<![CDATA[St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/ en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:01:07 -0400 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/35338-4/RHC+2014.jpg <![CDATA[St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/ <![CDATA[John Morris Fred Davies and Billy Moore]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/2014+2.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/2014+2.jpg.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:51:25 -0400
<![CDATA[Commandos alongside Military Medal winners on parade]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/on+parade.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/on+parade.jpg.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:39:14 -0500
<![CDATA[Fred getting on parade]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Standard.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Standard.jpg.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:51:01 -0400
<![CDATA[Jennie and Nick swapping war stories]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Jennie+nick.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Jennie+nick.jpg.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:48:32 -0400
<![CDATA[Pam Liz enjoying themselves]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Pam+Liz.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Pam+Liz.jpg.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:49:17 -0400
<![CDATA[Joe and Fred with CVA Standard]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Joe+Fred+Standard.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Joe+Fred+Standard.jpg.html
Chelsea 2014
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:49:52 -0400
<![CDATA[Scotty Jennie Nick]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Scotty+Jennie+Nick.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/Scotty+Jennie+Nick.jpg.html
Chelsea 2014
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
David Davies photo Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:50:12 -0400
<![CDATA[It gives me the greatest of pleasure...]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7238.JPG.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7238.JPG.html
During January 2014, a post was made on Facebook asking where a Commando cap badge could be obtained. I replied, explaining there was no such beast and explained the history of the Commandos. The query came from a Terri Earl, who went on to explain that her friend, Steve Scudder, was trying to find a replacement cap badge for a Commando Veteran who had had his beret stolen (during the CVA visit to RH Chelsea, 2013). Terri put me in touch with Steve and within seconds I learnt that the Veteran was none other than Billy Moore.
Steve & I went to work and it wasn't long before a plan was hatched - Steve would obtain a replacement green beret and I had a KRRC (King's Crown) cap badge. The only thing we didn't have was the old Commando Association dagger... I made appeals via the forum and on Facebook, readers were very helpful and the messages were sent all around the world - but we couldn't find a badge.
In the meantime Steve & I agreed that Billy should be given the replacement beret so that he could attend other annual events etc. Steve gave Billy his new beret and reports that Billy was extremely moved. "I'll have to try and get the other badge now," he told Steve!
The National Secretary, Joe Murtagh was anxious that the CVA should try to help one of its loyal members and so Joe & I came up with the plan that if I could obtain a badge then Joe would have it presented to Billy at the RH Chelsea visit 2014. Steve was very happy about these arrangements and promised to make sure Billy would attend...
By this time I still had no joy with the badge so I warned Sue, my wife, to stand-by with a needle & silk thread so she could adapt a normal Commando Qualification badge...
Then I contacted a company, Monty's Locker, which makes embroidered badges. I explained the dilemma to the owner, Derek, and, because of the circumstances, he promised to see what he could do. I sent him a photo and dimensions and he agreed that he could do something for me - 'just give me a few weeks'...
Within a week I received a new badge! It was excellent and Derek told me that as it was a 'sample,' then there would be no charge...
I suggested that I could make a donation to a charity on his behalf? Derek was happy for this to be done and suggested the Royal Hospital Chelsea as the charity. [This was subsequently done in Derek's name and he received a note of thanks from the RH Chelsea]

And so, everything was in place! Joe arranged with Brigadier Jack to present the badge to Billy in the In-Pensioners' Club after the parade & service. Joe suggested that, rather than make a fuss and let the whole assembly know what was happening, it should be a low key presentation.
The Brigadier, Joe, Steve & I descended on Billy at his table and Joe began to ask about Billy's beret. Billy was still oblivious as to what was happening, and was explaining how Steve had managed to replace the beret & KRRC badge but there was still one badge missing!
At this point the Brigadier stepped in and said that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to present Billy with a new badge...
Billy was overwhelmed and kept saying "Thank you, you've made my day..."

Thank you to everyone who helped to make Billy's day, especially Terri Earl & Steve Scudder.
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
Nick Collins photo Wed, 14 May 2014 07:32:34 -0400
<![CDATA[Billy Moore (5 Cdo), Joe Murtagh (3 Cdo. Bde. and CVA Nat.Sec) and Brig. Jack Thomas CBE (6 Cdo and CVA President)]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7237.JPG.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7237.JPG.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
Nick Collins photo Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:07:21 -0400
<![CDATA[You've made my day...]]> https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7239.JPG.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/events/Chelsea/RHC+2014/100_7239.JPG.html
In album St George's Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2014.]]>
Nick Collins photo Wed, 14 May 2014 07:01:30 -0400