It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josese Ravu. After bravely battling a short illness, Jo passed away peacefully at his home on the 7 December 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather , great grandfather and friend who will be deeply missed by all that knew him.

Please can you leave any messages of condolence for Joe's family by selecting leave a comment above

Leave feed of the funeral https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CsQpwVarL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For those of you not on Facebook The funeral of Sgt Jo Ravu - Late DERR -12 December 2025

Clich to submit a photographic memory of Jo

From Mike Homer
30 August at 16:31 ·
It’s my sad duty to inform you that
Mark Bryan ,Cheltenham,ex A Coy 1st Glosters,1975 -81.Passed away suddenly last Friday 22/08/2025.May he Rest in peace..

From Andrew Croker

The Association has been informed of the death on 21 March 2025 in hospital in Bath of Montague John Thomas Dermott, known as Monty, aged 90 years.  Our records show Mr Dermott as being born in 1932 but his family's account places his birth date in 1935.  

He joined the Army at The Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion in Plumer Barracks, Plymouth and served with 4th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment before transferring to 1st Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment.  

In the 1950s he served with 1 R. Berks in both Cyprus and the Canal Zone during the 1956 Suez operation.  Mr Dermott leaves his widow, Brenda, grandchildren Stacey and Scott and 4 great grandchildren.  His daughter Sandra pre-deceased him.

Peter was born in 1947 into a military family then based in Germany. His early childhood was spent overseas, first in Germany and later in Burma, before the family eventually settled back in England. He was educated at St Alfred’s School, Wantage, and The Royal Liberty School, in Romford where he was a keen member of the Combined Cadet Force and where his ambition to pursue a military career first took root. From there he went on to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Association members will be saddened to hear of the death of Capt David Leadbetter, DERR, on 5 June at his care home in Herne Bay. His funeral will be held at Herne Bay Crematorium, Bullockstone Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7NF on Tuesday 8 July at 12:00 hours.

David's funeral will be followed by a wake at:

The Curious Cat
Canterbury Road
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 7JU

David's daughter Jane and his sons Ian and Kevin will be pleased to see David's friends and comrades at both his funeral and the wake afterwards.   An obituary will appear in the Association newsletter in due course.  I would be grateful for any anecdotes or memories of David which former friends and comrades would like to share for his obituary.

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:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“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.

 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”