Page 150 - Mercian Eagle 2014

3 WFR Colours return to St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Newark on Trent
The 3 WFR Colours were presented in April 1977 to the Battalion by the Colonel in Chief HRH The Princess Anne, Mrs Mark Philips GCVO in Newark. However following the Government’s Strategic Defence Review in 1998 the Battalion was formerly disbanded on 30th June 1999 and at the last parade on St George’s Sunday, 25th April 1999
in Newark the Colours were laid up in the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene.
However, unbeknown to many it had been previously decided that the Colours should be cased and displayed in the Mansfield TA Centre for the benefit of
what eventually became C Company of
4 MERCIAN. This location only came to the attention of many when it was announced that the Territorial Army would henceforth be known as Army Reserves and C Company 4 MERCIAN would move all but one platoon to the Bulwell Centre, previously for many years the home of the disbanding South Notts. Hussars Yeomanry RHA.
A case was put forward to the Mercian Council that the Colours should not go to Bulwell but be returned to Newark Parish Church where as the Regimental History shows they had been laid up in 1999. The Council decided this should happen and after much coming and going, including the
need for a Diocesan Council Faculty on July 2014, they were officially received back into the Parish Church by the Revd Stephen Morris as part of the Morning Service which was well supported by former members of 3 WFR.
Due to the way the Colours had been originally cased it took until early August 2014 to finally agree how the Colour cases would be fixed to the wall next to those
of 5th/8thForesters which had been there since 1979.
Obituaries
148
The Cheshire Regiment
Lt Col Ken Ayrton died 6 Jun 2013 aged 86 Ex 7th Bn
Geoff Beards (known as Lee Wilson Comedian) died 3 Jun 2013
aged 74 served in Malaya 1957
Col John Billington died 13 Sep 2013 aged 84 Ex CO 1st Bn Dec
1970 to Jun 73
Peter Burnley died August 2013 served 1968-71 A Coy
Jim Davies died 20 Sep 2013 aged 91 Ex WW2 1942-46 served
North Africa, Italy & Europe
Ian Ebbutt died 21 Sep 2013 Ex 1st Bn 1982-92 David Griffiths died 29 Jul 2014 aged 74 Ex 1st Bn Terry Goddard died 30 Aug 2013
The Staffordshire Regiment
Maj John Holden died 2 Sep 2013 Ex 7th Bn & Mercian Vols. Member of the CRAMC
Pte Michael Ihemere – 1st Bn died whilst taking part in routine training at Catterick on Thursday 28 August 2013.
John McClain died Jun 2013
Hywel Parry died 1 May 2013
Maj John Scurfield died 3 Sep 2013 aged 81 Served 1949-1966 Michael Sidley died 25 Feb 2013
Brian Street died 9 Apr 2013 Ex1st Bn and Canal Zone
Col Tony Walker died 14 May 2013
Paul / Les Anderson
He served for 3 years in A Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment in Fallingbostel. His funeral took place in Stoke-on-Trent on 4th November 2013 and was attended by members of The Staffordshire Regiment Association.
Andrew Butler
Andrew Butler died in December 2013. He served in 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment. His funeral took place on 2nd January 2014 at St. Mary’s Church, Hurst Hill, Sedgley. Andrew leaves a widow and two daughters.
Alfred Cooper
Alf Cooper passed away in the early hours of 25th December 2013 at St. Giles Hospice, Walsall, aged 78. Alf was born in 1935 and after leaving school, trained as a plumber. He served with 1st Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment from November 1954 – November 1957 during
THE MERCIAN EAGLE