1st September 2014

1st September 2014 - 100 Years

        The monument to L (Néry) Battery and The Queens Bays with a wreath and bouquet laid by Patrick Takle and The Mayor of Néry  in 2011                                                                                                                                                                     

1st September 2014 - 100 Years

  It is hoped to mark the occasion of the 100th anniversary of "The Affair at Néry" with a special event. Whilst it remains with the serving battery to play the lead in any formal event we, the Old Comrades of the battery, would like to be involved. To this end this page will be an information page towards 2014 and contain the names of those who have expressed an interest in an event to mark the occasion. It is envisaged that the local community in Néry and surrounds will be heavily involved in marking the occasion. I also believe a number of former members will want to make their own arrangements to visit Néry on this occasion. However I am sure that both the village of Néry and the serving battery would like some idea of the numbers attending, for obvious reasons. We hope that we can assist by collecting the names of those interested, provide information on local accommodation, camp sites, etc and nearer the date consider coordinating block transport to ease the travel costs. There may be the opportunity for some to travel with the battery but this cannot be confirmed or otherwise for insurance purposes and there will be many who will want to make their own arrangements.

Find local info about the village of Néry here  -       http://en.db-city.com/France/Picardy/Oise/N%C3%A9ry#alentour              This site also gives a google map of Néry.

 Former Serving Soldiers

George Foster - Robbie Ross - Major(Retd) Pat Verdon - Ian Mackie - Major (Retd) Donald Hawes(BC 1974 -76) - Major (Retd) - Matt Minshall(BC 1992 -94) - Dave Hamilton - Charlie Alexander - John Langford - Kevin Stacey - Roger Williams - John Gregory - Ray Fitzgerald - Bernie Watters - Eric Walker - Andrew Thirkettle - Elton George - Mark Davies - Glen Shakespear - Gary Hutchinson - Shaun Lyon - Ian Bleakley - Ken Burt Reynolds - Stephen Hall - Steve De'ath - Paul Michael John Newemarsh - Andy Keable - Andrew McGowan

Relatives of those who served at Néry

 Geoff Snelgrove(Grandfather served at Néry) 

Michael Fortune(Grandfather Walter William Fortune who is buried in Néry cemetery)

John Baldock and son ( Grandfather Bdr Henry Arthur Baldock survived 1st Sept 1914)

John Brand, grandson of BSM Dorrell, and his son, Oliver

Walter William Fagg who was killed on September, 1st, 1914, in Néry, has relatives who live in Stourmouth who may be interested in  travelling to Néry 2014.

Barbara Brady who is believed to be a descendant of George Dorrell and has been in touch through the message board page.

Other interested people

Yvon Debuire, a teacher and local historian who has made a number of presentations about the "Affair at Néry" within the local community  has been in touch by e-mail. Patrick Takle, the author of The Affair at Néry and  military historian is also thought to be interested and has visited the village of Néry on a number of occasions.

 July 2011            Néry 2014 is three years away but we are opening lines of communications with the serving battery and the village of Néry. The serving battery will probably be unable to commit at this stage due to committments and changes in key personnel over the next few years but we can start the ball rolling. I am glad to say that Major (Retd) Matt Minshall has been in touch and has offered help with the liaison with the current Battery Commander and the community at Néry through the Mayor and Yvon  Debuire.

Aug 2011         Matt informs me that the Battery Commander will appoint an FST who will be in the battery in 2014 to coordinate Néry 2014.

Aug 2011         There a number of hotels within 15 to 20 Kms of Néry, at least 2 Campanile hotels which have an international booking system. One is at Compiegne and the other at Senlis. There are other hotels on the Néry village info  page at                               http://en.db-city.com/France/Picardy/Oise/N%C3%A9ry#alentour

http://www.mairie-nery.com/  is a web site about Néry, is in french but very easy to understand.

September / October 2011  Update  - Patrick Takle and Yvon Bebuire attended the cemetery at Néry on 1st September and laid a poppy wreath at the L (Néry) Battery monument. The memorials to L(Néry) Battery and to the Queens Bays have been gathered at one point and rebuilt. The Mairie laid a bouquet of flowers next to Patrick Takkle's Poppy Wreath.  The Battery Commander .has appointed a FST to coordinate Néry 100 and once he has settled in to the battery after his various courses we will hear further. In addition there is a committee under a Brigadier for Néry 100 which indicates the importance being placed on the event.