Darren Foote, is taking on an epic challenge – walking 400 miles in full kit from Mametz Wood in France all the way back to Ebbw Vale. Darren, a former Royal Military Police Sergeant and Gulf War veteran, is doing this to honour the bravery of Welsh soldiers at the Battle of the Somme and raise money for Blesma – The Limbless Veterans Charity.

He sets off on 1st September and hopes to finish by 14th September – covering around 40 miles a day!

Please show your support with a small donation

From 17–21 June 2025, personnel from the Royal Military Police’s 160 Provost Company were attached to Thames Valley Police, working in partnership throughout the high-profile Ascot Races

Deployed across the event, the RMP team supported local policing operations, assisted with incident response, and engaged positively with the public. Their professional presence enhanced community safety and provided visible reassurance to racegoers

This joint deployment demonstrated the effectiveness of military and civilian police collaboration, with strong bonds formed between the Royal Military Police and Thames Valley Police. The partnership was very well received by the public and continues to strengthen inter-agency cooperation

Members of the Association joined serving members of the Corps and representatives of our In Pensioners at the RMP Annual Remembrance Parade at the National Memorial Arboretum. The event was well attended as can be seen in the image below, and despite a Yellow Weather warning those attending managed to stay relatively warm and dry. The Parade comprised of a march through the grounds of the NMA to the Corps memorial plot where a small service was held, during which, a number of wreaths were laid.  Together, they stood in solemn reflection to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Through remembrance, we continue to uphold our values, preserve tradition, and honour the legacy of all who have worn the uniform.  This meaningful event is a strong reminder of the enduring bond between those currently serving and those who served before them.

Members of the Western Australia RMPA attended commemorative events across Australia and New Zealand as part of their countries commemorative services.  ANZAC day is a national day of remembrance that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders and Tongans “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”. 

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 

To the end, to the end, they remain.

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Professor David Whetham as Honorary Colonel Royal Military Police Army Reserve in succession to Colonel Simon D’O Duckworth OBE DL. This appointment took effect on 1 April 2025 and will initially be of three years’ duration.

David is Professor of Ethics and the Military Profession in the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London. He is the Director of the King’s Centre for Military Ethics and delivers or coordinates the military ethics component of courses for between two and three thousand British and international officers a year at the UK’s Joint Services Command and Staff College. Before joining King’s as a permanent member of staff in 2003, David worked as a BBC researcher and with the OSCE in Kosovo, supporting the 2001 and 2002 elections.

David supports military ethics education in many different countries and has held Visiting Fellowships at the Stockdale Centre for Ethical Leadership, US Naval Academy Annapolis, the Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics at the Australian Defence College in Canberra and at the University of Glasgow. He was a Mid-Career Fellow at the British Academy in 2017-18 and is currently a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the University of New South Wales. He was appointed as the Jeffrey Grey Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defence College in 2023. David is a founding member of the European Chapter of the International Society for Military Ethics which holds an annual conference for military practitioners, academics and defence policymakers.

In 2020, David was appointed as an Assistant Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force to contribute to the Afghanistan Inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by Special Forces personnel. His contribution was published as an annex to the Brereton Report in November 2020, with all of the recommendations being accepted by the Chief of the General Staff and Prime Minister. He currently sits on the UK Defence Medical Services Ethics Committee, the UK MoD AI Ethics Panel, the 77 Brigade Ethics Advisory Panel, and the Australian Defence Force’s International Standing Panel of Experts in Ethics.

David takes over from Colonel Simon Duckworth OBE DL as he concludes his 10 year tenure as Honorary Colonel RMP Army Reserve.  His loyalty and steady leadership have left a lasting legacy.

“On behalf of all ranks, I thank Simon for everything he has done for the RMP. His loyalty has been remarkable. His influence and steady presence have shaped us for the better. We are sincerely grateful.” – PM(A)

Since inception in 2006, RMPA Western Australia Branch has regularly supported many worthy causes and charities over the years. 

This year, amongst several new charities as beneficiaries, our branch has supported for the first time the “Wheelchairs for Kids” charity. 

I thought our members and friends may be interested in the work they do, as an example of our branch’s fundraising in action. 

https://wheelchairsforkids.org/

Thank you and kind regards

Brian Griffiths

Branch Chairman ~ RMPA Western Australia Branch

Owen Filer is the last surviving member of CMP (India) from WW2 at 105 years of age was interviewed by Sangita Lal from ITV News.  The interview will form part of a segment on VE Day memories to be aired on the 10pm News, Wednesday 7th May 2025

WO1 Maria Cripps, SWO DSCU, had the privilege of hosting RMP Royal Hospital Chelsea In-Pensioners—Brendan Laffan QGM, David ‘Scouse’ Godwin, David Higgins, and Stuart Rogers—at Southwick Park.

The visit included tours of the historic Map Room

• the RMP Museum
• and various units across the site. It was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on shared history, service, and enduring camaraderie.

Always an absolute pleasure to welcome our IPs back. They remain a cherished part of the RMP family as we continue to strengthen these important bonds.

Dave Godwin one of our In-Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, successfully ran the London Marathon at the age of 73, to raise money for the RHC, home of the Chelsea Pensioners. Dave who has been a resident at RHC for a number of years along with 300 more veterans, decided to take on the challenge to raise funds for RHC to allow them to continue the excellent care given to these ‘old soldiers’. Dave’s initial donation target was £2,000 which he smashed raising just over £6,000 to date. Donation page is still open so please donate if you are able, no matter how small on the link below.

The Women’s Royal Army Corps Provost (WRAC Provost) annual reunion, this year, took place at the Holiday Inn, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire over the weekend of 8th March 2025. This weekend is a fond gathering of lady veterans who come together to share their memories of their service in The Royal Military Police (RMP), reacquaint themselves with those they served alongside and make new friends for the future. This wonderful event was arranged by Barbara Hitchins, capably supported by Sandy and Suzanne Witton.

The venue chosen was in a beautiful setting surrounded by the waterways of the Manchester Ship Canal. Close by there were many attractions to spend the day time sightseeing, shopping, and culture indulgence. For those that didn’t venture far from the hotel there was the hotel spa and the bar. Unsurprisingly, the bar takings rose sharply whilst the former Military Policewomen, spouses, partners, and guests were in residence!

Barbara, Sandy, and Suzanne were great hosts and greeted each attendee personally with a warm welcome and were sure to introduce everyone to each other, making sure ‘newbies’ to the reunion knew the format. The star of the committee was the very amiable monkey called Gracie, adorned with red beret, MP armband, sergeants’ chevrons, and GSM Northern Ireland. Gracie was credited with improving the raffle ticket sales, the top prize was a cruise for two, plus many other prizes gifted to the event. Speculation about the destination caused much discussion and then a wry smile from the winner when it was revealed the prize was a cruise across the Mersey.

The main reunion event was a 3-course dinner on Saturday night; the service, food and the decorated room was amazing. Union flags, a RMPA Standard (on loan from Derby with thanks), a WRACA Standard (on loan from the NW Region with thanks), RMP plaques and many photographs all added to this special occasion of camaraderie, fun, old and new friendships. Funds contributed by the RMP RHQ and the RMPA are very much appreciated but most importantly the efforts of everyone who travelled from all corners of United Kingdom to make these reunions such a memorable event.

For any WRAC Provost who have never attended one of these reunions then please come along to next year’s, you are guaranteed to have a great time! They are held in different parts of the UK so that they are accessible to everyone. Please ask if you have problems travelling because there maybe someone near you that can assist.

For further details please see the contact link on the Events Page.

Andrea Ford