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Cotmanhay Borough and served as Mayor of Erewash 1996–97. Peter was a member of the Chair of Governors for several local schools in his borough, was a member of the Board of Directors for Ilkeston Cooperative, a committee member of the Allotment Committee and Cotmanhay New Cottage Gardens Association and honorary member of Radio Robin at Ilkeston Community Hospital. He was also a founder member and Secretary of the Ilkeston WFRA Branch.
303231 Capt Kenneth William ‘Johnny’ Johnson of Southend on Sea, Essex died on 31st January 2012 aged 91. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery and served in North Africa then transferred
to the 2nd/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters in October 1944, whilst they
were in Italy and was appointed OC A Coy. He was involved in the last battles of the Gothic Line Assault, he then moved with the Battalion to Greece, Italy and Austria. For 25 years he attended and helped run every reunion of the 2nd/5th Battalion.
Evan Jones died 19th December 2011 aged 92
Peter Jones died 27th May 2012. 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, Suez 1953–54
Edward Kelvey died in County Durham
on 16th April 2012 aged 93. Ted was born in Sheffield, but grew up in Great Barr
and enlisted into The North Staffordshire Regiment in September 1939. He transferred to the 1st/ 6th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment and was
with them throughout their numerous moves within UK and Northern Ireland between 1940–44. The Battalion deployed to Normandy and went into action in the attack at Galmanche, in which they took very heavy casualties. Later the Battalion took part in the capture of Caen. He was wounded by artillery fire on 6th August, which was immediately before the 59 Divisional assault on the Orne Crossing,
so we think he may have been in a concentration area at the time. He returned to the front in November and was posted
to 7th Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and took part in Reichwald Battle and
the advance through Germany. In 2009
Ted visited the Staffordshire Regiment Museum with his daughter Christine and her husband. He was lovely man and an article was written about him in The Stafford Knot 2010 (page 5). After the war, Ted was told that his Battalion had been disbanded because they were a load of cowards. The Museum Research Team was able to prove that 59 Division was disbanded because every British Division was under strength following weeks of intensive fighting. The expedient solution adopted at the time, was to disband a Division and reallocate the manpower throughout Second Army. 59 Division were selected because they were the junior division and their fighting record
and the fact they had the lowest desertion rate, was not taken into consideration. Ted was very grateful for this confirmation and returned to Durham a prouder and happier man. After the war, Ted married a Durham woman and together they raised a family. He was buried in the Methodist Chapel in Shildon Co. Durham on 26th April.
23682623 Cpl Brian ‘Buster’ Kimmons of Bolsover, Derbyshire died on 9th September 2012 aged 72. He served with B Coy, 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters in Malaya between 1958–61and deployed as a member of the UN
Peacekeeping Force to Cyprus in 1964, he left the Army on 7 October 1964.
John King of Alfreton, Derbyshire on 25th December 2011 aged 66. John served with The Sherwood Foresters from 1965–1970.
Maj Henry Kingham died 19 Mar 2012 in Nice. Ex 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment
14165488 Sgt Stephen Kinson of Ilkeston, Derbyshire died on
23rd June 2012 aged 88. He enlisted in April 1947 into the 2nd Battalion The Sherwood Foresters in Nathania, Palestine. He was seconded in May 1949 to the 2nd
Battalion, The Royal Leicestershire Regiment and served in Hong Kong and Korea. He returned to UK in July 1952 and in December 1952 he was posted back to the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters and then served in BAOR, Malaya, UK and Cyprus. He left the Army in April 1969 and worked for Ilkeston Town Council as the keeper of the Town Hall and Mace Bearer. He was a founder member and former Secretary of the Ilkeston Branch Sherwood Foresters Association and WFRA.
24191742 Sergeant Raymond Kitchen
who served in D Company, 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Volunteers), Nottingham sadly died on 16th April 2007 aged 65.
Gordon (Shady) Lane died 19th December 2011 aged 75, He served in the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 1955–56 Corps of Drums
22219593 WO2 Ivor J Langstone MBE
of Uttoxeter died on 12th September 2012 aged 85. Ivor served with the Royal Air Force during his National Service and on discharge in 1948, he joined the 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment TA. He then transferred to the Regular Army in July 1958 and served with the 1st
Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment in the Caribbean, N Africa, BAOR, Gibraltar, Tobruk, Cyprus, N Ireland and UK. He
remained with the regiment on amalgamation in 1970. In 1972 he served in Berlin as Weapons Training Warrant Officer with 1st Battalion, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Command Coy. He also served with B Company 1st Battalion Mercian Volunteers as their Senior PSI and was a major influence in the development
of the Company, where he was an excellent PSI and a very good ambassador of
the Regiment. He left 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment on 19 December 1977. His funeral was held at Stafford Crematorium on 27th September 2012.
WO2 Lawrence Lawley MM died on 10th July after a stroke, aged 93. Lawrence
was originally from Tamworth and served with 6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment during WW2. We know he was with them in Hartlepool, which would
mean he was serving in 1940 and was with his Battalion on their numerous moves in UK and Northern Ireland, prior to landing in Normandy. On the 8th July 1944 his Battalion attacked the village of Galamanche-La Bijunde as part of Operation Charnwood.
His citation reads as follows:-
“This WO was CSM of the left forward attacking company on the morning of
8th July 1944. By 0630 hrs his Company Commander and all Platoon Commanders were wounded or missing, and took no further part in the action. CSM Lawley showed great coolness and courage,
and moving around under very heavy machine gun and mortar fire re-organised the Company. At approximately 0800 hrs, he was severely wounded in the shoulder but continued in command of the company for at least half an hour and organised forward fire positions for PIATs to deal with enemy machine gun and sniper posts situated in derelict tanks. He then collapsed. His coolness and leadership under heavy fire and powers of endurance when severely wounded setting a magnificent example which was particularly needed at this juncture of the battle.
He married a women who came from Hartlepool, who he met during the
War. They moved to Sunderland and
had a daughter. He is survived by his Grandchildren. He attended many Past & Present Dinners of the Warrant Officers’ Colour Sergeants’ and Sergeants’ Mess. His funeral took place at St. Joseph’s Church, Sunderland on Thursday 19th July. Lt Fitzpatrick represented the Mercian Regiment, he was joined by Colonel Willmore and C/Sgt Hedges who drove up from Stafford with LCpl Watchman V.
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