Page 10 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 57

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

The Last Post

I believe the film was Dr No. The result river and the London Inn on the other. NATO Headquarters, this was to be his
of the competition was announced after I can’t remember either of us coming last posting in the army. He then joined
breakfast on the last day, both our moth- back to camp sober, happy days! The the Civil Service and went to work as a
ers received ‘Certificates of Merit’ (i.e., fire-fighting course was immense, build- Quartermaster at the Cotswold Centre
they didn’t win). We then escorted both ing bridges so the water could go over in Corsham for five years until he was
ladies back to the station and said our a road, putting up ladders in Clayton sixty when Jean convinced him to fully
goodbye’s, returned to the barracks to all Barracks so you had to climb up, go retire. However, he then started as a vol-
the mummies boy’s ridicule you could over the roof and down the other side, unteer with SSAFA.
ever imagine!! then do it with a nine stone dummy. Roger and his wife Jean doted upon
In March 1964, Roger was offered We did most of the training I think at their grandsons, Quinn who is 17 and
the opportunity to transfer over to A Crookham lake and, to top it off, we Clayton who is 14. Roger’s other passion
company to take up an apprenticeship, were allowed an inter squad hosepipe was caravanning, I used to rib him that
retaining his rank and joining E&F fight at the end, with reduced water he changed his caravan more times than
Squads of the 17th intake. Along with pressure so no one got injured. That was I changed my socks (you can imagine his
six others, roger took this opportunity. a real team building course. comeback to that). He toured all over
He stayed attached to B Company as In December, E&F Squads passed the UK and loved going to the South
a Platoon Sergeant, but all his military, out of the Junior Tradesmen’s Regiment of France and Spain which was planned
catering and educational training was and we were split up to go to our chosen so that they always went in the school
done with E&F Squads which was OK postings. I went north to Barnard Castle summer holidays to enable Quinn
for me as I knew Roger. However, it was to join 47 Light Regiment RA and and Clayton to join them. Roger and
a bit daunting for him getting to know Roger went to Hereford to join 22 SAS, Jean would set off first and get set up,
a new set of comrades. At this time, his dream posting. He passed the tough then the boys would fly out when their
the whole Regiment upped sticks and SAS course and was awarded his SAS schools broke up and they would pick
moved to Clayton Barracks, no drafty wings which was a great achievement. them up at the airport, returning them
spider accommodation, modern living, Promotions started to happen for Roger to fly back in time to start school. Roger
pure luxury. along with his single status. Whilst at loved all his family dearly.
1965 got off to a bad start for E&F Hereford, Roger met his future wife at Kindly submitted by Peter Murthick
Squads. Our Sergeants including Roger a friend’s wedding in 1966. They mar-
Further tributes from friends and
blotted their copy books shall we say, ried in September 1967 at Illingworth
colleagues:
and all were demoted to apprentice. Two Church, Halifax, West Yorkshire. In
members were discharged for conduct 1969 he was posted to Dhekelia in Ian Hunter – Roger was certainly a
person whom I looked up to as a Junior
unbecoming. Our hopes of having two Cyprus where is daughter Lea was born
Junior CSMs and the Junior RSM for the same year. Promotions kept on com- Private. He was a Corporal at the time,
and he was one of the few who always
our passing out parade were well and ing with postings to Munster, Dortmund
truly scuppered. Roger moved into our and Verden. His Second daughter Kelly had time for us kids.
room and quickly settled in. Martyn was born in Hannover in 1979, by which Andy Talbot – Roger was my first mas-
Thorne recalls he was probably the most time Roger was a Master Chef. ter chef in Verden, a sad loss to us all.
capable, sensible, and mature member of In 1980 Roger was then posted to
Terry Stevens – My first proper Master
the squad at that time, I cannot argue Folkstone where he was to take on the
Chef, so much respect.
against that. I thought that this was just KAPE (Keep the Army in the Public
a blip on his path to better things, I was Eye) team which lasted until 1985. Not Arwyn Watkins – Roger was a great
mentor.
proved correct. a lot of people know that Kelly’s teddy
Our replacement Squad Sergeant bear Sooty went with him but keep that Derrick Lancaster – My boss on the
was one Wally Torrington who had an to yourselves! mobile display team.
unenviable task but earned the respect He returned to Verden in 1985 and
Jim Hendrick – An excellent warrant
of the lads in very quick time. During eighteen months later he was com-
officer and boss, an all-round good guy.
our last year there were two stand-out missioned in the rank of Lieutenant.
And finally, from me Peter Murthick
activities, one was summer camp to Posting followed to Bulford, he moved
– Roger was a friend in JTR/ACC, we
Plasterdown Camp and the other was an with the family to Warminster and he
lost touch for several years but got back
emergency fire-fighting course held with commuted to Aldershot by which time
in touch and have had eighteen years of
the Aldershot & District Fire Service. he was a Major. He moved again, this
catch up, banter and boozing. I will miss
While at Plasterdown, we were in the time to 4th Division in Abingdon for
him dearly...
bulk kitchen which we all enjoyed. We two years. Roger was then promoted to
also enjoyed the village of Horrabridge, Lieutenant Colonel in 1998 and moved James Voss – 26th April 2021
the leaping salmon on one side of the to SHAPE in Belguim and worked at
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