The Reunion of the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums will take place on Saturday 4th October 2025 at Upper Lounge, Wotton Hall Club, 138 Barnwood Road, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3JS (this is opposite the entrance to Walls Club) from 19:30 to 23:30 hrs. The cost of the evening is £12pp; donations in support of the less well off would be greatly appreciated.
Members are requested to complete and return the booking section at the foot of this letter with payment and a stamped addressed envelope to the Treasurer. If there are any change of details, or you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please contact the Treasurer. Notification of deaths of members would help in keeping our records up to date and prevent any possibility of distress to the relatives. A telephone call to Treasurer would suffice.
This year you are able to buy tickets via the regimental (RGBW) association portal, if you choose this option, you do not need to complete the form below, tickets will be sent to you electronically when you have paid. Tickets can be bought here www.rgbwevents.org.uk This option can be used for both payment methods and no need to post anything off.
Email Addresses It is our aim to cut the cost of postage for the Reunion and we would be grateful if you could provide us with your email address, even if you are not planning on attending this year. Please Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We have recently acquired eight old VHS tapes containing films and recordings about the Glosters dating from Korea and up to and including the Tercentenary Parade in 1994.
It would be great if we could save these transmissions for future generations and as part of our heritage. Having ditched this technology decades ago.
I am looking for someone who has a VHS player and the necessary leads and software to copy these recordings down to either DVD or preferably USB Sticks. If there is anyone out there who could help, please get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Your assistance in this matter is much appreciated
The Commemorative Lunch on the 74th Anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River will take place on the 13th of April 2025 at the Taunton Rugby Football Club, Veritas Park, Hyde Lane, Bath pool, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8BU.
The two-course carvery & dessert menu, including tea & coffee, is £15.00p per person, which is excellent value, thanks to being generously discounted by the Regimental Association.
Online payment by bank transfer is the preferred payment option but cheques will also be accepted.
The funeral service for Colonel T B Dutton (Terry) who died on 19 October 2024 will be held at St. Michael & All Saints Church, Urchfont, Wiltshire, SN10 4QP at 14:00 hours on Monday 18 November 2024, following an earlier Commital Service for family only. There will be tea and refreshments in the Urchfont Village Hall, close to the Church, following the service. The family have requested that there should be no flowers but those who wish to may a charitable donation to Dementia UK. Directions to Urchfont and a link for making donations can be found at:
Service Notification A celebration of the life of Mrs Sonia Miller will take place at 1400hrs on the 25th Novemeber 2024 at Sedgemoor Crematorium, Stretcholt, Bridgwater, Somerset.
This will be followed by a wake at the Orchard Inn, 102 Church Road, Highbridge TA9 3SA.
Letters/Cards of Condolance to the two sons and families can be sent to David Miller, 5 The Hazels, Abbeymead, Gloucester, GFL4 5WN.
No Flowers please, instead donations would be appreciated to The RGBW Association Somerset, either on the day or by online for details please email the County Chairman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
All friends within the veteran community are welcome to attend the service, those wishing to attend the wake afterwards are requested to RSVP to the County Chairman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before the 20th November, so that numbers can collated for the family.
Towns and villages all through Holland are celebrating the 80th anniversary of their liberation in WW2. One of the largest celebrations is a weeklong set of activities in Roosendaal. Educational films, displays, re-enactments, displays, marches and events took place from 26th Oct – 3rd Nov 2024.
The Glosters were part of the 49th Inf Div, nicknamed the polar bears, other units involved included the 4th Lincolns,1/4 KOYLI, Hallams Bn, 11th Royal Scots, 1 Leicesters, 1/7th DWR, 1 SWB, 2nd Essex and supported by 55, 69, 89, 143, 185 RA, 49 Sigs, 2nd Kensingtons and 9 RTR. The division formed part of Monty’s drive up towards the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam and east towards Arnhem.
The RGBW Association was invited to take part in the celebrations at the end of the week to acknowledge the participation of the 2nd Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. The townspeople of Roosendaal were extremely courteous and grateful for the handful of various association representatives from the UK to be in attendance. They take their liberation extremely seriously; it is taught at an early age in schools and celebrated by all age groups.
On the first day, we were taken to “Camp Thruster” where there was a large display of military vehicles and equipments. The enthusiasm and dedication were evident with many of them private collectors of equipment and memorabilia. Most of the vehicles (over 20) were also in private hands after being lovingly restored over the decades. The pride and joy of the display was an immaculate Churchill tank in full working order, the only private example in Europe. During the evening, we were invited to a concert starring the Brentwood Imperial Youth Band, proudly wearing their Polar Bear badges.
Day two involved going around the Roosendaal area on a battlefield tour and meeting up with the local veterans in the town's first in/last out pub - Café De Veestallen. This was the first building secured by the British forces on entering Roosendaal and remained undamaged throughout the war. Most of the internal fitments and decor have remained unchanged since WW2 and are fitting to the loyal veterans' watering hole. The various local army associations sadly closed over the years as their memberships declined, but one of the locals, a Colonel from the Dutch commandos, started an all-arms Roosendaal Association four years ago and it has now over 100 members around Roosendaal, from all services and units, a fantastic achievement,
After a liquid lunch the veterans from all countries fell in outside, standards raised to greet the columns of re-enactment vehicles and men, proudly led by the Churchill tank. After falling in behind we all marched to the memorial square where the Polar Bear monument is located. The band gave a rendition of wartime tunes, regimental marches and national anthems before the wreath-laying ceremony which was led by the Duke of Wellington Regiment and The Gloucestershire Regiment, followed by the mayor and all the various dignitaries and representatives. After the service was finished there was a photo shoot for about an hour (there were about 1000 locals in attendance) and then back to that famous pub for more food and drink.
Overall,
It was a memorable visit for which I am extremely grateful to have been invited. The locals take their liberation extremely seriously and is a foundation for their freedom and democracy. I would like to thank the owners of the Tongerlo Hotel for their impeccable service and for spending so much time with us. I am also grateful for the party from the Duke of Wellingtons who adopted me over the weekend. Attached are several snaps made; I will add some of the professional pictures when they become available. “By our deeds, we are known” Martin Talling, County Chairman.
Due to multiple association events falling over one weekend, next year's Imjin Lunch will now be on Sunday the 13th of April 2025 and not Sunday 27th of April 2025 as previously notified; Can everyone please ensure their diaries are updated.
Online booking for this event will be available from next week.
Yesterday saw our final meeting with the Events Team at the NMA regarding the unveiling of the Gloucestershire Regiment memorial. This was our third meeting over the past year and suddenly we are told that those attending the unveiling need to bring some form of photo ID ( the mind boggles)
Could we ask all attendees to please comply with this request and we Thank you in anticipation.
Please be advised of the passing of Pte Stan Gunnell late Glosters.
Stan served as a national serviceman with the Glosters in February 1951, having completed his basic training Stan was on a merchant Ship as part of a detachment of reinforcements on their way to report to the 1st Battalion who were then fighting in Korea, however, whilst crossing the very rough Bay of Biscay the ships engine packed up. Suffering with acute sea sickness the detachment were rescued by a Tugboat and ferried to Gibraltar. The Consequence of this incident meant that the detachment arrived just too late to take part in the Epic Battle of the Imjin River.
Subsequently Stan went on to serve with the Glosters in Korea & the UK and led a long and happy life. Has he was a keen member of the Severn Branch of the Regimental Association members will carry standards at Stans funeral on the 24th June at 13:30 hrs in Gloucester Crematorium.
Letters of condolences may be sent to his Daughters Maureen Dunn and Alison Harris C/O Goodwins funeral Directors Peter Scott House 2, Heathville Road Gloucester GL1 3DP
