The shield and key ring arrived safe and sound in this mornings post. Thank you, the shield  a lovely product. I wonder why I have waited so long to help keep memories alive.

Link to Royal Tank Regiment products.

Kekewich and the relief of Kimberley - 15th February 1900

The town of Kimberley was founded in 1871 after the discovery of diamonds nearby.  The diamond fields were taken over by Cecil Rhodes in 1888 for the De Beers company. Rhodes was a major player in the political landscape of South Africa and as the Boer War began he moved from Cape Town to Kimberley.

On 14th October 1899 the Boers invaded the northern Cape Colony and so began the siege of Kimberley. Colonel Robert Kekewich had been send with half of his battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to defend the town, but found that he could do little without Rhodes' involvement since many of the garrison were De Beers employees and De Beers controlled the essential resources of the town.

On 6th November 1899 the Boers started their bombardment of Kimberley. On 21st November 1899 Lord Methuen began marching his troops from Orange River to relieve Kimberley but his progress was checked on 11th December 1899 at Magersfontein, destroying the prospect of early relief. Rhodes complained to General Buller. 

At the beginning of 1900 Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener arrived in South Africa with substantial reinforcements to take over command in chief from General Redvers Buller.

On 7th February 1900 the Boers opened fire on Kimberley causing panic in the population and provoking a lengthy crisis between Rhodes and Kekewich.

Kimberley was finally relieved on 15th February 1900 by General French's cavalry division which galloped spectacularly across the Veldt.  The horses were overloaded and unused to the conditions and many perished as a result, leaving the Division seriously weakened.  On French's arrival Rhodes demanded that Kekewich be sacked as the garrison commander.  French sacked Kekewich before leaving with his division.

The lifting of the siege of Kimberley had little impact on the progress of the war, other than to significantly reduce the number of mounted troops available to Lord Roberts. 

Rhodes died in March 1902 at the age of 48.  Kekewich was promoted to Major General in August 1902 after his success at the Battle of Rooiwal.  On the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed to the 13th (Western) Division. On 5th November 1914 he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Robert Kekewich was the second son of Trehawke Kekewich of Peamore, near Exeter, which is about 16 miles from Military House. An unassuming and often overgrown cross on the embankment by the side of the main road commemorates members of the Kekewich family.

 

Have you heard about the Forces Festival which is taking place at Bulford, Wiltshire on 31st May 2010?  It will be a fantastic outdoor festival featuring fun fair rides, giant inflatables, aerial displays by the BBMF and RAF Hawks, military skills displays and much much more. The Forces Festival finishes with a huge concert all to raise funds for military charity Project 65.

Click here to find out more about The Forces Festival.

Click here to find out more about Project 65.

FORCES CHARITIES GOLF DAY

13TH MAY 2010

PADBROOK PARK GOLF CLUB, CULLOMPTON, DEVON. EX15 1RU

 

RAISING FUNDS FOR

SOLDERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION (SSAFA) FORCES HELP

AND

THE ROYAL MARINES CHARITABLE TRUST

 

 

The Venue

Padbrook Park Golf Course is an 18 hole, par 72 course of 6,500 yards set in 170 acres of beautiful Devon countryside.  It has a fine mix of birdie and bogey holes and features extensive water and woodland hazards.  The view from the 6^th is stunning but every hole is a challenge!

 

 

The Event

0900 – 1030: Registration, coffee and bacon bap, allocation of tee times. Visit the Pro shop or plan your game.

From 1030: 18 holes of golf in teams of three (with the highest two scores counting) including competitions for nearest the pin and longest drive. Putting competition with Stuart Disney PGA Advanced Professional. Have your swing recorded on the first tee for playback and analysis later. Refreshment buggy available on course.

From 1730: Enjoy a relaxing two course dinner, plus coffee, bid in the charity auction, analyse your swing with the course professional, chat and chill. Prize giving.

 

 

The Charities

Last year alone the professional staff and trained volunteers of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help provided a reliable, caring and trusted service to more than 50,000 people, helping to make a real difference to many lives.

The Royal Marines Charitable Trust is the principal fund utilised to undertake benevolence work, construct and maintain war memorials, support reunions of veterans and provide support to Royal Marines deployed overseas on operations as well as their families at home.

 

 

The Sponsor

This event is being sponsored by Debra Raymond Military Figures & Gifts, providers of short run giftware to the military, businesses and clubs, based at Military House, Cullompton, Devon EX15 1NX. Website: www.militaryfigures.co.uk

 

 

The Organiser

Bridget Hill, c/o Military House, Honiton Road, Cullompton, Devon. EX15 1NX

All bookings will be confirmed by e-mail. I look forward to seeing you on the day!

Enquiries: Tel. 01884 34835 or email Midge@militaryfigures.co.uk

 

Booking Form Golf Day.doc (26.50 kb)

Golf Day flyer BH.doc (114.00 kb)

We are delighted to be able to offer you our new Royal Air Force Regiment pin badges, tie bars and cufflinks as well as other new RAF Regiment products such as mugs, coasters, mousemats and wall shields. This has become possible because of a new MoD licence which allows the use of various RAF command (not squadron) insignia. More products will be added to the website as soon as possible but, in the meantime, if you can't find what you are looking for please get in touch.

Link to RAF Regiment product page.

We are proud to announce that the total donated to SSAFA Forces Help by Debra Raymond Military Figures and Gifts now stands at £4,926.52. 

Support Our Troops products are still available from the website and Bridget hopes to raise more for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmens and Families Assocation (SSAFA) Forces Help and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust at her Golf Day event on 13th May 2010.

Please help us to help them!

Former Royal Marines who previously served with 40 Commando Royal Marines can now join a new association that has been formed.  Further information and membership forms can be found on the 40 Commando Association RM website.

The first reunion of the association is to take place over the weekend of 19 March to 22 March 2010 at the Britannia Country House Hotel, Palatine Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 9WS.  The reunion is open to all those who have served on the strength of 40 Commando Royal Marines. Reunion booking forms can be found by using the link to the 40 Commando Association RM website above.

Members are travelling from as far a field as Australia and Italy and free transfers are available from Mancester airport for anyone coming to the reunion from outside of the UK.

Debra Raymond Military Figures and Gifts has a great range of 40 Commando Royal Marines items, which can be viewed using this link. 

 

It has been a bit of a strange week because although it isn't far from my home to Military House, it might as well be when the first part of the journey has been turned into an ice rink!  I managed to get over to Military House today and sent out as many orders as possible during the temporary respite - the forecast is not good for tomorrow.  We don't seem to have any water there at the moment which is a bit of a worry. Still, it is very pretty - nothing as bad as Scotland of course but then this is south west England.

The two charities to benefit from the Military House Charity Golf Day on 13th May 2010 will be SSAFA Forces Help and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust.

In 1958 the most radical reorganisation of the British Army since 1881 took place.  This included the formation of the Green Jackets Brigade, which consisted of the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the 1st Battalion of The King's Royal Rifle Corps and the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own.

The Brigade system was unpopular and relatively short lived.  On 1st January 1966 the three battalions amalgamated to form a single regiment - The Royal Green Jackets.

The regimental cap badge was formed using elements from the predecessor units.  At the centre of the Royal Green Jackets' cap badge is a bugle on a Maltese Cross. The cross is taken from the badges of both the King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade. In the cross are various Battle Honours from the former regiments. They are so displayed because the regiment does not have colours.  At the base of the badge is a Naval Crown. This was awarded to The Rifle Brigade to commemorate earlier service under Nelson at Copenhagen.  The badge is framed by a wreath and surmounted by a crown.

In 2007 the Royal Green Jackets became part of The Rifles.