John Slater

Members of @FifthFusiliers veterans and RHQ took part in the unveiling of a blue plaque in honour of WW1 Royal Fusilier, Lance Corporal Charles Robertson VC MM of the 10th (#Stockbrokers) Battalion. The ceremony was held on a bright afternoon in #Dorking. #Fusiliers

5 April 1919. Lieutenant Alan Jerard, V.C., Royal Air Force, with his mother, the day he was presented the Victoria Cross by George V at Buckingham Palace. Britain's highest award for gallantry.

Something to look forward to, albeit when the summer is over! A new war movie from a fascinating angle and featuring a 'Staaggg' @MrJamesMay Releases in September.

I so love this : )

Here is the wonderfully-named HMS Spanker, which is the sort of vessel that should be making Godspeed to the Eastern Mediterranean. I cannot help feeling some of our ship's names, apart from Dragon, lack aggression.

Delighted to announce I have reached an agreement with the National Army Museum which will mean that my collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses - the largest in the world - will go on display there @NAM_London @VC_and_GC_Assoc lordashcroft.com/2026/03/lord-a…

On International Women’s Day, I’m proud to have helped organise a flight on every fleet crewed entirely by women. The female flight crew have special epaulettes to mark the occasion, along with a spare pair to gift to a young female passenger to inspire. #IWD @British_Airways

We welcome today’s announcement awarding the New Medium Helicopter contract to #Leonardo. This decision marks an important step in strengthening the UK’s medium lift capability and supporting the Armed Forces in their vital role of keeping the nation safe. Our #AW149 offers a proven, world class platform designed to serve military personnel for many years to come. As a sovereign UK-built helicopter, it will play a key part in maintaining critical operational readiness while supporting thousands of skilled jobs across the country. More than 3,000 roles at our #Yeovil site and over 12,000 across our UK supply chain will benefit from this long-term commitment to British manufacturing and engineering excellence. Learn more: lnrdo.co/4bfU7cO #WeAreLeonardo #UKDefence #HomeOfBritishHelicopters #NMH

Nicked from another page. Nice to know the MOD has a sense of humour… Never Mess with Officialdom! Lt. Colonel Robert Maclaren retired from the British Army in 2001 after a long career. He received a letter from the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Defence setting out details of his pension and the tax-free ‘lump sum’ award, based upon his years of service, that he would receive in addition to his pension. The letter read: "Dear Lt. Colonel Maclaren, We write to confirm that you retired from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards on 1st March 2001 at the rank of Lt Colonel, having been commissioned into the British Army at Edinburgh Castle as a 2nd Lieutenant on 1st February 1366. Accordingly your lump sum payment, based on years served, has been calculated as £68,500. You will receive a cheque for this amount in due course. Yours sincerely Army Paymaster” Lt Colonel Maclaren replied; “Dear Paymaster, Thank you for your recent letter confirming that I served as an officer in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards between 1st February 1366 and 1st March 2001 – a total period of 635 years and 1 month. I note however that you have calculated my lump sum to be £68,500, which seems to be considerably less than it should be bearing in mind my length of service since I received my commission from King Edward III. By my calculation, allowing for interest payments and currency fluctuations, my lump sum should actually be £6, 427, 586, 619. 47p. I look forward to receiving a cheque for this amount in due course. Yours sincerely, Robert Maclaren (Lt Col Retd)” A month passed by and a stout manilla envelope from the Ministry of Defence arrived, it read: “Dear Lt Colonel Maclaren, We have reviewed the circumstances of your case as outlined in your recent letter to us dated 8th March inst. We do indeed confirm that you were commissioned into the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards by King Edward III at Edinburgh Castle on 1st February 1366, and that you served continuously for the following 635 years and 1 month. We have re-calculated your pension and have pleasure in confirming that the lump sum payment due to you is indeed £6, 427, 586, 619. 47p. However, we also note that according to our records you are the only surviving officer who had command responsibility during the following campaigns and battles; The Wars of the Roses 1455 -1485 The Civil War 1642 -1651 The Napoleonic War 1803 – 1815 The Crimean War (1853 – 1856) The Boer War (1899 -1902) World War One (1914-1918). We would therefore wish to know what happened to the following, which do not appear to have been returned to Quartermaster's Stores by you on completion of operations: 9765 Cannons 26,785 Swords 12,889 Pikes 127,345 Rifles (with bayonets) 28,987 horses (fully kitted) Plus three complete marching bands with instruments and banners. We have calculated the total cost of these items, allowing for interest payments and currency fluctuations, and they amount to £6,427,518.119.47p. We have therefore subtracted this sum from your lump sum, leaving a residual amount of £68,500, for which you will receive a cheque in due course. Yours sincerely . . . .” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

All three squadrons will remain at their present Wings, but their primary role will shift to supporting domestic operations within Canada. They will continue in their traditional role of personnel recovery at their respective Wings as a secondary duty.

Three Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons are being re-focused to domestic operations. The RCAF’s three Combat Support Squadrons—439 Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville; 417 Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake; and 444 Squadron at 5 Wing Goose Bay—are now Domestic Response Squadrons.

This morning our royal patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, visited our helicopter’ overnight base, RAF Northolt, to see our two new helicopters: G-LAAA and G-LAAB 🚁 @KensingtonRoyal

Field Marshals' batons were presented today by The King at Windsor Castle to General The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (left) and General The Lord Houghton of Richmond (right), both former Chiefs of Defence Staff, on their appointment as honorary Field Marshals.

The King presents Field Marshals' batons to General The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (left) and General The Lord Houghton of Richmond (right), both former Chiefs of Defence Staff, on their appointment as honorary Field Marshals, at Windsor Castle today 📸 Andrew Matthews

One for @CcibChris 6 Squadron The flying Tin openers or Can openers depending where you shop - probably Singapore

Pictured on this day 81 years ago - the 381st Bomb Group's B-17G 43-37657 'The Fox'. Allocated to the 534th Bomb Squadron, it was named after a local pub less than a mile from RAF Ridgewell's control tower. 1/

3 years ago already — during archaeological research near Westhoek, we investigated this former German trench. In 1917, Commonwealth troops took over the sector and left behind this SMLE. Still the best-preserved one I’ve ever had the privilege to excavate. #FWW #Archaeology

Very guilty of this…guilty is the wrong word tho….maybe I should rephrase that. Me 👇

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer KBE CBE has been selected to take over from Admiral Sir Keith Blount KCB OBE as @NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Air Chief Marshal Stringer will be the first @RoyalAirForce officer to be appointed to the post since 1984.

3rd Left from the top is Welshman Brinley John who worked in Bletchley Park as a codebreaker cracking Enigma. His family had no idea of what he did until after he died. One of his daughters became famous and sold over 100 million records. Her name was Olivia Newton-John.