The Blythe Sappers
63rd Management Meeting
1100hrs Wednesday
5th October 2011
The Army & Navy Club, London
Those Present:
Sapper Idris Pearce Chairman
Sapper John Moore-Bick Vice
Chairman
Sapper Bill Woodburn Chairman Designate 2012
Sapper Hooky Walker Chairman
Delegate 2013
Sapper Charles Holman Honorary
Membership Secretary
Sapper Roy Wilsher Honorary
Treasurer
Sapper John Wilks Honorary
Auditor
Sapper
Sapper
John McLennan Honorary
Secretary
1. Item
1 Introduction. The Chairman
welcomed all those in attendance. He especially welcomed Sapper Hooky Walker to
his first meeting.
2. Item
2 Apologies for Absence. Apologies
had been received from Colonel Sean Harris Regt Col, Sapper Brian Pearce.
3. Item
3 Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
The Minutes of the 62nd Meeting
of the Blythe Sappers Management Committee had been published on the BS website
for a month. The Minutes of the previous meeting were signed.
4. Item
4. Matters Arising. There
were No Matters Arising.
5. Item
5. Finance. Sapper Roy Wilsher referred to the revised Blythe Sappers
Budget sheet and is attached at Annex A.
·
Grants. The Hon Sec reported
that we had received three letters of thanks from the Forces Children’s Trust,
The Army Widows Association and Not Forgotten Association each to who we gave
Ł1,000.
6. Item
6.
The
Regt Col’s report on the Corps is attached to these Minutes at Annex B.
7
Item
7. Casualties Since Last Meeting
Deceased. Sapper Ronald Frederick Hughes, Sapper
Vernon Smith, Sapper
Archie Mackenzie, Sapper Knobby Reid, Sapper Tom McMillan.
Resigned: Sapper Ossie Radford
8 Item
8. Nominations for New Members
|
Nomination |
Sponsor |
Seconder |
|
Captain Michael Gostick |
Sapper Ian Stewart |
Sapper Shaun Murphy |
|
Colonel John Pelton |
Sapper John McLennan |
Sapper Charles Holman |
|
Michael Rainbird |
Sapper Alan Gillett |
Sapper Idris Pearce |
|
Maj Gen Roy Wood |
Sapper Idris Pearce |
Sapper John McLennan |
|
Lt Col Roger Morton |
Sapper Inge |
Sapper Walker |
All Approved
9. Item 9 Attendance
& Arrangements for Today’s Luncheon
Principle Guest: General The Lord Dannatt
GCB CBE MC DL
Total number Attending 120
Number of Guests 30
Those
to Rise 0
10. Any Other Business
Wed
7th Dec 11 Christmas Lunch Baroness Boothroyd
11. Date of Next Meeting. 1100hrs on Wednesday
7th December 2011 the Christmas Lunch under the Chairmanship of
Sapper Idris Pearce.
Sapper Idris Pearce
Chairman The Blythe Sappers |
Sapper
John R McLennan Honorary Secretary The Blythe Sappers |
|
Dec
11 |
Nov
2011 |
Annex A
The Blythe Sappers Trial Balance 2011
Annex B
Corps Report
CORPS UPDATE AS AT 22 AUG 11
HEADLINE ISSUES
- Manning (Army Personnel Statistics Report, as
at 1 Jul 11).
|
|
Held strength |
Army Liability |
Difference |
Held
Strength as
% of Army Liability |
|
Officers |
1,330 (DE – 980, LE –
350) |
1,202 |
+128 |
111 |
|
Soldiers |
8,350 |
8,204 |
+146 |
102 |
|
Total |
9,680 |
9,406 |
+274 |
103 |
|
Of which: Females |
160 |
|
|
|
|
Foreign &
Commonwealth |
475 |
|
|
|
|
QGE Soldiers |
400 |
297 |
+103 |
135 |
- TA Manning (RE TA) – RE TA unit manning as
at Jul 11 was 229 officers (72% manned) and 2408 ORs (62% manned) an
increase of * + 75 since Jan 11. Under
planned Army reorganisations, the wider-TA will increase in strength to
32,000 of which the Corps’ six TA regiments will be reinforced from the
regular cadre.
OPERATIONS AND DEPLOYMENTS
- The Corps remains as busy as ever with every squadron
committed to the Operational Commitment Plot.
|
Capability |
HERRICK 15 (Oct 11-Mar 12) |
TFH
|
20 Armd Bde |
|
Engr
Regt |
35 Engr Regt |
|
TALISMAN |
32 Engr Regt (77 AES) |
|
C-IED
TF |
25 Engr Regt (Air Sp) |
|
Search |
36 Engr Regt (2) |
Middle East Operational Infrastructure. A number
of operational infrastructure recces and construction tasks are ongoing at
SEEB, MINHAD and Al-UDEID as part of the ongoing Op ZACH (ME routine infra sp)
tasks. An Air Support recce and advisory visit continues at Gioia del
Colle (GDC - Italy) in support of the successful Op ELLAMY (Libya)
campaign.
Engr Regt Gp. The Relief
in Place (RiP) has occurred with no loss to output and 24 Cdo Engr Regt are
already heavily committed to supporting the full range of tactical activity in
TFH – 35 Engineer Regiment prepare to roule in the coming weeks. A
substantial redevelopment of the Patrol Base infrastructure is underway.
C-IED TF. The CIED TF is providing significant levels of EOD
and Search support. Find/strike ratios are improving, as are strike pr hour and
percentage attendance assets.
People
- Redundancy – The RE requirement for
Tranche 1 was slight with LCpl (33), DE Maj (6), LE Capts (11) and Maj
(4). Tranche 2 is looking at larger
numbers and the recent SofS announcements of reductions to the regular
component will see further losses.
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
ROYAL ENGINEERS (CHATHAM)
- Corps
Activities. The Corps prepares to
celebrate its 200th anniversary in Brompton with a series of
commemorative events. 2012 also
marks the Centenary of the REA and separate events are planned to mark
this occasion. It is hoped to dovetail the Corps activity with that being
planned by local authorities – to include: 200th anniversary of
Dickens’ birth; 100th anniversary of the Corps Museum; World
Heritage status for the Great Lines; City Status for Medway; HM The
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and of course, the 2012 Olympics.
- RE
Museum, Library & Archive
o
The Fortifications Gallery. The Museum has begun the major refurbishment
of the Fortifications Gallery. Several
units have provided artisan support and work is progressing well. The Gallery will be opened as part of the
Corps Memorial Weekend (17/18 Sep 11) along with the Corps Today Gallery.
o
Grounds. The high quality perimeter fence is complete
adding significantly to the overall impression of a commercial and therefore
non-military complex. We have also had delivery of a No12 Scissor Bridge for
the CH AVLB – it is mounted and looks splendid.
CORPS SPORT
· Paragliding. The Corps was well represented at the Joint
Services Paragliding Championships by
·
· Football. The Corps football team won the Quadrangular tournament and only narrowly missed becoming Army champions.
· Boxing. This has been the Corps most successful season – ever! Four boxers (Jones, Leigh, McCarton and Passarelli) were awarded Army colours. Whitfield, Sadler and Passarelli achieved international level representation. 26 Engr Regt won the Army major Units trophy – Spr Marharjan was named Army Best boxer.
· Winter Sports. CO 28 Engr Regt will now begin to focus the Corps efforts for the coming season.
· Cricket. The Corps won the Plate in the Inter Corps 20/20 competition and the Inter Corps 50- over competition.
· Golf. The sapper team triumphed over the REME in the final.
· Orienteering. In the Long Distance team event the Corps swept the Board and is Army champion at both Senior and U25 level.
S P F
HARRIS
Mil: 94661 2034