on the return leg. The summer also had its share of sadness; Derek Sykes and a number of other members travelled to Wootton Bassett to witness the repatriation of 1 MERCIAN’s casualties and then attended all of their funerals. The Branch suffered the devastating loss of one of the stalwarts, the incomparable Eric Longson, who died on 5th June. His funeral took place on 16th June in a packed St Mary’s Church. Eric served with 1 CHESHIRE in Suez, Cyprus and Berlin in the 1950s before joining the 7th Battalion at The Armoury, transferring to The Mercian Volunteers; he achieved the rank of WO2 before retiring. Friday nights won’t ever be the same without his witty stories and dry sense of humour.
Tranmere
by Russ Cooney Members from Tranmere travelled across the County to attend the East Cheshire Reunion and, as usual, it was an excellent night out. To our delight, the first soldier we met at our hotel was the iconic and sprightly Brig Dauncey. He immediately bought us a pint and it was great recalling old times and incidents with him. We also bumped into our old friend and great Battalion athlete, Tony Melville. He had travelled from Jersey in his camper van. As it was a cold night, he was invited back to our hotel for a drink – he was still with us for breakfast!
Our Treasurer, Alan Rowe, uncharacteristically opened the purse strings and we enjoyed a magnificent Christmas Dinner Night at the Castle at the end of November. The food, the entertainment and the quiz all combined to make it an excellent night out. Our thanks go to Alan Jones who, as always, looked after us superbly well. Alan Rowe’s doctor assured us that he would get well soon and that he had just been a victim of a “one off” generosity attack! Over 80 members and guests enjoyed our Christmas Social and prize draw. The entertainment was superb and the buffet was outstanding.
Walsall
by Mick Bird and Reg Smith Again, we had a full complement at the East Cheshire Reunion. Our thanks to Alan Cooper who organised and drove the transport; without him, it would have been very difficult for many members to attend. Many thanks to Len Hurcombe who provided the refreshments on the bus to help us to while away the journey. Most of the Branch turned out at Walsall Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday. The parade was very well attended and we were also near to the band which makes a big difference to the marching when you can hear the beat of the drum; it was nice to see so many citizens of Walsall turning out as well.
Christmas was upon us so quickly once again and we held a successful Christmas dinner and dance with even more people than last year. It was nice to see that our President’s wife, Mrs Jean Tarbuck, was well enough to attend the evening. Our January meeting was a casualty of the weather and so our first get together was to attend the AGM and Meeanee Supper in Chester. The Annual Malaya Reunion took place on 15th May in Pelsall Labour Club and a good evening was enjoyed by all those who attended. Sadly, Mick Bird, our Secretary and the mainstay of the Malaya Reunion, died on 20th May. His funeral on 2nd June was attended by CRA members from all over and three Standards were on parade. Mick’s contribution to the Branch over the years was enormous: he will be sorely missed and our condolences go to his family.
142 October 2010
LAST POST
Peter Brown died on 31 January 2009. David Elliott died on 5 May 2009. He served in the 1st Battalion from 1961 to 1970.
Douglas Howden died on 3 September 2009 aged 87. He served in The Regiment in WW2 from 1938 to 1945.
George Jones DCM died on 18 September 2009.
Les Jones died on 21 September 2009. Kenneth Jamieson died on 14 May 2009. Wilf Oake died on 26 August 2009 aged 80.
Ken Saxon died 22 July 2009 aged 69. He served in the 1st Battalion from 1958 to 1961.
Leslie Tomkinson died on 3 October 2009. He served in the 1st Battalion in Berlin from 1953 to 1954.
Thomas Barnett died on 13 November 2009. He served in North Africa.
John Bourne died on 21 January 2009. He served in C Company and in the Medical Centre, Tidworth, Ballykelly and Hong Kong.
Maj John Bowers died on 31 December 2009 aged 80. He served for 6 years from 1947 in Egypt and North Africa and then transferred to RASC/RCT.
Levi Bradford died on 5 September 2009 aged 85, He served with The Leicestershire Regiment before transferring to The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.
George Brown died on 12 December 2009. He served in the 1st Battalion from 1961 to 1971. He was a record-breaking hammer thrower for the Regiment.
P Davenport died on 24 October 2009 aged 79. He served with the 7th Battalion.
Jack Downing died on 18 November 2009 aged 93. He served in the 7th Battalion.
Thomas Dooley died on 11 September 2009.
Tom Johnson died on December 2009 aged 80. He was Cpl Instr at MBTC from 1950 to 1952 and a Sgt in A Company 7th Battalion.
George (Phil) Jones died on 2 November 2009 aged 62. He served in the 1st Battalion.
Gwen Jones died on 18th December 2009. She was the wife of Ken Jones (ex 1st Battalion Corps of Drums).
Donald Kellett died on 10 September 2009.
Pete (Springer) Leek died on 3 February 2010 aged 46. He served in the 1st Battalion.
Lt Robert Malir died on 6 December 2009. He served in The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment and D Company The Mercian Volunteers.
Derek Mills died in January 2010 aged 72. He served in the 1st Battalion in Malaya.
Leslie Robinson died in February 2010. He served from 1956 to 1959.
Steve Robinson served in A Company Anti- tank Platoon from 1959 to 1968.
Jimmy Stafford died on 30 January 2010. He served in the 1st Battalion from 1955 to 1957.
Tony Swindells died on 14 February 2010 aged 76. He served in the Corps of Drums from 1954 to 1957.
Lt Col A Unwin died in 2009 in Kenya. He was Adjt 4th Battalion from 1950 to 1953.
Derek Bache died on 7 June 2010.
Mick Bird died on 20 May 2010 aged 72. He served in the 1st Battalion in Malaya and he was Secretary of the Walsall Branch CRA
Major Ronnie Campbell died on 12 June 2010 aged 61. He was QM 3rd Battalion
Lady Patricia Crookenden died on 4 June 2010. She was the widow of Lt Gen Sir Napier Crookenden KCB DSO OBE.
John Dean died on 6 Mar 2010 aged 91. He served from 1937 to 1946.
F Eaton-Lees died in July 2009. Robin Foss died on 14 March 2010.
Colin Ingham died on 29 April 2010 aged 63. He served in the Regimental Band.
Eric Longson died on 5 June 2010 aged 74. He served in the 1st and 7th Battalions and in 1st Battalion The Mercian Volunteers.
Charlie MacDonald died on 6 June 2010 aged 78. He served in C Company from 1955 to 1956.
Kenneth Matson died on 2 June 2010 aged 83. He served in the 2nd Battalion in Egypt, Palestine and Tripoli.
Maj James Siddall died on 15 April 2010 aged 90. He served in the 7th Battalion.
Tommy Spark died on 11 April 2010. He served with the 1st Battalion in Malaya and Suez.
John Wilkes died on 17 May 2010. He was Secretary of the Wolverhampton Branch of CRA.
Ron Abley died on 31 July 2010. He served with C Company in Malaya from 1957 to 1959.
Ronald Bennett died on 16 June 2010. Ted Brandrick died on 9 September 2010.
Edward Carter died on 5 July 2010 aged 70. He served from 1960 to 1972.
Capt Mike Fryer died on 23 Jun 2010. He served with the 7th Battalion.
Reg Gardner died on 21 July 2010. He served with the 6th Battalion during WW2 including the 8th Army in the desert and the 56th London Division invasion of Italy, landing at Salerno.
John Haspell died on 14 September 2010.
Jean Higgins died on 29 December 2007 aged 68. She was the wife of Sgt A Higgins.
John Hughes died on 17 August 2010. He served from 1939 to 1950.
Maj Anthony Johnson died on 6 July 2010 aged 86. He served from 1944 to 1978.
Thomas Lamb died on 16 August 2010 aged 94. He served from 1934 to 1939.
Norman Lees died on 27 June 2010 aged 92. He served in the 4th Battalion.
Dereck Mills died in January 2010. He served in Malaya and Singapore.
Tony (Taggart) Newton died on 29 September 2010. He served in the 1st Battalion from 1985 to 1991 in Northern Ireland, Belize, Italy, Canada and Cyprus.
Laurence Stubbs died on 5 September 2010 aged 90. He served with the 5th, 7th and 30th Battalions.
Margaret Talbot died on 17 July 2010. She was the wife of Maj Ted Talbot MM.
Col Bob Tipper died on 30 September 2010 aged 93. He served from 1936 to 1967.
The Mercian Eagle
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