Page 246 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

Obituaries
BELLRINGER Mr Roland William died 26th June 2019 aged 90. Roland served with the RN serving in Japan, Singapore, Borneo and Malaya before joining the SOM LI. Within the Army he served for 22 years and achieved the rank of WO2.
BOADEN Mr David died 31st December
2018. David was a founder member of
the Rifles & RGBW Somerset Branch,
a friend to many and widely respected.
Having served an apprenticeship in the
motor trade he completed National
Service from 1959 to 1961 with 1st
Glosters. Trained at Topsham Barracks,
Exeter he served in Osnabruck and
Dover and was a member of the
unit’s motorcycle trials team, enjoying
considerable success. He returned
to the motor trade and in 1963 joined
the Automobile Association (AA Patrol)
a career that lasted 33 years. He also
spent 13 years with the RMP (V) the latter part as S/SGT (CQMS). He later worked for Co-operative Funeral Care as a driver/bearer
CASTLE Mr Edward died on 23rd
September 2018 aged 93. Ted was
born in Cheltenham but much of his life
was spent in the Midlands. He joined
the Glosters and from an early age
served with 2nd Glosters, landing on
the Normandy beaches on D Day and
fighting throughout the NW Europe
campaign. Band music and sport
were his passions and post WW2 he
continued to serve travelling widely to
the Far East, West Indies, Bermuda,
Aden and India. In 1952 he started a
full career with Derbyshire Constabulary
where the Chatsworth Estate was on
his beat and later met his wife Grace, a nurse at Chesterfield. A great lover of life he is fondly remembered by family and friends.
CHURCH Capt Christopher F W died on 21st June 2019. Chris- topher was born on 23 Sep 42 and completed National Service before serving in 1 SCLI and 1 LI from 1963-74. He enjoyed a very bright career fulfilling appointments as RSO, Adjt 1 LI and RMAS Instructor before ill-health forced retirement. Later, with the family home at Hartley Witney, he became Battlefield Tour Guide. He leaves behind his widow Tita and two daughters to whom we offer our condolences.
CLARK Mr Edward Arthur died in January 2019 aged 79. Ted Clark enlisted in 1960 and joined
1 SCLI serving in Osnabruck, Gibraltar and Tobruk. Having been demobbed in 1962 he worked as a builder and stonemason. Later he worked for British Gas for some 20 years before retiring in 1995. Ted was a staunch supporter of the Norton Radstock Branch where he is greatly missed.
DAVIES Mr Richard David died on 11th March 2019 aged 77. Dick joined 1 SCLI in 1960 and served for 9 years in BAOR, Gibraltar, Berlin, Aden and NI. Having served briefly with the LI he left the Regulars in 1969 and joined the TA for about 3 years. Dick worked for Bath City Council before becoming a gas fitter. Subsequently he worked as a Porter at Bath University. Our condolences go to his wife, Pamela.
ELLIS Mr Frederick George died on 11th September 2018 aged 91. Frederick joined the Army in 1945 and initially served with the KRRC before moving to 1 SOM LI in India. He left the Army in 1948 and became a Tool Room Supervisor at Cooper Roller Bearings at Kings Lynn. He was a postal member of the Taunton Branch and is survived by his widow Hazel.
GREEN Capt Arthur Kenneth (Dick)
died on 17th January 2019 aged 96.
Dick was commissioned in to the SOM
LI in late 1942 and first served with 5
SOM LI at Walton on Naze, Sussex.
Later the unit moved to NI for advanced
individual training. By August 1943
Dick had been posted to 2 SOM LI in
Gibraltar where he was a Pl Comd in C
Coy. Tasks included guards for shipping
and manning defences. Following a
spell of training in Egypt 2 SOM LI
landed at Naples on 15 Mar 44. A part
of 28th Inf Bde and 4 Div (Maj Gen
Hayman-Joyce) they formed a part of
10 Corps (Lt Gen McCreery) and 5th Army. Gen Mark Clark (US) was Army Commander. 5th Army had launched three deliberate attacks on the Gustav Line and Monte Cassino between Jan and Mar 44.
for 12 years before being diagnosed as Sadly missed, our thoughts are with his
having Parkinson’s in 2007. wife Joy and the family.
BOWEN Mr Denis died 15th
December 2018. Denis was a National
Serviceman who served in 2 Pln, A
Coy, 1 GLOSTERS from 1951-53. He
was based at Knook Camp and the
School of Infantry, achieving the rank
of corporal. Much of his working life
was spent in horticulture, a very knowl-
edgeable gardener always ready to give
advice. Denis married Joy, in 1958, and
together they raised a family of five sons.
Denis was a much liked and respected
member of the Somerset Branch.
He proudly carried the Standard at
the Service of Dedication held at the
National Memorial Arboretum on the formation of the Branch. Denis is sadly missed; our thoughts are with his wife Joy and the family
BURKART Captain Edward Francis died in Autumn 2018 aged 94. Born in 1924 he landed with 2nd Glosters at Gold Beach Normandy on 6 Jun 44 and thereafter saw much action especially at Tilly-sur- Seulles, Thury-Harcourt and Epaignes. After crossing the Seine 2nd Glosters were amongst the first to enter Le Harvre. Notable actions at the bridgehead of the Turnhout-Antwerp Canal and at Stampersgat followed before the battle for Zetten and the crossing of the River Ijssdel. For actions in Holland Edward Burkhart was awarded the Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords (Gazetted 15 Oct 45). An influential voice in the twinning of Cheltenham and Stampersgat Edward subse- quently worked in fine art publishing taking over his father’s business which he ran until his late 80s. He also collected vintage and classic cars. Our condolences go to Edward’s widow, Mrs Sheila Burkart.
CARTER Mr Nick died suddenly on 2nd October 2018. Nick was a former member of the Glosters Band and Drums.
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