Page 87 - Devon and Dorset 2024

THE DEVONSHIRE AND DORSET REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 85
LAST POST
DEVONS 2024
JANUARY
Richard Robert Dunkley (Dick)
On 7 January 2024, Richard Robert Dunkley (Dick) passed away at home in
Rock, Cornwall. Richard served in the 3inch mortar platoon, D Coy, 12 DEVONS,
6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division. Richard was involved in the
intense fighting around Ranville and wrote in his diary:
DECEMBER
Alan Tapper
Passed away late December with funeral on the 3rd January 2025 at
Plympton New Crematorium. Alan was the President of the Crownhill Royal
British Legion for many years and it only recently transpired that he served
with the Devons.
‘Close Combat D+1 Ranville aged 19:
my first taste of fighting the Germans was in the evening of 8 Jun
1944; I distinctly recall the range being called down from 1,200 yds to
400 yds and then jumping out of my mortar pit and unholstering my
big American .45 pistol with my left hand while fumbling for a No. 36
grenade in my ammo pouch, but fortunately neither was needed as
the attack failed. Then static positions until that dreadful day, 12 Jun
1944, when D Coy 12 DEVONS with 12 PARA attacked and captured
Breville. As the headstones in Ranville cemetery will testify, both units
were decimated on that day.’
Regimental standards, including that of 12 DEVONS, were paraded by
Association members at Richard’s funeral in Bodmin and this event, early
in the year, set the scene and atmosphere for Normandy commemorative
events and activity.
DORSETS 2024
FEBRUARY
William John Jarvis
Died February 2024. Funeral held at Weymouth Crematorium on 15th February.
John served with the 1st Bn The Dorset Regiment in Hong Kong 1952-1954.
All four brothers served in either the 1st Dorsets or the Wessex TA.
MARCH
John Cerroti – 1926 – 2024
Passed away 13th March aged 97 years. John joined the Dorset Regiment,
partly because one of their Battalions was serving in Japan.
APRIL
Victor Alex Morley
Died April aged 104 yrs. He served with the Dorsets during WWII and was also
a member of the Burma Star Association. The funeral was held on Friday 3
May at 11.30am at the Oaks Crematorium, Havant with Regimental and Burma
Star standards represented.
MARCH
Cpl William Ernest Crout
Passed away on the 4th March aged 91 yrs after a short illness. He was
cremated at the East Devon Crematorium in March. Bill enlisted into the
Wessex Brigade, Devonshire Regiment in Exeter 1953. He served in the UK
from October 1953 to February 1954, then was deployed to East Africa (Kenya)
1954-55. BOAR (Celle) followed and UK 1957-1958. He was awarded the East
Africa General Services Medal (Kenya). In recent years he had reconnected
with his brothers in the Regiment attending Regimental functions and
Parades. He was a proud Devonian and so very proud of his time with the
Regiment.
Anthony Stenner
Died 23rd March. Served in the Devons 1950-52 whilst completing his
National Service. He was a member of the Bath Branch until it closed and
would always attend Reunions and enjoyed meeting up with his old Army
pals.
JULY
George Elwood
Died July 2024. Funeral was held on the 17 July at the Weston Mills Crematorium.
George was a National Service veteran of the Devonshire Regiment from
1950 until his discharge 4 years later, working his way to PTI NCO.
NOVEMBER
Mr Ronald Apling
Passed away early November. Devonshire Regiment. Funeral will be 1st
Nov. 2024, 1130hrs St Thomas The Apostle Church St Thomas Exeter EX4 1AP.
Standard bearers most welcome (Steve family request that one Standard be
The Devon Regt)
JULY
Michael Gordon Brookings
Died 19 July aged 89 yrs, late of Dorsets. Funeral was held on 12 August at 11
am at St Peter’s Church, Haresfield, Glos.
Gordon was a late Dorset and Secretary of the Bath Branch for many years
until its closure. He was a regular attendee at the Minden Dorsets Reunion
in Dorchester and was known as the “Korean Dorset”. Sadly missed by all.
NOVEMBER
Leonard (Len) Webb
Passed away November. His funeral was held on the 19th November at 1030
hrs at Weymouth Crematorium.
Len enlisted into the Dorset Regiment and after basic training in the
Barracks, Dorchester, he was posted to the 1st Bn in Hong Kong 1952-54. Len
then joined 10 platoon commanded by John Ives. He was then deployed to
Korea and returned to the UK in 1955 and was stationed at Bulford Camp.
DEVON AND DORSETS 2024
DECEMBER 2023
Cpl Anthony Baker
Passed away Christmas 2023.
FEBRUARY
Mick Wells
Died 29 February Served in Corps of Drums 1965 – 1971/72. Great bloke once
lost two months pay to him playing three car brag in bar in Osnabruck but still
remained friends! Wicked sense of humour. Flute and bugle. (Brian Convey).