T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Romance and marriage followed and Jerry Major Laurence Norman Dunn M.B.E.
decided to buy himself out of the army in T.D. A.RCM. Laurie Dunn died peacefully
1938: the battalion posting to Catterick at the age of 101 years on Maundy
was just too far away from Connie. Neville Thursday, 17th April 2003. A Service of
Chamberlain’s speech on the 3rd September Remembrance for Laurie took place on
1939 shortened Jerry’s return to civilian Friday 2nd May at the Parish Church
life. His call up came in 1940. Although of St. Mary the Virgin, East Preston,
he asked to return to the Cameronians, he Sussex. The service was conducted by
could see the humour, and no doubt was the Revd. David Farrant, who reminded
also surprised, to find himself, as a Scot the large congregation of family, friends
living in London, travelling to Wales to join and neighbours that Laurie had a strong
an Irish regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles: faith and had worshipped regularly at the
he was later transferred to the R.A. to see church.
service in the Middle East and Italy. Acknowledging that Laurie enjoyed
In Italy in 1944, he served with the 2nd literature, the Rector quoted John Bunyan’s
Bn of the Rifle Brigade. While engaged in Pilgrim’s Progress: ‘O death, where is thy
carrying ammunition by mule train, he sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ He
took a wrong track and ended up in the went on to say that Laurie had used his God
German lines, which saved him from being given gifts to the full and had enjoyed a
wiped out with his battalion. All did not go happy, fulfiled life. He ended by saying that
well for Jerry, for he had the misfortune to Laurie would want us to smile.
catch malaria. After a spell in hospital in It was appropriate that the service should
Naples, he returned to duty with the 7th also remind us of Laurie’s military career:
Bn of the R.B: he completed his war service the coffin was draped in the Union flag on
with the 1st KRRC. which his medals were placed: the Last Post
In the 1950’s the Home Guard was re- and Reveille were played by Staff Sergeant
created for domestic service in response to Howard Garner of the Corps of Army
the growing threat from the Soviet Union. Musicians.
Jerry was once more in uniform. On the During his long life Laurie Dunn
11th May 1953 he was commissioned as
a 2/Lt in the Middlesex Regt: later he was
promoted to captain.
In 1946 Jerry was demobbed. He worked
as a bus conductor and then as a driver for
London Transport: he played with their
band. A change of work came as a caretaker
at the Education Offices in Tottenham,
which was followed by a similar job at a
medical centre. In 1987 Jerry and Connie
left Tottenham to live in north Watford.
In 2001, they left Watford to be near their
daughter in Seaford in Sussex.
We send our condolences to Connie,
his daughter Margaret, his sons John and
Peter, his four grandchildren and his other
friends.
Bill Coughlan.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77