On 31 October 2008, on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Partnership between the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) and the Krefeld/Mönchengladbach District Reservist Group, the managing committees of both associations invited their members and honoured guests to special jubilee celebrations in the RBL at the Joint Headquarters in Mönchengladbach.  Ten years ago, the German Reservists of the Mönchengladbach/Krefeld District Group, which is also responsible for the districts of Viersen and Neuss, twinned with the RBL, the second partnership of its kind in Germany.

In his function as Chairman of the Rheindahlen Branch RBL, Steve Reid welcomed the guests in the form of a champagne reception.  The Chairman then launched the event and bidded a hearty welcome to members and honoured guests.  He noted that partnerships of this kind were very rare and that he was pleased and felt privileged to have been a part of the partnership during the past 10 years.  He highlighted how some ten and a half years ago, representatives of the German Reservists, led by the then Deputy District Chairman, Bodo Reschke, had approached him and founded this partnership.  After joint talks with Stephen Wilcox of the RBL and Rainer Werner of the Reservists, the partnership was officially established and sealed at a ceremony at the Joint Headquarters on 30 October 1998.  This partnership had motivated the predominantly British members of the RBL to a feeling of togetherness and had brought with it positive experiences and benefits for both parties.  Steve gave a detailed account of this and the joint commemorative events in the Benelux countries at the Menen-Gate at Ypres, the wreath-laying ceremonies at Langemarck, Jelhay, St.Vith, Reichswald and at Wickrath.  Steve also commented that ten years did not ‘sound’ particularly long, but that it was actually a long time in terms of the normal posting periods of stationed soldiers.  He concluded his speech by saying that, in ten years’ time they should celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Partnership and added that he and the RBL's members would do their utmost to make this happen.

On behalf of the German Reservists, Oberstleutnant der Reserve Markus Guhl, standing in for the District Chairman, Oberst der Reserve Helmut Michelis, welcomed members and honoured guests.  He felt that it was a special honour for him, as a member of the Mönchengladbach Reservists, to be able to take part in this celebration and speak to the audience.  Markus said that he relished being a part of the partnership and would not want to miss it.  He then went on to say that the partnership between the German Reservists and the British and German members of the RBL had become part of him.  He did not look upon this partnership as two groups but as a partnership of people who acted and worked as one.  He explained that the locals always welcomed the participation of the RBL at the eve of German Remembrance Day at the Wickrath War Cemetery.  The Oberstleutnant der Reserve reminded the audience of the joint events at home and abroad, of the trips to Belgium and the Netherlands and also the things one did in common such as the laying of wreaths in cemeteries and at memorials.  He then went on to talk about the support for the many International Mönchengladbach Military Championships (IMM) and in particular for the IMM’s, which have been staged every year for the last 25 years by the Reservists, the joint efforts for the NATO Music Festival or the ‘Sicher-Miteinander’ (SiMi - living together in security) – all of these events had been supported by the partners.  The Reservistenkameradschaft (RK) Mönchengladbach, a sub-group of the District Group, also enjoyed the support of the Rheindahlen Branch each month which made available its premises for RK evenings and other events but also for summer and Christmas parties and social contacts.  All of this strengthened the partnership in a continuing process.

Following the speeches, the RBL presented Markus Guhl with a new Partnership Flag.
The German Reservists presented a Blazon with the new crest of the District Group and a book on the 25th IMM Anniversary, written by Helmut Michelis on the occasion of the Anniversary Year 2008.

Special tributes were paid by Oberstleutnant der Reserve Markus Guhl and Robert Neber of the District Group of Reservists.  On behalf of the President of Reservists, Reinhard Beck, from Bonn, the Chairman of the Rheindahlen Branch RBL, Steve Reid, and the Secretary  of the Rheindahlen Branch RBL, Peter Richardson, were decorated with the Badge of Honour of the Federal Association of Reservists, the (VdRBw).  This is a very special and rare honour as it only goes to deserving non-members of the Association of Reservists who have accomplished something special for the association in public life.

The highest military representative of the Bundeswehr in the Joint Headquarters, Brigadegeneral Carsten Jacobson, took the opportunity to portray the partnership as something special.  He knew how difficult it was to establish such partnerships and fill them with life or even keep them alive over many years because of the difficulties presented by new postings and other circumstances.  He felt honoured to be the guest of honour in the premises of the RBL and he was aware of the partly joint and partly differing tasks of both organisations and had great respect for this special kind of partnership.  He knew that the future might not be easy as the use of the premises on the JHQ estate was not of a permanent nature.  Brigadegeneral Jacobson wished the partnership strength and good luck for the future.

David Moir of the Crossed Swords Pipe Band provided musical support which was greatly appreciated by the audience.

A delegation of the Mönchengladbach Fire Brigade and the Wickrath Volunteer Fire Brigade congratulated both parties on the partnership.  The Wickrath Fire Brigade coordinates the ceremonial acts for Remembrance Day each year together with the Heimatverein Wickrath, the RBL and the Reservists.

The Press Officer of the Reservists, Robert Neber, then opened the photo gallery of almost 500 photographs which depicted the partnership over the last ten years.  Many members recognised their own photos, those of friends, comrades and also of deceased members who had contributed to the partnership over the past ten years.

Steve Reid thanked Heinrich Holz and Robert Neber of the District Managing Committee of Reservists in particular for the preparation of the ceremony and their support.

Project Officer and Treasurer of the Reservists, Stabsfeldwebel der Reserve Heinrich Holz, opened the buffet and subsequently presented the partnership cake representing a photograph of the ceremony of ten years ago.  Both the buffet and the cake were received with great praise.

The Land commissioner of the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK – Germany War Graves Commission) for cooperation with the Reservists Association, Oberstleutnant a.D. Rolf Koos, erected ten ‘anniversary candles’ in the hall representing the tenth anniversary which highlighted the common goals of peace and hope; Oberstleutnant a.D. Koos welcomed this rare kind of partnership between British and German soldiers, reservists, former soldiers and surviving dependents and their joint activities.