Page 253 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

EAGLES – Mr Anthony Paul (Tony) MBE has died in 2016 aged 87. His seventeenth birthday coincided with VJ Day and in October 1945 he joined the Army. By July 1946 he had joined B Coy 2nd Glosters in Berlin. A move to the Intelligence Section followed. First and Second Battalions amalgamated in Jamaica in 1948. Tony was on parade that day along with many friends with whom he would travel to Korea. Before then he was posted to the R HAMPS but managed to get himself returned to the Glosters in 1950. Being a ne bugler and all round sportsman, he joined the Corps of Drums.
The subsequent deployment to Korea, their advance, withdrawal and advance again over the 38th Parallel together with their attack on Hill 327, in February 1951, is well documented. Their stand, two months later, at the Battle of the Imjin River became legendary. The main battle took place between 22-23 April but 24 hours beforehand, Eagles was in contact with the enemy. Appreci- ating the need for surveillance at the main crossing point over the Imjin River, the CO established a listening post at Gloster crossing. At last light 21st April. Corporal Cooke, Drummer Eagles and Private Hunter took on the task. At 2200 hrs Eagles spotted movement on the far bank. This was reported back and in a few moments ares were bursting across the river; fourteen Chinese were seen wading across. The listening post opened rapid re. Three dead oated away down the river and about four more were dragged back to the far bank by their comrades. Expecting retaliation, the remainder of the night passed without incident and the patrol
was withdrawn at rst light. Some 96 hours after that rst contact Colonel Carne assembled his company commanders and ordered them to move out independently and attempt to reach the UN Rear Guard some 6-7 miles to their south. Within a couple of hours Tony and many of his comrades were captured. Captivity was to last about two and a half years. His freedom came three weeks after the Armistice and on his 25th birthday.
On return to England Tony met and soon married his pen pal, Sheila. The marriage lasted 61 years and was blessed with three children. In civilian life in the 1950s he worked for a private car hire company in Kensington. Lord Mountbatten was one of his customers. Later he worked for Shell Oil driving the Managing Director. For his last ten years of employment he became a civil servant. In 1978 he became a founder member of the British Korean War Veterans Association. From 1982 to 1988 Tony served as the National Chairman. He was a member of the National War Memorial Committee and in June 1989, while Executive Vice President of the Association, was awarded the MBE. HM the Queen unveiled the Memorial in March 1987. It is sited in the Crypt at St Pauls Cathedral, anked by the tombs of Nelson and Wellington. Tony remained a staunch member of the Association. He also took a great interest in The Ri es and hoped that past deeds would continue to inspire those that serve today.
Our condolences go to Sheila and the family.
CAPTIVITY WAS TO LAST ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. HIS FREEDOM CAME THREE WEEKS AFTER THE ARMISTICE AND ON
HIS 25TH BIRTHDAY
HARRINGTON - John Gerald (Terry) Terry Harrington died on 21st January 2016 aged 67. WO1 (RSM) Terry Harrington served with 1 Glosters for much of his service prior to retirement, in late October 1987. Tall and powerfully built he became a mainstay of the Battalion’s rugby team which he captained while CSM D Company, in Tidworth, in the early 1980s. Always positive and thoughtful he nevertheless tackled life head on. His ability as a soldier combined with his natural leadership qualities resulted in an ability to inspire. He also possessed the strength to diffuse situations.
He was an inspired choice as Provost Sergeant in 1976. Platoon Sergeant and CQMS appointments quickly followed as well as a short spell as a C/Sgt Platoon Commander. Consequently by the time he was posted to the Surveillance and Target Acqui- sition Centre at Larkhill he had enormous experience of low level operations, honed in Northern Ireland, as well as tactics and administration at company and battalion levels.
Following Larkhill and his time as a CSM, he moved to the ‘Q’ world. Although not a natural t he quickly became an outstanding RQMS supporting Maj David Proome and Battalion during particu- larly busy periods. His subsequent appointment as RQMS HQ Episkopi Garrison was richly deserved. RSM Southampton OTC proved to be his nal appointment. There he used his grounded ways, extensive knowledge and experience to great effect and to the enormous bene t of successive cadets. Our condolences go to his family.
HUDSON – David Llewellyn, Maj. David Hudson died in 2016 aged 89. Major Hudson was born in 1926, the son of a regular army of cer who had served in both the Boer War and the Great War. After schooldays at Eastbourne and Radley he was commissioned into the Royal Hampshire’s in 1946 and sent to their 2nd/4th Battalion in Greece. Service with the
R HAMPS in Palestine and with the 4th King’s African Ri es in Uganda was followed in 1952 by two years learning Serbo-Croat at Beacons eld. Between 1954 and 1957 he returned to his regiment, serving in Malaya as MTO and in command of their Support Company, before becoming Adjutant of the 4th Royal Hampshire’s (TA). Rejoining the 1st Battalion in 1958 in Lemgo, BAOR, he went with them to the West Indies, being promoted to Major in late 1960.
His secondary career began in 1963 when he was appointed to GCHQ in Cheltenham. Postings to Berlin and protracted stays in Norway with NATO were punctuated by a tour with the Glosters, commanding A Coy in Swaziland and Bechuanaland (now Botswana). His long involvement with GCHQ ended in 1976 with his posting to the Media Wing at Beacons eld. There he trained of cers and men of both the Royal Navy and Army to work with television. His active career came to an end in 1981. In September 1983 he joined the Glosters RHQ at Gloucester. There he had great success running the Regimental Association. It was work for which his kindly nature was particu- larly suited. In 1988 he conceived and organised a touching reunion of survivors of the Great War to mark the 70th anniversary of the Armistice. Also in 1991 he oversaw the remarkably successful visit of the Old Comrades and their families to the ceremonies in Cassel – an unforgettable occasion. He nally retired at the end of that year to general regret.
Living in Painswick, Gloucestershire, for many years he became Parish Clerk. Widely known and fondly regarded, he played much tennis and golf well into his eighties. Angela, his wife, predeceased him but he is survived by his two daughters, Clare and Charlotte and grandchildren, to whom we send out warmest sympathies.
THE RIFLES
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