Good afternoon all


Well, what can one say? What a cracking Imjin lunch at the Taunton Rugby Club. I am sure you will agree with me that the food and staff were excellent. A big thank you to Martin, Len, and the team that put this event together. A thank you to Richard James for the awaited update for the Glosters Memorial at the Arboretum. But most of all a great big thank you to all of you who came to this fantastic lunch, and hope to see you all next year for another great Imjin lunch.


Here are some photos from the lunch.


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Here are some photos from the event

Many thanks to Franny Cobourn

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Lovely catch up on Sunday Pawlett RBL and our branch meeting, looking forward to next month Back Badge in Gloucestershire

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Here are some photo's from the Glosters Regimental Association New Years Lunch at the Orchard Inn, West Huntspill. Klaus Galeitzke, Ray Margaret, Nick and Dawn were present.

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Friday saw the funeral of Brian Wright take place at Torbay Crematorium, Devon, and later a celebration of his life at The Crown and Sceptre, St Marychurch, Torquay. The Regiment was extremely well represented, It was a huge challenge to get over 150 people into an 80-seater facility but using every square inch of standing room we accomplished it! I would like to thank Len Keeling for organising the minibus down from Gloucester, the four Standard Bearers: Scott McBryde, Roger Smith, Steven Tierney and the local British Legion representative. Also grateful to the six volunteer pallbearers on the day, Eddie Kenneford, Ben Casey, John Davies, Tony Jones, Allan Winchester and Dave Stone.
Chas Deacon the Celebrant held it all together nicely and the two Senior Rank musicians from The Rifles gave a great rendition of the Last Post, leaving hardly a dry eye in the building. The live service video link has been taken down for editing but will be published again shortly using the details issued previously. Feedback from the family during the day was outstanding and made all the hard work very worthwhile. I would like to thank Bob, Sadie and Clair for hosting the day's events including the most welcoming celebrations I have ever attended in a Pub. Last, but not least, a huge thank you to all the members of the Regiment who turned up and made the day such a great success, it was a great tribute to the “Glosters” family and its former members.
Should anyone have missed donating during the day, and would like to do so, the details are as follows: RGBW Association Somerset. Sort Code: 30 99 51 Acct No 00545601 and include “BW” in the description box, thank you.

Martin Talling
“by our deeds, we are known”

D

Dear Fellow Back Badge Wearer,

In November 1953 around 400 Prisoners of War from the Gloucestershire Regiment returned to Gloucestershire after two and a half years in captivity in North Korea after being captured at the end of the Battle of The Imjin River in Korea in April 1951.

On their return, they all attended a Service of Thanksgiving in Gloucester Cathedral during which The Carne Cross was presented to the Cathedral.

The cross was fashioned from a rock with a nail by Lt Col Carne during an extended period of solitary confinement, and used by the soldiers in church services within the prison camp and smuggled out when the prisoners were exchanged.

On the 70th Anniversary of the arrival of the prisoners back in Gloucestershire we will be holding a Service of Commemoration to honour them and their fallen comrades from both the battle and the period in the camps. This service will be held on 25th November 2023 and will be based on the original service held in the cathedral 70 years ago to the week. The service will include the ceremonial re-presentation of The Carne Cross to the Cathedral.

We would like to invite you to this service which will take place at 1630hrs on Saturday 25 November 2023 in Gloucester Cathedral. All veterans and families are welcome to attend, dress suited & booted or smart civvies (former would be a preference). All those planning to attend should RSVP to Len Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with all names, to ensure we have the appropriate seating available. No march this time, expecting a large gathering of veterans and families so get your seat reservations in early.

“By our deeds we are known”

Gloster Day Parade Weekend 2023 the 15th Parade since 2009. (A Few Have Gone But Never Forgotten).
Well folks we are nearly there, only a couple of weeks away, here are a few brief notes to let you know what happens for those who are new and joining us this year.

Please have a great time as I know you will, but remember that the great people of Gloucester love their County Regiments and will be looking at us as always with great pride, please be aware of this and don't bring the Glorious name of our Regiments into disrepute.

The celebration has now developed into a weekend of getting together and on Friday, Glosters RGBW, Rifles, and Wessex Veterans and families will arrive from all over the country (the world even) I wish you all safe travels.

On the Friday 1st September as people arrive and get settled we tend to meet up at the New Inn in the early afternoon for a few drinks and a catch up with old friends.

And in keeping with our normal Friday evening tradition we have organized a talk in the museum.
This year by Nicola Nash from the War Detectives TV show.

Nicola works at the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre at ARRC.
She will specifically be talking about trying to locate the fallen members of the Gloucestershire Regiment still in the Korean War. This will be well worth attending and tickets are £10 from the Museum.

Museum Bar:- Friday Evening, Gloster Day Night Bar from 18:00 until late.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in and around the city centre to enjoy as I know we all like to hang out with those you served with.

Saturday 2nd September Gloucester Day.
If the hotel you are staying in does not do breakfast, some of us like to head over to the New Inn they do a very good Buffet breakfast for non guests and its also good for finding out what's happening during the day.

The GDP Family starts to gather together at around 10 -11am in Witherspoon / New Inn or the Con-club (FUP)

The GDP Parade assembles at 13.30 hrs. along Constitution walk behind Brunswick Rd Museum and along side the Con-club(FUP as before).

This year the route is a little shorter the parade makes its way to Eastgate St following the Via Sacra paving through Queens Walk then turning left into Eastgate St, making its way over Gloucester Cross down Westgate St turning right into St Johns Lane, crossing Northgate St into St Aldate St, into Kings Sq. The Mayor and Civic Party take the Salute on the main stage. The Parade makes its way along the Oxbode turning left into Northgate St making its way over Gloucester Cross along Southgate St falling out at Brunswick Baptist Church. The Veteran Contingent will form up in file outside St Mary De Crypt and form a guard of Honour for Civic Party (as we do every year) and fall out to the museum for a well-earned bevvie and a chill.

Saturday, the after the parade Gloster Museum Bar is open as usual with hot food and entertainment until late (as agreed last year, there is no official evening do this year)
I would just like to say a big thank you to Matthew and his team for their hard work and continued support of the GDP weekend, I know the feeling is mutual and support that we would have liked when we started back in 2009.

Many thanks for coming I hope you all had a great time and safe journey home, lets do it all again next year 6-7 Sept 24, god willing. Best Wishes as always, Mark.

Other Events during the day.
11.00 am The Mock Mayor of Barton’s Parade
11.10 Mayor of Gloucester and Civic party need to be on stage in Kings Sq
11.20 Mock Mayor meets the Mayor of Gloucester
11.40Parade departs to St Mary De Crypt.
12.00 Gloucester Day Thanksgiving Service St Mary De Crypt
12.45 Refreshments Brunswick Baptist Church

The Gloucester Day Committee invites you to join us on Gloucester Day for the Gloucester Day celebrations and parade. Please read carefully and respond A.S.A.P.

The event will take place in the Historic City of Gloucester, on Saturday 2nd September 2023. The first Parade, the Mock Mayor of Barton’s Parade, commences at 11 am followed by a Thanksgiving Day service at St Mary De Crypt. At 2 pm the Gloucester Day Parade will make its way through the four main gated streets and is led by the Mayor and Sheriff of Gloucester, in full Civic Regalia.

This event is designed to install and promote pride in our historic city by creating interest in its rich heritage and colourful past. The major catalyst is to reinstate the original Gloucester Day celebration, which was the lifting of the siege of Gloucester in 1643. This occasion was celebrated annually for centuries, hence Gloucester becoming known as The City saved by God.