Page 155 - Mercian Eagle 2014

Far East. His father served in 1 Worc R 1911–1936 and rose to be RQMS and his younger brother john was killed in action in Malaya in 1951 while serving with 1 Worc R.
SMITH Maurice Cpl 23451144
It is with regret that we inform you that 23451144 Cpl Maurice SMITH of Alfreton, Derbyshire died on 5 July 2014 aged
77. Maurice was called up as a National Serviceman into The Sherwood Foresters on 6 February 1958 and served with 5
Pl B Coy. He served in Malaya and was engaged in operations Badak, Ginger and Saddleup. He completed his service on 4 February 1960.
THOMPSON Jack CSgt 23651938
Of Pershore, Worcestershire on 12 November 2013 aged 79. After completing service with the RAF in 1956 Jack joined
7 Worc R and served as Signals CSgt until 1962.
THREADGOLD Kenneth Pte 22375067
Of Worcester on 21 February 2014. He was called up as a National Serviceman on 8 June 1950 and after training at Lichfield he joined 1 WORC R in Malaya before being demobilised in June 1952.
WILKINSON John ‘Jack’ Sgt 5252332
Of Dudley on 9 January 2014 aged 92. He joined the 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment and served in UK, India and Burma during WW2.
YEATES Victor Lawrence Pte 6031518
On 29 October 2013. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in May 1943 and served until February 1944 after which he was discharged to the Reserve in August 1947.
Col John Anthony CASTLE 357952
of Frankston, Victoria, Australia died on 7 July 2014. He served in the ranks 1 year 198 days before receiving an Emergency Commission as 2nd Lt on 17 November 1945 in The Rifle Brigade. In 1947 he transferred to The Sherwood Foresters.
In 1950 he was posted as an Instructor
at Eaton Hall OTC until 1952 when he returned to the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood
Foresters as Adjutant. In 1954 he posted
as SCA HQ 25 Armd Bde MELF until 1955. He was then posted as Adjutant Regimental Depot 1955-1956 and this was followed
by SCA HQ 2 (BR) Corps Suez 1956
to 1957. In 1957 he returned to the 1st Battalion as a Coy Comd, until attending Staff College in 1959. He then returned as
a Coy Comd 1st Bn 1963 to 1964 (UK), 2i/c 1st Bn 1964-65: MA MEA HQ FARELF 1965 to 1967: Lieut-Col. 30.6.1967: CO 1st Bn BAOR 1967 to 1969: AAG HQ POW Div (UK) 1969 to 1973: Col 1973: Comd BATUS Canada 1973 to 1975: Retired February 1976.
Obituaries
Drum Sgt Alf Cooper who served with
the 1st South Staffordshire Regiment in Egypt and Cyprus and later with the 5th Battalion in Walsall on the re organisation
of the TA transferred to the 1st Battalion Mercian Volunteers died on Christmas
Eve 2013. Members of the Association attended the funeral on January 10th. Alf had supported the Association in many ways, not only attending Branch meeting put playing at Association events for which we were grateful. Mrs Cooper was always in attendance and we will miss them both at our gatherings.
Mickie Rudge served with 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment TA, and moved to Kidderminster from Halesowen on the formation of B Company Mercian Volunteers. He died in Goa on the 24th March 2014. His Funeral was held at the Rowley Regis Cemetery Chapel on 16th April 2014. Members of the Kidderminster Branch attended the Funeral. He was a larger than life character and was a strong member of the Company.
Lt Col MDL [Mike] Ingham died on Tuesday 1st April 2014. Mike was Training Major with 1 MERCIAN (V) during the early 1980’s.
Mr Eddie Craddock who was a member of the HSF at Kidderminster died recently. The Funeral took place at Gornal Cemetery near Dudley on the 20th June 2014. The Branch Standard and members attended the ceremony. Mr Gordon Maycroft sounded the Last Post and Reveille during the service.
C/Sgt Arthur Lambert died on the 14th October. Colour Sgt Arthur Lambert
served the 1st battalion The Worcestershire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters. He was a long serving C/Sgt PSI with B Company I Mercian V. He was a much respected and liked personality who will be long remembered for his enthusiasm, dedication and his professional attitude to his job. He was deeply involved with the battalion shooting which won the Queens Cup at Bisley. Members of the Association attended the funeral at the Wyre Forest Crematorium with the Standard and WO2 Turvey played the last post.-
Mr Clive Mountford of B Company
1 MERCIAN V. Members of the Association attended the funeral at the Wyre Forest Crematorium.
Remembering those who served. Lt Col Andrew Williams who began his career with B company 1 MERCIAN V emigrated to
the USA where joined the American Army. On his retirement he became involved with scouting through his son and is now an ASM for Troop 121 in Shippensburg PA. He sent this excerpt from a scout publication. “At a recent Boy Scouts of America Wood Badge Training Course Troop121 honoured the life and service of C/Sgt Arthur Lambert, late of the Worcestershire Regiment, The Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters, Mercian Volunteers and the Mercian Regiment who recently died. He is fondly remembered by his colleagues and allies residing in the United States. A flag was flown at half mast and prayers were held on Gilwell Field located at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation in Pennsylvania. The flag will be retired and sent to his family as a mark of respect for this great soldier, gone but never forgotten”
Mr Davis Mitton of B Company
1 MERCIAN V Company of the HSF. Members of the Association attended the Funeral on 22nd August at the Wyre Forest Crematorium
We send our most sincere condolences to the families.
Thank you
It is too easy to forget all the members
and their wives and partners who help
to make the Branches function, often
by actions that go unseen. Also to the members involved in the welfare of their fellow members, quite without fuss or notice, but so important in the life blood of our Association.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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