A concert at Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday 8 February (seated by 6.45 pm with concert ending by 8.30 pm) has been recently highlighted. In addition to a concert pianist there are two participating military bands (Rifles and Grenadier Guards).  Details are:

• The concert will see award-winning pianist Rupert Egerton-Smith perform alongside The Band and Bugles of The Rifles and The Band of The Grenadier Guards.
• The event not only marks one of the rare occasions that the two Bands will perform together in a concert, but it is also Rupert Egerton-Smith’s debut performance alongside them, before the start of his East Coast recital tour of the United States of America.
• The concert itself will take the audience on an exciting and unique musical journey; celebrating the rich histories of the two regiments and paying homage to the local Wiltshire are

Booking can be accessed via the above link or by going to the Salisbury Cathedral website and looking for ‘what’s on’ for Thursday 8 February. 

On 6 January 202 at 17:36 hours John (‘Kellogs’) Kiely died peacefully. Having been on a life support system the medical staff could not find any signs of electrical activity and severe brain damage so turn the support off. It was John’s wishes that his organs be used for transplant to save the lives of others.
John served with 1 DERR during the Osnabruck tour of 1978 to 1982 and was an immensely popular member of D Company and the Battalion.
To Sharon, his wife, his daughters and the family we send our condolences.

"To Be a Farmer's Boy"

Sadly I have to report the death for Bob Giddings, a former Corporal who served in the Wiltshire Regiment: he died on 7 January 2024. Bob for many years was the Wiltshire Regiment Standard bearer for the Wiltshire Branch of the Regimental Association (be that Wiltshire Regiment, DERR or RGBW). He was a loyal and dedicated member of the Salisbury Branch; he and his wife Elsie regularly supported the Association functions. In addition to his regimental association Bob Gidding was the Chairman of the Salisbury Branch of the Royal British Legion.
RIP Bob, Our deepest condolence to Elsie and the family.

“Twas on a Jolly Zummer’s Day the twenty- vurst of May”

We have just received the sad news that Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jim Shaw died on 9 January peacefully at home. In the words of his widow Catherine “I am happy that his suffering is over but of course sad too. It has been a long year; he fought a good fight but sadly lost his battle. We managed to have a few weeks of near normality before he became very ill”.
Jim served in The Gloucestershire Regiment joining the 1^st Battalion as a Second Lieutenant and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a first class officer admired and respected by those who were privileged to have served alongside him, be that with The Gloucestershire Regiment or with him on ‘ERE’ postings.

Details of his funeral will be published as they become known.

Our deepest condolences to Catherine Shaw and the family 

Anyone wishing to send condolences to Catherine and the family should write to:

Mrs Catherine Shaw
9 St Jame's Place
Welland
Malvern
Worcs
WR13 6BA

"By Our Deeds we are Known"

Reminder - Service Notice: George Henry Martin, of The Gloucestershire Regiment. The service will be at 1015hrs on Friday 12th January 2024 at Westerleigh Crematorium, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol BS37 8QP. The wake afterwards is being held at The Swan, 17 High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AE.

Reminder - Service Notice: Tony Taylor of The Gloucestershire Regiment. The service will take place on Tuesday the 16th of January 2024 at Weston Super Mare Crematorium, Ebdon Road, Worle, Weston Super Mare, Somerset, BS22 9NY at 1330hrs. The wake afterwards is being held at the 49 Social Club, 24 - 28 Baker Street, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 3AE.

It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of 23674804 Pte Mike Marfel who died on Saturday 6 th January 2024.

Mike was from Raurdean in the Forest of Dean and served with the 1st battalion from 1958-1964.

There will be a Private family only Service at Cinderford crematorium 

No further details

No More Parades/Service Notice: It is my sad duty to inform the passing of 23081423 Pte George Henry Martin, of the 1st Battalion of The Gloucestershire Regiment. George passed away on 31st December 2023 after a long illness in Southmead Hospital. George was born in Scotland on 20thJune 1936 and was raised by his parents in Redland, Bristol with three brothers John (deceased) Brian, Micky and one sister Sally. George completed National Service in the mid-fifties with service in Kenya (Mau Mau Insurgency) for which he proudly served the Regiment.

After his service, he had numerous jobs including a fireman on the railways and 18 years with the AA as a patrolman from where he retired at 60. George was married to Mary who passed away last year and leaves a daughter Carol, son Geoff (RAPC 84-99) son Allan (R Sigs 83-07), 6 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.

The service will be at 1015hrs on Friday 12th January 2024 (the same day as his wife's funeral last year) at Westerleigh Crematorium, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol BS37 8QP. The family cordially invites any members of the Regimental Association to the service. The County Chairman will be in attendance with the Regimental drape, wreath, hat and belt. We are also trying to get 2 standard bearers in attendance. 

“by our deeds, we are known”

Yesterday, Wednesday 3 January 2024 Alan Trench died , having been suffering from dementia. The funeral is to be a family only event but it is Tina Trench’s wish the regimental family be informed. Serving most of his service with 1 DERR, prior to retiring he reached the rank of WO1 and was the WO 1 of the Royal Army Chaplain Department where they trained the newly appointed chaplains at Netheravon House, in what used to be the Officers Mess of Support Weapons Wing Netheravon.

The first image shows C/Sgt A. Trench of A Coy 1 DERR on the occasion of myriad of visits senior officers made to XMG during the Battalion’s South Armagh tour. The second images shows Alan as the WO2 at the IITW at Sennelager, this time greeting General Farndale.

'To Be a Farmer's Boy'

From Rod Gurney

It is with much sadness that I report the passing of 24114578 Cpl Roger Danter, formerly 1 Glosters, on 12 December 2023 at Gloucester Royal Hospital after a long illness.
Roger served between 1967 and 1979 mainly in the Signal Platoon and Int Section with postings to Chester, Berlin, Honiton, Minden, Weeton, Ballykelly. Many will remember him as a keen fisherman and former member of GAS (Glosters Angling Society) and Good Lads Angling club in Minden.
Roger requested not to have a military funeral and, in accordance with his wishes, a short service will be held at Cheltenham Crematorium at 1400 Friday 12 January 2024 to which family and friends are invited. Family flowers only with any donations to The Royal British Legion
This will be followed by a wake at Gupshill Manor, Tewkesbury

The family have arranged for a webcast to be made available at the time of the funeral and for the seven days afterwards, for those regimental friends of Richard who will not be able to travel to Salisbury.
The web address you need to use is https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view  
The Web Cast Login PIN to view Richard Funeral is     129 2838                     
The family very much hope those of you who are unable to attend are able to take advantage of the webcast.
For logistical reasons the venue of the wake has had to be changed. It will now take place at The Stones, High Post, Salisbury, SP4 6AT

We have received the following notification from the niece of Dennis Lock, who served with 1 DERR, that he recently died before Christmas after a short illness.
Dennis Lock served with 1 DERR from 1963 to 1971 being stationed in Malta, Cyprus, Minden and Catterick.
His niece has been sorting his belongings, and found his regimental beret and cap badge, his Army Certificate of Service and a letter with the association details.
The family know he attended a few reunions in the past and they would like to inform Association members of his passing.  Whilst they have some names of his ex-colleagues, they don't hold any contact details.  As of yet the family do not have a date for the funeral but would like to reach out to his old regiment.  

"To be a Farmer's Boy"

HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards will officially launch in the New Year following a successful assessment from the Central Digital and Data Office

The Ministry of Defence and Office for Veterans’ Affairs are jointly delivering this commitment as part of ongoing improvements to veterans support.

HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards will officially launch in the New Year following a successful assessment from the Central Digital and Data Office - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

No More Parades. It is my sad duty to inform the passing of Tony Taylor of the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. Tony sadly passed away on Wednesday night at the Manor Park Clinic, Weston Super Mare after battling severe Dementia for the last couple of years.

Tony was a great character and regular within the Somerset Branch and a letter of condolences and offer of Association services has been sent to his daughter Dawn. Tony had been regularly visited by his branch pals during his difficult times, but is now at peace.

Details of his funeral will be published in due course when known.

It is with much sadness that I have to report the death of 23298360 Royston Alexandra Hodges, who served in the 1st Bn Glosters for 3 years and then spent over 12 years with the 5th Bn. He also had a long career as a para medic until his retirement.
His funeral will take place at Gloucester Crematorium on Monday 8th January commencing at 12:30 hrs ( pm)
All that served with Roy also friends who knew him are welcome to attend.

Dear All,

Please see attached details re an Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan. Whilst this is unlikely to directly affect our veterans, I forward it to you for your (and their) information. As it is likely that the subject will soon feature in the news, it is important to give our veterans the facts. 

Please pass it on to those that you think will benefit from the information contained within.

Friday saw the funeral of Brian Wright take place at Torbay Crematorium, Devon, and later a celebration of his life at The Crown and Sceptre, St Marychurch, Torquay. The Regiment was extremely well represented, It was a huge challenge to get over 150 people into an 80-seater facility but using every square inch of standing room we accomplished it! I would like to thank Len Keeling for organising the minibus down from Gloucester, the four Standard Bearers: Scott McBryde, Roger Smith, Steven Tierney and the local British Legion representative. Also grateful to the six volunteer pallbearers on the day, Eddie Kenneford, Ben Casey, John Davies, Tony Jones, Allan Winchester and Dave Stone.

Chas Deacon the Celebrant held it all together nicely and the two Senior Rank musicians from The Rifles gave a great rendition of the Last Post, leaving hardly a dry eye in the building. The live service video link has been taken down for editing but will be published again shortly using the details issued previously. Feedback from the family during the day was outstanding and made all the hard work very worthwhile. I would like to thank Bob, Sadie and Clair for hosting the day's events including the most welcoming celebrations I have ever attended in a Pub. Last, but not least, a huge thank you to all the members of the Regiment who turned up and made the day such a great success, it was a great tribute to the “Glosters” family and its former members.

Should anyone have missed donating during the day, and would like to do so, the details are as follows: RGBW Association Somerset. Sort Code: 30 99 51 Acct No 00545601 and include “BW” in the description box, thank you.

“by our deeds, we are known”

 In the early morning of 8 December William Richard Dunscombe died peacefully at home.  Known throughout his military career as Richard, Rich or Tich, he enlisted into the Wiltshire Regiment serving with them in the 1956 -1958 tour in Cyprus during the Eoka Campaign. On returning to UK  amalgamation with the Royal Berkshire Regiment saw him becoming a member of the Signal Platoon of 1 DERR. Later during the Minden tour of BAOR 1965-1969 he was a Platoon Sergeant in A Company. From 1 DERR he then went on to be a Signal Training Sergeant at the IJLB in Owestry. Returning to 1 DERR in Berlin in 1972 Richard became the Officers Mess Colour Sergeant. After completing his full army career he became the civilian Officers Mess Manager of the Bulford Garrison Officers Mess.  Richard was a highly respected SNCO in the Regiment, known for his sense of humour, impeccable standards and great management skills. Outside of the military environs he loved following cricket of any standard.
 
We extend our condolence to his family.
 
Details of his funeral will be published as soon as they are known.

For those who cannot attend in person the funeral service of Brian Wright will be live streamed;

Webcast order summary

Webcast details for the service of Brian Wright at 10:30 (GMT) on Friday 8th December, at Torbay Crematorium Chapel, run by Torbay & District Funeral Service are as below.

Link:

https://watch.obitus.com/rgKCsM

Username: zaro2122

Password: 643919

Webcast | Obitus

WATCH.OBITUS.COM

Webcast | Obitus

Obitus webcast

No More Parades. It is my sad duty to inform the passing of Brian Wright, former RSM, Officer and Gentleman of the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. Brian sadly passed away on Tuesday 14th November 2023, at his home in Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon. A service will be held at Torquay Crematorium, and dates/timings will be published when finalised. The Somerset County Chairman has been in contact with his Son and Daughter (Bob & Sadie) and they have requested full Association support at his funeral. Regimental Drape, Wreath, Hat and belt will be supplied by the County Chairman, but we will need volunteers as standard bearers and a bugler. Bob and Sadie cordially invites all Gloster friends and families to the service.