Page 253 - The Bugle 2018

Hayden – Maj Bob MBE late KRRC,
Malayan Scouts (SAS), Glider Pilot Regt,
22 SAS, GJ (KRRC), RGJ, UDR & ACF.
Bob Hayden died on 23 Oct 2017 in
Hereford aged 86. Bob was born in
Paddington on 15 Jul 1931. He joined
the Cadets of the Queen Victoria Rifles
(QVR) and enlisted at the first opportunity
in to the KRRC, serving in uniform for over
42 years in seven different regiments. He
volunteered for service in Malaya and
became one of the founder members
of the Malayan Scouts. He pioneered long range patrolling, tree jumping, and is credited with helping to establish the selection process which today is little changed. Whilst in Malaya he spent a year with the Glider Pilot Regt doing high frequency radio trials. He then went on to serve at: the Depot in Winchester; Colchester as a PSI; the TA at Davies Street and Buckingham Gate, London; CSM 2 RGJ Munster; WO1 (RSM) 3 UDR/QM 3UDR; Commissioned into the UDR 1972; MTO 9 UDR; Adjt 9 UDR; Coy Comd 9 UDR; and, Comdt UDR Training Camp. He retired from ‘uniformed’ service in Jan 98.
He was Chairman of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Assn (NMBVA) and very influential in convincing Government to allow veterans to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal. He was also a keen fundraiser for a number of charities including Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of a number of branches of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. This included nine years as an active member of the Herefordshire branch. Bob also had deep involvement in and support for the Herefordshire LI Museum and was an active member of the SAS Assn in Herefordshire where he had retired. Married Joyce in 1957, she predeceased him in December 2000. He is survived by two sons.
HE VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE IN MALAYA AND BECAME ONE OF THE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE MALAYAN SCOUTS
Minchinton - Mr David Frank died on the 20th August 2017, aged 83. Called up for National Service into the SOM LI in 1953, he served with 1 SOM LI in Malaya as a Rifleman. On leaving the Army in late 1954 he returned to his home in Chard where he worked in the building trade until retirement. A member of the Taunton Branch, our condolences go to his partner Patricia, his son, daughters and families.
King – Mr Gordon Albert died on 9th
January 2018 aged 94. Gordon enlisted
in to the Army in April 1939 and after initial
training with 5 SOM LI was posted to 4 SOM
LI, Bath. Gordon was subsequently injured
in a training accident that claimed the lives
of many men and was unable to deploy to
Normandy. Awarded the Defence Medal,
War Medal and Efficiency Medal Gordon
transferred to the North Somerset Yeomanry
in 1948. There he enjoyed his volunteer
soldiering until 1962 by which time he was
Sqn Sgt Maj. In civil life he joined the Police
Service and advanced to Sgt. He was awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. More recently Gordon is remem- bered as a staunch member of the Bath Branch of the Association who participated in all activities including battlefield tours. In his early nineties he apprehended a criminal, making a getaway on foot, by tripping him up with his walking stick. Never one to take himself too seriously, Gordon enjoyed the huge fanfare of publicity that ensued. Our condolences go to Gordon’s daughter, Vicky Whatley.
Langston – Mr Paul (Stan), died on 29th December 2017. Stan served with 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment in the 1970s, joining in September 1974.
Lethbridge – Mr Ernie James, died on 27th July 2018, aged 71. Ernie joined the Army in 1962 initially serving with Infantry Junior Leaders, Oswestry. There he became a junior CSM. A posting to 1 SCLI followed. When in Berlin he was soon promoted and there- after gained his second stripe at Gravesend. Highlights from this period included exercises in Norway and Canada. During the battal- ion’s tour of Aden he moved to the Recce Platoon. Subsequently on formation of 1 LI Cpl Lethbridge remained in the Recce Platoon and mainly served in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Lemgo. He was promoted to Sergeant and, before his discharge in August 1970, became an AFV 432 driving instructor. As a civilian Ivybridge was his home. He led an exciting and sometimes dangerous life with oil at its focus. He travelled extensively holding a variety of appoint- ments in: United States of America; Mexico; Bahrain; United Arab Emirates; Iran; Japan; Egypt; Brazil; Trinidad and Tobago; Gabon; Ecuador; Senegal; Tunisia; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; and, Peru. Logistics Manager could describe his work with earlier employment characterised by lengthy periods as a roughneck and then, derrick-man. A member of the Taunton Branch, our condolences go to his widow, Mikiko.
Morris – Mr James Christopher died on 13th April 2017 following a short illness. He served with 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment as a National Serviceman in the mid-1950s. We are grateful to his daughter Wendy Lewin for informing the Taunton office.
Murphy – Mr Byron James (Spud), died in late July 2018 aged 92. Born at Speedwell Bristol on 3rd October 1925 he became inspired by visits to the local cinema where he saw newsreels of the Glosters in India. Attempts to enlist were thwarted on grounds of age. He initially had to settle for being a member of Bristol’s Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft battery. At 19 years old he was released from his reserve occupation at Pecketts Iron Foundry and joined the Glosters for basic training. He subsequently travelled to India where he was told he would join the Indian Army Clerical Corps; he refused. Instead, the Dorsetshire Regiment beckoned along with service in occupied Japan. His dream of serving his county regiment was achieved after travelling to Jamaica. Moves with 1 GLOSTERS to Colchester and Korea followed. By April 1951, at the Battle of the Imjin River, he was a Sergeant controlling and manning Vickers MGs. He was Mentioned in Despatches but captivity followed the battle. After his release and return to England he became a postman. Major Sam Weller was amongst those that persuaded him to re-join. Beginning again as a Private soldier his second time with 1 GLOSTERS included tours of Cyprus, Swaziland and Berlin plus exercises in USA. He was promoted to WOII in 1964. His last years of service were spent with 1 WESSEX.
Spud was married to Kathleen Violet Mary Murphy; Katie died in 2008. He is survived by their son Byron who lives in Singapore.
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 259