8 cyclists along with a back up team from 1 ( UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment rode a 1000 mile route in just seven days visiting all 16 of the English and Welsh rugby union teams contesting this year’s Anglo Welsh Rugby Union Cup. They took on this challenge to raise awareness and much needed funds for The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. On the 29 th May, Eddie Hefferman MBE our Branch Poppy Appeal Organiser was presented with a cheque for €9063.11 in the WO’s & Sgt’s Mess. A big thank you goes out to Major Jim Lambeth who lead the challenge and to all the cyclists and backup team who took part in the event and raised such a magnificent sum towards our Poppy Appeal.

On the 26 th June, a British Forces Veterans Day will be held in Mansergh Barracks in Gutersloh. The event commences at 1000 hrs and finishes at 1415 hrs. There are two ways to participate in the event. In either case, you must register your intent to attend otherwise you will be not allowed entry. The first way is that the Branch has booked a minibus for the day and if you wish to take advantage of the transport please enter your name on the list in the Branch and a consolidated list of names will be forward to gain entrance. The second way is that if you wish to travel by private car you must register your details by using a registration form which can be obtained from the Branch office. Also on this day, the Station Fayre will take place on the sports pitch in Wentworth Barracks commencing at 1100. The Branch will have an information stand and tombola stall present on the day.

On the 15 March 2010, the Secretary of State for Defence announced the governments re-basing plans for the British Forces in Germany. In summary they are:

• HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and supporting elements (i.e. HQ 1 st Signal Brigade and the Support Battalion ARRC will move to the UK in the summer of 2010.
• Headquarters United Kingdom Support Command will be restructured to create a Germany Support Group (GSG) located in Herford (expected between 2011-2013).
• Significant parts of the Rheindahlen Military Complex, also known as JHQ will close in 2014.
• The remainder of the Signal Brigade elements consisting of 7 and 16 Signal Regiments will move from Niederkruchten-Elmpt to the UK in 2015.
• The final closure of Rhine Garrison (currently comprising the Rheindahlen Military Complex and Niederkruchten-Elmpt) will be in 2016 following the move of 1 Signal Brigade elements back to the UK. The exception to this is the storage site at Ayrshire Barracks (South) in Monchengladbach which will remain.
• 102 Logistic Brigade now based in Gutersloh Garrison will move to the UK in 2018.
• The Ministry of Defence is looking to close Munster Station in 2019.
• 67 and 68 Squadrons of the Royal Logistics Corps will move from Tower Barracks Dulmen in the summer of 2011 reducing the military population in Dulmen, but not affecting the continued operation of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency storage depot.

HQ UKSC have considered ways by which links between Veterans and members of BFG can be improved to all our mutual benefit. They would very much like to hear from you if you are interested in being kept informed about this initiative. A link has been provided by HQ UKSC on the BFG Net for all veterans giving valuable and current information. Please take the time to register your details on the Support to Veterans in Germany link. This takes only a matter of minutes and the more response that is received the better is it for us veterans living here in Germany. To register your details Click Here or go to the following link to the BFG Net at http://bfgnet.de or alternatively you can access the BFG Net link via our Branch links page.

All veterans are entitled to receive discounts on all items and services from the MOD discount directory. Go to the link at www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk to register and to take advantage of these offers.

Are you aware that all veterans living in Germany can apply for a Veterans Installations Pass which will give you access to all Garrisons and Stations within British Forces Germany. It is issued for a period of up to 3 years (dependant on security clearances) and you may take up to 4 family members with you at any one time. Visitors will have to show valid proof of identity (i.e. passport or ID Card) and must be signed in and out of the Garrison/Station at all times. The pass also allows you to use the dining facilities within the camps in JB’s Restaurants and also the NAAFI to purchase a newspaper or immediate consumable goods only at this time. However, negotiations are on going with the German authorities for veterans to purchase any item in the NAAFI less rationed goods and we are hoping that this will be announced very shortly. To apply for your Veterans Installation Pass, go to the link http://www.bfgnet.de and click BFG Veterans page followed by the link Veterans BFG Installation Passes to download an application form. If you do not have access to the internet then please contact the Chairman Mike Tanser who will be happy give you an application form. Once you have completed the application form and have the necessary supporting documents as listed, you can either phone the pass office in Hammersmith Guardroom on 05221 9953145 to make an appointment to hand in your completed forms, or alternatively, you can drop them into the Branch and I will hand them in for you.

25% German Rail discount offer includes Veterans . This generous offer has been agreed between BFG and DB Bahn, the German rail network. The deal will run as a pilot scheme between 1 October 2009 to 30 September 2010. The offer is open to all Service personnel wherever they are based, dependants, all BFG employees including DEL staff and Veterans on production of a valid MOD 90, BFG issued ID card or BFG Veterans Installation Pass. In brief, the main offer is:

• A 25% reduction on 2 nd class standard fares purchased through the German rail operator DB Bahn. This applies to tickets purchased at the time of travel and up to 30 days in advance of the date of the journey
• Children up to 14 years of age can travel free when accompanied by an adult and named on the adults ticket (Veterans pass must be carried as proof of status)
• Services available in this offer extend right across the German rail network, whether long or short distance trains, including Intercity-Express (ICE), Intercity and Eurocity (IC/EC), InterRegio-Epress )IRE), Stadt-Express (SE) and the S-Bahn.

For those of you who travel by train, this is yet another incentive to apply for your Veterans Installation Pass. I myself have used the offer and experienced no problems whatsoever in obtaining the 25% discount.

For those history buffs amongst you or if you are just nostalgic about the past and the barracks and areas where you served in the old BAOR, there is a very interesting web site that’s full of interesting photographs and the history of the various barracks. Did you know for example that Block F in Wentworth Barracks where our Branch is situated used to be a hospital during the war. Go to the link www.baor-locations.com to find out more.

Mike Tanser