Ranger Magazine

Index — submitted by John Knight — last modified May 22, 2009 16:07

An index of all articles that have appeared in Ranger

Ranger - Winter 2009 — submitted by John Knight — last modified November 27, 2009 23:09

our cover story is the exercising of the Freedom of Newbury by 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic). RE Geo has had personnel deployed on operations continuously since Operation GRANBY was launched in 1990 to counter Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Throughout the intervening years troops have come and gone to Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan with little awareness in Newbury that the local unit was so heavily involved in the headline grabbing events overseas. As deployments were often in relatively small numbers as distinct from complete formed units there was never a ‘homecoming’ parade. The Freedom Parade on the 3rd of July was therefore a chance for the people of Newbury to say thank you to the Regiment and ……did they do it well! The soldiers marched impeccably and the crowds cheered enthusiastically - a day to remember and one that cemented even further the link between town and barracks. This issue also reached a milestone – it is number 20 and the last in volume 2. This volume started when I took over as editor and Dave Johnson took on the design and desktop publishing. The reasons behind the change in format and scope that were initiated with this volume are explained elsewhere in this issue. Ten years and twenty editions on and it is time for a change of editor to bring fresh ideas to Ranger and so volume 3 will be edited by Peter Walker who will hand over the chairmanship to Nick Rigby at the next AGM. However, it is not all change as Dave will be staying on albeit he, Peter and the Council are going to review the design to see if any changes are necessary – it is now ten years old and might benefit from a facelift. It is now time for me to thank the many people, especially all those who have written articles and the companies who have sponsored and advertised with us, who have helped make Ranger a success. Special thanks goes to Dave who has not only designed and put together every issue but has had to spend countless hours on the telephone whilst I ask him to move odd commas and correct stray apostrophes – with never a word of complaint! Some authors have put pen to paper, or rather figures to keyboard, above and beyond the call of duty; Tony Keeley, John Knight, Mike Nolan, Jonathon Shears, David Wallis, Robert Dobbie and Peter Walker particularly spring to mind but there are a number of others to which I give grateful thanks for coming back a second time or even a third time. And so, for the last time, enjoy a good read. Alan

Ranger - Summer 2009 — submitted by John Knight — last modified June 09, 2009 21:02

In this edition of Ranger… ……we include articles from across the Defence geospatial community, both military and commercial, and indeed from across the world with a view from Colonel Jim Mitchell in the USA and not one but two submissions from New Zealand. All are looking at the issues that are facing the our discipline today and in the future and, despite the global financial situation, all are confident that the future, whilst presenting considerable challenge, does look good from those involved in matters geospatial. To highlight the importance of the defence commercial sector we have included views from three different companies, Envitia (formerly Tenet), Infoterra and a piece from David Swann who is now based in New Zealand where he heads up the ESRI distributor. Not only is challenge a thread running through this issue but so is change. The mantra that the only constant in the world is change has never been truer. Captain Jamie McMichael- Phillips outlines changes at the MOD level and Colonel John Kedar tells us his vision of the next ten years which includes the recent confirmation that JAGO and 42 Regiment will move to Wyton in 2013. This will have a major impact not just on serving personnel but also on those retired from RE Geo/ Military Survey as Hermitage has been their ‘home’ for over 60 years and is to all intents and purposes the current ‘home’ of not only the DSA which holds its Council meetings and seminars there but also the Military Survey (Geo) Branch of the Royal Engineers Association. The senior military and business people who have written the articles in this issue have seen enormous change during their careers. Whilst they now write of integrated systems, web based imagery stored in terabytes and the like, they all started their geo lives by being taught how to make a map or chart which at the time was a very manual process as observers needed bookers and detail and contours/fathom lines were plotted by hand. Great change indeed. DSA Secretary Tony Keeley also writes about amazing change when he describes his two years in the Antarctic as a young man, a place at the time so remote that it is now difficult to imagine. 35 years later he returned in some luxury as a tourist– who would have thought it possible? Alan Gordon

Ranger - Winter 2008 — submitted by John Knight — last modified December 23, 2008 21:29

In this edition of Ranger… ……we have an unashamed bias towards Military Survey/Royal Engineers (Geographic) in that we commemorate not one but two 60th anniversaries; the granting of the title ‘School of Military Survey’ and Hermitage as the home of Military Survey/Royal Engineers (Geographic). The title was bestowed on the 1st of January 1949 and over the ensuing 60 years the School, now of course graced with the Royal accolade, has developed into a world-renowned geospatial centre of excellence. For decades now the heads of many national and international geographic organisations, as well as others who are or have occupied senior positions in commercial enterprises, leant their craft at the School. Unanimously they have fond memories of their time at Hermitage. Except for a very few elderly gentlemen, everyone who can claim to be a military surveyor or member of RE Geo has served in this small Berkshire village. Throughout the Armed Forces, and indeed across the world, Hermitage is synonymous with military surveying, mapping and all things geographic. It is doubtful whether those first few soldiers who moved into a run down temporary former American hospital could have imagined what the camp was to become to so many over the next six decades. It is surprising to compare the move into the camp to how a move out would be managed. In 1949 the entire process was carried out on a self-help basis with major elements done by very junior ranks; a sapper did the initial recce, two sappers were responsible for dismantling and reassembling the presses and all the painting was done by ‘volunteer’ soldiers. Even the cricket pitch was cut up turf by turf at nearby Hampstead Norris, moved to Hermitage and re-laid by the students. However significant the two 60th milestones may be, this issue is not totally immersed in either Hermitage or esteryear as both Infoterra and Tenet describe up-to-the-minute advances that they are involved with. Finally, I would like to put the spotlight on the DSA’s own unsung hero – David Wallis. David has been actively involved with the Association for 40 years and is very much responsible for the good shape that it is in today. He has filled almost every appointment on the Council and been behind all the significant changes over the last forty years, not least the change of title to Defence Surveyors’ Association. He has organised countless visits, each carefully researched and modestly priced, and he even rescued the accounts from a moment of crisis. We wish David a very happy retirement from the Council but look forward to seeing him and Audrey at future events. Alan Gordon

Ranger - Summer 2008 — submitted by John Knight — last modified January 02, 2010 23:37

The Ranger Magazine - Summer 2008

Ranger - Winter 2007 — submitted by dsa — last modified December 10, 2007 20:24

Winter edition of Ranger, 2007

Ranger - Summer 2007 — submitted by dsa — last modified October 30, 2007 22:17

Summer edition of Ranger, 2007

Ranger - Winter 2006 — submitted by dsa — last modified October 30, 2007 22:17

Winter edition of Ranger, 2006

Ranger - Summer 2006 — submitted by dsa — last modified October 30, 2007 22:17

Summer edition of Ranger, 2006

Ranger - Winter 2005 — submitted by John Knight — last modified December 10, 2007 19:56

 

Ranger - Summer 2005 — submitted by John Knight — last modified December 10, 2007 20:10

 

Ranger - Winter 2004 — submitted by John Knight — last modified December 10, 2007 20:43