Remembrance 2016

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

Remembrance Day 2016 has just passed. Across Greater Manchester, Cadets from GMACF were out and about in their communities, not just in parades alongside public services, the Reserve Forces and other youth training groups, but also in the days leading up that weekend, helping to raise money for the Royal British Legion, by assisting the volunteer poppy sellers – and our thanks go out to those store managers who took in the Cadets, and even, in some cases, opened up their staff canteens so that the Cadets and their instructors could refresh themselves during the day.

Remembrance was also observed at County HQ at Holcombe Moor where the County was pleased to play host to representatives from the French community of Valenciennes, which was the site of a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in the last days of the Great War, and where over 800 Commonwealth dead are buried – over 500 German dead are also buried close by.

Valenciennes has, over many years, hosted a party of GMACF Cadets on Battlefield Tour at this time of year, but sadly, this year, the security situation in France ruled this out – and hence the welcome extended to Patrice Bisiaux and his comrades who came to share our Remembrance Service. In a joint statement with the Commandant, he described how his party “wanted to be together in this yearly Act of Remembrance – as our forebears were present together in the battles which were fought 94 years ago and led to the shared victory” and he went on to pledge “never to stop the ongoing remembrance of the blood shed for France by the British Army”.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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3 (Somme) Company to the Rescue

By SI Paul Edisbury, 3 (Somme) Company, GMACF

Poppy selling in Stockport town centre on the 5^th November – a busy, cold day as is normal for this time of year, but the Cadets set about the task of selling poppies and engaging with the public with a will.

Arriving back at the Stockport Training Centre in the late afternoon, Cadets from Bredbury, Reddish and Stockport detachments from 3 (Somme) Company were tired and cold but buzzing after a maximum effort to help the Royal British Legion. As we passed through the gates of the Army Reserve Centre, a man appeared from around the corner and asked if we could help him. Following him around the corner, I could see a car with a flat tyre and an elderly lady with possibly her daughter and grand-daughter.

I advised that it might be best to push the car around the corner, away from the busy main road and towards the ARC. I jumped into the driving seat, but the man who had first asked for help was really struggling to push the car on his own, so I tried to push and steer with him at the same time – better, but not perfect. As  we turned the corner Cadet LCpl Booth was just leaving the detachment and was on his way home, but he could see we were in difficulties, so without hesitation he joined in as well.

Finally, we got the car to a safe place to attempt to change the wheel. The spare was bolted underneath the vehicle and the nut holding it together was stuck and not moving. Under Officer Harris fortunately arrived at this point and he too came over to offer help. He used to play rugby for the County, so he was able to apply a little more welcome muscle. We eventually got the spare wheel free, the car jacked up and new wheel on in no time.

The young girl who was with the vehicle had been upset – she was worried that they were going to be stuck and not able to drive home. Fortunately, with the help of the passer-by, UO Harris and LCpl Booth, that wasn’t the case and within 15 minutes the owner of the vehicle she could drive away safely. UO Harris later confessed that this was the first time he had ever changed a wheel – well you learn something every day with GMACF.

A big thank you to UO Harris and LCpl Booth from Stockport detachment for their help on the day.

UO Harris and LCpl Booth try to simulate a Ferrari Pit Stop

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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The Poppy Appeal Awards Evening 2016

By Major Peter Hilton and SSI Debbie Callaghan, HQ Company, GMACF

Every year, Cadet Detachments across the country assist in the Poppy Appeal collections. In 2015, GMACF was pleased to deploy its Cadets across sites in Greater Manchester as did the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps. Then, some months later, with the totals in, an awards evening is staged attended by local dignitaries, senior officers and veterans, to mark the achievements of all cadets in raising money for this worthy cause. This year, the ceremony was presided over by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mrs Sharman Birtles JP DL and Colonel Phil Harrison, Deputy Commander 42 Infantry Brigade.

The table below shows a sample of the money raised by GMACF and is a reflection of the generosity of their local communities. The highest earning Detachment this year was Bolton Detachment from 5 (Anzio) Company.

Company	Detachment	Amount Collected
1 (Minden) Company	Bury	£4287.13
1 (Minden) Company	Crumpsall	£1423.47
1 (Minden) Company	Ramsbottom	£276.30
2 (Kohima) Company	Ashton	£1688.28
2 (Kohima) Company	Chadderton	£2911.48
2 (Kohima) Company	Failsworth	£548.63
2 (Kohima) Company	Oldham	£670.46
3 (Somme) Company	Hyde	£252.24
3 (Somme) Company	Levenshulme	£3374.04
3 (Somme) Company	Rusholme	£2134.82
3 (Somme) Company	Bredbury	£751.42
3 (Somme) Company	Reddish	£1263.27
3 (Somme) Company	Stockport	£1717.23
4 (Korea) Company	Flixton	£355.60
4 (Korea) Company	Salford	£437.92
4 (Korea) Company	Eccles	£437.93
5 (Anzio) Company	Bolton	£10818.96 (Overall ACF Winner)
5 (Anzio) Company	Farnworth	£1589.00
5 (Anzio) Company	Wigan (Gren Gds)	£1214.78
6 (Quebec) Company	Belle Vue	£3113.87
6 (Quebec) Company	Broughton	£2910.84
6 (Quebec) Company	Manchester Academy	£1218.48

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

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Remembrance 2015

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

Remembrance is always a special occasion for the nation and for Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force. It’s an opportunity for us all to pay our respects to the fallen, and the survivors, and to acknowledge the debt owed to the Armed Forces past and present. The Cadet Forces of Greater Manchester have been hard at work in the period leading up to Remembrance, assisting the Royal British Legion with the sale of poppies, which raises the money needed to provide care and support for former members of the Forces who live with the poisonous legacy of war.

On Remembrance Sunday, Cadets from all our 44 detachments paraded across the County to lay wreathes in communities large and small, alongside veterans’ associations, the Emergency Services and Reserve Forces, supported by huge swathes of parents and members of the public, who never failed to express their support for the Cadets.

The sacrifice of those who went before us is remembered with pride and gratitude.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

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Halloween with 4 (Korea) Company

By 2 Lt Lizzie Nevell, 4 (Korea) Company, GMACF

A misty Halloween weekend at Holcombe saw 4 (Korea) Company embark on their final camp of the year.

Saturday morning brought bright sunshine and the four platoons spread out across the training area to begin a hard day’s graft. For those whose first camp it was, they had an introduction to camp life, learning the ropes of living in barracks, marching and paying compliments, as well as having the chance to prove themselves crack shots on the indoor range.

The Training One Stars broke away for First Aid training while the Training Two Stars occupied the drill square for rifle drill. Meanwhile, our more senior Training Three Stars got to grips with the LSW (light support weapon) and then took the time to hone their command skills by practicing the orders process.

As the Halloween mist descended the fake blood and zombies emerged – and that was just the staff. The hall turned into a spooky disco and was rife with inflatable horses, mummies and vampires.

Come morning the ghouls disappeared and the platoons returned to the grind stone for their assessments.

Final parade was the last time the Company will be together before the New Year. As such it was a fantastic celebration of the Cadets’ progress and achievements with a number of awards and promotions. Cadet Staff Sergeant Hopkins was promoted to Sergeant Major and Cadet Sergeant Neate was made up to Staff Sergeant. The more junior element of the company were also recognised for their leadership potential with Cadet Dailey-O’Neill promoted to Lance Corporal and Cadet Lance Corporals Lord, Benco and McHale all promoted to Corporal.

As well as the wave of well-deserved promotions, the company welcomed back Cadet Sgt McHale who had only completed his SCIC the day before (it was a small miracle that he’d dried out so quickly),  and the newly promoted Cadet Staff Sergeant Neate who had completed his SCIC a week previously and achieved top student for his course.

Although it is our last camp of 2015 it is by no means the last work the company will be doing for the year, with poppy selling events and Remembrance Sunday fast approaching, our Cadets will be paying their respects at cenotaphs throughout Manchester.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

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The Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium and the Ceremony of the Last Post

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, is a British Commonwealth War Memorial, constructed in the 1920’s in memory of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the fighting for the Ypres Salient between 1914 and 1918, and inscribed upon it are the names of 54,896 officers and men, whose remains were lost or never found.

Following the completion of the Gate, the citizens of the town felt the need to show their enduring respect to those who had fallen in defence of Belgium. Hence, the nightly ceremony of the playing of the Last Post by buglers drawn from the local Fire Service, organised by the Last Post Association. During the dark years of the German occupation, the ceremony shifted to Brookwood Cemetery in England, but shifted back to Ieper immediately upon the “liberation” of the town by Free Polish troops serving alongside the British Army in 1944. In fact, the Poles were still flushing out the last pockets of resistance at the other end of town, but the newly-liberated Belgians were not to be put off so lightly.

Tomorrow, Thursday 9^th July, marks the 30,000 playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, and to this end, the Last Post Association has invited Fire Services around the world to join in the ceremony, by sounding the Last Post at local fire stations. This offer has been accepted by the staff at Rochdale Fire Station, and the ceremony will be supported by the Royal British Legion and Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force.

A video of the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, can be seen on GMACF’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

 

Random Facts about the Gate

• Despite its size, the Gate was not big enough to record all the dead, so a made-up cut-off date of 15 August 1917 was imposed – any who died after that and whose remains were not found are inscribed on the panels at one end of Tyne Cot Cemetery, once the site of a captured German machine gun bunker which was turned into a Casualty Clearing Station.
• New Zealand and Newfoundland dead are not included at either site – they instead, in their grief, chose to bury them elsewhere – the Newfoundlanders are buried close to where their regiment was wiped out on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1^st July 1916.
• Eight of the men commemorated on the Menin Gate were holders of the Victoria Cross, ranging from a Brigadier (who had won his VC fifteen years earlier in the Boer War) to a private soldier. Four of them were young officers. Three were Canadians. One had been born in the North-West of England.
• Amongst those commemorated, five were first-class cricketers, four were rugby internationals and one was the first Australian winner of the Australian Golf Open. One, Captain the Honourable Arthur O’Neill was an MP, the first MP to be killed in the Great War (another 23 fell before the end of the war).
• From time to time, local farmers and builders do find the remains of some of those who were lost; every effort is made to identify these remains, and where successful, are buried by their Regiments with full military honours.

Little surprise then, that after the war, Britain and its Commonwealth was haunted by the regret of the loss of the flower of their generation, (and until 1916 ALL those who served were volunteers, just like the modern British Armed Forces).

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

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The Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Poppy Appeal Awards Presentation Evening

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF, with additional photographs from SSI Debbie Callaghan and SI James Hutton, 1 (Minden) Company

Cadets from the Sea Cadet Corps, GMACF and the Air Training Corps attended the Poppy Appeals Presentation Evening on Tuesday 14^th April, hosted by Newman RC College, Chadderton.

The evening celebrates the activities of all the Cadet Forces in Manchester who spent their time in stores, supermarkets and on draughty street corners during the previous November, collecting money for the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal. The money generously donated by the people of Greater Manchester is then used by the RBL to provide financial, social and emotional support to the millions who have served, or are still serving in the Armed Forces and their dependents. At the present time, there are over 11 million people who are eligible for this support, of whom four million endure a long term illness or disability or who live alone without support from friends or family. Hence the fervour with which our Cadets hit the streets in November, withstanding the wintry blasts and playing their part in the greater military community.

The Cadet Poppy Appeal Awards Competition was introduced in Greater Manchester in 1996, and has since been taken up by other counties. The annual award ceremony is led by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Colonel Warren J Smith JP, supported by civic dignitaries from all the Greater Manchester Boroughs and officers of the Royal British Legion. Awards are made to Cadet Detachments and individual Cadets in recognition of their efforts. The results for this year was as follows:

Overall Unit Winner

2200 (Oldham) Squadron ATC – £15014.30

Individual Service Winners

TS Onslow SCC (Oldham)

Bolton Detachment (GMACF)

2200 Squadron ATC (Oldham)

Runners-Up

TS Ilex SCC – (Salford)

Cheadle Hulme Detachment (GMACF)

1832 Squadron ATC (North Manchester)

 

 

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

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Four Generations

By Cadet Ellie Down, Rochdale Detachment, 1 (Minden) Company, GMACF

I would like to introduce you to my family.

I am Cadet Ellie Down of Rochdale Detachment, Number One (Minden) Company GMACF, affiliated to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. I am 14 years old. This is our Detachment on Parade on Remembrance Sunday 2014, marching past Rochdale Town Hall (which local legend says Hitler intended to dismantle and transport to Germany if he’d won the War).

This is my Maternal Great, Great, Granddad, 2872 Private Thomas Marcroft of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Whilst on active service in the Great War, he suffered a head injury, following which he needed a silver plate in his head. He was brought back to England to recuperate. He was not able to return to active duty but instead he served out the rest of the Great War working in our Prisoner of War Camps. At the end of the war he was awarded the medals known then as “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred”, (the War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star; these are the medals which my Great Grandma is wearing in this photo of four generations of my family.

Below is my Great Granddad 3448063 Private Norman Lake 5th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers.

For his service, he received the 1939 – 1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal 1935 – 1945, the Territorial Medal and then in 1977 following an approach from the Australian Government he was awarded the Tubruk Siege Medal 1941 for his services alongside the Australian Army.  There are very few people who received this medal.

Great Granddad had lied about his age to enlist as he and his brother Jim wanted to sign up together. Jim was seriously injured which left him with both his legs needing to be amputated. Before Jim was returned to Britain, the Army arranged for Great Granddad to be transferred to see his brother, this was done on compassionate grounds. Great Grandad was then returned to his squadron. This is a picture of them with their father (my paternal Great Great Grandad) before war service.

This is my Granddad, Frank Dale (Mum’s dad). He also served at the end of the Second World War and received the War Medal 1935 – 1945. Because he was very young, by the time his troop ship arrived in India the War was almost over.

My Granddad passed away in December 2002 when I was just two years old. (If still alive he would have been 88 years old). I know he would have been very proud to see me as a member of the Army Cadet Force today.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

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GMACF Mark Remembrance Day in France

By AUO Lizzie Nevell, 4 (Korea) Company, GMACF in Valenciennes

Tuesday saw the GMACF party uniting with the town of Valenciennes as silence fell for two minutes.

The French commemorate Armistice Day slightly differently to the British. The day is treated as a Bank Holiday and the entire town turns our en masse to celebrate liberty and prosperity. Each team, sports club or group join the parade through “centre ville”, waving their tricolours as they go.

The Cadets started the morning early, moving first to the Commonwealth cemetery at Saint Roch. Here are buried servicemen from British, Commonwealth and Allied armies. The air was crisp as we set out and the dew was still fresh between the headstones as we marched solemnly towards the Cross of Sacrifice, the scarlet poppies contrasting vividly against the white stone and pale blue of the morning.

After the laying of the wreaths we marched onwards to the Living Flame. Cadets stood side by side with French Firemen, Policemen and Soldiers in remembering the fallen of both world wars. From here we marched, with music from the French brass band, into the centre of the town to be met with applause from the townspeople.

To each and every Cadet it was clear that the people of Valenciennes appreciate the effort they make each year to turn out and pay their respects to the fallen of both our nations.

Editor’s Note: St Roch also contains 34 graves from the Second World War (all but one, airmen). There are also two memorials of special significance. One remembers the former Commission gardener, Robert Armstrong, whom the occupying Germans allowed to stay on in 1940, but died later in a detention camp in Saxony after being convicted of helping escaped Allied PoWs. He was posthumously awarded the French Medal of Resistance. The other memorial stone is more ironic; it remembers Sir William Douglas KCB who led the 91^st Regiment of Foot (Princess Louise’s Argyllshire Highlanders), against the French at Waterloo. Perhaps as President Kennedy once observed, “What unites us is far greater than what divides us”.

 

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

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GMACF Cadets Raise Money for the Royal British Legion

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

On this final damp and miserable Saturday before Remembrance Sunday, Cadets from all six Companies of GMACF have been on the high streets and in the retail parks of Greater Manchester helping the to raise money for the work conducted by the Royal British Legion. Tomorrow, many of the same Cadets will parade in townships around the County, alongside veterans and serving members of the Forces to pay their respect to our fallen comrades.

Many thanks to the men and women of the RBL and those in the supermarkets who help to sustain our Cadets with food and drink. Napoleon once observed that an army marched on its stomach. He hadn’t come across GMACF Cadets,

 

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

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