Journal 2008 - The Journal Royal Highland Fusiliers - The Royal ...

Associations and ClubsTHE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERSREGIMENTAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION1. The objects of the Association are:a. To grant financial assistance and/or gifts in kind and/orpensions to such persons as are eligible and are (in theopinion of the Grants-in-Aid sub committees appointed forthe purpose) in distressed or necessitous circumstance.b. To assist if possible such persons as are eligible under theConstitution to obtain admittance into Homes, Hospitals,Schools or other charitable or Benevolent Institutions.c. To make donations, contributions and subscriptions toFunds, Institutions, Associations or bodies established forpurposes which are in law charitable.2. Membership:All ranks who have served in the Royal Highland Fusiliers,the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry(including the Glasgow Highlanders in time of war orimmediately post-war), and also those members of theTerritorial Army who wore the cap badge of the RHF, or whojoined Companies whose origins lie in the RHF, RSF or HLI,and who served with the Regular Forces on full time regularservice (FTRS) or a similar engagement shall be members andas such eligible to apply for Grants-in-Aid. The dependants ofthe persons described in the preceding sentence, shall also beeligible to apply for Grants-in-Aid from the Benevolent Fund.3. In the year 2007, the Benevolent Association awarded, toindividuals, Grants-in-Aid totalling £42,822.4. Charitable donations totalling £10,860 were disbursed toservice-related charities, including the Regimental Museum,that help ex-members of the Regiment and their dependants.5. At Christmas, monetary gifts totalling £805 were distributed toex-soldiers in hospitals and after-care establishments.6. The Army Benevolent Fund, Poppy Scotland (Earl Haig Fund)and the Royal British Legion are to be applauded for theircontinued support. In the period 1 January to 31 December2007, the ABF awarded top-up grants to a value of £9,500 andAnnuities totalling £6,660 to ten pensioners.7. None of our work would be possible without the dedicationand voluntary contribution of SSAFA – Forces Help, whoinvestigate and validate the majority of cases presented by ourmembers. It is therefore right and proper that the Trusteesformally record their appreciation to the Organisation for theselfless contribution they make to our work.8. Readers may be pleased to learn that during the period 1992 to2007 the Benevolent Fund has dealt with 1542 cases for assistanceand disbursed to individuals and charitable organisations thegrand sum of ‘One Million, Six Hundred Pounds’– (£1,000,600).9. How to apply for Assistance:All requests for Grants-in-Aid should first be addressed tothe SSAFA – Forces Help Branch/Division nearest to theapplicant’s home. If in difficulty the nearest Royal BritishLegion Office or DSS office will assist. A representative ofSSAFA – Forces Help will make contact and will meet theapplicant to determine the facts of the application. A writtenreport along with the application form will then be sent to TheRegimental Benevolent Association for consideration.A sub-committee of the Benevolent Association will considerthe application and decide whether assistance should be givenand in what amount. The SSAFA – Forces Help Branch, whichinvestigated the application, will be notified of the decision of thesub-committee.Any grant awarded will be sent to the SSAFA – Forces Helpinvestigating branch who will personally pay the agency providingthe service of need. Under no circumstances will cash or paymentbe paid directly to the applicant.A D KROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS VETERANSASSOCIATION HIGHLANDOn Wednesday 01 November 2006 it was decided it was timeto set the wheels in motion to start an Association for exmembersof The RHF, RSF and HLI living in the Invernessand Highland area. The meeting took place at the CommunityCentre, Wimberley Way, just behind Cameron Barracks, with kindpermission of 1 RIR.To my delight, I was pleasantly surprised that 17 members turnedout, and like myself, quite apprehensive, about where and whatit was all going to lead to. On that first evening we did not agreeto very much, except to meet again and change the date forour next meeting to the first Tuesday of each month, which wehave adhered to ever since. We also talked a great deal amongstourselves about past and present, which as far as I was concernedis exactly what we should be doing at this stage.The following month was to me the first test, to see how manywould reappear, or was this just a flash in the pan? It exceededall our expectations; 22 members turned up. The first 17 didtheir job, and passed the word around that this was somethingworthwhile and deserving support. At this stage we decidedthat our second test was not to meet again until February andif we still had the same support we would become the RoyalHighland Fusiliers Veterans Association Highland. Once againour expectations were exceeded and, now at 1 November 2007, wehave a membership of 39 and hope to increase this each month.We now have a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Constitution anda Standard presented by Major General W E B Loudon CBE.Our aim is to maintain the good name of the Regiment in everypossible way and to make known the advantages of service in theRegiment. To foster the feeling of comradeship among all ranks,past and present, by maintaining contact with comrades bothin and out of the Service. To assist each other to the best of our24 THE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS