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28th September 2005

Whilst the traditional colours of the ancient Wessex standard are red and gold, the yellow and blue of the new Wessex Wombles standard has been seen before in a historical context. Although its colours were inverted, a yellow and blue wyvern logo adorned the vehicles and troops of the 43rd Wessex Division. Serving most notably in the bocage of Normandy soon after D-Day, the wyvern lived up to its fearsome mythical reputation and the division proved adept in the difficult conditions of the hedge choked Normandy countryside. This was heavily due to its preparation in similar surroundings in England, unlike other formations familiarity with wide open deserts. The 43rd also provided support to airborne forces in the famous Operation Market Garden around Arnhem and its bridging engineers spanned many a river, including the Seine and the Rhine. Although the division disbanded in 1945, the wyvern still survives as the emblem of the 43rd Wessex Brigade, a TA organisation encompassing much of Southwest England, much as the Wessex Wombles do, albeit for a different purpose.

Raise the new standard!

18th September 2005

Thanks to the (now rehabilitated) Laird of Basingstoke, the new Wessex standard made it's proud debut at the otherwise very undistinguised Worthing match on Saturday. Switching to the club colours rather than the traditional red and gold of Wessex, the new standard has been designed to fly proudly at grounds the length and breadth of the country; hopefully with improved results in the future!