Page 28 - Example Journals

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons 2015
Obituary
Lance Corporal Paul Edward Tidmus Served 2007 – 2014
Paul Edward Tidmus arrived at the Regiment in Swanton Morley in 2007 after completing his Phase 2 training in Bovington. He joined A Squadron The Empire, where due to either the similarities in surname or his feminine features he was promptly given the name Abi, after the nurse turned model Abigail Titmuss.
Not deterred that A Sqn, at the time of his arrival, was conducting Rear Party duties, Abi threw himself into Regimental life and more so the night life of Dereham and Norwich. With a combination of his infectious personality and gymnastic skills, he would spend the night on the dance oor surrounded by a harem of women, much to the dismay of all the other lads he was out drinking with.
Having completed his CVR(T) gunnery course, Abi’s rst major training event with the Regiment saw him deploy on Exercise GALLOPING DRAGOON 9, as Cpl Newell’s gun- ner, where the Squadron deployed onto a wet Salisbury Plain enduring hurricane force winds. It was during this exercise that Abi developed his now infamous party trick of perform- ing back ips from a CVR(T) OTIS bin. Additionally it was at this time that he would go on to form a very strong bond with Tprs Garbutt and Hill, a friendship which would last for many years.
He deployed to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 10 as part of Assaye Tp, as the Troop Leader’s gunner/operator. Working initially alongside 1 WG Battlegroup, Assaye Tp was the envy of the Regiment. Finding themselves in Taliban ter- ritory almost every day, Abi would use his 30mm RARDEN cannon to devastating effect. The latter part of the tour saw Assaye Tp return to Light Dragoon’s command for Op PANCHAI PALANG (Op PANTHER’S CLAW). This resulted in all most three weeks of intensive ghting in cen- tral Helmand.
On returning from Afghanistan Abi was assigned to the QM’s Department, initially as the clothing accountant and subsequently as the ammunition storeman. It was here that his love affair with bombs and bullets started. He made himself something of an expert, safeguarding the pensions of successive RQs Rae and Thirlaway. He was instrumental in the Regiment passing numerous inspections.
Regimental life got even better for Abi when his younger brother Mark joined The Light Dragoons LAD as a crafts- man. Abi went to C Sqn The Legion and was gearing up to attend his Crew Commanders’ Course, when, with a heavy heart, he decided to transfer to the RLC EOD as an Ammunition Technician. The AT course is recognized throughout the Army for its exacting entrance standards. Such was Abi’s determination to be accepted on the course and be posted closer to his son Dylan that he employed a private tutor to help him.
Although now wearing the RLC cap badge, Abi still very much considered himself to be a Light Dragoon and there was not a function that went by without him coming back for it. He was the driving force behind many of the improve- ments that can still be seen in the Corporals’ Mess today.
Abi was a true Regimental character, who left his mark on all he met. He was undoubtedly one of the friendliest, most likeable soldiers around. His death in June 2014 came as a complete shock and the loss of Abi hit the Regiment hard, particularly the Corporals’ Mess. Many members of the Regiment and the Association attended his funeral in Solihull. Abi was totally devoted to his family, leaving behind his parents Gary and Sam, his siblings Mark, Adam and Sarah and his son Dylan.
To them all we send our sincere condolences.
ACT
8