The DIAMOND JUBILEE FETE at noon on Sunday 27th May 2012 at the Playing Fields, St Aignan - Featuring a fabulous Tombola with many, many great prizes and loads of fun events including Crown Competition, Coronation Dress Design Competition, several Competitions for dogs and their owners (with a fun dog show) and an Anne de Bretagne Gateau baking Competition; food and drinks are available all day and there is: face painting, model railway, plants, greeting cards and book stalls, games - and much, much more!!! 
Click here to see full list of Tombola Prizes and Competition Rules: Jubilee Prizes and Competition Rules
Click here to see Event Poster in English: Jubilee Poster in English
Click here to see Event Poster in French: Jubilee Poster in French

EVENING GAMES NIGHTS
There are no games nights planned at present

DON'T FORGET OUR NEXT SOCIAL MEETING
First Tuesday of every month at Relais de l'Oust, Josselin

Further details of this and and other events

Branch remembers the brave heroes of Operation Chariot

The branch had a substantial presence at St Nazaire on 28 March 2012 for the commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of Operation Chariot which took place on 28 March 1942. Operation Chariot was a successful amphibious attack on the dry dock at St Nazaire on the north bank of the Loire River in western France) by combined Royal Navy and Marine Commando forces. During the raid the obsolete destroyer, HMS Campbeltown, along with other small craft crossed the Channel. HMS Campbeltown was loaded with delayed-action explosives and rammed the dock gates – the bombs went off later in the day – while the commandos attacked various land targets.
The idea of the raid was to prevent the Germans from using the dry dock for repairs to their large ships such as the battleship Tirpitz. That part of plan worked very well, putting the dry dock out of action for ten years, but the Germans sunk or immobilised all the smaller craft and the commandos had to fight their way out through the town to try to escape overland. They were forced to surrender when their ammunition was expended and they were surrounded.
Sadly, 169 British were killed, 215 taken prisoner of war, and only 228 returned to England. To recognise their bravery, 89 decorations were awarded to members of the raiding party, including five Victoria Crosses. After the war St Nazaire was one of 38 battle honours awarded to the Commandos; the operation has since become known as The Greatest Raid of All.
The ceremony on the 28^th March 2012 was to commemorate the bravery of all these men, some are still alive and were at the ceremony.
The Royal British Legion Central Brittany Branch was represented by its Standard; and a wreath was laid by branch chairman Rodney Curtis. There were seven other legion members present.
It was a moving experience for all present, especially seeing the veterans with all their medals for bravery, and to see them inspecting the troops; of course, there was the traditional vin d’honneur afterwards.

Click here for information on the Branch About the Branch

Branch chairman, Rodney Curtis, gets ready to lay a wreath on behalf of the branch

British Military Attaché and the Mayor St Nazaire at the rear

This is the highly-decorated General Corran Purdon MC who was in charge of blowing up the pump station to the docks

Jacques Chaigneau President ANT-TRN Region Bretagne and branch member alongside chairman Rodney Curtis

BRANCH IS PRESENTED WITH THE McCRAE SHIELD
The presentation and pictures, please click on this link - McCrae Shield Presentation Ceremony

REMEMBRANCE, READ ABOUT SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Go to the "ABOUT US" page. Please click on this link - About Us

RAISING THE STANDARDS AT FROMELLES
A personal account of proceedings by Mick Berrill, previous Branch Vice Chairman. Please click on this link - Standards at Fromelles