Page 106 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

104
Obituaries
STEWART
24660944 Capt James ‘Jim’ Stewart, Mercian Regiment, died suddenly
at home on Thursday 18 April 2019, aged 51. James Stewart enlisted into the Staffordshire Regiment
and served with the 1st Battalion from the 1980’s. Although he was
known as Jim, he actually preferred to be known as James, but he was too polite to correct anyone. Early in his career, he soon established himself as an accomplished grade 2 boxer, fighting successfully for the Battalion on several occasions. Later in
his career he would use his expertise and experience to be a very successful boxing coach. He was somebody you wanted in your corner, not just in the ring, but with life in general. James was a true gentleman who preferred to get on with the job without fuss or fanfare. His gravitas and wisdom were universally respected by everyone who worked with him.
ALLMARK
519585 Capt A J (Tony) Allmark (Cheshire) died 10 September 2019.
ALTON
23237237 Cpl John William ALTON died
on 14 November 2019. John enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 22 March 1955 and finished his service on 21 March 1970
ARTHUR
25025947 Pte Carl Stephen Arthur, of Polesworth, Warwickshire, was found dead on 23 September 2019 aged 46. Carl, originally from Killamarsh, Derbyshire, joined the 1st Bn The
Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters on 15 May 1993. He joined the Bn in Tidworth and spent his career with D Coy (Milan Pln) and also served in NI and Bosnia and was awarded the GSM NI and NATO medal. He left the Army on 4 October 1999.
BEECH
For many years Dave Beech was the secretary of the Sandbach Branch of the Cheshire Regimental Association, as well as a regular volunteer at the Cheshire Military Museum until ill-health forced his retirement. He died on 7 January 2019.
BIRDSELL
4986009 Cpl William Henry BIRDSELL died on 12 July 2019. William enlisted on 11 June 1944 into the 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn The Sherwood Foresters and was transferred into The Border Regiment on 24 August 1942. On 9 July 1943 he took part in Operation Ladbroke with the glider troops
at the invasion of Sicily when his glider
was released early and crashed into the sea. He managed to escape the wreckage and swim to shore. William was also at the Battle of Arnhem and to avoid capture by the enemy he swam the Rhine as there was a shortage of boats to evacuate the troops. William was discharged in 1945.
BOCK
After a long and rare debilitating illness lasting through some 20 years, Major Terry Bock MBE died peacefully at home in Oxfordshire on 12 September 2019. He had climbed Mt Kilimanjaro
by the time he was 13 and had already learnt to drive. He met his future wife Jacqui in 1969 on return from Bahrain. He was altogether a very robust individual, who remained young at heart, full of the enjoyment of life and in true 22nd fashion, kept himself very fit. Always approachable and generous with his time to anybody.
BRATHERTON
23856530 Mr Alan (Boggy) Bratherton died 31 July 2019. He was part of the 1st Bn (Cheshire).
BRIDGES
Lt Col (Retd) Douglas ‘Dougie’ Bridges TD MBE died on 15 October 2019. Dougie served in the Staffordshire Regiment
TA and the Mercian Volunteers. He was the was a staunch supporter
of the Mercian Regiment, a Regimental Council Member and the Regimental lead for the Bn’s Corps of Drums. As Chair of the Mercian Regimental Association, he worked hard at bringing together the antecedent associations to safeguard their longevity.
CLAYTON
Sgt Walter (Wally) Clayton (1st Bn Cheshire) died 17 December 2019.
COLLINS
CPO Franklyn ‘Frank’ Arthur COLLINS of Kidderminster, died on 2 June 2019. Frank joined B Company 1 MERCIAN V and served for 1 month as a Private soldier before joining the Royal Navy
where he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was an active member of The Royal Navy Association, Chairman of the Kidderminster Branch of the British Legion and a member of the MVRA Kidderminster & District Branch
COOKE
Percy Cooke was the Vice-president of the Sandbach Branch of the Cheshire Regimental Association. Percy served in WW2 with the 6th Bn. He died on 11 October 2019.
DAKIN
23250887 LCpl William James ‘Bill’ DAKIN
of Derby, died on 18
July 2019 aged 82. Bill enlisted in the 1st Bn The Sherwood Foresters on 7 September 1955 and served in mainland UK,
Malaya and NI and was awarded the GSM. He was a marksman on the rifle team and was promoted to LCpl in 1963 and then discharged in 1964. Bill was a loyal and staunch member of WFRA Derby Branch
FEATHERSTONE
Mrs Maureen FEATHERSTONE, the widow of CSgt Featherston, PSI D Coy 2 MERCIAN died in 2019
FOOTITT
24095821 LCpl Keith (Bopper) Arthur FOOTITT died on 25 February 2020
aged 71. Keith enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in 1966 and also served with 1 WFR with the Inf Display Team in Berlin and also took part in athletic competitions. He left the regular army on 8 October 1975 and joined 3 WFR until discharge on 12 April 1989.
GALLIMORE
James Gallimore passed away on 25 January 2019 aged 100. He was a Dunkirk Veteran of the 4th Bn (Cheshire).
GREEN
Mr Leslie Green (1st Bn Cheshire) died 23 December 2019. He served in India and WW2.
HARDY
24924412 Pte Neil Athol HARDY died on 19 February aged 61. Neil enlisted into 3 WFR in Chesterfield and was discharged on 30 April 1993.
HARRISON
14973325 Pte Victor Arthur HARRISON
of Derby died on 10 September 2019 aged 94. Victor first enlisted into the Royal Navy before transferring to the Army. He served in the General Service Corps before transferring to the 2/5th Bn The Sherwood Foresters from 26 August 1943 until his discharge on 17 March 1946. After the war, he served with the Royal Artillery TA at Kingsway, Derby.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE