Don Ebro, Chairman of Staffords HSF Association, ( E Company 3 Staffords was based at Walsall) chatting up one of his favourite young ladies. Well, we were in Staffordshire! A former career as a Royal Navy Stoker is just the right experience you need to keep HSF Veterans in order. His Company was raised as E Coy 2 Mercian Volunteers, until 1988, when the Mercian Volunteers was disbanded.
Brian Clarke of Lincolnshire (with Standard) chats to Vic Beresford and (hidden) David Harris, both of Leicester, They all served in the same HSF Company, E Coy 7 R Anglian (V)
The Chairman chats to Sheila and Keith Hassall. Keith served at Leicester and is now involved with local RBL Branches.
This page will contain images of reunions,
and reunion pictures will slowly be transferred here from other parts of this website.
HSF Association Reunions can be divided into four categories:
- Bisley, Surrey – at the Army’s famous shooting range, and which centred around ….shooting!
- Monks Kirby – The Debigh Arms, Monks Kirby, Warwickshire CV23 0QX- a stopgap venue (no shooting)
- A Training Area in Staffordshire – by kind permission of Commander 5 Division (disbanded Apr 2012) – This offered one 25 metre live shoot, followed by an sessions in an indoor simulation range and other trigger-related activity!
- Alrewas (including The NMA, The HSF Grove and The Alrewas RBL Club) – now centred on an annual Homage by The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry HSF Association, to which all HSF Veterans, and their families, are always welcome.
It is fitting that reunion activities now focus on The National Memorial Arboretum, at Alrewas, Staffordshire, where Home Service Force veterans, from all over Great Britain, can now visit and gather at The HSF Grove, which is right in the centre of the Arboretum.
The Grove was the idea of Clive Swatton, from E (HSF) Company 6th (Volunteer) Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, formerly a pre-1985 Pilot HSF Company, whose Headquarters was based at Bedford.
The working party commissioning the Grove was led by Major (Retd) Guy Cockerton, former Officer Commanding D (HSF) Company 15th Battalion Royal Army Ordnance Corps, based at The Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington, Shropshire. In 1988, the Company became D (HSF) Squadron The Queens Own Mercian Yeomanry, based at nearby Telford.
Guy also held the role of Association Vice President from 2005 to 2010.
MORE PICTURES
The HSF Grove Plinth with The ICCY Wreath of Remembrance, on Saturday 17th May 2014
The HSF Association and Guests, on 17th May 2014
The HSFA Standard, The Standards of Lincs HSFA, Guest Standards and The Guest Piper.
Padre Phill Wallace-Pugh takes The Drumhead Service, with the help of a retired RM Bugler, specially laid on.
Behind the lady’s camera, stands Lesley Ross (late WRAC) of Staffordshire HSF Association. Ladies very welcome!
Don Punnett of Hereford HSF Association and Brian Talbot & Richard Owen (our photographer) of Nottinghamshire.
Chairman, Paul Hallett, & Vice-President, Bob White, discuss who pays for lunch.
Sandy Sanders, of Coventry, chats to some of The Staffords: Rob Jones, Eddie Colley, Ron Challoner and Gary Meddings
Our nominated “NMA Plot Holder”, Joe Holden,
directs operations “in the chairborne role”. Behind him sits his sister, Jane (late WRAC), also an HSF Veteran.
Jim Price (with his stick under his right arm, amongst the Standards) of The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry HSF Association always acts as Parade Sergeant Major. He’s still got it, hasn’t he? Believe me, you know about it on the day.
No, we didn’t ever have any Ghurka HSF Companies, but we were extremely proud to welcome this young man on our parade.
(On the left, Bob White goes into “helpful” mode) People visiting the NMA on the day always start asking questions, such as “Who the hell are you lot?”, or “We came for the trees, and then we saw your Parade !”. ….This could develop into a regular duty !!!
Alrewas RBL Club staff provided us with a lovely buffet and, would you know it, a well stocked bar as well !!
Les Woodley and Don Punnett of Herefordshire HSF Association. Their Light Infantry HSF Platoon was formed in 1982, under No 4 HSF Coy, based in Worcester; but after 1985, them became the only truly independent HSF Platoon (although administered by 5LI, which was not part of HSF)
Derek Extall, a former Sherwood Ranger, who served in two Platoons in F (Notts HSF) Coy 3WFR, tries to convince The Herefordshire lads that Buxton Water is clearer and fresher than Malvern Water. Frankly, he wouldn’t drink anything else.
The Home Service Force Association 