Page 217 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

all, he had five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
In 1972 he founded Charles Eagles and Son, a photography business which still has a shop in Maritime Street. Following his death, friends and customers paid tribute to a hero, true gentleman and wonderful man, while others recalled his kindness, integrity,
honesty and charm.
In 2004, he returned to Normandy for the first time since the
war to mark the 60th anniversary of the landings and in 2016 he joined other DLI veterans to retrace their steps across the former battlefields of France. In 2015, he was one of 11 DLI veterans to be presented with the Legion D’Honneur, France’s highest military honour, at Durham Cathedral’s festival of remembrance. At the time, he said “It’s a nice surprise that we’re getting these medals. I only feel sorry for the lads who didn’t make it.”
FAIRLESS, John. Died 4 February 2019 at 4.30pm aged 78. John served in the DLI in Honiton, Berlin, Hong Kong, Borneo, Malaya, Colchester, Cyprus, Denmark, back to Colchester, then joined the RGJ.
GARNER, William. Died on 26 July 2019 at the age of 97. Willie joined the Durham Light Infantry on 12th February 1942. After four months of training he was posted to Folkstone on first line defence. On his 21st birthday Willie set sail for Egypt via South Africa and eventually joined up with the 8th DLI at Benina. In a planned attack on Saturday 20th March 1943 Willie sustained a blast injury to his leg but continued to fight at Mareth. On the 10th July 1943 Willie landed in Sicily where, during The Battle of Primosole Bridge Willie was wounded in the stomach by German machine gun fire. After recovery Willie was graded B1 but he continued to serve as a guard to Field Marshall Alexander Commander in Chief in Italy, and was later attached to the General HQ army post office. Willie was eventually demobbed on 7th November 1946 and later wrote in his memoir, “Every Christmas I get my DLI book and look through the roll honour to remember my friends who fell and were buried in foreign fields.”
HOLSTRUM, Derek. Born 3 October 1936 and died on 17 September 2018 aged 82. Cpl Derek Holstrum served in the DLI from 1961 to 1966 in Borneo and Hong Kong. He was a long serving member of the South Shields Branch of the DLI Association and will be sadly missed.
HOULAHAN, Joseph Stabley. Died in January 2019 at the age of 86. Joseph enlisted into the DLI on 19 April 1951. He served in Berlin and was discharged from Brancepeth Depot on 3 May 1953.
HUDSON, William Barry (Rocky). Died in April 2019. Rocky served with the Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, Berlin, Hong Kong and Borneo from the late 1950’s to 1967.
ICETON, George MM. 6DLI. WW2
Veteran, George was born 02 May 1920
and died 14 January 2019 aged 98.
He joined 6DLI in 1939 and was soon
sent to France where he earned and
was awarded the MM for bravery under
fire during the counter attack of Arras
in Normandy 1940. He was wounded
in action and was one of the first to be
evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk.
In 1941 he was sent to the Middle East
and served in Egypt, Cyprus, Iraq and
North Africa. He fought at Gazala, El
Alamein and Mareth. In 1943 he was
wounded again, this time during the
6DLI advance to Primosole Bridge in Sicily. He spent almost a year in a Cairo hospital and in May 1944 was medically downgraded.
He was de-mobilised in July 1946 but later re-joined 6DLI as a Serjeant until he retired from the TA in 1964. Even after he retired he continued to support the DLI as a member of Barnard Castle Branch of the DLI Association.
After the War George and his wife Mary moved to Rokeby where he farmed, delivered milk and did some mechanical work. Later he was a crane driver in Hartlepool then worked for Tarmac, working his way up to Plant Manager. After full retirement he took to gardening and tended his allotment.
George is survived by his son Steven, daughters Sylvia, Linda and Sheila, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
INMAN, David Arthur. Died on 27 February 2019 aged 86. David had served as a Sjt in the Durham Light Infantry.
JACQUES, Terry. Born 25 February 1941 and died 4 September 2018. Born to Albert and Bessie, he had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Living a lively life always getting into mischief with his brothers, joined the cadets as a boy gaining rank of colour sergeant, he was a bugler, and this started his love of the DLI.
Terry joined the DLI and he was at
Brancepeth camp for his basic training
then was stationed at Honiton in Devon.
He met his wife and soulmate there and
left to raise his family of two sons and
three daughters. He had a passion for
helping others and ran the community house at Bessemer Park, making weekly dinners for the old people’s luncheon club. In later years he ran the over 60’s bingo at Hartley Terrace, helping with the RNA as an honorary member and joined the Knights of the Gold Horn Club and later the Buffs.
For the last seven years he enjoyed his regular nights at the Indoor Bowls Club where he entertained people with his karaoke singing. Working various jobs on leaving the army but always missed his army life, he got involved with the Royal British Legion, helping to run and carry the standard as well as being involved in the DLI Associ- ation for well over twenty years.
JOHNSON, David. Died in March 2019. David was a D Day Veteran with the Durham Light Infantry. He landed on the Normandy beaches aged 18 naïve and ready for action. He was involved in bridgehead work on the border with Holland and was one of the first British soldiers to liberate Holland. He said there were lots of hungry women and children and some men, if the men took off their hats they were no longer deemed to be the enemy. He was shot and wounded in France and was flown home to recuperate.
HOOSON, John L (Sam). John died on 14 January 2019 aged 77. John was born 31 July 1941 and was buried on 23 January 2019 at Eston Cemetery after the service at Teeside Crematorium. Remembered by his beloved family and his DLI comrades.
THE RIFLES
RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS 215