Appeal for the oldest living ex-serviceman or woman
Released: Wednesday October 12, 2011
Organisers of Wolverhampton’s annual Festival of Remembrance are searching for the oldest living serviceman or woman.
The traditional service, part of a number of events in Wolverhampton that honour those who served in the armed forces during conflicts, will take place at the Wulfrun Hall in North Street on Sunday November 6, 2011, from 2pm.
This year, the Festival of Remembrance working committee wants to find the oldest ex-serviceman or woman living in Wolverhampton.
Once established, that person will be a VIP guest at the festival and invited to sit with the Mayoral party.
Councillor Linda Leach, who is the chair of the committee, said: “This is my first year as chair of the working committee for what is a very important and poignant event in the city.
“We want to honour those who have served in all conflicts. As well as looking for the oldest ex-serviceman or woman living in Wolverhampton, we also want to encourage more younger people to join the working committee and take part every year.
“We would urge anyone interested to contact us and help us continue to make the Festival of Remembrance a fitting tribute to our armed forces.”
Mary Davies, aged 88, is a founder member of the committee and has served for 36 years. She was an army secretary with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War.
She said: “During the war I made so many good friends who remained friends for life. I also remember the first Festival of Remembrance in the mid 1970s – there were so many more veterans still alive back then, including some from the First World War.
“The festival is very important to us and it is vital we keep remembering all those who were left behind and those who came back injured.”
Fellow committee member Keith Sutton, aged 72, served with the Royal Signals from 1958-63 and said: “I have carried the Union Standard in Wolverhampton for nine years.
“We need to encourage younger service personnel to join the committee and keep this wonderful event going.
“The festival, like Remembrance Sunday and other events, is about paying tribute to those who served in all conflicts, not just the two World Wars.”
And Tony Callaghan, aged 77, who served the Royal Engineers from 1952-59, added: “We have given talks in schools about what it was like to be children during the Second World War.
“The children were so intrigued to hear about what life was like back then and it was a pleasure to help them learn about a very important part of our history.”
Appeal for the oldest living ex-serviceman or woman
Showing posts with label Military Hardware. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Military Hardware. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
DEFEXPO India 2010 News
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DEFEXPO India 2010 News
Monday, December 14, 2009
Neglect defence only at India’s peril
Football that politicians play
ON November 18, 1962, C Company, 13 Kumaon faced Chinese human-waves at Rezang La in Ladakh. Out-gunned and greatly outnumbered, the company fought last-man-last round and perished in a saga of rare valour.
Four centuries earlier, Rana Sanga and the Rajput confederacy faced Babur at Khanwa, 60 km from Agra. Despite legendary heroism, extolled in ballads and folklore, the Rajputs were decisively defeated.
Other than defeat, what is common in these two heroic battles? Both symbolise the Indian warrior’s unparalleled valour and limitless capacity for sacrifice. Both also illustrate our rulers’ great capacity to neglect national defence.
The Rajputs failed to modernise artillery and cavalry. When facing Alexander, Raja Puru’s war-elephants were stampeded by the charging Macedonian phalanx and crushed their own forces.
Thousand years later, the Rana’s war-elephants were stampeded by Babur’s artillery. Then the Rajputs were enveloped and routed by the Mughal cavalry’s tulughma.
However, there is one notable difference between then and now: Rana Sangha and allied rulers personally led their men and many embraced veer-gati. In 1962, the Indian army was pushed into battle by ‘leaders’ in air-conditioned offices, totally oblivious of ground realities. The valiant Kumaonis braved the Ladakhi winter in summer uniforms. Then faced Chinese human-wave assaults with bolt-action rifles, which often jammed and vintage ammunition misfired. Nevertheless, the 120-odd heroes accounted for over 500 Chinese before their ammunition and life-blood ran out.
Fast forward to Kargil 1999. Denial of surveillance equipment for a quarter-century by uncaring, ignorant babus helped Pakiatanis to surreptitiously intrude across the LC. The ensuing war again witnessed most conspicuous valour, which ultimately negated Pak’s napak designs. But 700 gallant sons were martyred to pay for their ‘leaders’ neglect of defence preparedness.
This writer is witness to one such peremptory and callous dispensation, which literally made the Army blind. Illuminating shells for the indigenous Field Gun had been “under development” by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) since seventies and thus faced an import ban.
Neglect of Defence only at India's peril: click here to read the full article
Maj-Gen Pushpendra Singh (Retd)
ON November 18, 1962, C Company, 13 Kumaon faced Chinese human-waves at Rezang La in Ladakh. Out-gunned and greatly outnumbered, the company fought last-man-last round and perished in a saga of rare valour.
Four centuries earlier, Rana Sanga and the Rajput confederacy faced Babur at Khanwa, 60 km from Agra. Despite legendary heroism, extolled in ballads and folklore, the Rajputs were decisively defeated.
Other than defeat, what is common in these two heroic battles? Both symbolise the Indian warrior’s unparalleled valour and limitless capacity for sacrifice. Both also illustrate our rulers’ great capacity to neglect national defence.
The Rajputs failed to modernise artillery and cavalry. When facing Alexander, Raja Puru’s war-elephants were stampeded by the charging Macedonian phalanx and crushed their own forces.
Thousand years later, the Rana’s war-elephants were stampeded by Babur’s artillery. Then the Rajputs were enveloped and routed by the Mughal cavalry’s tulughma.
However, there is one notable difference between then and now: Rana Sangha and allied rulers personally led their men and many embraced veer-gati. In 1962, the Indian army was pushed into battle by ‘leaders’ in air-conditioned offices, totally oblivious of ground realities. The valiant Kumaonis braved the Ladakhi winter in summer uniforms. Then faced Chinese human-wave assaults with bolt-action rifles, which often jammed and vintage ammunition misfired. Nevertheless, the 120-odd heroes accounted for over 500 Chinese before their ammunition and life-blood ran out.
Fast forward to Kargil 1999. Denial of surveillance equipment for a quarter-century by uncaring, ignorant babus helped Pakiatanis to surreptitiously intrude across the LC. The ensuing war again witnessed most conspicuous valour, which ultimately negated Pak’s napak designs. But 700 gallant sons were martyred to pay for their ‘leaders’ neglect of defence preparedness.
This writer is witness to one such peremptory and callous dispensation, which literally made the Army blind. Illuminating shells for the indigenous Field Gun had been “under development” by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) since seventies and thus faced an import ban.
Neglect of Defence only at India's peril: click here to read the full article
Maj-Gen Pushpendra Singh (Retd)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
India’s dilemma: U.S. or Russian weapons
Toronto, ON, Canada, — India is facing a decision that will affect its military and political future for a long time to come: whether to buy Russian or U.S. military hardware. Cost and capability are critical, but history and political realities cannot be ignored. U.S. high-tech weapons are like a finely tuned sports car, whereas similar Russian weapons are built like a freight truck – rugged and cheap. Third world nations tend to prefer the Russian hardware. Other than being cheap, Russian equipment does not require highly advanced infrastructure for maintenance, and the Russians do not insist on intrusive end-user monitoring.
U.S. weapons are the preferred choice of its allies, of course. Others with deep pockets, such as Arab nations, also buy these weapons. There is a huge marketing and publicity effort under way in India to discredit Russian hardware, partly thanks to defense hardware salesmen with political connections. Also, the Indian military would like to diversify its procurement sources. It will prefer any deal that includes technology transfer.
Read more:
India’s dilemma: U.S. or Russian weapons
U.S. weapons are the preferred choice of its allies, of course. Others with deep pockets, such as Arab nations, also buy these weapons. There is a huge marketing and publicity effort under way in India to discredit Russian hardware, partly thanks to defense hardware salesmen with political connections. Also, the Indian military would like to diversify its procurement sources. It will prefer any deal that includes technology transfer.
Read more:
India’s dilemma: U.S. or Russian weapons
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