Page 10 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 56

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

The Last Post

Major Peter Bettesworth – hard act to follow and I still feel something and Dougie worked in the tower block.
13th August 2020 of an apprentice under his wing. By way of Meeting up was a daily occurrence, he
a tribute, I have included a contribution was still a keen sportsman and his main
Major John Biggs – 16th May 2020 from two of his close friends, Roger Walton interest was now skiing with the ‘gang
and John Ratcliffe. of four’. I left the School and did not
WO1 John (Barry) Bradshaw Editor meet up again (apart from Corps din-
1939-2020 ner nights) until I was at the School of
Barry was called up for National Service Roger Walton writes: Logistics in Deepcut. By now Dougie
in August 1959 and enjoyed Army life I first came across Dougie when four had left the Army and was a Civil Servant
so much he decided to stay. He was of us moved from the 15th intake in at the Army School of Catering. Dougie
very proud of being in the ACC. Barry B Coy to E & F squad in A Coy. We was then promoted in the Civil Service
served in places including Scotland, kept ourselves to ourselves, however, and spent a lot of time at Deepcut with
Malta, Germany, Cyprus and a stint Dougie was the one who built a bridge his new job, we would often meet up
in Northern Ireland attached to 22nd between us and managed to extract as and discuss the merits (or otherwise) of
Cheshire Regiment. After 22 years much information, such as why did we those then running the show.
in the Army, life in civvy street was have money on a Wednesday night for Dougie and Liz were keen caravan-
quite difficult for him but he bought a a tea and wad in the NAAFI when the ners and on a trip to the caravan show at
narrow boat and, for the next 10 years, rest of the squad didn’t? We got paid on the NEC in Birmingham I stepped off a
he trundled around the waterways of Thursdays, he never found out! bus and stood right in front of me was
England before settling in Accrington. Dougie was always hard working Dougie and Liz; needless to say, they
Wherever we went, we made lots of and a keen sportsman, I remember missed the bus! For some years, mem-
friends and enjoyed lots of great mem- him doing the Devizes to Westminster bers of E&F squad have had an annual
ories. I feel very honoured to have spent canoe race. In 1965, both he and I were reunion, at one of these Dougie was tell-
62 years with him. He passed away on included in a group of boy chefs that ing me about taking Liz to Liverpool to
9th January 2020 at home surrounded went to Milan to cook for a military show her his old haunts and he took her
by his loving family. tattoo that was taking place. I have to to see the home he was brought up in.
Yours sincerely, Mrs Hilda Bradshaw say a good time was had by all, hiring Wanting to get a closer look he moved
a motorboat on Lake Como, eating in into the grounds when, a moment later,
George Reginald Brown –
November 2019 Italian restaurants, and finding out that a security guard had hold of him as he
real Spag Bol is nothing like the Spag was being reported as a peeping tom!
Bol that we know and love. I remember Thankfully, he was able to convince
Major Dougie Dau – 8th July 2020
Dougie asking where the sauce was, the them he was a former resident!
Memories of Dougie Dau waiter just shrugged his shoulders and
It is interesting that walked off. We also gained an apprecia- The following tribute was made by
Dougie chose the last tion of Italian wine! When we left boys John Ratcliffe at Dougie’s funeral
year or two to research service, I lost touch with him but later service which was held on 5th August
his family history and to we realised that we went through the 2020 at the Park Crematorium
share some of his story ranks at about the same speed. Aldershot.
with friends and col- We met up at different ACC func- I am part of a close group of Dougie’s
leagues. Indeed, Dougie tions and meetings as WO1s. One friends known amongst ourselves as
submitted an article of my postings was in Herford and ‘The Gang’. Dougie, Joe Murison,
about this which was featured in the last Dougie was in Osnabruck so we came Douglas Harrold and I have been close
edition of The Flaming Cauldron. Little across each other quite a lot mainly at friends for close to 40 years. I would like
did he or we know that not long after- Divisional cooking companions where to share our memories and tell some
wards, his wife Liz and family, friends we were now adversaries. Dougie and I stories that will hopefully honour his
and colleagues would lose such a wonderful, were selected for commissioning on the life and recognise the space he leaves
gentle, man. Since taking over from Dougie same day, Dougie took up his first post behind in all of our lives. Our friendship
in September 2017, he provided me with as the Catering Officer for 7 Signals began in earnest in the mid-1980s when
endless advice and assistance as a veritable Regiment in Herford, I was now his the four of us discovered a shared, late in
fount of knowledge for all things to do with STI. I visited him quite a lot, but I do life, passion for downhill skiing. What
the ACC and its history. Growing up not think we discussed catering very we lacked in flexible, youthful joints and
through the ranks, as someone who spent much at all. bodies that bounced on impact, we more

time in both the Sergeants’ and Officers’ The next time we met up was at than made up for in enthusiasm and a
Messes, he knew so many people and was St Omer Barracks where I was the willingness to travel at high speed down
widely respected and liked by all. He was a QM for the Army School of Catering steep slopes.

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