The Earl Mountbatten Memorial Branch was first established in March 1980 in memory of Lord Louis Mountbatten, following his death in August 1979 in Ireland.
The then County Committee proposed and formed the branch with 23 members of the county committee.
The new standard was dedicated in Winchester Cathedral on 12th October 1980.
The parade left Peninsular Barracks and are on their way down Winchester High Street to the Cathedral.
Lt Col Alan Howard, Branch Chairman (and Hampshire County President) leading the Members of the Branch, followed by branch standards from across the county, and beyond. Members from other Hampshire branches and the Regimental Standards bring up the rear of the parade.
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Since then, an annual Memorial Service has been held in September in Romsey Abbey, and a wreath placed on the grave of the Earl in the St Nicholas Chapel during the service.
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Sunday 6 September 1998
The picture shows the original Branch standard laid up in the St Nicholas Chapel of Romsey Abbey
above the grave of Earl Mountbatten,
where a wreath had been laid during the service by the Branch Chairman, A D Griffiths MM.
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September 2018
Branch President - Michael Reed, Standard Bearer - Peter Cox, Parade Organiser - Brian Soffe
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Sunday 4 September 2022
Roy Farmers (Branch Chairman), Peter Cox (Standard Bearer) and Brian Soffe (sole founder Member) in the St Nicholas Chapel after the final laying-up of the Branch Standard in Romsey Abbey.
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This 2nd Branch Standard replaced the original standard in the chapel above the Earl's grave
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Peter Cox of Lovedean,
Standard Bearer for the
Earl Mountbatten Memorial Branch
from 1990
Seen here with Standard Escorts, Allan Marks and Melvyn Cole,
in conversation with Mrs Mary Fagan DCVO, past Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire
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August 2022
THE MEMORIAL BRANCH OFFICIALLY AMALGAMATED WITH THE ROMSEY BRANCH
TO FORM THE
Romsey Mountbatten Branch
( BR 1897 )
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Brian C N Soffe
Sadly, for me, the Memorial Branch has had to close after 42 years and we have amalgamated with the Romsey Branch to form the new Romsey Mountbatten Branch.
Seven months after the death of Lord Louis Mountbatten in Ireland, the branch was formed on 29 March 1980, by 23 Members of the then Hampshire County Committee.
As a founding Member, I became the 1st secretary/treasurer of the Branch and during those 42 years I have served 24 years as secretary and 32 years as treasurer until now.
Membership started at 23 members and rose to 116 members in 1992 gradually declining to 19 members in 2022 – remembering that ALL Members belonged to another ‘parent’ branch in Hampshire.
A total of 281 members have joined the branch since its inception - of which 114 passed away and 52 members resigned with the 19 remaining members transferred to the Romsey Branch.
The rest just lapsed their membership of the branch.
The branch will be remembered at the National Memorial Arboretum with a tree planted in 2002 in memory of Lord Louis.
I should personally like to thank the Members of the branch for their support in Romsey Abbey for the final laying-up of our branch standard on 4 September 2022.
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