Page 217 - The Bugle 2018

GEDDES, Edward George Died on 5 August 2017 at the age of 86 years old. George was born 11 January 1931 and was called up for National Service in January 1952 at the age of 21. He attended basic training at the Brancepeth Camp (DLI Depot). He was posted to 5 Coy 1DLI into the Mortar Pl. He served in Korea 1952-53 and achieved the rank of Corporal before demob in January 1954. George then joined 5 Coy 8DLI until it was disbanded in1967, achieving the rank of Sjt.
GREENWELL, Peter Miles de Wend, Capt DLI Died in June 2018, son of Lt Col Peter Sidney Greenwell DLI and mother Ida Chester, daughter of Brig Gen Douglas Campbell de Wend of Poyle Pack, Tengham. Educated at Wellington and Sandhurst, he married Jean Margaret Robertson in1956. Peter was born in India 13 October 1928 and was commissioned into The DLI 21 October 1948, joining 1DLI in Dortmund, BAOR. After serving as a Pl Comd in B Coy he was appointed OC Machine Gun Pl. He was OC MG Pl when the battalion was dispatched to Korea. Peter flew with the Advance Party to Korea to take over the Vickers MG’s from the 1st Bn KSLI. They played an important part in the “Defence Fire Plan”, firing DF tasks on fixed times and harassing fire to break up any possible enemy attacks. He was requested by the CO to take over as Adjt in May 1953 but was glad when he was offered to job of Pl Comd in D Coy in June 1953 as he was more happy in action than being staff officer.
1DLI relieved the 1st Bn BW on 3 July 53 and during a consid- erable increase in shelling and mortar attacks by the Chinese Peter and Sjt Peacock were both wounded on 10 July 53 when ambushed by the Chinese whilst they were carrying out a wire check. Peter was evacuated to 26 Field Ambulance, but returned very quickly to his duties prior to the ceasefire. After the Armistice the Bn handed over to the 1st Bn The Royal Warwickshire Regt and moved to the Canal Zone in Egypt. Peter, now a Captain served as 2IC of A Coy before being selected to represent the Regiment as an Instructor at Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School in November 53.
He returned to 1DLI in 1956 when it was under 48 hours notice for the Suez Operations but were dispatched to Aden instead for three months. After a spell in Barnard Castle 1DLI were redeployed to Cyprus in 1958, stationed in Paphos. Peter resigned his commission in 1958 and transferred to the Reserve of Officers.
He bought a hill farm at Tregeiriog in the Ceiriog Valley where he settled and raised a family of three sons. He became a well know figure in local circles and served as High Sheriff of Denbighshire from 1966 to 1969. He had joined the Shropshire Yeomanry in 1962 in the rank of Captain. His middle son James was killed in a terrorist incident in Zimbabwe in 1982. His remaining two sons, Rupert and Duncan have taken on the family farm.
HENDY, Arthur Died 14 January 2018 at the age of 80. Arthur served with the Durham Light Infantry.
HUDSON, Noel Noel passed away on 18
April 2018 aged 76 after a short illness.
Noel wanted to join the military at an early
age but his parents would not allow it, so he
joined the DLI Army Cadet Force and was
a Drummer in the Band and Bugles. Noel
served his apprenticeship as an engineer. He
never lost interest in the military. He signed
up in the TA serving with HQ Company 5LI
at Gilesgate, which later became 7LI, rising
to the rank of Cpl. Noel also joined Durham
ACF as Drum Instructor with the Borneo
Band and Bugles passing on his skills to the
youngsters. He was very keen on restoring his American Willy’s Jeep to a high standard, which he took to events and parades around the country.
JOHNSON, Alexander Kirk Col MBE TD DL Born in Barlow Village, Co. Durham on 13th November 1918, he was the middle child of three boys. His father was a miner and he had a poor but happy upbringing. At eleven, he attended Blaydon Secondary School for one year with a five and a half mile walk to school and completed his schooling at Hookergate Grammar School when he only had to walk two miles!
Following school, he began training as a
biochemist in a brewery which he hated and
he was then called up, age 20, in the First
Militia to train at Carlisle. War began in the middle of training and he was posted to Winterbourne, near Salisbury, ironically for chemical warfare training. Whilst stationed there, he met his future wife Ruth at a village dance and they married in 1942. Two years later, their daughter Susan was born.
After training in the use of poison gas Alex was sent to France. He was captured but managed to escape and after several adventures arrived at Dunkirk. He then joined 6th Commando and was involved in the raids on the Lofoten Islands and Vaagso in Norway. Smaller raids on the Pas de Calais followed after which he was offered a commission which meant leaving the Commandos. He was posted to a Royal Engineer regiment and was involved early on D-Day clearing the beaches. He and his soldiers became involved in the “Falaise Gap” where the British and Canadian forces met and drove the Germans into retreat across the Seine. His troops were among the first into Belsen and the smells and sights remained with him always.
In May 1947 the Territorial Army was reforming and he joined immediately, staying in the Royal Engineers until 1962. He was then asked to be County Commandant of Tyne and Wear Army Cadet Force where he served for 21 years, during which he was promoted to Colonel. In 1985 he was invited to be a Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.
Following demobilisation in 1947, Alex trained as a teacher and spent many years at Whickham School before realising his ambition to run his own independent school – Linden School – in Forest Hall, near Newcastle. The school flourished under his guidance and he successfully influenced the lives of hundreds of children, commanding complete respect, yet being approachable and caring. He was passionate about helping pupils to attain their full potential and the Linden children were moulded into strong and confident people. He finally took early retirement in 1997 aged 79!
Alex led an active life in the local community in Rowlands Gill and served on several committees.
He was a keen bowler both indoors and out until weeks before his death and during his later years he wrote several books on the local area travelling around giving talks to schools and community groups. He was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather and is greatly missed by his family and friends.
GRANT, Francis, Frank (Frankie) Died on 19 February 2018. Frankie served with the DLI and Royal Scots in WW2. He was also a member of the Durham Branch of the DLI Association. Francis also became a member of the Mayor’s Guard on 24 July 1989, he had nearly 28 year’s service in before retiring in June 2017 when he became an Honorary Member.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 223