The Sandbag Times Issue No: 45

The Veterans’ Magazine Issue 45 | July 2018
The Union Jack Club
The UK’s Premier Armed Forces Club
SBT News Update
Plus all The Latest National & International
News from the Armed Forces & Veterans’ World
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk
Supporting #OP-WAMITS

IBCC
Julie Warrington aka
SBT’s Mrs Fox
takes a trip into
Bomber County
Page 26
The Veterans’ Magazine Issue 45 | July 2018
The Union Jack Club
The UK’s Premier Armed Forces Club
SBT News Update
Plus all The Latest National & International
News from the Armed Forces & Veterans’ World
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk
Supporting #OP-WAMITS
Issue 45
CONTENTS
SBT News
4 Veteran Missing
Police release second photo
of Robert Mason
5 Para’s In NI Witch Hunt
Hundreds of soldiers called
to give evidence
5 More Russian Ships
Tracked off coast
Royal Navy called to track
Russian Warships again
6 Dame Vera Lynn Calls for
Website Block
Dame Vera asks to be
removed from website
Features
16 Veterans Raffle
Chris introduces us to the
new Veterans Raffle
20 Union Jack Club
A look into the premiere
Armed Forces Club in
London
26 Bomber County
Julie’s visit to the
International Bomber
Command Centre
Regular
9 Historic Tommy Atkins
The Beginning of the end
23 Have Faith
Walk a mile in my shoes...
32 SBT Information
A page dedicated to back
issues, information, book
reviews etc
34 Mrs Fox Goes To War
All the latest gossip and
letters from Little Hope
Editor: Pablo Snow
Magazine Manager: Matt Jarvis
Patron: Matt Neal
Honourary Patron:
Jacqueline Hurley
Additional editors:
Albert ‘Robbie’ McRobb
Jane Shields
Peter Macey
Mike Woods
News Media Manager
Jim Wilde
Recording Engineer and PR
Manager
Vince Ballard
Email: info@sandbagtimes.com
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

NEWS
THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE
SBT NEWS July Edition info@sandbagtimes.com
MISSING VETERAN: POLICE REVEAL
NEW PICTURE OF ROBERT MASON
Police, this week released a second photo of
missing veteran, Robert Mason who went missing
from his place of work over two weeks ago.
Robert, 38 went missing shortly after arriving at
work on 11th June at approximately 0930hrs.
Police said that he left his car and mobile phone
at work and left with just a day sack.
Police, friends and fellow veterans have joined in
the search for Robert but despite intensive
searching and various leads from the public
there has been no trace of him.
Robert was believed to have been wearing a dark
fleece, dark trousers and carrying a rucksack
when he went missing.
He has been described as white, 5ft 8in tall, slim,
with dark hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who sees Robert or has any information
on his whereabouts is asked to call Warwickshire
Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously
on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org
| 4 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

NEWS
THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE
SBT NEWS July Edition info@sandbagtimes.com
Royal Navy intercepts More Russian Warships
The Royal Navy's HMS
Montrose intercepted the
ships after shadowing them
in the North Sea.
This is the latest incident of
Russian vessels entering
Britsh waters as tensions have
risen between Moscow and
the West, Commander Conor
O'Neill, Montrose's
Commanding Officer, said:
"Royal Navy warships are
always prepared to respond to
tasking at short notice, so
when the call came, Montrose
was ready for action. “The
Royal Navy and Royal Air
Force, with the support of our
Hundreds of former paratroopers
have been asked
to give evidence at a highprofile
inquest into a shooting
incident during
Northern Ireland’s Troubles
more than 40 years ago –
despite the Prime Minister
pledging to end the “witchhunt”.
Northern Ireland’s
coroners service has written
to ex-members of the
Parachute Regiment and
the then Queen’s
Regiment about the 11
deaths in Ballymurphy in
August 1971. It has invited
NATO allies, constantly
monitor the seas and skies
around the UK, and our
operations are part of that 24/7
watch to ensure the UK stays
safe and secure.” A statement
from the Royal Navy said:
“HMS Montrose worked
alongside the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency to track
the two vessels as they
manoeuvred in some of the
most congested waters in the
world. “Montrose met the
pair both Steregushchiy-class
corvettes and monitored their
progress off the Danish and
Dutch coasts“After crossing
Ex-Paratroopers Hit By New Witch Hunt
A British army sergeant who
sabotaged his wife’s
parachute, causing her to
plunge 4,000 feet to the
ground after jumping from a
plane, was jailed for life for
trying to murder her. Victoria
Cilliers, 41, suffered severe
injuries to her spine, broke
her leg, collarbone and ribs
and only survived because
she landed in a newly
soldiers to come forward
as witnesses at the inquest
on September 10. The
Belfast coroner has also
written to the Provost
Marshal’s office – the head
of the military police – asking
for any records on the
incident. In 1971, what
was then the Royal Ulster
Constabulary had come
under sustained sniper
attack and senior officers
feared republican leaders
in west Belfast were about
to seal off Ballymurphy and
make it a “no-go area”, as
the bulk of the North Sea, the
corvettes dramatically cut
their speed and slowly
proceeded towards the north
Norfolk coast under the
watchful eyes of the British
frigate at the end of last
week.” Leading Seaman Jack
Shanley said: “I’ve been in the
Royal Navy for four and a half
years and this type of
operation is exactly what I
joined for.” Last month, the
Royal Navy used destroyer
HMS Diamond and a Wildcat
helicopter to monitor a
Russian spy ship close to the
coast of Britain. More here...
Life Sentence For UK Soldier For Wife Parachute Sabotage
ploughed field, a court heard.
Her husband Emile Cilliers,
38, who had denied
attempted murder, will have
to serve at least 18 years in
jail. Winchester Crown
Court heard that, knowing his
wife was planning a skydive,
Cilliers had sabotaged her
parachute in an airfield toilet
cubicle in Netheravon. Lines
to the main canopy were
the IRA had done in
Londonderry’s Bogside.
Soldiers from both regiments
moved into the
republican stronghold on
August 9 and came under
heavy fire as they
launched Operation
Demetrius, a mission that
was planned and directed
by the RUC, now the
Police Service of Northern
Ireland. Over August 9, 10
and 11, a total of 11 people
were killed including a local
priest, Father Hugh Mullan,
40. Read more here...
twisted and parts were
missing from the reserve,
stopping the chute from
opening when she jumped
from the plane in April 2015.
Police said that Cilliers’
motive had been to obtain an
insurance payout on his
wife’s death, which would
have allowed him to start a
new life with his lover. Read
more on this story here...
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 5 |

NEWS
THE VETERANS’ MAGAZINE
SBT NEWS July Edition info@sandbagtimes.com
Dame Vera Lynn Demands Removal Of
Her Name From ‘Disrespectful’ Website
Dame Vera Lynn has
broken ties with a 75th
anniversary D-Day
concert after its organisers
were accused of ‘dancing
on the graves of the dead’.
The Forces’ Sweetheart,
101, asked for her name to
be removed from the
website for the event after
veterans and their families
slammed the event as
‘disrespectful’. Due to
take place on June 6 next
year, the Liberty Concert
will take over Sword
Beach in Normandy with
the aim of ‘stimulating
people to stand up again
for peace and freedom’.
After hearing the plans for
the concert, veterans set
up a petition to have the
event moved to a ‘more
sensible location’ which
has gained more than
1,000 signatures. The
petition reads: ‘They will
be partying on the very
ground that hundreds of
men lost their lives 75
years before fighting for
our freedom, where
families have scattered
ashes of loved ones who
fought on that beach, and
where returning veterans
want to go but will be
unable to. 'An additional
75,000 people in an
already very busy area
will become a liability.
'Let them have their
concert, but NOT on any
of the beaches in
Normandy and preferably
NOT on the June 6, 2019.
Read more here...'
British Veterans Feel 'Undervalued'
And Hide Military Service To Get A Job
Britains veterans feel
“undervalued” and many hide
their military service to get a job,
a detailed survey revealed
yesterday. It contrasted the
enormous affection shown for
old soldiers of the Second World
War with the indifference often
shown to younger veterans of
more recent conflicts such as Iraq
and Afghanistan. The survey by
the SSAFA military charity
painted an overwhelmingly bleak
picture of how former
servicemen and women feel they
are viewed by the wider public.
The survey of 1,000 veterans, all
of whom have been helped by
SSAFA, found that 81 per cent
thought US veterans were more
respected than those in the UK,
75 per cent felt they were not as
respected as the emergency
services and 89 per cent said
civilians do not understand their
needs. Alarmingly, 70 per cent
said employers did not properly
value their skills or abilities with
some choosing to leave their
military careers off their CVs.
Invictus Games Racing Takes The
Fight To The Track in British GT
Inspiration comes from a
variety of sources globally,
as a new team will enter the
2018 British GT
championship this year in
the GT4 category for 2018,
as a selected crack troop of
injured veterans will make
up the newly created
Invictus Games Racing
outfit. Created through a
mutual collaboration
between the Superdry
clothing brand and the
Invictus Games Federation,
it sees the culmination of a
year’s worth of
development, with Superdry
Co-Founder James Holder
having commissioned two F-
Type SVRs to built to
compete under the current
regulations. Holder himself
has also competed in the
Championship in 2016,
having partnered with
Matthew George in the #44
Generation
AMR
SuperRacing Aston Martin
Vantage GT4 for a single
round, and was inspired to
make the partnership
happen, having watched the
Invictus Games in Orlando.
MoreHaving funded the
project himself, along with
the design and development
of the cars, it will help to
promote future opportunities
for other WIS (wounded,
sick or injured) servicemen
and women the chance to
experience full throttle
motorsport head-on. More..
| 6 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

TWO friends will trek through the Western
Front this year to mark 100 years since the
end of the First World War.
David Parkinson, of Over Wallop, and
George Ashworth, of Charlton-All-Saints
will be walking through battlefield sites in
France and Belgium to raise money for the
Royal British Legion. The pair were
inspired to make the trip after attending a
rugby match in Twickenham last
Remembrance Day. George said: “I’ll be
40 this year and I was looking for something
to do that was a bit of a challenge.
When David mentioned the walk I thought,
‘it’s worthwhile and a chance to go and
see it all’. I think everyone should go to
see it.” David agreed, adding: “It should
be the national curriculum that everybody
goes to get an idea about the sacrifices
those men made.” The trip will be
poignant for both men, who will be walking
with a group of about 30 people from
across the UK. “I had three great-grandfathers
who survived the First World War,
and it’s something I’ve always held close
to my heart,” David said. And for George
it has sparked an interest in his family history.
He said: “Both of my grandfathers
served in the Second World War. This
might be an opportunity to find out more,
because I know I have got great-grandparents
who did serve in the First World War,
but I don’t know where.” The pair will lay
a wreath at Thiepval’s Memorial to the
Missing of the Somme, on behalf of
Salisbury residents, which will be a tribute
to soldiers who died in all conflicts. David
and George are set to start their training
schedule at the end of the month, ahead
NEWS
Pair To Trek Western Front In Memory Of Fallen Soldiers
of the trip in September, where they will
walk about 13 miles per day for four days.
They have currently raised just under £600
for the Royal British Legion, but hope to
reach a total of £3,000. George said: “It
would be nice to have a bit of support
from the people of Salisbury. Any donations
are gratefully received.” Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/david-parkinson27
Are you:
A Service Veteran?
Aged 65 or over?
A family member or carer
of the above?
If so, you could bene 昀 t from the
support of a DMWS Welfare O cer
We are experts in the provision of Medical Welfare and have supported the
Armed Forces Community during medical treatment since 1943
We are here to help, contact your local Welfare O
cer today:
A Guide to Medical Welfare Services
for Health Care Professionals, Organisations
and Support Workers
Caring For Those Who Serve – Frontline To Recovery
www.dmws.org.uk
Supported by the Aged Veterans Fund
funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR Funds.
DMWS Registered Charity number:
England: 1087210 | Scotland: SCO45460
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 7 |

SBT NEWSDESK
With Jim Wilde
Greetings folks, It has been
almost 2 months since we
started the Daily News
Updates by way of podcasts,
and they seem to have taken off
really well. The feedback has
been very positive, and the listening/
viewing figures have reflected that, and
have continued to rise. Our focus is to bring
you the latest news, as and when it happens,
and in multiple formats to enable everyone to
share the content whether it be on PC, Mac,
Mobile or Tablet.
We are happy that this is now a stable platform,
and is responsive, and not processor
hungry. The next move, is to couple the
audio submissions with a Video News
Update, with discussion topics, which will
involve you, the reader/listener. There are
many Veterans and Military sites on the web,
all doing what they can to keep the issues
that matter in the public eye. Because of the
widespread nature of these sites, our target
is to bring all these sites together in a United
Veterans Forum, and share the load and
information. By doing this, posts like Missing
Veterans, and Suicide Awareness, will be circulated
much more expediently, and hitting a
wider audience, therefore having a better
chance of success.
Over the next few weeks, we will be working
with the various Admins on these sites with a
view to centralising and pooling our
resources to enable a more effective distribution
of information. In order to do this, we
will, of course, require your help by way of
feedback, and suggestions that can benefit
us all. If there is anything you think that can
be changed/modified to better the system,
then please contact us on the emails given
below.
As always, you continued support is very
important to us, therefore, if you have any
news stories, pictures etc that you think are
worthy of inclusion, make sure you get them
to us as quick as you can. You can do that
by contacting any one of us here at the magazine.
Pablo@Sandbagtimes.com,
Jane@Sandbagtimes.com,
Jim@Sandbagtimes.com, or to the general
account - info@Sandbagtimes.com.
Thank you as always, and we look forward to
hearing from you soon.
Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile
| 8 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

The Historical Tommy Atkins
The Beginning
of The End
Written By Peter Macey
July 1918 was famous for a number of worthy
news items but also two major world changing
events. Although at the time they might have
gone unnoticed and certainly one was kept a
deep dark secret for many years, the truth of
which was only discovered in the 1980s, some
70 years on from what happened, they were
nonetheless world changing.
On 15th July the German Army started an
offensive on the Western Front near to the
River Marne in France. What would become
known as the Second Battle of the Marne
would prove to be the last offensive by the
Germans and unbeknown to anyone at the start
of the battle would prove to turn the war in the
Allies favour, and the Great War would finish
just over three months later.
On the morning of 15th July twenty three
German divisions assaulted the French
positions near to the Marne. This was a rash
attempt to make an impact without the
realisation that the French Army, due to the
attachment of the American 42nd Division
now heavily outnumbered the German front in
every capacity of manpower, tanks and
artillery. The hope of the advancing Germans
was to split the French Army into two parts
and counter each in turn. East of Reims the
French Fourth Army had prepared a defence
in-depth to counter any bombardment and
infiltrating infantry. Their main line of
resistance was around two miles behind the
front and beyond the range of the enemy field
guns. The French gun line behind the front
was lightly manned, but the remaining guns
fired frequently, so the Germans did not detect
its weakness from rate of firing although aerial
intelligence told them otherwise but was
ignored. But the counter-intelligence gained by
the French was not ignored and so when the
attack came, the French and American armies
were well prepared for any ‘surprise’ attack.
The German bombardment was scheduled for
12:10. The French opened fire on the German
assault trenches at 11:30. When the Germans
finally opened fire they pounded the almost
empty French front line. The attackers moved
easily through the French front line but this
advance meant the infantry moving far more
quickly than the support armour and artillery.
They were ordered to stop and rest while the
other parts of the attack played catch up.
Early the following day the Germans were
stopped by accurate fire by the bulk of the
French artillery. They tried to advance again at
noon, but failed.
Meanwhile in the west on the south bank of
the Marne the Americans had to hold the river
bank by enduring an intense three hour
bombardment, including many gas shells.
Under this cover Germans stormtroopers
swarmed across the river in every sort of
transport—including canvas boats and rafts.
They erected skeleton bridges at 12 points
under fire from the Allied survivors. Some
Allied units, held fast or counter-attacked, but
by evening, the Germans had captured a
bridgehead 4 miles deep and 9 miles wide.
Despite the aerial intervention of 225 French
bombers, dropping 40 tons of bombs on the
makeshift bridges, the German commander on
the ground, Ludendorff regarded their advance
as “the very pinnacle of military victory”.
Then the French were reinforced by the British
XXII Corps and 85,000 American troops. The
German advance stalled completely, two days
after it had started.
The German failure to break through allowed
Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander to
proceed with the planned major counteroffensive
which started on 18th July. Some
twenty four French divisions, and two US
divisions under French command, joined by
other Allied troops, including eight large
American divisions and 350 tanks attacked the
recently formed German stronghold.
This was the beginning of the end.
The Germans ordered a retreat on 20 July and
were forced back to the positions from which
they had started their Spring Offensives.
On 1st August, French and British divisions
renewed their attack, advancing to a depth of
nearly 5 miles. The Allied counter-attack came
to a halt out on 6th August in the face of the
German defences. But by this stage the
German stronghold had been reduced and the
Armies forced back by 28 miles. The German
defeat marked the start of almost unstoppable
advance by the Allies which culminated in the
Armistice around 100 days later.
In early July in Russia, the allies were
supporting the White Russians who were still
defending the Eastern Front. The Bolsheviks
who now formed the Government within
Russia had withdrawn from the War to
concentrate on creating a communist state.
But the contingent of non conforming
Russians were still fighting for freedom and
now supported by the allies in their attempts to
defend their homeland although most of the
German divisions had been moved from the
East to attack the Western Front.
But there would be a final act or authority by
the Bolsheviks, under the command of Lenin,
who had come to power following the
revolution in October the year before, the
former leader of all of Russia. In the early
hours of the morning of 17th July the Tzar
Nicholas II and his entire family, including his
wife Alexandra and their five children; Olga,
Maria, Tatiana, Anastasia and Alexie, were
executed in the basement of Ipatiev House in
Yekaterinburg, where they had been held
prisoner for some months.
The deaths of the former Royal family which
marked the end of the Romanov dynasty was
believed to have been carried out following a
direct order from Lenin. The deaths were
denied by the Bolshevik Government until
1926 when it was suggested they had been
killed by elements of the White Russians or
left wing.
The burial ground of the family was
discovered by an amateur sleuth in 1979. In
1981 the whole family were canonized as
Saints and declared Martyrs and Passion
Bearers by the Russian Orthadox Church
Abroad.
The site of their execution is now beneath the
altar of the Church On Blood.
Were your relatives involved in the Second
Battle of Marne? If so we would like to hear
from you. Please write into SBT or contact us
at Forgotten Veterans UK (FVUK).
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 9 |

The RWD Subaru’s of Sutton and Subaru that
have spent the main part of this season qualifying
at the back, locked out the front row –
closely trailed by Andy Jordan in the RWD
BMW. We struggled to find the right set up in
qualifying, and subsequently placed lowly in
P15 & P19 for Matt and Dan respectively. The
lads threw the kitchen sink at the cars
overnight with a setup overhaul, aiming to hit
the ground running in race 1.
Round Five: Croft
A Tough Weekend Under The Yorkshire Sunshine
Brings The BTCC 2018 Season To The Summer Break.
The gamble paid off on Matt’s car and he
managed to fight his way up to P9 in the first
race, a great result considering it’s not the
easiest track to over taken on given its unforgiving
nature – and any moves have got to
be made with real assurance that they can be
executed successfully. The set up changes
didn’t gel on Dan’s car and he fell back to
P19 at the chequered flag.
Race Report: Ben Durrell
The BTCC summer break is here, that’s our
trip to the North of Yorkshire done for another
12 months.
We knew we’d have nothing handed to us
this weekend, it’s a notoriously rear wheel
drive track and we got shown that once again
at the first opportunity in qualifying.
Matt got up to 8th early on in race 2, only to
be forced to the gravel by Dan Lloyd – dropping
him down to P11. He fought well on the
prime tyre to get back into P7 when the flag
waved, 4 places ahead of Dan who made up
8 places to finish P11. A favourable reverse
grid draw for Matt saw him line up P3 for race
3, with Dan in P12.
Race 3 saw Ash Sutton pass Matt on Lap 9,
only for him to retake the place at Clairvaux –
Photo: Jakob Ebrey
| 10 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

OFF THE GRID
out braking him down the inside and forcing him to take to
the gravel. He held off the aptly-named ‘King of Croft’ Colin
Turkington for the remainder of the race, in doing so securing
a third top ten finish of the day for him and vital championship
points. Dan ended the day on a higher note, breaking into the
top 10 and extending his lead atop the Jack Sears Trophy
standings to 25 points.
DC: ‘I think I did the best job I could over the weekend, but
Matt’s greater experience definitely told. Race two was solid,
but we didn’t really have the pace on the hard tyre in race
three. Although the results perhaps don’t show it, I honestly
don’t think there’s a lot more I could have done. This championship
is tough, but as a driver, I’m learning and improving all
the time and that’s the main goal.”
We’ve now got 5 weeks until our next outing at Snetterton for
the BTCC’s 60th anniversary celebrations, during which time
we’re heading there for a tyre test where we’ll conduct some
valuable testing ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Matt’s now up into third in the championship, you can view
the standings here -- http://www.btcc.net/standings/drivers/
Matt Neal On Croft
Photo: Jakob Ebrey
“We really had to fight for every single point there, and my car
ended up looking a bit battered and bruised. I think all the
Hondas suffered, and Croft is normally a track that suits us.
We know there was some boost equalisation going on, so
that likely had a bearing on the weekend. We lacked speed in
qualifying, but we came through well to crack the top ten in
race one and we could have finished a fair way further up the
order in race two – the Civic Type R felt really strong on the
harder tyre – but for the contact. I think Dan [Lloyd] could
have given me a bit more room, but it is what it is. It would
have been nice to finish on the podium in race three; ultimately,
we didn’t quite have enough but fourth was still a very solid
result and we scored good points across the weekend
towards the Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ championships,
which is a positive way to go into the summer
break.”
Dan Cammish on Croft
“It was certainly an uphill struggle! I arrived here having never
driven a front wheel-drive car round Croft before and with not
a lot of time to adapt during free practice. We definitely
missed a trick this weekend. We were nowhere in qualifying,
so we changed the set-up massively for race one but that only
made things worse. Fortunately, Matt went in the other direction
and it worked for him so we copied that and from then
on, things picked up. I think I did the best job I could over the
weekend, but Matt’s greater experience definitely told. Race
two was solid, but we didn’t really have the pace on the hard
tyre in race three. Although the results perhaps don’t show it,
I honestly don’t think there’s a lot more I could have done.
This championship is tough, but as a driver, I’m learning and
improving all the time and that’s the main goal.”
Pabs On Croft: Questions & Answers
Another lovely Sunday sat on my backside in front of the
goggle box. I must admit, after soaking up the last few
races from trackside, I felt robbed of the atmosphere and
excitement. Well, at least I did until the programme on TV
started then I was immersed. But there is nothing like being
there and I definitely missed it.
There was no doubt that this was a rear wheel drive track
with strong performances from the Subaru (much to my
annoyance) and BMW’s. Don’t get me wrong, young Ash
Sutton conducts himself aggressively on the track as he
should do but always acts the gentlemen in front of the
cameras after. Anyone who saw the post qualifying interview
knows what I mean. All I will say, there’s a time and a
place if you must use coarse language and I question
whether 4pm on a Saturday afternoon was the place.
Enough moaning from me, Although Honda was clearly
playing catch up on Sunday, I truly believe our two lads
could not have done much more. Matt’s experience really
showed with a great display of very mature driving. We
have to consider his position in the table when he started at
Croft to his position when he left. A brilliant 3rd place! Well
set for part 2 of the season to challenge for a 4th title.
As for Dan, I have said it before and I’ll say it again, he’s
fast. Damn fast and worrying many front runners. Give him
the tools on the right circuit and his first win is within his
grasp. He is learning and learning well. Watch this space!
That’s it till the season starts again. Have a nice break all.
Photo: Jokob Ebrey
Standings: Matt Neal 3rd - 127pts Dan Cammish 13th - 80 pts Halfords Yuasa Racing 2nd - 204 pts Honda 2nd - 367 pts
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 11 |

The Tommy Atkins Centre
Tommy Atkins Centre June
Hello from us here at the Tommy
Atkins centre. The sunshine is
really belting through the
windows today, and it’s lovely to
see some new faces attending
our Peer Support group meeting
with Simon West from Combat
Stress.
We’ve had a fairly busy this
month so far, quite a few people
booked onto different courses
and Lisa our psychotherapist
has a steady stream of veterans
she is currently working with,
though she is currently on a well
deserved break for a week or
two. No doubt she will be very
busy again when she returns.
It was an incredible honour to
have Matt Neal and Ben
Durrell from Team Dynamics
here earlier this month. Two
incredibly supportive guys,
finding out all about the work
we’re doing with veterans. We
even got to have a drink with
them later in the afternoon,
which is always a lovely way to
round off a meeting.
If you’re ever in the area, feel
free to call in for a chat. We’re
open Tuesdays and Thursdays
0930-1530 at 26 Sansome Walk
Worcester. The kettle is always
on ready for a brew.
Enjoy the fantastic weather
while it’s here. Talk again soon.
Jane xx
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk/tommy
atkinscentre
News From The Tommy Atkins Centre
NHS Veteran Lead Visit
Dr Jonathan Leach, NHS
Veteran Lead, England
popped along to
Worcester last week to
speak about the new TILS
and CTS system in which
the Tommy Atkins Centre
and SBT will be promoting
and recommending Watch
out for information over the
coming weeks on this new initiative, contact numbers
and details will be available here in the very
near future for self referrals.
TAC Welcomes Doctor
We are very pleased to
announce that Dr David
Muss has joined the
ranks of the Tommy
Atkins Centre. David is
the founder of the
Rewind technique used
in helping veterans with
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The treatment that
David uses is so effective he is confident of stopping
the effects of PTSD in just a few sessions.
David is also coaching centre Psychotherapist, Lisa
Whittaker in the technique. If you would like to
know more about David and Rewind please go to
page 22 or contact us at the Tommy Atkins Centre.
BTCC Driver & SBT Patron, Matt Neal Takes
Time Out To Visit The Tommy Atkins Centre
What a complete pleasure to
welcome the SBT Patron and 3
x British Touring Car
Champion, Matt Neal to the
centre in Worcester. Despite
Matt’s incredibly hectic life, his
support for veterans is second
to none. Matt, currently lying
3rd in this years championship
was treated to a guided tour of
the centre followed by a presentation
by the SBT editor on
the truth behind the in’s and
out’s of how the centre makes
the difference to so many.
Matt was accompanied by
Team Dynamics Marketing and
Sponsorship Manager, Ben
Durrell who also works very
closely with the magazine.
Ben is currently looking into
the possibility of getting Team
Dynamics Motorsport, Matt’s
team, signed up to the Armed
Forces Covenant. This would
be a first for the world of motor
sport and just maybe, the start
of a very welcome trend.
Photo: Jakob Ebrey
| 14 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

Patron to The Tommy Atkins Centre

VETERANS RAFFLE
The Raffle That Is Just The Ticket For Veterans
Have you heard of the YES (Your Emergency
Services) Society Veterans Raffle that helps
our Armed Forces & Emergency Services
Veterans charities? We hadn’t either, until we
spoke to founder (and former Police Officer),
Chris Hearn, who told us all about it and
explained just why he felt the need to take a
huge leap of faith and set it up in the first
place.
“Don’t get me wrong,” says Chris, “I respect
the National Lottery and all the other lotteries
and raffles that do great things for good
causes. What I don’t like, however, is the
amount of money that they take out of the
funds for things like ‘admin costs’ etc.”
And once you look into it – it’s a bit of an
eye-opener. On the YES Society website
(yessociety.org.uk) it clearly shows in diagrams
(laid out below) that the 3 major lottery
companies in the UK are giving less
than a third of the money they collect back
to good causes and some also have admin
costs of almost a third!
“Once I found out exactly how little was
going back to good causes, I just thought
that was unacceptable,” says Chris. So he
formed the non-profit organisation YES
Society & then created the Veterans Raffle,
designed upon a purposefully built platform
that could give most of the money to supporting
Good Causes and the rest back in
Prizes, and with super low admin costs too.
Chris also wanted to make sure the funds
went to charities that made a real difference
in their communities. He felt this was very
relevant both to him and to his former colleagues
with whom he had worked alongside
for many years. YES Society has chosen
to focus on supporting those who are
suffering from mental health related conditions
such as PTSD, those who have complex
injuries such as loss of limb and those
who find themselves out of work and/or
homeless.
“Some large military and emergency service
charities are brilliant at raising money – but
| 16 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

ased upon ethics, morals, social responsibility
and transparency. We didn’t want to
repeatedly ask for money so instead have
gone for a monthly commitment model
which aims to reward loyal support. We give
a greater percentage to UK Good Causes
than any lottery and we also retain the lowest
percentage for our total operational costs.
We also do not operate a rollover with our
Veterans Raffle, which means there's a winner
every draw. No prize is ever shared.”
So it’s fair all round then?
“Absolutely. Entries, draw results and prize
notifications are electronic which means that
there's never a lost ticket. You don't need a
membership card and you never have to
check the results yourself to make a claim
either. YES Society does absolutely everything
for you, from start to finish!”
Founder: Christopher Hearn
How do I support the Veterans Raffle
what they actually do with it is fairly limited
and proportionately only helps a small
amount of people,” says Chris. “In my
research I’ve found some brilliant smaller
charities that do so much with so little but
could help so many more if they only had the
extra funds. All the charities we’ve currently
selected to support are specialists in their
field and we know exactly where their funds
are prioritised. We will work closely with
these & other charities to help secure their
future and to continue to provide much
needed support to those in greatest need.”
So why should we play the YES Society
Veterans Raffle then Chris?
“YES Society has built its Veterans Raffle
To keep things both simple and fair, everyone
subscribes to donate exactly the same
amount (£10) per month via the YES Society
website, using the most secure payment
method available today (Direct Debit). No
commission is paid to any third party retail
outlets. No cash, card or cheque options so
your donations can't go astray, and the vulnerable
are protected too. It has to be the
simplest and safest registration processes
available.
For more about YES Society or to simply
enter the Veterans Raffle then go to:
https://yessociety.org.uk/
to help do some good and have fun at the
same time!
URBAN PRINTS
Proud Sponsors of
The Sandbag Times
The SBT would like to
welcome Urban Prints,
Worcester as an official
sponsor for our magazine.
Urban Prints
Unit 7 The Gallery,
The Shambles,
Worcester
WR1 2RA
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 17 |

FROM FORCES TO FRANCHISING
WITH CHIPSAWAY
ChipsAway is the leading provider of mobile small to medium area car repairs
such as bumper scuffs, paint scratches, minor dents and alloy wheel repair
CASE STUDY – Andy Darby
A Royal Engineer in the Forces
for 11 years.
“I’m more fi nancially secure than
I have ever been”
Andy joined ChipsAway 15 years ago and was
concerned about the transition from military
to self employed, however after following the
proven ChipsAway business model and taking
advantage of the available training and support,
it was a smooth transition. Within a couple of
months, Andy was already earning the same
level of income he had as a soldier! Andy now
enjoys a great lifestyle, drives a top of the range
sports car and estimates his net earnings
are over 3x more than his previous salary!
“Being my own boss is great, the satisfaction of seeing your
business become increasingly successful is fantastic!”
With IMI accredited training and ongoing support, brand leader ChipsAway
provides a proven business opportunity with unlimited earning potential.
The average ChipsAway franchisee received over £100,000 worth of customer
enquiries in 2017, so you can be your own boss without having to go it alone.
The franchise is £29,995+VAT
AS SEEN ON
TV
For more info, call 0800 980 5951 or visit www.chipsaway.co.uk/franchise

Welcome To The Club
The Union Jack Club is the only Non-
Commissioned Armed Forces Club in the
UK and has been used by the serving and
ex serving community for over 100 years.
Serving Non-Commissioned members
of HM Armed Forces are
automatic members and Non-
Commissioned veterans are invited
to become members for an
annual fee of £17.
Located next to Waterloo Station in
London we offer a relaxed environment for
members and their guests to enjoy themselves.
The Union Jack Club’s versatile
accommodation caters perfectly for individuals,
couples, families and groups. The
263 rooms consist of single, twin, double
and family accommodation. There are also
apartments that can sleep up to 6 people,
a luxury suite with adjoining lounge and
well equipped fully accessible bedrooms.
The restaurant is open to all members
whether you are staying or just passing
through and offers a modern a la carte
menu, which changes with the seasons.
Serving we are told the best breakfast in
London and fresh seasonal dishes with
ingredients delivered daily from local suppliers
the restaurant offers quality and is
well priced.
The Main Bar serves a variety of beverages
with a pint of beer starting at £2.50
and a bottle of wine at £13.50. The Bar
has a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere,
with quieter, more intimate areas
where people can gather and catch up.
The popular bar snack menu includes
some classic choices such as the British
beef-burger or Club sandwich. Our traditional
afternoon tea includes a scone, jam
and clotted cream and a refreshing pot of
fresh tea or coffee.
Other amenities include a baggage room,
internet café, espresso bar, car parking,
laundrette, FREE Wi-Fi, games and changing
rooms, private event/reception rooms,
library, use of Soho Gym and more can be
found via www.ujclub.co.uk.
Throughout the year we hold events for
members including military history lectures,
monthly wine tastings, and receptions.
For our latest events go to
www.ujclub.co.uk/events.
Above all else, the Union Jack Club offers
a sense of belonging and community with
like-minded people so do please have a
look at www.ujclub.co.uk/membership and
join us and do check out the latest videos
of the Union Jack Club at
www.ujclub.co.uk
| 20 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

UNION JACK CLUB
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 21 |

CANADA CALLING
Canada Calling
The Canuck Connection
A Happy 151 st Birthday to Canada 01 July . I am very
Proud of my Adopted Country Canada and her Military.
The news that Canada is considering allowing non
Canadian Citizens to enlist is heartening. The
requirement to be a citizen of Canada, was adopted I
believe in the late 60s or early 70s. Until then non
Canadians could and did enlist. I fact in my year of
enlistment to the Soldier Apprentice programme in 1960
there were many of us Non Canadians in the
programme. It was not until 1969 that the father of our
current PM, advised serving military personnel that no
courses for promotion, would be given to non Canadian
Citizens. Why I will never know as the majority on Non
Citizens, were admirable in both honour and services to
Canada.
Meanwhile our primary ally and NATO partner the UK are
seeking recruits with a lower education requirement?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/caf-military-foreignrecruits-1.4675889
https://www.theguardian.com/uknews/2018/jun/08/british-army-criticised-for-examresults-day-recruitment-ads
It seems that History is once again repeating itself with
regard, to Military Recruiting.
On the SUBJECT of Canada’s Birthday a hearty Bravo
Zulu to all members currently serving and to Canada’s
Veterans of all services.
On that note this humorous cartoon
has appeared lately in Canada. The
rumour has it that the return of equipment
would be to give to Immigrants.
However TRUTH be known Canada
is drastically short of Equipment.
Enjoy Canada Day with your families,
stay safe.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile
| 22 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

HAVE FAITH
Walk A Mile In My Shoes...
This month’s reflection centres on a project that I have just
undertaken. Bear with me on this. There is an old saying that
you should never judge somebody unless you’ve walked a
mile in their shoes. Never a truer word said. But sometimes
to understand a person you need to walk a mile in their shoes.
This has never been more apparent to us than now as we try
to get the public to understand the road veterans walk. In this
day and age, news stories come and go so quickly one can
be forgiven for forgetting the problems of other people.
Especially when we are caught up in our own day to day lives.
This can make awareness of the problems of others so
difficult. The thing is regardless of how empathic we feel for
somebody, there is no way we can walk a mile in somebody
elses shoes. All we can really do is try to understand the best
walk, I will consider what they must have been through. You
see, these 21 have all taken their own lives this year. I shall
walk in my old Army boots as they did and I will try to get
people to understand what I am doing and why I am doing it
in the hope that more people can walk a mile for someone
they know that may be suffering. I know that God will be with
me and will give me strength to complete the task. But
whatever your beliefs, whatever your thoughts, whatever
drives you forward, I ask you to walk a mile for somebody.
More would be better and please let the world know what you
are doing it for. What I also ask is during your walk, pave the
way for our suffering veterans to get the help they need. All
you need do is find your nearest veteran centre or
organisation that can help and post it on social media with the
details for veterans to use. Maybe that way, we won’t add any
more miles to my walk.
we can. But it can be a good idea to take the time to try to
understand someone a little more. Learn about what has
made that person good and bad. The more you know, the
more you can start to walk a metaphorical mile but without this
understanding and knowledge their shoes will never fit you.
No one can really understand what Armed Forces Veterans
have been through unless you have served alongside of them.
And even then, that would me physically being alongside
them on duty. That is the only way. But no-one can be
expected to fully understand. Just to know that there is a long
road walked. I would like to point out at this point that this is
for everyone, not just Veterans but in light of recent events I
would like to keep with our heroes. My idea, therefore is to
walk a mile for a certain group of people. 21 of them in fact. I
could never understand what they have been through but as I
If you would like any more information on my project OP
WAMITS (Operation Walk A Mile In Their Shoes) please go to
our website or get in touch with us. Thank you and God Bless
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 23 |

THE HEROPRENEURS AWARDS
www.heropreneurs.co.uk
The Heropreneurs Awards is a new initiative created to celebrate the achievements of ex-
Armed Forces personnel in business. It is run by Heropreneurs, the charity created in 2009,
that helps ex-Armed Forces personnel and their dependants on the road to creating their own
businesses. The Awards are run in association with The Telegraph and the Warwick
Business School, and with support from Goldman Sachs, the Ministry of Defence, OBXtek
Inc and the Veterans’ Foundation.
The Judges for the Heropreneurs Awards are all exceptional people who have been recruited
from the world of business, politics, and the Armed Forces. Chaired by General Sir John
McColl KCB CBE DSO, the Judges include Paddy Ashdown, Deborah Meaden (of Dragons’
Den), Major General Andrew Pringle CB CBE, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE
CB (Controller, SSAFA), Chris Weston (CEO – Aggreko plc), Andrew Brode (Chairman -
RWS Holdings plc), Rear Admiral Alex Burton (CEO - EWaterPay), Emma Jones (Founder –
Enterprise Nation), and Emma Willis MBE DL (Founder – Style for Soldiers).
The Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, who
will be presenting the top award for the Heropreneur of the
Year said,
"Many people have left the Armed Forces and created their
own successful businesses. I am delighted to have been
invited to attend the Heropreneurs Awards and to join people
from the worlds of business, and the Armed Forces, in
celebrating these achievements."
Deborah Meaden, Entrepreneur and investor from Dragons’ Den, said,
"I am delighted to be joining the judging panel for the Heropreneurs Awards
and to witness first-hand the entrepreneurial spirit that exists within the
Armed Forces Community."
!
| 24 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

THE HEROPRENEURS AWARDS
Kevin Sneader, McKinsey’s Global Managing Partner – elect, said
when he met Peter Mountford, the Chairman of Heropreneurs
“Heropreneurs is a big idea, and I love big ideas”. Kevin is attending
the Awards dinner.
Peter Mountford, Chairman of Heropreneurs added,
“People who have served in the Armed Forces have many skills and
abilities that can be used to create great and inspiring businesses once
back in civilian life. Heropreneurs now wants to celebrate the
significant accomplishments of ex-Armed Forces personnel in the
business world through The Heropreneurs Awards.”
A total of eight Awards will be made in the following categories:
• Business Leader of the Year
• Employer of the Year
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Heropreneur of the Year
• Military Partner of the Year
• Start-Up of the Year
• Veterans’ Foundation Award
• Warwick Business School Award
(the winner of this Award will
receive a bursary of 100% to
complete an MBA with the
Warwick Business School)
The Awards ceremony will take place on 14 November 2018 at a formal dinner in the
Plaisterers’ Hall in the City of London and will be hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Naga
Munchetty.
Naga Munchetty said,
"I am delighted to support Heropreneurs by presenting their inaugural
awards at the Plaisterers' Hall on 14 November. The ethos of
Heropreneurs and their way of supporting the military community is
inspiring.”
There is no charge to enter the Awards or for Finalists to attend the Awards dinner.
Further sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Note:
For more information contact:
Peter Mountford, Chairman of Heropreneurs
Amanda Rayner
Mobile: 07774 842761
Head of Events
Email: peter@heropreneurs.co.uk
amanda@heropreneurs.co.uk
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!01494 671332
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 25 |

BY JULIE WARRINGTON
Bomber County, June 2018:
Today, the skies over the beautiful county of
Lincolnshire are blue and untroubled. The
vapour trail from an airliner, high-flying and distant,
is visible to the naked eye and the occasional
pale cloud scuttles across the heavens.
Peaceful and serene, the distinctive shape of a
great mediaeval cathedral – the crowning glory
of the city of Lincoln – sits, as it has for almost a
millennia, on a hill above the Lincolnshire flatlands
which stretch as far as the eye can see
before blending in seamlessly with the horizon.
It is a hot day. It is a quiet day. This is twentyfirst
century England at peace.
It’s difficult to imagine a time when this was any
different, but there’s a reason why we British
have a tradition of giving our counties nicknames
– we call Kent ‘The Garden of England’
in memory of her agricultural heyday,
Lancashire and Yorkshire are known as the Red
Rose and the White Rose respectively as we
hark back six over hundred years to a bloody
civil war and the emblems of two branches of
the Plantagenet dynasty which met on battlefields
across the country and pretty much tore
us apart – and then there’s this peaceful
Lincolnshire, which we are – justifiably if a little
oddly - proud to call ‘Bomber County’.
Some seventy eight ago, if you’d been standing
on this very spot looking up at the skies, it
would have been a very different story. Britain
was at war and to be honest, things weren’t
looking too good. By the late summer of 1940,
the Nazi war machine had eaten its way
through the very heart of Europe and the British
Expeditionary Force had been driven back to
the beaches of Dunkirk where it had been rescued
at the eleventh hour under the cover of
the guns of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air
Force by an incredible flotilla of little boats from
Britain which, crewed largely by ordinary people,
had crossed the open sea under enemy
fire to bring their men home.
With some 338,226 allied troops safe and
sound back in Blighty and following the collapse
of France, Britain braced herself for the
expected invasion. Between July and October
of 1940, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies
over southern England with the men of RAF
Fighter Command (men from home, Empire
and occupied territories which included Poland,
France and Czechoslovakia amongst others
and some eleven Americans who risked losing
their citizenship for engaging in a foreign war)
displaying outstanding courage in defying the
greatest odds and refusing to be beaten by the
superior strength of the Luftwaffe.
RAF Bomber Command had been formed in
1936, when the shadows of war were already
beginning to form over Europe, it was known
that – contrary to the agreed terms of the Treaty
of Versailles - the German High Command had
been building up its military capabilities and its
air force in particular was beginning to pose a
serious threat to Germany’s former foes. With
the outbreak of war, the race was on for Britain
to assemble a sufficient number of planes –
both fighters and bombers – for both the
defence of the British Isles and to carry the war
across the English Channel and into Germany.
Initially, bombing missions from Britain
focussed on military and logistical targets such
as taking out the assembled German invasion
barges and fleets standing ready in the
Channel ports, a vital – if slightly less glamorous
– role than Fighter Command’s part in
the Battle of Britain and it was only after a stray
Luftwaffe bomber dropped its load on London
that Churchill ordered Bomber Command to
really go on the offensive and undertake the
retaliatory bombing of Berlin. With Fighter
Command’s resources stretched dangerously
thin and close to the brink, this action helped to
| 26 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

BOMBER COMMAND CENTRE
turn the tide in the Battle of Britain as Hitler,
furious that his capital city had been bombed,
ordered Goering to change his plan of attack
and to switch from the ideal of destroying the
RAF to bombing British civilian targets thus
inadvertently giving British home defences precious
time to recover and replenish. With the
Battle of Britain in the bag, the country could be
considered to be ‘safe for now’, and by early
1942 the Americans had arrived and the prognosis
for a final victory was much improved.
There was still a war to win, however, for
defence was not enough, and prior to the D-
Day landings the only practical way to carry the
war into Germany and the occupied territories
was via the men of Britain’s Bomber Command.
With the war gathering pace and more and
more airfields being needed for Britain’s mighty
new bomber fleet, where better to build those
runways, control towers and hangars than the
beautiful flatlands of Lincolnshire? Not only did
the county provide space, ‘big skies’ and ideal
terrain for the airstrips themselves, but it was
also relatively close in proximity to Germany
and would provide bomber crews with a pretty
straight run across the North Sea and into
occupied northern Europe. It is estimated that
during the course of the war there were some
100 allied airfields spread across the county,
not all operational on a daily basis (some were
emergency landing strips, some were training
fields and decoy sites), and it is now nigh on
impossible to count them all on account of a lot
of paperwork having been destroyed when the
war was over. What is certain though is that
once the allied retaliatory bombing offensive
began in earnest, it came in with a fury from
rural Lincolnshire. The legendary Dam Busters
took off from RAF Scampton, close to the city of
Lincoln itself, and a visit to the churchyard there
– indeed to practically any churchyard in the
county - stands testimony to the price many
airmen paid.
Over the course of the War, almost 58,000 servicemen
and women from Bomber Command
would come to pay the ultimate price in the
struggle for freedom. We should remember,
that it was not only bomber crews who perished,
but that servicemen and women shoring
them up around the clock on the airbases back
home also fell victim to enemy action.
By the end of the war, the RAF had some 108
bomber squadrons and over 1,500 operational
aircraft and raids against such as fuel refineries,
depots and communication links had damaged
the German war effort beyond repair. Industrial
cities in Germany also came under fire and it
was ultimately this, the bombing of civilians
which would cause Bomber Command’s reputation
to be tarnished in the eyes of some and
even vilified in others. This is not the place for
such a discussion however and it should
always be remembered that the crew members
of the allied bombers who set off towards occupied
Europe were following orders in time of
war, and displayed a bravery and heartbreaking
courage above and beyond that which many
who later criticised them would ever be able to
muster themselves.
For many years following the Allied victory of
1945, the heroes of Bomber Command were
largely ignored, forgotten even, and it was not
until 2012 that London’s Bomber Command
memorial was dedicated but it was still felt by
many that a tribute to the crews ought really to
be built in the East of England, in close proximity
to the crumbling control towers and long
overgrown runways in the county which would
have been the last sight of home for many who
did not return and in the shadow of the most
welcome landmark in the world for those who
did make it back – Lincoln Cathedral – and thus
it was that the International Bomber Command
Centre dream was born. A trust was launched
in 2009 by the then Lord Lieutenant of
Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, and by late 2017 the
memorial was completed and it was opened in
January 2018. Sadly, Mr Worth passed away
just a few short weeks before the opening of
the memorial centre and so he wasn’t able to
see his dream realised. In order to complete
the memorial, the IBCC charity had to borrow
£1.5 million and they’re looking to raise funds
to repay that as soon as possible.
Today, visitors from far and near flock to the
spire which reaches for the sky in the flatlands
of Bomber County, it is a long overdue and welcome
addition to that iconic view of the
Lincolnshire skyline. I have stood and looked
at Lincoln Cathedral through an aperture in the
new International Bomber Command Centre
memorial, it was a beautiful day and all was
well with my world certainly. The memorial
stands 102 feet high to mirror the exact
wingspan of the iconic Lancaster bomber, it is
built from Corten weathering steel and around
the base of the spire are 270 steel boards on
which are carefully stencilled and laser cut the
names of those 57,861 souls who did not live to
see their final victory. There are no ranks or
awards noted, as the sacrifice of all remembered
is equal and ultimate, the dead of 45
nations, brothers in arms who fell in the cause
of freedom.
Freedom. We have an understandable tendency
to take it for granted but the very word itself
is a misnomer. Freedom isn’t free at all, it carries
a very heavy price tag indeed. It is a parting
gift to us from each every and person commemorated
on the IBCC memorial and indeed
on monuments and cenotaphs and war graves
around the world. A gift for which we should be
eternally thankful.
Lest We Forget.
For more information about the International
Bomber Command Centre, and to make a
donation if you’d like to support them, please
visit https://internationalbcc.co.uk
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 27 |

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

SBT Supporting
AFVBC.net
Armed Forces &
Veterans Breakfast Clubs
www.afvbc.net
WEBSITE
Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile Walk The Mile
| 38 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk
| 30 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

Veterans Breakfast Clubs
Sapperfest: That time of the year again!
And From Around The Clubs...
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 39 |
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 31 |

Information
A word from the Ed
Hi folks and I do hope you’re all
enjoying the wonderful sunshine
here in the UK. Oh, I wish. In
the middle of magazine writing,
trying to help the centre, trying to
launch a project, walking the dog
and making dinner, I do get the
odd five minutes to take in the
lovely weather. But on to the
minutes of the meeting. I do hope
you’re all getting the jist of Op
Wamits. Basically, I’m asking all
of you to walk a mile (or more)
hopefully in military style
footwear (not essential but it will
make it a little more realistic) and
then post it on Social Media for
all to see. On your video, please
state anyone you may be doing it
for but most importantly highlight
to veterans in your area where
they can get help. If you are
unaware of these details then let
me know and I will get the details
for you. Hopefully by spreading
the word will inform your
veterans where they can turn to in
times of desperation. We may
just be able to stop a few more of
the growing trend of suicides here
in the UK. We have a bit of a
bumper issue this month, many
thanks to all who have
contributed articles and bits and
bobs. I have to say it is a great
read. Special mention to the
Union Jack Club, Yes Society, our
very own Julie Warrington aka
Mrs Fox, AFVBC boss, Dereck
Hardman and all of our regular
writers. Wow!! Should keep us
all going for a while. I need to
say a big thanks to our patron,
Matt Neal for popping over to
visit a few weeks ago. He really
is a great ambassador for us
veterans, he even forked out for a
round in the pub after the meeting
(need to teach him about
Guinness though). There are
some great things on the horizon
from our Matt but more on that in
the near future. Just want to say a
huge congrats for getting himself
into 3rd position in the BTCC this
year. Thats it from me, laters! Px
“I hate being the new guy!”
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
| 32 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

Information
The Art Of War
By Stephen Coontz
The Chinese
dragon is
flexing its
muscles. As its
military begins
to prey on
neighbors in the
South China
Sea, attacking
fishing vessels
and scheming to
seize natural
resources,
America goes on
high alert. But a far
more ominous
danger lurks closer
to home: A nuclear
weapon has been
planted in the harbor
at Norfolk, Virginia―
site of the biggest naval base on
the planet. The target: a secret
rendezvous of the Atlantic Fleet
aircraft carriers and their battle
groups. When the CIA director is
assassinated and Jake Grafton is
appointed to take his place, Jake
gets wind of the conspiracy but
has no idea when or where the
attack will occur. Meanwhile, a
series of assassinations―
including an attempt on the life of
the President of the United
States―shakes the nation and
deliberately masks a far more
sinister objective. Can Jake and
his right hand man, Tommy
Carmellini, prevent a
catastrophe far more
devastating than Pearl Harbor
and stop a plot to destroy the
U.S. Navy?
Reach For The Skies
Central Band of the RAF
Here’s a bit of a military one for you in light
on the RAF Centenary. Wonderful military
music beautifully produced.
Rampage
Dwayne Johnson
Naomie Harris
Malin Akerman
Here’s one we watched recently.
Very tongue in cheek but worth
a watch. When three different
animals become infected with a
dangerous pathogen, a primatologist and
a geneticist team up to stop them from
destroying Chicago.
Back issues of The Sandbag Times are available to download here
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 33 |

MRS FOX GOES TO WAR
Mrs Fox Goes
To War...
The Chronicles of Little Hope
1939 - 1945
Villager of the month:
Dee Day
and - after all - a rent-free dwelling with
three fireplaces, an ice house and a painted
boudoir was not to be sniffed at.
As soon as War was declared, Dee volunteered
to become an ARP warden (having
promised Hilda Ffinch that she'd be sure to
finish typing the sentence she was on and
lock the infamous memoirs away in the
safe before sallying forth to save the day)
and took her duties very seriously indeed...
At Hilda Ffinch's new Lonely Hearts Agency,
things were not really going as planned. Dee
quite fancied Tarquin, but he'd been missing in
Indo-China since 1926...
Hilda Ffinch:
The Bird With All The Answers
Hilda Ffinch, Little Hope's very own Agony
Aunt (page 5 of the Little Hope Herald) was
easily bored and terribly rich. She loved nothing
better than taking on the problems of others
and either sorting them out or claiming
that she'd never heard of them if it all went tits
up and they had to leave the district under
cover of darkness having followed her sage
advice.
You can catch up with the adventures of Dee
Day at
https://www.mrsfoxgoestowar.co.uk/dee-day
Diana' Dee' Day lived with her mother Holly
and younger sister May in the old lodge at the
entrance to Hilda Ffinch's rather grand estate
where she tapped away religiously on her
trusty typewriter from dawn to dusk each day
transcribing Ms Ffinch's somewhat dubious
memoirs. A terribly sensible girl, May was
aware that Hilda had almost certainly never ridden
up K4 on the back of an arthritic yak with
the Duke of York, but went along with the charade
as Hilda Ffinch was a generous employer
This month’s letter comes from old Mr
Cummings, he’s having a spot of bother with
church verger Miss Mayflower. Not to worry
though, Hilda’s on hand with her usual brand
of sage advice...
| 34 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

THE CHRONICLES OF LITTLE HOPE
up sausage together in Oxford Street!
Seventy six is no age at all, my good man, there’s
many a good tune played on an old trombone. I’ll
wager that in years to come a song will be written
about just that.
Be of good cheer now and perhaps consider taking
a gentle stroll with the ladies of the Little Hope
WI when they sally forth gathering nuts in the
greenwood, I’m sure that they’ll be only too happy
to take it in turns to hold your bag for you should
it become a little heavy.
Letter of the Month
Dear Ms Ffinch,
I seem to have an issue with a lady called Miss
Mayflower, the church verger who seems to
be giving me the eye. Forty years ago, I may
have been flattered, but at the age of 76 I can
hardly tie my shoelaces, never mind do anything
else.
I realise that I am one of the very few men left
in our village with our brave men fighting the
good fight and am happy to play my part in
the war effort, but I do have my limits!
Please advise, what should I do?
Yours desperately
Alfred Cummings
With regards to Miss Mayflower herself, I’d take
her name with a pinch of salt and stop worrying.
She flowered just before the Titanic went down
and has been all talk and no action ever since.
Yours,
Hilda Ffinch,
The Bird With All The Answers
P.S. If the more militant members of the WI do
happen to slip their hands into your pockets and
offer to lighten your load, say “No!” as it won’t be
the odd tanner they’re after and at your age you
need to watch it.
If you’d like Hilda Ffinch, The Bird With All The
Answers to address your own wartime problem,
then pop along to https://www.mrsfoxgoestowar.co.uk/hilda-finch-agony-aunt
to subject your
personal crisis to her (hopefully) sober scrutiny.
Remember to give yourself a suitable wartime
alias! Letters will be answered online and a selection
of them published in next month’s Sandbag
Times.
Dear Mr Cummings,
Oh come, come now, sir! Do get a firm grip on
yourself and endeavour to man up! If the
Reverend Aubrey Fishwick can gamely fend off
the sex starved harpies of Little Hope - admittedly
with help from a bell, Book and candle
in his case - then I’m sure that you can give an
equally good account of yourself!
Are you not, after all (as local legend has it),
the sterling fellow who gave our dear Mr
Churchill a bunk up so that he could get his
leg over during his escape from the Boers in
Pretoria in 1899? Why sir, without your
impressive upward thrust we might even now
be watching Herr Hitler and Lord Halifax
shopping for lederhosen and a bit of spiced-
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 35 |

Poetry Corner
On reaching the top of the hill I traced
the inscriptions on the war memorial,
leaned against it like a wishbone.
The dove pulled freely against the sky,
an ornamental stitch. I listened, hoping to hear
your playground voice catching on the wind.
By Mike Woods
I am grateful to Pablo Snow, editor of The Sandbag
Times for the opportunity to write this section of the
magazine. I am delighted to be able to include a
poem by Jane Weir, one of the poets prescribed on
the AQA GCSE syllabus in the section entitled
‘Power and Conflict’. Her moving poem, ‘Poppies’
appears below. It was commissioned by Carol Ann
Duffy, the Poet Laureate as one of ten poems published
in The Guardian newspaper in response to
the conflict in Afghanistan. A film in which Jane
talks about the genesis of the poem can be found
here: https://youtu.be/r8QIcYdJPG0.
POPPIES
Jane Weir
www.templarpoetry.com
Three days before Armistice Sunday
and poppies had already been placed
on individual war graves. Before you left,
I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals,
spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade
of yellow bias binding around your blazer.
Sellotape bandaged around my hand,
I rounded up as many white cat hairs
as I could, smoothed down your shirt's
upturned collar, steeled the softening
of my face. I wanted to graze my nose
across the tip of your nose, play at
being Eskimos like we did when
you were little. I resisted the impulse
to run my fingers through the gelled
blackthorns of your hair. All my words
flattened, rolled, turned into felt,
slowly melting. I was brave, as I walked
with you, to the front door, threw
it open, the world overflowing
like a treasure chest. A split second
and you were away, intoxicated.
After you'd gone I went into your bedroom,
released a song bird from its cage.
Later a single dove flew from the pear tree,
and this is where it has led me,
skirting the church yard walls, my stomach busy
making tucks, darts, pleats, hat-less, without
a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves.
Alongside her poetry writing, Jane is a textiles
designer. The thread of imagery associated with her
close knowledge is reflected in her choice of words
such as ‘bias’, ‘blockade’ and ‘felt’, all of them resonantly
ambiguous. They are developed in the fourth
satanza to communicate the emotional respnse fo a
mother to her son’s imminent departure, her worry
being expressed as the ‘tucks, darts, pleats’ of her
stomach.This poem is one of a triptych, the others
being entitled ‘A Hank of Yellow Wool in a
Landscape’ and ‘The Face’. In response to my asking
if it would be possible to include the pom in The
Sandbag Times, Jane wrote “‘Poppies’ was inspired
by a ramble up to the war memorial in Matlock and
through the very graveyard mentioned in the poem
with my lad as a small boy many years ago. It got
me thinking about Sassoon’s poem, ‘Sick Leave’
when he was hospitalised at Craiglockhartt suffering
from shell shock. He reported seeing men from his
platoon at the foot of his bed asking him what he
doing and why was he not with them.”
SICK LEAVE
When I’m asleep, dreaming and lulled and warm,
They come, the homeless ones, the noiseless dead.
While the dim charging breakers of the storm
Bellow and drone and rumble overhead,
Out of the gloom they gather about my bed.
They whisper to my heart; their thoughts are mine.
“Why are you here with all your watches ended?
From Ypres to Frise we sought you in the line.”
In bitter safety I awake, unfriended;
And while the dawn begins with slashing rain
I think of the Battalion in the mud.
“When are you going out to them again?
Are they not still your brothers through our blood?”
Siegried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon formed a famous friendship with
| 36 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk

POETRY CORNER
Wilfred Owen at Craiglockhart hospital in Scotland. This
was portrayed wonderfully in Pat Barker’s novel,
Regeneration (1991). They contributed to a poetry magazine
called The Hydra, of which there is an online
archive. It was at Craiglockhart that Owen’s Keatsean
sensuousness was leavened by the example of
Sassoon’s ironic bite.
It is wonderful that The Sandbag Times provides the
space for poetry on all subjects, something that would
have pleased both Sassoon and Owen. Tragically,
Wilfred Owen was killed in action on 4th November
1918, just one week before the Armistice was signed.
Sassoon died in 1967. As well as his poems. it is well
worth reading his two volumes, Memoirs of Fox-Hunting
Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer.
One is often left wondering what else Wilfred Owen
might have gone on to write after producing, by the age
of twenty-five what are probably the best know poems
ever written about war experience. Future editions of
The Sandbag Times will feature this mighty poet.
One of the most important pieces of advice that can be
given to anyone wanting to be a poet is to read the
work of others. This is part of the apprenticeship of writing.
An apprentice learns from a master of a trade and,
over time, develops the necessary skills to qualify as an
exponent of that trade or craft. Often, this involves the
ability to make or build something. It is not surprising,
then, that the word poet derived from the Greek poiein,
‘to make’. A poet, then, is a maker. This necessitates a
deliberate act, the application of craft and technique all
fired in the forge of imagination. Shakespeare describes
the process in the voice of Theseus speaking to
Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, having
already said that ‘The lunatic, the lover, and the poet /
Are of imagination all compact.’ (V,i,7-8):
The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name. (AMND V,i, 12-18))
The raw material of the trade is words and the skill lies
in the shaping of the poem in terms of diction, syntax,
form and sonic effects. All this, of course, is coordinated
through the individual insight consider of the poet. This
leads us to another consideration of what a poet is. The
Romans used the word vates or seer to describe a poet.
In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, one of the characters
who appears in the opening scene is interchangeably
given the name s poet or soothsayer, the latter meaning
‘truth teller’. This also implies a prophetic ability. It is the
poet/soothsayer who famously advised Caesar to
‘beware the Ides of March’, which proved to be the day
of his assassination at the hands of the conspirators.
These days, we do not credit poets with the power of
clairvoyance but there is still an acknowledgment of
their insight and ability to ‘see into the life of things’ as
Wordsworth put it. We respond to what T.S Eliot said a
poem should be - ‘the best words in the best order’.
With all this in mind, what follows is an example of what
is an expertly crafted poem. It was written by Gerard
Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) in 1877, while he was
studying theology at St.Beuno’s in North Wales.
The Maker and the Made
It is well known that we tend to turn to poetry at significant
points in ours lives. Although we may know what
we think and how we feel, it is not always easy to convey
thoughts and feelings in a form of words equal to
them. Often, we find a poem that says exactly what we
think and feel and have a sense of recognition because
it so precisely says what we wanted to articulate. There
are those of us, though, who do have a compulsion to
write.
PIED BEAUTY
Glory be to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and
plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 37 |

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows
how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Whilst not everyone will subscribe to the theology
of this poem, its technical features are
striking. In the first instance, it is clearly the
work of a writer who has done his time as a
poetic apprentice and has reached the point of
technical mastery to the point of being innovatory.
Hopkins wrote in his journal, ‘the effect of
works of genius is to make me admire and do
otherwise’ and in this poem, a curtal sonnet, a
version of the form he invented, we do indeed
see Hopkins doing otherwise. He reduces the
standard fourteen lines of the Italian or petrarchan
sonnet to ten and a half lines, whilst
maintaining the same proportions of the standard
form. The compact container of the curtal
sonnet is suited ot the purpose of giving us the
sense of all things being crammed in to the
world, the plenitude of being. The alliteration,
assonance and rhyme deployed in the poem
link the disparate facets of the world in one
unifying principle which, for Hopkins, is God.
Hopkins was always at pains to arrive at the
essence of things, their ‘inscape. In a letter to
his friend, Robert Bridges (Poet Laureate1913-
1930), he wrote, ‘...design, pattern or what I
am in the habit of calling inscape is what I
above all aim at in poetry.’ Pied Beauty certainly
fulfils the poets aim through its careful
design and patterning. A lot more that can be
said about this poem; it serves as an example
of how a great deal can be expressed in a
short form.
Keeping apprenticeship firmly in mind, it is a
pleasure to include a poem by Hannah
Searson who, at the age of fifteen, has successfully
combined free verse with an element
of refrain and repetition to address what is a
very difficult subject. Well done, Hannah.
To our minds
To our bodies
To the lies we tell ourselves
To our souls
To our hearts
To our thoughts that are kept on dusty bookshelves
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
In for...
It just doesn’t work
It just keeps on like an endless cycle
Our minds constantly go berserk
It’s an endless recital
It’s a constant battle
It’s a never ending race
Our crooked mind lets out it’s sick cackle
And then we’re gone without a trace
And just like that
We slip into darkness
Forever waiting for that light
Until our hope falls flat
But regardless
We’re stuck in a never ending headlight
Of doubt
Of fear
Of all that put us down
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
Maybe just Maybe it may work today.
Hannah Searson (15)
Breathe
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
In for four
Hold for seven
Out for eight
That’s what they teach us
That’s what we get taught
When we break down
And don’t know what to do anymore
We get told that same ritual
We get shown that same thing
that’s unintelligible
Win This Fantastic Title
This unusual and beautiful book collects together twenty
five of the often read, well-loved 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:
mike@sandbagtimes.com
| 38 www.sandbagtimes.co.uk