General Jeremy Blacker

[Paul Ramsay]

Sorry to give you the sad news of General Jeremy Blacker, he has been diagnosed with cancer and his death is imminent.

While I was with the regimental secretary with Tiny Hart he passed on the news to us.

Will let you know when the sad event happens - before christmas I am told it is that imminent. He has had the treatment but to no avail, I personally liked the man - he promoted me to Corporal!!!

My thoughts are with his family.

[Alan Levi Hodges]

Many people from the old regiment will hear this news with a serious sad heart

Considering we were all supposed to be trained killers, he always had time for the families and the other side of regimental life

I for one will remember the way he ran us around to be better people as well as better squadies

Thoughts go to him and the family in what must be a bloody awfull time

Levi :evil:

[Gilbert Bridger]

Great man. Had the pleasure of making him a scheme cup of coffee on Soltau when he came to visit. He went around every soldier in the troop and shook his hand. Think he was a Brig.

It will be another Sad loss.

Gilby

[Gordon Farrell]

When I joined Snowy Evans was the RSM who tore me to shreds whilst inbriefing me for CO's initial interview and Gen Blacker was the Adjutant at the time who rescued me from his clutches, so I could calm down before going in to see the big man. Two great men who went the distance.

[Mike Kemble]

Sorry to hear this. I think I knew him, must have done, but slight haze over memory. Ah yes, Omagh!

[Jorgen dyer]

He was my OC for a couple of years and was always the true gent and as said before always had time for a chat, we had many nights in in the SHQ vehicles with him on stag and he told a good story as well as well as having a brillent tactical mind hence the general rank

He will be solely missed

[eric harding]

very sad to hear about this ?

[Alan Rigby]

Sorry to hear the bad news.He was 2/ic C Sqn. in Hohne and then when we went to Aden.He always had time for everyone.
I last saw him at Tidworth where he took the salute at the amalgamation parade.Later we had a nice chat about old times.A good bloke and a great credit to the Regiment.

Alan Rigby

[Dave Harmon]

I am sorry to hear this news. General Blacker was always a fair and pleasant man to me. Those who know the circumstances of my departure from the regiment might like to know thatI have just re-read his comments in my Certificate of Service and I do not think anybody could have gone further to do me a "good turn" in their written assessment in such obviously difficult circumstances. So bless you ASJ Blacker.

[Nigel lewis]

I had a letter from General Jeremy yesterday. He has responded to the treatment and is looking forward to a few months longer than previously forecast. Not good news but slightly better and he hopes for more time with his family.

[Paul Ramsay]

General Geremy died on the 17th March so Howard Murray has informed me. I will ring RHQ tomorow to find relevant details for you. His obit was in the telegraph yesterday - extracts will be on here tonight.

Good man down - respect!!

RIP mon Generale.......

[Mike Kemble]

Very saddened to receive the phone call from Paul, an officer and a gentleman hardly begins to describe him. Here is an image from a cutting Paul sent me. Hopefully I can get all Pauls notes he sent to me online, in the website, later on. This is Gen Blacker as a young officer in the Aden Protectorate.

Paul sent me a copy of his obituary, its now online at:

https://1rtr.net/blacker.html

A link is also provided on the main page of the web site for visitors coming in through that way.

[Ian Trory]

An Officer and a Gentleman. R.I.P.

[Gilbert Bridger]

R.I.P General Blacker, friend and comrade. Give my regards to all the Black Mafia you see up there.englandfl:



Gilby

[Dave Henley]

I never served under him but his reputation as a soldier's officer was abound throughout the higher echelons of the Army and it was always with a sense of pride that whenever his name was mentioned I would chip in that I served in the same regiment as General Blacker - RIP General

[colin woods]

Thanks Mike on behalf of us Ex-Pats that have trouble getting English Newspapers,
For taking the time to write the Generals Obitary. Respect from this part of Germany.
Keep up the good work.

[SMatthews]

RIP, General Blacker, a Tankies, Tankie icon_chie: unjack

[Alan Levi Hodges]

A True leader and gent - one of the most respected CO's

and a challenger of the men in black

our thoughts to the family at this time

Levi firedevil

[Dave Holt]

Sad to hear about Gen Blacker

A good decent officer and gentleman

Remeber his BFTs in Cyprus - Big Dan will know what i mean

RIP General

[Mark Sanders]

RIP General Blacker...... A soldier and a Tankie to the end.My condolences to your family and friends.


Oggy Sanders icon_chie:

[Gus Daniells]

Sad to hear the passing of yet another fine and decent gentleman. Condolences to his family.There will come a time when you believe everything is
finished. That will be the beginning.

[Mike Kemble]

I think it was Peter O'Toole was said not too long ago that one of the sure signs of ever advancing age is when you find that your saying goodbye to more of your friends, than making new ones. I think that we have reached that stage of our lives now, and it make a dismal subject. We have lost some fine souls in the past three or so years, they will not be in first parade anymore.

[Gilbert Bridger]

I think it was Peter O'Toole was said not too long ago that one of the sure signs of ever advancing age is when you find that your saying goodbye to more of your friends, than making new ones. I think that we have reached that stage of our lives now, and it make a dismal subject. We have lost some fine souls in the past three or so years, they will not be in first parade anymore.

Mike this is why we must live life to its fullest. Just had one of my best friends pass away last Monday. He died from cancer at the age of 48. Such a great man and an inspiration. It just made me think that it was time to enjoy life now.

Gilby

[Mike Kemble]

Slightly different tack, but was working on an Earth Station (Comms) near Oxford around about Xmas and New year, and worked with a guy down there. Then gets phone call end of Feb, can I go and cover it again for few weeks, he just collapsed and died, aged 48. No warning just ................

[Mike Kemble]

Sorry about the time scale here, only just got this:

A memorial service for the late General Sir Jeremy Blacker is to be held at the College Chapel, RMA Sandhurst, Camberley starting at 2 pm on Tuesday 17th May. There will be a lot of members of the regiment there who served with him from the 1960s onwards. I am going and I know that Mike Seymour, Barry McCombe, Rob McAffee and others are going.

Anyone wishing to attend should make contact with RHQ RTR by telephone as soon a possible. The contact is Maj Tony Henzie (Regt Sec) on 01929-403331. RHQ have to issue tickets/take details for gate security reasons.


The chapel will take several hundred people and there is no limit on the numbers who may attend. If anyone would like further details or has any queries I would be happy for them to e-mail or telephone me.



Cheers, John TF

[Alan Levi Hodges]

I am already attending a funeral for a young girl who's son died at the age of 18 on that dayand she is a work colleague


Will somebody please pass on my thoughts to all present

Cheers

Levifiredevil

[Mike Kemble]

As I speak, the service is going ahead. Harry Robinson phoned me, he is going to try and get in "on spec" as he is in the area. Can someone give me a resume of the day, how it went, events, people met etc.

[Paul Ramsay]

I couldnt get there mate - legs too bad to drive all that way.

H rang me to say he was in the vicinity and might get in through the security.

Pity RHQ RTR didnt give us some notice and we could have arranged summat!!

I dropped them an e-mail two months ago and as yet not a peep.

[Mike Kemble]

Yes, and the email from John T-F only came a few days ago. Ever had that feeling that someone "up there" does not like us? Maybe we are being too "independent" for their liking? Passage of information is severely lacking.

[Paul Ramsay]

You got it in one Mike - cos we care about the Regiment and want to fly the flag we cant because of red tape or sheer bloody mindedness of RHQ......we are nearly all in the affilliation anyway so what is their problem - surely a well run gang is better than letting the associations die off. Beats me but we will overcome this in the end. A few irons in the fire so to speak but will get there - I am more determined than ever to do this so it will happen!!

[robert jones]

Can someone clarify an issue for me, does the Regiment still exist as the:

1st Royal Tank Regiment:

Or has it succumbed to the faceless bastards of Whitehall and become officially known as this N.B.C.??? tried to put swear word in but it won`t let me,
the ony reason I ask is, if the Regiment is now recognised by the British Army under another name then that probably explains the lack of interest from the current encumbents of the Black Beret, which leads me on to another point of order Mr Chairman, hark at me,

Why then, don`t they just get on with it and change the cap badge, and colour of beret, which they were`nt to happy with in the begining anyway, it seems to me they have picked on the Regiment with the least history in the RAC and have slowly erased the Tank Regiments from history, you would`nt see this happening to the Blues and Royals or the Household Cav would ya.
I feel we are the last of a dying breed, but as Oggy said in another post we are FAMILY and should continue despite the obvious lack of interest from RHQ RT,whoever,and carry on the good name of,
THE FIRST ROYAL TANK REGIMENT,

[Gilbert Bridger]

Well said Bob. Its all about tradition, pink pants and cowpat berrets.

We are THE FIRST ROYAL TANK REGIMENT

'FEAR NAUGHT'

Gilby

[Paul Ramsay]

icon_chie: icon_chie: icon_chie: We are still the 1st Royal Tankies but part of - well in fact the main body of, the Joint NBC Regiment and will retain the badge whatever. We also have A Squadro permanantly based in warminster and hold the strongest hand of all the RAC Regiments. They are held in great esteem by all the three services and are becoming the world wide specialists in the art of NBC and will be difficult to move. They are invited all over the world to give demo's and take part in excercises with other units!!

Does that answer your question plassy scouse?

[Mike Kemble]

You got it in one Mike - cos we care about the Regiment and want to fly the flag we cant because of red tape or sheer bloody mindedness of RHQ......we are nearly all in the affilliation anyway so what is their problem - surely a well run gang is better than letting the associations die off. Beats me but we will overcome this in the end. A few irons in the fire so to speak but will get there - I am more determined than ever to do this so it will happen!!

This is nothing unusual. I do WW2 stuff as a hobby and have got heavily involved in what was Captain Walkers Old Boys Assn (CWOBA) based in Liverpool. One of Capt walkers ships was HMS Kite. (He has 6 under his command). Anyway to cut a marathon short, it was sunk on Aug 21st 44 whilst seconded to Arctic convoy escort and the CWOBA would not recognise her after that!!! They only recognised 5 ships although Walker himself commanded Kite whilst his own ship was in dock being repaired after ramming a U Boat. Some people can be bastards!!

HMS KITE (http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/kite.html)

[robert jones]

Spose it will do Ramsay, still not a proper Regiment anymore though, is it,and I thought someone had already said in an other thread that the C.O. at the time only took this N.B.C. role to prevent Whitehall disbanding the whole Tank Reg, may have read that in the Soldier Mag not sure

[Dave Henley]

Spose it will do Ramsay, still not a proper Regiment anymore though, is it,and I thought someone had already said in an other thread that the C.O. at the time only took this N.B.C. role to prevent Whitehall disbanding the whole Tank Reg, may have read that in the Soldier Mag not sure

But surely if that was true then 2 RTR would have been binned and 1 RTR (being the first) would have been retained?

[robert jones]

Thought that myself Dave, Politics no doubt raised its ugly head, that and the promise of promotion, old school tie an all that

[Paul Ramsay]

did you were a tie at school jones me boy? posh twxt!