OBITUARIES AND DEATH NOTICES – DECEMBER 2015
BACK
Former 14947962 Lance-Corporal Stanley Gordon Back died on August 8th
2015. Stan enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in March 1945, and transferred to
the Corps of Military Police in February 1946, completing his trade training at Secunderbad.
Thereafter he served with Lines of Communication Provost in Calcutta and 107 Provost
Company in Darjeeling, Bombay and Poona. He was ‘demobbed’ in June 1948.
BRADY
Former 19195864 Lance-Corporal M J Brady served with 615
Special Mobile Provost Section (SMPS) 203 Provost Company RMP,
undertaking high-profile escort duties in Suez, Egypt. In 1947, he also deployed
to Eritrea. He was cremated wearing his RMP tie, of which he was very proud,
at East-Traditional City of London Crematorium, Wanstead, on March 12th
leaving behind a widow Daphne, David the eldest son, a daughter Su and
younger son Peter.
BROWN
Former 22363473 Warrant Officer Class 1 William Robert Brown, known to all
as “Topper”, died on May 25th 2015, aged 84, a few days short of the 51st anniversary of his
marriage to Elizabeth who survives him, together with their three children; Edward,
Rosemary and Jennifer and five grandchildren. 'Topper' was born and raised in Birkenhead
and on being called up for National Service he joined the RMP in June 1950. His natural
aptitude for investigations was quickly recognised and he became a Probationer with the
Special Investigation Branch (SIB) in October 1951, and posted to Hounslow and thence to
Egypt where he served for 2 years and completed his advanced SIB Training. On
completion of his National Service he signed-on as a Regular and was posted for service
with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and thence to Cyprus during the EOKA
Emergency. After this Active Service he was posted to Krefeld in 1960, and then to
Düsseldorf. Assignments to Chester, Hong Kong and back to Germany; to Celle, Minden
and Bielefeld then followed. Posted for his final years’ service to Shorncliffe in Kent, he later
became a member of the Townsend-Thornes Ferries security team working at Dover. Later
he took up an appointment with British American Tobacco Company travelling the world
investigating frauds and thefts committed against the Company. 'Topper' finally retired in
1990, and developed an interest in golf, making many new friends in the process. A great
character, 'Topper' was a good friend to many and was liked and well respected by all those
knew him and never lost the acute, natural and infectious sense of humour of a ‘Scouser’
and one always ready with a tale or one-liner to raise a laugh whatever the circumstances.
CHU Former Lance-Corporal Timothy Chu, late of 253 Provost
Company RMP (Volunteers), died in a diving accident on July 5th 2015,
near Vancouver, British Columbia, aged 27. An active and industrious
member of the Territorial Army, Timothy was made the ‘Soldier of the
Year’ in 2011. He worked for Hansards at the Palace of Westminster
and by the time of his death had gained a Law Degree and was about to start work with Her
Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. He was also a Special Constable with the Metropolitan
Police Service. He was single.
CLARK
Former 23418671 Lance-Corporal Anthony George (“Nobby”) Clark died on
March 13th 2015, have been called-up for National Service in 1957. He joined the Royal
Engineers at Malvern Camp, Worcestershire, before being transferred to the RMP and
training at Woking with Squad 656. He spent a short time in Thetford, Norfolk before a
posting to Cyprus in 1958. The remainder of his service was spent between Folkestone an
Winterbourne Gunner and he was ‘demobbed’ in September 1959.
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CLARKE
Former 23810429 Lance-Corporal Gerald (“Gerry”)) Clarke died after a short
illness on September 13th 2015, age 77. Called-up for National Service in 1960, and after
training at Woking, “Nobby”, as he was known to his mates, was posted to Headquarters 3
Infantry Division in Cyprus serving there until 1962. On demobilisation he joined
Wolverhampton City Police Force and stayed on after the creation of the West Midlands
Police. On retirement, he became a volunteer at the Black Country Museum in Dudley
playing the role of Victorian-era Police Officer where he was well known by visitors for his
cheerfulness and friendly nature. He was also an active member of the RMP Cyprus
Veterans’ Group. He leaves behind his widow Phyllis, his son Ian and his daughter Andrea.
Members of Birmingham Branch attended his funeral.
DEERING
Former 23249967 Lance-Corporal John
Deering died on August 15th. John always wanted to be a
pilot, but his aspiration was curtailed due to colour-blindness.
Instead he enlisted in the RMP, training with Squad 524 and
becoming a member of the Depot Shooting Team. His
keenness for competition shooting followed him throughout
his career during which he represented both the Corps and
Army in Small Bore competitions. On completion of training
John was posted to the RMP Mounted Section. After leaving
the Army he worked for Rootes Motors Ltd., the car
manufacturers, but later moved to France where he began
collecting, of all things, Second World War German Army
vehicles. As a result, in 1969, he was approached by the
makers of the film ‘The Battle of Britain’ and both he and his
vehicles became extras and he remained in the film industry,
working as an extra, until his retirement. [The photograph
from 1957, shows John in the forefront, with Bill Griffiths on the left & Ian Alridge in the rear].
GREAVES
Former 14456062 Sergeant Ernest (“Ernie”) Greaves
who died on June 11th 2015, age 88, was enlisted in November 15th
1944, and he was discharged in 1957, having served in the UK, India,
the Middle-east and Cyprus.
His
testimonial indicates that he was “well
built and smart, a good disciplinarian
and capable instructor, has proved
himself as reliable and a keen
investigator in the military police, shows
a keen interest in the Colonial Police Force. Good driver and
rider. Plays sport. Found to be sober, reliable and possesses
initiative”. In later years it gave him great pleasure when he
reconnected with some of “his men” (such as Bryan Waller
and Alan Jaggs to name just two) whom he had led;
particularly those that he had trained at Woking and he
received letters commending him for the excellent guidance
he gave them. Clearly he was held in high esteem.
Emigrating to Australia with his family in 1960, he joined the
Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) where
he remained for 19 years. Obviously he did not divulge
details of his role with ASIO, but an “Intellectual and
Perceptual Report” found in his papers by his family,
indicated that his intelligence and reasoning abilities were
superior. In his leisure hours, he and his wife took up equitation and he was instrumental in
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setting up a local riding club, eventually owning a couple of horses himself and riding each
week up until his 75th birthday. Like many former soldiers, Ernest and his family were like
gypsies, moving house regularly and living in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania
and Western Australia. When his wife was diagnosed with cancer she wanted to return to
New South Wales and they bought a house in Bowral, which was to be their last home.
Ernest did a wonderful job nursing his wife and after she passed away he took great care of
himself until it was time for him to move into a Nursing Home in January 2014.
An
independent man, always well-groomed and well organized; he enjoyed working in the
garden and visiting the shops every day.
HAWKINS
Former 23083745 Lance-Corporal Eric Hawkins died in February at his home
in Chorleywood after a long battle with Motor-Neurone Disease. Eric was called up for
National Service in November 1954, completing his training at Inkerman Barracks (Squad
471). He served in 200 Provost Company, Singapore and was ‘demobbed’ in January 1957,
after 2 years and 2 months Service - the extra 2 months of time served was due to the Suez
Crisis! A postal member of Aldershot Branch, he is survived by his widow Aline and a son.
HUDSON
Former Warrant Officer Class 1 Bernard Hudson died
aged 94 peacefully in his sleep in hospital, in Germany where he
had lived for many years. His wife Margot, died in 2014, and his twin
brother Bob, who served in the Special Investigation Branch (SIB),
also predeceased him. Bernard’s military service started in 1937,
when the brothers joined the Sherwood Foresters (Supplementary
Reserve) before Bernard transferred to the Grenadier Guards in
1938. After initial training, he served in the 2nd Battalion based at
Wellington Barracks performing ceremonial duties and taking part in
that year’s Trooping the Colour. He was then posted to the Guards
Depot and the 4th Guards (Tank) Battalion, landing in France near
Arromanches on July 20th 1944. 10 days later he was fighting in the
Battle of the Falaise Pocket at Caumont where he had a narrow escape when his tank was
hit by a German ‘88’; killing 3 of his crew. While Bernard did not say much about his time in
the Guards, he did mention how the Squadron Commander questioned why his tank stopped
for so many brews, but he did not know that they had a milk-churn full of calvados tied on the
back! The fighting then took them through France, Holland and Belgium into Germany
ending at Plön on the North Sea coast. A few weeks after peace had been declared he was
promoted to Colour-Sergeant and posted as CQMS to the HQ of a newly formed Guards
Brigade in Palestine. In late 1946, his brother, who was serving with the Corps of Military
Police (CMP) in Alexandria, allegedly dug up an obscure Army Regulation, which stated that
twins had the right to serve together, so by January 1947, Bernard had transferred to CMP
at the Almaza Depot where he started basic SIB training. A keen cricketer, his intended
posting to Alexandria was changed to the Bab-el-Hadid Barracks in Cairo because the
Assistant-Provost Marshal (APM) wanted him to be their wicket-keeper. In 1949, he
achieved Warrant Rank and was posted to Western Command, Chester where he stayed
until 1950, when he was sent back to the Middle East, to Tel-el-Kebir via El Kantara and
then on to 7 Section SIB at Tripoli, Libya. Numerous postings followed and he ended his
service at 72 Section SIB in Münster in the rank of WO1 on 11 January 1960. After leaving
the Army he had jobs teaching English in Osnabrück before becoming an
interpreter/translator for a metalwork company. He also worked as a Court Interpreter.
Bernard was known to generations of SIB as an ‘elder statesmen’ of the Branch and as a
kind and gentle man and good friend. In later life, Bernard was a stalwart member of the SIB
Branch of the Association and its ‘Old & Bold’ website to which he submitted several articles
about his life and times, together with many photographs. In recent years, Bernard travelled
from Germany to attend the annual SIB reunion dinner the last being in April, accompanied
by his nephew Bernie, who cared for him whenever he was in the UK and it is understood
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that he had planned to attend next year's reunion and had booked his flight.
cremated on October 9th, in the Cemetery Chapel in Glane, Bad Iburg.
He was
HUTTON
Former 23808552 Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael (“Mick”) Hutton died on
September 16th 2015. Passing out with Squad 808, he served with Tripoli Detachment 6
Dog Company RMP, 165 Provost Company in Chester, Rheindahlen Garrison Provost
Company, Provost Branch Headquarters British Army of the Rhine, Hong Kong Provost
Company, 2 Regiment in Northern Ireland, Provost Branch, HQ British Government Berlin
and Provost Branch HQ UK Land Forces. He retired in 1979. He was a stalwart member of
Derby Branch and worked tirelessly to ensure a warm welcome for the many from the RMP
and the Association and the families of our fallen who paraded at the National Memorial
Arboretum at Alrewas every June. His funeral was held at Bretby Crematorium at Carnarvon
Chapel, Burton-on-Trent and thereafter at the Anglesey Arms.
LANGDON Former 22808522 Lance-Corporal Robert (“Bob”) Langdon who died on June
26th 2015, was a well-liked member of both Foot and Mounted elements of 158 Provost
Company in Aldershot and took part in mounted duties escorting various Colonial Heads of
State at the Coronation Parade of 1953. He was a very keen sportsman and represented
the Company in the Army Pentathlon in 1955. Bob also enjoyed his time while serving with
200 Provost Company in Singapore. Demobilised in 1958, he joined Gloucestershire Fire
Service and later became a Tanker Driver with both Shell and BP for 25 years and also a
Retained Fireman. He joined the Territorial Army serving with the Royal Gloucester Hussars
as a Bandsman, earning his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on the way. In 1994, Bob
paraded at a Royal Review of Yeomanry Regiments in Windsor Great Park and was
presented to Her Majesty The Queen, to whom he mentioned that he had been on Mounted
Escort duty at her Coronation. He leaves a widow Mary whom married over 60 years ago.
MACE
Former 14948495 Lance-Corporal William (“Will”) Charles Mace died on
September 17th 2015, aged 92. He enlisted in March 1945, and served variously with 152
Headquarters Provost Company, 48 Division Provost Company, 285 Provost Company and
finally 192 Provost Company in France, employed primarily as a wireless operator. He was
demobilised in December 1947, and used his skills to work on scientific instruments at A C
Cosser Ltd., whose products included valves, radios, televisions and military electronics,
before becoming a self-employed television repairer. A founding member of Herts and
Essex Branch, he was also a member of the Royal Observer Corps until its disbandment.
Will leaves a widow, three daughters and both grandchildren and great grandchildren.
MOTTRAM Barrie Mottram, a former member of North America Branch, died on the July
26th 2015, aged 79. Barrie served from 1953 to 1956 with 193 Ports Provost Company in
the UK, 200 Provost Company in Singapore and with 3 Infantry Division Provost Company in
Egypt. He later became a Police Officer (PC 1692) with Toronto City Police, finally retiring in
1992.
PETERS
Former 24805060 Corporal Neil Peters, who joined the Army in 1986, died
aged 49 in September 2015. Having trained with Squad 8706, he was posted to 160
Provost Company in Aldershot where he served for 4-years during which he completed the
Close Protection course and also undertook a tour in Cyprus protecting Her Majesty’s High
Commissioner. Leaving the Service in the early 1990's, he retrained as a Paramedic with
the North-west Ambulance Service. His funeral was held at Charnock Richard Crematorium,
Chorley on October 12th and thereafter at The Ley Inn, Clayton-Le-Woods. He is survived
by his widow Mary and two young children.
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READMAN 30126592 Corporal Jamie Readman, who was
serving with 150 Provost Company, 1 Regiment RMP, died in a
single-vehicle Fatal Traffic Collision on August 15th 2015, aged
24. A native of Northallerton, Jamie joined the Army in July 2010,
and completed RMP training in March 2011. He was posted first
to 114 Provost Company, 5 Regiment RMP in Gütersloh where he
completed his Physical Training Instructor (PTI) course followed
by the Close Protection (CP) Course. He then deployed to Kabul
to protect Her Majesty’s Ambassador and more recently completed Pre-Deployment Training
for the High-Readiness CP commitment. In April this year, Jamie was posted to 150 Provost
Company, where he took up the role within the Training Wing as the Company PTI. A fit,
motivated and smart solider, he was always ready to get his hands dirty and get the job
done. Known for his friendly demeanour, light-hearted attitude and happy-go-lucky
approach to life, he was a very keen sportsman and enjoyed a range of sports from football
to skydiving. Jamie is survived by his mother Angela, father Anthony, brother Dean, sister
Hayley and his girlfriend Daniella, who is a JNCO currently serving with the Provost
Company. His funeral, with full military honours, was held on August 20th at All Saints
Church, Northallerton, followed by his interment at Northallerton and Romanby Cemetery.
ROGERS (neé Jones)
Former W414185 Corporal Jennifer Mary Rogers WRAC
(Provost) passed away on the July 26th 2015, at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester. Jenny
served in London, Aldershot and SHAPE between 1963 and 1964. She was the widow of
the late John Rogers RMP.
SHENTON
Former 1417820 Sergeant Alfred Roy Shenton passed away on August 10th
2015, in the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, after a short illness, aged 89. Roy trained
at Gatton Park in 1946, and following SIB training saw service in two particularly disparate
locations: York and Lagos! He was demobbed in 1948, and joined Sheffield City Police,
staying with the Force when it became part of a much larger South Yorkshire Police and
reaching the rank of Superintendent in the Crime Squad, at Wakefield. In retirement, Roy
kept busy with a range of voluntary roles including work with the Palliative Care Team at the
Northern General Hospital, as a hospital visitor and as Secretary of the Sheffield Branch of
the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO). His wife Joan predeceased
him. He was a father to Janet, Andrew and Michael and a much loved grandfather and
great-grandfather. His funeral was held at Grenoside Crematorium on August 28th.
SHUTER
Former 22607343 Sergeant S T Shuter served with the Army from June 1950
until June 1957, initially as a member of the Territorial Army (TA) and then as a National
Serviceman, Regular (albeit briefly) and an Army Emergency Reserve (AER). Joining the
RAMC TA, he was called up for National Service in 1951, training at Woking with Squad
264. He then served with 1st (British) Corps Provost Company in Bad Rothenfelde, before
returning to Woking for SIB Training on Course 91. Posted to HQ SIB (then located in
Lennox Gardens, London) he recalls living in appallingly dirty accommodation and having to
feed himself and commute daily from the barracks to Lennox Gardens, all on 6 schillings a
day. A return to Bad Rotheflde followed in 1953, where he was more comfortably housed in
Haus-Erna, a requisitioned private residence, before moving to Roberts Barracks in
Osnabrück. Having re-enlisted as a Regular, but only 4-months later he paid £20.00 to be
discharged, before than re-joining as an AER for a 3½ year commitment, just 3 months later.
(There must be a story there one imagines).
SMALE
Former 22364671 Corporal Frederick George Smale died on March 12th
2015. Fred was a member of the Taunton Branch RMPA and North-Devon Branch of the
Devon and Dorset Regimental Association. He entered service in May 1950, training in 162
Squad at Inkerman under a Sergeant Bullen. On completion of training in January 1951, he
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was sent to 40 Infantry Division Provost Company in Hong Kong and was later mobilised for
active service in Korea where he served with 28 Brigade Provost Company and then the
Commonwealth Division. Fred left the Regulars in 1952, and joined Devonshire Regiments
4th Battalion to continue his service as a member of the Territorial Army where he stayed
until 1978, retiring in the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. He later served as an Adult
Instructor in the Army Cadet Force.
SMART (neé Chalmers) Annie Smart who served with the
Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Provost, died on June 21st
2015, age 91.
In her 70’s, Annie set about writing her
reminiscences of the Second World War, some of which would
astound her son Colin, who had known of her wartime service as
a radar operator in Britain and then in Belgium trying to combat
V-2 rockets, but had not an inkling about her dealings with the
notorious Allgemaine (or General) SS who had run Hitler’s concentration and extermination
camps. At the end of the War, she joined the Provost Wing of the ATS, serving in Germany
where her duties included looking after and guarding a few hundred of the 55,000 or so
women of the SS-Helferin (literally ‘Female SS
Helper’) attached to the General-SS in the Camps
and who were then awaiting trial for alleged Crimes
against Humanity and other serious violations of the
Rules and Customs of War. She also took part in
operations with her male counterparts of the Corps of
Military Police to arrest others still at large. Her last
duty before being ‘demobbed’ in April 1947 was to
attend a number of War Crimes trials. This was
nearly all that she seemed prepared to tell anyone,
her son included, but she did show him photographs
of the scene in the dock at Hamburg on February 3rd
1947, as 7 female staff from the notorious Ravensbrück Concentration Camp for women,
where an estimated 50,000 died, were brought in to the court set up in the Curiohaus in the
Rotherbaum District of Hamburg. One-by-one, the women were sentenced, some to death
by hanging, as Annie stood guard beside them. After her own death, her son found the
battle-dress blouse that she had worn that day, rolled up in a box at her home. Annie
Chalmers, a ploughman’s daughter, was born at Kinlock. She married James Smart, a busdriver in 1953, but the marriage was dissolved in 1980. Her son, a retired storeman, served
in the Royal Navy for 8 years. In 2005, wearing her ATS badge and medals she had a
lengthy conversation with another ATS veteran; HM The Queen, who was visiting Perth.
True to form it seems, Annie would not divulge what passed between them both!
SQUIER
Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Huw Maurice Squier died on August 24th 2015,
aged 77 years. After National Service and then a full career with the RMP as a Regular
Officer including not least tours as Commander RMP 1st (British) Corps and Commandant at
Chichester, Maurice became our 5th and longest serving Regimental Secretary holding that
appointment for almost 12 years. His funeral was held at Chichester Crematorium on
September 10th. [It is intended that a full obituary will appear in April’s edition of the Journal].
TETLOW
Former Lance-Corporal Jack Tetlow and President of
Manchester Branch died aged 84, at the Royal Oldham Hospital on
September 10th 2015. Like many others of his generation he left
school at 14 and began working life as an apprentice tiler until his
call-up in 1949. He trained with 90 Squad at Inkerman Barracks,
and went on to serve with 2 Division Provost Company Coy at
Düsseldorf, before being posting to 247 Provost Company in Berlin.
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He was demobilised in August 1950. He then went on to serve for a further 3-years with 241
Provost Company (Army Emergency Reserve), ‘enjoying’ his annual 15-day camps at
Warburg Barracks, in Aldershot. Jack joined Rochdale Borough Police Force in 1950, rising
to Sergeant in 1965; Inspector in 1967; and Chief Inspector in 1974, before retiring in 1976,
from what was by then Greater Manchester Police. Jack met his future bride Elsie in 1954,
on the day after he had completed his Army service and they had three children: Christine,
Philip and Ian. He was a true gentleman, always smartly turned out and fondly remembered
for a gentle wit and his quiet chuckle, but he never did anything by halves; he was always
committed to doing a good job; he loved growing chrysanthemums and creating bonsai
trees; and he had recently resumed his interest in watercolour painting, changing the focus
from landscapes inspired by his many visits to Spain, to portraits of old soldiers from the
First World War prompted by visits to that War’s battlefields in Flanders and France. He also
played a mean game of Crown Green Bowls and he and Elsie continued Ballroom Dancing
until his health problems forced them to stop a few years ago. Jack was an active Member
of Manchester Branch for many years, during which he provided many contributions to this
august Journal. He had been Branch President since March 2012. In his final years Jack
suffered badly from circulatory problems and in September 2012, elected to have his lower
left-leg amputated to alleviate some of the pain. He suffered another massive blow at
Christmas 2013, when his much loved wife, Elsie, died on Boxing Day after a short illness.
He missed her so much, but he was sustained by a deep Christian faith, which was the
foundation of his everyday life; a life of service to and the care of others. His funeral was
held at All Saints Church, Rochdale, followed by his committal at Rochdale Crematorium on
September 21st.
TUCKER
Former 23996281 Sergeant Roy Tucker who died on
September 22nd 2015, aged 72, was an unsung hero of the Army’s
Provost technical capabilities for many years having worked in
televisual and video imaging from its adoption in the late 1970’s
through to the new millennium – a time embracing a quantum
amount of technological change. After a period as a Police Cadet
in Portsmouth, his home town, Roy enlisted and became a member
of the first Squad to be trained at Roussillon Barracks, Chichester,
in 1964. He saw service in Cyprus, West-Berlin, Germany and the
UK, completing his Colour Service at Chichester. After running a
business, he returned to the fold working for the late WO1 Bill
Sumpter as part of the newly created Close-Circuit Television
(CCTV) Unit carrying out covert camera installations in Northern Ireland and elsewhere and
filming, editing and producing many training videos. He stayed on as part of the new
Television and Imaging (TV&I) Department of the Provost Technical Support Unit (PTSU)
and when the Training School moved to Southwick Park, he became an integral part of the
Multi-media & Evidential Imagery Team (MEIT) Department of the newly formed Service
Police Crime Bureau (SPCB). Roy's knowledge of all things televisual and camera-related
was encyclopaedic, but when he got to Southwick Park he was concerned that he might not
have a proper role, so his colleagues made-up a sign to describe what he meant to them. It
simply read "Mr Roy Tucker - MEIT Technical Guru". He will be remembered fondly as a
modest man with a great sense of humour and an inherent kindness that seems somewhat
unworldly nowadays, who also displayed uncomplaining endurance and determination when
employed on sometimes unspectacular, but essential task. His funeral was held at Havant
Crematorium on September 30th and he leaves behind his widow Pat, his family and very
many friends and colleagues across UK policing. Depot Branch members attended.
WESTLAND
Former Corporal John Westland passed away at Forester Hill
Hospital, Aberdeen, on July 30th 2015, aged 69, following a long illness. He was known as
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“Big John” to all his pals in 6 Brigade Provost Unit in Münster. He also served in Northern
Ireland and Edinburgh. His funeral took place on August 7th.
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