Welcome to The Loughton Branch 2012
Loughton Branch was originally built
& founded in 1921
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'Loughton-Branch' = Welfare / Recruitment / Parades
/Official-events.
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www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/loughton-branch-2012
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Now = click- ~ (this page
into favourites).
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Loughton - Club Events = Latest
Social Dances / Parties / Bingo / and Line-dances.
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wwwloughtonrblclub.com
- Now = 'click' (this
into Favourites ).
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Poppy Collectors =

Poppy collectors of all ages needed = can you collect in your
street/ shop/ School/ Factory?
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Rememberance Day
Parade
Sunday - 11 - Nov
2012

Muster @ Legion 11.30am
.
Fall-in 11.55am
Parade Marches-Off @
11.59am.
Service & laying of wreaths
@ 12.15pm
Service of Rememberance with
Buglers.
Wreath laying to commemorate
those who have made the supreme sacrifice in wars &
conflicts.
LEST WE
FORGET.
- Loughton Community Schools and families gather in larger
numbers each year whatever the weather
We are A
Support-Charity not Religiously affiliated or Politically
motivated.
Talks in Schools / Colleges,
Video's of WW1 &WW2 Afghanistan
& ~Iraque
Exams on History-Cerriculum this year 2012.
The Loughton War Memorial
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Is your family Entitled to this Medal?
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The Elizabeth Cross =
On 1
July 2009 it was announced that a new award will be granted to the
next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations, in a
mark of national recognition for their loss.
Next of kin will receive the Elizabeth Cross -
a sterling silver emblem in the shape of a cross over a wreath -
plus a Memorial Scroll signed by The Queen which will bear the name
of the person who died.
The Queen's recognition will also be available to those who died
in conflicts dating back to 1948, including the Korean War, the
Falklands conflict and operations in Northern Ireland. If a family
member served during these dates. Apply through the MoD's
website
Full details including how to apply are available
on the MoD's medal website.
Loughton Branch = 020 8508 5044 leave a message to apply for
Standard Bearer.
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History of Loughton Heroes.
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Three local heroes, they all lived in Loughton at some time,
they are:-
Captain Richard Stannard VC,DSO RNR
Private Sidney Frank Godley VC The Royal
Fusiliers
Marine Bill Sparks DSM The Royal Marines
Their stories are here, please read and see how much courage was
shown by each of them.
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Captain Richard Stannard VC,DSO

Richard Been Stannard was born on 21st August 1902 at Blyth,
Northumberland, one of the sons of Captain George Davis Stannard
and Elizabeth Stannard (nee Knowles).His fathers ship was lost with
all hands on a voyage from Baltimore in February 1912 and he and
his brothers went to the Royal Naval Merchant School which was
founded in 1827 for orphans of merchant seamen.In 1928 he married
Phyllis May Tomkin at West Ham, they lived at 33 The Avenue,
Loughton from 1937 until 1949 and then they emmigrated to Australia
where he died on 22nd July 1977.
On 19th October 1942 he was awarded the Norwegian War Cross by
Kinh Haakon for bravery at Namos Wharf, and in May 1943 he was back
at Buckingham Palace to recieve the Distinguished Service Order for
his part in the sinking of U-Boat 18 during a three day and night
running battle in the Atlantic beginning on 4th February 1943.
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Private Sidney F
rank
Godley VC
Sidney Frank Godley was born on 14th August 1889 at East
Grinstead, Sussex, he was the son of a painter and decorator. At
the age of 14 he started work in an ironmongers shop but six years
later due to a desire for more excitement he joined the British
army on 13th December 1909 as Private S. Godley No. 13814. He lived
for some time in Loughton and and died at St Margarets Hospital,
Epping on 29th June 1957 aged 67. He is buried in St John\\\'s
Churchyard, Lougton.
In April 1939 Sidney Godley attended the opening of a new bridge
at Nimy, during the service a plaque commemorating the heroism of
Maurice Dease and Sidney Godley was unveiled, he was also presented
with a special medal by the people of Mons.In 1940 the Plaque at
Nimy bridge was taken away for safe keeping and hidden for the
duration of the Second World War. In 1961, the Plaque was returned
to its rightful place on the bridge at Nimy.
After retiring Sidney and his wife moved several times ending up
in Debden. He was buried with full military honours , The Royal
Fusiliers provided a bearer party and fired a volley over his
grave. In November 2000 a "Blue Plaque" was affixed by Loughton
Town Council to 164 Torrington Drive, Loughton, where Sidney Godley
last lived.
In 1976 a new housing estate in Bexley was named after Sidney
Godley and in 1992 a new housing block also bears his name.
By kind permission of the Godley family.
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Marine Willia
m Edward
Sparks DSM Marine Bill Sparks was born in the East End of
London on 5th September 1922, after leaving school at 14 he started
work as a shoe repairer, at the outbreak of World War Two he
infuriated his father by joining The Royal Marines and not
following the family tradition and become a stoker in the Navy. He
lived at 47 Poundfield Road, Loughton for many years and died on
1st December 2002, his funeral was held in Alfreston, East
Sussex.
The Name of the mission was "Operation Frankton" , they were
part of the Boom Patrol Detachment Royal Marines,and the craft they
used were Cockle MK II kayaks (hence the name "Cockleshell Heroes")
The members of the team were:-
When he was 61, Bill Sparks re-enacted his epic journey by
paddling from the mouth of the Gironde up to Bordeaux to raise
money for cancer Research, with Gerry Lockyer of the Imperial War
Museum as his companion. Afterwards Bill Sparks stated that
although the trip was not as dangerous as it was in 1942 the
paddling was much harder. The escape route that he and Major Hasler
used is now a footpath dedicated to the Cockleshell Heroes.
Bill Sparks wrote two books on the action, they were:-
"The Last of the Cockleshell Heroes" &
"Cockleshell Commando"
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History of Loughton Branch
'Minutes Books' from 1949 to almost the present have been
retrieved, these are now being copied and anyone wishing to read
them please contact the Branch Secretary .
They are full of history and give an insight into the workings
of the Legion back then, before moving to our present home.
It is hoped that a museum, such as Epping Forest Museum in
Waltham Abbey will be happy to recieve them and that way they will
be forever kept and looked after, also accesible to view by the
public
Magazins = 2012
All sorts of Books and Magazines are exchanged at the club, so
bring your books for EXCHANGE. Leave the Books on the Reception
Desk or in the Games Room.
Bring = Legion Magazines as we take them to Receptions around
Loughton Town such as your Local Doctors-reception and your Dentist
- Reception even the Clinic in Station road.
Loughton Branch hope to recruit NEW MEMBERS in
2012.
You can Help by recruiting a New Member even if
it's your Next-door Neighbour .
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EX-BRITISH ARMED FORCES joinup & recieve
welfare / support and companionship.
Membership is open to everyone We welcome men/
women of all ages,
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www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/Loughton-Branch-2012
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Subscriptions Officer = David Beckett mobile: 079 32 77
55 30 .
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Poppy Organizer = Mrs Gill
Mann = 07 505 107 655
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WELFARE OFFICER = Mrs Mavis Back: 020 8502
2398
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Recruiting Officer = Nick Greiner
= 077 88 916 304
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Any comments please email < ngreiner69@yahoo.co.uk
>.