/L/Cpls. Blues, Frost, Chippington, Barrett and Lewis. In the Regimental sporting field we have J/Cpl. Plowright, one of the Regiment's best shots and J/Cpl. McBirney and Frost are members of the Regimental football team. Clark must be congratulated on being the runner-up in the Inter-Troop Cross Country. |
| WATERLOO - We began the term by welcoming Sgt. Miller. At Menai, archery became a great pastime which we hope to do again. In the sports field we did not aspire to great heights and were knocked out of the Inter-Platoon football competition. J/L/Cpl. Kerry and J/Bdr. Adamson fought for the Regiment in boxing. We wish all the new lads who have just joined the platoon the best of luck during their stay in Waterloo. |
| RECRUIT COMPANY NOTES |
| As with previous terms there have been many changes within the Company orbit. The beginning of the term saw the Company break down into three platoons, releasing Sgts. McHugh and Ainsworth to return to their appointments in the Regiment. Sgt. Love came from the smoke of London District to replace Sgt. Edwards, who left us to put his crown up in B.A.O.R. His comical cracks on Monday mornings and staff car driver friends will be missed by all. However, we do hear of weird incantations and horrible expletives coming from "Wilson's Wall" at dead of night, as Sgt. Love attempts to match the prowess of his predecessor. |
| Captain Fisher left the Regiment for the rigours of Colchester - ex 4 Platoon inmates will be sorry to hear that he is not in the prison! Captain Stitt arrived from "decadent" Dusseldorf to take over as 2 I/C, but has had to bring his Platoon Commander's hat with him, as at half term we had another four platoon intake. Sgts. Smith and Rawlins came from the Regiment to complete the 4 platoon permanent staff and, amidst howls of despair, to join the Orderly Sgts. Roster. |
| The highlight of the sporting term was the victory of the Company Rugger XV over the Regimental 2nd XV by 5 pts. to 3. We hope this will silence those who say that the sporting instruction in the company has deteriorated because the permanent staff have beaten the Company team four times running now, by ever increasing margins. |
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