4th Bn

4TH BN AT SANDRINGHAM IN 1939
Maj Peter Farrelly TD, 1st and 4th Bns, 91 in Aug 06, called from Devon and offered to send the 1939 photograph of D Coy 4 R Norfolk when they Mounted Guard at Sandringham in November 1939. Sadly, the copy made is poor. ‘D Coy was commanded by Maj TP Molyneux, a 1914-18 War soldier. The Pl Comds were Lt Philip Hall (decd 2001), myself, a 2Lt, and Pl Sgt Maj Page from Loddon. This latter rank later disappeared. The guard lived in York Cottage for 2 weeks. The Agent requested that all swagger canes be withdrawn - the pheasants were so tame walking about the grounds that the boys were knocking them off for their cookhouse. HM Queen Elizabeth visited us in York Cottages where she spoke to the soldiers and took sherry with the officers. Peter recalls that when he joined the 4th Bn in 1939, Maj EC Knights (later Lt Col MC MM TD) was the 2IC and very kind to the young! Some 1940 4th Bn reminiscences were in B&C 98 Jun 02, 100 Jun 03 and 106 Jun 06, including :
King George VI visited the 4th Bn in the summer of 1940 at Gt Yarmouth. The Offrs Mess had acquired a stuffed bear looted from the funfair! The bear was hidden in the tennis courts. The Bn 2IC, Maj EC Knights, took the King to the Mess for afternoon tea - via the tennis court! ‘I know what that’s for,’ said the King, ‘putting in subaltern’s beds!’ The CO, Lt Col John Jewson (later Col), had arranged for the late Lt John Barratt (later Capt TD, decd 2002) to procure some of John’s mother-in-law’s special blended tea. ‘I promised to report on how the King enjoyed her tea. The delicate blended tea must have been boiled up like ‘Cha’. It came out of the teapot nearly black and the King asked for some hot water to be added to his cup. The 2IC, Maj EC Knights, poured from a hot water jug which contained coffee.
I turned away.’ (From ‘On His Majesty’s Service 1939-1945’ by Capt John Barratt TD.) B&C 107

4 R NORFOLK OCA DINNER 2006
The Sat 27 May 06 dinner venue was most successfully changed from Gorleston to the TA Centre, Norwich, to improve attendance. 54 attended, including 3 eras - 4 R Norfolk, 6 R Anglian and 3 R Anglian (the new TA Bn.). Regrets were received from Maj John Davidson; Capt Alan Debenham; Paul Brunton Douglas, Rory Hart, Paul Hipperson, Bob Kerry, Patrick Nelson, Derek Rolph and Denis Skipper. Several present ‘came out of hibernation’ : Capts Colin Scoles MBE and Chris Overton, Cpls John Duke and Roy Egmore. Maj Tom Eaton OBE TD DL presided. The oldest present was Sgt Ted Teager, aged 94. He served in the 1st and 4th Bns 1930-1956, was Boxing Champion in India 1932-39 and Pl Sgt to Maj Tom Eaton OBE TD DL. An excellent meal was provided by former A Coy chef SSgt Gwyneth Bissett. Our thanks go to A Coy PSAO (Permanent Staff Offr) Capt Tam Steele and his team for so majestically setting up the venue.

From left: Cpl John Duke and Capt Colin Scoles MBE; WO2 Pat Budds, Majs Tom Eaton OBE TD DL and John Housego; Cpls John Duke and Mick Rampling

The next dinner is on Sat 28 Apr 07 - STC. Anyone not on the mailing list should contact Maj John Housego, via the Norfolk Section Editor or RHQ, Britannia House, TA Centre, 325 Aylsham Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AB. Tel 01603 400290. B&C 107