Annual General Meeting
DRAFT
Minutes
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Middlesex Yeomanry Association held on 2 May 2023 commencing at 1929hrs.
Present: Col P Willmott, Lt Col D Grocott, Lt Col M Lansdown, Capt D Gibson, Mr D Lambert, Mr D Valentine, Miss S Wheeler (V), Lt Col M Smith. Maj R Ives (V), Mr M Gandhi)V), Mr R Marson, Mr M Gilfrin(V) Mr B Crowe. Mr G Marsh, RSA Area 4 Rep. Total 14 Attending.
Apologies: A Bridges.
Colonel Willmott opened the meeting by thanking everyone for attending the meeting either in person for the first time in 3 years, or virtually. Their continued support for the Association is much valued.
1. Absent Friends. The Chairman stated that during the past 12 months 2 of our number had sadly died. David lambert recited the names of George Johnson and Dennis Rose. We spent a few moments reflecting on them both and will remember them.
2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting. Everyone had seen an electronic copy of the previous year’s meeting held on 4 May 2022. The Secretary gave a very brief resume for those joining the meeting virtually. It was Proposed by Roger Marson and Seconded by David lambert that the minutes be accepted as a true record of the meeting. This was unanimously agreed by those present and accordingly the minutes were signed by President.
3. Matters Arising. There were no matters arising from the reading of the minutes.
4. Chairman’s Report. The Chairman reiterated a warm welcome and stated that this was the first opportunity in three years to hold a face-to-face meeting with involvement from those joining the meeting virtually. He bid a warm welcome to Glyn Marsh who is the RSA Area 4 representative. Glyn had travelled from Hastings to be with us, and his dedication was commended by the Chairman and echoed by all those present.
Following the restrictions caused by Covid we were now in an era where we as an Association needed to re-engage with all the activities that we once enjoyed. A good start has been made with a small contingent from the association celebrating Watson VC day in London on 28 March. WE are grateful that Rev Chris Trundle, padre for 71 Sig Regt, could officiate and join us for lunch afterwards. Cavalry memorial Parade is happening on Sunday 14 may and we march as part of another Association with our Banner and to our Regimental March. A good turnout from the association is hoped for.
Last year we conducted a Battlefield tour to Villers-Bocage and grateful thanks were expressed to Lt Col Mike Lansdown for his meticulous planning and conduct of the tour. This year it is hoped to conduct a BT to Italy and will hear more about that shortly. At this point Richard Ives mentioned how much he had enjoyed the tour and that his village of Brampton is twinned with Villers-Bocage.
5. Hon Treasurer’s Report. David Valentine outlined the state of the Association account as at the 31 December 2022. The account remains extremely healthy. Subscriptions had increased, and the account had benefitted from a generous donation of £150 from the relative of a former member, whose service record the Association had been able to help with thanks to research carried out by Lt Col Lansdown and David Lambert.
The President thanked David for his continued outstanding stewardship of the accounts. This was endorsed by all those at the meeting. A copy of the accounts is attached to these minutes.
It was duly Proposed by Lt Col Mike Smith and Seconded by Lt Col Mike Lansdown that the account as presented be accepted as a true record of account. This was unanimously agreed by those present.
6. Hon Membership Secretary’s Report. David Lambert outlined the state of the Association membership which stood as follows:
As of 2 May 2023, membership of the Association was:
106 Full Members. This included members of the band.
17 Honorary and Associate members.
The Chairman thanked Mr Lambert for his Herculean efforts in maintaining membership at a steady level and for his continued work and valued efforts in trying to encourage past members of the Regiment to join the Association.
At this juncture Richard Ives asked how active in Association affairs the current Honorary members were. The President stated that one Honorary member, Brian Crowe, was present in the room and was perhaps the staunchest Honorary member the association had ever had. However, given that Honorary members had to be re-elected every 3 years it was agreed that the committee would vet the current Honorary members before a vote took place.
At this stage the President nominated Mrs Janet Mote, the wife of former Squadron Commander Major Chris Mote, as an Honorary member. Janet is just ending her position as Mayor of Harrow and remains a firm supporter of the Middlesex Yeomanry and its heritage. This nomination was Seconded by Major Richard Ives. Members unanimously endorsed the proposal and accordingly Janet was admitted to the Association as an Honorary member.
7. Amendment to Association Rules. The Chairman spoke about the changes to the Association rules which had been first written in 2014. The changes were minor and mainly were in relation to membership categories which had been reduced from 4 down to 2 for simplicity. A copy of the new rules was available to view. The Chairman also stated that the changes brought us more into line with RSA rules which were based on Charity Commission guidance.
It was Proposed by Lt Col Mike Smith and Seconded by Lt Col Mike Lansdown that the changes be implemented immediately. This was carried.
8. Squadron Report. There was no representative of the Squadron present.
9. Band Report. There was no Band report.
10. Historical Update. Lt Col Mike Lansdown briefed the meeting with regards to progress on the writing of the Regiment’s WW2 history now in its 11th year. Since the last AGM another 2 chapters of the WW2 history had been written dealing with the activities of 4th , 9th and 22nd Armoured Brigade Signal Squadrons in Sicily and Italy. Whilst researching for these chapters we also followed up the history of the 52nd Anti-Tank Regt Signal Section who had remained with 5th Infantry Division after Dunkirk for the rest of the war. Cpl Norris of that section was killed in Italy, and we are following up his date of death which is believed to be shown incorrectly on his CWGC headstone. Sgt Copestake also of this section, died in Italy. It is hoped that the history will be finalised within the next year as there is only one more chapter to write.
Research has led us to various other hitherto unknown accounts written by Middlesex Yeoman and released to us by the families. In no particular order:
The Lawry Donation David Lambert found a request on Facebook from the Grandson of LSjt A Lawry who served in 22 Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron in WW2. WE were able to answer all his questions and provide him an electronic copy of a Squadron history written by Ted Hawkins who served with Sjt Lawry. In return the Association received the donation mentioned by David Valentine in his report on the account.
The Skitmore Account This was another contact via Facebook from a historian based in Clacton on Sea who shared research with us. It details an account by Sigmn D Skitmore following his capture at Mechili when serving with 2nd Armd Div Signals. His account reveals life as a POW and his escape in company with 3 other Mx Yeo and 2 HLI soldiers. Donald Skitmore was a member of the association for many years until his death in 2015.
Major Jack Judd Diary. We were loaned the 3 volumes of Major Judd’s diary by his daughter. He was 2i/c of 1sy Cavalry Division Signals, and his diary fills in many gaps in the history of the 1st Line.
Lt Stanley Russ. David Lambert, in one of his many searches uncovered a reference to Lt S Russ who started WW1 as a trooper in the Middlesex Yeomanry. He served in the 2nd Line before being commissioned and posted to the Western Front. He was wounded and transferred to the RASC as part of 195 Siege Battery RGA at Vimy ridge. Following his being gassed he was evacuated subsequently dying in a nursing home in1920. He will be added to our WW1 RoH.
The Harvey Plate. David Lambert unearthed a post on the greatwarforum web site about a silver tray which had been presented to Capt N Harvey in 1913 on his retirement as QM. The plate is engraved with all the officers in the Regiment including Lafone and Watson both subsequently to be awarded the VC. It is a very significant piece and potentially very valuable. An opportunity to view the plate is being sought.
The Thomas Collection. An introduction by our President to a fellow member of the Army 7 Navy Club, Peter Fisher, led us to a history of Captain J O Thomas RAMC who had been the Medical Officer to the Mx Yeo in 1917 which had been outlined in a photo album given to him by the daughter of Capt Thomas. It includes a detailed account of the evacuation of the wounded from Hill 720 and an account by Cpl Meering of his treatment by the Turks following capture. There are also photo’s showing the graves of Tprs Creed and Fleming and Capt Bullivant MC. Peter Fisher has kindly donated the collection to the Association.
Tpr Edwardes Diary. Another Facebook result was a chance finding of our Facebook page by a medal collector who contacted me to say that he had a 139-page account of Tpr H Edwardes who had served in the 62nd Company Middlesex Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer war. The collector is happy to donate the account to the association and I plan to meet with him soon.
All the above-mentioned finds are critically important to our history and following them up slows down the writing of the WW2 history. I will report further once all the information as bee collated.
11. Election of Officers. The President took the chair for the selection of Branch Officers. The President stated that the Association was very fortunate to have such a splendid and active group of Branch officers and was not aware of anyone volunteering to take over any of the posts and he therefore suggested that the current incumbents might wish to remain in post.
a. Chairman: Col P Willmott.
b. Vice Chairman: Lt Col (Retd) M Lansdown.
c. Hon Secretary: Capt (Retd) D Gibson
d. Hon Treasurer: Mr D Valentine
e. Hon membership Secretary: Mr D Lambert
f. Hon Newsletter Editor: Lt Col (Retd) M Lansdown
The President therefore proposed that as there were no volunteers to fill the posts, all those above currently holding office, be re-elected en-bloc as Association Officers. This was Seconded by Roger Marson. This was unanimously accepted and agreed by the meeting.
The President thanked all those on the committee who had served in the past year and congratulated them on their effectiveness.
12. Future Events.
a. Cavalry Memorial Parade. CMP for 2023 is on Sunday 14 May 2023 and maximum attendance is hoped for. David Lambert was asked to take the Association banner from the ARC in order that it can be paraded.
b. Lafone Day 2023. Will be held on 28 October. Details to follow.
c. Battlefield Tour. As mentioned earlier in these minutes there is to be a proposed Battlefield Tour to Italy in September 2023. The tour will concentrate on the actions of the Middlesex Yeomanry who fought as part of various Brigades or as individuals in WW2. We will visit the graves of some who died. Details of the tour will follow.
d. Pearson Shoot. The Pearson shoot is planned to take place on Saturday 26 August at Longmoor. TBC.
e. Watson VC Day. Watson VC day 2024 will take place on 28 March 2024. Details to follow.
13. Any Other Business. Brian Crowe outlined progress on a proposed Museum site in Hillingdon where it might be possible to display some Middlesex yeomanry artefacts. The Hillingdon Heritage Arts Group were hoping to have an opening of the museum in Dec 2023. Details are still being finalised, but he would follow events and advise accordingly.
The Honorary Secretary reminded all present about the advantages of obtaining a Veterans railcard as the savings were substantial compared to the Pensioners Railcard. Discount on all travel for the holder plus a partner and up to 4 children. This compares with discount only off-peak for pensioners.
The Honorary Secretary mentioned the improved levels of communication with RSA of late. Thanks for this must be due to Lt Col Steve Lockwood who has been a breath of fresh air and to Tracey Muers who is quite outstandingly efficient in getting critical information out to Branches in a timely manner. Glyn Marsh also attending our meeting, despite having to travel a long distance to do so, was also an indication of a new wind blowing out of Blandford and a sign that the Corps does seem to value its various associations and Branches.
Tracey Muers is also instrumental in obtaining for Major Mike Vokes his 60th year membership of Royal Signals award. Tracey had noticed when processing Mike’ 50-year award, which he received late in 2022, that he was also due his 60th. Mike has now received his latest award. The President suggested that perhaps the Association should write to congratulate Mike. (Note: Following the meeting, the President has sent a letter of congratulations to Mike).
Roger Marson expressed a huge vote of thanks to Lt Col Mike Lansdown for his diligence and efforts in researching the Regiment’s history during WW2. It was always the part of the Association Newsletter that he most looked forward to reading. This was echoed by all those present.
Date of Next Meeting. The date of the next Annual General Meeting is provisionally set as 7 May 2024 and will be confirmed nearer the date.
There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman closed the meeting at 2036hrs.
I certify that the above minutes are a true record of the meeting.
President…………………… Date…………….
Secretary………………………
