4 Fd Regt Old Boys Newsletter - June 2020 Edition

I am acutely conscious that the world has changed much since I last wrote to you on St Barbara’s Day in December 2019. Then, I declared our intentions to celebrate the 75 th anniversary of VE Day on the 8 th May; our plans to commemorate in Borneo, on the 75 th anniversary of VJ Day, particularly those prisoners of war who were murdered around and indeed after 15 th August 1945; and we were looking forward to greeting a detachment from The Royal Canadian Artillery in Edinburgh in June as they fired a Royal Salute on the anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty The Queen, our Captain General. Covid-19 has unfortunately put paid to all of the above and more. Since December, we have all had to adjust very rapidly to meet this new, invisible enemy and one that, ’10 rounds fire for effect’ simply does not recognise. All of our Nations have suffered significant restrictions, hardships and a number have lost loved ones, including amongst retired Gunners and their families. Particularly for the older generations, it has certainly caused isolation, confusion and concern. For the Royal Artillery family here in the United Kingdom, today’s date has another significance; one hundred years ago today, on the 26 th May 1920, the Royal Artillery Association was formed. Its objectives then remain the foundation of its activities today, namely to embrace and support anybody who is or has been part of our Regimental family; that includes those who are currently serving, veterans, families, widows and widowers, dependants and more. Amongst its services, the Association is proud to provide comradeship and welfare support and advice. It is a fundamental aspect of what makes the Royal Regiment of Artillery a proper ‘family’ and gives substance to the cry, ‘Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner’. You all have similar Associations that look after the Regimental families around the world; their importance today is as great as ever, for they can reduce isolation and loneliness and also ensure welfare reaches those in need. I commend all who give their time so generously within them to look after fellow Gunners, keeping in touch with them and making sure they are not unduly in need. Our collective strength, unity and sense of being a family will be critical for the remainder of this year and the years ahead. I wish you all well in these unusual times and I look forward to the day when we can get together again in person. ………………………………………………………. I trust all are keeping safe and well in these unprecedented times. You may recall I mentioned last edition of a possible get together at Laurieton around Vietnam Veterans Day in August this year. I think at this stage we will just let the issue lie. I can’t get any confirmation from either the club or the Sub-branch at this stage about future activities, but I am expecting that some form of recognition and/or social gathering will take place for locals. I will let you all know closer to August. I leave you all with this quote from an unknown author: The gun is the rallying point of the detachment; its flag, its banner. It is that to which the men look, by which they stand, with which they fall. As long as the gun is theirs they are unconquered, victorious; when the gun is lost, all is lost. It is their religion to fight until the enemy is out of range or until the gun itself is withdrawn, or until both it and the detachment are in the hands of the foe. Regards to all and don’t forget to drop me a line or two. Peter Bruce 3 June 2020