Page 251 - The Bugle 2018

Obituaries
Borlase – Mr Nigel Anthony died in early 2018 aged 77. Born and Munster. From 1960-64 he served as a company commander
on 17th August 1940 he joined the Somerset Light Infantry, as a Bandsman, in th elate 1950s and before the formation of the SCLI. He remained as a Bandsman with 1 SCLI for much of the 1960s before going to Kneller Hall as a student bandmaster in 1968. On departing Kneller Hall in June 1971 he became WO1 (Bmr) with 1 DERR and served with the Battalion in BB, BAOR, Northern Ireland and Cyprus. He left the Army in August 1980.
Clark - Mr Norman (aka Nobby) died on 11th February 2018, aged 84. He enlisted in 1951 and joined the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI). Within 1 DCLI he became a Bugler and served in BAOR and Bodmin. He completed his National service in 1953. A staunch and long standing member of the Association’s Bristol Branch he held a variety of jobs including dockworker, greenkeeper and groundsman. Our condolences go to his family.
Connolly - Mr Ronald (aka John) died on 18th August 2017 aged 88. John served with 1 GLOSTERS and was a Korean war veteran. The LI and Rifles Buglers Association kindly supported John’s funeral. Association Standards were also much in evidence and in support of his wife Ann.
Darbyshire – Maj John Rupert died on 30th November 2017 aged 82. Born in 1935, John was commissioned in to the Somerset Light Infantry in December 1955. Around that time 1 SOM LI served in Plymouth, Malta and Cyprus. Following a training appointment at the Depot Taunton, he was posted to 1 KSLI serving in Colchester
with the Sultan of Oman Armed Forces. On return he became Adjutant of 1 SCLI (Berlin, Gravesend & Aden) before attending Staff College. From 1968-69 he was on the staff of DAQMG in the MOD before returning as a company commander with 2 LI. He left the Army in January 1974, his final appointment being GSO2 (SD) at HQ 1 (BR) Corps, Bielefeld. John subsequently practiced as a solicitor and became a partner with a firm at Horncastle, Lincolnshire. He also became a District Councillor. Later, Suffolk became their home. Our condolences go to John’s widow, Sue.
Davis – Major Alan Eric died on 19th April 2018 aged 86 years old. Alan joined the DCLI as National Serviceman, at Bordon, in 1950. By 1951 he was commissioned and serving with 1 KOYLI as a Platoon Commander in Malaya. In 1956 he began a lengthy period with the Territorial Army first serving with 4/5th Bn of the Essex Regiment. In 1971 he transferred to 6 LI, first as second in command, B Coy and then OC A Coy. His latter years in the TA re spent with CVHQ RA, Woolwich. There he became an experienced LO within HQ 4 Armd Div. Alan was awarded the TD in 1979 and in 1983 left the TA. He worked for the MOD in Defence Sales and interests included gliding, squash and fishing. Our condolences go to his widow, Hilary.
Dawes - WO1 (RSM) Dickie died on 16th November 2016, aged 68. No ordinary soldier – one day a bloody minded rogue, the next a devil may care hero – he had a dry, disrespectful sense of humour and a short fuse, never suffering fools. His stamina, loyalty and bravery marked him out as a natural leader, who emerged during the early years of Northern Ireland.
Dickie was born on 1 May 1948 into a family with formidable fighting credentials. In World War 1, two great uncles (both killed) and his paternal grandfather, served in the Royal Navy, whilst his maternal grandfather was an ‘Old Contemptible’ in the DEVONS. In World War 2, his father flew in RAF bombers. Leaving school in 1965, Dickie went to the recruiting office, seeking ‘to drive tanks and reach RSM’. The Recruiting Sergeant reassured him that the Gloucestershire Regiment “had lots of tanks and excellent promotion”. Postings to Chester, Swaziland and Berlin followed, and also marriage to Mel who became a steadying influence throughout his life. Dickie loved field soldiering, but disliked garrison duties and authority and decided to leave in 1970. However he found civilian life no better and so, after 18 months, he re-enlisted in time to deploy to West Belfast.
On 30 January 1972, ‘Bloody Sunday’ triggered an explosion of province wide violence. The next day, Private Dawes rifle company was dealing with a huge riot when it came under fire. In the confusion, he was separated and pursued by a crowd, with bullets striking around him. He saved himself by slipping underneath an abandoned milk float, from where he engaged the gunmen, before being snatched to safety by a Pig armoured vehicle. For his courage and quick reaction, Private Dawes was awarded a Mention in Dispatches. Promotion followed and back in Belfast in 1973, and again in 1974, he led rifle sections with distinction.
In 1977 he returned to NI, for an 18 month tour. Now a Sergeant he commanded a four man patrol in the battalion’s close obser- vation platoon (COP). Displaying a natural aptitude, he notched up a series of successes, deploying right under the noses of his targets, and gaining priceless insight into the Provisional IRA.
Days, sometimes weeks, were spent in cramped, dangerous, unhealthy locations. Never compromised, he took pride in always finding a suitable position, once hiding under an upturned boat and drilling a hole through which to observe and take photo- graphs. On another occasion, the weather was so severe that relief and resupply became impossible. When his patrol was finally extracted, with its priceless trove of intelligence, all had sustained cold injuries, less Sergeant Dawes, who was unscathed, and desperate for a cigarette!
At this time another brush with authority led to a court martial reducing him to the ranks. Exceptionally, he was allowed to retain command of his patrol, due to operational imperatives. By the end of the tour, his Sergeant’ stripes were back, he had been awarded the BEM and was now in demand well beyond 1 GLOSTERS. Postings to the Northern Ireland Training and Advisory Team and the Northern Ireland Patrol Group followed. Then in 1990, he was the natural choice as WO2 controller of the GLOSTERS Close Observation Platoon, for a two year tour in Northern Ireland. His reward was promotion to WO1, achieving the ambition he had stated in the recruiting office all those years before.
After a few more years extended service, he was dined out by the Glosters Sergeant’s mess, where he stated “without Mel I wouldn’t be your guest tonight – I’d be one of those guys serving your wine”. After a spell driving trucks, he moved to Bristol in 2005, where he bought a vintage car and became a wedding chauffeur. He enjoyed this hugely, driving brides until the end of 2015. He was then diagnosed with cancer. He died, eleven months later at home, surrounded by his family. Mel, and their three children, survive him.
DICKIE LOVED FIELD SOLDIERING, BUT DISLIKED GARRISON DUTIES
THE RIFLES REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 257