Newsletter No. 6 Issued November 2007

Chairman: Professor Donald Ritchie CBE FRSE  DL     Hon Curator: Dennis Reeves Esq.

Hon Secretary: Major (retd) IL Riley TD FSA Scot     Hon Treasurer: Major K.Ravenscroft

Honorary Researcher: Philip Ross Esq

Dear Newsletter Subscriber,

New Book Publication - Liverpool Scottish Commandos in WW2 - Click Here

Special Service of a Hazardous Nature: The Story of the Liverpool Scottish Involvement in Special Forces Operations in  WW2

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New Book - Dennis Reeves: Liverpool Scottish Commando Involvement WW2

Order for Christmas

The Museum Trustees are very pleased to announce the publication of ...

Special Service of a Hazardous Nature

The Story of the Involvement of the Liverpool Scottish, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders (TA), in Special Forces Operations in World War Two, 1939 – 1945

Compiled by Dennis Reeves

£9.99 plus £2.50 p&p: Total by post (UK ) £12.49

The Liverpool Scottish Museum Trust 

(Reg Charity 277953) A5 soft back 390 pages 72 illustrations 21 maps

Full colour cover featuring the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge

The book is the  result of  years of research and interviews with many of the surviving Special Forces members of the Liverpool Scottish (Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders) TA. Their story is told, to a great extent, in their own words. It is a story, in many cases, of ordinary men propelled through Territorial Army service into extraordinary circumstances in extraordinary times. It is, throughout, a story of dogged courage, valour, endurance and teamwork

It features the Liverpool Scottish involvement in Norway , Scissorforce, the Independent Companies, Force X, Force Z, Layforce, the Rommel Raid, Operation Archery, the Vaagso Raid, Operation Chariot - St Nazaire and HMS Campbeltown, Operation Musketoon – Glomfjord Power Station.

All profits from this publication go to the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Museum. This book is of more than just Liverpool Scottish interest and if you have friends with an interest in the commandos or special forces, please do recommend this book.

To order your copy of this new book, 

• By post in the UK please send a note of your name  and the delivery address with postcode together with a cheque or postal order for £12.49 payable to the Liverpool Scottish Museum Trust to Professor Donald Ritchie CBE, Chairman, 19 Bertram Drive, Meols, Wirral CH47 0LG. The book is A5 format and 3 cm thick, coming in a padded envelope (this may affect your choice of delivery address).

• By post from overseas: as above but please  confirm postage costs with the Museum Secretary by e-mail. Payment will need to be   

  • EITHER through a cheque in sterling that can be drawn on a UK clearing bank. The charges for encashing cheques in dollars or other currencies, on top of exchange costs, that are imposed by the UK banks are quite considerable (a $30 cheque may only produce $15 or $20 worth of sterling in  the UK) and they seem to vary from bank to bank. 

  • OR an alternative is to ask for me to send you a Paypal Invoice which is much more conveniently settled by credit or debit card on your PC and adds only a relatively small premium to the transaction in exchange commission costs. It is also a lot faster. Again I would be happy to advise you. 

The Museum Trustees are very grateful to Dennis Reeves, our Honorary Curator, who has waived his interest in the book to allow the Museum  to benefit from the profits from sales. We are also extremely grateful to Captain Sandy Ellis, a member of the Liverpool Scottish Officers' Association who has worked extremely hard in rendering this book in a form for publication, overseeing with enormous energy the entire process and to Professor Donald Ritchie and Colonel Chris Davies who have made significant contributions to the task of proof-reading and editing.

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Topics: 

Please click on a link to be taken to the article

• New Book - Special Service of a Hazardous Nature
• People
• Liverpool Scottish Rifle Platoon
• Security
• Opening
• Museum Shop  and 'Brief History of the Liverpool Scottish'
• Noel Chavasse Statue - Liverpool VCs Memorial
• Play at the Anglican Cathedral - Noel Chavasse VC and Bar MC 22nd-24th November 2007
• Belgium and France 2005 - Dicky's Dash Trench Raid
• Visit of the Colonel of The Highlanders to the Museum and Opening of Scottish Wood
• Acquisitions 
• Conservation and Other Work in Progress
• Research Queries
• Volunteers Needed
• Details of Newsletter Background Picture and Music
• Veterans' Badge (applicable to all who served before 31 December 1984)

People 

• Our Chairman, Professor Donald Ritchie, has retired from his Chair at Liverpool University but his work as Deputy Chairman of  the Environment Agency kept him traveling the country until his recent retirement  and he has been rewarded in the New Year's Honours List 2005 by being appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to science and the environment
  
• Major Mike Brimage TD, Museum Trustee, has become Chairman of the Regimental Association in succession to Mr. Mick Molyneux BEM, who we thank for his services as an ex-officio trustee.
  
• The President of the Liverpool Scottish Officers' Association, Colonel Alan Waterworth, has been made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on retiring from his commission as Lord-Lieutenant for Merseyside. Such are the rewards of opening the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Museum. Our congratulations go to Sir Alan and Lady Waterworth.

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The Liverpool Scottish Rifle Platoon

• Throughout the period Liverpool Scottish soldiers have continued to take part in OPERATION TELIC. Corporal Moran, PMC of the Soldiers' Mess at A Company presented the Museum with a framed set of the pack of playing cards featuring the 'wanted' members of the displaced Iraqi regime. Other Liverpool Scots have presented (legal) memorabilia that are on display at the Museum as well as photographs and some accounts of their experiences.
• The platoon and other Liverpool Scots serving in the TA visited the Museum to witness the presentation of a copy of the City of Liverpool Scroll marking the 100th Anniversary of the the foundation of the Liverpool Scottish as a volunteer battalion in  1900.
• The King's Regiment has now become part of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (Kings, Lancashire and Border). The TA element has become the 4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Thus the Liverpool Scottish have moved in 14 years from the 51st Highland Volunteers, the 5th/8th Battalion of the King's Regiment, the King's and Cheshire Regiment and now to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. The new badge is worn in the TOS with the blue hackle backed by Forbes tartan. 

Security

• The security of the Museum has been substantially improved in the period and the Trustees were most grateful for the help of Mr. Bobby Hughes and Mr. Freddy Bates for their support at short notice when there was a temporary difficulty.

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Openings and Other Events

• We are open on Wednesdays from 2 pm until 5:30pm and are most grateful to Dennis Reeves who makes this possible. It is still possible to arrange visits outside these times if need be (subject of course to the availabilty of a host at the museum). Contact the Hon. Secretary. The Trustees would also like to record their appreciation of the services of Philip Ross as an Honorary Researcher, more recently, John Lindgren.
• We have hosted group visits from adult education groups, serving soldiers, cadets as well as from other local organizations. The Officers' Association, the Regimental Trustees and the Liverpool Scottish Council have all met at the Museum. Additionally a Hooge Day Service takes place to coincide with the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association AGM. If you know of a group that might like to arrange a visit, please contact the Hon. Secretary
• We were visited by Brigadier Colin Sibun, Director of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust

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Museum Shop  and 'Brief History of the Liverpool Scottish'

The website now list items stocked by the Museum. There is a link on the menu bar at the left hand side of the museum website or you can go directly to the Shop Page in a new frame. Amongst items stock is the newly-published booklet 'A Brief History of the Liverpool Scottish 1859-2006' written by Dennis Reeves and edited by Captain Sandy Ellis with help from Ian Riley and Donald Ritchie. This is a 48 page A5 Booklet with a handsome card cover in a Forbes tartan design. These have been selling well since publication earlier this year and would make an excellent present for someone's Christmas stocking.

Noel Chavasse Statue

The Museum has assisted the Noel Chavasse VC Memorial Association and the Liverpool sculptor, Tom Murphy, in researching the statue that will be a memorial to all Liverpool VCs. It features a three-man group with Noel Chavasse rescuing a casualty, devoid of rank and regimental insignia representing 'Everyman' assisted by a very strong figure of a Liverpool Scottish stretcher bearer. The required funding is over £100,000 (to include an educational element to be delivered within local schools). The individual VCs will each be commemorated by  plaque attached to the plinth. The statue is one and a quarter time life size and moulds have been taken from the clay original. Casting awaits the collection of necessary funds; a large commercial sponsor pulled out from the project. Ian Riley and Edgar Chavasse were present at Tom Murphy's house when the full size clay version was unveiled. The project is led by the tireless Bill Sergeant, chairman of the NCVCMA, to whom enquiries and donations should be directed; the Association has also published two excellent short books on Liverpool's VCs; they take a refreshing Liverpool viewpoint to the stories of these men. I was privileged to speak in November 2007 to a very appreciative and generous audience at Liverpool Cricket Club where Noel Chavasse appears on the War Memorial. These images should not be reproduced without permission 

Play at the Anglican Cathedral - Noel Chavasse VC and Bar MC 22nd-24th November 2007

The Dingle Community Theatre is producing a play at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on the nights of 22nd, 23rd and 24th November. Professionally produced and well researched, the play follows the main events in the military life of Noel Chavasse does not set out to be an absolutely accurate biography. However, from the evidence of the script and the rehearsals that we have seen, it is faithful to the spirit of of the quiet and enduring heroism that was the hall-mark of the man who won two Victoria Crosses in the Great War as medical officer to the Liverpool Scottish.  Tickets cost £14 or £11 for concessions. Performances start at 7:30 pm on each night and tickets can be obtained from 

• The Anglican Cathedral Shop

• The Cross Keys, Earle Street, Liverpool 3

• News from Nowhere Book Shop, Bold Street Liverpool

• www.boomboombabyproductions.co.uk (by use of credit/debit card) or by phone 07842970055

• Click on the flyer to enlarge it

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Belgium June 2005 - 4th/5th/6th June 2005: 2nd Battalion 1917/18 Erquinghem-Lys, Bois Grenier and Dicky's Dash Trench Raid 

• The 2/10th (Scottish) Bn The King's (Liverpool Regiment) served in France and Flanders from February 1917 until its amalgamation with the 1st battalion in Spring 1918. For much of 1917 they served in the Bois Grenier Section near Armentières with their operating base in the small town of Erquinghem some few kilometers to the West where many of their soldiers are buried. This area is also the scene of the Dicky's Dash Trench Raid. 
• We visited to unveil a cairn and plaque  in memory of the men of the 2nd Battalion and to visit the towns of Bois Grenier and Erquinghem Lys. This visit owed a huge amount to the efforts of the Rev, Harry Ross, and his sons Philip Ross and Andrew Ross. In particular, Philip Ross made a huge contribution to the documentation and research of the trip. It also owed a great deal to the efforts of M. Jack Thorpe, the local historian of Erquinghem Lys and a leading figure in the organization of their museum.
• Details of this visit can still be seen at the Erquinghem-Lys website and the Museum website page will be brought up to date to give grid references for the memorial and contact details for the Erquinghem Museum together with more photographs.
• The new Museum at Erquinghem-Lys, initiated by the local historical association, was opened by the President of the Liverpool Scottish Officers' Association and Lord-Lieutenant for Merseyside, Colonel Alan Waterworth who was accompanied by Mrs Waterworth. Sir Alan has since been knighted .
• The website for Erquinghem-Lys which currently shows video clips can be reached by clicking here 

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Visit of the Colonel of The Highlanders to the Museum and Opening of Scottish Wood at Altcar Range - Sunday 13th July 2003

    The Colonel of The Highlanders, Brigadier The Honourable H B H E Monro CBE visited the Liverpool Scottish family on Sunday, 13th July 2003. He visited the Museum and then performed the short opening ceremony of blessing and dedication to 'Scottish Wood' at Altcar Range at 3 pm. followed by a family event. The pipe music reached by clicking on the link to the left is the tune Captain HBHE Monro. At the Museum, the Colonel of the Regiment met the Trustees and other visitors and had a buffet lunch prepared by the ladies. Everyone then moved to Altcar Rifles Ranges for the dedication of Scottish Wood, a plantation funded by an appeal made by the late Major David Evans to allowing relatives and friends to commemorate individuals of the Liverpool Scottish. The ceremony here was followed by a barbeque and family event which was well attended by serving soldiers and Old Comrades. One impressive feature was the march of the Liverpool Scottish party from the Red Rose Canteen to Scottish Wood, led by the Regimental Association Pipe Band.

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Acquisitions

Amongst other items the Museum has acquired 

• the medals of Lt Colonel IRT Irvine TD, Commanding Officer in the mid 1930s
  
• the presentation wrist watch of WO2 (CSM) Cole with an inscription showing that it was presented to him during WW1 by his company officers. We are indebted to Miss  Cole for this item as with other items she has made available
  
• on loan the Liverpool Scottish medals from the collection of the late Major David Evans TD including several gallantry awards and the medal group of Captain J Robertson (later Lt Colonel) of the West Indies Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers. Captain Robertson was the first Adjutant of the 8th (Scottish) Volunteer Battalion and thus essentially founded the Liverpool Scottish with Colonel Forbes Bell in 1900.. The Museum is very grateful to Mrs Jean Evans
  
• by purchase at auction from the collection of Hal Giblin, the Territorial Efficiency Medal   of Colour Sergeant  Robb together with the beautiful miniature reproduction of the 'Mackenzie Bell' D Company Shooting Cup that Robb won in three successive competitions between 1906 and 1909 (there being no competition in 1908) He lifted this particular piece of silver a few more times before the outbreak of the First World War
  
• The A Company Section Commander's Cup (first contested over 100 years ago and last contested in 1938) arrived at the Museum from New Zealand from the family of the last winner. We presume that there was no competition in 1939 (more pressing business) and somehow the cup just never found its way back to Fraser Street.
  
• Inscribed binoculars presented to E Company in 1912 by two company officers
  
• A set of letters from Private Kenrick to his girlfriend, fiancée and then wife throughout the course of WW1. Private Kenrick, a butcher by trade, escaped the charge at Hooge in 1915 through being sent to a butcher at Army HQ, later returning to the battalion. In the letter shown he announces to Lil that he has joined the Army, "You will be surprised to hear ..." . He probably only went out for a newspaper and ten Woodbines.

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Conservation, Other Work in Progress and Accreditation

We are currently working through the uniform and textile collection to assess its condition and to rationalise the storage. We have been offered funding from a supporter of the Museum to purchase a conservation quality vacuum cleaner that can be used on delicate conservation work. This exercise will form part of an overall review of the collection. We have been successful in gaining funding to carry out conservation work on some of the oil paintings in the Museum and to repair damage (and have received a generous individual donation to assist this as well as contributions from the Army Museums Ogilby Trust and the Regimental Trustees). This funding covers a professional review of the textiles and and a professional review of our environment within the museum. The eventual result of this will be a further search for funds to carry out the recommendations. Volunteers have attended courses on documentation, archives and collection care organized through MLA North West  and Philip Ross and John Lindgren have played an invaluable part in our work of documenting the collection. There is always rooms for volunteers. This work leads to accreditation, the stage beyond museum registration and the Museum is scheduled to enter the Merseyside Accreditation Cycle in June 2008 to complete by the end of 2008. The Accreditation process is described here

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Research Queries

The Museum has started issuing a serial number to research queries that it receives. Other than casual queries we have process over 150 queries, most requiring a formal written reply since June 2006. This requires input from the Secretary, the Honorary Curator and the Philip Ross, our Honorary Researcher. We are also indebted to Mr Joe Devereux for the information that he is able to provide. 

Volunteers Needed - Apply Within

We are always interested in recruiting additional volunteers for Wednesday afternoons and at other times. Work would include maintaining the textile collection, maintaining our environmental control record, scanning and transcribing documents and talking to visitors and showing them material. Obviously this needs patient and careful work; computer skills can generally be taught.  It is fair to say that we have to be hoovered and dusted occasionally and everyone takes a turn at this from the Chairman down.  If you are interested in being involved please contact Ian Riley using the Museum 'Contact' below.

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Background Details

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Veterans Badge

The following is reproduced from the Veterans Agency website at

http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_badge/vets_badge.htm

and is provided for the convenience and interest of recipients who have served in Her Majesty's UK Armed Forces. There is also a badge for Merchant Navy Veterans who have been on active service.

Please do NOT apply to the Liverpool Scottish Museum! The issue of these well-produced badges is dealt with by the Ministry of Defence.

UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge

Did you serve in HM Armed Forces?

Service before and during World War II

Men and women who Served in HM Armed Forces before and/or during World War II are entitled to a Veterans Badge.

There are other groups who Served during World War II who are included, these are:

• Cyprus Regiment
• Home Guard
• Polish Forces under UK Command

Please note, that Veterans who served in Armed Forces of other Countries and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces are not eligible. Examples of these are Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force etc

Service after World War II

Men and Women who enlisted in HM Armed Forces between 3 September 1945 and 31 December 1984 are entitled to a Veterans Badge. There is no qualifying length of Service.

Posthumous requests

It is regrettable that the badge cannot be issued posthumously. The badge is a survivors’ badge, which is to be worn on civilian attire.

The only exceptions are War Widows and Widowers who are in receipt of a War Widows/Widowers Pension paid by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

Extensions to the criteria

It is the aim, eventually, to include all those who Served in HM Armed Forces, however the demand for the badge continues to be high. 
Once it is known when the eligibility is to be extended for those whose Service began after 31 December 1984, details will be posted on this website.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept requests for badges at this time from people whose Service began after 31 December 1984.

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See you soon?

We hope that you have found this newsletter of interest and that we see of hear from  you soon

I shall be away for the week immediately after publication but all e-mails will, be dealt with when I return.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Riley

Honorary Secretary

Liverpool Scottish Regimental Museum

13 November 2007