This year’s Emerald marks the 74th edition of the annual journal of the London Irish Rifles, which was first published in September 1949 by the committee of the Old Comrades Association (OCA). Within the museum we don’t seem to possess a first edition but the second one, published in February 1950, was a modest 8 page affair with no photographs but did include items about the recently rededicated War Memorial, a recent visit to the Sicilian battlefields as well as an appeal for members to attend the AGM and Annual Lunch – plus ça change….
Over the following few years, the Emerald evolved into a very informative annual publication with plenty of photographs and news stories and, more poignantly, very many evocatively written obituaries of men who had served with the Regiment throughout the 20th century. The young men of the late 1940s and 1950 became stalwarts of the renamed Regimental Association and under the editorial stewardship of Rodney Cockburn and, later, Chairman Geoff Jenkins ably aided by the valuable printing services of Charlie Self, the journal evolved into a glossy “must read” affair during the 1980s and 90s that kept members abreast of current news and updated stories about all things London Irish Rifles.
Into the new century, the Emerald had a new lease of life under the guiding hand of David Mogg and he recently handed over a rich legacy of high quality editorial standards to the General Management Committee. The Emerald now complements the various current and historical stories on the website and the Association’s presence on Facebook and Twitter. Grateful thanks are also due to our printing publisher over the past few years: Rob Blackledge.
Hopefully, the current edition meets the requirements of our membership and perhaps even exceeds the original expectations of the doyens of the OCA. Long may this continue – and of course the future quality of this publication depends on the continuing influence and supply of interesting copy from contributing members so please start sending in articles for the 2020 Emerald…coming soon, but possibly not to an outlet near you.