ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
NEWNHAM BRANCH – 3064
The Royal British Legion has been supporting Service men and women, ex-serving personnel and their families since 15 May 1921. It was established initially to care for those who had suffered as a result of service during the First World War and has been helping the Armed Forces community and their families ever since. There are now approximately 2,500 Royal British Legion branches across the UK and overseas. More information on the RBL can be found at https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
Newnham is proud to have a Branch of the Royal British Legion. Today, our members are a small, friendly group of ex-military, and civilian personnel who enjoy meeting and continuing the proud tradition of supporting our veterans and their families through the Royal British Legion. In order to do this successfully, the Newnham Branch is actively encouraging new members to help us continue to support those in need, and you don’t have to have a military background to join. If you would like to more information, please contact: –
Men’s Chairman: – Nigel Hughes 01594 516411 nigeohughes@hotmail.co.uk
Ladies’ Chairman – Sue Wilks 01594 516393
Men’s and Ladies’ Secretary – Helen Foster
Membership Secretary – Steve Foster
Further information on membership can be found here-https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/membership
In 2025 we recognised the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auchwitz and both VE and VJ Day and commemorated all those brave souls who took part in WW2 and we remembered those who paid the ultimate price.
Sue the Women’s Section Chairman kindly lent me a book about the Wartime Memories from Newnham put together in 1986 which contains some interesting stories about those from Newnham (both during the War and afterwards) who were an integral part of the War effort. My thanks to those who contributed and my apologies for unashamedly pinching some of those memories for this site. All those mentioned in the book deserve an accolade but here are just a few names and thoughts.
Captain Ralph Kerr RN was lost with all but 3 of the 1500 strong crew during the sinking of HMS Hood in 1941. His wife and children were living with his sister in The Haie at the time and the news was announced on the nine o’clock news before the relatives were informed. His father had a window commemorating this tragedy placed in the church and is a memorial to three generations of his family who fought in the Crimean to the Second World War.
Reginald Hartley joined the Air Force when war was declared and became a Navigator and eventually took part in one of the bombing raids over Berlin on 22 Nov 1943. Four nights after this on another mission the crew crash landed in a fog but despite 7 months of treatment in various hospitals he flew again on another 25 raids. He spent all his leaves in Newnham with his Mum and was eventually awarded the DFC. With an elder brother in the Army, younger brothers in the RN and merchant navy and a sister in the WRNS the family was known as The Fighting Hartleys.
Jack Hooper joined the Army in June 1940 and became a member of the Gloucestershire Regiment. After strenuous training, he was in Rangoon when war was declared with Japan. Eventually over run by the Japanese troops his battalion was driven all the way through Burma to Mandalay and finally to Assam. Once they regrouped he was in charge of a group that had to keep the road open to the Railway head which was difficult due to the Monsoon weather.
Helen Hiram (nee Cottle) joined the Land Army and has brilliant memories of working the farms and eventually moving to Oaklands Park which was a hostel for Land Girls and using The George where she met her husband.
These are some images of some Armistice Day parades in Newnham between the wars.
One personal story comes from our membership secretary, Steve Foster whose Dad landed on Sword Beach on D day in 1944. This is Corporal Herbert Alma Hope Foster and others on their first rest day after that event. It is a Cromwell Tank and Corporal Foster is second from right.
Later on 3 Sep 1944 the first Allied vehicle to enter and relieve Brussels after a brutal campaign in France and the Low Countries was a tank belonging to No. 3 Troop, No 1 Squadron, 2nd Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, Welsh Guards. The tank Commander was Steve’s Dad and he is Front Row Left.
We will always remember the actions of our predecessors and the Battle Honours they were rightly awarded. Gold Beach now has a memorial that is haunting…. and remembers all those who lost their lives
Poppy Appeal 2025
Once again the Poppy Appeal was very successful with the British Legion in Newnham raising over £3,600. Many thanks to all those of you that contributed either by attending the quiz or coffee mornings or buying a poppy or attending the events on both Remembrance Day on 9 Nov 25 and Armistice Day on 11 Nov 25.
The tributes at the War Memorial were well attended and the children from St Peters School are thanked for reading some poems on Armistice Day at the memorial – it was a lovely tribute.
If anyone would still like a VE Day 80 pin or an Armed Forced Day pin then please contact the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Newnham on Severn – Judy whose email address is judysetter@gmail.com
Just after Christmas the Poppy Appeal Organiser visited Fort Nelson to see the Standing with Giants tribute – it is a very poignant exhibition.
Newnham RBL is currently in the process of getting a similar tribute made to stand in the village to mark Remembrance Day and we have just started a huge project with the Newnham on Severn Knitting Group knitting poppies for a planned display down the clock tower. We are in desperate need of Red, Black, White and Purple Wool. If you have any spare that you do not have use for then please get in touch with myself or Sue whose email address is above as well. The project is now well in hand with half the number of poppies already completed – we would like to thank everyone involved in this project so far – it is a huge undertaking and the effort and consideration has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. An image of the planned display can be found here – Clock Tower
The Newnham RBL would like to wish you all well for 2026 and looks forward to seeing you all at our coffee mornings and events.