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Eighth Army Veterans City of Manchester |
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Our Officers
The Association is fortunate to have exemplary Officers. As at June 2006 they were as follows:
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President: Fred Hirst Our President, Fred Hirst, has served the Branch loyally and with distinction for many years. He has been the Editor of the Branch Newsletter from its inception and has produced well in excess of 100 editions. Fred also co-ordinates the School Visit Scheme for the Branch and is an accomplished and prolific speaker himself. During the war, Fred served with the 2nd/5th Sherwood Foresters in Tunisia, where he was captured in 1943. He was taken to a prisoner of war camp in Italy but twice escaped, with extended periods on the run before bitter recapture. When the war ended he was being held in Munich .
Fred's has written an account of his wartime experiences, entitled "A Green Hill Far Away". It is a remarkable book, written with extraordinary eye for detail that gives the narrative an immediacy rarely evident in wartime recollections. There is no literary pretension to Fred's account, it is plain speaking and beyond reproach. No doubt this reflects Fred's Yorkshire pedigree. We thoroughly recommend it, if you can get hold of a copy (contact us if you cannot). Fred also provides a World War Two School Talks service in the Manchester, Stockport and Macclesfield areas, suitable for the requirements of the National Schools Curriculum on this subject, which typically involves a Power Point Presentation by Fred Hirst on his experiences. It is available to teachers and their classes in both Primary and Secondary Schools. However, in primary schools we prefer to confine the talks to Years 5 and 6. Age for Secondary Schools is not restricted. The contact e-mail address for further details is Fred Hirst c/o the Web Editor.
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Chairman: Harry Hudson Harry Hudson is a founding member of our Branch and was elected Chairman in 2006. During the war, Harry served with the RASC in North Africa and Italy. His good humour and common sense served him well through some hard times. These same qualities are now much in evidence in Harry's discharge of his duties as Chairman. We are fortunate to have persuaded Harry to take the post as Chairman, some 36 years after his official retirement. He lives an active life and, like many of our members, retains a keen interest in the progress of the younger generation (particularly the England football team). |
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Secretary: Arthur Renshaw, Q.P.M. Arthur served with distinction in the Greater Manchester Police for 35 years. He was awarded The Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours list of 1993/4. After the death of the Eighth Army Veteran's Association Honorary Secretary, George Worthington, M.M., the National Chairman, Major Sam Bradshaw wrote a letter to the newspapers. He sought help from someone with spare time and computer skills to help fill the gap left by George's death. Arthur volunteered and became the Minutes Secretary to the National Executive Committee. He later also came forward to help the Manchester Branch and has been our Secretary since 1999. Arthur is not a serviceman but has become involved because of an awareness of the debt his generation owes to veterans and in memory of his late father, who was in the Royal Artillery and R.E.M.E. for five years during the war and saw service in Europe. E-mail correspondence should be sent to the Secretary c/o the Web Editor |
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Treasurer: Frank Green Frank's association with the branch started
in 1993 when he was serving in the Grenadier Guards as a Company
Sergeant Major at the newly established Infantry Training Battalion in
Catterick, North Yorkshire. The Branch Chairman, Alan Garratt, invited Frank to marshal an Eighth Army Veterans remembrance parade at Eden Camp. At that time most of the veterans were young, active 70 year olds who were very happy to let a Warrant Officer put them through their paces! Considering what these veterans had experienced, it was both humbling and inspirational for Frank . Suffice to say the parade was a great success and it was the start of a long standing friendship. Soon afterwards, there was a vacancy for
the post of branch secretary and Frank was invited to step in on a
temporary (5year!) basis until a suitable replacement could be found. Frank was subsequently promoted and posted
to the prestigious Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst as Regimental
Sergeant Major. On his retirement from the Army in 2001 Frank was
invited to become the Branch Treasurer. Although still in full time
employment managing events at Manchester University he enjoys the
responsibility of managing the Branch's financial affairs. Frank is keen to promote Branch activities and is looking forward to doing so for many years to come.
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Standard Bearer and Welfare Office: John Connolly John was a serviceman after the war. Those of you who have not been in the forces may not realize the importance of a standard bearer to a British military unit. A regimental standard represents the very life of the battalion it represents. When in battle, the Colours (as regimental standards are properly called) would be defended to the last. Indeed, the rank of Colour Sergeant was originally designated for an experienced and tough NCO, trusted to guard the junior officer who carried the Colours with his life. The Colour Party would provide a rallying point and leadership for the entire unit, whatever the chaos around them and whatever the result. The Standard of the Manchester Eighth Army Veterans Association is held in equally high regard by its Members. It provides a focus and continuity for our remembrance of comrades from all service backgrounds. It is displayed at all meetings and lowered for the last post. The standard bearer is, in many respects, the most important of our Officers. John Connnolly has turned out as Standard Bearer for the Branch at Meetings, Parades and Commemorative Events in all weathers and in all circumstances. He is invariably in immaculate order, dressed as if for inspection. It is not a pompous gesture on his part, for John is no martinet. Rather, the discharge of his duties reflects a profound sense of loyalty and service. He attends at funerals of Branch Members without hesitation or complaint and provides the same quiet dignity that he invariably brings to meetings. It is no coincidence that John also acts as our Welfare Officer. Over the years he has made countless calls and visits to Members in ill health or difficulty.
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