The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
The Wardrobe, Salisbury
No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform you that David Delroy Allen, younger brother of Ronnie, 1st Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment, passed away at The Royal United Hospital, Bristol, after a short illness on the 17th of April 2025, aged 61 years.
Funeral Notices - Lt Col J M Greany, late Wiltshire Regiment and WO1 D A Bailey, late DERR
The funeral of Lt Col John Grealy, who has died on Guernsey aged 91 years, will be held at St, Stephen's Church, Les Gravers, St. Peter Port, Guernsey at 14:00 hours on Thursday 24 April 2025.
The funeral of ex-WO1 Doug Bailey, late DERR, will be held at St. Nicholas' Church, High Street, Bromham Wiltshire, SN15 2EU at 14:00 hours on Tuesday 22 April 2025, followed by internment at the Drove Lane Cemetary at Easterton, Nr. Market Lavington, Wiltshire.
Obituaries for both Col Grealy and Mr Bailey will appear in the April edition of the Association newsletter.
Kind regards,
Steven Bowkett
Secretary
The RGBW and Rifles Regimental Association
No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform you that 22360965 Private Dennis Keith Victor Mills, a Korean War Veteran of the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment, passed away on the 9th February 2025 in Kent. He is survived by his children Kim, Karen & Paul and Grandchildren Gregory, William & Alan. His funeral will take place at the Barham Crematorium Canterbury Road, Barham, Canterbury CT4 6QU on Wednesday the 5th of March at 3.00 pm. No flowers. Donations to British Heart Foundation Enquiries. A British Legion Standard bearer will be in attendance and the Regimental Association has sent a personalised Regimental Poppy Wreath. It would be much appreciated if any member of the association who resides in the Kent area could attend and represent us, for further details please contact the author:
“By our deeds, we are known”
It is my sad duty to inform you that Lt Col Terry Dutton died peacefully on Saturday 19th October 2024 in a home in Marlborough where he spent is latter years.
Funeral details will be published when I have them.
| Capt Bill Sherman, Wiltshire County Chairman, has informed the Association of the death of Ex Cpl Barry Shears in June this year at the age of 79. Mr Shears served with 1 DERR and was injured in the Ballykinler Bomb on 28 October 1974 (see below). In spite of his own injuries, Cpl Shears carried a very severely injured comrade, who was bleeding profusely, out of the destroyed Sandes Home and thus undoubtedly saved his life. |
The family of Mr Denis Lock have informed us of his death before Christmas 2023, after a short illness. Denis served with 1 DERR between 1963 - 71.
Good morning all
Sean Karby funeral is at Rose Hill crematorium at 10:10 on the 26th September 2024, Rose Hill Crematorium, Cantley Lane Cantley Doncaster , DN4 6NE
Family has asked for friends to be there
Thanks all Jacko
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Dave King, formerly a Bandsman in the Wiltshire Regiment, has completed his last parade. Dave died at home on the Isle of Wight on 25 August 2025 having reached 87 years old
Service Notice: I am pleased to announce that a military bugler and two standard bearers have been found to attend the funeral previously announced of Marc Stannard, formerly of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Wiltshire Regiment on Friday 6th September 2024, at 2.45 pm. The Waterside Chapel, Westerleigh Crematorium, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol. BS37 8RF. I will be representing the RGBW and Rifles Associations on the day and any support from local veterans will be greatly appreciated.
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No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Marc Stannard, formerly of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Wiltshire Regiment on the 12th of August 2024, at the age of 44. Marc served in the Regiment from 1999-2004 and was originally from London. He was in a Hospital in Dorchester when the Rifles were informed of his situation. With the help of Macmillan Nurses, he was moved up to stay in Scotland with his Brother who reports that he was at peace in his last few months with the ones he loved.
Marc picked Bristol as his funeral location to allow maximum attendance from his friends & family. The Service details are as follows: Friday 6th September 2024, at 2.45 pm. The Waterside Chapel, Westerleigh Crematorium, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol. BS37 8RF https://www.westerleighcrem.co.uk/index.php
I will be representing the association on the day, but we are also looking for a standard bearer and bugler to be in attendance (I have RGBW standard if required). Any local veterans would be gratefully received if they could attend.
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Jane Ellis has informed the Association that her father, Brian Ellis, of Huccaby, Cheltenham, who did his National Service in The Wiltshire Regiment, died on 26 July 2024. He leaves his son and daughter, 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform the passing of SSgt Herbert (John) Wake of the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment on the 5th of August 2024 at the age of 96. Hector, as he was known at the Regimental, served from 1956 to 1974 and was a popular soldier with many friends. Sadly, Hector has no direct relatives, and his final parade would have been very small. However, as news of his passing was circulated, we contacted all those concerned and arranged a full military send-off for Hector in keeping with the traditions of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Both County Chairmen will be attending, as well as Rojer Phelps and his trusty bugle for the last post, two standard bearers and the Regimental coffin drape and wreath. All we need now is some additional boots on the ground to make the numbers up. Please can any members of the Regiment who are local and available please attend the funeral service at Weston Super Mare Crematorium on Thursday 22nd August 2024 at 12:30 pm. “By our deeds, we are known”
Mr Nicholas Patten has informed the Association that his father, John Walter Patten (22467486), died at The Royal Gloucestershire Hospital on 14 April this year.
After completing his National Service basic training at Plymouth, John served in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment from 1951 -1953, serving initially in Eritrea before moving to the Canal Zone in Egypt and then, briefly, in Cyprus. He had a brass band background and on arriving in the 1st Battalion was asked to join the Band, where he played the tuba under the direction of Bandmaster Freeth. His son comments that he was very proud to have been a member of 1 R. Berks Band and kept in touch with 2 other former band members, Charlie Bull and Don Waltham. He joined the Severn Branch of the Association in 2000 and attended branch meetings for a few years.
It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Bob Garland after a long illness. Bob served in A Coy 1st battalion Also as an instructor in Sandhurst followed by House Csgt to Gen Robin Digby Grist.
Condolences have gone out to his wife Sharon and family RIP Bob duty done
No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform the passing of Sgt Jim Watkins of the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment on the 10th of June 2024. Jim is survived by his wife Ruth, who has requested the Association to assist by providing the Regimental Drape and Wreath. The County Chairman is liaising with Jim's brother-in-law Bob, who is the point of contact for the family. His details are held by the County Chairman should anyone wish to contact the family. The service will be on Monday the 1st of July at Exeter & Devon Crematorium, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 6EU at 12.30 hrs. “by our deeds, we are known”
No More Parades: It is my sad duty to inform the passing of 24343168 Robert (Rob) Bishop of the 1st Battalion of The Gloucestershire Regiment on the 17thof June 2024 at Taunton Musgrove Hospital after a brave fight against cancer. Rob is survived by three Sisters who are coordinating his funeral which will be held at Westerliegh. The County Chairman for Somerset is liaising with the family and will issue a service notice when all details are confirmed, On behalf of the Regimental Association, sincere condolences are sent to Linda, Hazel and Nina.
“by our deeds, we are known”
I am sad to inform you of the death of ex CSgt Miguel 'Spanish' Navarro on 21 May 2024. His funeral will be held on next Tuesday, 11 June at the Church of All Saints, Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4AE at 15:00 hours. The funeral will be followed by his burial at 16:00 hours. All mourners, family, friends and old comrades will then be welcome at his daughter Iris' home (10 minutes walk from the Church).
The Church of All Saints is in the centre of Sutton Courtenay village, near the village green. The village is easily accessed from the A34 and is close to Didcot GWR main line railway station. CSgt's Navarro's obituary will be published in this month's Association Newsletter in due course.
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Mr Dave Andrews has informed the Association that his father, ex-Pte Courtney Gibbard Andrews (14191220) who served in the Wiltshire Regiment for 4 years, died on Sunday 28 April 2024. He had celebrated his 95th birthday on the previous Friday.
Mr Andrews served as a Bandsman in 2nd Wilts in West Germany prior to amalgamation with the 1st Battalion and further service with 1st Wilts in Hong Kong. His son remarks that his father proudly wore his Regimental tie on every possible occasion and the family is very grateful to Bethany, the Curator of The Wardrobe Museum, for enabling them to purchase a replacement for one lost during his final stay in hospital.
Mr Andrews' funeral will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Fordingbridge on Tuesday 21 May at 11:00 hours.
John Tristram has informed the Association of the death of Professor Chris Williams. Christopher Williams was born in Monmouthshire in 1963 but his family later moved to Swindon. He completed a Short Service Limited Commission with 1 DERR in 1982/83 in his gap year between finishing school and attending Balliol College, Oxford University. He became a noted Welsh academic, lecturing at Cardiff University and Swansea University, and editing the diaries of Richard Burton, before becoming Professor of History at University College, Cork from 2017 until his death on 4 April.
he Association has been informed of the death on 28 April of Mr Peter Holmes, aged 64 years. He served as a private soldier in 1 DERR during 1971 - 77 and on discharge joined 2 Wessex, eventually becoming CSM of D Coy and later CSM N Coy 2 RGBW in Newbury. In between serving in 2 Wessex and 2 RGBW he completed commando and parachute training, serving with 29 Commando RA. His funeral will be at the West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham, RG19 4LD on Monday 20 May at 16:00 hours. Any Old Comrades wishing to attend are requested to arrive by 15:30 hours.
