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attached to C Company. He was very tall and will be fondly remembered as an easy going individual when he was younger, but who later established a reputation for being professional and in due course, rose up the ranks. He was promoted WO1 and was RSM in one of the Training Battalions in Catterick, and then did various other postings until he completed his service in 2011.
He continued his service as FTRS, and his final unit was 169 Field Company,
part of 103 Battalion, REME in Barnet, Hertfordshire. Garry Gunner remembers him as an excellent platoon member when he first arrived, and who volunteered to do his baby sitting. As a result, he got to know Bob very well.
His funeral took place at St. Paul’s Church, Sandgate in Folkestone on Friday 15th May 2015. We are grateful to 103 Battalion REME who laid on a fitting service to which members of both The Mercian Regiment and Staffordshire Regiment Association were made to feel welcome. Two members of the Bearer Party were from the Mercian Regiment, WO2 Hedges and Watchman led the funeral procession, Garry Gunner of Dover Branch read the eulogy and there were Branch Standards from our Association and The Royal British Legion. Many people drove down from
the Midlands, including members of the
1 Staffords Mortar Platoon. Our sincere condolences go to his wife Denise, their four children and their grandchildren.
Arthur Whitehouse
Arthur Whitehouse died peacefully in Sandwell Hospital on 4th February
2015, aged 94. He was born on 6th October 1920. He served with the South Staffordshire Regiment during WW2,
and his family believe that he was in Dunkirk, Cairo and Sicily, all of which have connections to the regiment, even if they were different battalions. His funeral took place on 25th February 2015 at Sandwell Crematorium.
Captain Lennard Withers MC
Lennard was born
on 30th July 1921 in Croydon, Surrey. He left school in July 1939 just before his eighteenth birthday, volunteered for the Army and joined The Royal Sussex
Regiment, and was later commissioned into The Northamptonshire Regiment. He subsequently volunteered for the Airborne
Forces and transferred to 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment.
He took part on Operation Husky, and landed with his platoon to find that the remainder of the Company had failed to reach the landing area. He at once decided to carry out alone his Coy’s plan to capture Waterloo Bridge, which was the main objective of 1st Air Landing Brigade. He and a small party swam the canal and attacked a pill box, while the remainder of his platoon attacked from the other side. His platoon succeeded in destroying the demolition charges, thus ensuring that this vital bridge could not be blown. He then placed his platoon in defensive positions and held the bride against determined enemy counter attacks. They were reinforced and his depleted party assisted in the defence of the bridge until relieved several hours later. For this action, he was awarded the Military Cross.
He continued serving with the Battalion until 1944, when they took part on Operation Market Garden, where after ten days fighting, he was one of the last men to swim the River Rheine safety. He took part in the liberation of Norway, and after serving as a staff officer in Germany, left the Army in 1946.
He went on to have a forty-year career with the Marley Tile Company, where he did various appointments and became Senior Training Officer. He married Patricia Birchall-White, a nursing sister in 1945, and they had 66 years together. He is succeeded by his son Tim and daughter Judy, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His Memorial Service took place at St. Peter’s Church, Fordcombe near Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 8th January. Brigadier Tanner represented the regiment.
People Associated with the Regiment
Lady Eileen Hargroves
Lady Eileen Hargroves died in the early hours of Tuesday 23rd April, at Nazareth House Nursing Home in Cheltenham. She was 99. Eileen will need little introduction to former
members of the Staffordshire Regiment,
as she was married to the late Brigadier
Sir Louis Hargroves, who was the first Commanding Officer and later Colonel of The Staffordshire Regiment from 1971 - 77.
Lady Eileen will be remembered as
a supportive wife to her husband, a regimental wife and a much loved mother and family member. When she died, many officers spoke of her warmth, decency and her friendly personality. She chose to have a private funeral and is succeeded by her four daughters; Elizabeth, Jane, Marion and Philippa and their families.
Hazel Mulingani
Hazel Mulingani died peacefully at home on 17th October 2014. Hazel was born and brought up in Cannock, and was the wife of Major Paul Mulingani and the mother
of Colour Sergeant Anthony Mulingani. She was well known in The Staffordshire Regiment. Hazel was forthright by nature in telling it how it was, but was a pillar of strength in supporting and educating not only her own family, but also the young wives in the skills required in supporting their own service families.
Hazel supported Paul throughout his lengthy service career, and epitomised what it was to be a devout service wife, mother and grandmother throughout their 49 years of marriage. She was renowned within her family for being strong, independent, and had an extremely dry and witty sense of humour.
During the last 13 years, when she experienced some serious health issues, her fighting spirit really shone through.
She had a zest for life and would tell her beloved family, that she was fighting all
the way because she wanted to live life to the full. She was particularly prominent
in the battalion’s eighteen-month tour
in Londonderry in 1979 - 81, when her husband was CSM of C Company. She was also in Osnabruck, Colchester, Gibraltar and Fallingbostel.
Her funeral took place at the church of
St. Michael & all Angels, South Normanton. There were dozens of regimental people, both Regular and Territorials and their wives who attended. Her daughter emphasised her love of life and her devotion to chocolate and Christmas. Everyone present spoke well of her and the fond memories that
they had. Our condolences go to Paul,
son Anthony, and daughters Theresa and Heather.
Mrs Evelyn Murphy
Mrs Evelyn Murphy died on 8 February 2015, aged 100. She was the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Murphy MBE, of The South Staffordshire Regiment.
August and evacuated. After recovering he was released in December 1945.
BAYLIS Brian Frederick Pte passed away in hospital on 7th May 2015 after a long illness. He enlisted into the 1st
Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters
BADDELEY Kenneth William Lt of Paignton, Devon died on 25 July 2015 aged 96. He joined The Suffolk Regiment in November 1939, served at The Worcestershire Regiment Depot, and after basic training became an instructor
there and later at HQ Western Command before being commissioned into The Worcestershire Regiment in 1944. He joined the 1st Battalion, in Normandy in July that year, was wounded by shell fire on 4
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