Martin Farndale and First Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

1950 to 1971 and then to 2000

FAR00911

Home Page Return to the Home Page of the Farndale Family Website

The Farndale Story The story of one family’s journey through two thousand years of British History

The Farndale Lineages The 83 family lines into which the family is divided. Meet the whole family and how the wider family is related

The Farndale Directory Members of the historical family ordered by date of birth

Themes Links to other pages with historical research and related material

Related Family Stories The story of the Bakers of Highfields, the Chapmans, and other related families

Introduction

This page is compiled from the photographs and other records of Martin Farndale who served with First Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (“1 RHA”) from Troop Commander to Commanding Officer between 1950 and 1971 and remained closely associated with the Regiment, including as Honorary Colonel until he died in 2000. The page has been compiled by his son, Richard Farndale, who also served with 1 RHA as Adjutant and Battery Captain E Battery.

Hopefully the captions are as accurate as possible. If anyone visiting this page is able to correct or add to the information (who is who etc), please email Richard at rcfarndale@hotmail.com.

This page should be read together with:

· A page of more detailed documentary material regarding 1 RHA during these periods of time.

· A page of video and audio material recorded by Martin Farndale, which, amongst other matters, concern the history of 1 RHA.

Egypt 1949 to 1951

1949

When Martin Farndale joined 1 RHA, as a subaltern, the Regiment had moved from internal security duties in Palestine to the Canal Zone in Egypt in 1947. The Regiment served in the Canal Zone until June 1951.

1 RHA take part in the Searchlight Tattoo, Moscar, Egypt, October 1949 (Martin Farndale had not yet joined 1RHA at this stage, though he was already in Egypt with 80^th LAA Regiment, but 1 RHA took part):

Martin Farndale joined E Battery in the Canal Zone in 1950 (he later moved to B Battery on the way home).

1950

Life in the Canal Zone in about 1950:

Martin Farndale left A spitfire in the Canal Zone about 1950

Scenes from the Sinai Desert in about 1950:

The Pyramids, Cairo

Martin Farndale completes a cross country race, Egypt, about 1950

Observing the fall of shot, perhaps about 1950, Sinai

Athletics Team, perhaps 1950. Martin Farndale front row second.

The OP Tank (perhaps a Cruiser?) The guns, Sexton III (mounted 25 pounders)

The 1 RHA trumpeters, Egypt, about 1950

The Regiment is inspected by Field Marshall Montgomery (“Monty” of Alamein), about 1950:

Monty inspects Martin Farndale’s Troop in Fayid, Egypt, about 1950

The Regiment puts on a fete, Fayid, Egypt, about 1950:

Royal Artillery Ball, Fayid, July 1950 and other social events:

Martin Farndale, Rob Maxwell (looking away), Anne Buckingham (later Farndale), Sylvie later Maxwell

Sexton III Demonstration, Fayid, Egypt

In the Sinai:

Orthodox Priest, Sinai, about 1950 Mount Sinai

Hockey Team, Egypt, about 1950

1951

Martin’s OP map, Milla Pass, Snai, 1951

1 RHA Officers, Fayid, Egypt, May 1951

The Regiment returned to England in June 1951.

(The Tatler, 18 July 1951)

Munster, British Army on the Rhine, 1952 to 1954

1952

1 RHA were stationed at Waterloo Barracks, Munster from April 1952. The Regiment were still equipped with Sexton III guns (mounted twnety five pounders). The Regiment was part of 20^th Armoured Bridgade and 6^th Aroured Division. The Regiment sereved there until June 1958, though Martin was stationed elsehere in 1954, so this recod covers the period up to 1954.

1953

Regmental Hide, about 1953

The Gun Park Waterloo Barracks, Munster

1954

Berlin, about 1954

Officers’ Mess Ball, Waterloo Barracks, harking back to the Regiment’s Egypt days:

Norman Joplin left and Martin Farndale right

Hildesheim, British Army on the Rhine, 1964 to 1965

1964

The Regiment had moved to Hildesheim near Hanover by which time it was equipped with the 155mm self propelled gun, the Cardinal. Martin Farndale re-joined the Regiment in 1964 to command the Chestnut Troop as Battery Commander.

Chestnut Troop Silver at its Foundation Day Dinner, 1 February 1965, Hildesheim, Germany

1965

Chestnut Troop Formation Day Dinner, 1 February 1965

The Chestnut Troop, about 1965

BC Chestnuts with the Burgermeister Alkmaar at Hildesheim, 1965

Chestnut Troop on the Gun Park, Hildesheim

Autumn exercises, Germany, 1964

Freedom of the City of Alkmaar, Holland with the Chestnut Troop

1965

Guns of the Chestnut Troop at Farewell Parade, Hildesheim, 1965

Aden, South Arabia, 1965 to 1966

1964

In May 1964, the Regiment left Germany after 13 years there, and converted to a Light Regiment.

There are also audio recordings relating to 1RHA’s time in Aden including a recording of the Battle at Dhala.

The Regiment training at Larkhill prior to operations in South Arabia.

1965

The Regiment then moved for two years on active service to South Arabia. Here it was constantly in action along the Yemen Border against local tribesmen and the Regiment took part in the later Radfan Operations. The Regiment was amongst the last to leave Aden, and it then moved to Colchester in England.

There is also a page of more detailed documentary material regarding 1 RHA including during its time in Aden.

Tobruk Section, The Chestnut Troop, on the Yemen Border at Beihan, November 1965 Beihan Cam Entrance, South Arabia, 1965

Tobruk Section Gun Drill November 1965

BC Chestnuts landrover on border patrol 1965

Ferret of the 4/7^th Dragoons, Border Patrol, 1965 Lieutenant Peter Ashton-Wickett, Border Patrol, 1965

Arab soldier, Border Patrol, 1965 Observing fire on the Yemen Border, 1965

Alkmaar Troop at Wadi Ayn, November 1965 Alkmaar Troop Observation Post, Yemen Border 1965 (Ataba)

Ross Troop, Mukeiras, November 1965 Lieutenant Bill Johnson, Mukerias, 1965

Mukerias, 1965

1966

Liaison with the local school at Little Aden May 1966

Martin Farndale’s colour slides of Aden:

BP Camp, Little Aden, November 1965 BP Camp from Jebel, January 1966 Oil Refinery, Little Aden, January 1966 Aden from Little Aden, January 1966

BP Camp, Little Aden Regimental sign, BP Camp, Little Aden OR Beach, Little Aden, January 1966 All Ranks Club, Little Aden, March 1966

1 RHA Mess, Aden, April 1966 Martin Farndale’s room, BP Camp, Little Aden, December 1965

Gun Salute, Fort Morbut, Aden Tenskye Beach, teamer, Point Aden, December 1965 Queen’s Accession Salute, E Battery, Steamer Point, Aden, February 1966

Air lifting gun by Wessex, Aden, November 1965 Air lifting landrover by Wessex, Aden, November 1965 Capt Henderson and Lt Col Baines, JNCO’s Course, Aden, October 1965 Tarshyne Beach, Steame Point, Aden, December 1965

JNCO’s Course, Aden, October 1965 JNCO’s Cadre Course, Aden, 1965 Soccer, Boxing Day, 1965

The Tote, Camel races, Boxing Day 1965 The Camel races The donkey races

Beihan, November 1965 Artillery Camp, Beihan, January 1966 Beverley, Beihan Airport, October 1965 Dust storm,, Wadi Beihan, January 1966

Officers, Airstrip, Beihan, including Ashton Wickett and Hebbelthwaite Beihan Gun Practice, January 1966 oy at Beihan airstrip, December 1965 Arab officers, Beihan, January 1966

Gunnery practice, Beihan BC’s tent, Beihan, Jauary 1966 Vickers MMG Section, Beihan Officers’ Mess, Beihan, January 1966

Vickers MMG 105mm light gun in gun pit, Beihan, November 1965 BC Chestuts, Maj Farndale, firing MMG, Beihan, January 1966 0.5MG, January 1966

Sug Beihan, January 1966 Bedouin, Beihan Bedouin in the Empty Quarter Bazaar, Beihan

Empty Quarter north end of Wadi Beihan Ruins of Minah, Wadi Beihan, January 1966 Sug Beihan Mountains near Beihan, January 1966

Sug Beihan Casevac, Wadi Aya, November 1965 Bedouin, Beihan Mablagah Pass, January 1966

Negd Margad Pass, Yemen Border, November 1965 Wadi Ayn Camp, January 1966 Ackmaar Section ready for BC’s inspection, November 1965

Guns in Wadi Kirr near Beihan, November 1965 Ghaniyah Fort near Beihan, Yemen Frontier, October 1965 Arab soldiers brew up, November 1965 Harib in the Yemen, November 1965

Arab houses, Ayn, November 1965 Gebel Atabah Observation Post, November 1965 Mountains approaching Mukeiras, November 1965 Ross Section awaiting BC’s inspection, November 1965

Ross Section awaiting BC’s inspection, November 1965 Radar, Mukerias, February 1966 B Sub (Bdr Cotterill), Chestnut Troop, Mukeiras, October 1965 Chestnut Troop, Mukeiras, December 1965

CP Landrover, Mukeiras, November 1965 Green Archer Rader, Mukeiras, January 1966 Mukeiras, November 1966 Mukeiras Camp, January 1966

Officers’ Mess, Mukeiras, January 1966 Bedouin near Mukerias, March 1966 Stalwart on top of Kariba Pass, December 1965 E Battery CP, Kariba Pass, covering convoy, December 1966

E Battery Kariba Pass, gun position, January 1966 105mm smoke shell, Mukeiras, February 1966 Radfan Mountains, October 1965 Operation Ghia, March 1966

Operation Ghia, March 1966 (BC Tac) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Orders Group) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (CO 3 RFA) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Area Command – BC, Political Adviser, BC Chestnuts (MBF)

Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Sioux helicopter) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (BSM B Battery at Command Post) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (BC and Squadron Leader in joint operations)

Operation Ghia, March 1966 (engaging defensive fire) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (forward base) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Wessex lifting guns) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (piquetting) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (landing piquets)

Operation Ghia, March 1966 (CO’s Tac, top of Gebel Urr) Operation Ghia, March 1966 Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Wadi Hatib, BC’s signaller with Sqn Leader) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (BC Chestnuts, Wadi Hatib)

Operation Ghia, March 1966 (Wadi Hatib) Operation Ghia, March 1966 (back at Attak at end of operation) Arab village, Dhala, December 1965 Dhala Airstrip, March 1966 Beverley aircraft at Dhala strip, November 1965

Section leaving Beihran, January 1966 Waalaw gunnery tests, April 1966 Atack February 1966 Bedouin, Atack, February 1966

Observation of Fire Course with MBF, Atack, October 1965 Atack, February 1966 Guides at Atack Beverley aircraft at Atack, March 1966

Training before Op Ghia, Atack, February 1966 ‘Fed’ recce and B Battery, February 1966 Loading for Op Ghia at Atack, February 1966 Arabs at airstrip, Beihan, January 1966

Bedouin at Atack, February 1966 B Battery road move to Atack, February 1966 AAC Scout, February 1966 Op Ghia February 1966, 1 RHA Sioux

(Evening Post and News, 30 July 1966)

Colchester, England, 1969

1969

The Regiment had been stationed in Colchester since 1967 when Martin Farndale returned to command the Regiment in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. The Regiment was now part of 19^th Infantry Brigade and was equipped with 105mm Pack Howitzers. It was also part of the NATO mobile force, designed to operate on the flanks of Europe. I those roles the Regiment travelled widely including to Denmark soon after Martin Farndale took command.

Martin Farndale’s Appreciation Paper on taking command of 1 RHA:

(The Guardian Journal, 25 September 1969)

HMS Maidstone, Belfast, Northern Ireland 1969 to 1970

There are also audio recordings of Martin Farndale speaking about 1 RHA in Northern Ireland.

In September 1969 the Regiment was ordered to Northern Ireland were t was stationed on an old submarine supply ship, HMS Maidstone in Belfast harbour. For the hard winter months, the Regiment kept the peace across its half of the city of Belfast by constant patrols, setting up road blocks and dealing with rioters.

1970

General Sir Ian Freeland visits HMS Msaidstone in January 1970 CO’s landrover outstide RHQ at Springfield Road Police Station, Belfast

Ops Room, Springfield Road

Lt Col Farndale and the Town Clerk of Nottingham planning the Freedom of Nottingham Parade on HMS Maidstone, December 1969 (also Major Ken Meley, the QM Tech, right in the first photograph)

1 RHA’s base on HMS Maidstone October 1969 to March 1970

(Colchester Express, 18 December 1969)

(Belfast Telegraph, 17 December 1969) (Belfast Telegraph, 24 December 1969)

E Battery handing over North Howard Street to the Royal Scots in March 1970

(The Stapleford & Sandiacre news, 20 February 1970)

(Belfast Telegraph, 9 March 1970) (Belfast Telegraph, 9 March 1970)

Detmold, British Army on the Rhine, 1970 to 1971

There are also audio and video recordings regarding 1 RHA in BAOR in the 60s and early 70s.

In June 1970, the Regiment moved back to Germany, to Detmold, to joint 20^th Armoured Brigade. It was then equipped with Abbot self propelled guns, with tank Ops and armoured vehicles.

(Evening Post and News, 3 April 1970)

1971

(Long Eaton Advertiser and South Derbyshire Chronicle, 5 February 1971)

(Nottingham Evening Post, 31 March 1971) (The Guardian Journal, 1 April 1971)

(The Guardian Journal, 5 April 1971) (The Guardian Journal, 15 April

(Evening Post, 27 April 1971)

The Commanding Officer, Lt Col Farndale RHA, in his Centurion Tank

The CO inspecting the Stables

The Freedom of Nottingham, 22 April 1970

There is also a video recording of 1 RHA’s Freedom of Nottingham Parade in 1970.

(Evening Post and News, 20 April 1970) (The Guardian Journal, 21 April 1970)

(Evening Post and News, 22 April 1970)

Lt Col Farndale receives the Freedom of the City of Nottingham on behalf of the Regiment

(The Guardian Journal, 23 April 1970)

(The Guardian Journal, 23 April 1970)

(Evening Post and News, 2 May 1970) (Evening Post and News, 28 May 1970) (Evening Post and News, 12 December 1970)

1971

A CO’s Farewell – Good-bye to 1 RHA as Commanding Officer

After 1971

1977

1 RHA at the Jubilee Parade, Sennelager, July 1977

1978

Rehearsal for Nottingham Parade, 2 June 1978

1 RHA exercising their right to march through the City of Nottingham, Queen’s Birthday, June 1978:

1982

1 RHA exercise their right to march through the City of Nottingham, June 1982:

1983

1984

General Farndale (then Commander 1 (BR) Corps) taking the salute, Sword Guard, about 1984:

Talking to Chestnut Troop, 1984 Talking to LBdr Joyce of B Battery, Hohne, 1984 Met by Major Phil Cottam, BC E Battery, Hohne, 1984

Meeting the Command Post team, 1984 Presting Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Sgt Bray and Bdr Harley, Hohne 1984

Speaking to the Crew Commanders’ Course, Hohne 1984 Drinks with the Crew Commanders’ Course in the JNCO’s mess, 1984

Lunch in the Sergeants’ Mess, met by the PMC, WO2 Carden, Hohne 1984

1987

(Evening Post, 8 August 1987)

1988

(Nottingham Evening Post, 4 November 1988)

1989

(Nottingham Evening Post, 21 November 1989)

Farewell to General Farndale as Honorary Colonel 1 RHA, 1989, Hohne:

David Tenant and Martin Farndale in Hohne in 1989

1 RHSA exercising the Freedom of Nottingham in 1989:

1993

RHA 200, 1993: