The Sandbag Times Remembrance Special

The Veterans’ Magazine 

Issue 37 | October 2017 

The Remembrance 

Special 

Lest we forget 

SBT News Update 

Plus all The Latest National & International 

News from the Armed Forces & Veterans’ World 

SPONSORED BY: 

www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 

Supporting #Chennai6

CONTENTS 

SBT News 

3 Queen Meets Veterans 

At Bletchley Park 

Veterans of WRNS and 

WAAC were honoured by the 

presence of the Queen 

3 Major Heather Stanning 

Honoured 

Double Olympic champion 

Heather Stanning has been 

presented an OBE 

4 Special Forces Veteran 

Awarded George Cross 

Medal awarded for saving 

over 200 in Kenya shopping 

centre massacre 

5 Bikers Turn M60 into 

Ring of Red 

Bikers will be turning the 

M60 into a huge poppy by 

wearing red on Remembrance 

Remembrance Special 

Features 

10 Remembering the Royal 

Navy 

Petty Officer Jim London 

12 Remembering the Army 

Walter Tull 

14 Remembering the Royal 

Air Force 

Tornado Down - John Nichol 

Regular 

8 Historic Tommy Atkins 

Veterans: History in the 

making 

19 Have Faith 

Be Bold, Be Strong 

26 SBT Information 

A page dedicated to back 

issues, information, book 

reviews etc 

28 Remembrance 

Remembering the Fallen 

Editor: Pablo Snow 

Magazine Manager: Matt Jarvis 

Chief Sponsor: Ken Brooks 

Patro: Matt Neal 

Honourary Patron: 

Jacqueline Hurley 

Additional editors: 

Albert ‘Robbie’ McRobb 

Jane Shields 

Radio & Media Manager 

Jim Wilde 

Recording Engineer and PR 

Manager 

Vince Ballard 

VIP Distribution 

John Terry 

Email: info@sandbagtimes.com 


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THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE 

SBT NEWS Remembrance Special Ken Brooks Osteopath 

Sponsored by 

The Queen Meets Veterans of WRNS and WAAC at Bletchley Park 

The Queen has marked the 

centenary of the Womens 

Royal Naval Service and 

the Womens Army 

Auxulary Corps by a visit 

to Bletchley Park to meet 

veterans. who served in 

1941 during the second 

world war. The Queen was 

escorted by the Princess 

Royal, Princess Anne 

during the visit where the 

Queen was given an insight into 

the work of the WRNS100 

project, which is celebrating the 

formation and history of the 

organisation and recognising 

the role of women in the Royal 

Navy today. The Queen, who is 

patron of the WRAC 

Association, met senior naval 

and army members alongside 

veterans who joined the 

Auxiliary Territorial Service 

From the Great Wall of China to the Pyrenees Mountains - Treking For Veterans 

(ATS) in 1941 and worked at 

Bletchley Park until VE Day. 

The visit comes just days after 

the announcement that she will 

not lay a wreath at the 

Cenotaph this year. Instead, 

she will watch the parade from 

the balcony of the Foreign 

Office while the Prince of 

Wales takes her place.in laying 

the floral tribute on behalf of 

the nation on 12th November. 

In May 2017 I embarked on a 9 

day trek of the Great Wall of 

China with 15 strangers to raise 

money for our local hospice. We 

ended up raising just short of 

£70,000 between us. During this 

trek, I became close friends with 

Aimee Potter and Nikki Danby 

and we quickly realised that we 

had all caught the “trek bug” so 

started to plan our next 

adventure. Aimee was the one to 

find out details about the 

Freedom Trail, a World War II 

escape route for allied 

servicemen and refugees from 

Nazi occupied France to Spain, 

across the Pyrenees Mountains. 

My dad is exmilitary so I really 

wanted to help a charity that 

supported our veterans. Being 

from Hull, it was an easy decision 

for us to agree on Hull4Heroes. 

Our small group of 3 has now 

become a group of 11 as we have 

signed more people up to trek 

with us in the summer of 2019. 

Since contacting Paul Matson, 

the founder of Hull4Heroes, the 

support we have received has 

been unbelievable. Today we 

were invited to the East Hull 

armed forces veterans breakfast 

club by Dereck Hardman and got 

to meet some of the amazing 

people supported by the charity. 

What a fantastic group. They 

made us all feel so welcome and 

it was extremely humbling to 

meet so many amazing and 

inspirational people. We even 

managed to get one of them 

signed up to the trek and also 

received our first sponsor 

money! The word is certainly 

spreading about our trek and we 

have since been invited to another 

breakfast club in West Hull on the 

4th November. 

We have so many ideas and plans 

for our fundraising and our aim is 

to raise at least £30,000 for the 

charity. Roll on summer 2019! 

North Lanarkshire war veteran Scott wins Invictus medal treble 

An injured veteran has 

scooped a hattrick of medals 

at the Invictus Games in 

Toronto. Scott Meenagh took 

silver medals in the 400 

metres and 1500 metres and a 

bronze in the rowing. And the 

Cumbernauld man almost 

added to his medal haul, 

coming fourth in both the 

100m and 200m events. The 

27yearold was serving with 

the 2nd Battalion Parachute 

Regiment in Afghanistan 

when he lost both legs after 

stepping on an Improvised 

Explosive Device in 2011. 

But he has been determined to 

rebuild his life postinjury and 

has embraced sport and the 

Invictus Games as a way of 

helping to do that. Application 

for the 2018 Games is now 

open for all injured veterans. 

Double Olympic 

Champion Major Heather 

Stanning Honoured 

Double Olympic Champion 

Major Heather Stanning has 

been given an OBE by the 

Queen She was honoured 

among other Olympic Gold 

Medalists at Buckingham 

Palace. Heather retired from 

her rowing career almost a 

year ago to persue her military 

career. Although awarded by 

the Queen, the medal was presented 

by the Princess Royal. 

Major Stanning has said she 

still keeps fit by competing in 

endurance events although 

she has admitted to feeling a 

little upset that she is not able 

to get back to her winning fitness 

levels. She laughingly 

said though, that she’ll get 

used to it. Although retired 

she is still very close to her 

Olympic partner Helen Glover 

saying they still regularly see 

each other as friends. 

| 4 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

NEWS 


SBT NEWS Remembrance Special Ken Brooks Osteopath 

Bikers to Turn M60 into Remembrance Ring of Red 

Motorcyclists, scooter riders and 

trikers are to create a red poppy 

around the M60 to raise money 

for a Haslingden charity., Ride 

of Respect – Ring of Red already 

circle the M25 and this year 

Veterans In Communities, based 

in Haslingden, has been chosen 

to benefit from all of the funds 

raised from the 36 mile M60 ride 

on Remembrance Sunday on 

November 12. One of the 

organisers Jeanette Kiely said: 

“Everyone taking part will have 

a red Tshirt and we have 

contacted TV news stations to 

see if they will be able to cover 

it. We want someone to be able 

to take an aerial photograph to 

show the red ring around the city. 

“We picked VIC to benefit 

because of the outreach work 

that the charity carries out in 

Rochdale, Heywood and the 

surrounding areas.” VIC 

Operations Manager Bob Elliott 

said: “We are delighted to be 

supporting this colourful and 

moving tribute to veterans. 

“VIC will be at Birch Services 

with our VIC crew van and an 

advice and information stand. 

“We are very grateful to Ride of 

Respect – Ring of Red for the 

opportunity to raise money and 

awareness of the work of 

VIC.”Riders will assemble from 

9.30am at the Westbound Birch 

Services on the M60 and the ride 

leaves at 1:00pm. 

A retired special forces 

officer awarded the 

George Cross for 

repeatedly risking his life 

to save around 200 people 

during a deadly Kenyan 

terrorist attack has 

dedicated his gallantry 

medal to all victims of 

such atrocities. Major 

Dominic Troulan said he 

was just the “custodian” 

of the honour after the 

Queen presented him with 

the UK’s highest civilian 

honour for bravery. He 

added that many “good 

human beings” have 

“amazed” the world by 

Sponsored by 

Special Forces Veteran Awarded George Cross 

standing up for democracy 

during similar incidents. 

Maj Troulan, who served 

for two decades in the 

special forces, returned a 

dozen times to the 

Westgate Shopping Mall 

in Nairobi in 2013 to 

search for survivors and 

lead them to safety after 

alShabab extremists 

stormed the centre armed 

with machine guns and 

grenades. Speaking after 

the ceremony he said: 

“Whilst I take this award – 

and very humbled and 

honoured I am to receive 

it from Her Majesty – it is 

definitively (from) a 

position of custodian for 

all the victims not only of 

Westgate but of terrorism 

generally.” Maj Troulan, 

the first civilian to receive 

the George Cross in more 

than 40 years, added: 

“The world over the last 

few years has got worse, 

arguably. His George 

Cross citation was read 

out to the investiture 

guests, who were told: 

“He managed to bring two 

women to safety and 

decided to stay to help 

others. The incident 

ended with 67 lives lost. 

Centenary to be celebrated at RAF Cosford Airshow 

Organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show have announced plans 

for next year’s Air Show, on Sunday 10th June 2018, which they 

promised would be “the most spectacular and interactive Air 

Show tribute to the Royal Air Force’s centenary.” One of the 

most exciting attractions planned for the Air Show is a 

showcase of 100 aircraft in a chronological exhibition 

showcasing the development of aeronautical design and 

capability over the past century. The first participant of which 

was announced today, the Boulton Paul Defiant I was a twoseat 

turret fighter, operated as a night fighter in the 1940-42 by 

the Royal Air Force during WWII. Tickets for the Air Show have 

gone on sale today, with organisers holding the price at £25.00 

despite increasing costs, with the emphasis being put on 

providing great value for money for visitors, something 

reinforced for families as accompanied under-16s can attend 

the Air Show for free. 


SBT News Special 

For The Fallen – Maj Keely Harvey ACF, Officer Commanding Y Company Hampshire and IOW ACF 

Every year at Remembrance Parades across the 

country I like many others would stand and 

listen to the moving words of the 4th verse of 

the poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Lawrence Binyon 

never really thinking about the other six verses 

which put it into it’s truest context. We are all 

moved by them and the sounding of the last 

post and reveille which tend to follow. 

However in 2014 good friends of mine who 

live up in Gedney Drove End in Lincolnshire 

asked me to join them and their neighbours at 

the special service they were holding for the 

100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First 

World War. I went along as a spectator only 

but was asked by the organizer if I would read 

out the full poem for them during their service. 

I was honoured to accept and was handed a 

sheet containing the words. 

A simple read through was enough to move me 

but the poem truly took on more significance 

as I read it out to the assembled group who at 

the end of each line extinguished a candle until 

only one candle and one line remained; ‘To the 

end to the end, they remain.” 

As this last candle was blown out a minutes 

silence began and we were all moved by the 

atmosphere the full poem had presented and 

added to the occasion. By the time reveille was 

played and the lights were once again 

illuminated we had all had time to consider the 

significance of all of those words. All of the 

people assembled in that all were moved by 

them and at that point I knew that I had to 

ensure that my cadets truly appreciated the 

context that the words were set in so that 

generations beyond this first 100 years would 

appreciate not only the sacrifice made, but the 

pride of a people, the mourning of a country, 

the salvation of a nation, the glory and the 

horror of war. 

As I thought more about it I came up with the 

idea that this new generation could use social 

media, innovation, invention and the freedoms 

they enjoy because of the sacrifices not only of 

those soldiers of the First World War, but of all 

of those that have followed, to ensure that the 

poem and its significance in our service of 

remembrance lives on for another 100 years; 

because as we move further away from it, so 

do our familial connections to it grow ever 

more distant. 

I knew how I wanted to portray it and getting 

the cadets to buy into the idea was easier than 

I thought. However ideas and getting people to 

sign up to it were easy. What I didn’t 

necessarily have was the technical ability to 

pull it off, but it always surprises me the 

connections we have. I had talked about the 

idea to Sgt Instructor Colin Gaylor ACF who 

worked closely with veterans from all services 

at an Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast 

Club he runs with his wife in Southampton, 

little did I suspect that he would know a man 

with the technical knowhow and a fantastic 

team of other film industry professionals. He 

was also key in getting the assistance of the 

veterans of many more recent conflicts and 

service to join with the cadets in the recital, all 

of whom were keen to participate. 

Once they were all on board the matter took 

off in a way I could never have imagined and I 

am so grateful for the assistance of all 

involved; the film crew who gave their time 

and expertise for free and talked the Imperial 

War Museum into letting us use a lot of their 

stock footage for the backdrop to this; to Sgt 

Colin Gaylor and 2Lt Reece Cooper who 

helped organize getting everyone together in 

one place and at the same time (no mean feat) 

and brought this idea to reality, and especially 

to the Cadets of Y Company Hampshire and 

IOW ACF and the Veterans of Southampton 

who gave their time to perform. 

Coming up with the idea and the concept was 

the easy part, my only other real contribution 

was ironing the blue screen to take out the 

creases at 0730 on a Saturday morning and 

keeping a constant run of tea and coffee 

flowing to all the crew and performers. I am so 

proud of them all and hope that others will 

appreciate their efforts and remember our 

veterans and support them by wearing their 

poppy’s with pride and contributing to the 

Royal British Legion this year and for the next 

100 years. 

Maj Keely Harvey ACF, Officer Commanding 

Y Company Hampshire and IOW ACF 

For the Fallen 

By Laurence Binyon 

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her 

children, (Cdt Cpl Rebecca Baynes) 

England mourns for her dead across the sea. 

(Cdt Daniel Kimish) 

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, 

(Veteran Fred Leach) 

Fallen in the cause of the free.(Cdt Ashton 

Murray) 

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and 

royal (Cdt L/Cpl Chloe Gale) 

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, (Cdt 

L/Cpl Charlie Young) 

There is music in the midst of desolation 

(Veteran Brian Lankford) 

And a glory that shines upon our tears. (Cdt 

L/Cpl Archie Pope) 

They went with songs to the battle, they were 

young, (Cdt L/Cpl Michael Fox) 

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. 

(Cdt Kai Williams) 

They were staunch to the end against odds 

uncounted; (Veteran Di Pratt) 

They fell with their faces to the foe. (Cdt Tala 

Sohrabi) 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left 

grow old: (Cdt L/Cpl Elliott YourdiRead) 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years 

condemn. (Cdt Cpl Rebecca Baynes) 

At the going down of the sun and in the 

morning (Veteran Vic Thorn) 

We will remember them. (Cdt Jack Berry) 

They mingle not with their laughing comrades 

again; (Cdt L/Cpl Chloe Gale) 

They sit no more at familiar tables of home; 

(Cdt L/Cpl Archie Pope) 

They have no lot in our labour of the daytime; 

(Veteran Reggie Campbell) 

They sleep beyond England's foam. (Cdt Ellie 

Malcolm) 

But where our desires are and our hopes 

profound, (Cdt Cpl Rebecca Baynes) 

Felt as a wellspring that is hidden from sight, 

(Cdt Daniel Kimmish) 

To the innermost heart of their own land they 

are known (Veteran Kathryn Day) 

As the stars are known to the Night; (Cdt 

Ashton Murray) 

As the stars that shall be bright when we are 

dust, (Cdt Jack Berry) 

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; 

(Cdt L/Cpl Elliott YourdiRead) 

As the stars that are starry in the time of our 

darkness, (Cpl Will Dawe, 266 RLC) 

To the end, to the end, they remain. (Cdt L/Cpl 

Charlie Young) 

When you go home, tell them of us, and say 

for your tomorrow, we gave our today 

(Veteran Fred Elston) 

The Last Post and Reveille – Cdt Musician 

Sam Frost. 


Worcester Memorials Project 

Worcestershire War 

Memorials Cycling Project 

By David Waite 

Ok, so that is easy. Not so. There are many different types 

of memorials; plaques, windows, crosses, battlefield crosses 

and towers – just to name a few. These number many 

hundreds, however to me and my childhood and adult 

memories the type I want to visit are those in the hamlets, 

villages, towns and cities of the County. The ones where we 

visit and pay our respects on the 11th November each year. 

So I have managed to reduce the numbers to at least 192. 

And these are the known memorials! Surprisingly there is 

no completely accurate record of all memorials, where they 

are, and what state they are in. The County do not have the 

resources to monitor and record this. So my idea is still 

fairly open. So back to the drawing board. 

So readers, my revised idea, project, aim is to encompass 

the past, present and future. How? 

I am going to road cycle to all the 192 free-standing War 

Memorials in Worcestershire. In May 2018, taking about two 

to three weeks. I want to do so then as it gives me longer 

daylight hours to ride, and not to deflect from major 

commemorations later in the year by the many combatant 

nations, British Counties and local folk. 

I am going to photograph the front of each Memorial and 

send it to the County Archaeology Department and 

Remember the Fallen. It will be the first proper audit of 

these. The County will then have a photograph data-base 

that was attained in a condensed time-scale. Something 

positive. 

I look at 2018 as a highly significant moment in both British 

and world history. In case you need to be reminded, it will be 

100 years since the Armistice came into force. 

When the industrialised slaughter on the Western Front and 

other theatres ceased. 

The British nation suffered massive casualties both in terms of 

dead and those injured. Many injuries were physical, and 

many more were physiological. 

As a British Army veteran of twenty two years’ service, an avid 

road cyclist and pay keen attention to elements of British – 

especially military history; an idea sprung to mind. 

It started as all good intentions, just a brief skimming idea to 

mark the centenary of the Armistice and pay a personal 

tribute to those that have fallen in the County of 

Worcestershire. For those reading this article overseas, this is 

a smallish County situated in the heart of England. 

My idea? I want to cycle to all the known War Memorials in 

Worcestershire. And pay my personal gratitude and thanks to 

all of the fallen. 

Linked loosely into this, I work as a local volunteer for Help for 

Heroes, and sufficiently disciplined to pursue objectives even 

when these look difficult. 

So, I dived eagerly into this project. I have found a great deal 

of assistance, and confusion! The huge assistance came in 

various guises such as the County Archaeology Department, 

a small organisation called ‘Remember the Fallen’ and the 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 

I will create feasible day cycling routes (initial thoughts are 

of 60 to 70 miles daily), in logically geographical chunks of 

the County, that will be published and thus viewed by other 

cyclists. If they wish, can join me on the pilgrimage. Not 

only will more fun with others, but by doing so raise the 

awareness of the Memorials as the last vestige of the link 

between our land and those who died 100 years ago. 

I have been offered practical support from a local bike shop 

and by The Tommy Atkins Centre in Worcester. I am going 

to get a loan of a second bike (in the event of a catastrophic 

failure on mine) and vehicle and driver support. The Tommy 

Atkins Centre is new and deals with ex-servicemen and 

veterans who suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress 

Disorder). Readers are aware of this as they may receive 

the Sandbag Times. The Centre are going to open up a 

Just Giving page, and do a daily blog. A bit difficult to do 

on a bike! 

As the Centre is so new, we estimate that it cost about 

£5,000 to run annually, the cost of Remember the Fallen 

about £1,000 for two years. So our target (it is a team effort) 

is to raise at least £6,000. Is that reasonable to you? 

Nearer the time, I am sure you will hear more of this project, 

please tell everyone, and please feedback to The Tommy 

Atkins Centre. To me, this links the past servicemen, women 

and nurses to those of today who are suffering to. 

Sponsored by 



The Historical Tommy Atkins 

Written By 

Peter Macey 

Veterans – History in the Making 

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a 

Canadian doctor, who was serving in Ypres 

in the Spring of 1915 when a close friend 

was killed. As the doctor looked out across 

the battlefields, scarred by mud, disused 

trenches and barbed wire, he noticed 

flowers, bright red petals fluttering in the 

breeze. Despite the fighting that was 

happening on those same fields on a daily 

basis and the increase in injured and dead on 

both sides, he realised that life still went on. 

John McCrae still suffering the early stages 

of grief for his close friend was inspired by 

the sight of the red flowers, in stark contrast 

to the horrors of war, to write a poem in 

memory of his friend. 

In Flanders’ Field 

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow, 

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place: and in the sky the 

larks, still bravely singing, fly 

scarce heard, amid the guns below. 

We are the dead, short days ago 

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie 

In Flanders' fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe; to you 

from failing hands we throw 

the torch; be yours to hold it high. 

If ye break faith with us who die we shall not 

sleep, though poppies grow 

In Flanders' Fields. 

During the First World War much of the 

fighting took place in Western Europe on 

what became known as the Western Front 

stretching across France and Belgium. 

What had previously been a beautiful 

landscape was dug up, blown up, bombed 

and fought over for months and years. The 

same land that had been farmed and cared 

for, for hundreds of years before now 

became fields of mud, barren and unwanted 

where very little grew. The wild poppies at 

Flanders had always grown in the area, and 

still do today. With thin stems and almost 

silk like petals forming the crown of the 

flower they appear so delicate, but in reality 

are both hardy and resilient and grow in 

their thousands in whatever terrain they find 

themselves in. And they flourished in the 

battlefields at Flanders despite the chaos that 

was going on around them. 

Moina Belle Michael, an American 

Professor and Humanitarian was visiting 

Germany in 1914 when war broke out and 

fled to Rome in order to take safe passage 

back to America. But prior to leaving she 

also assisted 12,000 other American tourists 

to return to the United States. The US 

entered the war in April 1917. 

After the war Prof Michael vowed to always 

wear a poppy as a mark of remembrance for 

those who died in the war having been 

inspired by McCrae’s poem. Later she 

taught groups of injured servicemen and 

realised that whilst the Government of the 

Country appeared to care little for veterans, 

she did and came up with the idea of making 

silk poppies to raise money for the veterans 

in need. 

The idea was adopted by French national 

Anna Guérin who brought the idea over to 

England. The Royal British Legion was 

formed in 1921 and ordered 9 million 

poppies with the intention of selling them to 

support injured veterans across Britain. The 

poppies sold out almost immediately and the 

first ever 'Poppy Appeal' raised over 

£106,000 for the RBL. These funds were 

used to support the work of the RBL in 

helping veterans with employment and 

housing. 

The following year a Poppy Factory was set 

up to employ disabled exServicemen in the 

production of poppies to be sold to support 

veterans. The demand for poppies was so 

great that few were getting north of the 

border into Scotland so the Earl Haig's wife 

established the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in 

Edinburgh in 1926 to produce poppies 

exclusively for Scotland. 

Over 5 million Scottish poppies which have 

four petals and no leaf unlike poppies in the 

rest of the UK are still made by hand by 

disabled exServicemen at Lady Haig's 

Poppy Factory each year and distributed by 

the RBL sistercharity PoppyScotland. 

When Moina Michael first saw the poem 

written on the battlefields by the Canadian 

Doctor she was inspired to write her own 

version. 

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, 

Sleep sweet to rise anew! 

We caught the torch you threw 

And holding high, we keep the Faith 

With All who died. 

We cherish, too, the poppy red 

That grows on fields where valor led; 

It seems to signal to the skies 

That blood of heroes never dies, 

But lends a lustre to the red 

Of the flower that blooms above the dead 

In Flanders Fields. 

And now the Torch and Poppy Red 

We wear in honor of our dead. 

Fear not that ye have died for naught; 

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought 

In Flanders Fields. 

Dr John McCrae died of pneumonia whilst 

still stationed in France before the end of the 

war. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left 

grow old: 


condemn. 


morning, 

We will remember them. 


Petty Officer Jim London 

In 1939 HMS Ajax Took Part in The Battle of the 

River Plate. 78 Years later, Jim London, a stoker 

on the ship talks to The Sandbag Times about his 

experience and life in the Second World War. 

Petty Officer Jim London, 

now 98 

At the ripe old age of 98 (Jim’s words) 

he still remembers in amazing detail 

the battle of the River Plate in where 

three ships, HMS Ajax, HMS Exeter and HMS 

Achillies took on the might of the German 

ship, the Admiral Graf Spee who was 

destroying many British Vessels at the time. 

Jim is only one of two remaining veterans left 

from the Battle of the River Plate, Basil Trott 

being the other, now living in Cambridge. 

In June 1939 Jim was serving on HMS Exeter 

around the West Indies and South America 

supporting the relief operation after an 

earthquake in Chile. After this Jim tells us that 

they sailed up the coast of the US and then 

sailed back to Plymouth. He had only been 

on leave for three days when a telegram 

arrived ordering the crew back to the ship. 

The ship then set off back to the South 

Atlantic. They returned to Port Stanley where 

they met up with HMS Ajax and began 

patrolling the area which took them to the 

area of the River Plate. A large estuary 

between Argentina and Uraquay. 

On December 13th, 1939, the Graf Spee was 

targeting the route used by merchant ships 

near the River Plate in Argentina. Harwood 

had given the Ajax, Achilles and Exeter 

orders to engage the Graf Spee “at once by 

night or day” if the ships came across her. At 

05.52, look outs on the Graf Spee saw two 

tall masts on the horizon. By 06.00, 

Langsdorff had identified one of the ships 

seen as being the Exeter. He decided that the 

ships trailing the Graf Spee were protecting 

an important merchant convoy and he 

decided to attack. The engines of the Graf 

Spee were put onto a battle footing – their 

power was greatly increased. This gave out a 

plume of highly visible black smoke from the 

funnels of the Graf Spee and the following 

British cruisers could clearly see her position. 

The Graf Spee turned to attack and at 06.17 

opened fire on the Exeter. The Exeter was hit 

amidships and the ship sustained damage. A 

salvo from the Graf Spee did a great deal of 

damage to the wheelhouse and killed all but 

three of the officers in it. The captain, Bell, 

survived and he ordered that the remaining 

turrets should fire on the Graf Spee. One 

salvo hit the Graf Spee near its turrets. 

The Achilles and Ajax were also involved in 

this battle but they had stayed away from the 

Exeter in an attempt to split the Graf Spee’s 

fire power. It proved to be a successful ploy. 

More shells from the Graf Spee’s 11 inch 

guns hit the Exeter that continued to take 

massive damage. However, some of the 

Exeter’s torpedo tubes were undamaged and 

at 06.31, three torpedoes were fired at the 

Graf Spee from the Exeter. At that moment, 

Langsdorff had decided to turn and the three 

torpedoes missed. His attack on the Exeter 

continued and 11 inch shells hit the cruiser. 

However, the engine room was not damaged 

but electricity in the ship was lost and it was 

this that forced the Exeter out of the battle. 

The Graf Spee being Scuttled 


Remembering The Royal Navy 

Bell planned to ram the Graf Spee but he was 

ordered out of the battle by Harwood. 

“We was badly damaged and we had to limp 

down to the Falklands. We couldn’t go very 

fast as there was a lot of damage which had 

weakened our bulkhead.” Jim says. 

Now the Achilles and Ajax took up the battle. 

They were against a ship that had been hit but 

had suffered minimal damage at this stage 

even though Langsdorff had been knocked 

unconscious in one attack. Both ships were 

ordered by Harwood to approach the Graf 

Spee “at the utmost speed”. Langsdorff, a 

torpedo specialist, kept both ships astern to 

give them the smallest possible target with 

regards to a torpedo This decision, 

according to the Graf Spee’s gunnery officer 

was not well received. The ship had been hit 

by seventeen shells but junior officers of the 

Graf Spee later stated that the damage done 

to the ship was insufficient to cause it to run to 

a port. At this stage in the battle, the Graf 

Spee had suffered 37 dead and 57 wounded 

out of a total complement of 1,100. In 

comparison, the Exeter was three feet down in 

the waterline and had lost 61 men killed and 

could only use a ship’s compass for 

navigation with shouted orders to ensure that 

those orders were carried out. Harwood 

ordered her to return to the Falkland Islands 

Whether the Graf Spee was so badly damaged 

is open to question. The ship had been hit by 

seventeen shells but one gunnery officer 

recorded that three of these hits had simply 

bounced off of the armour and that the others 

had hit the ship “without causing damage”. 

The authorities in Uruguay, on inspecting the 

Graf Spee when it reached the River Plate, 

commented that the largest hit was six feet by 

six feet but was well above the waterline – as 

was all of the damage to the ship. 

The Graf Spee made for the River Plate – the 

Plate estuary is a huge bay 120 miles across. 

The two remaining cruisers, Ajax and Achilles, 

patrolled the estuary to ensure that the Graf 

Spee could not slip out back into the Atlantic 

under the cover of dark. The crews later called 

this the ‘death watch’. 

The Graf Spee put into port at Montevideo. 

Convinced by false reports of superior British 

naval forces approaching his ship, Hans 

Langsdorff, the commander of the ship, 

ordered the vessel to be scuttled. The ship 

was partially broken up in situ, though part of 

the ship remains visible above the surface of 

the water. 

After some repairs in the Falklands, the Exeter 

sailed back home for further repairs and 

modernisation. The ships company enjoyed a 

little leave but the work on the 

ship was to take 14 months, 

Jim never returned to the 

Exeter. 

In fact, very few of the crew returned to HMS 

Exeter. She was eventually sunk in the Java 

Seas where the survivors ended up in a 

Japanese prisoner of war camp where they 

experienced horrendous and torturous 

conditions. 

Jim joined a fleet minesweeper clearing the 

mines on the North African coast. While 

doing this, Jim tells us of how they would 

push Barrels of Fresh water over the side, as 

fresh water floats in sea water to supply the 

British Army on the coast. From then on, the 

sailed to join the invasion of Sicily. The 

Minesweeper, by now had been at sea for a 

long time and joined a slow moving convoy 

from Gibralter back to England. German 

intelligence picked up on the convoy and sent 

warships to intercept. However, in rediness 

for this, the Allies had position it’s own 

defence destroyers and the German attack 

was repelled. Jim is not sure how many ships 

were sunk but they picked up survivors of a 

German ship. Jim tells us how the German 

crews were unaware that North Africa and 

Sicily had been defeated until they heard the 

British news aboard the ship. They were then 

taken to Falmouth to be administrated. 

After leave, Jim was then sent to serve on HMS 

Inglefield, an I Class Destroyer. But his stay on 

this ship was short lived and he was sent back 

to the barracks through an administrative 

mistake. Shortly after this HMS Inglefield was 

sunk at Anzio by a Glide Bomb Jim was then 

reassigned to HMS Implacable and headed to 

the Pacific. HMS Implacable was an aircraft 

carrier which was used to repatriate 

servicemen. Jim tells us that the Japanese 

Kamikase pilots tried to attack the ship but 

were unsuccessful thanks to the aircrews. He 

goes on to say that once the war ended, the 

aircraft were ditched and the hangers were 

turned into makeshift sleeping areas for POW’s. 

They first picked up many Australian POW’s 

that had been held by the Japanese and 

returned them to Sydney. They then returned 

to the Pacific to pick up British POW’s and took 

them to Vancouver where they were transferred 

to another ship back to the UK. 

We could spend many more pages telling 

Jim’s incredible story and hopefully one day 

we will. Jim is still very spritely and still has 

much of his cheeky but wonderful personality 

Jim also served on the HMS Ajax, one of the 

ships who took part in the Battle of the River 

Plate. The three survivors had streets named 

after in the town of Ajax in Canada, Jim being 

one of them. So if you ever find yourself on a 

street called London Road if you ever go there 

then please spare a thought for old Jim, a true 

gentleman, a real war hero and one of the 

nicest people we have had the pleasure of 

meeting since we began. Jim still is still very 

active and lives in Worcester. And, hopefully 

we shall be seeing him at the next Worcester 

Veterans Club meeting. 

Jim as a young Stoker, aged 19 


REMEMBERING THE BRITISH ARMY 

Walter Tull in known 

to be the first Black 

British Officer. His 

story is one of 

determination, 

courage and superb 

leadership. The SBT 

is proud to pay 

tribute to this 

inspirational soldier. 

Walter Tull was born in Folkestone on 28th 

April 1888. His father Daniel Tull, the son of a 

slave had arrived in Britain from Barbados in 

1976 and found work as a carpenter. Daniel 

Tull married Alice Elizabeth Palmer. Over the 

next few years the couple had six children. In 

1895, when Walter Tull was seven, his mother 

died of cancer. A year later his father married 

Alice’s cousin, Clara Palmer. She gave birth to 

a daughter Miriam, on 11th September 1897. 

Three months later Daniel died from heart disease. 

alter wals an exeptional football player 

which eventually led to turning professional 

playing for Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur and 

Northampton Town. However, it was common 

place for his to be on the recieving end of 

much racial taunting and abuse. 

When the First World War broke out in 1914, 

he became the first Northampton player to sign 

up to join the 17th (1st Football) Battalion of 

the Middlesex Regiment, and in November 

1915 his battalion arrived in France. The Army 

soon recognised Tull’s leadership qualities and 

he was quickly promoted to the rank of sergeant. 

He was initially billeted at Les Ciseaux, 

16 miles from the front line. He had still not 

seen action when he wrote a letter to Edward 

Tull-Warnock in January 1916: 

“For the last three weeks my Battalion has 

been resting some miles distant from the firing 

line but we are now going up to the trenches 

for a month or so. Afterwards we shall begin to 

think about coming home on leave. It is a very 

monotonous life out here when one is supposed 

to be resting and most of the boys prefer 

the excitement of the trenches.” 

In July 1916, Tull took part in the major Somme 

offensive. Tull survived this experience but in 

December 1916 he developed trench fever and 

was sent home to England to recover. Tull had 

impressed his senior officers who recommended 

that he should be considered for further 

promotion. When he recovered from his illness, 

instead of being sent back to France, he went 

to the officer training school at Gailes in 

Scotland. Despite military regulations forbidding 

“any negro or person of colour” being an 

officer, Tull received his commission in May, 

1917. This was a really big deal because 

according to The Manual of Military Law, Black 

soldiers of any rank were not desirable. During 

the First World War, military chiefs of staff, with 

government approval, argued that White soldiers 

would not accept orders issued by men 

of colour and on no account should Black soldiers 

serve on the front line. 

Lieutenant Walter Tull was sent to the Italian 

front. This was an historic occasion because 

Tull was the first ever black officer in the British 

Army. He led his men at the Battle of Piave and 

was mentioned in dispatches for his “gallantry 

and coolness” under fire. Tull stayed in Italy 

until 1918 when he was transferred to France 

to take part in the attempt to break through the 

German lines on the Western Front. On 25th 

March, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull was ordered 

to lead his men on an attack on the German 

trenches at Favreuil. Soon after entering No 

Mans Land, Tull was hit by a German bullet. 

Tull was such a popular officer that several of 

his men made valiant efforts under heavy fire 

from German machine-guns to bring him back 

to the British trenches. These efforts were in 

vain as Tull had died soon after being hit. 

One of the soldiers who tried to rescue him 

later told his commanding officer that Tull was 

“killed instantaneously with a bullet through his 

head.” Tull’s body was never found. 

On 17th April 1918, Lieutenant Pickard wrote to 

Walter’s brother and said: “Being at present in 

command (the captain was wounded) – allow 

me to say how popular he was throughout the 

Battalion. He was brave and conscientious; he 

had been recommended for the Military Cross, 

and had certainly earned it, the Commanding 

Officer had every confidence in him, and he 

was liked by the men. Now he has paid the 

supreme sacrifice; the Battalion and Company 

have lost a faithful officer; personally I have lost 

a friend. Can I say more, except that I hope 

that those who remain may be true and faithful 

as he.” Walter Tull was awarded the British 

War and Victory Medal and recommended for a 

Military Cross. His family never received the 

Military Cross however, as the Ministry of 

Defence has claimed that there is no record of 

the Military Cross recommendation in Tull’s 

service files at the National Archives. Walter’s 

brother Edward Tull-Warnock campaigned for 

the Military Cross up until his death on 3 

December 1950. In 2014 former Tottenham 

Hotspur footballer Garth Crooks joined the 

campaign to see Walter Tull recognised for 

service to his country. 


THE TOMMY ATKINS TRUST 

The Tommy Atkins Centre... 

Here at The Tommy Atkins Centre Marie and I are putting our 

heads together and have some great plans for services and 

events to be linked with us. We’re both eager to meet any 

veterans who’d like to call in for a chat any Tuesday and 

Thursday 0900-1530 where a warm welcome awaits you along 

with a cuppa and a slice of Pablo’s home baked cake. We’re 

here for you if you just want a bit of a chat, or you need a bit of 

advice on any issues you may be facing. 

Great news also, not only are The British Legion going to be 

joining us here with a pop in centre, probably early in the new 

year, we’ve also just had a meeting also with Combat Stress, 

and in the very near future they will be holding a community 

outreach service, along with some group workshops for 

veterans, and eventually a peer mentoring service all within our 

centre. We have also invited SSAFA to come and take a look 

around, and are very hopeful they will also link up with us to 

offer services to our veterans from here. 

For any veterans in crisis we can offer a qualified 

psychotherapist within 48 hrs notice should the need arise, and 

all local veterans are encouraged to pop in when we’re open to 

see if we can offer any help or support or even just for a natter. 

We have computer facilities which you are welcome to use, and 

we can assist those who need help if required. 

12th November is our official opening launch at 1330 when Matt 

Neal will be here to cut the ribbon and officially open the centre 

for business, followed by our charity auction at The Chestnut 

pub in Worcester where we hope to raise a lot of money for our 

Aspie charity from whom we rent our centre. Your support is 

very welcome at both events. Marie and I will keep you updated 

on all our services available to veterans as we implement them, 

and we’re both eager to meet up with you all. Jane x 


TORNADO DOWN 

mission I felt physically sick, I was almost 

paralysed with a mixture of fear and elation. 

At eight thirty in the morning we took the last 

few drops of fuel from our airborne tanker and 

dropped towards the Iraqi border. It was a ginclear 

sky. 'Burning blue'. Suddenly we were on 

our own, one aircraft in the vastness of Iraq's 

southern desert. For ten years I had taken The 

Queen's shilling, now she was expecting some 

return on her investment. 

On 17th January 1991 John Nichol and his pilot 

John Peters took off in their 15 Sqaudron Tornado 

to embark on a fight for survival that would shake 

the world. This is their story told by John Nichol. 

With Thanks to 

John Nichol and 

www.johnnichol.com 

for kind permission 

with the content in 

this article. 

“In true military fashion it was a case of "hurry 

up and wait". Order and counter-order fizzled 

and flew, culminating with everyone retiring to 

the bar, exhausted by the speculation, and 

standing themselves down. The standing down 

session went well, by the end of the night not 

many crews were standing. I remember 

running around with a beer towel on my head 

pretending to be an Arab; Simon Burgess, a 

mate from another squadron, said "Nichol, 

you'll regret doing that one day. The next time I 

saw him we were being dragged out of the 

ruins of an Iraqi interrogation centre after being 

used as human shields. 

By January 1991 the diplomats had had their 

chance. The talking was finished. Desert Storm 

left the hands of the politicians and became the 

practical business of the military. It was time for 

'the mother of all battles' to begin. 

How did it feel? Electrifying. As General 

Schwarzkopf put it, we were going to be the 

Thunder and Lightning of Desert Storm. But at 

the same time there was a real sense of 

trepidation. The fear of going into the 

unknown. After we were given the details of our 

The mechanics of throwing eight thousand 

pounds of high explosive into the enemy's 

back garden are in place. Our timing is spot 

on, the target is identified and the computer 

can take over. Then they start shooting. At us. 

Heavy flak starts coming up, lazy curving arcs 

of tracer, dozens of sparkling lights. Paddy 

was right; it looks like Christmas. But this is 

not the season of goodwill. 

Ten seconds from weapon release. There's a 

fully developed barrage of flak in front of us. 

We're about to fly into a cauldron of fire. JP's 

happy with the weapon system, I've got our 

defensive aids working overtime. "Weapons 

armed, happy to commit." The target is in the 

sights. "Three, two, one, NOW." 

You don't just 'drop' the bombs from a 

Tornado. It lets them go when it is convinced 

that you are convinced that all of the 

conditions are correct. Our Tornado isn't 

convinced and it remains unconvinced. The 

bombs don't release, chaos in the cockpit, 

warning lights, sirens, we're high over the 

target area, we're slow. JP is shouting at me. 

Maybe it was the computer's fault. Probably it 

was mine. As the flak poured into our jet we 

were beating ourselves hard with the idea of 

what people were going to say about our 

efforts. As it turned out, concern for our 

reputations was the very least of the things we 

had to worry about. We were beating a hasty 

retreat to the border when WHUMPH, a heat 

seeking missile took us out. 

It was like being hit by an express train, one 

minute I was flying at 50 feet looking up at 

bright blue sky then bang, the jet was 

tumbling like a sycamore leaf and instead of 

blue sky I was looking up at brown sand. I 

presume that it was the sand that was brown. 

The jet rights itself for a second. We're on fire, 

the fly by wire system is down, our live 

ammunition is cooking off, flames are rushing 

along the spine of the jet towards me. Eject! 

Eject! Eject! 

It's like being grabbed by a giant and tossed 

into the centre of a hurricane. You go through 

flames and explosions, past confusion, noise 

and fear. Suddenly the parachute opens with a 

crack and there's only silence. You open your 

eyes. The desert is rushing up to meet you. 

You hit the sand and collapse in a heap. In 

enemy territory. 

Within hours we were captured by some of the 

troops from the airbase our mates had just 


REMEMBRING THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 

bombed; they were not best pleased to see us. 

As they beat us to the ground with fists, boots 

and rifle butts AK47s were cocked and I 

realised I was going to die. At one point a 

soldier held a pistol against my head, in broken 

English he told me he was going to kill me. The 

realisation that death was imminent was 

remarkably calming; nothing I could do or say 

would change the next few seconds. He pulled 

the trigger and the hammer thumped against 

an empty barrel. It sounds trite now but at the 

time I thought, "What a fun few weeks this is 

going to be." 

They wanted information out of us and we 

didn't want to give it up, the Geneva 

Convention states quite clearly that POWs are 

not obliged to answer any questions bar 

number, rank, name, date of birth. Sadly the 

Iraqis had lost their copy of the book, they 

proceeded to question us the only way they 

knew how, with extreme violence. The strange 

thing was that I knew I would give up at some 

point, I couldn't hold out forever, but I didn't 

want to give any information for no return. I had 

to have it beaten out of me; I didn't want to 

appear weak. 

Over the following three days the interrogation 

took many forms; sleep deprivation and being 

stuck in stress positions for hours on end. To 

stand with your feet a meter away from a wall 

with your forehead pressed against the plaster 

doesn't sound too bad, but within minutes neck 

and leg muscles are in spasm. Try it for an 

hour knowing that someone is poised over you 

with a rifle butt if you move. I was beaten by a 

group of guards with fists and boots, chained 

to a chair and beaten with rubber hoses. At 

one point a guard was stubbing his cigarette 

out on my ear. 

The worst part? Not so much the pain as the 

fear and expectation of what was to come. Pain 

hurts but there is a strange comfort in it 

because you know where you stand. The hard 

part comes when you're left alone in darkness 

to listen to others being tortured and to 

contemplate your immediate future. I knew I 

would crack, I just didn't know when. More 

importantly my only thought was, "What will 

they do to me, to make me give in?" 

After a few days of the gentle stuff they 

brought on their big players. In the midst of a 

severe kicking a bloke stuffed tissue paper 

down the back of my neck and then lit it. This 

is enough, ask me another question, I'm 

yours, I've given in. The ludicrous part was 

that they didn't know what they wanted to find 

out. They would ask stupid questions about 

the weight of the Tornado or how fast it could 

fly; stuff any kid with a copy of an aircraft 

magazine would know. Had it been worth 

holding out for three days? 

Of course it had; it satisfied my sense of 

personal pride not to have given in without a 

fight. But still the feelings of guilt and shame 

were enormous, I felt like a total failure. Not 

only had I failed in my mission, I'd been shot 

down, captured and broken under 

interrogation. To compound it all I was about 

to be paraded on the world's TV screens so 

that everyone would know what a failure I 

really was. 

With an AK47 assault rifle pointed squarely at 

my head I was forced in front of the camera. I 

was determined to sit straight and proud, I 

repeated the Iraqi's words to the letter, 

hoping that the dreadful grammar would 

show that I was under duress. Then they 

threw me, chained and blindfolded back into 

the cell. As I lay on the freezing floor the 

enormity of my situation came home to me, 

what would my parents say when they saw 

the TV footage, how were they going to cope. 

The emotions overwhelmed me in a torrent 

and tears railed, through the blindfold, down 

my face and dripped onto the concrete floor. 

The emotions faded into the background as I 

began to exist as a POW. The next seven 

weeks were punctuated by isolation, fear, 

boredom and beatings. A bit of bombing by 

our Allies resulting in a few more brushes 

with death. Then, in the same surreal way it 

had begun, it was all over. A chap in a fancy 

suit came into my cell and said, "the war is 

over, you can go home." Just like that. Within 

days we were re-united with friends, family 

and loved ones. Copious beers were drunk, 

vast curries consumed and old girlfriends 

came out of the woodwork. The ordeal was 

over and life could get back to normal, except 

that the rest of my life was just beginning. 

There was no great change for me; I had 

faced death and survived, yes I valued life 

more, in some ways I was a calmer person 

but seven weeks of unpleasantness doesn't 

change a lifetime, not in the way you might 

think.” 

John was returned to flying status very soon 

after along with John Peters, going back to 

operational flying in Bosnia. John Nichol left 

the Royal Air Force in 1996 and went on to be 

a well known public figure and author. He 

has appeared many times on television 

presenting programmes and also becoming 

an inspirational public figure. But, most 

noteably, he has written fourteen books 

including the bestseller ‘Tornado Down’ which 

gives full account of the ordeal back in 2001. 

John Peters went on to become an Instructor 

until his retirement from the RAF in 1997. He 

co-wrote ‘Tornado down’ with John Nichol 

and then became a Motivational speaker. 

Both are now a source of inspiration to all 

servicemen and civilians alike. Although both 

men speak humbly of their experiences and 

sometimes a little unneccesarily blameful of 

themselves, they stand out as real British 

Heroes who withstood an incredibly traumatic 

experience, overcame mental and phsical 

torture to return as men of inspiration. In the 

eyes of all, no one could have given more 

and no country could have expected more. 


The War Poppy Collection by Jacqueline Hurley is the ultimate 

in remembrance art. Each piece captures the true spirit of the 

British Armed Forces, while delicately portraying the thoughts 

and emotions of those left at home. The Sandbag Times is 

proud to feature this small tribute to Jacqueline and the War 

Poppy Collection in honour to these incredible works of art. 

Please visit her website to enjoy the entire collection.

poshoriginalart.co.uk

CANADA CALLING 

11 November 2017 

LEST WE FORGET 

Canada 

Calling 

The Canuck Connection 

LEST WE FORGET 3 little words with 

a HUGE meaning. With the day of 

Remembrance less than 2 weeks away. At 

home the sad news from the Boy Liberal 

Prime Minister was that MPs have been 

told not to purchase more than two 

wreaths for their constituencies. 

http://www.torontosun.com/2017/10/16/lestweforgetunlessitismorethantwowreaths 

For 201516, the salaries of Canadian members of parliament 

increased 2.3 percent. The bonuses that members of parliament 

receive for extra duties, for example being a cabinet minister or 

chairing a standing committee, were also increased. The increase 

also affects severance and pension payments for MPs leaving 

politics in 2015, which, as an election year, will be larger than 

normal. 

All members of parliament now make a basic salary of $167,400, up 

from $163,700 in 2014. 

Extra Compensation for Additional Responsibilities 

Member of Parliament $167,400 Prime Minister* $167,400 

$334,800 Speaker* $ 80,100 $247,500 

Leader of the Opposition* $ 80,100 $247,500 Cabinet Minister* $ 

80,100 $247,500 

Minister of State $ 60,000 $227,400 Leaders of Other Parties $ 

56,800 $224,200 

*The Prime Minister, Speaker of the House, Leader of the 

Opposition and Cabinet Ministers also get a car allowance. 

I do not wish to dwell on this issue but rather to say prayers in 

memory of all Canadians and allies who have fought and died for 

Freedom. In fact Canada in its young 150 years has served since the 

Boer War under 3 different flags. The Royal Union Flag. 

Commonly known as the “Union Jack”, and called the “Union Flag” 

outside Canada, thousands of Canadians who served under this 

famous symbol of the British Empire and Commonwealth first 

became war veterans during the Northwest Rebellion and in the 

Sudan in 1885. Many more served during the Boer War of 1899 

1902 in Southern Africa and in the Great War of 19141918 in 

Europe. There followed the Second World War of 19391945 where 

over a million Canadians saw service on land, at sea and in the air. 

Today, many of the Second World War veterans are still with us. A 

good many of these served with British and other Commonwealth 

Forces. The Union Jack was by default, the official flag of the 

Dominion of Canada from 1904 to 1965 even though it was 

displaced as the national flag by the Red Ensign in 1945. It was also 

the flag of Newfoundland until 1949.An estimated 106,460 

Canadian sailors, soldiers, airmen and merchant seamen lost their 

lives fighting under the Union Jack. 

Never an official Canadian flag by parliamentary approval, all three 

official versions of the Canadian Red Ensign nevertheless deserve 

high national honours. These versions were produced in 1868, then 

in 1924 and finally in 1957. Although the 1868 version saw service 

as a battle flag at the end of the First World War, notably at Vimy 

Ridge, it was only flown outside Canada from January 1944. The 

Merchant Navy had flown it at sea from 1924 onwards. In 1945 it 

was officially flown on land and thereby became the battle flag of 

our Korean War Veterans. The 1957 version may also said to be the 

flag of our Cold War Veterans. Canada lost 44,893 souls in the 

Second World War, 496 during the Korean War and over 100 during 

the Cold War. Lest we forget 

Also called the “Red Maple 

Leaf Flag”, the National Flag 

of Canada became our first 

truly official Canadian flag by 

parliamentary approval in 

1965 and as such first flew in 

combat operations during the 

1991 Gulf War. It was also 

proudly carried into battle by 

our veterans during the 

Somalia conflict. Our national 

flag is flown and worn on our 

uniforms during peacekeeping 

and peace enforcement 

operations the world over. 

Recognized as a beacon of 

peace around the world, it has 

also become the Canadian 

battle flag. Today, we are 

witnessing the rise of a new 

generation of combat 

veterans returning from 

service under our flag in Afghanistan. There were no fatalities 

during the Gulf War but one UN peacekeeper was lost in Somalia. 

To date, there have been 158 mortal casualties in the Afghanistan 

Conflict. Hundreds of our Afghanistan Veterans have been injured, 

many permanently, serving under the Red Maple Leaf Battle Flag 

Lest we forget 

https://www.facebook.com/al.cameron.7/videos/751525174874534/ 

Nil Sine Labore 

Robby 


HAVE FAITH 

Be Bold, Be Strong... 

Sometimes I wonder if I am the right person to give advice to 

people. I suppose my reflection today is one that I would 

include in that statement. 

We all have the ability to show courage and strength at times. 

I am no different. We can all feel fear and back away from a 

situation because we are scared. I am no different, but 

sometimes we need to call on our inner reserves of strength 

and courage to get us through. Again, we are all capable of 

this, I am no different. But saying all of that I will take me out 

of the equation and concentrate on those who have no 

choice than to show courage, be strong and bold. Their 

alternative does not bear thinking about. 

While I write this, I have the Chennai6 in mind at the time 

when we remember as a nation. 

Strong’. Yes, it had a nice rock feel, the way we played it but 

the lyrics are incredibly moving. ‘Be bold, be strong for the 

Lord, your God is with you’. I think at this present time that is 

something to hold on to. After reading a chapter in the bible, 

I thought about how Jesus had predicted his own death. He 

knew he was going to suffer terribly and that this is the way it 

was going to be. Yet despite this, he continued to teach, help 

and perform miracles. He could’ve quit. He could’ve 

thought, I’m going to run away and hide until all of this blows 

over but he didn’t. He could’ve saved himself numerous 

times during the trial but he didn’t. He endured. Yes, he died 

on the cross to save us. Three days later he came back and 

spread the good news. 

Being Christian doesn’t mean we are perfect or have an 

unending supply of strength but it does mean we can follow 

in the ways of Jesus and maybe gain a little encouragement 

by using him as an example and remembering that we are 

never alone when we suffer 

Please feel free to check out the bible reading for this week. 

A thought occurred to me a few days ago while reading the 

comments in a post of how angry people were getting about 

this situation, how people were demanding justice for them, 

how the government was pressuring the Indian government 

to get them out, then reality struck me. Those that kindly give 

support and voice then going back to their daily lives, making 

tea for the kids, popping to the shops, going down the pub. 

Then I thought about the pledged support from the 

government with big words and the strength to move 

continents but yet when an election pops up, all of that hardearned 

support and promise is suddenly evaporated into thin 

air. Meanwhile, the guys still have to put up with their 

nightmare, the families still have to endure their worry and 

heartache, so this reflection is for them and for anyone that 

has no choice but to endure the pain that life can sometimes 

throw at us. 

Joshua 1: 8-9 

I used to sing and play guitar in a small chapel. I got away 

with singing all sorts of songs where I could find meaning but 

the one song of praise that stood out was ‘Be Bold, Be 


Radio 

Hi Folks, and welcome to Sandbag 

Times Radio November update! 

How time flies when you are having 

fun.....you are having fun arn't you? It's 

getting near to the time of year when our 

thoughts are with those that have paid the 

ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the right 

and just. For those that have been injured, 

and the families and friends of those affected 

by the turmoils of war. 

Man has always fought, and he will always 

continue to do so, but it is WHAT he fights 

for, and WHY that makes the difference. 

We live in dangerous times, and there will 

always be those that do not hold dear our 

beliefs - that is, and always will be LIFE. 

During the month of November we will 

chronicle the events and remember those 

that paved the way for us by playing music 

that reflects the mood and thoughts of 

those times. "Centenary:Words and Music 

of the Great War" will feature in one of our 

shows on the 11th of November. 

Two of our most popular and distinguished 

actors, Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton, 

have teamed up with the celebrated West 

Country acoustic band Show of Hands 

(Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and Miranda 

Sykes) to mark the centenary of the First 

World War. The conflict lasted for four 

years, led to the deaths of over sixteen million 

soldiers and civilians, and transformed 

Britain and much of the world. But the brutal 

carnage and the horrors of life in the 

trenches inspired the War Poetry, an 

extraordinary artistic movement written by 

those who fought, and in some cases died, 

in the fighting. 

Unique and powerful, Centenary Words & 

Music Of The Great War matches the 

remarkable poetry of those war years 

against the music of the era, along with 

new compositions inspired by the war. This 

double CD release includes one disc of 

twenty two poems read by Jim Carter and 

Imelda Staunton in new musical settings 

and a second disc on which Show of 

Hands perform distinctive versions of period 

favourites plus new songs from 

Knightley, including The Gamekeeper, and 

his setting for Housman’s The Lads In 

Their Hundreds. 

Show of Hands are joined by distinguished 

friends from the folk scene including 

Jackie Oates, Jim Causley, Philip Henry 

and Geoffrey Lakeman. 

Your continued support of both the 

Magazine and the Radio Station is greatly 

appreciated. If you have any suggestions 

for how we can bring you a better more 

varied service, then please let us know. 

Email me At Jim@Sandbagtimes.com. 

Thank you, and spread the word! 

Until next month, keep tuning in, and stay 

safe. 

"Lest We Forget" 

Jim Wilde 


TO ORDER PLEASE CALL: 01226 734222 

ORDER ONLINE: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk 

PEN AND SWORD BOOKS LTD 

47 CHURCH STREET BARNSLEY SOUTH YORKSHIRE S70 2AS

Armed Forces & 

Veterans Breakfast Clubs 

www.afvbc.co.uk 

WEBSITE 

The VBC Website has now been revamped/redesigned and is now live. 

There are several new features including a Post Code search facility that 

brings up the five nearest Breakfast Clubs to your Post Code, and we now 

have a News feature and links to the current issues of the Sandbag Times 

and much more. To make it easier for people to get to it, funds have been 

made available to allow the acquisition of more domain names. 

The new address is www.afvbc.co.uk and the old address is pointed at the 

new site. 

The main alteration is that the email addresses have changed from: 

Support@VeteransBreakfastClubs.co.uk 

to 

Support@AFVBC.co.uk 

EAST DURHAM VBC 

We’ve been going for around 15 months. We’ve moved location 

since our inception from a local (noisy) cafe to our local 

Wetherspoon where we have a decent sized space reserved 

for us every Saturday. We have around 130 members on our 

very active FB group, but only get between 4 and 22 for scoff. 

We welcome sprogs and spouses to brekkie which often 

helps curb colourful language! Our members include scaly 

backs, blanket stackers, monkeys and matelots with ages 

from mid 30’s to 72! 

As well as breakfast, we organise regular nights out which we 

just hang around (sorry Suggs lol). On a serious note, I feel 

the AFVBC’s provide one of the best support networks 

around, yes we’ll take the piss but if we can help we will! 

Some firm friendships have been made on the back of the 

Club with one guy in particular going from being a virtual 

recluse to being an an engaging guy. If it was all to end 

tomorrow, the fantastic improvement in this one bloke was 

worth the effort!! Martin 



GLOUCESTER VBC 

The breakfast club was started two and a half years ago by 

myself (Mark Burton) and Nigel Rees, we started as Glawster 

Sappers Breakfast Club, in a small cafe with the post code of 

GL2 5PR, so it seemed the right place to meet. Now admired by 

Stan Fryatt and myself. We very quickly grew out of the location, 

and decided to rename the club as Gloucester Veterans 

Breakfast Club, this would hopefully bring other cap badges and 

services to our meetings. These are held on the last weekend 

(Sat) of the month with a regular turn out in the high 20’s the best 

being 47. Our members are from all services with new members 

turning up at every meet, we now meet at the Toby Carvery in 

Brockworth with members coming over from, Swindon, 

Chippenham, Forest of Dean, Cirencester. Lionel Harrison (RIP) 

was our oldest member, and was awarded the Legion D’honour 

for his efforts in WW 2, sadly he passed away last year, the 

Breakfast Club was very proud to have given him a Guard of 

Honour at a very large turnout. The ages bridge all generations 

with the comment being, “ this is exactly what I have been 

missing, banter, humour, and decent conversation,” We raie 

money through our raffle, which consists of any old tat that 

nobody wants, you often see the same prize coming back each 

month. With the money raised we have helped local causes, 

such as a child needing special equipment, doing some outreach 

work with the homeless, ( planned to recommence again shortly). 

We have arranged visits to to the National Arbouritum, along with 

one to the Tank Museum. We go along with the motto of “ your 

not a stranger, just someone I haven’t met yet “ Mark 

TELFORD AFVBC 

I am the Social Media Guru for the Telford AFVBC..... 

We decided to start it as a way for Veterans in the area to 

meet up with each other. We held our 1st meeting on 21st 

July with 77 Veterans and their families.... we had reps 

from the RBL, Poppy Appeal, RAFA, REME,the TA, the 

Military Covenant aswell as a RBL Biker. We have a 

fantastic venue in Coalport which set next to the River 

Severn. The girls at the Brewery are really supportive of 

our club....they look forward to welcoming us every month. 

It has got so popular we are in process of setting up 

another in the north of the town. We could move the club 

but everyone raves about the breakfast... 

Sally Blackburn 


SALTFLEET VBC 

"The Saltfleet breakfast club started 

in March 2017, it meets at the 

Crown Inn in Saltfleet. The location 

is rural and on the east coast of 

Lincolnshire in an area refered to as 

the Marshlands. We have had 

between 8 and 10 attending every 

other Saturday and even reached 

the heights of 13 on one occasion. 

We have members representing all 

three services with among the army 

members the ubiquitous Sappers. 

The ladies help make us a happy 

club and provide help when needed. 

We are confident that over time our 

numbers will grow and new members 

will be welcome to join in with 

our banter and hilarity". 

Best REgards – Bryan Packman 

Rotherham MCVC Breakfast Club 

On Saturday 21st October a total of 29 veterans and their partners had the privilege to meet both the Mayors and Consorts 

from Rotherham and Doncaster at the Breakfast Club, making a total of 33 for the day. After a full English had been devoured 

by all, the banter and stories started, with the Mayor of Doncaster joining in with his stories from the time he served in the 

Guards. Amidst all the banter there was even time to discuss future events that will involve the MCVC (Military Community 

Veterans Centre) and the MCVC Breakfast Club. More to follow as and when they unfold. Also a big thank you goes to the staff 

at the Toby Carvery for their continued excellent service in looking after us and of course the excellent food they serve. The 

next Rotherham MCVC Breakfast Club meet is on the 4th November starting at 1000hrs at the following address: 

The Toby Carvery 

Eastwood Trading Estate, 

Sycamore Road, Rotherham, 

S65 1EN 

Any one from the Armed Forces 

Community is welcome to pop 

along and join in. Please bear in 

mind we meet from 1000hrs to 

1200hrs, breakfast is not served 

after 1100hrs. 

Regards 

Mark Granger 

Rotherham MCVC Breakfast Club 

co-ordinator. 



BARKERS BREAKFAST CLUB 

This morning, Saturday 22nd October 2017, at the ‘original’ Barkers Breakfast club in Hull, we had some 

very special guests. So far, there are 9 lovely ladies taking on an epic challenge, and they are on the lookout 

for other volunteers, if anyone is interested, male or female, to join them on this very special adventure! 

They are local ladies to Hull, who were looking for a challenge and a deserving cause; they came up with 

‘Armed Forces Veterans’ as the cause, and quite appropriately, the challenge is a seven day trek, tracing the 

most arduous escape route for thousands of allied forces escaping Nazi-occupied France, by crossing the Pyrenees into Spain. 

https://www.discoveradventure.com/challenges/the-freedom-trail?format=pdf&vid=771&fullnote=1 

They will be carrying out this challenge in July 2019 in aid of HULL4HEROES, who are doing what DIY SOS do, supported by 

the programme p, for veterans, and they contacted me because they wanted to meet some of the city’s local veterans! My 

reply? “Of course, we’d be honoured”! Four members of the team of amazing ladies joined us, pictured kneeling in front of the 

‘poppy car’ which was also there. (From left to write) Aimee Potter, Michelle Broadley, Helen Skinner and Claire stocker, pictured 

kneeling’ in front of the ‘poppy car’, are taking on some seriously tough terrain in aid of veterans over a period of 7 days 

through the Pyrenees mountains, taking on the snow, rain and pretty much what ever mother nature throws at them. The aim 

is to raise as much sponsorship as possible to present to their charity. I can not begin to imagine what they will endure during 

this challenge they have set themselves, but please support them in any way possible. Please keep an eye out for updates on 

the Barkers Breakfast Club group page, and the HULL4HEROES group page on their build up to the walk and of course we will 

post pictures of their adventures as we get them, plus any other updates they provide including pictures. Again please show 

them support, or if anyone has an interest in sponsoring them, or providing any equipment: new walking boots, clothing etc., to 

help them, please contact them via the HULL4HEROES Facebook group page, and they will forward your details them . 


A word from the Ed 

So Remembrance is on us once 

again. This Remembrance 

Special is just what it says on the 

tin. We’ve taken a break from the 

normal reporting of the news and 

our normal stories. This month 

we feature stories of 

remembrance, our news is from 

the souls who attempt to make a 

difference to our veterans, stories 

of courage and sacrifice, 

sometimes humourous and almost 

always emotional. But stories 

from ordinary people who have 

done extraordinary things. It is 

my intention that this is a 

magazine you can cherish in the 

future and serve as a reminder of 

what has put the ‘Great’ in 

Britain. This year I look back 

with a lifted heart and a little 

more spring in my step when I 

look back at the successes of this 

last year. But that will now be 

put aside for a short while when 

we attend our parades around the 

country to remember the fallen. 

Most people who read this 

publication will at least know 

someone who has served and, 

although they may have come 

home safely, take a few moments 

to remember their dedication to 

the country and the sacrifices 

they were prepared to give. To 

me, Remembrance is not just for 

those lost but also to all who 

served no matter whether it in war 

or peace. Also take a few 

moments to think of those still in 

service and those who are 

overseas defending against 

injustice. And spare a thought for 

aour future forces who may have 

to fight in future conflicts. May 

God watch over them and keep 

them all safe. Finally, I would 

like to pray for those in power to 

look at ways to support our 

veterans and their families in a 

more effective way. Maybe these 

few lines can plant a few thoughts 

into your minds. I would also 

like to take this opportunity to 

thank everybody for their support 

with the magazine. Px 

Ways to find us 

The Sandbag Times 

www.sandbagtimes.com 

thesandbagtimes 

@thesandbagtimes 

info@sandbagtimes.com 

A Song For A Hero 

“The Brand New Rock Opera which tells the truth of what 

happens to our heroes when the killing ends. Packed with 

incredible songs, breathtaking graphics and an emotional 

rollercoaster of a story that will leave you asking 

questions for a long time to come.” 

Where Do They Go... 

...When the Killing Ends 


SPONSORED BY: 

SPONSORED BY: 

Information 

In Flanders Fields 

And Other Poems 

By John McCrae 

A Song For A Hero 

Remembrance Edition 

The Sandbag Times is commemorating 

Remembrance Day 2017 By offering all readers a 

free download of the album A Sonfg For A Hero 

for the month of November. don’t forget to listen 

to ‘A Tale of Remembrance’ 

All The Kings Men 

Although he is most famous for 

writing "In Flanders' Fields", one of 

the best-loved poems about the First 

World War, the Canadian soldier, 

John McCrae, wrote other poems - 

the best of which are collected here. 

This edition also includes several of 

the poems written in response to 

"In Flanders' Fields", an 

introduction giving biographical 

information and describing how "In 

Flanders' Fields" came to be 

published. 

David Jason 

Maggie Smith 

David Troughton 

An allstar cast portrays this most 

poignant and mysterious event 

of the First World War the 

disappearance in action of the 

Sandringham Company at Gallopoli in 

1915. First aired in 1999 on 

Remembrance Day, this is a mustwatch. 

Back issues of The Sandbag Times are available to download here 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 27|

When you go home, tell them of us and say... 

Flt Sgt Cyril Bayliss 

106 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 

Killed 1st November 1944 

Pte Edward Lindon 

Army Ordanance Corps 


Pte Matthew Haseldin 

2nd Bn Mercian Regiment 

Killed 3rd November 2011 

Flt Sgt John Banfield 

27 sqn Royal Air Force 

Killed 5th November 1944 

Ldg Op Mech Simon Bridgman 

HMS Sutherland 


WO2 Ian Fisher 

3rd Bn, Mercian Regiment 


Pte Henry Jones 

2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers 


Pte Ryan Thomas 

1st Bn Royal Regiment of Wales 


Gnr John Calcott 

58th Bde, Royal Field Artillery 


Pte William Gabb 

3rd Bn Coldstream Guards 


LCpl Henry Ferriman 

13th Bn, Gloustershire Regiment 


Pte Pita Tukatukawaqa 

1st Bn Black Watch 


SAC Scott Hughes 

No:1 Sqn Royal Air Force Regiment 


Sgt James O’Neil 

Royal Canadian Air Force 


Pte Matthew Thornton 

4th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment 


Capt Walter Barrie 

1st Bn Royal Regiment of Scotland 


Pte Jack Insull 

8th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment 


Mne Neil Dunstan 

Recce Ops UKLF CSG 

Killed 12 November 2008 

Mne Robert McKibben 

Recce Ops UKLF CSG 


Gnr Walter Hackett 

64 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery 


Gnr Walter Bache 

3 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt, RA 


LCpl Ernest Dabbs 

1st Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars 


Pte Charles Ingles 

1st Bn Worcestershire Regiment 


Pte Thomas Jandrell 

7th Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry 


LCpl Peter Eustace 

2nd Bn The Rifles 


Lt David Boyce 

1st The Queens Dragoon Guards 


Sgt John Earp 

C Btty, 84th Bde, Royal Field Artillery 


LCpl Richard Scanlon 

1st The Queens Dragoon Guards 


Flying Officer John Dawson 

69 Sqn Royal Air Force 

18th November 1944 

Pte Thomas Lake 

1st Bn, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment 



...For your tomorrow, we gave our today 

Pte William Neal 

2nd Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 


Pilot Officer Alfred Bishop 

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 


Sgt John Jones 

1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 


CSM Albert Adams 

1st Bn Worcestershire Regiment 


Petty Officer Stephen Odea 

HMS Neptune 

Killed 22nd November 2004 

LCpl William Keeling 

Royal Army Service Corps 


Lt Arthur Macreight 

18th Bn London Regiment 


Sgt Jonathan Hollingsworth 

22nd SAS 


Mne Alexander Lucas 

45 Commando RM 


Mne Tony Evans 



LCpl Thomas Kane 

3rd Bn Grenadier Guards 


Mne Georgie Sparks 



Rfn Sheldon Steel 

5th Bn The Rifles 


Mne William Jauncey 

41 Commando, Royal Marines 


Pte Reginald Lambert 

4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment 


A Prayer for Remembrance 

Remember Ypres, Gallipoli, the Somme, 

Mons and Verdun. Remember the Western 

Desert, El Alamein, the 

Normandy beaches. Remember Coventry, 

Dresden, Hiroshima and the Burma Road. 

Remember Korea, the 

Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, the 

Balkans, East Timor, Afghanistan and the 

Gulf. 

Remember the courage, the comradeship, 

the ingenuity, the spirit of working together 

for a common cause, 

the planning together for a better world that 

would come with peace. 

Remember the call to arms, the patriotic 

songs, the partings which were such sweet 

sorrow. The sound of the 

drum, the skirl of the pipe, the prayer that 

God would be on our side. 

Remember the carnage; the colossal horror 

of war. Remember the widows of sixty years 

and more, the old 

men and women who never knew their 

fathers. 

Remember the love that was lost, the wisdom 

wasted, the 

minds that are still pained by memories. 

Remember the families bereft by recent wars 

and conflict. 

Remember this day the children who will die 

while nation fights nation. Remember the 

One who asked us to 

remember them. 

Father, remember us; and forgive us our sins 

against you and our fellow man. 

Let us remember before God those who 

have died for their country in war; those 

whom we knew, and whose 

memory we treasure; and all who have lived 

and died in the service of mankind. 

They shall grow not old as we that are left 

grow old: 


condemn. 


morning 

We will remember them. 


Poetry Corner 

A Tale of Remembrance 

Dogs of War or Brothers in Arms 

Young men from cities, valley’s and farms 

Sworn to the crown and a countries peace 

Honour, Pride and Courage, the Soldiers Creed 

The Shilling is taken, the deal is struck 

This code of honour, this game of luck 

Pain’s now his friend in so many ways 

A soldier’s burden for the rest of his days 

Why go to war, a war without end 

If not our hero’s, then who do we send 

Sentenced to hell in a war torn land 

Dodging the reaper hidden in sand 

But this isn’t new, it’s from centuries past 

From bow and arrow to bullets and gas 

But what of the lessons when our hero’s return 

In a flag draped coffin, what did we learn? 

So we begin our journey on neighbouring shores 

This one was called “The War to end Wars” 

Trenches were dug and Tommies were slain 

The First World War was all done in vain 

From the first to the second and a new kind of hell 

A bully’s in power, a country has fell 

To Europe again, they answered the call 

Young men gathered all standing tall 

On land and at sea the battles are fought 

Inch by inch their liberty’s bought 

Then came the time of the Battle of Britain 

Defending our skies, our future was written 

And then the Tyrant had fallen and peace was restored 

You never know, this could be the war to end wars 

And for a while, we thought it was true 

As our hero’s stayed home with nothing to do 

But conflicts still raged in far distant lands 

Korea, South Africa and then Viet Nam 

Cyprus and Turkey and God only knows 

How the hell we still think we are friends and not foes 

But then to the Cold War, Political Chess 

A Nuclear stalemate between East and the West 

The Hammer and Sickle would not bend 

To the Star Spangled Banner with no means to an end 

The fear of destruction would not make them see 

The horrors of fallout that could so easily be 

The end of mankind for a political cause 

Maybe that would be the war to end wars 

But the wait was not long before violence returned 

Because in ’69 innocence burned 

In the Emerald Isle, the theatre was set 

A land full of hatred, fear and regret 

The Ministers said we’d be home in December 

How quick they forget, how long we remember 

We arrived as heroes but the message got lost 

As the price we paid wasn’t worth the cost 

Bricks and Nails and Bottles and Sticks 

With the odd petrol bomb thrown in with the mix 

Kids line the streets and shout out abuse 

These guns that we brandish are completely no use 

A rebel song sang of green, white and gold 

Of a deep routed hatred of young through to old 

No matter the threat we must remain true 

We swore our allegiance to red, white and blue 

But what was the reason for this civil war 

Was it religion or politics or just hate for the law? 

Whatever the reason, the blind lead the blind 

With the politicians and priests all standing behind 

But while the war raged within our own land 

Fate was close by to deal its next hand 

Ships and troops were rallied in panic 

To go fight a war in the South Atlantic 

The Task Force arrived and the job began 

To liberate our people from an occupied land 

But the Alter of Freedom came at a cost 

As once again lives were tragically lost 

The desert was next to become the damned 

As war broke out in the Holy land 

Reactions were quick and the job was done 

But yet again, many had died at the point of a gun 

And then back to Europe but this time the East 

To Bosnia and Kosovo to ensure there was peace 

Still the lessons of history had not been learned 

As, once again, the innocent were banished and burned 

Villages and roadsides were full of the dead 

As ethnic cleansing stained the government red 

But all our hero’s could do was watch in vain 

As the horror unfolded again and again 

Then that was that and peace was restored 

Even in Ireland they were talking once more 

Could it be that we were now finding peace 

At last, all the killing and dying could finally cease 

Then all of a sudden Armageddon came 

As the Twin Towers fell and war broke out again 

But this time they faced a new kind of foe 

Back to Iraq and Afghanistan our hero’s would go 

And there in that land they continue to fight 

In a terrorist war with no end in sight 

IED’s and ambushes, fire fights and mines 

And yet again, we’ve ignored the danger signs 

But they died for our freedom and our right to live 

On land, sea and air their lives they did give 

Those that survive still live with the pain 

Reliving their nightmares again and again 

So when we come to remember, lest we forget 

The pain and the courage, the blood and the sweat 

We owe so much as Churchill once said 

So as the Last Post ends, bow your heads and remember our 

dead 

We will remember them 

Written by Pablo Snow 


Poetry Corner 

Win This Fantastic Title 

This unusual and beautiful book collects 

together twenty five of the often read, wellloved 

poets. Each poet is illustrated with an 

original watercolor portrait by the talented 

young artist, Charlotte Zeepvat, who 

reproduces in pleasing script one of their 

works, giving a biographical summary that 

placed the poet firmly in the battlefield 

context in which their work was conceived. 

To have a chance at winning this 

fabulous book, simply email your 

poetry to: 

jane@sandbagtimes.com 

Remember Me 

(The voice of the dead) 

Remember me 

Duty called and I went to war 

Though I'd never fired a gun before 

I paid the price for your new day 

As all my dreams were blown away 

Remember me 

We all stood true as whistles blew 

And faced the shell and stench of Hell 

Now battle's done, there is no sound 

Our bones decay beneath the ground 

We cannot see, or smell, or hear 

There is no death, or hope or fear 

Remember me 

Once we, like you, would laugh and talk 

And run and walk and do the things that you all do 

But now we lie in rows so neat 

Beneath the soil, beneath your feet 

Remembrance 

On the boot muddied fields where the grasses once grew 

Swaying tall proud and strong stirred by only the breeze 

Where the blood of good men drained deep into the soil 

And the silence is marked by soft whispers from trees 

No more guns blast the air striking men as they ran 

Seeking shelter from hell as their brothers fell still 

No more screaming and tears as brave men breathed their last 

Just the silence of death floating far to the hills 

The breeze carries the scent of shells recently spent 

And it bites thick and sharp on the ground and the air 

Though the years have passed by yet the shadows remain 

We remember them all as we offer our prayers 

When the sun hits the ground warming seeds from her womb 

So the poppies burst through in a tide of bright red 

And they sway and they swell in great ribbons of love 

Born to remind us all of our mens resting heads 

Many summers pass by in the fields where they fought 

And the scars of their souls will forever remain 

But as sun warms the lands so the poppies will shine 

Bringing life to the lands from the death and the pain 

Jane Shields © 

Poetry Corner 

Send your Poems into us at 

jane@sandbagtimes.com 

Remember me 

In mud and gore and the blood of war 

We fought and fell and move no more 

Remember me, I am not dead 

I'm just a voice within your head 

Harry Riley 


The Veterans’ Magazine 

The War Poppy Collection 

Jacqueline Hurley talks to the SBT 

about her stunning works of art 

100 Years of Vera 

SPONSORED BY: 

 

As Dame Vera Lynn celebrates 

her 100th Birthday we look back 

at her incredible story 

Osteopath 

The SBT News 

This week’s latest national 

and international news 

from the world of Veterans 

and Armed Forces 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue 29 | March 2017 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPONSORED BY: 

 

Osteopath 


SPONSORED BY: 

Ken Brooks 

Osteopath 

 

SPONSORED BY: 

 

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The Sandbag Times Remembrance Special

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