Newspaper Cuttings 1933-39
Western Daily Press Oct 30th 1933
BRISTOL GUNNERS AT DINNER.
Long Service Medals and Prizes Presented. Out of an establishment strength of 80, 261 st Battery, (>6th Field Brigade 11.A., were over 60 strong at their annual dinner and prize distribution held at the Crown and Dove Hotel. Bristol on Saturday evening. Col Fairbank commented on this support, and said it showed the spirit of the battery. The batterv commander .Major J A. Hooker, presided, others present were: —Lieut.- Col C A. H. Fairbank. (commanding the brigade), Capt S. R. Thorpe (adjutant). Captains R. D. C.Smith H.E. Lewis. D.C.M. Lieutenants D.T. Hicks, Gael, and Kynch,Major R. L. Austin, T.D., Col.H. M. Fairbank. D.S.O. (secretary Gloucestershire Territorial Army Association), B.S.M. (I.G.) Garrett. the permanent staff instructors and brigade headquarters. ….
Western Daily Press Nov 27th 1933
ROYAL ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION.
Record Number at Bristol Dinner. There were 191 members of the Bristol and District branch of the Royal Artillery Association present at their annual dinner at the Royal Hotel, on Saturday, which were six more than last year, a record. Col. P. G. Robinson. D.S.O. (president) occupied the chair. The chief guest was Lieut.-Col. D. Barges, V.C.. D.5.0., and others present included the Rev. B. Florrell (Clevedon branch), Capt. Bryant (Bath branch), Col. C. A. H. Fairbank, M.C. (commanding 66th Brigade. R.A., Bristol), Majors R. Austin. T.D.. Prideaux, Hillman, Hooker. Dunscombe, Stadward and Mclntyre, Capt. Thorpe (adjutant), Major Hordel-Bick, R.S.M. A. E. Garrett and Mr Win. Phipps (hon. secretary). Several members of the 66th Brigade and the 18th Battery, Horfield, also attended. Capt. F. S. Gedye, M.C.. proposing ” Our Guests,” said he had received a letter from Col. Waller, at Shoeburyness, saying he wished the branch good luck. The circular sent out to members had met with a gratifying response, and it was hoped to have sub-branches, where the members living in certain districts could meet in their district. He paid a glowing tribute to the work of their indefatigable hon. secretary, Mr Phipps. They were also indebted to Col. Fairbank for the use of the headquarters. Capt. Gedye appealed to the younger serving members to jom the Association for they could give that extra power to help those who were on the rocks.
Western Daily Press Oct 22nd 1934
NOTABLE RECRUITING RECORD.
Praise for Bristol Battery at Annual Dinner. Twelve months ago your battery was, as regards numbers, the worst in the Brigade, and now you have achieved something no battery has accomplished since the war— you are over establishment strength.” These remarks were made by Col. C. A. H. Fairbank, M.C., commanding 66th Brigade A. at 263 Battery’s dinner and prize distribution held at the Crown and Dove hotel on Saturday. The numbers present were a record for a battery dinner. Major G. W. Tucker (battery commander) was in the chair and others present included Col. C. E. Boyce, D.5.0., C.R.A., Lieut-Col. H. J. Drew-Smythe, M.C., T.D. (medical officer), Capt. S. R. Thorpe, R.A. (adjutant), Capts. H. B. Jolly. E. G. Sherriff, D. T Hicks, H. E. Lewis, D.C.M., Lieuts. F. H. Cridland, A. G. Wright, J. C. Garnett, Rev. R. B. (padre), R.S. Major A. E. Garrett, B. S. M. Weaver, Sergt. A. Tomlinson (P. 5.1.) and Mr F. Bracey, ‘ Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror.’
Western Daily Press, Oct 28th 1935
SILVER GUN AGAIN WON
Congratulations to 261st Battery, R.A. It was announced at the 201st Battery, 66th Field Brigade, R.A., annual dinner on Saturday evening that Captain S. Thorp, the adjutant, would shortly be proceeding to Aden, and that Captain F. Scott, 60th Field Battery (Hortield Barracks) would succeed him. Over 70 members and guests were present at the Crown and Dove Hotel, and the chair was filled by Major J. A. Hooker, commanding the Battery. Others present included Col. C. A. H. Fairbank, M.C. (Commanding Officer), Col. F. K. S. Metford, C.8., 0.8. E., V.D., T.D. (chairman, Gloucestershire Territorial Army Association and Hon. Colonel of the 66th Field Brigade, R.A.), Major R. Austin, T.D., Colonel H. Drew-Smytlie, M.C., T.D. (R.A.M.C.), Capt. S. Thorp, R.A., Capt. F. Scott, R.A., Capt. Cleveland Smith, and Lieuts. A. G. Kynch, C. D. Harvey, W. T. Thurston, Bradley-Birt, J. W. R. Bryan, R.S.M. Garrett, B.S.M. F. D. Earl, Mr Earl, senr., Artif. Q.M.S. Dorrington and ex-Sergt Tugwill. Proposing 261 st Battery,” Major Austin congratulated them winning the Silver Gunn two years following. He was glad to hear that the battery’s strength was out an establishment of 81. …
Reading Mercury Jan 7th 1939
From: Reading’s Efficient Anti-Aircraft Batteries
There are four batteries of the 80th A.A. Regiment, two in Reading, one in Slough and one in Oxford. Applicants for enlistment should apply to the officers commanding the batteries concerned at Yeomanry House, Reading; 192, Bedford Avenue, Slough; and St. Cross Road, Oxford, respectively, between 7.30 and 8.30 p.m. any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings, in order to come up to War Office establishment, the unit particularly requires to complete its numbers of specialists and tradesmen. Applicants for important duties such as cooks, clerks, armament artificers, carpenters, mechanics, should apply to the Battery Offices for particulars of tradesmens’ rates of pay and service. The commanding officer of the regiment is Lt.-Col. and Brevet Col. C. A. H. Fairbank, 0.8. E., M.C., T.D., R.A. (T.A.), who is one of the finest gunnery officers in the service. It would be hard to find a more able or a keener man for the job, and the Reading batteries consider themselves fortunate in having such a man as their C.O. In command of the 249 th Battery is Major Thorpe, and of the 250 th is Major Weir, both ex-Regular officers of great experience.
Bristol Evening Post, Feb 17th 1939
Back to Bristol
The reorganisation of the Territorial Army, with the creation of many new units, has thrown an enormous burden on the Headquarters’ staff of the County Associations, and help, long overdue, is now being given Lt.-Col. H. N. Fairbank, secretary of the Gloucestershire T.A. and Air Force Association. He has now to assist him Major S. R. Thorp, R.A. (retired), who will be remembered as a former Adjutant of the 66th S.M. Field Brigade, R.F.A. He served from 1932-1935 under Col. C. A. H. Fairbank, who resigned at the end of 1937 and now commands a Territorial Anti- Aircraft unit in Berkshire, one company of which is commanded by Major Thorp. His old Service friends in Bristol will welcome Major Thorp’s return.
Thorp Family History 