Page 86 - Mercian Eagle Year of 2023

STEVENSON
Cpl (possibly Sgt) Keith STEVENSON died on 8 June 2023 aged 89. Keith served
as a National Serviceman as well as with D Coy and F (HSF) Coy 3b WFR. He was discharged on 5 May 1988.
SUMMERS
Clive SUMMERS died on 19th January 2023. He served with B Company, 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment between 1979 – 1993. His funeral took place on 24th March at St Editha’s Church in Tamworth.
SWEENEY
Kennard SWEENEY died on 15th July 2023. He served with The Staffordshire Regiment. His funeral took place on 16th August at the Seven Day Adventist Church in Handsworth.
TAYLOR
Reginald ‘Reg’ Victor TAYLOR, of Cheltenham, died on 26 June 2023 aged 97. It is believed that Reg served with The WORC R from the age of 18 and he may have served for 4 or
6 years, in France and Italy.
TOPLISS
LCpl Nigel J ‘Toppa’ TOPLISS died on 27 May 2023 aged 66. Toppa enlisted with 1 WFR in 1975 and served in
B Coy and Mortar Pl, Sp Coy in Belize, Ni and Germany. He was discharged on 18
TURNBULL
Sgt Ian TURNBULL died
on 26 May 2023 in Canada, aged 92. Born in Worcester, he enlisted as a Bandboy at Norton Bks in February 1946 aged 15. In October 1947
the Regtal Band, with the
Bandboys, joined 1 WORC R in Luneburg where, still a Bandboy, he joined the Band to replace the only percussionist who had left. He moved to Berlin, by now a Bandsman, with the Bn in 1948. The Bn returned to UK before sailing for Malaya in June 1950. The Band returned to Norton Bks in 1952 and following the Bn’s return in 1953, joined them in Bulford where Ian was promoted
to Sgt. In February 1957 they sailed for the West Indies where the band was based in Jamaica. During the tour, he returned to the UK for discharge at his 12 year point. He later emigrated to Canada and joined the Canadian Army.
WAKEFIELD
Sgt Donald Keith WAKEFIELD died on 2 January 2023 aged 91. Donald enlisted with The Sherwood Foresters on 21 October 1946. Donald was awarded the LS&GC in
October 1964. From 1970 he served with 1 WFR until 1974 before completing service as one of the first Estate Wardens in BAOR from 1974 until his discharge in 1987.
WARD
CSgt Donald Wilfred WARD died on 25 January 2023 aged 95. Donald originally enlisted into the GSC and transferred to 1st Bn The Sherwood Foresters on 13 February 1947 and served
with A Coy in Malaya in 1958. He went on to serve with other Coy’s and was on MMG’s with Sp Pl. He was awarded the GSM clasp Malaya, UN Cyprus, LS&GC and Pingat Jasa medals. Donald served for 22 years and was discharged in 1969.
WARREN
Pte Edward ‘Ted’ G WARREN of Chesterfield, died on 1 January 2023 aged 49. Ted enlisted into the Army in June 1991 and served in NI and held the GSM NI. He was discharged on 22 June 1996. It is believed that Ted was a Junior Leader and when he joined 1 WFR, was in Drums Pl
B Coy.
WATERLAND
Captain Roy WATERLAND served in The Mercian Volunteers and later with 3rd Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment. His funeral took place in Anglesey Chapel on 23 March 2023.
WILKINSON
Paul WILKINSON died on 11th January 2023. He served with the 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment.
WOODWARD
Lee WOODWARD tragically died from injuries received from an unprovoked attack in Stoke-on-Trent, which took place in June 2022. He suffered permanent brain damage and died in hospital on 15 June 2023. Lee who was 39, served with 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment and was with them in Iraq. His attacker was sentenced and imprisoned. Lee was from Meir in Stoke- on-Trent and his funeral took place at Carmountside Crematorium in the city.
WOOLRICH
Dave WOOLRICH died on 23rd June. He served with The Staffordshire Regiment.
His funeral took place on 14th July at Carmountside Crematorium, Stoke-on-Trent.
WORTH
Harold ‘Harry’ WORTH was a private in 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment and served with C Company in Londonderry during the 18-month tour of 1979-81. He later served in Weeton, Gibraltar, Colchester, South Armagh and Fallingbostel. He will be remembered as a cheerful individual who was generally popular with those he worked with. He died on 23 August 2023 and his funeral took place at Bretby Crematorium, near Burton on 21 September 2023.
WYSOCZAN
Jason WYSOCZAN was born on 8th November 1987 and tragically died in a road traffic accident on 2nd July 2023, aged thirty-five. He was brought up in Biddulph in Staffordshire and after leaving school attended the Public Service Course at Cauldon College in Stoke-on-Trent. He then worked for Airbags International in Congleton and it was here that he played soccer with Robbie Williams. Next, he enlisted into 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, in 1986. When he was doing his basic training at ITC Catterick, he received the dreadful news that his older brother Johnathon, had been critically wounded
in Basra. Johnathon subsequently died of his wounds a few days later. Overnight, Jason went from being a private soldier undergoing training, to assisting his father Dany, with planning his brother’s funeral. He was extremely stoic in the weeks that followed. Afterwards, Jason was given time to come to terms with the loss of his brother and after a suitable pause, continued
with basic training and in time, passed out. By this time, the merger had taken place and Jason served with 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in Tidworth and Fallingbostel. Later he served with the 1st Battalion, in Catterick. He left the Army
in 2013 and became an HGV driver. He worked for various companies over several years and eventually settled for a local firm. Meanwhile he married his wife Sarah and they had two children, Jeadon and Lacey. He also had a step daughter, Alycia. Jason’s funeral took place on 24th July 2023 at
St. Lawrence Church Biddulph, the same church where his elder brother’s funeral was held. The church was packed and Jason was buried a few yards away from his brother. WO2 Richard Joynes and three local soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment attended on behalf of the Colonel of the Regiment. Other former members of the regiment were in attendance. The owner of the HGV firm where he worked arrived
in a heavy goods vehicle, a gesture which was appreciated by the congregation. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with the Wysoczan family, particularly his father Dany and his partner Debbie, his wife Sarah and their family and his mother Lesley.
May 1981.
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