| Visit to the D-Day Map Rooms |
Visit to the D-Day Map RoomsDated - 13/02/2011 19 members and friends of the Knightly Order Valiant of St.George visited the D-Day Map rooms and Regimental HQ of the Royal Military Police on Saturday 12th February, a fundraising event for the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals. The Regimental HQ (RHQ) of the Royal Military Police (RMP) is situated within the Defence College of Policing and Guarding (DCPG) at Southwick Park. It is home to the RMP Museum and Regimental Shop, as well as providing a focus for Regimental matters and the Royal Military Police Association (RMPA). The RHQ is headed by Regimental Secretary, Colonel John Baber MBE, who has responsibility for Regimental Events, the Central Benevolent Fund, the RMPA and the RMP Museum. Colonel Baber is a retired RMP Officer, having served extensively in operational tours at home and aboard. He was awarded the MBE for service in Northern Ireland. His principal focus is benevolence, fostering 'espirit de corps' and maintaining the heritage of the Royal Military Police. Colonel Baber acted as our guide for the day, delivering a fascinating, detailed, erudite and entertaining lecture (within the D-Day Map Room) of the preparations for landing, the gargantuan logistical complexities of the operations, and an insight into the personalities involved in making such pivotal decisions in the Allied war effort. Colonel Baber ‘brought the story to life’, and there was a very reflective mood as we transported ourselves back to 1944, contemplating the gravity of the planning decisions, and their ultimate impact on the course of European history. It was a unique experience to have the story of D-Day recounted with such precision, and to absorb the narrative within the very room that Churchill and his military advisers occupied. Luncheon was taken at the Golden Lion, a hostelry also steeped in tradition, having been the unofficial Officers Mess in 1944. We were delighted to be joined by Col. Stuart Notholt, Commander of the UK Brigade of Kentucky Colonels. Grand Prior Simon McIlwaine presenting a Kentucky Colonel Commission to Col. Paul Phillips. Colonel Baber then led a tour of the Royal Military Police Regimental Museum. He explained the history of the military police, from 1511 with the first recorded Provost Marshal in English history being one Sir Henry Guldeford (or Guylford). The Provost Marshal was responsible for maintaining discipline within the English armies together with the King's personal security. He was also described as the'first and greatest gaoler of the Army'. Key dates in the history of military policing include: 1511 First Provost Marshal of whom a personal record is known Colonel Baber’s narrative took us from 1511, right through the Napoleonic campaigns, through Crimea, both World Wars and into the more recent conflicts in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Grand Priory is deeply indebted to Colonel Baber and the staff at Regimental HQ for such a wonderful welcome and a fascinating series of ‘lectures’. We all left with a much richer appreciation of the work of the RMP, and I would certainly recommend becoming further acquainted with not only the history of the RMP, but also with the very diverse, challenging and extremely important work it does today. Grand Prior Simon McIlwaine (right) thanks Colonel Baber for his excellent tour
The event also raised much needed funds for the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals in Birmingham.
|
