Norfolk Section
The Britannia and Castle		      

 It is not our policy to display telephone numbers, home or e-mail addresses
of contributors on this site but the webmaster is quite willing to do so if you wish 
4th Bn OCA origins answer   An observation from William Matthews on RE Bomb Disposal in WW2
Site compliments : Albert   Paul Bass

The above index entries are in random order !
[For B&C 108] means 'To appear in the print copy'
CONTACT
Make contact with correspondents via the Norfolk Section Editor or RHQ, Britannia House, TA Centre, 325 Aylsham Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AB. Tel 01603 400290.

Click photographs to enlarge
4TH BN OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION ORIGINS - ANSWER
Chairman WO2 Pat Budds asked in B&C 106 Jun 06 concerning the origins of 1/4th Norfolks OCA.
Maj Tom Eaton OBE TD DL provided the answer:  It started .... (to be completed)
(Thanks Tom. Ed)
[For B&C 108]

ROYAL ENGINEERS IN WW2 - AN OBSERVATION FROM WILLIAM MATTHEWS
The men of the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Companies were never awarded a Medal for their work or received any recognition. My army mate Len Smith and I volunteered for Bomb disposal in 1940 and Were posted to No 12 coy at Hurstwood House, Haywards Heath. I was later sent to the 25th BDS Coy at Eltham where the Blitz had left some 3500 UXBs. After this number of UXBs had been reduced I was sent back to the No 12 Coy. Eventually Len and myself were sent to Catterick Camp to learn about the sterilisation of live bombs with steam. Whilst we were there our meagre pay of 7 shillings a week was reduced to 6 shillings as we were forced to pay one shilling barrack damages. Len was on 14 shillings a week and he allowed 7 shillings to be paid to his mother. I also had money deducted for my wife to receive. After this I said: 'Here we are digging out bombs for a shilling a day whilst saving the country millions of pounds from the loss of factories, railways, hospitals, oil refineries, gas works, electric power stations etc and here we have the Government taking the paltry one shilling for so called Barrack Damages.' This is all perfectly true and I still possess one of my pay books which has Lt Ken Revis's signature for the 7 shilling payments. My personal feelings about this disgraceful act is best left unsaid. The public do not know about this despicable act and I always hope that one day we will receive recognition. Is there any way this story could be brought to the public?
Webmaster comment: Thanks William. Done !

SITE COMPLIMENTS
Albert : 'I have been reading through your informative site. It is a brilliant tribute to the brave boys of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. Recently I came across a Dinner card with the signatures of Bill O’Callaghan, Bert Pooley and Madame Duquenne-Creton. The card is of a 1964 Royal Norfolk Regiment and Dunkirk Veterans evening. Bill made a presentation to Madame Duquenne-Creton who was the guest of honour. There is also one other signature of which I am unsure.
I have listed the item on ebay with a link to your great website.'
Paul Bass - who left the R Anglian Regt in 1983 and administers the R Anglian forums site. ‘You have developed an amazing resource of military links’
(Thanks Albert and Paul. Ed.)
[B&C 108]

CONTACT
Make contact with correspondents via the Norfolk Section Editor or RHQ, Britannia House, TA Centre, 325 Aylsham Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AB. Tel 01603 400290.

Editorial Rule
 To qualify for inclusion in the B&C there is only one rule - something described must have been said to have happened. 
The authority is the Editor, British Army Review No 114 Dec 96, `If the facts don`t fit the legend, print the legend’.

However, the rules of good taste, respect and confidentiality are always applied.

Rule Britannia!

Site edited and maintained by Major John L Raybould TD Editor, Norfolk Section, The Britannia and Castle
 B&C Norfolk Editor

[B&C 108]