Safely back in the United Kingdom for rotational leave, time to update the website and wish all ex-members of 249 Signal Squadron (FARELF) a happy and prosperous 2008.
Alan "Taff" Dunbar's obituary - which appeared in the December issue of The Wire Magazine - is now published on our Last Post page. I have taken the liberty of publishing his Then & Now photographs just above the write up and hope that nobody takes offence.
I shall be off to Cuba and the sun for a couple of weeks shortly. A nice break before I fly back to the wilds of Afghanistan and beautiful Kandahar.........NOT
Seven ex-members making contact since my last update: Alan Bishop - mid sixties - Comcen Troop; Roy Boulton-Lear - mid sixties - ASSU Troop; Jim Kerr - late sixties/early seventies - Radio Relay Troop; Bernard Larner - late fifties/early sixties (In at the very beginning really) - Radio Relay Troop; Jim Parry - late sixties - Comcen Troop (A squadron hairy); Eric Sharp - late sixties - Comcen Troop ; Kenny "Jock" Simister - late sixties - ASSU Troop.
Tony Woodhouse has e-mailed me a list of Senior NCO's who were serving in the squadron during 1969. I have added them to the contact list in red but if anyone recognises the names and can supply further details please let me or Graham know - cheers.
Neville Lyons has been in contact with
Peter Cuckow (Hon Sec RSA) regarding criteria for joining the RSA.
What it boils down to is - If you served during the time of 249 FARELF
(which you did) you must have participated in the "One Days Pay"
ruling which entitles you to join the RSA as a Life Member for free. If
you go to the RSA website details are available there. If you do not wish
to join a Branch local to you (and possibly participate) you can join
the RHQ Branch. - Hope this makes sense.
In case it makes it clearer here is a copy off the email that Neville
received.
Dear Neville. Thank you for taking an interest
in this matter. All those who contributed to Corps Funds through the Days
Pay Scheme (DPS) are automatically eligible for free membership of the
RSA. However, they must still apply to join by completing an enrolment
card, which is sent to Assn HQ. Yes, it would be best if I was asked to
check to see if any potential member was already a LM before asking for
the remittance. The bottom line is that all money received as remittance
for LM goes into the Benevolent Fund for welfare use.
There are still some gaps on the contact lists, where we are missing troops or dates served. This is acceptable when the people concerned are not in contact but in some cases it applies to people who are in touch. If you are one of those please let Graham or myself know so we can update. (Don't be afraid inform us if you know we have got dates or troops wrong. Also any names that are missing of people you know who served) - Thanks