The first reunion of this year took place in Hohne from the 6th to the 13th of July and was attended by 11 of the members.
Graham and Pat Mottley
Steve and Mary Westley
George and Shirley Poole
Bob Jordan and Helen Whitman
Peter (Chalky) Whyte
Mike Escott
Dave Gargett
Seven of us arrived by car via the Eurostar on Sunday the 13th after meeting in Ashford and staying the previous night in a Travel lodge. The drive was uneventful and luckily this time all the sat nav systems took us all on the same route.
George and Shirley caught the later train but to all our surprise got to the hotel in Bergen before us (Well done George). Chalky flew in to Bremen and hired a car and arrived on the Monday. Mike flew into Hannover on the Monday and were picked up from the airport courtesy of the Med Regt transport.
We all stayed at the Michealsof Hotel just 3 km outside of Bergen Hohne as we had done on previous occasions and were made most welcome by all the staff. The food served for dinner and indeed every other meal was absolutely delightful.
On Tuesday two mini buses arrived at the hotel to transport us to Hohne Barracks to visit 1 and 2 Medical Regiments locations. The drivers were WO11 Toby Bailey (who was our host throughout the whole visit and Sgt Ray (Snowy) Adams. At the Regimental Headquarters we were met by the OC Maj Mike Fernando (Who had done a great deal of work towards the visit to Hohne) and briefed on the roles of the Regiments and the itinerary of the visit. We then met the CO of 2 Medical regiment LT Col Graham Johnson who welcomed us to the Barracks and gave us a brief on the roles and future deployments of the Regiments.
We then were invited to the Officers Mess for lunch and made very welcome.
On returning to the hotel we gathered at the little Snellimbiss just over the road from the hotel for the usual few beers and chinwag.
On the Tuesday evening we had a semi- formal dinner in a room at the hotel. We invited member from all ranks of the regiments and low and behold the numbers attending came to 28.
We held our little ceremony for the departed member of 28 Fd Amb and a really good night was enjoyed by all.(Graham, Bob and Steve were the entertainment and as usual they were asked for an encore.)
On Wednesday we were picked up by coach and along with 14 member of the Regiments travelled to the Munster Tank Museum along with packed meals. The Museum was a history of German Tank warfare throughout the ages. The guide was very informative and honest about the two world wars and didn’t hold anything back.
On returning to the hotel we again retired to the Snellimbiss for the usual few beers and Bratwurst/Bockwurst delights.
Thursday we were taken to the Squadron locations where a demonstration of the role and equipment was held (not like the old days, these men and women were high tech in their role and equipment (sorry boys but they would have put us to shame). We then visited old Glynne Hughes Barracks (A complete wreck now with flooded cellars and demolished rooms due to the live training carried out there)
Were then invited into the Regiments WOs and Sgts Mess for lunch, courtesy of the RSM WO1 Richie Mason, and excellent lunch and few drinks. That evening we were invited back to the mess and providedthe entertainment to the delight if the members who attended. We were given free access to the bar compliments of Toby, Snowy and other members and really enjoyed the evening.
Friday the 11th July. On Friday we were picked up by the minibus (courtesy of Med Regt) at 1000hrs and taken too Becklingam War Cemetery. On the stroke of 1100hrs we held a ceremony and laid wreaths at the memorial. The bugler played the last post and reveille. (Sgt Johnathon Karl Wadock care of the Royal Armoured Corps Military Band) It was very moving and after the silence we laid crosses on some of the graves of the fallen.
On the journey back we were taken to the Belsen concentration campwhich was again a very moving visit. Bob, Dave and Helen also visited the Soviet war graves and the cattle truck used to transport prisoners and Jews to Bergan sidings, for their last journey to the concentration camp 5 kilometers away, many died on the route.
We all had dinner that night and invited Toby, we made a presentation of a German stein to him in appreciation of all he had done for us, it was duly filled and a toast to all was given
Saturday 12 July. Toby picked us up and off to Celle for last minute shopping, and of course Chalky got his ice cream. The afternoon was left to the veterans disposal and we relaxed and packed for the journey back starting at 0600hrs on the Sunday.
Sunday the 13th. We set off on the long journey back at 0600. On the way we called at a little village in Belgium called Adinkirke for some duty free goodies. We happened across a military cemetery in the village with first and second world war graves where we paid our respects.
All in all the visit was a great success and we send many thanks to 1 and 2 Medical Regiments for their hospitality.
The next reunion will be in November at Catterick (watch for the e-mail) for the veterans who were unable to make it to Germany and we all look forward to meeting all our comrades who are able to attend.
IN ARDUIS FIDELIS