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THE DEVONSHIRE AND DORSET REGIMENT
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
Click here for up to date 'Regimental Association' Calender of events for the year 2005
Why not catch up with lost friends from the past in either the Devon's or Dorset's..........
Or are they currently serving in 'The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment' today..........
Click here to view, send, or leave a message on 'LOST CONTACTS'
Click here for news on the future of the Regiment
Click here for past history and information on both the Devon's and the Dorset's at the
Devon and Dorset Military Museum, 'The Keep' Dorchester.
http://www.keepmilitarymuseum.org/
Introduction.
The Regimental Association was formed on 14 May 1988 from the ex-Devonshire Regiment Old Comrades Association, the ex-Dorset Regiment Old Comrades Association and the Devonshire and Dorset Regimental Association. The Association is now one body and is a Registered Charity.
The Colonel in Chief of The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, HRH The Duke of Kent KG, is the Patron of the Association and the Colonel of the Regiment, Lieutenant General Sir Cedric Delves KBE DSO, is the President. For details of the Committee, see below.
The Association has a central committee and is run on a Branch basis. It has 23 Branches, see attached, each with its own committee structure.
Membership.
Membership of the Association is open to anyone who is serving with, or who has served with the Regiment, and its antecedent Regiments, whether in the Regular Army, as National Servicemen, in the Territorial Army or in Devon or Dorset Army Cadet Forces.
Objects.
The objects of the Regimental Association Charity are to promote the efficiency of the Regiment by maintaining contact between past and present members of the Regiment and the former Regiments, fostering mutual friendship between them, providing for social gatherings, fostering esprit de corps and comradeship, the welfare of its members, and preserving its traditions. This includes relief in need, welfare visits and after care for members whether serving or retired.
Branches.
There are currently 23 Branches of the Association based either on former battalions of the Regiment (see 7th Devons/87th Anti Tank Regt RA and 12th (Airborne) Battalion, Devons) or on area or town groupings (see London, Southampton & District, Medway). Each Branch has a committee structure and a welfare officer.
Association structure.
Patron
HRH The Duke of Kent KG, Colonel in Chief
President
The Colonel of the Regiment
Lieutenant General Sir Cedric Delves KBE DSO
Hon Deputy Presidents
Col JG Harrison OBE TD DL
Col PJ Roper OBE TD DL
Brig JP Randle OBE MC
Chairman
Lt Col AW Thornburn OBE
Vice-Chairman
Lt Col R Jury LVO (Devon)
Col DG Thomas (Dorset)
Secretary and Treasurer
Maj Jellard
Headquarters.
Regimental Headquarters, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, Wyvern Barracks, EXETER, EX2 6AR.
Telephone: 01392 492436
Military: 94348 2436
Fax: 01392 492469
Email: Assistant Regimental Secretary
Military: RHQ D&D-ARegtl Sec.
Committee structure.
Each Branch has its own committee and there are two central committees run by the Secretary at Association Headquarters, being a Standing Committee and a General Advisory Committee, the former meets as and when required and the latter meets every autumn. The Annual General Meeting is held once a year on the Regimental Day.
Association Events.
Every year in either May or June the Regiment comes together for its annual Regimental Day in either Devon or Dorset. The events include, the Regimental Association Annual General Meeting, a Colonel of the Regiment’s Reception, a parade through the town/city to Exercise the Regiment’s Freedom, a Regimental Service of Remembrance, a 'Beating The Retreat' by the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums, and a Regimental Association Dinner and Reunion.
Other events during the year include Branch meetings, Battlefield Tours, Remembrance Day parades, anniversary commemorations at home and abroad, weekly, monthly or quarterly ‘get togethers’, annual reunions, Christmas parties and so on.
Welfare and Aftercare.
Key elements of the Association’s work are welfare and aftercare. Each Branch has a Welfare Officer who maintains contact with the Association Secretary at RHQ in Exeter in providing assistance to members who are in need, including those who are in hospital and nursing homes and for those who require long term care in the community. This is backed up by the Regimental Benevolence Charity which provides financial support to serving and ex-members of the Regiment. Contact is also maintained with widows of former members and the names of those who die during the course of the year are posted in the Regimental Journal each year.
Recruiting.
The Association Branches provide a useful conduit for Regimental recruiting whether for the 1st Battalion (Regular Army), the Rifle Volunteers (TA) or the Army Cadet Force in the two Counties of Devon and Dorset.
‘Where Are You Now?’ forms.
For the 'Where Are You Now?' forms click here.
The ‘Where Are You Now?’ forms, attached, are useful for new members and for those who have lost touch with the Association or who have changed address, telephone numbers or email addresses.
The Regimental Journal.
The Association Secretary is the Editor of the Regimental Association contribution for the Regimental Journal which is published in March each year. This incorporates news of the Association’s events, welfare and aftercare, Branches, deceased members, obituaries, articles and news of individual members. All contributions for the journel are required by the end of November of each year.
Contacting the Regimental Association.
You can contact the Secretary and Treasurer of the Regimental Association at Association Headquarters at RHQ, Exeter, (see above), or by contacting the Secretary of the Branch nearest you (see attached list of Branches).
For an attached list of branches click here.
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