NEWS  & EVENTS LETTER

Desert Rats Association

______________________________________________________________________

2015

January 2015

Minutes of desert rats meeting on Tuesday 27th January 2015

Meeting opened at 10:10

Those attending where:  Bill Wells, Debbie Wells, Ian Paterson, Rod and Tina Scott and Max

Apologies from Ken Harris, John Priestly, Alan Hempton

Chairman’s report was given by Rod Scott

Trip to Germany was very productive; we were able to obtain new T-shirts, stickers and many items, many items were purchased as a result of the Army moving from Germany

The new Nissan hut has now be obtained for the museum, and awaiting permission to erect it, donations for the project has been very fruitful

The new Museum will be in need of a separate committee and trustees

A trustees meeting was held by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, attending were Brigadier Paul Nanson, Brigadier James Woodham Major Simon Copley-Smith Rod and Tina Scott,

The General mentioned that all regiments would have their own association secretary, who will be in charge of getting the young Desert Rats to join us,

Treasures report

Donations have been coming in at a pace and the Bank Balance is £11,259.81

Mostly donations for the up-start of the new museum

Next AGM is being held at the school at on Tuesday 14th April starting at 10 am, numbers are needed for food.

Although the meeting was low in numbers it was a good meeting

Meeting closed at 11-00

Tina Scott

Secretary

April 2015

Please find below a letter to a from Brigadier P A E Nanson CBE

The Desert Rats Association Newsletter 2015-16

Where have we come from?

In 1938, Maj Gen Percy Hobart flew to Egypt to “Create an Armoured Division” from the Cairo Cavalry Brigade. The Brigade deployed to Western Egypt to conduct training and became known as the “Mobile Division.” Its order of battle was a Light Armoured Brigade, a Heavy Armoured Brigade and a Pivot Group (Artillery and Motorised Infantry).

In Feb 1940 the Mobile Division was officially re-designated the 7th Armoured Division with the Heavy Armoured Brigade re-designated as 4th Armoured and the Light as 7th Armoured Brigades. Its emblem was the famous ‘Red Rat,’ designed by the then GOC, Maj Gen Creigh, and sewn by his wife who was a nurse in Cairo. The first ‘Rat’ was worn by the General’s Command Vehicle Commander, Len Burritt, who remains a member of the Association to this day.  

When war came to the desert theatre of operations in Jun 1940, the Division was involved initially with border raids against the Italian Army, then mobile battles against the Deutsches Afrika Korps and the Italians. In Nov 1941, it took part in Operation CRUSADER, culminating in the bloody battles around Sidi Rezegh where the Division was virtually destroyed defending the airfield.

In Jan 1942, 7th Armoured Brigade deployed to the Far East to fight the Japanese Imperial Army in Burma. With great skill the Brigade covered the general retreat from Rangoon, the defence of the oil fields at Mandalay and then conducted operations on the Indian border. In 1943 it returned to the Middle East, serving in Iraq, Syria and then Egypt before deploying to Italy in May 1944, as an Independent Armoured Brigade. There it took part in helping break the GOTHIC and the HITLER Lines, before pushing up the Adriatic coast, crossing the Senio River and advancing on towards Venice and Trieste.  At the end of the Second World War the brigade remained based in Northern Italy until early 1946 when it was disbanded. 

Meanwhile 4th Armoured Brigade remained with the Division and fought in all the major desert battles, including El Alamein.  It was during the final push on Tripoli that it too became an Independent Armoured Brigade and adopted the 'Black Rat' emblem.  After the completion of the North African campaign, the Brigade landed in Sicily, then mainland Italy before returning to England in Jan 1944 to prepare for Operation OVERLORD.  From Normandy, 4 Brigade, as part of 21st Army Group, fought its way in to Germany, over the Rhine and up into Hamburg. In Mar 1948 it was disbanded, but was reformed in 1981 in Munster, West Germany. 

The 7^th Armoured Division's long and illustrious history finally came to an end in April 1958, when it was converted into 5th Division. 22^nd Armoured Brigade was re-designated 7^th Armoured Brigade in 1948 where it remained stationed in Soltau, throughout the Cold War, and then moved to Bergen-Hohne on 1^st April 1993.  

Since the end of the Cold War both Brigades deployed on Operation GRANBY in 1991 to liberate Kuwait .  7 Brigade returned to Iraq in 2003 to help destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime.  Both Brigades have deployed on a number of peace-keeping operations in the Balkans, and operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan .

The Desert Rat Association was founded in 1998 to provide a fitting memorial to the Desert Rats. The association is now run by Rod and Tina Scott who have organised annual reunions since 2000. The current membership stands at about 100, of whom 30 are original Desert Rats.

Where are we now?

The past few years have been extremely busy for the 4^th Mechanized Brigade, “The Black Rats.”  The Brigade moved to its new home in Catterick in 2009.  Since then the Brigade has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan on a number of occasions.  Most recently the Black Rats deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 under command of Brigadier Richard Felton on Operation HERRICK 12, returning in 2013 during Brigadier Bob Bruce’s command tenure on Operation HERRICK 17.  During both tours the Brigade was the lead formation of British troops in Helmand , which saw it working in support of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.  In 2014 the Black Rats were re-designated 4 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North-East under the command of Brigadier Charlie Herbert.  The Brigade now has responsibility for the North East region of the England and comprises a mixture of regular and Reserve elements as part of the Adaptable Force structure of the Army under the Army 2020 programme.  Operations remain at the forefront of what they do.  Recently elements have deployed once more to Bosnia under Operation ELGIN and to Mali to train the Malian Armed Forces under Operation NEWCOMBE.  The Brigade has a mixture of light infantry units and light cavalry, the latter equipped with the JACKAL vehicle that proved so effective in Afghanistan .  In an intriguing link to our past the Brigade also has responsibility for the Army’s overseas engagement activity in North Africa .  This means that once again members of the Black Rats can be found in the deserts of the Maghreb upholding the very finest traditions of a historic formation. 

7^th Armoured Brigade’s recent history has been dominated by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan .  In 2011 the Brigade deployed on Op HERRICK 14 in support of 3 Commando Brigade.  It then deployed on Op HERRICK 19 for an extended tour resulting in the merger of Task Force Helmand with Regional Command (South West) under command of Brigadier James Woodham.  This was the final UK Brigade deployment to Afghanistan and saw the end of combat operations in September 2014. The Brigade then returned to Germany for the final time hosting a celebrations parade in Hohne and Bergen commemorating their unsurpassed history and long standing relationship between with the German communities that that supported them for 76 years.  The Red Rats moved to Chilwell in January 2015 and were re-designated 7 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East under Brigadier Jonny Bourne.  Like the Black Rats, 7 Brigade is a mix of Regular and Reserve units and forms part of the Adaptable Force with a combination of Light Infantry, Protected Mobility and Light Cavalry units.  Continuing their operational pedigree 7 Brigade was the first formation to deploy troops on Op TORAL, the latest UK contribution to operations in Afghanistan .  The Brigade is also supporting operations throughout the world including Op NEWCOMBE in Mali and FIRIC in the Falkland Islands .  As part of the Army’s commitment to overseas engagement the Red Rats are aligned to West Africa and have already deployed multiple Short Term Training Teams to Nigeria in support of the Nigerian Army’s fight against Boko Haram.  

Where are we going?

The aim of this first Newsletter is to raise awareness of the Association and to encourage the current generation of Desert Rats to join. Membership is £10 and you can join by signing up on the website: desertrats.org.uk  

 The Association’s Annual Reunion takes place on Sunday 21 June on the original D-Day training site. The day includes a service, parade and a host of displays and stands – including WWII military equipment. Timings and location can be obtained from the website. Please come and show your support.  

A pdf copy of this Newsletter can be found here.  

Minutes from meeting on Tuesday 14th April 2015

 Attending;

Chairman Rod Scott                                                                           Alan Kempsom

Secretary Tina Scott                                                                           Bill Wells

Treasurer Ian Paterson

No Apologies

Meeting opened 10:05am

Chairman’s report

Rod and Tina Scott will be standing down on January 31st 2016 when Rod turns 70,

Army will be taking over Secretary's position and Major Simon Copley-Smith to take over from Rod as Chairman,

Membership secretary will also change to Bill Wells from Ken Harris.

Hopefully Ken Harris will take on the trustee of the new Nissan Hut, and help keep the flags at the front near the tank looking good also input to help design it, it will show short films and many forms of information, there will be a place to make tea/coffee, electric water and toilets will be installed, it will possibly be open on certain days rather than all week, school trips and army visits would need to contribute for their visit and have times arranged.

Heather Mead-Smith and Alan Kempson have agreed to help run the museum.

The Party road will need the potholes filling so contacting the farmer might be a good idea.  

Treasurers Report

 A letter from Brigadier Nanson been put on the website about membership online,

An Audit is being set up for the finances, which stand at £12,085.20

No Membership Secretary report

Open day report

We will do the BBQ again this year, also the biker boys van will be present, anyone willing to help in anyway please contact Rod, we will need donation of cakes etc for the tea tent, also any unwanted Christmas and birthday gifts you may have for the tombola,

Mickie Driver and his boys will be singing the 1940’s tunes

We have the offer of Cromwell tank for the day at a price of £600, which is what it would cost to get it here,

The Event is on the website with regular updates by Ian Paterson .

Meeting closed at 10:50 am

Next meeting will be put on the website when agreed

Tina Scott

Secretary