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.
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.
News has been passed to us from Hugo Cummins that Leory (Bobby) Greenidge living in London, who served with 1 DERR in the 1960's to early 1970's, has sadly died on 3 December. No further details are known. Bobby Greenidge is seen here in this photograph coaching Ptes Haddow and Fitzgeals after the range practice during 'C; Company's tour in British Honduras. Apart from being a good soldier he was a great battalion sportsman.
After bravely fighting a long illness Gary Paul Heatherwick died on 2 December 2022. Gary hailed from Melksham and joined 1 DERR as a Drummer in the Corps of Drums. Remembered for his good sense of fun, this image was extracted from the 'B' Company Imber Villagers Rioters' at the end of an exercise whilst 1DERR were Demonstration Battalion. Funeral details will be circulated when known.
For those who are unable to attend Major (QM) Douglas Clifford Mortimer's funeral and who would like to see the service there will be a webcast o the service: Details are as follows:
This email is confirmation that a webcast is required for the following service:
Name
Douglas Mortimer
Location
East Devon Crematorium, Whimple, Exeter - Default Chapel
Please note that by sharing the secure PIN number you give full access to view the service and access the on-demand features. Your PIN number will be activated no earlier than 14 days before the service date.
Event Number
1148234 - please quote this on all correspondence and when calling
It is my sad duty to inform the Regiment that Major (QM) Douglas Clifford Mortimer died peacefully at 09:30 hours today 31 October 2022.
Born on 8 September 1925 Dougie enlisted on 05/08/1943 and after 6 weeks basic training was posted to the Essex Regiment for a further 10 weeks training at Brentwood and on completion was posted to the 2nd Battalion the Essex Regiment. Training thereafter was in preparation for a D Day landing, as 2ndEssex Regiment were to be part of 56 Infantry Brigade, together with 2ndGloucestershire Regiment and 2nd South Wales Borders. He did not take part in the actual D Day landings as he was in hospital in Southampton. His Pl Sgt had sent for a doctor, who came to the tent Douggie was billeted in prior to embarkation. The MO declared Dougie was not fit and he was sent by ambulance with an armed escort to hospital. From Southampton he was sent to a general hospital in Macclesfield. Recovering and being declared fit he was sent to a camp for reinforcements and together with many other personnel of the Essex regiment set off to join up with what they thought would be the 2nd Essex. This wasn’t to be the case. 43rd Wessex Division had been tasked to capture and hold Hill 112 overlooking Caen, which they did but, in the process, suffered very heavy casualties. The result was that Dougie with many Essex Regiment NCOs became ‘A’ Company 4th Battalion The Dorset Regiment . Dougie never did meet up with 2nd Essex again.
Dougie remained reluctant to talk about the fighting in Normandy except to say the fighting through the ‘bocage’ was horrendous, and that was the polite description.
At the endo of the war Dougie went as an ERE NCO to a bomb disposal unit in Bristol who were due to take about 70 German POW’s to Braunton, North Devon, to assist the Sappers clear the British Anti Tank mines that had been placed in the sand hills to prevent Saunton Sands beaches being used as a landing beach for a German invasion.
After that ERE posting Dougie was sent to 1st Battalion The Royal Hampshire Regiment who were the Training Battalion for the Wessex Brigade. Whilst with the Royal Hampshire’s he was sent to Warminster to attend a Senior NCO’s Tactic course, which he enjoyed and obtained a very good result, thereby gaining promotion to substantive Sergeant. On returning the Royal Hampshire’s he was posted to training Company and assumed the role of instructing the intakes of National Servicemen.
When the Royal Hampshire’s came to the end of their training commitment to the Wessex Brigade, they were due to be posted to BAOR, les Dougie who was promoted to S/Sgt to become an instructor on the Senior NCO’s Tactics course. Defence cuts within the Armed Forces saw the Senior NCO’s Tactics Wing closed and instead of re-joining 1 R HAMPS the MOD in its wisdom decided Dougie should be posted to 1st Battalion the Wiltshire Regiment in Hong Kong.
Dougie service in the Wiltshire’s is summarised as C/Sgt in 1953; WO2 in 1954; WO 1 in 1960; RSM 1 DERR in Malta from 1962 to 1964. Wessex Depot from 1965 to 1966 and granted a QM’s Commission in 1966.
QM Malawi Rifles 1966 to 1968; QM Tech 1 DERR 1968 and the QM in 1969 to 1973, leaving the Battalion in Berlin on being posted to Dubai where he served until 1976 and then assumed his last appointment working in Dusseldorf Rhine Army Rear HQ before retiring in 1977 after 34 years loyal service.
Roger Stone, who served with 1 DERR from 1970 to 1974 covering the tours of Catterick, British Honduras and Ballykinler, died on 20 September 2022. His funeral takes places this Friday 7 October at 12:00 at Canford Cemetery and Crematorium, Canford Lane, BS9 3PQ
Mr Brian Barkham Archer of Swindon, who served in The Wiltshire Regiment as a National Serviceman, died on 24 September 2022. After his initial 12 weeks training at Devizes, Brian joined B Company 1 Wiltshire at Knook Camp when they were Demonstration Battalion. within 2 weeks he became the batman of Major Stevens the then Demonstration Officer, then became the batman to the Commanding Officer Lt Co Wood and the Lt Col Hunter by which time the battalion were on their operational tour of Cyprus.
Mr Tiddy Ferris at the age of 88 died inSeptember 2022.He served with 1 Gloucester's and was very proud of his service. He was the standard bearer of the Gloucester branch and served on the committee for many years. He was also a sportive member of the RGBW Severn branch. He helped in the SOG museum and had a lot of regimental knowledge.
David Hill who served with 1 DERR, lost his battle with cancer and died on 8 October 2022. His funeral is being held at 14:10 hours on 27 October at Stourbridge Cemetery and Crematorium, 167 South Road, Stourbridge DY8 3RQ. The wake will be held after the service at The Birch Tree, Vicarage Road, Brierley Hill, DY5 2PS.
The family of Carl Geoffrey Hart, who served with the Wiltshire Regiment and was a member of the Salisbury Old Comrades Branch have informed us that he died on 26 September 2022 and his funeral was held on 10 October 2022 and asked that his friends and fellow veterans be informed.
We have just learnt that Chris Kaye, who served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment and carried on of the Colours on the amalgamation paraded of 1st and 2nd battalions The Royal Berkshire regiment after World War 2, died on 1 October 2022. Chris' funeral takes place on Friday 28 October at 14:30 hours at St Mary's Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU
Sadly, we have to report the passing of James Doull on 2 February 2022. James served with 1 Glosters as a National Service Subaltern (453163: 2nd Lieutenant) from 1957 to 1958 in Cyprus and Germany. These are the only details we presently have been given.
Our condolences and commiserations to the Family and his regimental colleagues
The Somerset Branch report it is their sad duty to inform the Association of passing of Tisha Ladds, beloved wife of Maj (Retd) William (Alan) Ladds, President Somerset branch of the Regimental Association and formerly 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. Tisha died peacefully in Wilton Hospital on Saturday 29th January 2022 after a brave fight against cancer. At the moment, but in line with her wishes, she will be cremated at Taunton, not before 20th February 2022.
Tisha Ladds will also be remembered for her time with 1 DERR when Major Alan Ladds served as the Demonstration Officer when the battalion were Demonstration Battalion, and then as a Company Commander in Osnabruck and N Ireland.
The Association send the Ladds' family their heartfelt condolences and commiserations.
The funeral of Ian Leather, whose passing was reported in the New Year News Sheet, will take place on 23 February at 14:30 hours at Easthampstead Park Cemetery, Bracknell, RG40 3DW. No flowers but donation if you wish to the Air Ambulance.
24908557 Marvin Grange, who served 1 Glosters/RGBW 1990/97 passed away on 2 February 2002. Marvin was assigned to RHQ Gloucester in 1994 to help with the preparations of the Tercentenary Event and was a well-respected member of the team.
24093378 David Hodge, who served with 1 Glosters, passed away on 12 January 2022. His funeral will take place on 7 February at Memorial Woodlands, Earthcott Green, Near Thornbury BS35 37A. Followed by a wake at the Swan Thornbury. 17 High St, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 2AE.
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
The Wardrobe, Salisbury
The Society of Friends
