Remembrance Service, Ulster Reform Club
A service of remembrance was held by the War Memorials in the Reading Room at 11am, on Wednesday, 11th November, led by Club Members, The Right Reverend Christopher Wilson, The Reverend Stewart Heaney and The Very Reverend Dr Hugh Kennedy.
Medals were worn. I attended with my fiends and colleagues Helen and David Brooker of Pretani Associates and Robert Williamson, chairman of Dalaradia. I wore my Burma Star Association badge, presented to me by the Association when I reviewed them at Belfast City Hall during my term as Lord Mayor.
-
Guest Speaker Luncheon with Member and Historian Mr Terry Barbour MBE TD.
Members and guests sat down to hear our Guest Speaker, Mr Barbour, at noon, followed, at approximately 1pm, by lunch.
A ballot was held in favour of the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
History of the Gurkha Regiments and the Ulster Connection
The 24th April, 2015 marked the 200th Anniversary of the Raising of Gurkha Regiments for service, initially with the East Indian Company and following the Siege of Delhi in 1857, the British Army. An Ulster man, Captain Frederick Young was instrumental in recruiting the first Gurkha Regiments.
To mark this occasion our member Terry Barbour gave a talk about this Ulster connection and the subsequent history of the Gurkha Regiments. He is the Northern Ireland representative for the Gurkha Welfare Trust and has travelled extensively in Northern India, Nepal, Pakistan and Tibet.
Terry is a member of the Indian Military Historical Society and the National Army Museum in London. He has spoken to various organisations and historical societies. He served in the Territorial Army for 28 years reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the MBE (Mil) for his services. A further 10 years were spent with the Reserve Forces Association.
In civilian life he worked in the Ulster Bank Limited, latterly as Head of Human Resources, Northern Ireland.