Page 129 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
During his time in Scotland, he undertook training as a Sherman DD tank driver and in preparation for the D-Day landings.
On the morning of 6 June 1944 he was part of the regiment’s A squadron - arguably the first Allied forces that morning to land by sea at Sword Beach .
He continued to be involved in fierce fighting in Normandy during June-July 1944 and later in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
At the end of the war, he was stationed with the Regiment at Wolfenbüttel. He always said that the German barracks were so much better than ours! He was demobbed in 1947; returning to his former employer John Dickinson - the makers of Basildon Bond stationery.
He married his wife Irene in 1950 and they subsequently had two sons.
In the mid-1950s he joined Ford Motor Co working on the production line at Dagenham - Anglias (100E and then 105E) and later the Cortina. At about the same time, he moved from Tottenham to South Benfleet in Essex.
In 1964 he was transferred to Ford’s new tractor plant at Basildon where he worked as a production line inspector until his retirement in the early 1980s.
Soon after moving to Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea in 1980, his wife sadly died. He then lived alone; caring for his bungalow and garden and walking his dog(s). To be close to his eldest son, Ronald moved into a Colchester nursing home in January 2023. Until late 2022, he had been very fit and active and totally self reliant. Even at 95 he was still able to walk around a golf course.
In 2004, he returned to Normandy with other veterans from the Regiment to mark the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
Like other D-Day Veterans, he was later awarded France’s Légion d’honneur.
To coincide with his 95th birthday, Light Dragoons Colonel-in-Chief HM King Abdullah II of Jordan kindly and gener- ously contributed to a hand-written Regimental birthday card.
Ronald passed away in July 2023 at the age of 99, just 96 days short of his 100th birthday.
He is survived by his two sons, five grandchildren and, now, four great grand
Mr G M Norman
Died 10 September 2023
Served 1975 – 1988
George Miles Norman was the son Of George and Leteesia, Husband of Kay, Father of Lee, Shane and
Kiri, Grandfather and GreatGrandfather. StepBrother to Derek and Sandra.
Born in Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire.
George left school at 15 and joined the Merchant Navy. He then became a coal miner and joined The 13th/18th Royal Hussars in 1975. Posted to Germany twice, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and England twice before leaving in 1988, where he moved back to Bolton-on-Dearne, working for Yorkshire Traction.
George then worked for Millicom moving to Darlington in 1990 where he stayed until his death, working for the various incarnations of Millicom due to takeovers including Hutchison Telecom, Orange and EE until his retirement in 2015.
George suffered with ill-health from 2000, but didn’t allow that to affect his love of travel, taking many foreign holidays with Kay and the Grandchildren until he was no longer able to, and then coach holidays in the UK with friends when his health allowed.
George was widowed in 2008 which hit him hard, never remarrying, but was kept busy with his Grandchildren Joshua, Ryan, Sophia, Shanie, Georgia, George-Thomas, Shaneese and Paris with their visits inter- rupting his viewing of the horse racing or moaning about the latest Sheffield Wednesday defeat but regularly taking advantage of their youthful knowledge of technology and getting them to constantly sort out his phones and tablets (“why would I bother and mess them up when they know what they’re doing” was his mantra). George also used to attend The Lakes Social club in Redcar weekly until that too became too much for him.
It would give him a lift when old friends and comrades visited him, talking fondly of them to his family, and also when his great- grandchildren would come to visit too.
One of Georges proudest moments was when he was told his Granddaughter Sophia had graduated with a First class Degree from Huddersfield University and was going to further study a Masters in Nursing, the first in his immediate family to do so.
George was a fiercely independent and proud man but loving to his family, always available for comfort, advice and just being there whenever needed.
George died at home and the family were touched when the Regiment organised the Regimental Colours to be present at his funeral in Darlington along with his comrades in attendance.
Mr F A Fothergill
Died 15 September 2023 Served 1957- 1959
Mr M J Rajczyk
Died 6 October 2023 Served 1968 – 1990
Mick passed away 6th Oct 2023, leaving behind his wife Marion and children Shelley & Dale along with 6 grandchildren & 9
great grandchildren. Mick was a well liked character within the regiment and friends in his surrounding area of Armthorpe in Doncaster.
During his Army career he served in every squadron and his favourite was C Squadron in the early 70’s. He displayed his leadership qualities and moved up in the ranks.
He enjoyed fishing and just socialising within his community.
Family was his first & foremost his main priority and he was always the calm one that held things together & this was very much the same within the regiment.
He was generous in giving whatever he could to all his family and he gave them all his full support in whatever it may have been.
Mick will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
LN
daughters.
GG
Stan joined the Regiment in 1962, just under his 18th birthday, whilst they were stationed at Fallingbostel. He found a posting to Kirkcudbright which he was a young and able representive. On returning to regimental duty he found his niche in administrative roles mainly serving the regiment in the Regimental Quartermasters and Squadron Quatermasters stores, carrying out various tasks. On promotion he was a well liked and eager member of the Corporals Mess, often carrying out the job of mess caterer/barman. Stan completed his service in 1985 leaving for a well-earned rest from Regimental life.
Viret in Aeternum.
Mr S Platt
Served 1962 – 1985 Died 6 November 2023
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