On
parade with the Chonburi Army Commander,
on Thai Remembrance 3 Feb 2011.
Bert Elson
February
was a good month for members of our branch with visits to Bangkok, Chonburi
and Laem Chabang Port. The trip to Bangkok was to donate 40,000 baht worth
of goods to the Thai Veterans Hospital. This was raised in Jameson’s Pub
during our Poppy Golf Tournament.
Having now bonded with and having a good relationship
with the Thai Veterans Association we were invited to attend the Thai
Veterans Day Parade in Chonburi, We expected to be sitting down watching a
nice parade, wrong! We were promptly put on the parade and in fact became
the “Guests of Honour”.
After the parade we were invited to join our Thai friends
for lunch. Veterans the world over are all the same, as “Swinging the Lamp”
must be the same in any language. Stories were soon being told in sign
language; the songs were a little harder to translate (Thank God!).
February is also Cobra Gold time and we were invited for
a trip aboard the Marine Carrier USS Essex. It was at short notice so only a
dozen members attended; however, all had a fantastic time and were amazed at
the men and equipment she carried. Our thanks to our friends in the US
Embassy for arranging this trip for us.
This year is the Royal British Legion’s 90th birthday.
This will be celebrated in Pattaya on June 25th at the Queen Victoria Inn.
More details will be given out later.
Our primary role is, of course, Care; care for those who
have served in the UK armed forces and/or their dependants. Should you need
help or advice or know of someone who does please contact us in strict
confidence.
Should you wish to join the Legion (you do not have to
have served) please call in to Tropical Bert’s on Second Road any Saturday
from 2 p.m. when we have our Social Day or contact Bert: tel. 0898 072335;
email [email protected] or on visit our web site at
www.tropicalberts.com
Guests
of Honour at the march past.
Secretary Bert Elson and Standard Bearer Richard Holmes at the Thai Veterans
Hospital in Bangkok.
Joining
our Thai Friends on parade.
USS
Essex, our group in the hanger.
The
flight deck.
Veterans
all.
There
must be a door somewhere!
