266 (GVA) Bty, 104 Regt R.A. (V)
2020
In 1971, 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Observation Post Battery was formed as an independent Observation Post unit as a reinforcement unit for the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) supplying observation post teams. In 2017, 266 Bty re-roled back to L118 Light Gun and operates as part of 104 Regiment Royal Artillery
Death of Major McKenna
The battery was saddened to learn that Major Roger G. McKenna died in March. He had been our Battery Commander from 1987 to 1989.
Gunner magazine wrote that:
Major R G McKenna 1940 - 2020
Roger was born in Bristol where he attended St Brendan's and having passed from the care of the Christian Brothers looked for an interesting past time joined the Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery. There he developed a first link with the Army and decided to enlist. The recruiting posters stated Join the Army and see the world.
While many saw only Monchengladbach Roger served in Barnard Castle, Singapore, Hong Kong, Borneo and Korea. Borneo involved active service and Korea the UN honour guard. After commissioning at Mons and winning one of the prizes he was posted to Menden where he met Paula who was serving with the WRVS.
Their honeymoon was travelling with the Regimental Ski team. Paula and Roger moved to 27 Regt at Leipstadt one of the regular moves that followed military life in those days. A rapid swerve away from the Boy's regiment took them to Colchester with 47 Regt where Roger commanded 3rd Light Battery. Two tours of Northern Ireland followed, the later one as second in charge of the regiment.
Here Roger's acute knowledge of the human condition coupled with his dry sense of humour stood him in good stead.
A posting to Larkhill in 1978 saw a new battery to command, 1st The Blazers. Then a tour in Gütersloh as 2IC of 47 Regt 1980 saw a departure from the mainstream with a posting to Benbecula population 1884 plus the McKenna family. It was a different way of life on the Hebrides, Roger being able to adapt to the local mores with little difficulty.
The Benbecula posting saw Roger's famous encounter with an air drop of frozen chickens, a lasting effect of which was to make active service a challenge. But fortuitously his path returned to Bristol as training officer of the GVA. This shortly became his final Battery Command and here he was at last BC of an independent battery free of regimental constraints. This was a time of expansion for the TA with manpower equipment and budgets on the rise. Roger soon placed his stamp on the battery.
He was aware of the particular characteristics of TA soldiers The GVA flourished under his command, becoming one of the foremost units in South West District. He took an active role in bringing on young officers and a whole generation of us learnt to lead but also to love our soldiers.
Many of Roger's young officers went on to long TA and in some case regular careers. They could be identified by the Roger style spotted hanky in the left cuff! The BCs quarter became a second home for a number of subalterns with Roger's drinks cupboard and Paula's larder bearing the brunt.
On leaving the army Roger then brought a touch of efficiency to the role of Bursar as befits a retired major. This was followed by valuable work in the prison service where his former interest in intelligence bore fruit.
In retirement Roger was a voracious reader with a taste for military and historical works. He was a besotted grandfather. A genial host he regaled guests with anecdotes, drink and good humour.
His decline in health was born bravely and here he was supported by Paula's unswerving devotion. His final days were in the Bristol Royal Infirmary and he was at peace, the staff arranging for him to sit with Paula on his last afternoon. He is remembered with great affection at The Artillery Ground, home of the GVA
Major McKenna had a damaged arm and apparently that was due on to an accident when he was a Captain and commanding oficer of the detachment stationed on the small, remote island of St. Kilda off the west coast of Scotland.
Royal Engineer Peter Williams recalls that:
It was nearing the end of winter and the cooks felt they would run out of meat. The first resupply boat was nearly two weeks away, so they requested meat to be air dropped during the next mail run.
We all travelled up the hill waiting for the mail plane, and first out is the mail, then a mail bag with ten frozen chickens in. As you can imagine ten frozen chickens being thrown out of an aircraft going at great speed and stuck in a confined space - it was not going to fair well. The bag split and the chickens, freed from the mail bag, made their own way down to earth!
Sitting in the Land Rover was the Captain McKenna resting his elbows on the dashboard when a chicken hit the wind screen and smashed his elbow.
Neil Mellors of the Royal Army Medical Corps recalls that:
The OC was driven down the hill and taken to the medical centre where he was examined. His injuries were deemed to be serious and warranted a casevac.
A Sea King helicopter was summoned and Brian (the land rover driver) drove the OC from the complex to the helipad. Everyone lined the road for him, and as Brian was driving towards the helipad the OC was moaning as he hit dips and potholes on the road, when Brian said "don't worry Sir, there's bigger ones ahead."
I did meet up with the Captain when I finally left the island and he could only raise his elbow shoulder height.
Captain McKenna underwent major surgery to repair his elbow but ultimately he was able to continue his military career despite his injury.
Sources and Resources
Gunner Magazine - September 2021