Page 17 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 63

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

The Last Post

Cpl William Harry Lewis (Billy) Buidhe care home in Stornoway, Isle of
14th April 2024 Lewis. He served as a cook with 2/51
Billy has passed on 14th April 2024 HIGHLAND (TAVR) in Stornoway
after a short illness, aged 74. and supported 2/51 on exercises
He served over 11 years from 1965 including Germany and Cyprus. He
to 1976. His service included time in volunteered to support 1 Queens Own
UK, BAOR, Northern Ireland, Beirut, Highlanders on their exercise in Kenya
and Hong Kong. in 1986 where he became a favourite
He had particularly fond memo- of the local children.* Originally from
ries of time served with 10 Regt RCT Tong on the Isle of Lewis, he was a
in Bielefeld and has attended reun- weaver of Harris Tweed and also worked
ions with friends made from 10 Regt in the construction industry while also
since. He was also a regular visitor to supporting his local youth club. He had
the National Arboretum, which was a talent for singing, was a member of
located quite near to his home, where his local Gaelic Choir and serenaded
he attended many memorial events or the local regimental association on their
made private visits. dinner nights.
Bernard as No1 Cooker
His old friend, former ACC Depot He is survived by his wife Mary
DWI David Sharkey recalls his friend- MacLean and stepson Davey.
ship with much affection. He first
Provided by Dane Miller
met Billy in 1972 in Springfield Road
Belfast, during Operation Motorman. * The raw story is that Donald was a good simple
Due to a shortage of drivers Billy had Christian who did the good simple Christian
thing of feeding the children. Up to the point
been seconded as section driver and
where there was nothing left for the troops.
was accepted as one of the gang, largely
The much more temporal Quartermaster blew
due to his quick-witted replies to digs a gasket.
about his vocation. David recalls a trip
they made to Bangor for a spot of R&R, Patrick Timothy Oneill (Tim)
parking up in the local police station 27th March 2024
and heading to the seafront for a swim.
Billy regularly ran errands for his adop- Bernard Shaw
tive section to the laundry while they 28th April 1939 – 1st October 2023
were deployed and made sure when they After leaving school at
came back in during the small hours 14 years old and work- Bernard on Weapon drill
there were egg banjos waiting and a ing for three years at His discharge record states he was
fresh brew. the Black Boy Hotel ‘hardworking and trustworthy’, saying
Once David and his unit moved away, in Nottingham, ‘he carried out his work cheerfully,
they lost touch but met up again at an Bernard joined the although he was a quiet personality’.
ACC veteran’s reunion in MacDonald’s ACC in 1956 in That sounds about right. He was proud
Hotel Manchester some 40 years later. Nottingham. On entry into service his of being in the Army Catering Corp.
The night turned into a great event as first role was cooking for General and was always happy to talk about his
the years melted away, along with the Bramwell-Davis and his family in time in service. Bernard died at the age
alcohol and the hours until those in Aldershot, before being sent to Aden of 84, in Birmingham. He is greatly
attendance crawled to their pits at 4am. for a year in 1958 where he worked in missed by his wife Pauline and his chil-
Lots of Corps veterans will have the Officers’ Mess. This was followed by dren and grandchildren.
similar memories of Billy while oth- six months in Germany B.A.O.R., leav- Provide by Ross Shaw
ers have stayed connected over many ing on 5th November 1959. He was
years on the plethora of Corps sites on discharged as a reserve in November Capt Leslie Sorbey (Les)
Facebook etc. He will be sorely missed. 1963 and went on to have a long career 4th July 1949 – 30th December 2023
Provided by Billy Andersen in civilian catering, firstly as a manager Serving with the Army was a huge part
and then an area manager for of Les’s life and one he was justifiably
Donald Angus MacLean (Dan Goggan) Woolworths. He ended his career as proud of too. He progressed from being
22nd December 2023 Head of Catering for Wolverhampton an army cadet to full duty in Germany.
Donald known as Dan Goggan, died Council, where he waged a one man war Various tours followed including Libya,
on 22nd December 2023 in Blar against lumpy mash in school meals. Ireland, and Cyprus. He then transferred
SECRETARY@ACCASSOCIATION.ORG | WWW.ACCASSOCIATION.ORG PAGE 17