User:Amryform/Birgelen Veterans Association

Major General P A C Baldwin CBE It was Francis Bacon who said, "The worse solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship" and the formation of the Birgelen Veterans Association proves, yet again, how we in the Services realise what a bounty in life we inherited and are determined to retain. In 1951 I was the Adjutant to Lt Col Peter Lonnon in 1 Wireless Regiment in Munster Germany. It was he who designed Mercury Barracks and who fought long and hard to see that the facilities we all enjoyed were provided. The result was, in my view, the best barracks the British Army had anywhere in the world. Subsequently, when I commanded 13 Signal Regiment from 1969 to 1971, I joined a sequence of Commanding Officers who recognised it was their duty to maintain and enhance the 'camp'. At the closing down ceremony it was clear that this had undoubtedly happened. We are all indebted to Fred Searle and Taff Harding for their pioneering work in establishing our Birgelen Veterans Association. When allied to the Langeleben Association it shows how certain military skills foster a community within which continuing friendship is cherished. I wish it well. Peter Baldwin http://www.birgelenvets.org

The BVA has been established for over a decade now and has in excess of 500 members. Truly international in nature, it's members can be found in the Uk, USA, Canada, France, Cyprus, Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Thailand. It is dedicated to all who served with the SIgint units before, during and after the Cold War. ,