May 2009 News Archive

31 May 2009 - A COMPANY - LAST OF 20 BRIGADE OUT OF IRAQ [1 YORK].  On Saturday afternoon the last 40 soldiers from A Company 1 YORKS, landed at Hanover airport and returned to Oxford Barracks in Munster.  Company Commander, Major Phil Bassingham-Searle was quoted as saying "The Battalion's been split between Baghdad and Basra. It's good to return and get back together". 
 
 
They are officially the last soldiers from the last fighting brigade to withdraw from Iraq - 20 Armoured Brigade handed over their Basra base to the remaining coalition forces earlier this month.
 
 
A Company spent the last six months carrying out a successful security and protection role based in the capital.  During the last few weeks, they handed over responsibility to Alma Company 3 YORKS.  The 3rd Battalion will remain in Warminster but over the next twelve months will operate a company rotation programme.  Alma Company are the first to take the role and should be replaced by another 3 YORK company in a few months time.  Read the Defence News story here.
 
30 May 2009 - REGIMENTAL RACE DAY AT THE KNAVES.  Glorious weather greeted the second Yorkshire Regiment Race Day at the Knavesmire Race Course in York.  Over two hundred supporters of the Regiment gathered to enjoy the day and see our sponsored race during the Spring Weekend meeting.
 
 
The the race of the day, the Yorkshire Regiment EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes, resulted in Sweet Sonnet cross the line.  Colonel of the Regiment, newly promoted, General Sir Nicholas Houghton and Lady Houghton presented the winner jockey and owner with the race trophy and Regimental Cap Badge.
 
In addition to a wonderful day out, the gathering also helped raise monies for the Regimental Welfare Charity. Sponsorship of an annual race at the Knaves has taken place over a number of years and was 'inherited' from the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment.  For information about next years event, keep an eye on the Regimental Diary page or subscribe to the Regimental Journal.
 
28 May 2009 - VICTORIA CROSS WINNER'S GREAT NEPHEW SIGNS UP FOR REGIMENT [2 YORK].  Caine Clamp (17) from Belle Isle, Leeds made the trip up to the Green Howard Museum in Richmond to attend his special enlistment ceremony.  Caine's great uncle, Corporal William Clamp VC, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for courage underfire in the third Battle of Ypres in October 1917.
 
 
The ceremony was arranged to take place in the Normanby Room of the Green Howard Museum, where the original VC is displayed.  Army Recruiting Officer Major Graham Milson carried out the enlistment and Caine swore the Oath of Allegiance in front of Regimental supporters including his mother and aunt.  Caine will now start training on the 26-week Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC) at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick and hopes to join the 2nd Battalion.
 
21 May 2009 - 1ST BATTALION AMONGST LAST OUT OF BASRA [1 YORKS].  Earlier this month the main body of 1 YORKS returned to their Oxford Barracks in Munster.  As part of 20 Brigade, they were amongst the last infantry units to withdraw from southern Iraq and Operation TELIC. 
 
They join B Company back in Germany who recently returned from Kosovo and together now start to prepare for a series of parades which will see the Battalion marching through the East Riding (see Regimental Diary).  Contrary to initial reports, the Battalion still has a Company based in Iraq, who will handing-over to a Company from the 3rd Battalion.  That makes the Yorkshire Regiment the continuing British infantry presence in Iraq - leave the best to last, as they say!
 
20 May 2009 - RUGBY SEVENS TEAM MAKE IT TO THE ARMY PLATE FINAL [3 YORKS].  The Yorkshire Warriors of 3 YORKS went down fighting in a demanding competition of six games in one day.  After initial success they were sadly knocked out of the Army Cup but then bounced back to make it into the final of the Army Plate Competition. 
 
 
Along the way the sevens team beat 13 Regt RLC 19-17, lost to 32 Regt RA 7-12, lost to 2 SCOTS 0-31.  In the Plate they beat 3 Regt AAC 33-17 in the quarters, beat 5 SCOTS 24-19 in the semis but went down fighting to 2 WELSH 10-24 in the final.  Well they have to let someone else clean the silverware this year, fair is fair.
 
19 May 2009 - INFANTRY SAILING REGATTA [3 YORKS].  The 3rd Battalion Sailing Team put in an encouraging performance in the Infantry Sailing Regatta.  The team finished 5th out of more than 20 teams at the end of a challenging week at Seaview in the Isle of Wight.
 
 
18 May 2009 - ARMY SEVENS-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT [3 YORKS].  The 3rd Battalion's A-Team will be up against he best of the rest in Wednesday's sevens competition in Aldershot.  Confidence is high for another good result this year where they expect to be in with a great chance of taking the Seven's Cup back to Warminster.  For more information about the competition and the venue visit the Army Rugby 7s site.
 
17 May 2009 - WIN A COPY OF STEPHEN GREY'S BOOK - OPERATION SNAKE BITE.  Regimental Journal readers are reminded that the deadline for the Operation Snake Bite book competition is drawing near.  The author and Viking publishing have kindly donated two signed hard back copies for readers of the latest Regimental Journal.  If you haven't already done so, seek out the competition on page 89 and submit your e-mail entry.  Two lucky winners have until midday of Friday 29th May to submit the correct answer. 
 
11 May 2009 - EIGHTEEN MAKE HISTORY SWEARING THEIR ALLEGIANCE.  Eighteen Yorkshiremen fulfilled their dream of joining the Army, swearing their allegiance to the Queen by enlisting into the Yorkshire Regiment at Leeds Civic Hall.  The men are part of the largest group to ever enlist into The Yorkshire Regiment, a figure that previously stood at thirteen.
 
 
The Leeds ceremony was witnessed by The Right Worshipful The Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Gerald Wilkinson and Colonel Simon Downey of the Yorkshire Regiment.  Major Graham Milson the Area Recruiting Officer conducted the enlistment ceremony supported by Army recruiters Colour Sergeant Marc Hunter and Sergeant Mick Ward, both members of the Regiment.  All eighteen will embark on their new careers at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick, undertaking the twenty-six week Combat Infantryman’s Course.  Read the full press release here.
 
10 May 2009 - ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.  This year's Association Annual General Meeting will take place at Worsley Barracks in York on 6 June.  Association members who have not already submitted their reply slip are kindly reminded the deadly for submission is fast approaching.  You can find details of the meeting, the Calling Letter (with Return Slip), Agenda and also a copy of the draft Constitution and Rules (which will be discussed at the meeting) on the Regimental Association page.
 
7 May 2009 - REGIMENT BACK IN HALIFAX [4 YORKS].  Soldiers from the 4th Battalion carried out a recruitment presentation evening to mark their impending return to Halifax.  The Battalion closed it's Halifax Territorial Army Centre (TAC) in 1999 and has been working from it's Huddersfield and Keighley Centres since then.
 
 
The presentation to new recruits and their parents marked the Battalion's effort to create a new TA Infantry Platoon of Halifaxmen.  For more information contact C Company Headquarters in Huddersfield or SMS 07785 590664 to speak to a local recruiter.
 
4 May 2009 - REGIMENTAL COLONEL PROMOTED FOR NEW APPOINTMENT.  Today, Colonel of the Regiment General Sir Nicholas Houghton took up the post of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS).  At the same time he was promoted General, the highest peace-time rank in the Army.
 
1 May 2009 - AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT.  As many of you will be aware the Yorkshire Regiment Association (YRA) was founded on 6th June 2006 on the same day as the Regiment itself.  The initial aspirations for and membership of the YRA were modest, but it seemed entirely appropriate to initiate an Association which, over time, would grow in strength and membership and would, quite naturally, develop relationships with the Associations of the antecedent Regiments.  Initially membership of the YRA was by application and on payment of a one-off subscription fee.  Approaching three years-on it is now appropriate to review progress.
 
Having discussed the future development of the YRA at the last Yorkshire Regiment Board Meeting it was considered appropriate that we should offer an open invitation for all members of the antecedent Regimental Associations to become members of the YRA as of right, without formal application and without additional subscription.  In doing this our collective intention was to encourage more actively the coming together of the old and the new. This open invitation is just that; there are no strings attached; there is no requirement to change Association or Branch names or force Branch amalgamations.  Time and circumstance may bring about such changes but, for the moment, the intention is purely to foster closer links between the old and the new Associations.
 
I asked the Chairman YRA, Major Bob Martin, to convene an EGM on Saturday 4th April to explain this initiative to current Executive Officers.  I am also publishing this letter as an open letter in this edition of the Yorkshire Regiment Journal so that the widest possible audience is aware of its content.
 
The next YRA AGM will take place after the Regimental Church Service on Saturday 6th June in Worsley Barracks.  The new Constitution and Rules for the YRA will be tabled for endorsement.  I dearly hope that the attendance at the AGM will reflect this offer of wider membership and that the Associations will continue to embrace the future and look to expand those activities which we might participate in together.