Squadron Silver
Thread Starter
ian 16th
ian........you are quite right about the museum in Richmond. My dad took me a few years ago......what a stunning tribute to the GH's. My dad thought all the silver might end up there......I'm sure he'll be visiting again soon. Alas, I believe the Green Howards, who became part of the Yorkshire Regiment, no longer exist in any form......I'm reliably informed it was political and that because a more junior" regiment was on ops in Afghanistan at the time, it was deemed more politically expedient to "spare" the more junior regiment and sacrifice the GH's as they were not on ops at the time. Normal protocol would have been to retain the GH's. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not in any way making a judgement on that decision. I'm happy to be corrected.
Best
MD
Best
MD
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Originally Posted by Army Mover
Had that been my Mess, they would have been locked in a safe and only brought out for special occasions; when I asked my host about the security of these items, he told me that they had a general policy that the Mess silver should be on display to the members.
It was stolen one night, presumably to melt down.
Must have been at leat a 2-man lift - it was huge.
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At one time the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were in possession of a quantity of solid gold plates, etc, which the regiment "liberated" from the Chinese imperial palace during the Relief of Peking after the siege of the legations there during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Wonder what happened to that?
There were around 15 buildings left standing at the end which I believe were the buildings that were finished off in the Boxer Rebellion you mention.
ian16th,
That's taken me back a few years. Group Captain Lawrence ‘George’ Bastard, A.F.C., D.F.C. was my station commander at Cottesmore about '69/'70.
Distinguished gentleman and nice guy.
That's taken me back a few years. Group Captain Lawrence ‘George’ Bastard, A.F.C., D.F.C. was my station commander at Cottesmore about '69/'70.
Distinguished gentleman and nice guy.
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Green Howards Museum
Despite my proximity to Richmond, haven't been to the Green Howards Museum since it reopened recently after a major refurbishment/upgrade which by all accounts has been done to the highest standards and per Trip Advisor is even 'dog friendly'!!!
The Green Howards Museum
Green Howards Museum Reviews - Richmond, North Yorkshire Attractions - TripAdvisor
Also when in Richmond another suitable spot is Richmond Station and its Restaurant
Seasons Restaurant > Locations > Richmond
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
The Green Howards Museum
Green Howards Museum Reviews - Richmond, North Yorkshire Attractions - TripAdvisor
Also when in Richmond another suitable spot is Richmond Station and its Restaurant
Seasons Restaurant > Locations > Richmond
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
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Basil
Do you know what he got his AFC for?
If it was for his UK to Oz flight, that was 2 AFC's I helped earn
Group Captain Lawrence ‘George’ Bastard, A.F.C., D.F.C.
If it was for his UK to Oz flight, that was 2 AFC's I helped earn
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Alas, I believe the Green Howards, who became part of the Yorkshire Regiment, no longer exist in any form.
My BiL, who did his 22 with them, demobbed in 66, is still receiving his pension from someone
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I know several Bomber Command trophies 'disappeared' from the Mess and were eventually relocated in the AOCinC' s suite in the HQ.
Echoing others, I was house member at Wittering and started an inventory of the silver. First thing I discovered was a lack of shelving in the store. I took my Swiss Army Pen knife !and dismantled a section of shelving from the drying room. Staff were horrified but no one else noticed and we had 50% more shelf space
As the Mess was now home to the Harrier they had stashed a couple of large oil paintings of a Victor and Valiant to a store room. When it was pointed out they were Shepherd's valued 40 years ago at a conservative £5000 they were brought put again.
As said, insurance is a significant factor.
Echoing others, I was house member at Wittering and started an inventory of the silver. First thing I discovered was a lack of shelving in the store. I took my Swiss Army Pen knife !and dismantled a section of shelving from the drying room. Staff were horrified but no one else noticed and we had 50% more shelf space
As the Mess was now home to the Harrier they had stashed a couple of large oil paintings of a Victor and Valiant to a store room. When it was pointed out they were Shepherd's valued 40 years ago at a conservative £5000 they were brought put again.
As said, insurance is a significant factor.
ISTR that during my time running the "Non Public" desk at Command Accounts at Brampton we introduced the concept of "selective insurance". Essentially, if say a "Shepherd" was damaged or stolen, would it be replaced with an item of equivalent value? We agreed with the major non-public insurers that they would not apply"averaging" in the event of a claim, and we reduced the cost of insurance, which was becoming an increasing burden on messes and PSI funds.
In 2005 I was responsible for storing all 10 Squadron's memorabilia and silver when the Squadron disbanded. After everything was packed and recorded in the 540, I delivered the memorabilia to the RAF Museum store and the silver went into the Silver Depository both of which are on different sites at Stafford. I retired in 2010 but I expect they were still there when the Squadron reformed with the Voyager, at least nobody has ever called me up to say '' Who signed for it? We can't find it! Nobody knows anything about it'' 
mopardave - I'm slightly confused by your post about the 2004 amalgamations. In fact that was the year when the last of the old county regiments were finally amalgamated - none was spared in spite of vociferous campaigning to keep those few, The Green Howards among them, which had escaped the previous batches of amalgamations in 1958 and 1968.
The Green Howards joined the Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) and became the 2nd battalion of the new Yorkshire Regiment.
The temptation to name the new regiment the Prince of Wales's Green Wellingtons was resisted, for some reason!
The Green Howards joined the Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) and became the 2nd battalion of the new Yorkshire Regiment.
The temptation to name the new regiment the Prince of Wales's Green Wellingtons was resisted, for some reason!
Wander 00
As a denizen of that embarrassing airless cuckoo of a building in one corner of your Brampton plot many years ago, I picked up the secondary duty of "Officer i/c Sergeants Mess".
Having just taken over, I was then presented ( with some alacrity) a discrepancy report via "Sport Command" concerning "Missing Sgt's Mess Silver" pointing out that as "Officer i/c Sgts' Mess" I was now therefore accountable.
My written response would not have filled one side of the back of a picture postcard.
Nothing further heard.
As a denizen of that embarrassing airless cuckoo of a building in one corner of your Brampton plot many years ago, I picked up the secondary duty of "Officer i/c Sergeants Mess".
Having just taken over, I was then presented ( with some alacrity) a discrepancy report via "Sport Command" concerning "Missing Sgt's Mess Silver" pointing out that as "Officer i/c Sgts' Mess" I was now therefore accountable.
My written response would not have filled one side of the back of a picture postcard.
Nothing further heard.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Huge72, when my unit disbanded in . 2010 I was referred to the RAF Museum Reserve Collection at Stafford. I think they were an encroachment on the RAF site.
I handed over our artefacts and me and Mrs PN were given a guided tour. We saw all the BBMF Spitfire wings, the original ones, Bomber Harris's desk, very simple, and Herman Goering' s, grotesque.
We were then shown the uniform store and a No 1 Uniform and its name tag 'The King'. It had been converted from the 4 button style to 3 button. The jacket had been cut under the belt and the skirt portion raised.
While there our terrier carried out a rodent inspection. When we left we were recommended to try a pub in Salt for lunch. Superb, didn't want to drive home as I could have enjoyed a nap.
I handed over our artefacts and me and Mrs PN were given a guided tour. We saw all the BBMF Spitfire wings, the original ones, Bomber Harris's desk, very simple, and Herman Goering' s, grotesque.
We were then shown the uniform store and a No 1 Uniform and its name tag 'The King'. It had been converted from the 4 button style to 3 button. The jacket had been cut under the belt and the skirt portion raised.
While there our terrier carried out a rodent inspection. When we left we were recommended to try a pub in Salt for lunch. Superb, didn't want to drive home as I could have enjoyed a nap.
Danny, worse than that. When we reformed 151(F) we asked for the old Sqn silver and was told it had been melted down! Tragic really, given that past members had paid good money for it.
Haraka - I guess not in my time, I would have remembered, I am sure. Somehow I avoided ever doing a CA Inspection at Brampton. I do recall a rumour that after the fire the number of swords so lost exceeded the officer establishment by a fair percentage.
PN You are quite correct. I'm not sure of the date it happened but the RAFM now has ownership of all Squadron properties once a Squadron disbands. This came about as so many times, property went ''missing'' in between disbandment and reformation and it was realised that so much of the RAF's history was lost with these items. If a Squadron reforms they can the apply for the memorabilia to be reissued but it will always remain the property of the Museum. I went to Stafford on a couple of visits and found the staff very helpful and the items that they store fascinating and also a little sad that so much exists that it can never be displayed as there simple isn't enough museum space to put it all on display.
Thread Starter
mopardave - I'm slightly confused by your post about the 2004 amalgamations. In fact that was the year when the last of the old county regiments were finally amalgamated - none was spared in spite of vociferous campaigning to keep those few, The Green Howards among them, which had escaped the previous batches of amalgamations in 1958 and 1968.
The Green Howards joined the Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) and became the 2nd battalion of the new Yorkshire Regiment.
The temptation to name the new regiment the Prince of Wales's Green Wellingtons was resisted, for some reason!
The Green Howards joined the Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) and became the 2nd battalion of the new Yorkshire Regiment.
The temptation to name the new regiment the Prince of Wales's Green Wellingtons was resisted, for some reason!
MD
I do recall a rumour that after the fire the number of swords so lost exceeded the officer establishment by a fair percentage.
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On the subject of amalgamations....
I did hear that at one stage, the RAF Regiment was to merge with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, but this fell through when the name of "RIF RAF" was mentioned.
I did hear that at one stage, the RAF Regiment was to merge with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, but this fell through when the name of "RIF RAF" was mentioned.
I'm sure there are quite a few of us who can remember a certain Vulcan AEO who ....erm... 'disposed' of a certain amount of the mess silver.
He did, however, subsequently receive his comeuppance !
He did, however, subsequently receive his comeuppance !