Page 225 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

GARDNER, William John. Born 11 November 1927 and died 03 January 2017. Bill joined 8th Battalion the Durham Light (TA) aged 20, and served in C Company from 1947 until the disbandment of the regiment, rising to the rank of serjeant. Awarded TA Ef ciency Medal with Bar. Commended for his service by GOC (Northumbria) Infantry Division TA.
He divided his time between his TA duties,
his family life and working as a coal miner. Bill
was a keen lifetime shooter in both civilian
and military circles culminating in becoming
Battalion Champion Shot 1960 (plus taking numerous trophies in other small arms individual and team competitions). The cup took pride of place in his house.
Following disbandment of the battalion he became an adult instructor with Durham Army Cadet Force (again Badged DLI) which he maintained until work related ill health prevented him taking an active part in the cadet’s training. He instructed primarily at Stanley Detachment ACF but also ran the County shooting team for many years (up to Bisley level standard). He was awarded the Cadet Force medal. DLI through and through, which was evident by the regimental memorabilia and trophies he displayed in his residence. He will be missed by many.
HESLOP, Geoff. Died in August 2016 aged 70. Geoff served in D Coy 7LI.
HOARE, Roy. Died mid September 2016. He was a Bugler. He served with 1DLI in Korea, Hong Kong and Borneo. In retirement Roy was a very active veteran and attended most Reunions and Memorial occasions including visits to the graves in Korea. Being in the Bugle Section back at Regimental HQ Roy became the RSM’s Driver.
HUNTER, Benjamin. Died 3 November 2016. Served as a Bugler in the DLI.
HUNTER, Thursten (Rocky). Died 20 March 2016. Rocky served with 1st Cadet Battalion DLI and was also a member of South Shields Branch of the DLI Association.
HUTCHCRAFT, Barry. Born on 21 September 1943 and died on 15 May 2017. Barry served with 1DLI in Berlin, Hong Kong, Borneo, and UK in the Regimental Police. He was awarded the GSM with Borneo clasp and was a member of the Stockton Branch of the DLI Association.
JOBES, Septimus Bainbridge. Died 10 November 2015 aged 70 years old. Served with the DLI, 70th Brigade.
LAMBERT, Dominic. Died 4 August 2016. Dominic joined the DLI in 1952 when he was 19 years old. In 1953 he was sent to Korea with 2DLI, where he was injured and shot.
MATTHEWS, Christopher C. Died 29 April 2017. It is with great sadness we report the sudden death of RSM Chris(Slim) Matthews on 29th April 2017. Unfortunately Chris was only given his diagnosis four weeks prior to his death, 8 days of this he was uncon- scious! The funeral took place at Houghton le Spring St Michaels and All Angels Church on 10th May 2017, where many LI, DLI members were guard of honour. The service at Durham Crematorium was for family and close friends, but was again well attended.
Christopher was born in Penzance in 1944. His father died when Chris was very young and he was raised by his mother and grand- mother. Prior to joining the regular army in 1964 attached to the SCLI, Chris was an army cadet and territorial army soldier.
Chris travelled extensively with 1LI with tours in Berlin, South Yemen, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Belize, Canada, Hong Kong, Brunei and Cyprus. He lived in many quarters during this time. During this time he guarded Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison. He was also one of the rst soldiers on the ground in Northern Ireland and was a few years ago involved in a BBC documentary with ex 1LI soldiers about their time in Northern Ireland.
His exemplary discharge papers stated. “Matthews has had an outstanding career, serving 24 years and achieved the highest rank of a soldier WO1 being RSM in 1LI and 7LI. He was responsible for 650 man workforce with an annual turnover of £5m. He was exceptionally successful at his job. He is intelligent, articulate and has well developed powers of leadership and management. He is utterly loyal, reliable, honest and trustworthy.
He left the Army after a short spell at the Hythe Ranges and shortly afterwards was appointed RSM at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
He was married to Valerie in 1967 and had two boys Philip and Simon. In 1993 he married Christine, and had two step children, Lisa and Richard. He moved to Durham in 1992 to work as Captain in the Durham Army Cadet Force and was there until his retirement.
While in Durham, he attended most DLI reunion weekends reuniting with old friends and he made new comrades with staff working with the Cadets, he was a true dedicated soldier. Army was his life and passion.
Last November, he paraded at the Cenotaph in London, with the Aden Veterans, deciding he would join the LI in their march past in 2018. Sadly this wasn’t to be.
He was a truly devoted granddad to his seven grandchildren, Rebecca, Hannah, Harry, Josh, Megan, Beth and Sam, who recip- rocated that admiration. He was immensely proud of his wife and family and their achievements.
The love he had for his family and the love they had for him, will never wain. He will be sadly missed. A true hero.
NICHOLSON, J B 8DLI James Baker (Tim) died 30 June 2017 at the age of 96 following a short illness.
He was born on the 19 November 1920 and spent his early years living in Low Fell. Before being schooled at St. Bees School in Cumbria. Upon leaving school he commenced a career in the mining industry but enlisted at the outbreak of war, being commissioned into the DLI.
Tim was on active service for the duration
of the Seond World War. He narrowly
missed being caught up in the evacuation at
Dunkirk in 1940, after which he was garrisoned in Iceland. In early June1944 he landed in Normandy with the regiment, which formed part of the 49th (Polar Bear) division under General Montgomery. He commanded a troop of Bren gun carriers, and is mentioned in the DLI regimental history.
He was involved for some weeks in erce ghting to the west of Caen before being seriously wounded. Following a 12 month stay in hospital, Tim made a virtually full recovery and lived in County Durham until 1987, when he moved to Farnham with his wife Maureen.
He was recently awarded the rank of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the Republique Francaise in recognition of his service in Normandy in 1944 during the liberation of France, an award of which he was quietly proud.
Following the war, Tim had a long career with the National Coal Board before retiring in the mid-seventies. He was a keen gardener and an enthusiastic golfer, and was still on the fairways into his 90s.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 223