frontline magazine - april 2014

Issue No. 9 April 2014

The No Mans Land Issue

In this issue:

Military Heritage Three men tell us how their family history binds them to our cause

Dan SnowThe TV Historian talks to us about why he is an ambassador for our Frontline Walk

Lights. Camera. Action! Charity beneficiary Gareth Rothwell shares his latest successes with us

A Lasting LegacyCharity supporter Col (Retd) Dr Brian Robertson tells us why he is remembering The Soldiers Charity in his Will

Two soldiers smile for the camera in the grounds of 4th London General Hospital 1914-1918.The original caption for this photo reads Are we downhearted? Image: Imperial War Museum

Editors LetterWe wont let them face No Mans Land alone.

Allison Parkes-Norris

Contents01

Editors Letter How No Mans Land is still a very real

challenge for soldiers today02

CEs Message, Welfare UpdateA word from our Chief Executive and an

update on how we have given support from 1st April 31st December 2013

04Star Supporter, Appeals Update

Read about why Jamie Ottaway is this issues Star Supporter and the success of

our Celebrate Our Soldiers campaign05

LegaciesBrian Robertson shares the reasons why he

will be leaving a gift to us in his Will

06Military heritage and positive futures

Three members of the Army family share with us their personal reasons for

supporting The Soldiers Charity10

On the Frontline An image taken from Waiting for Dawn a new short film by Gareth Rothwell, set on

the frontline of WWI12

Lights. Camera. Action! Charity beneficiary Gareth Rothwell

explains his remarkably successful career change since leaving the Army

14WWI - commemorative events

Find out how you can be part of some of our biggest events of 2014

16The Erskine Hospital

The story of the pioneering support that Erskine provided during WWI is just one of the reasons we are proud to support them

ourselves with annual grants

18The Soldiers Charity; why we exist

Read about the circumstances of why we were founded and how 70 years on, we are

still supporting the Army family20

NewsCatch up on some of our latest headlines

from across the Charity22

InterviewDan Snow talks to us about WWI and his

own family military history24

OpinionHazel Haas shares her opinion on how

Rotary is helping us to achieve our aims

It is no surprise that amongst the numerous and terrible conflicts our planet has witnessed, WWI stands out as a monolithic bookmark in historys most bloody and unforgettable past. There are many reasons for this of course. One crucial factor has been brought to this Editors attention by Dan Snow in his interview with us on page 22; the fact that the landscape of war had changed so much by 1914, with new weapons being developed and used against the Allies to devastating effects.

The results of this are born out in the casualty numbers and the debilitating injuries that those who did survive the battlefields were left to cope with. Their injuries were such that their needs were complex and the systems already in place to offer support were swamped by the sheer volume of need. Of course they suffered not only physical injuries; the mental scars of war also affected lives and made returning to jobs and supporting family incredibly difficult. ABF The Soldiers Charity did not exist in 1914, but it is because of the shared memory and impact of the terrible struggles that so many went through then, that we were founded in 1944. So the past would not be repeated and soldiers returning from WWII would not suffer as those before them. 70 years later we are proudly continuing to support soldiers, veterans and

their families in times of real need. Soldiers like Terry Death and Gareth Rothwell whose lives have been significantly improved as a result of our support. You can read their stories on page 8 and 12 respectively.

No Mans Land was undoubtedly a terrifying place for a soldier in 1914. Mike Vallance, a Charity fundraiser, points out the parallels between the physical battlefield and the different sort of No Mans Land that soldiers can find themselves facing today. This can be as a result of financial difficulties, injury, redundancy or mental health issues. Its the reason Mike supports us and you can read his story on page 7.

Over the course of this year we will be hosting a calendar of special events, commemorating this important anniversary. This includes our garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show entitled No Mans Land which we hope will draw public attention to the needs of the Army family. But we will not only be reflecting on the past 100 years, but looking onward to the next; identifying what the changing needs of soldiers, veterans and their families might be over that time and planning how we can best ensure those needs are met in the future.

Your support over the last 70 years has been incredible. We hope you feel as proud of your commitment to our Charity, as we do. Thank you.

FrontLine | The No Mans Land Issue

Why the fall in Individual Cases?During the first nine months of this year, ABF The Soldiers Charity, in common with most other service charities, have seen a reduction in the numbers of cases and expenditure from the all time high experienced last year. However, individual cases are more complex and require additional funding to resolve fully.

The needs of soldiers todayIn the period immediately after WWI thousands of men returned to their homes, scarred from fighting in such terrible conditions. Soldiers coming home from todays most recent conflict (Afghanistan) have to deal with their own experiences in a similar way, despite the two conflicts being incredibly different.

The pressures to get back to a sense of normality, to find a job, support their family and try to heal the mental scars of war are issues that have faced soldiers over the last 100 years. The extra challenge of coming home wounded, injured or sick, perhaps with missing limbs or senses, is again, an all too familiar reality of war, whenever a soldier served.

Today we are withdrawing from Afghanistan and as a result we are seeing the number of returning wounded, injured and sick soldiers slowly decreasing. We are also slowly starting to see a drop in the number of these types

their work through our grant-giving and we are extremely proud to be able to play a part in continuing their excellent work today.

ErskineErskine was founded as The Princess Louise Scottish Hospital in 1916 to provide care and respite for those returning from the battlefields of France. Today the charity, based on five sites across Scotland, provides almost 400 beds and cares for over 1,000 veterans annually, with an average age of 83 years old. This year The Soldiers Charity provided a grant to Erskine of 140,000 to support their work with Scottish veterans. You can read more about the history of Erskine in our special feature on page 16.

Somme Nursing HomeThe origin of the Somme Nursing Home goes back to the early days of WWI when

it was created as the Somme Hospital to care for wounded Irish soldiers. Following extensive renovation over the past 20 years it currently provides 40 ground floor single en suite facilities, providing a wonderful home for veterans of the Armed Forces, Police, Prison Service and Fire Services. The Soldiers Charity made a grant of 15,000 to help offset the cost of care to the 20 former soldiers currently resident there.

Royal Star and Garter HomesThe largest of the Service-based care homes supported by the Charity the Royal Star and Garter was founded in 1915, under the auspices of the British Red Cross Society, to care for the severely disabled young men returning from the battlegrounds of WWI. It is now situated in two magnificent modern purpose built homes in Solihull and Surbiton. A further home is planned in Buckinghamshire.

The Soldiers Charity gave 70,000 to provide the 120 former soldiers and their dependants resident in the homes, with a range of professional services and welfare activites.

Lord Kitchener National Memorial Scholarship FundThe Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund was established more than 80 years ago as a permanent living memorial to Field Marshal Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, Secretary of State for War, whose tragic death in 1916 cut short a momentous career and stirred the Nation. In keeping with its original Charter, the objects of the Fund today are to provide scholarships for the sons and daughters of men and women who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces. In 2013 The Soldiers Charity provided bursary awards totalling 16,000 in support of Kitchener Scholars.

FrontLine Welfare UpdateOur Grants and Welfare team continue to ensure the Charity helps as many members of the Army family as possible when they find themselves in difficult situations, with nowhere else to turn for support. Here is an update on how, with your help, we have been able to provide that hand up to those who need it most, during the three financial quarters; 1st April 31st December 2013.

Hardship 765,962Home 691,176Mobility 390,967Care Home 283,637Trg / Edn / Emp 375,347Holiday 85,451Personal 72,670

Total: 2,665,210

of cases who need our support. But our job is not done and there are many thousands of people who desperately need our help, now and in the future.

For many years the Charity has provided grants to support the shortfall in fees of ex-soldiers and/or their spouses permanently residing in residential or nursing homes. In recent years the gap between the actual cost and local authority funding has increased markedly; to reflect this, the Charity has increased its allowance to 45 per week. This year we anticipate funding 220 care home top up fee grants at a total cost of around 340,000.

Grants to other charitiesThroughout the past 70 years we have provided grants to other charities who do excellent work in their own right, in delivering frontline help to support the wider Army family. It is by working in partnership with such organisations whose values are in synergy with our own, that we are able to see critically needed help reach those who need it most.

Some of the charities we fund have been in operation even longer than The Soldiers Charity, with some of the grants we awarded in the period 1st April 31st December 2013 going to charities that were operating to support people during WWI. 100 years on we are strengthening

Total Value of Grants 4,657,862

3793 Grants to Individuals totaling 3,138,897

52 Grants to Charities totaling 1,518,965

8.5% fall in Individual Cases we have supported

Breaking it Down: Cost by PurposeHere is a breakdown of the different areas in which our routine grants (not including H4H Quick Reaction Fund and Individual Recovery Plans) have helped the Army family over the same period.

ABF The Soldiers Charity: The Armys Enabling Charity

Chief Executives Message

Connected with other charitiesSitting on other charity boards to encourage co-ordination and coherence.

Saving money througheffective solutionsSharing our offices with 7 other military charities cutting overheads and producing co-ordinated solutions for those in need.

Established and influentialBringing 70 years of experience to bear on policy issues.

Underpinning the Army Recovery CapabilityA senior member of staff embedded within Army HQ to facilitate the most effective provision of support to the wounded, injured and sick. Making the best of Army and charity-sector resources.

Up to 650,000 a year spent on the provision of Specialist Employment Consultants in each Recovery Unit to facilitate the provision of jobs to those in greatest need.

Connected to the ArmyProviding guidance on best practice and benevolence to the Army (through Regiments and Corps).

Administration of FundsGrant-making on behalf of other major military charities including Help for Heroes to get the money where it is needed quickly. Co-ordination not duplication.

A meaningful partnershipActing with the Naval and Air Force charities to deliver a co-ordinated response and share best practice.

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28.74% 25.93% 14.67% 10.64%14.08%

3.21% 2.73%

100%

This edition of FrontLine has a distinct World War One theme which is entirely appropriate as we reflect on the terrible events of 100 years ago and their relevance today. For this Charity there is a seemless link between the challenges faced from 1914 onwards with huge numbers of grievously wounded soldiers and devastated families; the determination in 1944 to be better placed and hence the creation of this Charity 70 years ago this year and now the work we do today.

In 2014 the single biggest investment we will make is again to support the wounded, injured and sick soldiers who are medically discharged in often very difficult circumstances. The essence of this history is captured in our garden No Mans Land at the RHS Chelsea Show in May which provides an opportunity for the public, the media and many others to reflect on the sacrifices

made 100 years ago and we are delighted to be doing this in partnership with Coutts, Bechtel and others.

There is still much for the Charity to do and we continue to offer a lifetime of support to all serving personnel, veterans and their families. And not just for the high profile cases of need but for all genuine cases irrespective of age or circumstance.

I remain hugely grateful to our volunteers, those who support the Charity and those who provide funds. I hope you will enjoy this edition and reflect on the seamless logic of our debt to servicemen and women of 1914; from our establishment 70 years ago, the work we continue to do today and for as long asthe Army exists.

Martin RutledgeChief Executive of ABF The Soldiers Charity


Giving in memory is a special way to remember the life of someone close to you. We know the Army family is close to many and by honouring a loved one in this way you can provide a lasting tribute that will support soldiers and veterans when they need help.

Many of our supporters choose to recognise loved ones and honour their memory through giving in memory. It can help with the grieving process and we are always moved by the extraordi-nary stories of those who give and are being remembered; like the family of Jamie Ottaway. In 2012 Jamie took part in our Charity event; Soldier Challenge.

He did this because the Army was very close to his heart; his father John had served with the Royal Engineers as did his Grandfather, and Great Grandfather. Johns Great-Great-Great Uncle, Alfred James Ottaway, served as a Private in the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales Own). He was killed in action on 13th May 1915. His name is on the Menin Gate and he fought in the 2nd battle of Ypres, the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge. It was the

first time that gas had been used on the battlefield in World War One.

This interest and pride saw Jamie support The Soldiers Charity and other military charities. Sadly Jamie passed away in May 2013. His family decided to repost his original JustGiving fundraising page as a way for people to remember him and the sort of person he was.

His mother Angela said, Being from a forces family I have always known about ABF The Soldiers Charity. I would take Jamie to military events when he was little and more often than not, there would be soldiers collecting for ABF The Soldiers Charity. Jamie chose you because you support all soldiers, serving and no longer serving, as well as their families. I recall him saying that he and his friend El, had an amazing time doing Soldier Challenge together, with a great bunch of people that they had never met before. Rather than have people send us flowers, we wanted something more positive to be done in Jamies memory. We think this was something Jamie would have been proud of. We always

have been so proud of Jamie and raising funds for The Soldiers Charity continues to make us prouder and helps us remember better times. Donations in Jamies memory have pushed his fundraising total to 2,000.

From October to December 2013 we ran a campaign called Celebrate our Soldiers. We encouraged existing and new supporters to show their gratitude for soldiers and veterans by sending donations and sharing messages of support. We did this as result of the 2013 Continuous Attitude Survey; a survey of serving soldiers, which showed only half felt supported by the public. We wanted people to demonstrate to our soldiers that the public stood behind them.

We featured the stories of many soldiers but in particular focused on serving soldier

Cpl Andy Garthwaite and World War Two veteran, Ronald Watkins.

Cpl Garthwaite lost his right arm in an RPG attack while on tour in Afghanistan. The Charity supported him by making a grant towards the cost of an accessible wet-room. You may have seen Andy in the news over Christmas as he was the first soldier to have a bionic arm.

Ronald Watkins was supported over Christmas 2012. When his boiler broke down, he was faced with the very real prospect of having to choose between

Star Supporter Jamie Ottaway

Frontline Appeals Update

If you would like to give in memory or create an online plaque please visit: soldierscharity.org/memory

If you would like to celebrate soldiers like Andy and Ronald please donate by calling:0207 811 3231or visit:soldierscharity.org/donate

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For ABF The Soldiers Charity, gifts left to us in Wills are our biggest single source of income. Without them our work simply wouldnt be possible. For the many supporters who have left our Charity gifts in this way or pledged to do so, this legacy is an important and lasting statement of the values they hold true in life.

Donations help us support our soldiers and veterans for as long as and whenever they need us. As long as there is a British Army, ABF The Soldiers Charity will be there. We know your loved ones may come first but a gift in your will could mean you leave a lasting legacy of support for those

Charity Supporter Col (Retd) Dr Brian Robertson

Can you tell us about your connection to the Army? The Army has been part of my family for several generations. I served for 26 years in the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps and for some 15 years between 1979 and 1994 I was involved in operating ambulance trains in Germany as part of the Army Medical Services TA. My father and other family members served including my uncle, Alfred Maurice Toye MC VC. He was awarded the Military Cross at Passchendaele in 1917. The following year he was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 25th March 1918 at Eterpigny Ridge, France. My brother, Ian Roberston, was director of the National Army Museum from 1988-2003. After leaving the Regular Army I became a General Practitioner in Aldershot and Im now the managing director of The Event Medicine Company Ltd, which helps provide medical services to events including many Service events such as the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in Portsmouth.

How have you supported The Soldiers Charity? For several years now I have given a small personal donation to the Charity, usually around Christmas time. I have also been using The Soldiers Charity Christmas Cards as my companys corporate cards for many years.

Why do you believe its important our Charity exists? There has always been a need for service charities to give extra support to sick and injured servicemen and to help in their old age. With all the

recent conflicts around the world this is becoming an ever increasing challenge. There are now so many charities out there and one cannot support them all. As my background is Army it was logical to support The Soldiers Charity. I also wanted to support a charity that helped the individual ex-servicemen. I like to think that even though I have not served in the modern theatres of war in Iraq or Afghanistan, because I did my time in the Cold War years, that if I needed help The Soldiers Charity would be there.

Why did you choose to pledge a gift in your Will to us? As I reach my late 60s I have been trying to declutter my life and sort out personal things. In the course of my life I have wound up five different estates and know some of the difficulties, so I want to make things as easy as I can for my executor. During this process I have been thinking about bequests I would like to make and then decided to leave a small bequest to the The Soldiers Charity.

A gift in your Will doesnt have to be large but it could leave a long and lasting legacy for those soldiers and veterans who need help. To find out more Please call our fundraising team on 0207 811 3231 or email fundraising@ soldierscharity.org

The legacy that matters to youThe Army has a long history of individuals considering the legacy they will leave after they pass away. This is evident in the huge and fascinating archive that has been made available online by the National Archive. It showcases the last wishes, thoughts and concerns of more than 230,000 soldiers who died on the frontline during World War One.Visit probatesearch.service.gov.uk to find out more.

who have served and done their duty.By making a Will and keeping it up to

date, you can ensure that you leave the legacy you want to. A gift in your Will would make a vital difference to those who have, and those who will, serve our country.

A legacy gift can take one of three forms, depending on what is right for you. It can be a residuary, pecuniary or specific legacy. A residuary legacy is the whole or a percentage share of what is left of someones estate after all debts, expenses and pecuniary and specific legacies have been paid. A pecuniary legacy is a fixed sum of money. A specific gift could be

anything from a painting to a property. It could even be a gift from a portfolio of stocks and shares.

If you have not yet made a Will then wed advise you speak to a solicitor to consult on wording to ensure your wishes are clear and no confusion and upset arises. We always recommend you contact a solicitor or a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers. If you have made a Will and want to make some simple changes, such as including a charitable gift to The Soldiers Charity, then you can complete a codicil form as a supplement.

There has always been a need for Service charities to give extra support to sick and injured servicemen and to help in their old age.

whether to fix it and heat his home (and himself) or pay for basics like food. Thanks to supporters like you, we were able to step in and provide a grant to ensure his heating was fixed.

We were overwhelmed by your kindness in donations and the personal messages you shared. In total the campaign raised over 330,000. Although it didnt make our target of 450,000 we were very grateful to the efforts of people like you who will help ensure that we can support many other soldiers and veterans in to 2014.

Top to bottom:

Brian with a picture of his Uncle, Brig Alfred

Toye VC MC, Brians Grandfather, Band Master

George Pringle Robertson, Brians Father, Major

Gordon Tentelow Robertson.

Jamie with his sister Mirren

Tell me about the first fundraising events you took part in? My wife and I took part in the Berlin Marathon, it was a tremendous event in a great city and we were very proud to be part of it. We also hosted a Big Curry event at the local rugby club on a match day. You put rugby players and curry together and its an absolute winner. I would definitely recommend other supporters to put on their own Big Curry event, its so much fun and easy to do when you get friends involved.

Have you found people very supportive of your fundraising? People are very

Terry, Mike and Gordon all have very different experiences of being members of the wider Army family; one is a veteran and Charity beneficiary, one a fundraiser for the Charity and the other a Commanding Officer whose Grandfather indirectly benefited from Charity funding. However, their families military history and the extent to which they individually value the work of The Soldiers Charity, is the unifying force that makes these three extraordinary men bound to our cause.

Military heritage and positive futuresFrontLine | The No Mans Land Issue

generous; from my local community in Warwickshire to my colleagues in the City. The City has strong historical military links; Ive seen pictures of stockbrokers volunteering for WWI, signing up in bowler hats and umbrellas. In 2009 I organised a wine tasting event in the heart of the City as part of my fundraising. I had 120 attendees and raised over 5,000 for The Soldiers Charity which made me very proud.

Tell us about the annual Rugby4Heroes event you created? In May 2009 we came up with the idea of doing an end of

season fundraiser at our local rugby club; a day packed with rugby games and live music. It was a great success and we had an absolute ball. Weve steadily built it up year after year, so this year will be our 6th annual event over a whole weekend. In the past five years we have raised over 30,000 for Service charities.

Tell us about your family military history? My Great Grandfather George Wigmore served with the Royal Field Artillery in WWI. Hes the link to one of my fundraising ventures that Ill be doing this year; The Frontline Walk.

Tell me what you know about your Grandfather William Mackenzie? He enlisted in Glasgow on the 13th September 1914 to the 4th Battalion Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) which was within a month of the WWI being declared. He was one of the first people who flooded to the colours. He had been working as a telephone engineer for the Post Office in Hamilton, just outside Glasgow.

He was then posted in December 1915 to 9th Battalion who were in France; the 9th Battalion was raised as a service battalion, who were part of Kitcheners New Army. If I understand correctly, he would have fought in 3 of the major battles of WWI. The first was the battle of Loos in Belgium, which was one of the biggest for Scottish Divisions. He then went on into the Battle of the Somme, his records individuate that on the 15th of July he received a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Reading about what the Battalion was up to, it was part of the Battle of Delville Wood at Longueval.

How serious was his injury? He spent four months in a hospital recovering and was then reposted as a Telephone Linesman with a Signals unit of the Royal Engineers. He saw out the remainder of the war

providing valuable communications support to Brigade and Divisional Headquarters. He was discharged in June 1919 at Ripon in Yorkshire. In civilian life he went back to work for the Post Office and married and had two children.

Did he ever speak about his experiences? He spoke about the War a bit when he was a resident at Erskine Hospital. I remember this from going to visit him in Erskine every Sunday. I remember him talking about the Battle of Wipers and thinking that although he was at the Somme and was shot there, perhaps the most difficult experience he had was at Ypres.

Did he receive any medals? In our family records we have a card that says that he got the Victory Medal but Ive never seen any of them.

Did he consider himself a veteran? Oh he was very proud of it and was very glad to get into Erskine. My mother was telling me about how the residents would always stand to attention when a Military Officer came around. My Granddad used to like having that military interaction. I think he was very proud of it.

Mike Vallance

Lt Col Gordon MacKenzie

Mike Vallance first started fundraising for the Charity in 2008 after the death of a friends son in Afghanistan. Six years on he is still fundraising because he knows that soldiers and veterans will continue to need support, post Afghanistan. His Grandfather served in WWII and Great Grandfather served in WWI.

Lt Col Gordon Mackenzie joined the Army in 1986 as a reservist and has been on four operational tours of Afghanistan and one to Iraq. He is the Commanding Officer of Edinburgh University Officers Training Corps and remains a reservist in the Army to this day. His Grandfather served in WWI and was later a resident at Erskine Hospital; one of the many charities that The Soldiers Charity has awarded grants to over the years.

Was he the reason you signed up? Yes, he was my connection to WWI. Although I cant remember many of the things he said about WWI, he used to teach me to march and how to stand up straight and things like that; he would come and inspect me! At the time, when youre young, you think of it as playing but now when I look back and think how did I get here then it was because of him, he was absolutely an influence.

Did he enjoy his time at Erskine Hospital? Oh yes, after my Grandmother died he was a bit lost. When he was accepted to Erskine, it was a transformational experience. For a while I think he worked in their workshops, we used to have little desk tidies in the house which were made from weaving bits of baskets. I remember visiting him in one of these workshops where people were doing things like carpentry. So I think the fact that he was kept busy really helped him. There was this military camaraderie too; soldiers used to come and visit, I even turned up once with a pipe band to cheer up the old guys, they loved it, talking to guys in uniform. Yes, he absolutely loved it there.

Having this personal connection, what are your feelings towards Erskine, a home especially for veterans that is part funded by The Soldiers Charity? I really appreciate its value; its one of the reasons that I do a lot for The Soldiers Charity, as indirectly it all goes in the same pot.

Why do you think its important to have charities like Erskine and The Soldiers Charity? Were still producing veterans, even people who dont yet consider themselves veterans. My Grandfather didnt need the benefit of charity funding until his 70s and 80s but there are people who are fine one minute and then things go wrong. Marriages break down, injuries or trauma catch up with people and getting into civilian employment can be hard. Obviously things are much better understood now than in those days and given that these people have taken risks and made sacrifices, its important that there are charities to support them.

What does the Centenary mean to you? Hundreds of Edinburgh University students went through the OTC back then and were sent off as young officers to Scottish units but sadly never came back. Young students about to become doctors, dentists, lawyers and engineers were instead tragically mown down before their

potential was realised. Ive got young students now with exactly the same kind of character as the young men who went off to war; the same aspirations and hopes. Back then they felt that they had to respond to the call to defend their country. Remembering these young men and their sacrifice is very important.

I didnt serve in the Army myself but am in a very good position to give

something back, and remember what my Great Grandfather and his

generation sacrificed to allow myself and my family to enjoy the life that

we have today.

William meeting HRH The Prince of Wales at

Erskine Hospital

Gordon as a baby with his Grandfather, William

and his Grandmother

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Terry Death

Terry joined the Army in 1985, and has a rich family military history. He got hurt in an explosion during his first tour of Northern Ireland. Now thanks to your donations, he has benefited from grants from The Soldiers Charity that have enabled him to retrain for a fulfilling new career.

Similarly, my Grandfather served in the Royal Marines for five years, he went through WWII and survived. He was a really fine man but saw some nasty stuff in war, supporting the amphibious landings. He ended up being invalided out of the Marines in 1945 but he never ever talked about his experiences to me.

Do you know much about your Great Grandfathers experiences? He went to France on the 30th of September 1915. The family story is that he was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery serving with horse drawn Artillery Troops. His extra jobs were acting as a stretcher bearer and other first aid activities. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field in 1916, as well as the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. His medals were passed onto me by my father, who got them from his father, and theyll be passed onto my daughters to look after for future generations.

This being the Centenary year, how do you feel looking at his medals? I feel immensely proud but it makes me all the more sad that I never got to meet him in person. He would have volunteered for this and it makes you very proud that someone was willing to put their life on the line.

What does the Centenary year mean to your personally? Its remembrance, reflection and celebration actually. Im quite struck by some of the recent media coverage, we tend to look on all the horrors and bad side of it. I think that you have to celebrate men like George Wigmore who volunteered, went through it, got home and made a life for themselves afterwards. There is room for celebration, as well as respectfully remembering the great cost that so many paid.

Why did you decide to sign up for the Ancestry Walk? Primarily to pay tribute to George Wigmore, my Great Grandfather but also because Im a passionate fundraiser for The Soldiers Charity; youve been around for a long time but theres a

lot of work to be done and I want to contribute to that continuing need.

How do you think the needs of soldiers in WWI compare to the needs of soldiers today? I think transition is the big challenge that all soldiers over the last 100 years, have had to deal with. If youre used to a certain way of life or system, then moving on can be a very big challenge. Theres the No Mans Land in a military battlefield context, but the term also applies to what it must feel like to try and transition to a new civilian life. You read about the loneliness and toughness of No Mans Land in WWI but some of the stories you read about in Afghanistan, on a lone outpost, far away from family and loved ones; there are definite similarities.

Please finish this sentence: It is really important that The Soldiers Charity exists today because we have a moral obligation to our servicemen and women to support them in the way that they support us; they put their lives, and familys livelihoods, on the line for us.

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Tell us about your familys military past? My brother was in the Artillery, while one cousin served in the Royal Anglians and another cousin served in the RAF Regiment. My father and uncle joined the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment, which then eventually amalgamated into 3rd Bn The Royal Anglians. My Granddad joined the Army at the outbreak of WWII, again the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was part of the Expeditionary Force that went to France in 1939. Later, in the process of

being evacuated, his ship was hit by a torpedo. The ship went down and he survived but was very badly burnt; he never really spoke about it. Whilst recovering in England he met my Grandma, who was working in a rehabilitation centre. He died in 1977 after spending 20 years in a wheelchair.

I also had two great uncles who served in WWII; Len served in the Royal Artillery in North Africa and Italy while George was killed in action. But its not just me with a

military family history; my wife Angies dad and his six brothers all fought in WWII. Angies Granddad also served in the Devonshire Regiment in WWI.

What do you think are the important lessons of WWI? It changed the social make-up of a whole nation. At the end of the War every working man could vote and womens rights came into play too. I dont understand why we dont learn more about our history, especially this

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Lights. Camera. Action!

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This year The Soldiers Charity has a calendar packed with special World War One commemorative events (see the inside front cover). Whether its talks from guest speakers, tea parties or challenge events, we have something to satisfy everyones interests in 2014. Here are just four of our biggest events that you can get involved in.

RHS Chelsea Flower ShowThe RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the greatest show in the world for garden design and plants. Every year the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, better known for being home to the famous Chelsea Pensioners, are transformed into spectacular gardens and floral displays.

This year, to mark the Centenary of WWI we asked award-winning garden designer Charlotte Rowe to create a garden that would serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges and hardships faced by soldiers 100 years ago, whilst highlighting the work of The Soldiers Charity today in helping soldiers, veterans and their families. The project is very generously sponsored by our partners, Bechtel and Coutts.

The interpretation is a conceptual representation of the landscape of WWI, focusing on the chalk downlands of the Somme, reflecting how the landscape changed as a result of the conflict.

Titled No Mans Land the garden will incorporate some beautiful features including a water basin which represents the deep circular mine craters which characterise the Western Front but which have now become peaceful havens for plants and wildlife; an area of mixed native and ornamental planting amongst limestone setts which represent the villages and towns that were destroyed by the conflict; and a long feature wall which will sit along one boundary and which references the many fortifications

Colchester Military TournamentThe Colchester Military Tournament will take place on Abbey Field, Colchester, over the weekend Sat 5th Sun 6th July. Covering a site of some 35 acres, it is designed to be a great family day out with something for everyone.

The Main Arena will be the scene of two performances per day, each of two and a half hours, which will include re-enactments commemorating three important anniversaries: the 200th of the Battle of Toulouse and the first defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814; the Centenary of the beginning of WWI in 1914; and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy campaign of 1944.

Each re-enactment will be performed by authentically uniformed and equipped re-enactor groups who specialise in their respective eras. In the case of the WWI re-enactment, this will include appearances by an original 18-pounder field gun and a replica Mk IV tank. Among the Regiments represented will be the


Machine Gun Corps, the Royal West Kent Regiment, the Durham Pals, Skinners Horse, the 16th Lancers, and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.

Other displays during each performance will include: the Red Devils Parachute Display Team; the ever-popular Essex Dog Display Team; the renowned Imps Motorcycle Display Team; the HAC Light Cavalry and the enthralling motorcycle acrobats of the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motocross Team. Also appearing will be the Massed Bands, Pipes and Drums comprising 400 musicians.

Elsewhere on the site, the Music Arena will feature a variety of different genres of music, including the Colchester Military Wives Choir and an American style 1940s dance band, who will give a concert on the Saturday evening.

The Tournament also offers plenty of food stalls and bars, laser clay shooting, a funfair and much more. This really is a fantastic day out for the family that will be the highlight of the summer holidays!!

Wheels On The Western Front Cycle RideTo mark the Centenary of the outbreak of WWI, we are offering places on a unique cycle ride. Exactly 100 years to the day since war was declared on 4th August 1914, up to 200 riders will depart from Central London and ride to Dover, crossing the Channel to Calais; one of the major disembarkation points for Kitcheners Army. The group will then follow the front line all the way to Compiegne, near Paris, where the Armistice was finally signed in 1918.

This ride will be physically and emotionally challenging. We will ride approximately 70 miles each day and along the way will visit places of interest; all of them with a story to tell and all of them incredibly moving.

The event is backed by The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson who said, I am delighted to support Wheels on the Western Front, an event in aid of The Soldiers Charity, which marks the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The Centenary of WWI gives us an opportunity to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, who do a magnificent job under extreme pressure. The cycle ride is a feat of epic proportions and a fitting tribute to the heroes that have fought Frontline Walk

As part of our series of events to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI, we are proud to have partnered with Ancestry.co.uk to bring you The Frontline Walk. This fundraising event offers you the opportunity to complete a fantastic challenge, visit some of the sites of key battles and to raise vital funds so that we can continue to support soldiers, former soldiers and their families.

The Frontline Walk takes place between 15th - 19th October. We will cover around 75 miles through tough, muddy Northern France, passing cemeteries and battlefields to finally finish at the Menin Gate, exactly 100 years on from the start of the Battle of Ypres.

We want to try to ensure that every Regiment that fought in WWI is represented; you could walk for your Grandfathers Regiment, your Regiment or the Regiment that soldiers from your home town were recruited into.

We are looking forward to hearing the many personal stories you have to

share about your relatives and their experiences in WWI, while together we cover the miles of the Frontline Walk.

There is a registration fee of 150 and we ask each of our walkers to raise a minimum of 1,600 in sponsorship. This minimum target includes your travel, accommodation and food so there is nothing else for you to pay (travel costs will not exceed 750).

No Mans Land was a terrifying place for a soldier to face during the War. Soldiers today can find themselves in a different kind of No Mans Land; through injury or sickness, redundancy or even as they approach the end of their Army career. The Soldiers Charity is there for them in their time of need and the money raised by the Frontline Walk will allow us to continue to support all those that need our help in the future.

To celebrate our partnership with Ancestry.co.uk we are giving away one Military Background Investigation; where Ancestry.co.uk will delve in to your familys military past and report back on their findings to you. The first 100 people to donate a gift of 100 or

more will be automatically entered into a prize draw. The winners will be contacted by phone and announced on our website.

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for us in the past and who continue to put themselves in harms way today.

Riders will experience the moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate on Tuesday 5th August before riding the Ypres Salient in its entirety, including such battlegrounds as Boezinge, Passchendaele, Messines and Plug Street. Crossing into France we visit Fromelles, Neuve Chapelle and Vimy - places where troops from Australia, India and Canada fought and died in this truly global conflict.

The ride will also take in the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, where the 72,203 names of those men whose bodies were never found are carved

and pillboxes still found along the Western Front.

We will be posting news about ourChelsea show garden on our website including a series of short films charting the journey of the garden from inspiration to unveiling.

The Chelsea Flower Show runs from Tues 20th Sat 24th May and we are giving one lucky FrontLine reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to this prestigious event. The first 100 supporters to donate a gift of 500 or more will be automatically entered in to a prize draw to win a pair of tickets. The winner will be contacted by phone and announced on our website.

Good luck!!

Full details of the tournament and information on booking tickets can be found at colchestermilitarytournament.co.uk

To sign up or receive more information, email [email protected] or visit soldierscharity.org/events/event-item/wheels-on-the-western-front

If you would like to sign up to the Frontline Walk or require more information, call 020 7811 3201 or email [email protected]

For all the latest updates on our garden at The Chelsea Flower Show, visitsoldierscharity.org/events/chelsea-flower-show/garden

World War One Commemorative Events

Private Buckingham VC of the Leicestershire

Regiment, 1915

in Portland stone. Registration costs 100 and we ask you to pledge to raise 1,000 for The Soldiers Charity. This is a very special experience of a lifetime and we really hope you take this opportunity to join our ranks.

Riders can take in the Thiepval Memorial where the names of over 72,000 missing men are listed

Re-enactmants of key battles will take place

in the Main Arena

Erskine in the early yearsAs the many thousands of young men started to come back severely injured from WWI, it was quickly realised that not a single hospital facility existed in Scotland that could accommodate them and their vital needs. Sir William Macewen, an eminent surgeon at the time, made it his business to head up a committee to try to find a solution to this growing crisis. The committee formed a team that was given the use of Mar Hall by a generous family

Erskine Hospital: supporting the needs of veterans from World War One to the present


You will have already read in our Welfare update that The Soldiers Charity has made a grant of 140,000 to Erskine this year. This is the latest grant in a long history of support that we have been extremely proud to provide Erskine. Thanks to your kind donations and in particular, generous support from the Edinburgh Tattoo, The Soldiers Charity has given annual grants to assist with the running costs of Erskine Hospital since 1944. Here is how your donations are continuing to have positive effects on some of the most deserving veterans in the UK.

who owned the estate and grounds. The team transformed the mansion into The Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Soldiers and Sailors.

The residents in 1916 were very young men who as a result of their horrific injuries were now amputees. Incredibly, shipbuilders on the Clyde took an interest in their plight and devised wooden limbs for these young men; a lot of pioneering work on prosthetics was done on site, at the Hospital. Erskines consultant surgeon,

Sir William Macewen, developed a new design, named the Erskine limb, and craftsmen from The Arrow Shipyards showed the veterans how to make their own prosthetics. A whole community of people from Scotland came together to offer their support to this generation of wounded young men

In the years between the two World Wars, the Hospital took on the ownership of Mar Hall and officially changed its name to Erskine.

Erskine todayErskine now cares for an average of 1,100 disabled and elderly ex-service men and women through the provision of; residential, respite, dementia and palliative nursing care, across five Erskine Homes in Scotland. Erskine supports veterans with a broad range of complex needs, such as physical disabilities as a result of amputation of limbs, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimers Disease. They also provide residential accommodation for veterans and their families on the Erskine Estate in Bishopton.

Erskines mission remains to enable members of the ex-service community to access the best care possible in order to

achieve the maximum quality of life for their residents like Douglas Cameron.

Douglas was born in Inverness in December 1921. In 1941, at the age of 19, he was called up for service in the Royal Artillery. Douglas spent three and a half years serving in Burma and India where sickness and disease were rife. Douglas himself contracted malaria seven times at various intervals throughout his life; it is a recurring illness which he has never quite managed to recover fully from since leaving the Army.

After service abroad he guarded the War Office where his job was to run dispatches, reporting any fires and bombs in the area. As a result of an injury received during this time Douglas still needs daily medical attention, something that Erskine can provide.

When Erskine was founded in 1916 their aim was to care for service men and women who had been injured in active service. The needs of our veterans may have changed over the years but care and quality of life remains the cornerstone of Erskines philosophy today, a philosophy shared across Scotland and by The Soldiers Charity.

This is the kind of impact your generosity can have. Please send a gift today so we can continue to support Erskine Hospital and its residents like Douglas.

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The Army Benevolent Fund in 1944The Charity was founded on 5th August 1944 under the patronage of His Majesty The King. The Fund was instituted in order to provide financial assistance to those organisations, including Regimental Associations and benevolent funds, who dealt with the needs of the soldier or servicewoman, commissioned or otherwise, whether serving or retired, and their dependants.

ABF The Soldiers Charity in 2014Today the Charity, having undergone a name change in 2010 to ABF The Soldiers Charity, has evolved into an active fundraiser as well as administrator of funds. However, our continous mission is to give a lifetime of support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. This is done mainly through financial assistance; in the form of grants through the Regiments and Corps, to individuals and to specialist organisations that help soldiers and their families. Together we support veterans of every conflict and age, whether Regular or Reserve, ranging from WWII to Current Operations. The Charity makes grant payments quickly and this responsiveness can make a significant difference at a critical point in peoples lives.

70 years of support: why we wont let a single soldier face No Mans Land alone


Most of these organisations had been in existence for many years and catered largely for the needs of the servicemen of World War One and of retired soldiers of our small Regular Army during the inter-war period.After WWI and particularly after WWII, as a result of the widespread dislocation and disruption of family life, the variety and complexity of the many problems connected with resettlement and

rehabilitation, and above all the much greater numbers involved, there was a tremendous demand for assistance from Regimental and Corps Association and National Service Charities. Although they did what they could, their limited resources were quite inadequate to meet the massively inflamed cases of need. As a nation we simply did not have the infrastructure to deal with such a high volume of need, at that time.

It was therefore decided that a central fund should be created from which help could be given through the medium of the many associations which set out to ascertain and alleviate cases of hardship which did not come within the scope of Government assistance. And so The Army Benevolent Fund was created. We were not in existence to deal with the terrible hardship and challenges that faced so many as a result of WWI, but it was as a direct result of this shared experience as a nation, our Charity was formed to be there for all soldiers and their families in need from WWII and onwards.

If the Regiments and Corps are the front line of Army benevolence support, then ABF The Soldiers Charity is the backbone, providing vital financial support to Regiments and Corps, delivery charities and the wider Army family. Our values continue to reflect those of the Army and the people we support.

In this, the Centenary year since the start of WWI, we are reminded of the physical No Mans Land that soldiers would have faced on the battlefield whilst fighting on the frontline. It is important for us to realise that soldiers today can also find themselves in a different sort of No Mans Land; that might be through injury or sickness, redundancy, financial hardship or even as they approach the end of their Army career. Whenever they are in that situation of real need,

The Soldiers Charity will be there for them. Donations from loyal supporters like you will allow us to continue to support all those who need our help, today and in the future.

No Mans Land was a terrifying place for a soldier to find themselves in 100 years ago. The Soldiers Charity exists today so no soldier or their family are ever left to face No Mans Land alone.

It makes you humble to see how much the public give to Service charities...Its the public that have given me a chance to go forward.

Terry Death Charity Beneficiary

Original documents

dating back to the

year of our founding

Examples of the

documents and

communications we

send today

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Farewell to The British Military TournamentOver the last four years ABF The Soldiers Charity has been responsible for bringing the much loved old Royal Tournament back to life, in a new and refreshed event called The British Military Tournament.

Working with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and The Royal Navy Royal Marine Charity for the last three years, the Tournament has entertained over 130,000 people and included performances from over 2,000 members of the Armed Forces, hundreds of horses, motorbikes, aircraft and last December we even hosted a pair of camels and a submarine. We also amassed the largest pipes & drums band that Earls Court has ever seen and marvelled at the

daring motorcycle tricks of the White Helmets and the famous Field Gun Run, performed by the wonderful students at Wellington College.

We have been honoured to host a wide range of VIPs including Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, as well as receiving celebrity support from David Beckham, Bear Grylls, Dame Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry and many others. Thanks to the support and generosity of everyone who purchased tickets and donated money in the exhibition area, the event has raised over 450,000 for the three national charities of the Armed Forces.

It is therefore with sadness that we announce that The British Military Tournament will no longer be part of our

annual calendar of events. We will be focusing our attention on other national and regional events which will provide greater opportunities for the Charity. Brig (Retd) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at The Soldiers Charity tells us; It has been an honour and a privilege to be the Chairman of The British Military Tournament, and while we are sad to see such a well loved event go, as a Charity our focus needs to remain on providing the best possible support to our soldiers and their families when they are in need. We are enormously grateful to everyone who supported the Tournament by buying tickets, volunteering as a steward, or helping behind the scenes; we are proud that you contributed to the success of the Tournament in your own personal way.

Barclays go the extra mile for The Soldiers CharityIn August 2013, a team of six core riders undertook a 15 day, 2,000km cycling challenge in support of The Soldiers Charity and Help for Heroes. The team was made up of wounded and injured military personnel, veterans and Barclays employees, some of whom are ex-military. The team was privileged to have Alex Dowsett, three-time British National Time Trial Champion and part of the Movistar team, as Cycle 2000s official ambassador. They raised money and awareness for Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) personnel transitioning

into civilian employment as part of the Barclays A.F.T.E.R programme.

The route took in all 20 Barclays Premiership stadia as well as military venues such as the Royal Hospital Chelsea, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The challenge really pushed the team to their limits, both physically and mentally, especially those who have been wounded or sustained injuries on active service. As a result of all their hard work, we are delighted to announce that this epic adventure has raised in the region of 50,000 for The Soldiers Charity. Our sincere thanks and heartfelt congratulations to the team; their

tremendous achievement will have a significant impact on providing a positive outlook for the future for those soldiers who need a hand up as they transition from Army life to Civvy Street.

Could you be in the first team to Walk The Nile?Inspired by his lifelong fascination with Africa and the great explorers of the nineteenth century: expedition leader, writer, photographer and The Soldiers Charity supporter Levison Wood is embarking on a year-long challenge: to become the first person to successfully walk the entire length of the River Nile. All 4,250 miles of it!

Levison previously spent several years as an Officer in the Parachute Regiment and served in Afghanistan in 2008. His expedition is being filmed for a four-part Channel 4 series to be broadcast next year and opens up a cross-section through a continent undergoing extraordinary change, revealing seven very different but equally fascinating countries.

Walking the Nile is supporting four charities, through the fundraising efforts of the expedition team members and through Levs own activities and awareness raising efforts en route. The nominated charities are all very close to Levs heart including The Soldiers Charity. We are offering a unique opportunity to join Lev in Sudan in late August as he forges his way North, staying as close to the riverbanks of the Nile as possible as he continues his epic, world-first attempt to walk the planets longest river from source to sea. The aims of this expedition are twofold: to join Lev in making history and to raise money for our very worthy cause. Places on this amazing adventure are severely limited; please book to secure your place in history.

For more info on how to sign up for the event, visit secretcompass.com/expeditions/walking-the-nile-expeditions-2014

Our partnership with The Bonita Trust is touching lives

The Bonita Trust is a philanthropic trust founded in 2004 under Gibraltar law. Bonita is dedicated to supporting both communal based and cross-border charitable projects in the areas of health and medical research, education, community services, culture and heritage, female entrepreneurship and disaster relief programs.

Bonitas activity is focused mainly in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Israel and India but does also make funds available to global causes and relief efforts.

Since 2012, The Bonita Trust has been a loyal supporter of The Soldiers Charity, pledging a phenomenal 100,000 as part of a two year commitment, funding mature student bursaries and vocational

course fees for veterans of the recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Ms. Ruth Parasol, Bonita Trusts principal benefactor and Founder of its International Advisory Board told us why they supported our cause; I believe that soldiers who served their country, deserve all the help and support they can get. ABF The Soldiers Charity have been leading this effort immaculately for over 70 years, which makes me personally very proud of being able to support their sacred work.

We thought it is only appropriate to celebrate and acknowledge the fantastic work The Bonita Trust has helped us achieve and the difference it has made to the lives of some of our most vulnerable soldiers transitioning out of the Army.

The Bonita Trusts valuable support ensured that 30 wounded, injured and long-term sick soldiers, who were unable to return to duty, achieved the necessary

skills and qualifications to gain employment after leaving the Army and successfully transition into civilian life. On behalf of these 30 soldiers, we would like to express our sincere thanks to The Bonita Trust for their support.

If you are a Trustee of a Charitable Trust or Foundation and you feel you could support our work, please contact Hannah Bird on 0207 901 8905

Army mum Sarah wins national awardEarlier this month our wonderful ambassador Sarah Adams received the Families Award at the star studded Soldiering On awards ceremony in London.

The Soldiers Charity nominated Sarah because of her dedicated fundraising and tireless work in support of Army families. Sarahs son James was just 21 years old when a Taliban bomb exploded under his vehicle whilst serving with 2 Royal Welsh in Afghanistan. Since losing her son, Sarah and her family have undertaken countless fundraising activities, raising tens of thousands of pounds for our Charity. However, Sarah has also worked with local authorities to set up a Community Covenant and has campaigned for improved support

to bereaved military families and injured personnel.

Sarah told us I was really surprised to be nominated for this award by The Soldiers Charity, but to then be given the award was an even bigger surprise. Im just a Mum missing her son, but I also know that we must improve the lives of the soldiers we still have and the support to their families. The Soldiers Charity are part of my family now and it means so much that in some small way I can help them make a difference to the lives of others. I feel very grateful and humbled to be given this award and it really does mean so very much. In James memory myself, family and friends will continue to do all that we can to remember the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make, and hopefully make James proud as he has done us.

Despite her tragic loss, Sarah has found the strength to support others in their time of need. She is an outstanding ambassador for our cause and we are delighted that her efforts have been publicly recognised.

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HRH The Duke of Cambridge with members of Race2Recovery, Row2Recovery and Walking with the Wounded teams and Derek Deranalagi, British Paralympic Athelete

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Interview: Dan Snow


Image Courtesy of The Council Of The National Army Museum, London

Right, top to bottom: Dans Grandfather sitting on his Great Grandfather

Robert McMillans knee, Dans Great Grandfather Lt Gen Sir Thomas DOyly

Snow, Dans Great Grandfather Thomas Carey Evans

Left: Dan Snow is an ambassador for the

Frontline Walk. Image: Rebecca Reid

There are 51,000 men and women in Great Britain and Ireland who belong to 1,850 clubs. We are based within local communities, with our members meeting on a regular basis to enjoy friendship, networking, and to plan and carry out projects that will benefit the lives of others.

How does that translate into working with ABF The Soldiers Charity?

In my own district, which covers North and West Yorkshire, we heard about your work at our annual conference four years ago. My role at the time was to co-ordinate local community or vocational projects throughout our group of 79 clubs. We saw the interest being shown by the individual delegates at the conference in the work of the Charity, and realised that we could deliver worthwhile support to you in several ways.

Initially, we worked very closely with the Regional Director for the North East to establish a relationship which would enable us both to make a significant difference in meeting the needs of our local wounded, injured and sick service personnel based within Catterick Garrison. Rotary in Yorkshire began by fundraising and incoming donations have been significant and generous. Those funds have been used mainly for training courses, but also for equipment for those wanting to start up new businesses. An example of how we have helped to make a positive impact can be seen in the case of a soldier recently medically discharged. Whilst serving in Afghanistan, he had been a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Rotary funded a Close Protection training course and is providing a mentor to support and assist him as he sets up his own private dog handling company.

We soon realised that we could do much more to help by using our business experience, networking contacts and professional skills. Recent developments in the project, which we call A Brighter Future, have included becoming a Partner with Recovery Career Services, an organisation that ensures wounded, injured and sick Service personnel receive every opportunity to compete in the civilian employment market. Rotary is also offering skills improvement, mentoring and many other services. We are also working on an online secure database of Rotary member skills, in order to quickly identify and match

Rotary volunteers with those wounded, injured and sick personnel requesting their assistance.

We have worked closely with the Commanding Officer of 15 Brigade Personnel Recovery Unit (PRU) throughout all the changes and developments which have taken place over the past four years. Such as your funding of the Specialist Employment Consultants. Rotary Liaison Officer, David Wood has worked tirelessly with the clubs in our district and further afield to promote the Charity and its work. Our progress to date has been a result of the true collaboration between our respective organisations.

The next major step has been to promote this joint project through the national Rotary Conference in Birmingham in April where the Chief Executive of The Soldiers Charity, Maj Gen (Retd) Martin Rutledge will address the delegate. Many disctricts are already actively involved with the project and have invited the Charity to their own individual conferences. The goodwill is already there, and this project provides a

structured method of delivering the help needed in a hands-on way which appeals to all Rotarians.

Rotary clubs depend on the skills, expertise and dedication of their members, who work hard to change the lives of people in communities both at home and abroad.

Does that sound very different to the aims of The Soldiers Charity? I believe it supports the conviction that we can continue to work together to help those servicemen and women who have been through the recovery process, who now live in our communities, building a new future for themselves and their families.

Like The Soldiers Charity, we shall be there as long as they need us.

Hazel Haas talks to us about the growing partnership and how Rotary has already helped The Soldiers Charity to achieve its aims.Hazel is the District Governor Nominee for the Rotary International District 1040.


Opinion: Hazel Haas

If you are a Rotarain and would like to get involved with supporting the Charity please contact David Wood at [email protected]

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We remain enormously grateful to The Bonita Trust for its continued and invaluable support towards funding mature students bursaries and vocational course fees, so that former soldiers can retrain and gain the qualifications they need to secure long-term alternative employment in civilian life.

In February, we bade farewell to Brigadier (Retd)Robbie Scott-Bowden, our Director Regions since August 2010. He provided inspirational leadership to the Regions for three and a half years. We wish him well in his new career in the Oil and Energyindustry.

We are enormously grateful to General (Retd) Mike Scott, Chairman of the Inner London Committee since 1999, and wish him well in his retirement. He and his wife, Veronica, have provided support to the Charity for 14 years and his guiding hand has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds. The flagship event was the Carol Service at the Royal Hospital Chelsea that raises some 20,000 each year.

We sadly say farewell to Lt Col (Retd) Les Taylor-Duff after 10 years successfully leading the Warrington Committee as their Chairman, organising events with true military precision and style. We wish you well in your retirement, enjoying time with family and time in your apartment in Tenerife.

After successfully leading the East Cheshire Committee for the last 3 years, in many varied fundraising events, Col (Retd) Stan Spackman has now decided it is time to stand down and enjoy his retirement. We wish him and his family well.

Honorary Chairman of Cyprus Lt Col (Retd) Nick Smith. A very busy three and a half years, along with his committee, organising concerts, receptions and runs, across the Island, raising awareness of the Charity. A special mention to his wife Jane who we know has supported him brilliantly.

This Spring sees the departure of Fiona Laden, Executive Assistant for the Home Counties for five years managing the office and being a sympathetic and knowledgeable mentor for our volunteer Committee Members. Previously she had been Grants and Welfare Officer for ten years as the first point of contact for the Regimental Secretaries and was regarded with the greatest respect and affection. To many, Fiona was the The Soldiers Charity, and always went the extra yard to ensure the best support for our veterans and families.

Congratulations go out to Carole Brown, Regional Executive Assistant in our North West Office, on reaching 25 years of loyal and committed service to the Charity. Carole is a familiar face in our Preston office and is well known and liked by the many fundraisers she has supported over the years. Well done Carole!

Warm and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved in the British Military Tournament over the last four years; whether you bought tickets, volunteered on the day or helped out behind the scenes, we greatly appreciate your support in being part of a very special event.

Three beneficiaries who, thanks to your donations, have been supported by ABF The Soldiers Charity. Image: Malcolm Cochrane

Thank You

APRIL21 Summer Reception at Kendrew Barracks

Cottesmore, Leicester, East Midlands 23 Band Concert by The Band of the Coldstream Guards

Cadogan Hall, Chelsea, London St Georges Day Festival 3 day event Lytham St. Annes, North West26 St Georges Day Festival Old Mill Harnham, Salisbury, West

MAY1 Spring Reception & Talk on The Royal Map Collection

by Dr Yo Hodson Denison Bks, Berkshire, Home Counties

2-9 Bodmin Art Exhibition Shire Hall, Cornwall, South West

3 Royal Halls Concert Harrogate, North East & Yorkshire Army vs Navy Rugby Match Twickenham Stadium, London8 Aberdeen Business Lunch & Talk

Women on the Frontline Guest Speaker Cdr (USN) Brenda McCrimmon

Scotland10 Stoke Military Tattoo

Kings Hall Stoke, West Midlands Big Curry Cook Off

Darlington, North East & Yorkshire Thirsk Race Night

North East & Yorkshire Ealing Big Curry Lunch Longmoor Camp, Surrey, London10-11 Nottingham County Show Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire,

East Midlands11 Charity Cycle Ride Hertfordshire, East Anglia Curry Lunch at RAF Shawbury

West Midlands Rotary District 1020 Assembly

Livingston, Scotland14 Spring Reception & Tour

Doddington Hall, East Midlands15 Bristol Lord Mayors Big Curry

Bristol UOTC, South West Charity Golf Day

Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, South West16 Rugby for Heroes Rugby Festival

Warwickshire Rugby Club, West Midlands Golf Competition

Dorking Golf Club,South East17 Kings Division Band Charity Concert

Rochdale Town Hall, Lancashire, North West D-Day Cycle Ride 4 day event

Scotland to Normandy & back, Hurt Zone- 10K endurance event

Hampshire, Home Counties Bluebell Walk & Cream Tea

Covert Farm, East Haddon, East Midlands17-18 War Games

Sheffield, North East & Yorkshire18 Forth Rail Bridge Abseil

Queensferry Rotary Club, Scotland20-24 No Mans Land Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show Royal Hospital Chelsea, London21 Rother Valley Golf Day

North East &Yorkshire23 D-Day Presentation in the Map Room

Southwick Park House, Hampshire, Home Counties24 Band & Comedy Night - Cirque de Horwich

Bolton, Lancashire, North West24 Stonehenge Tour

Sailsbury, West24-25 Edinburgh Running Festival

5km, Half Marathon & Marathon Scotland

25 BUPA 10k London28-29 Stand at the Suffolk Show

Ipswich, East Anglia31 Salute Our Heroes - Concert

The Barbican, York, North East & Yorkshire Tod Gray Talk

Wyvern Barracks, Exeter, South West Robin Hood by Illyria Theatre Company

Wintershill House, Dursley, Home Counties. Annual Craig Hopson Memorial Rugby League Game North East & Yorkshire

JUNE1 Big Curry Crawley, South East Golf Tournament

Ugbrooke Park, Devon, South West6 Summer Reception with Pipes & Drums of Leicester

& Rutland RBL Band Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, East Midlands

7 World Tandem Parachute Jump North East & Yorkshire

Derby Day - Charity Collection Epsom Racecourse, Surrey,South East

Edinburgh Pipeband Championships Royal Highland Showground, Scotland

Proms in the Park Downes House, Devon, South West

Summer Reception & Beating Retreat St Andrews Hospital, Northamptonshire, East Midlands

9 4th Annual Raisthorpe Shoot North East & Yorkshire

14 D-Day Memorial Charity Motorcycle Ride Colchester, EastAnglia

Beating Retreat TheBlack Country Museum, West Midlands

Downham Hall Open Gardens by kind permission of Lord & Lady Clitheroe Lancashire, North West

Hog Roast at The Plough Redhill, Surrey, South East

Charity Band Concert The Sands Centre, Carlisle, North West

Charity Marquee at Amesbury Carnival West

Grand Midsummer Charity Ball Copthorne Hotel, West Sussex, South East15 RMAS Heritage Day & Summer Fair

Sandhurst, Home Counties16 The Big One Charity Abseil

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, North West19 Armed Forces Edinburgh Proms Concert

Royal Marines & SCOTS Bands Usher Hall, Scotland

20 Charity Golf Day Ashley Wood Golf Club, Dorset, South West

Cholmondley Pageant of Power 3 day event Cheshire, North West

Commemorative Band Concert - Kings Division Band

Rochdale Town Hall, North West21 Nottinghamshire Summer Reception &

Beating Retreat Cropwell Court, Notts, East Midlands

22 Catterick Triathlon North East & Yorkshire

23 Choral Matins Guildford Cathedral, South East

24 Reception & Beating Retreat Leeds Castle, Kent, South East

25 Aldershot Concert Military Band with the Aldershot Military Wives Choir Hampshire, Home Counties

27 Trentham Golf Tournament Trentham Old Golf Club, West Midlands

D-Day Reminiscences - Overload Tapestry D-Day Museum South Sea, Hampshire, Home Counties

28 Annual Beating Retreat Crix, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, East Anglia

ABF The Soldiers Charity 70th Anniversary Garden Party South Ruislip, London

Armed Forces Day Scarborough, North East & Yorkshire

Medway Armed Forces Day Chatham, Kent, South East.

The Sephton Memorial Trophy in aid of Private Tom Sephton Warrington, North West

Armed Forces Day Stirling, Scotland

PWRR Freedom Parade Guildford, Surrey, South East

28-29 Cateran Yomp Scotland

JULY1 St Helens Damfest Pop Concert

St Helens Lancs, North West

2 Sedgmoor Battlefield Tour Somerset, South West

5 Inter Service Cricket Match Reigate, Surrey, South East

Buxton Military Tattoo The Dome University, East Midlands

Charity Golf Day St Neots (Hunts) Golf Club, Cambridge, East Anglia

Annual Preston Military Show Preston , Lancashire, North West

5-6 Colchester Military Tournament with WWI Living History Encampment & Re-enactments

East Anglia5-6 Dig for Victory Show

North Somerset Showground, South West9 Organ Recital

Douai Abbey, Nr Aldermaston, Home Counties10 Macbeth - Open Air Theatre

Sidbury, South West Jazz Night at Michelham Priory

Lower Dicker, East Sussex, South East11 Charity Band Concert by Kings Division Band at The Atkinson

Southport, Lancashire, North West Sounding Retreat at High Sherriff Inauguration Dursley, Home Counties T.20 Bash Sussex v Kent

Hove, Kent, South East12 Salute Our Heroes

The Playhouse, Leeds, North East &Yorkshire Sedgefield for Heroes Family Event

County Durham, North East &Yorkshire13 Bournville Cricket Match Charity Collection

West Midlands Annual Aske Clay Pigeon Shoot

Richmond, North East &Yorkshire16 Family Race Day & Bungee Jump

Catterick Races, North East &Yorkshire 19 Classics in the City Car Display & Charity Collection

Edinburgh,Scotland ABBA Tribute Night

Court Barn Birdham, South East23 Lunch & Cricket at Cheltenham Cricket Festival

Gloucestershire26 Heriot Row Garden Party

Edinburgh, Scotland27 Charity Band Concert by Kings Division Band

Crewe Lyceum, Cumbria, North West Surrey at War Pageant

Losley House, Godalming, Surrey, South East

AUGUST2 Brighton Pride - Charity Stand

Brighton, South East2 Nicholson Lecture - Maperton by Patrick Mileman

Somerset, South West4 Short Stepping following in the short steps of

Soldiers on the ships to France during WWI South East

4-9 Wheels on the Western Front - Centenary Cycle Ride

London to France16 Cricket Ladies Day

St Laurence Ground, Canterbury, South East Charity Day at Newbury Races

Berkshire, Home Counties Lytham 1940s Weekend

Lytham, Lancashire, North West19 Brighton Races Charity Collection

South East23-25 Spinnaker Tower Abseil

Portsmouth, Home Counties23-25 KBIS Wellington Horse Trials - VIP lunch & afternoon

package available Stratfield Saye, Hants/Berks Border, Home Counties

28 Reception & Beating Retreat with Supper at Chatsworth East Midlands

SEPTEMBER6 Somerset Military Tattoo

Taunton Racecourse, South West7 ABF The Soldiers Charity Cycle Ride

Bedfordshire, East Anglia The Great North Run

North East &Yorkshire War Memorial event with Clive Aslet

Exeter University, South West

Dates for your diary April September 2014. For more information please visit soliderscharity.org/events

soldierscharity.org/yomp0845 504 6616

Facebook.com/CateranYomp

The Alliance Trust Cateran Yomp is sponsored by Alliance Trust PLC and is developed and run by WildFox Events which specialises in organising fundraising events across the UK. ABF The Soldiers Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420)and Scottish registered charity no. SC039189. Alliance Trust Staff Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland no. SC044113.

Push

yourself to

the limit

Experiencea militaryexercise witha twistGreat for

team building

54 MILES : 24 HOURS : PERTHSHIRE : SCOTLAND

Ad_Yomp14_148.5x210.indd 1 19/03/2014 12:53

Editor Allison Parkes-Norris

ContributorsKirsty IrvineGuilliana Castle

Special ThanksHazel HaasDan SnowErskine Hospital

Design and Art DirectionPete Black Ltd

Guest PhotographySi Longworth

Illustrations James Graham

ABF The Soldiers CharityRegistered Office: Mountbarrow House6-20 Elizabeth StreetLondon SW1W 9RBT 020 7901 8900F 020 7901 8901E [email protected] W soldierscharity.org

FrontLine Issue No. 9The No Mans Land IssueFirst published 2014 ABF The Soldiers Charity

Whilst every effort is made to check the information contained in FrontLine, ABF The Soldiers Charity cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions.

ANCESTRY.CO.UKFRONTLINE WALKIN SUPPORT OF THE SOLDIERS CHARITY

15-19 October 2014

We are looking for walkers to represent each of the Regiments that fought

in the First World War which Regiment will you be in?

For more information about the walk, please contactAmy KenyonEmail: [email protected]: 0845 504 6349Visit: soldierscharity.org

frontline magazine - april 2014

Documents