Rest in Peace

1973 - 1990

William ( Lanto ) Kemp. - died 24th.March 1990 aged 67yrs. Enlisted into DCLI as a Band Boy in 1937, initially posted to 2nd.Bn. at Blackdown, soon after posted to 1st.Bn. in India. In 1940 returned to the Regimental Depot in Bodmin, from there he rejoined the reconstituted 1st.Bn. in the UK. he remained continuously with the Band of the DCLI. and on amalgamation with the Band of 1 SCLI until his discharge from the army in 1962 with the rank of Band Sgt.

Harry Wight - died Nov. 1989 - SomLI - SCLI - he served in WW2 awarded 1939-45 Star - Africa Star - Burma Star - . Defence Medal - Victory Medal.
So he was in at the very beginning of WW2 , and was still in at the end. Harry was very proud of the Somersets.

A another great character (Cpl Harry Wright) and one of "Major Meredith's boys"

To read the Obituary of Brig.William Hine-Haycock FRPSL. DL. - Died 14th.September 1989 aged 71yrs. 2nd.CO SCLI.

Maj. QM. Albert William Frederick ( Jack ) Frost - died 9th August 1989,aged 72yrs. Enlisted into the Som.LI. in 1935, and after a brief spell with the 2nd.Bn. at Colchester, he joined the 1st.Bn. in India. He served with the 1st.Bn.for the next 11yrs, including operation's in Burma during WW2. He was promoted through the rank's and as ORQMS. he was a member of the Escort to the Colours party when the 1st.Bn. marched through the gateway to India prior to leaving India. In 1951 he was posted to 1 DCLI. as ORQMS. serving in Minden and the West Indies.

In 1955 he returned to 1st.Bn.Som.LI. in Plymouth as RQMS. and later moved with the Bn. to Malta and Cyprus. He was commissioned in 1957 as the 2nd. QM. and MTO. to the 1st.Bn. in Plymouth and Warminster, this was followed by a tour as QM.to the TA. Bn. at Bath. Following the amalgamation in 1959, he was QM. with 1 SCLI. in Gibraltar, Berlin and Gravesend from 1961-66. He was then posted to the LI. Depot at Shrewsbury as QM. and retired from this post in 1968 having completed 33yrs. service.

Ben Dunster, RSM. - died 27th March 1989, aged 62yrs. Enlisted into the DCLI in 1946. After service in Greece, Malaya and Mogadiscio he returned to the Regimental Depot at Bodmin in 1954 having been promoted up to the rank of Sgt. He was later posted to RMA. Sandhurst as CQMS. and then to 1DCLI in Osnabruck as CSM. of C Coy. and after amalgamation with 1 SCLI. In 1961 he was posted to the Regt.Depot as CSM Training Coy. and from there to the LI. Depot at Pontefract. He was then posted to the LI. Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury as RSM. Later he was posted to 1 KSLI. in Singapore and Malaysia. He retired from the army and later was fighting ill health and unfortunately not seen by his army friends. He was a muched love father of his children, Christopher and Lisa.

Field Marshal Lord Harding of Petherton GCB CBE DSO MC KStJ. - Died 20/01/1989. To read the Obituary of : Field Marshal Lord Harding of Petherton

Reginald John Henry Fudge, - Died 18th. December 1988, aged 49yrs. Enlisted into the SCLI in 1962 and served in Gibraltar, Berlin, Gravesend and Aden. ( Unfortunately very brief details recorded in the Silver Bugle )

Capt. Kenneth Brice, - died 9th September 1988, aged 68yrs. Enlisted into the RAPC in 1940 and after a few month's transferred to the Som.LI. Served with the 7th.Bn. throughout the campaign in North West Europe. By the end of the war he had been promoted up to the rank of Sgt. He was later promoted to CSM. and served with the 7th.Bn. and then the 1st.Bn. in BAOR. He was then posted to the KOYLI and served in Malaya and again Germany. He was commissioned into the Som.LI. as QM. in February 1959 and served in that capacity with the 1st.Bn. and after amalgamation with the SCLI and Som.LI. TA. until his retirement in October 1964.

Maj. Stanley Frederick Pine, MSM. - died 9th. August 1988, aged 75yrs. Enlisted into the DCLI. in the 1930's and posted to the 1st Bn. in Dinapore, The Andaman Islands and Muzzafarpur. He was promoted up to the rank of Sgt.and was posted as PSI.to a Platoon of 4/5th. DCLI serving on the Isles of Scilly. On mobilisation he went initially to 4 DCLI, then in 1943 he was posted to 2 DCLI in Italy and promoted to RSM. After the war he returned to 4/5th. DCLI. In 1954 he was awarded the MSM. and the same year he was commissioned as QM. at the Regt. Depot at Bodmin. In 1957 he was posted to 1 DCLI. and he served first at Bodmin then Osnabruck and after amalgamation with SCLI. He retired from the army in 1965, but was immediately re-employed by TAVRA as QM. Cornwall AFC. He finally retired in 1977 having served the Crown for 45yrs.

Maj. Alec Bruce Whale - died 25th. December 1987,aged 65yrs. Prior to the commencement of WW2 he was due to go to Durham University, the war intervened however and he found himself in training with the 10th. Devons. He was then commissioned into the KAR. serving in Burma with the 1/6th. Tanganyka Rifles.
Immediately after the war he transferred to the DCLI and was posted to 5 DCLI in Germany. He was later posted to 1 DCLI in British Somaliland. There followed another long period of secondment with the 7th. Kenya Rifles and the 6th.Tanganyka Rifles in Nairobi and Mauritius. He was posted to 1 SCLI in Osnabruck shortly before the Bn. returned to the UK. and based at Seaton Barracks, Plymouth. He was for a short period of time the OC. C Coy. He retired within a few month's of the Bn. returning to
the UK.

John ( Jack ) Cook - died 21st.December 1987, aged 55yrs. Was called up for NS. completed his service, returned to civvy street and after a very brief break, enlisted into the Som.LI. and served with this Regt. then following amalgamation, with 1 SCLI and later the LI. from 1956-1973 in UK. Osnabruck, Gibraltar, Aden,Cyprus and Norway. He was an outstanding Buglar and took part in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and many Regimental event's including 4 Tattoo's in his home city of Bath. His last appointment before leaving the army in 1973 was Bugle Major at the LI. Depot Shrewsbury.

William Dyer - died July 1987 (date not given) aged 50yrs. Enlisted into Som.LI. and served with this Regt. then following amalgamation with 1 SCLI. in the UK. and Osnabruck from 1957-1960.

David Ead, Inspector RUC. - Murdered by Provisional IRA. on 20th. April 1987 in Newcastle, County Down. David was a Plymouth man who enlisted into the SCLI. in 1967. He served in Northern Ireland as a member of the Signals Platoon. He was discharged from the army in 1970 and returned to Northern Ireland where he joined the RUC., he worked his way up through the ranks from Const, Sgt to Inspector. He was wounded when the IRA. bombed the Ulster Polytechnic killing two constables. He won three commendations. His community work in Newcastle will always be remembered with affection by the community, and its very success in reconciling religious differences was probably the reason for his assassination. He left a widow and two daughters.

Sidney George Bawden - Died Apr 1987 aged 47 at Taunton Deane Somerset - George as he was known was from the Somerset levels and was a withy grower. He was part of the Somerset DLI draft and spent his NS service with SCLI as a driver. He leaves a daughter Anthea.

Cyril Newcombe Sgt. - died 19th. June 1986, aged 66yrs. Enlisted into the Som.LI. in 1938. He served at the Depot and with the 1st. 2nd. and 5th. Bn's during and after WW2. He left the army in 1946 but after a short period of time he re-enlisted into the Som.LI. He subsequently served as a Provost NCO and then as a Provost Sgt. in Som.LI and later SCLI. He served in Austria, Borden, Germany and the Middle East.

Robert Bevil Stacey, Pte. 23901140 - died 17th. June 1986, aged 41yrs. Enlisted into SCLI at the age of 17yrs. in 1962 and served for 6yrs. including Aden and Germany. Left the army in 1968.

Capt.John Peters-Dickie - ( known as PD ) died 28th. April 1986, aged 55yrs. Educated at St.Pauls and RMA Sandhurst. Commissioned into the DCLI in 1951 and joined the 1st. Bn. at Bulford. In 1953 he was posted to the Regt.as a Training Subaltan, later he was posted to 1 KSLI. in Kenya. There then followed a period spent at the War Office after which he returned to the Regt.Depot as Adjutant. He resigned his commission in 1963.

Raymond ( Dick ) Orum.CSM. - died 27th. October 1985, aged 56yrs. Enlisted into the KOYLI ( no date given ) and later transferred into the DCLI. He served in Malaya, Germany, West Indies and Berlin. He also served two tour's of duty at the Regt. Depot at Bodmin. Following amalgamation he served with the SCLI and became a greatly respected figure of the Bn. He retired from the army in 1969.

Robert James Jones C/Sgt - died 20th. April !985,aged 67yrs. Enlisted into the Som.LI.in 1936. Prior to WW2 he served at the Depot and with both the 1st. and 2nd Bn's. During the war he saw active service with Som.LI. in Burma and North Africa. After the war he served with the Regt. in Germany, Singapore and the Middle East. At the time of the amalgamation he was serving at the Regt. Depot and he was the
NCO. featured in No:1 Dress of the SCLI on the front cover of the Light Bob magazine.
He retired from the army in 1962 after 26yrs.service.

FIRBANK, Cecil Llewelyn (1903-1985), Major General - Colonel of the Regiment 1963 to 1968

Geoffrey Ronald Walker - RQMS.died 16th. June 1984,aged 55yrs.At the time of his death he was the Chief Clerk at the LI.Office, Taunton. Enlisted into Som.LI. and following training was posted in 1947 to the 2nd.Bn. in Austria where he was employed as the Typist to the Adjutant. ( who was at the time the Regt.Sec.) He subsequently served in clerical post's in the 2nd.Bn. later the 1st.Bn.and the Regt.Depot, during this period he was promoted through the ranks and in 1960, following amalgamation he was
posted to the Regt.Depot of the SCLI at Bodmin as RQMS. He held a variety of other senior clerical post's within the army before retiring in 1976 having served for 28yrs. Not content with this he enlisted into the 8th.UDR.as RQMS and held that post until leaving in 1981 and joining the LI. Office at Taunton.

Capt. Harold F. Royyfe MBE. - died 30 November 1982,aged 65yrs.Enlisted into the 4th Bn.DCLI.in 1940 later moved to the 1st. Bn. and during WW2 served with the Bn.in the Middle East. In 1946 he was promoted to RSM. From 1948-50 he was posted to the 4/5th Bn.DCLI(TA). He was then posted back to the 1st.Bn. as RSM. serving in Germany and Jamaica. In 1957 he was posted to the Regt. Depot as RSM and was in post when the amalgamation took place and it became the Regt. Depot of the SCLI.
He was awarded the MBE n 1959. In 1960 he was commissioned into the DLI.and posted to Berlin where he was at first the Messing Officer and then the MTO. He remained as MTO when the Bn. moved to Hong Kong.In 1965 he was posted back to 1 SCLI and went with the Bn. For their Tour in Aden. He retired from the army in 1967.

Maj J.P.Jordan (forenames not given) - died 29th August 1981,aged 55yrs.Enlisted into DCLI as a boy soldier in 1941 and served in that Regt. and with Som.LI. and following amalgamation with 1 SCLI until 1967 when he retired after 26yrs.service. During this time he was an Orderly Room Clerk and was promoted through the ranks to Sgt. In the 1950's he was the Officers Mess Sgt.with 1 DCLI in Minden. He later served as PSI with the 4/5th.Bn.DCLI from 1955-57 then in the same post with Som LI.(TA) from 1961-67 and with the Somerset Yeomanry from 1967-68. From 1969-70 he was the School Staff Instructor (RSM) with the Monkton Combe School CCF. He was Commissioned into the Somerset ACF. in 1969 and then in 1974 he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Gloucester AFC. He retired from this post due to ill health in June 1981.

Joseph Henry Thomas - Died 1980 (month and date not given)aged 69yrs. Enlisted into the DCLI in 1930 and served with the Regt. in India and Iraq. During the war he served with the DCLI in the Western Desert as part of the 8th.army. He was taken prisoner in June 1942 south of Tobruk. In 1943 he escaped from the POW camp in Italy where he was intered but was recaptured. He returned at the end of the war to England and following further service with the DCLI he was discharged in 1948 after 18yrs service.
In 1950 he re-enlisted into the DCLI and served with that Regt. at various postings up until the amalgamation in Osnabruck. He the served with 1 SCLI until he retired in 1962 having attained the rank of CSM. He had served a total of 30yrs.

Maj. Michael Charles Watts - died 22nd. September 1979, tragically whilst in Hospital aged 59yrs. Enlisted into the army in 1939 and served during the war with the 6th.Bn. Som.LI. and the Kings African Rifles. After the war he returned to SomLI and in 1946 he served with the 2nd. Bn.in Greece and Austria, later he was posted to the LI. Training Bn. at Borden. From 1949-51 he was posted to the Regt. Depot at Taunton as the Depot Capt. In 1951 he left for a 2nd. tour with the KAR and on completion of this tour he returned to 1 Som LI. in UK and later moved with the Bn. to Malta and Cyprus.
Following the amalgamation he served in Osnabruck with 1 SCLI until December 1959 when he retired from the army due to increased deafness.

WO2 Michael Albert John (Baggy) Burford - 23038919 - 30th April 1978 aged 44yrs. Enlisted into TA on 1st. July 1951.Served with 255 (Medium) Regiment Royal Artillery. Later called up for National Sevice and served with 1 Som, LI .in Malaya and UK until discharge in 1956. 1st.January 1958 rejoined 1st. Som LI. as a regular soldier, moved to Osnabruck on amalgamation. Served with the Bn. in Gibraltar, Berlin, Canada, Norway, Aden and Northern Ireland. On formation of 1LI. served in Lemgo, Colchester, again in Northern Ireland and Tidworth. Baggy was presented with the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, besides Malaya, South Arabia and Northern Ireland GSM.

(Annegret Burford died on Monday 8th August 2016. Annegret was the widow of John Burford (Baggy) who died in 1978 aged 44. Annegret was a regular attendee of the annual SCLI/LI/Rifles reunion held in Taunton.