A Branch Standard

The following are extracts from our newsletters relating to the BRANCH STANDARD

A Branch Standard NEWSLETTER NO 2: NOVEMBER 2000

A proposal for the Branch to have a standard was discussed and it was agreed that this should be delayed until the Committee has investigated the REA criteria for standards.

A call for Standard Bearers from the Branch Chairman NEWSLETTER NO 5: - Spring 2002

In accordance with members’ wishes expressed at the last AGM – arrangements have now been made to purchase an REA Standard for our Military Survey Branch. The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess, Hermitage Garrison have kindly offered to display and house the Standard.

The President now seeks several volunteers to be available and perform the duties of Branch Standard Bearer, on a roster basis, for official parades and Corps functions.

We shall have a problem to maintain and parade our Branch Standard, unless we find a pool of volunteers to man the colours for various functions.

We now have two experienced members, who can undertake duties, as locally based Standard Bearers, convenient to Newbury - Mr “Mike” Payne and Mr Jack Crompton. However, we shall still require further volunteers in order to undertake more widespread functions such as representative memorial services and requests from families at funerals.

If you are interested in registering for these duties, please contact the Hon Secretary or speak to the Branch Chairman, directly, during the next AGM.

At our last AGM, our Branch Chairman - Chris Nash, having taken advice on the various materials and range of prices quoted for the manufacture of a Standard, stated that he was going ahead with the design phase and near immediate purchase of a Survey Branch Standard.

We have now obtained some additional technical details and information, which has led us to place a hold on an immediate purchase.

The Chairman reports that the artwork for the Branch Standard has now been completed, but the Raycot version suggested at the last AGM proved to be prohibitively expensive. Consequently, the Committee has taken the decision to proceed with a regular Standard which will be acquired through the REA, who are also prepared to provide a 50% grant towards the cost of manufacture.

The delivery of the completed work is anticipated before Christmas, when it will be placed in the WO and Sgts’ Mess, Denison Barracks alongside the Reading Branch Standard ( by kind permission of the RSM).

The Survey Branch Standard will have a central theme featuring the badge of the Corps of Royal Engineers in gold thread and will be flanked with our traditional logo – Fougasse – also executed in gold embroidery.

During 2004, arrangements will be made with HR REA and the Corps Committee for an official dedication of our Branch Standard. The Committee will inform the Membership of activities and arrangements for dedication of the new Standard through our Spring or Summer Newsletter.

We shall be taking advice from the Corps Committee for dedicating our Military Survey Branch standard. As and when appropriate, the RSM of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geo) has kindly arranged for its safe keeping alongside the Reading REA Branch standard in the dining room of the WOs and SGTs’ Mess, Denison Barracks, Hermitage.

It is planned to dedicate our Branch Standard in Rochester Cathedral on the Sunday of the Corps Memorial Weekend, which will be held at Chatham 17-19 Sep 04. Several Committee Members are already planning to attend this dedication and more members are needed to provide strong Branch representation at the ceremony. If you would like a visit to Chatham and combine the dedication with a visit to the excellent survey exhibition at the RE Museum - please give your names to the Hon Secretary as soon as possible so that final details can be issued prior to our AGM.

The Chairman has collected the new Branch Standard, which was displayed to Committee Members at our Spring meeting on 1 April 04. He proposed forming a Branch delegation (initially consisting of Committee members plus volunteers) to attend selected parts of the Corps Memorial Weekend at Chatham, in September 2004. In particular, this delegation would provide Branch representation for the dedication of our new Standard on Sunday 19th September at Rochester Cathedral.

Arrangements for the Dedication of our Branch Standard at Chatham during the Corps Memorial Weekend NEWSLETTER NO 15: - Summer 2004

Our new Branch standard is to be dedicated at the Veterans Memorial Service to be held at Rochester Cathedral on Sunday 19th September 2004. This service is part of the Annual Corps Memorial Weekend held at Chatham over the 18th and 19th September.

Mike Payne, our Bearer, has kindly made himself available for the Sunday to carry our new standard for this dedication.

Several of your Committee will be attending the service as well as our President, Brig Alex Matthews. However the Branch would welcome any members who might wish to come and participate in the dedication. Final arrangements are, not yet known but the Hon Secretary is expecting details from HQ REA shortly.

Our new Branch Standard was dedicated at the Corps Memorial Service held in Rochester Cathedral on Sunday 19th September 2004. This service was part of the Annual Veterans/Corps Memorial Weekend held at Chatham over the 18th and 19th September 2004. Several members of the Committee, and their partners, together with other Branch members attended the moving service as well as our own Branch President, Brigadier (Retd) Alex Matthews.

The Honorary Secretary, Peter Wood, accompanied by Mike Payne, our Branch Standard Bearer, processed the furled Standard to the altar. Here the Deputy Chaplain General unfurled our Standard for the first time and laid it on the altar for the blessing.

After the service the Branch Standard was ably borne by our Standard Bearer – Mike Payne where it took pride of place behind the National Standard and with the stirring sounds of the Corps Band and Bayonets fixed, joined the Memorial Parade through Rochester High Street. A fitting tribute to our new Standard on its first outing!

It was a beautiful day both from the point of view of the weather and the smooth running of the whole event. Our grateful thanks to those Branch members who took the time out to attend. The new home for the Standard, when not in use, will be the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess at 42 Geographic Engineer Group, Hermitage.

Also in September, a delegation from the Branch attended the dedication of the Branch standard in Rochester Cathedral during the REA Chatham weekend. It was a solemn and moving event at which our standard was blessed at the altar and then led the ranks of Branch standards out of the Cathedral and into the parade along the High Street. Our part in the ceremony was most ably completed by Peter Wood and Mike Payne, and thank you to all those Branch members who travelled to Chatham for the day.

The Military Survey (Geographic) Branch has been asked if any of our WWII Veterans would like tickets to attend the 60th Anniversary marking the end of the 2nd World War - to be held in London on 10th July 2005. The main event will take place during the afternoon and will comprise a series of nostalgic, reflective and commemorative events in front of an audience of some 10,000 veterans, relatives and VIPs. Our Military Survey (Geographic) Branch standard is to be paraded by our very own Jack Crompton. Any WWII veteran, who would like to attend, please contact the Hon Sec in the first instance.

World War II – The 60th Anniversary of VE/VJ Day NEWSLETTER NO 18 (Spring)
Freedom of Newbury Parade, 17th July 2005

The Commanding Officer 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) and the Newbury Town Council have kindly invited the Branch to march through the streets Newbury to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Victory in Europe/Victory in Japan. The event is scheduled to take place on the 17th July commencing at 1530 hrs.

The programme for the day will be along the lines of previous Freedom Parades. Contingents will form up at the Royal British Legion (RBL) Newbury; march down the High Street and into the Market Place where an inspection will take place. Once the inspection is completed a March Pass will take place before returning to the RBL building. It is hoped our Branch Standard will be paraded. The REA Branches and Royal British Legion will lead the Parade. After the event the RBL (Newbury Branch) will be holding a function at their Club with a 1940’s theme. The invitation is open to all parade participants.

The branch standard

A Branch Standard NEWSLETTER NO 2: NOVEMBER 2000