In Memorial

[Mike Kemble]

Dave Henley came up with an excellent idea today and asked me if it were possible. Yes I said and designed the following page for possible inclusion in the site. It is not official yet, but is online for you to have a look at.

GREEN FIELDS (https://1rtr.net/greenfields.html)

It was also suggested that each entry be accompanied by a picture. That could be the problem. If any of you have an image of one who has left us or know of its existence on the site, let me know names, dates and locality of the image and I will do my best for them.

[Gary Hill]

Great job Mike, very appropriate.

[Paul Ramsay]

great minds think alike - i was only thinking about this sort of thing today.

great idea mate and will see if i have any photos or can get some.

[Mike Kemble]

All Dave's idea. Any photos will be appreciated, I will have to search the site when I have time.

[Wayne Smith]

Excellent idea Dave, great work Mike...........Will be hard to look at at time's but very ap pro po...............well done

[robert jones]

Great idea Dave and well done Mike excellent, puts a bit of a lump in the throat though reading through the names of all those fine men

[Bill Kinsella]

Excellent idea will check me old photos

[Dave Harmon]

A really good page Mike. Is the thing clever enough to be able to click on an image and have a box of text come up with a few words about the individual? Some are known by all, but it would be nice if visitors unfamiliar with the faces could see either a short history, colleagues comments - or both, and even be able to make comments of their own where they had been unaware of a tankie's passing - which through this site should become a rarer event than has been commonplace.

[Mike Kemble]

Is the thing clever enough to be able to click on an image and have a box of text come up with a few words about the individual?

Yes I can do it easily enough, but would need something like "served with 1 RTR from A through to B, mainly in X Sqn or XX Stores." My memory isnt all that good to remember where everyone did what and when, I'm afraid.

[Alan Rigby]

Well done Mike, it is quite dignified and to the point.

[David McLaren]

Good one.........your site is by far the best RTR (army) ive ever been on .Keep up the good work.

Mac.

[Mike Kemble]

Thanks alan, thats what I wanted, the lads to appear dignified and remembered.

[Mark Sanders]

Well done Mike. What an excellent idea. It brings a tear to the eye seeing all those Tankies together.

Oggy

[Gilbert Bridger]

It's very refreshing. I can now look in 2 places to see if I have past away yet. Again today I have not been mentioned. holy

Mike it is spot on M8. A big pat on your back. Even the ones with no pictures up I see their names and I can clearly see their faces. I then think on and remember some of the funny stuff these Tankies have done.
Gilby

[eric harding]

excellent forum mike/dave ......but i think you have geordy lumsdens demise date wrong .

[Keith Wapshott]

Thanks Mike, I don't have the words to say right now, but thanks very much.


Take care, Keith
Woppy Jnr.

[Mike Kemble]

excellent forum mike/dave ......but i think you have geordy lumsdens demise date wrong .

Thats the date as given me by Dave Henley

[Nigel lewis]

I think 1977 was the date of the photo - he was in GW Tp in Tidworth having left 5 Tp ASqn after Cyprus. I forget the exact day he passed on but it would have been in about 1998 I guess.

[keith Hudson]

Having the photos help's good idea . It does the site proud well done Dave.

[Dave Henley]

I think 1977 was the date of the photo - he was in GW Tp in Tidworth having left 5 Tp ASqn after Cyprus. I forget the exact day he passed on but it would have been in about 1998 I guess.
The photo was taken by me at Belleek in 1974, however, Geoff passed on in 1997 not 1977 - I've already passed this info onto Mike but he has probably yet to get round to amending the site.

[Dave Henley]

Mike - some more names - Geordie Park and Geordie Hopkinson.

[Eddy Atkinson]

Hi Mike

Can we add Brian Criddle to our memorial
Edd

[Eddy Atkinson]

And Steve (Clacky) Smith.

[Mike Kemble]

Thanks Dave, Nigel. Actually I admit to a typo, must be my age. Question: Should comments made under names of Brian Criddle and Stevie Smith be described as political on such a page, or plain ugly fact. I do not want to demean such memories.

[Dave Harmon]

Has anyone got a photo of Taff Glover?

[Mike Kemble]

Tried to find one of General Baker but all that came up was some colonial yank!

[Gary Hill]

It's very touching Mike. Just a thought, some of the guys from the band who had served as 1RTR can they get a mention? I'm not sure how the rest of the lads in the forum feel about this.

[Nigel lewis]

With regard to the band my personal position would be that they are as much 1 RTR as the rest of us. They were in our sports teams, represented us in many areas that aided recruiting and, in Gulf 1 deployed as a unit when the majority remained at home. I have some of my happiest memories from my time as band president and I still keep and play CDs produced by the band.

[Mike Kemble]

Like Nigel says they were 1 RTR too, but if nobody from the Band sends me owt, then I cant use it - can I?

[robert jones]

They wore the bagde they deserve to be mentioned, although I personally never knew anyone in any of our bands, to my eternal shame, the site is dedicated to 1RTR pesonnel of whom they were one, so if you`ve got em post em

[Dave Harmon]

The band were brill and as Nigel says were a huge asset to the regt. I never knew any bandsmen very well and had a refusal when I asked for a go on a trombone.Their guitarist was better than me (then), but probably had more time to practise. I remember that one member had some damned good looking Italian motorcycles until he got one with a roof!

[Mike Kemble]

When doing docs etc had frequent dealings with Cambrai Band, good bunch of lads.

[SMatthews]

Capt Dave Nichols was in 1RTR band he was a great bloke.

[Gary Hill]

Dave, the guy with the flash motor cycles was Dave Cresswell, he is now Director of Music the Welsh Guards in the rank of Major. Some of the band that have passed on are Joe Flood and Nigel Biles.

Nigel, yes we did contribute to the sports teams and I had a bloody good time doing it. Thanks guys.

[Paul Ramsay]

Dave, the guy with the flash motor cycles was Dave Cresswell, he is now Director of Music the Welsh Guards in the rank of Major. Some of the band that have passed on are Joe Flood and Nigel Biles.

Nigel, yes we did contribute to the sports teams and I had a bloody good time doing it. Thanks guys.

What happened to the boys then gary?

Who was the band guy from leeds whos wife died?

[Mike Kemble]

Gary, could do with a few dozen band shots for a "new" band page then. Come 'ead kiddo. Our band lads are not being ignored, just not represented in pics etc.

[Gary Hill]

Paul, not sure who that was, I'll do a little research. The band was 1RTR from 1984 to maybe 1992, it may have been shortly after they returned from the Gulf that they became they Cambrai Staff Band again. The guys I served with the likes of ****ger Shand, spike Willkins are all scattered through-out the country. I bumped into a few of them about seven years ago when I was over. Still drinking and chasing loose women. Mike I'll try and scare up a few photographs.

[Alan Levi Hodges]

Got to say Spike Wilkins absolutely tremendous man who was determined that the band was an integral part of 1 RTR


When C sqn had to move to 4 div in Herford for OP Humane the bandies moved as well and helped out in all the fracas that took place

Cress always went out on the bike rides around and can't remember big Normans last name?

Brill guys all of em!!!!!!!!beerz

Alfingerz

[Dave Henley]

Mike - there's a piccy of Brian Criddle in Images 1 what you could use for the in memorium site.

[Mike Kemble]

Thanks Dave, as always, its finding them, I have so many shots.

[eric harding]

mike there was also a guy killed in a car crash called , noon (plug ) ????? but i cant remember his 1st name , who was in ossna .

[Mike Kemble]

No idea. Noon? Noonan?

[Pete Champion]

Eric, Mike.

The only one I can recall was Pete Noon----He was with us in Osna ---that Him???

[Mike Kemble]

Noone, methinks

[Chris Young]

"Plug" Noone was in B Squadron in Osnabrück.

Davy Ellis would have more infos.

[keith Hudson]

Dave Noon was from Smithdown Road Liverpool Just near Smithdown Road Chemog's .
I went to Sefton Park School with him. He was a hard lad then. Meet up with him again in 69 when I transfer across to 1RTR. Got told a few years ago that he had died . Was never told how. He was B Sqn lad. He left just before we left sunny BFPO three and six. If I recall he smacked a NCO can not recall who.
A man you would want on your side in a fight.

[eric harding]

champo , i think your thinking of pete moon . chris / huddy , yes thats the lad , hard as nails he was , good mates with sammy salmon / podge rice / and davy ellis ? ...? i was speaking to boggy marsh about him and he said he was killed in a car smash about 4/5 years ago ?.......was his name dave ?

[keith Hudson]

Yes his name was Dave as I said. I was told he was dead about 2 years ago. I felt that shiver down the back. He was the same age as me. We were both in the same class in school. Played a hard football game. He was also a good runner as well. Was in the school team.
Still trying to recall the name of the NCO he smacked which lead to his court marshall. Even had a civvy lawyer. (was it Nobby Clarkson !!!!)

[Paul Ramsay]

He died in a lorry crash in Germany. Think he was doing charity work at the time.

Once saw him dumped on his arse by a black guy called elton lewis (QMs clerk) Shaft to his mates! came out of the Birches in Omagh and he was giving shaft some racial abuse and got a good hiding for his troubles. Didnt really get to know him - played football for the Regiment with him a couple of times.

[eric harding]

hahaha , well theres always someone who is better , but i know plug was a handy guy . and a decent guitarist as well .

[SMatthews]

Plug was old school, met him once in Liverpool in 1982, at a Cambrai do in Bootle. He couldn't get over the fact that i was a Sgt in 1RTR. Got the drinks in a few times, great bloke to have own your side, never did me any wrong.... holy

[robert jones]

Not sure if its the same guy but I recall one of the old hands from, "B" Sqn press ganging me into babysitting for him in Osnabruck, if its the same guy he literally dragged me out of the Naafi were Iwas having some cordial refreshment, and hey presto instant child minder.

[keith Hudson]

Dave was not married while in the Army sorry mate wrong old hand.

[robert jones]

Roger that Keith, its one of them were I recall the name but not the face

[keith Hudson]

You would never forget Plugs face mate.

[Mike Kemble]

Page updated

[Mark Sanders]

Plug was big mates with Podge Rice and Wacker Hughes and if my memory is correct use to play centre forward for the regt team.

First time I ever met him was in B Sqn bar in Osnatrash in 71.... Gulp.

[Dave Henley]

Mike - picture of Geordie Park in A Sqn - first photo of Assault troop, front row, 4th from left. Also, the front page should read "In memorium" rather than memorial.

[dave lewis]

Levi,Got to agree with you ref:Spike Wilkins.Great guy & funny with it.Had a few quaffs with him on more than 1 occasion.Like you said he really wanted the band to be part of 1RTR and not segregated like other mobs bands have been.I think big Normans surname was Hale.Perhaps Gary can clarify.

Spike could throw them downguinness guinness when he was in the mood.
Hope you and family are all well
cheers ericandpau m8

Dave icon_truc:

Tankies always did it better

[Gary Hill]

Dave, you are correct, Norman Hale, I believe he went on to be the WO11 of the band. I need to scan some photographs of the band while we were at Sandhurst and pass them along to Mike. I think Spike pops up in Spain from time to time..

[Mike Kemble]

I am still looking for images for those of us who have gone on, but not yet remembered visually, please check your attics. Stevie "Cleakheaton" Smith is one in particular I need, butchered by the IRA. Does anyone have that newspaper image of him from the Hannover Zeitung or whatever?

[Dave Beattie]

Mike,

Well done, great idea and a lasting memorial to colleagues who can no longer fall in with us mere mortals.

Beatdog