Colin Bulleid, Author at The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum

Vacancies – Trustees for the Royal Hampshire Regiment Board

The Royal Hampshire Regiment Trust is the main Board responsible for all activities to do with the Regiment, including the Museum and Memorial Garden. The Board is divided into 3 sub-committees: Museum & Memorial Garden; Finance & Governance and Comrades & Welfare.

We are currently looking for some new Trustees to join the board, particularly those with experience in the following areas: Heritage/Archives/Museums/Artefact Conservation; Legal; Finance; Marketing & PR; and Managerial to lead us forward in an exciting period of change.

Background. The Royal Hampshire Regiment Trust, led by a Board of Trustees is the body responsible for activities associated with The Regiment – which merged into the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) in 1992. Our successor Regiment is nicknamed the “Tigers”. Our board of 12 Trustees, led by a chair, meets 4 times a year at Serle’s House in Winchester.

Role and purpose of the Board. Headline responsibilities are to:

Determine and oversee the overall strategy and direction of the Trust.
Ensure that the Regimental Museum & Memorial Garden reflect the history and ethos of the Regiment – and the future of our successor Regiment – as our main legacy.
Ensure the Trust is well managed and properly governed as a registered charity.
Support and assist former members of the Regiment who are in need, hardship and distress; at the same time enable them to keep in touch with each other.
Promote esprit de corps by orchestrating regular events and maintaining long established links across the County and with our successor Regiment.
Manage endowment funds wisely and assist with fundraising initiatives as required.
Support staff and volunteers and act as ambassadors and advocates for the Trust.

Trustees are recruited for a term of 3 years initially – and assigned to one of three sub committees which report to the main board with delegated responsibilities shown below. There is a possibility to renew their position for a further term if necessary.

Trustees’ Main Responsibilities.

Board Meetings. Participate at quarterly Trustee Meetings to consider and decide on plans, monitor finances and investments, review policies and formulate strategy.
Governance. Ensure the Trust meets its legal, financial and governance. responsibilities in line with best practice and Charity Commission requirements
Other Duties may include:
To advise, keep up to date and/or take a lead where appropriate, in the area of expertise or experience for which the Trustee may be specifically appointed.
To consider and decide on plans to develop the Museum’s exhibitions, capital works and outreach activities.
To assist with maintaining esprit de corps amongst former members of the Regiment.
To act as a representative of the Regiment, help with fundraising or help with any other projects which may arise.

Sub Committee Responsibilities – which all report to the Main Trustee board.

Finance and Governance sub-committee.

Monitor the investment portfolio of the Regimental Trust and advise the Trust Board of any changes as necessary.
Set the Policy and Governance for financial matters including Audit.
Monitor and advise the Secretary and Curator on administrative procedures to ensure the efficient running and safe financial practices for the Museum.
Manage/oversee the budget plans and audit process.

Museum and Memorial Garden sub-committee.

Ensure that the history of the Regiment is suitably displayed for the public and that the Memorial Garden is adequately maintained.
Ensure that the Museum complies with guidelines and legislation as laid down by Arts Council England, the Museum Association and similar bodies.
Assist the Curator with the preparation for the re-accreditation of the Museum, and report back on this to the Main Board.
Ensure that the museum adapts to reflect the communities that it represents in the local area, while working on ways to increase visitor numbers.
Advise the main Trustee Board on issues affecting the Museum.
Fundraise to ensure viability until at least 2042.

Comrades and Welfare sub-committee.

To review and decide on the remuneration for individual cases for welfare grants as advised by the Secretary.
Set the policy and governance for welfare grants.
Assist the Chairman of the Comrades’ Association in ensuring that all former members of the Regiment keep in touch with each other,
Help ensure that esprit de corps is maintained – as well as links across the County and with our successor Regiment – PWRR.
Orchestrate/advise on diary of future events – contacts etc

Person Specification.

We need 1 or 2 new trustees each year to replace those completing their term of service. At the moment, we are seeking to build up a new Trustee team over the next 2 years and are looking for a mix of new faces and talents – particularly those with a background in Museum/Heritage/Archives/Artefact Conservation; Legal; Finance; Marketing & PR and Managerial. We would like the Board to reflect a range of ages and backgrounds, and welcome diversity.

They would need to:

Commit reliably to the time (2 days a month) and have a real interest in Museum/Military history and collections.
Offer expertise of value to the Trust.
Enjoy contributing to an interesting enterprise alongside like-minded individuals.
Live somewhere easily accessible to Winchester.

Suitably qualified trustees will be asked to join the relevant sub-committees to contribute their experience and expertise.

Closing Date for expressions of interest: 1st September 2022.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of these Trustee roles, please contact the museum on museum@royalhampshireregiment.org, or by calling 01962 863658, saying which of the 3 areas you are most interested in.

On this day – 30th May 1945

On this day in 1945, 4 men from the 5th Battalion Hampshire Regiment were killed.

The War Diary reads:

“1604: Large explosion in camp ( C&D areas) – much damage to camp. Casualties – 3 OR killed, 1 man missing (since known to be killed), 1 man seriously injured.”

These men were 1581115 Pte Henry Harrington, 5505800 Pte Arthur Hunnybun, 4981864 Pte Robert Duffin and 1732288 Pte Cyril Unsworth. All 4 men are buried in Klagenfurt War Cemetery in Austria.

The 5th Bn was engaged in mines clearance work, and processing the large numbers of personnel moving across Europe, both refugees and returning soldiers after the Declaration of Peace on 8th May.

The photos are from their funerals on 1st June 1945, from an album loaned to the museum for scanning.

Easter Holiday Activities at the Museum

320th Anniversary of the Founding of the Regiment – 13th February 1702

Meredith’s Regiment of Foot was raised in Ireland on February 13th, 1702 by Colonel Thomas Meredith; it was one of twelve who were created by order of Parliament at the start of the Wars of the Spanish Succession. Meredith, who was Irish, raised his regiment around Dublin. He determinedly refused to enlist ‘Papists’, whose loyalty he believed to be suspect.

Despite his prejudice drastically cutting down his recruiting base, Meredith had no issue finding qualified officers and other ranks. Parliament had cut down the Army five years previously, and at that time a large percentage of the army’s soldiers were recruited from Ireland. Many ex-soldiers who had been cast adrift joined his new Regiment. After a year of training, the Regiment went to the Netherlands to join the Duke of Marlborough’s campaign against the French.

In 1751, it was proclaimed that regiments would no longer bear the names of their colonels, and instead were numbered in order of precedence; the regiment became the 37^th Regiment of Foot.

The 37^th fought at Minden in 1759: they originated the PWRR’s custom of wearing roses in their berets after they picked dog-roses from the edges of the battlefield to celebrate their victory. The regiment travelled widely. They went to America and were present when the British surrendered at Yorktown in 1781; they also fought in India in 1857 during the Indian Mutiny. Eventually, in 1881, they were amalgamated with the 67^th Regiment of Foot to become The Hampshire Regiment.

NEW EXHIBITION ON D-DAY BY THE LEPE HERITAGE GROUP

NEW EXHIBITION ON D-DAY BY THE LEPE HERITAGE GROUP

Our friends at the Lepe Heritage Group have been working hard to put together an amazing exhibition on the role of Lepe and the New Forest in the run up to D-Day. The exhibition will be at the Hampshire Records Office, on Sussex Street, Winchester, from 1^st March to 14^th April 2022 during normal opening hours. Entry is Free.

The DDLHG website contains a wealth of detailed information that can be viewed via the link https://www.ddaylepe.org.uk

Anyone intending to visit the exhibition is recommended to take a prior exploratory look at the website, including the embedded links. The exhibition will feature a detailed documented and focussed look, supported by models and artefacts, at the contributions made by Lepe and those of the surrounding areas of the New Forest. These collectively became bases for the marshalling and embarkation points of thousands of troops and equipment all destined to play their part in the largest seaborne invasion in history, ‘Operation Neptune’ being the Code name for the initial phase of ‘Operation Overlord’, the invasion of Normandy, on D-Day 6th June 1944. Lepe Beach and Stanswood Bay were the locations for specially constructed hardened beach areas (still visible today) Code name Q and Q2 Hards. Over these Hards troops and highly specialised ‘secret equipments’, including Duplex Drive Tanks, AVRE’s etc. were embarked from their adjacent Marshalling Camp B9, onto LCT’s. Stanswood Bay was the location of the construction and launching of 6# Type B2 concrete caissons (Code named Phoenix), each to be used, along with 200 others, to form the outer breakwaters for the Mulberry Harbours. There will be a particularly exciting presentation of a generally unpublicised and unavailable Combined Operations Study Report of British Force ‘G’. This was produced between the 2nd and 4th October 1944 prior to any published reports being available.

https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/archives/events/d-day-lhg-exhibition

The Christmas Truce of 1914

The Christmas Truce of 1914 in the trenches of the First World War is one of those stores from the war that will remain talked about for many more years. We are fortunate to have in our collection a report of the Truce, written by Private Hutchings of the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment. The Regiment’s part of the front line was opposite the 126th Saxon Regiment’s trenches, and both sides participated in the Truce. The report is handwritten with a small cap badge stuck to the top of the page.

The report reads (in his own words and spellings):

The Saxon Cap Badge was given to me with a cigar in exchange for my own in Xmas 1914

at Plougstreet Wood. The German Trenches were roughly 200 yds from ours.

Our Company Officers Name was Capt. Unwin. The Saxon’s were beckoning with their hands

for us to go over to their trench. But we shouted over that we would meet

them half way so Capt Unwin asked for a volunteer. I happened to be standing

by the side of him at the time and it fell my lot to go over and meet

one of the Saxon’s and a nice fellow he was. We shook hands and his first

words to me was Were there any Scotch Territorials out yet as he was

himself a waiter in Glasgow. After that I cannot remember what was passed

between us as their was quite a little crowd of us. But we were the best of

friends for the next seven days. We use to walk about on top of the trench

or in the front of it without any thing happening I remember one day

during the truce they accidentally killed one of our HQ Siggnlars

and they sent over and appologized and the last day of the truce,

one of their fellows brought over a message to say they had orders

to open fire with their auto matic machines but their first shots

would be fired high. Capt Unwin in return gave him a box of

chocolates. And they certainly acted according to message. Then we

were at war again I mentioned Saxon’s as they are to be relieved by

The Prussians.

Capt Unwin I believe was killed about the same time as Capt Fiddler

our late RSM 2nd Battle of Ypres I remember him so well. I walked into him after the retire

next I was walking along asleep. Pte B Hutchings B. Coy.

Armistice Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Battle of Charasiab – 6th October 1879

The Battle of Charasiab was fought this week (5th and 6th October) in 1879, as part of the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War. This is one of the Regiment’s Battle Honours, from the 67th Regiment of Foot.

As a part of Kabul Field Force, made up of both British and Indian troops, on 3rd October 1879 they began the final thirty-six mile march to Kabul, under the leadership of General Roberts. The 67th had begun as the brigade rear-guard, escorting artillery and the baggage train, while keeping off the sniping from the enemy. Some of the 67th were then used to head back to scout out several villages for opposition and weapons, but finding them mainly deserted.

On the evening of 5th October 1879, Roberts reached Charasiab village near the River Logar and encamped with the main body of the Brigade. To the north of the camp, by the river, the route to Kabul lay through the Sang i Nawishta pass. It was Roberts’ intention to remain in Charasiab while the transport animals returned to Safed Sang and brought up the supplies left there with the remaining troops. As evening drew in, Afghans could be seen gathering in the hills either side of the pass.

Half the 67th had remained behind to await and escort the returning transport, and the other 4 companies under were under the command of Major Kingsley.

On the morning of 6th October 1879, a force comprising 23rd Bengal Native Infantry and 92nd Highlanders with cavalry and 2 guns advanced to the Sang i Nawishta, with the task of making sure the route along the Logar River was passable. But the Afghan force was now moving forward and it could be seen that this was not a mass of tribesmen, but regular Afghan troops equipped with artillery, around 8,000 in number. The Afghans took position occupying three miles of the crescent of hills.

To further complicate Roberts’ position, Afghan tribesmen were gathering in his rear. Roberts resolved on immediate attack on the Afghan army blocking his road to Kabul. Brigadier Baker advanced with the force already deployed; 72nd Highlanders, troops of 5th Gurkhas and 5th Punjab Infantry, cavalry and 5 guns.

Baker’s force divided in two; Major White leading a contingent from the 92nd and 23rd Pioneers into the pass, while Baker took the remaining companies to attack the Afghan right. White stormed the hill overlooking the pass, only to find himself threatened by overwhelming numbers of Afghans. In spite of this, White detached two companies of Highlanders to assist Baker’s attack.

Baker’s troops stormed the hills forming the first line on the Afghan right, driving the Afghans back to the second line of hills. The 72nd, 5th Gurkhas and the remaining companies of the 23rd Pioneers assailed the second line. This attack was suddenly supported by the two companies of 92nd Highlanders, sent by White to launch an assault in support of Baker on the left flank of the Afghans.

The Afghan centre and right, under attack by Baker the 92nd, crumbled and fled, taking the troops facing White with them.

The 67th under Major Kingsley were in reserve, guarding the camp, and did not make it into the main action, although the HQ wing fought off an attack on their camp, and then escorted ‘an immense string’ of transport animals, earning great credit by bringing it in without losing any to the Afghans.

British and Indian casualties were 78. Afghan casualties were around 500. The medals for the Afghan campaign were awarded to all those who participated, including the 67th. The medal’s reverse shows a transport elephant being escorted – perhaps by the 67th?

The Battle of Charasiab opened the last section of road to Kabul for the British and Indian army. Moving forward, Roberts concentrated his army before taking over the city on 9th October 1879. The Regimental History mentioned that Major Kingsley’s men had a hard time of it in the following days from Charasiab, marching 45 miles in 48 hours with no food rations.

There are various spellings of Charasiab – the medal clasp does not have the final ‘b’ on it, and sometimes it is spelled with a K to start.

Today is the Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme – 1st July 1916

Today marks the 1st Day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, serving as part of 4th Division, were assigned to attack north of the heavily fortified village of Beaumont Hamel. Today also marks the worst day for the regiment in terms of casualties, as all 26 officers were either killed or wounded, and 559 Other Ranks were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. As a result, there are few detailed accounts of the battle.
We do have this letter in the collection, written by 21271 Private Albert Blaber who was one of the wounded from 1st July. In it he describes the horrors of the opening day of the Battle to his wife. The letter text is below:

No 9 A Ward West. Lord Derby’s War Hospital
Warrington, Lancs. Saturday July 8th

My own darling Rosie.

I am further away from home than I was when I were in the firing line but thank God I am on the right side of the water, darling I can hardly believe that I am in Hospital, for it was like coming from hell to heaven, for only those that went through the awful fight on Saturday July 1 and the next day, could describe what I mean by coming out of the gates of Hell.
My darling you have no need to worry about me for you can rest contented now that your hubby is safe for a while at least. We are in one of the finest War Hospitals in England, lovly rooms, everything for the comfort of the Wounded, and the sisters are very nice, do anything for us. I think we deserve everything in the way of comfort after what we had been through. I suppose you have read about us in the papers for I see that our regiment is mentioned and we deserve it, for we had very heavy losses. Our division lost over 8,000 men, we were mown down like corn by Machine Gun fire and shell fire, our dead lay in front of our barbed wire in hundreds. I shall never forget the awful sight We never took any prisoners on our part of the fight for the simple reason we killed every german we came across. Our Brigade the 88th were the third line to go over the 86th and 87th we suffering heavy losses, and the Germans shot any amount of our poor wounded men, that got our blood up, so we spared neither wounded or otherwise after we saw what had happened.
My darling it was a frightful sight to see our wounded laying in front of the trenches at the mercy of heavy shell fire, so plenty of us were eager to volunteer to bring them in. Some we had to leave after we had made them comfortable for we were losing men heavily and it broke the heart to have to leave them, for it was an order for us to do so for we were told to leave the wounded to get on the best they could as all the men who were up to then unhurt were needed for another attack. We took the first line of trenches, but owing to heavy losses we were unable to hold on, but while we were there we done great slaughter to the Germans, for we found there were dug outs full of them, so we bombed them out of it we showed no mercy for anybody, for what I described earlier in the letter, for a lot surrendered to us, holding up there hands, shouting ‘Mercy Kamard’ which means comrade in English and they got it in the shape of a bomb or a bayonet. Our part of the line was in Thiepal [Thiepval] Wood, where the germans had command over us for we had to attack about 700 yards of no mans land. You would have laughed to see us running from one shell hole to another, of course darling it was no laughing matter for I do not want to go through it again.
I was wounded on Sunday night while bringing in our wounded and up to yesterday I only had a temporary bandage on. We looked awful sights when we arrived at the hospital, for I had not had a shave for 15 days and not even a wash, and my clothes was covered with mud and blood, and I also was lowsy as I could be. We were packed like sardines on the hospital boat as there were hundreds still waiting in France. What a treat to lay in a nice bed. I had not taken off my boots for 23 days up to yesterday so you can quite understand how I felt. My darling I have lost everything pipes cigs tobacco shaving soap, not a thing did I bring away. I brought a birthday card for little lily, and also some cards for Dick and Dolly and I have lost them so you can relize how I am fixed, do not trouble about sending anythink until I know how things are going. I have not a penny in the world to help myself with.
You can send a 2/.. P O if you can spare it for I can manage with that then I shall be able to get some stamps, how funny it will seem to have to stamp our letters. You can write to the address, but only send letters or papers, do not send parcels for we are not allowed them. Will you kindly let Mr Browne know where I am and tell him I apolygize for not writing to him at present but will do so at the first chance I get.
I wish little Lily a happy birthday, I am sorry I shall not be able to send her a card as I have no money to get one. Perhaps you could send her one, and say it is from her daddy. Remember me to all at home.
I must close hoping to see you and the children before long sending my fondest love and kisses from your ever loving hubby Bert, you can show father this letter if you like.
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On this day- Battle of Jidballi 1904

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Jidballi in 1904. This campaign was part of the Somaliland offensive, which had started in 1901 when the Mullah Mohammed Abdullah proclaimed himself the Mahdi and started raiding British Somaliland. Repulsed twice in 1901 and 1902, it became clear that more substantial operations were necessary in the interior of the country. British Mounted Infantry, Indian and African regular soldiers, together with local volunteers were used to launch simultaneous attacks to try and drive the Mullah from his stronghold and into the desert.

There were some successes and some failures amongst these operations; a lack of water, food and transport had severely hindered the British forces’ advances in 1903, and by the autumn they were forced to wait and regroup, and resupply via a coastal road they had built themselves. Operations started again at the end of October 1903, although there was little action, despite the allied forces trying to tempt the Somalis into attacking their column in December.

By January 1904, General Egerton, now commanding in Somaliland, decided to advance on Jidballi, which was 40 miles east of Eil Dab where the Mullah’s men were gathering. The ensuing battle for the Hampshire Regiment lasted only 40 minutes from the opening fire, as the trained soldiers were more accurate shooters than the Somali troops, who retreated with British mounted troops in pursuit.

Today’s museum treasure is this fabulous shield made from Hippo hide. It was brought back after the Battle of Jidballi, and donated to the museum by Major SCF Jackson DSO, who later went on to command the 1st Battalion. The shield is decorated on both sides – the reverse has a painted design. It is smaller than may be expected however, measuring only 35cm in diameter.