Page 14 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 59

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

The Last Post

to Bexley Heath, Bicester, Banbury, and General Sir Geoffrey Howlett,
Oswestry but they always returned to who has died aged 92, won an MC in
Aldershot, which is where they finally the jungles of Malaya; parachuted into
settled after leaving the Army. Egypt during the Suez Crisis; and
The family understand that at the rose to become Commander-in-Chief
time he became the ACC’s youngest Allied Forces Northern Europe, based
RSM at the age of just 33. After com- in Norway during the Cold War.
pleting his regular service, Terry then In August 1971 he was leading
moved onto CVHQ for the remainder paratroopers in west Belfast when 10
of his working life. Terry always spoke civilians, including a priest and a mother
David Steven Maxwell Bentley with fondness of his many years with of eight, died after being shot during an
28th November 1952 – 5th February the ACC and the soldiers he met along operation, and in 2019 he gave forth-
2022 the way, and he used to describe his time right evidence at the inquest into the
in the military as being part of the best deaths, bravely declining the protection
Keith Carnill club in the world. of anonymity.
The family have been very touched The events which led to the award of
Robin Frank Craven by all of those from the ACC who have his MC occurred in February 1952 in the
20th October 2021 been in touch following Terry’s passing Malay state of Selangor at the height of
and are grateful for the memories and the Malayan Emergency. Howlett was
stories shared with the family of your commanding an ambush party which
time with him. Terry’s family was very killed one Communist terrorist (CT),
pleased that so many former ACC and wounded another, and the follow-
colleagues were able to attend Terry’s ing day he led his platoon through thick
funeral at Aldershot Crematorium on swamp and jungle to attack a reported
5th January 2022 where everyone paid CT encampment.
their respects. Last Post and Reveille The place turned out to be deserted,
was played for Terry one last time. It was but on withdrawal they encountered a
also a pleasure to meet up with those group of heavily armed CTs.
ACC colleagues who were able to join In the subsequent fighting the
Captain Terence (Terry) Gough the family at the wake and share their enemy were all killed and Howlett was
5th November 1935 – 28th November happy stories. awarded an Immediate MC, his aggres-
2021 sive and skilful leadership having proved
Captain Terry Gough sadly passed away Ian Harvey a decisive factor.
on 28th November 2021 in Aldershot A fellow officer credited Howlett
after a short battle with kidney and Ray (Ramon) Hilton with “great presence and authority com-
bladder cancer. Terry was born in bined with natural humility and a strong
Senghenydd, South Wales and joined sense of the ridiculous, which gave him
the Army Catering Corps on 20th a singular capacity for right judgments
January 1954. He married Joyce Davies and fair decisions”.
on 6th August 1955 whom he met whilst Geoffrey Hugh Whitby Howlett
working at the Co-op in Caerphilly. was born in India on February 5 1930.
They moved into married quarters in His father, Brigadier Bernard Howlett,
Aldershot which was the first of many DSO and Bar, was killed in Italy in 1943
Army quarters they shared together over when a long-range artillery shell landed
the years and raised their family of three exactly on target.
children Kay, Glenn and Jendra. General Sir Geoffrey Hugh Whitby Young Geoffrey was educated at
Terry’s military career spanned more Howlett KBE, MC Wellington College and Sandhurst, and
than 40 years in both the Regular Army 5th February 1930 – 21st April 2022 in 1950 he was commissioned into his
and TA/Reserve units. In his time he Representative Colonel Commandant father’s regiment, The Queen’s Own
was involved in recruitment, training t General Sir Geoffrey Howlett, was the Royal West Kents. The following year,
he Junior Leaders (aka the ‘boys’) a drill Commandant of the Army Catering his first overseas posting was the oper-
instructor and firearms specialist, before Corps in 1981 and was a good friend to ational tour to Malaya.
moving onto more senior leadership the Corps. Howlett then enjoyed an inter-
roles. As part of service life, postings took Published by kind permission of the Daily esting tour as ADC to the British
him and his family around the country Telegraph – article printed 3rd May 2022 Commandant in Berlin. Mid-1950s

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