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Sincerest
Thanks
I
have received a letter of thanks from the OC 26 AES, he would
like me to pass on his sincerest thanks and that of the SSM
and the officers and men of the squadron for giving them an
excellent weekend at Coventry and that it was a great honour
to be part of a momentous weekend. He says that the picture
that was presented to him by General Tony Younger is proudly
on display on the wall directly outside his office.
150th
ANNIVERSARY
26 ARMOURED ENGINEER SQUADRON
By
the Branch Secretary
Kevin Bradley
The 150th
anniversary celebration of the formation of 26 Armoured Engineer
Squadron took place at the Royal Court Hotel Coventry over the
weekend 18th 20th February with a 3 course Gala Dinner
on Saturday 19th February 2005.
Many members
of past and present 26 AES made a huge effort to attend this
prestigious event, some travelling from as far afield as Canada
and Germany.
Except for
the Gala dinner, the weekend was a non formal event and this
gave people the much valued time they needed to reacquaint themselves
with their old friends, many of whom they had not seen since
the end of the Second World War.
The Gala
Guest of Honour was Major General Tony Younger DSO OBE MA who
was the Squadrons OC on D-Day 1944, he gave a short speech
on his experiences during his war time service and as a Sapper
in the Royal Engineers.
General
Younger was asked to make two presentations to the current OC
Major Neil Carson RE. The first presentation was a framed picture
entitled The Pioneers of the Nile Expedition leaving Sarras
for Dal on November 2nd 1884 and was given to the Squadron by
the Members of Armoured Branch (REA). The picture is a laser
enhanced line drawing of the Officers and Men of the Squadrons
expedition up the Nile to Dal in 1884 and is an exact copy of
the drawing which is on display in the RE museum at Chatham.
Presented
to 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron
to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Squadron
by the Armoured Engineers Branch, Royal Engineers Association

The Pioneers
of the Nile Expedition leaving Sarras for Dal on November 2nd
1884
Drawing
showing soldiers of 26 Field Company in boats, proceeding up
the river Nile.
Drawn by Mr M. Prior of the Illustrated London News.
The original is on display in the Royal Engineers Museum Chatham.
The second
presentation was a piece that was specially commissioned by
the officers and SNCOs of 26 AES to commemorate this occasion.
The piece was a 12 square solid block of dark hard wood.
On both sides it depicted the Squadrons winged fist and five
lightening bolts in solid silver.
Down one
edge it listed the names of the officers and SNCOs who
contributed to the piece and down the other it depicted the
story of where King George V gave his permission for the permanent
use of the 26 shoulder title.
The OC graciously
accepted the gifts from the General and then he gave a short
briefing on the Squadrons current activities. He also updated
the guests on the forthcoming 150th celebrations which are due
to take place at Hohne between 13th 19th June 2005.
Each male
guest was then given a specially engraved whisky tumbler which
was produced by Mark Bizley.
The weekend
was concluded by a curry lunch on the Sunday.

General Younger presenting the
Picture to the OC 26AES
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The OC giving his speech holding
the 26 Squadron Plaque
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General Younger (seated)
Dr David Pratt (left) and his driver Vic Pearman, who all came
ashore
on D-Day H Hour with 26 Sqn.
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