Page 182 - RSDG Year of 2023

180 EAGLE AND CARBINE
grandchildren. Rab was a proud Scot and both regiments were his life. The regimental Pipes and Drums were his all time favourite, so much so that all the music played at his funeral was theirs.
WILLIAM ‘BILL’ JOHNSON
Bill was born on 26 October 1923 in Lambeth. Bill’s military journey began on 3 February 1942 with the East Surrey Regiment. He then Bill moved to a more specialized role in armoured warfare, joining the 43rd Battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment (43RTR), where he skilfully tested, operated, and demonstrated tanks including Hobart’s Churchill Crocodile.
In preparation for D-Day, Bill was assigned to the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
On 11 June 1944, five days after the initial assault, Bill and his unit embarked for Northwest Europe with heavy artillery and specialized armoured units, and in the early hours they landed at Gold Beach. The journey to the beaches was tense, filled with moments of camaraderie juxtaposed with the sobering realization of the impending battle. In one of only a few interviews given, Bill stated that the memories of Villers Bocage remained with him for the rest of his life and he described it as one of the worst things he’s ever experienced.
IVIE “FARMER” HILL
Ivie “Farmer” Hill, who was born on 15 December 1943, joined the Royal Scots Greys in 1961 and served until leaving the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1979 in the rank of Sergeant. Following army life, Farmer settled with his family in Ayr and worked as an HGV driver for a local haulage firm before moving on to work for South Ayrshire Council.
He will be missed and loved by all the family.
Following the loss of troops, and the amalgamation of 3CLY and 4CLY, Bill transitioned with a source of immense pride to the prestigious Royal Scots Greys on August 4, 1944. With the Greys, Bill participated in critical operations like Operation Bluecoat and the battles around Falaise and Argentan. His service continued through key engagements in Belgium, culminating in the liberation of Beveren Waes, as well as the liberation of the Netherlands.
Bil left the Army as a lance Corporal after the war, and his life took a gentler turn as he became a devoted husband and father. Marrying in London in 1948, he raised seven children - Irene, Ann, Lynda, Michael, Alan, Sandra, and Martin.
In June 2017, Bill returned to Normandy with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and, on 6 June that year , he was awarded France’s highest honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, by the mayor of Caen for his service during World War II.
Bill died on 19 January 2023 aged 99.
In 2002 he adopted his beloved rescue dog Molly, and the two of them could be seen walking for miles every day. They would often take one of Farmer’s grandchildren with them.
Farmer died peacefully at Ayr Hospital following a short illness on 1 August 2023, aged 79. He leaves behind his wife Morag, his children Yvonne, Steven, Heather and Andrew, and his grandchildren Amy, Cerys, Michaela, Ben, Milo and Max.