Page 61 - Bugle No. 17 Spring 2021

NORTH
KOYLI veteran
celebrates 101st
Birthday
Fred Adamson, a King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) veteran and
a Legion d’Honneur recipient who saw action with 1/4th Bn The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) in Normandy and through Northern France into Belgium, celebrated his 101st birthday on the 15th of November. We believe this makes Fred the oldest surviving KOYLI soldier. Before the pandemic hit Fred was a regular at Association events and as a special celebration bugle calls were sounded by Kev Fawcett from the Veteran Buglers Association and the Minden House Buglers. Kev, a former Warrant Officer Class 2 with the 2LI was never a bugler in the battalion; he taught himself to play using the bugle he was presented with on leaving the Army.
Mr Fred Adamson
L to R: Major (Retired) George McBride, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
Graham Whitmore, Major (Retired) Derek Searby, Colin Cranswick
Recognition award to Major (Rtd) Derek Searby CBE TD
A Certificate of Recognition awarded by Major General Charlie Collins, The Rifles Colonel North and Midlands and President of the Association was presented to Major (Retired) Derek Searby in special recog- nition of exceptional service over many years culminating as Vice-Chairman of the Trustees and as Chairman of Branches of The Rifles, Light Infantry and KOYLI Association.
At a small ceremony at Derek’s home Lieu- tenant Colonel (Retired) Graham Whitmore, the Vice President of the Association and Chairman of the KOYLI Regimental Association Trustees, presented the framed Certificate of
Recognition to Derek and thanked him for his commitment to the Association. Also present were Major (Retired) George McBride TD, Secretary of the Pontefract Branch and Colin Cranswick the Association Secretary and Standard Bearer. In thanking the Association Derek wrote:
“Thank you very much for the award of the first of the certificates which you have created. The presentation today, led by Graham, was
a moving experience. I feel most flattered to receive it and am grateful for the recognition of my past efforts”.
I feel most flattered to receive it and am grateful for the recognition
2ND BATTALION THE LIGHT INFANTRY QUEENS AND REGIMENTAL COLOURS RESTORED
After seeing the 1971
2nd Battalion The Light Infantry (2LI) Colours in the Officers’ Mess at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, Major (Retired) David Jarratt, himself ex 2LI, resolved to regain posses- sion of the Colours and restore them for display. Thanks to his dedication and a grant from the KOYLI Association Trustees they are now fully restored, encased in museum quality glass cases, and are bound for the KOYLI Gallery in the new museum in Doncaster. Our thanks to David Jarratt on behalf of all ex 2LI servicemen and the Association for his very generous efforts.
Major (Retired) David Jarratt with the refurbished 2LI
1971 Queens and Regimental Colours
RIFLES The Bugle 61