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The following Obituaries for surnames beginning with "B" have appeared in the Green Howards "Gazette", or have been notified to the Green Howards.

Colonel J S Bade TD

Major J R Chapman MBE writes :

Colonel John Stirling Bade died peacefully at his home in Oslo, Norway on Wednesday 25th May 2005, aged 87 years. The funeral was held at Haslum Church, Oslo on 1st June. The Defence Attache, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Canning RM, represented the Regiment and an officer and two guardsmen from HM Kongen's Garde were in attendance to acknowledge Colonel Bade's former service as Regimental Liaison Officer to HM Olav V, when he was the King of Norway and Colonel-in-Chief of The Green Howards.

John Bade was born in Middlesbrough in 1918 and, after school, joined the 4th Battalion, The Green Howards as a territorial soldier. With the advent of war, on 24th August 1939, he took a regular commission and, as a Second Lieutenant, joined the 20 officers and 655 other ranks of the 1st Battalion that sailed for France with the British Expeditionary Force on 5th October 1939. The so-called 'Phoney War' lasted for almost six months before the Nazis attacked Denmark and Norway.

The 1st Battalion, as part of 15 Brigade, were ordered to entrain for Boulogne and cross the Channel again to England. After five days they embarked at Rosyth on 24th April 1940 bound for Norway. Seldom in the annals of the British Army has a more ill- prepared expedition left our shores and the consequences were soon seen in Gudbrandsdahl in Central Norway, where the British, with Norwegian Army support, attempted to stop the German advances to Dombas. T/Lieutenant Bade was part of 'B' Company which was ordered to support the York and Lancasters just to the north west of Kvam. The Company came under fire on 27 April. No 10 Platoon, under Lieutenant Bade, was ordered to go forward to help extracate one of the Y&L Companies which had taken heavy casualties from German aircraft and artillery. After completing this task, he rejoined 'B' Company which withdrew at midnight north west to Otta and joined the remainder of the 1st Battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel A E Robinson, in trenches in the snowy slopes of hills surrounding the small village of Otta.

The Battle of Otta, on 28 April 1940, has become something of a byword in The Green Howards. The 1st Battalion held out for 24 hours against seven German infantry battalions including Austrian mountain troops, a troop of tanks and a motorised machine gun battalion - in all, about 9,000 men with air cover. No 10 Platoon, under Lt Bade, played an important role in supporting the carrier platoon in its fighting withdrawal before it was destroyed by an enemy light tank and armoured cars. After being held up by sustained fire from rifle and bren- gun fire, the Germans eventually reached 'B' Company's position by 5pm. The fight continued for four hours with continual air and artillery fire, before 'B' Company, on battalion orders, withdrew to eventually escape by train and foot to Aandalsnes on the coast and, after many exciting brushes with the enemy, were safely evacuated by the Royal Navy on 2 May 1940.

John Bade remained with the 1st Battalion throughout the war, fighting in Sicily, Italy and in the closing stages of the North West European Campaign when he was a T/Major commanding 'C' Company in the Battle of Buchen (1-2 May 1940) when the Battalion had to capture the town defended by 200 German SS troops, who had orders to fight to the last round and the last man. It was a vicious battle with many casualties on both sides. The final capture of Buchen virtually saw the end of the campaign as the German Forces in this sector capitulated a couple of days later. Major J S Bade was selected to command 50 Green Howards on a ceremonial parade in Liibeck on 8 May 1945 at which the Union flag was hoisted to mark the end of the war in Europe.

After a series of Staff jobs, John Bade achieved substantive rank of Major in 1952, when serving for three years with the Parachute Regiment, before he received promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1959 and command of The Yorkshire Brigade Depot in Strensall, York (1960-62). His knowledge of airborne operations made him an ideal choice to be Commandant of the Army Air Transport Training and Development Centre at Nether Wallop until 1966. He then was appointed as Defence Adviser to the High Commission in Zambia (1966-1969) before returning once more to Norway as Senior Staff Office Land at AFNORTH in Kolsas, near Oslo, between 1970-73 before his retirement from the British Army.

Brigadier Ronnie Eccles DSO writes:

I met John Bade for the first time when we both attended the same Airborne Forces 'P' Company course at Aldershot in Autumn 1951. We both passed, after an exhausting ten-day physical experience. John was then a 33-year-old Major and I was a 22 year old subaltern. By March 1952 we were both serving with 2 PARA in the Canal Zone in Egypt.

He was an unusual character; told many tales which one found difficult to decide were fact or fiction. A mixture of both, I suspect. He had the most extraordinary ability to get his own way, usually by refusing to accept "No" as an answer. However, he was very professional and a good soldier who expected high standards from his subordinates and usually got them. Three of John's fellow company commanders in 2 PARA became generals and were of obvious high calibre, which as far as one could tell, did not faze John one little bit.

He was very fit for his 34 years and comfortably held his place as a 100 yard sprinter in a very successful 2 PARA athletics team. I was Officer 1C of the team and John was a difficult subordinate and challenged almost everything I said or ordered. However, when 2 PARA returned to the UK in Summer 1954, John commanded the advance party and I acted as his adjutant. I learnt a lot from him in the short time we were in harness together, for which I am very grateful to him.

The next I heard of him was when he was commanding the Yorkshire Brigade Depot, Strensall. I gather he had taken up painting (people not houses) and typically John was pretty good at it. There were some amusing tales from his officers at the Depot about his exploits painting some of the local ladies, details all of which were exaggerated I am sure. Fortunately I cannot remember any of the details.

We last met when he was on the staff at HQ AFNORTH in Oslo. He was shortly to retire and I arrived there in June 1972, with my wife, to fill an appointment in a Norwegian HQ and to take over from John as Regimental Liaison Officer to King Olav V, our then Colonel-in-Chief. It was there I met for the first time his wife, Randi, a charming Norwegian lady. We saw quite a lot of them both socially and we were disappointed when, after only seven months, we had to leave Oslo due to my promotion. John was an unusual character but the longer you knew him the more he grew on you. Maybe, like good red wine, he mellowed a little with age.

Lieutenant Colonel N D Mclntosh MBE writes:

I first met John Bade in the summer of 1959 when, as CO Designate of the forming Yorkshire Brigade Depot he arrived at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall where the 1st Battalion were staging between Hong Kong and a move to Iserlohn in West Germany. As John was a bachelor he moved into the Mess and established himself in his Field Officer's flat. As a very junior officer I had neither the opportunity nor ability to establish any rapport with John who regularly exercised in the evening wearing a 2 PARA tracksuit. He was the first Green Howard Field Officer I had seen wearing such a thing and it was some years before I saw another similarly dressed!

I really got to know John and his Norwegian wife, Randi, and their three boys when I was posted to HQ AFNORTH in 1982 and we and our wives became good friends. They invited us to stay at their summer 'hytte' on the coast and their winter one in the mountains on several occasions and as we lived only a mile or so apart on the outskirts of Oslo we both enjoyed one another's hospitality many times.

On becoming Regimental Secretary in 1986 I saw John, and often Randi, when they attended the Officers' Dinner or Lunch and we kept in contact through correspondence over the years.

John had undergone heart surgery a few years ago and had not enjoyed robust good health since then but I was still shocked and greatly saddened by his death aged 87 years on 25th May and I extend my condolences to his widow and his three sons Tore, Rolf and lain.

Field Marshal Sir Nigel Bagnall's obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 10 April 2002. We reproduce the obituary with the kind permission of the Daily Telegraph.

Field Marshall Sir Nigel Bagnall

Field Marshal Sir Nigel Bagnall, - an outstanding officer who stood up to the Army's political masters and gained the devotion of the men he led.

FIELD MARSHAL SIR NIGEL BAGNALL, who has died aged 75, won an MC and Bar in the Malayan jungle, and spent the latter part of his career defending the Army against the cuts demanded by politicians as they increased its responsibilities after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The most gifted thinker among the post-war generation of soldiers, Bagnall played an important role in developing the concept of operational warfare, encouraging the modernisation of training, and warning that the three services' quarrels over a depleting Defence budget was only hurting their cause. His immense popularity with both officers and men was earned by an early concern that the steadily increasing demands on the modern Army were damaging both the morale and the marriages of personnel.

With the nickname "Ginge" - reflecting a peppery nature as well as the red hair of his youth - Bagnall was prevented from making the ultimate step to the top from Chief of General Staff to Chief of Defence Staff, partly because it was felt that the Ministry of Defence would have a quieter life without him. He had little time for tactical nuclear weapons. His reluctance to go along with the policy of fudge as expressed in the document Options for Change, led him to being mauled by Mrs Thatcher in the presence of the Defence Secretary and other members of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; thereafter he was regarded as unreliable - but many thought he was right.

The son of an officer in the Green Howards, Nigel Thomas Bagnall was born in India on February 10 1927 and educated at Wellington. Joining the Army at 18, he was granted a regular army emergency commission in the Green Howards in 1946, then transferred to the Parachute Regiment with whose 8th Battalion he served in Palestine; he later went to the 1st Battalion the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

Bagnall returned to the Green Howards in time to serve with the 1st Battalion in the Malayan Emergency. For much of the time, he was in an isolated position at Kampong Menchis. When he took over the position, the whole area was effectively under terrorist control; in less than two months combing the area with his small force, he captured 11 terrorist agents and located and destroyed 16 terrorist camps.

By Christmas 1949, the area had been sufficiently pacified for the police to relieve military forces. On May 27 1950, Bagnall led a night patrol into a terrorist-infested area. With cool patience he located the terrorist camp, and then led a small encircling party through dense jungle. After an hour, they reached an assault position 30 yards from a terrorist-occupied hut. Bagnall then threw a grenade into the hut, flushing out three terrorists, whom he and his patrol shot dead. Praising what he described as his "gallantry, coolness and ruthless energy", Bagnall's commanding officer said, in the citation for his Military Cross, that he was a "source of inspiration to his platoon and company, and an example which can seldom have been surpassed".

By January 1952 Bagnall was operating in the Tampin area as an Intelligence officer, and being employed on any difficult operations requiring exceptional skill. With a combination of carefully planned fighting patrols and improvised track-side ambushes, he and his men killed a total of 18 terrorists, including a Communist branch committee member, whom Bagnall shot personally. They also wounded one enemy and captured another. In a conflict in which the killing of a single terrorist was considered a major success, Bagnall's operations devastated the local Communist network. The citation to the Bar of his MC commented: "This officer's brilliant tactical leadership, his skilful tracking and complete disregard for his personal safety are a byword throughout the battalion and also, according to surrendered terrorists in the Tampin area, among the enemy themselves."

On returning home, Bagnall had a personal setback when he was found guilty of dangerous driving and disqualified for three years after an accident in which a cyclist was killed. But after a period as an instructor at the OCTU at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, he was posted to his regiment's 2nd Battalion, serving with them in the Suez Canal Zone and Cyprus. There he was again involved in counter-insurgency operations, this time against the Greek Cypriot terrorist organisation Eoka.

Bagnall transferred to the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and attended the Staff College, Camberley. From 1960 to 1961 he served at the Directorate of Military Operations at the War Office before going on to attend the Joint Services Staff College.

There followed a period of regimental duty until he became military assistant to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. In March 1966 he became GSO1 (Intelligence) at the Directorate of Borneo Operations, and GSO1 at Headquarters, Far Eastern Command, as military assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Michael Carver.

A month later he was back with his regiment as Commanding Officer, first in Omagh, and then at Sennelager, West Germany, where he supervised the regiment's conversion from armoured cars to main battle tanks. After serving as an instructor in the Joint Services Staff College, Bagnall was appointed Commander, Royal Armoured Corps, in 1 (British) Corps, BAOR. It was in 1972 that his reputation as an expert on armoured warfare led him to be given a Defence Fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford, after which he was secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the Ministry of Defence.

After being GOC, 4th Division, he returned to the MoD in 1978 as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy), then was given command of 1 (British) Corps before being appointed Commander-in-Chief, BAOR.

The following year he became Commander of Nato's Northern Army Group, in which post he inaugurated and oversaw major changes in Nato's operational doctrine. A fluent German speaker, he had unprecedented success in persuading the German military leadership to agree that, in the event of a Soviet attack, Nato troops could withdraw to a fallback position which would be an effective killing ground.

Bagnall was finally Chief of General Staff for three years until his retirement in 1988 with the rank of Field Marshal. He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Armoured Corps from 1985 to 1988; of the Army Physical Training Corps from 1981 to 1988; and an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, the honour which he said gave him greatest pleasure.

In retirement, Nigel Bagnall became an enthusiastic duck breeder. He also published The Punic Wars (1990), in which he brought a soldier's insight to bear on the struggle between Rome and Carthage, and drew lessons for our time on the importance of military preparedness, and clear and consistent strategic planning. Enoch Powell, who reviewed the book in The Daily Telegraph, regretted that the author had deployed the matter-of-fact "aloofness of a Staff College lecturer addressing a class of Camberley students". But it was well received elsewhere, particularly in Germany, and he worked on a book about the Peloponnesian Wars during his last years.

Although intolerant of incompetent staff officers, Bagnall was loyal to those who lasted the course - he was so tone deaf that he depended on them to ensure that he saluted an anthem at the right moment. He disliked wearing what he called his "f . . . . . . jewellery", and preferred to walk with a shuffle instead of a crisp military strut.

Bagnall was appointed CVO in 1978, KCB in 1981, and GCB in 1985.

He married, in 1959, Anna Caroline Church, who survives him with their two daughters.

Sir John Keegan writes: Nigel Bagnall was a most unusual soldier. He had a real personal following in the Army, and news of his death will bring sorrow to hundreds of his comrades-in-arms. Quick-tempered but warm-hearted, he aroused much more affection than fear, and was also greatly admired for his intellect and academic bent.

Not only did he introduce the Army to "the operational level", a concept borrowed from the panzer generals which he successfully domesticated by brilliant exposition; he also made the study of war respectable and transformed the outlook of a whole generation of officers. Civilians greatly liked him also, and he was very popular at Balliol, as shown by his election to an Honorary Fellowship.

He was blessed by an exceptionally happy family life, in partnership with his beloved Anna and two boisterous daughters. The girls' explosions of impatience with official pomposity may have been a safety valve for his own. His complete down-to-earth nature made him greatly loved, and he will be missed by a very wide circle of friends, men and women, in and out of the Army.

The Regimental Secretary writes:

Field Marshal Sir Nigel Bagnall died unexpectedly on 8th April in hospital after a routine operation. He was 75. The funeral was on the 26th April and was private. There was a Service of Thanksgiving in the afternoon at which Colin Helmn, at the request of Lady Bagnall, read the Regimental Collect. Field Marshal The Lord and Lady Inge were also present as were the Colonel of the Regiment and Mrs Dannatt, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Wesley and Mr Dennis Bowen.

This address was given at the Service of Thanksgiving by Lord Mayhew.

Field Marshal or not, Nigel Bagnall was not a lover of ceremony, and especially not of any that might involve him.

Self-effacing to a fault, he recoiled from the idea that any serv ice after his death should be embellished by those military observances that would, by custom, be his due.

Indeed there exists within the MOD a post-retirement letter from him, on this subject, in which there are characteristically underlined three times the words 'waste of time and money'.

That we are where we are today is due, therefore, to Anna's and Emma's and Sarah's faithful insistence upon heeding that three-line whip - in this quiet country place, quite close to their much loved home and, for many of us, the closer to our memories of Nigel for it.

Reluctantly, he would probably have conceded that some sort of occasion was inescapably owed to all of us who admired and were grateful for him and would want to avow it. But he would, of course, have urged us only to come if, 'quite honestly, we had nothing else to do.' And as for any address, the order would surely have been 'if you've got to do it, then for Heaven's sake keep it short.' By his standards I shall, I fear, fail.

But a lot must therefore be left out of what it would otherwise be fitting to recall, and I think that must mean not dwelling on each of Nigel's many appointments, ascending as they did in distinction and achievement, until he took post at the head of the Army.

When looking for the word to describe that career one naturally thinks of glittering; but that in a way would not be an apt choice, because Nigel was not a man for any glitter in anything pertaining to himself. His antipathy to wearing what he called his jewellery was widely known and enjoyed. He was so wholly unassuming that I shall let his career describe itself, and try instead to explain our gratitude for the life of the extraordinary man who achieved it.

Nigel was a natural soldier, who had never wanted to be anything else, and he became a very great one. He was a student of his profession from a very early stage. Like Montgomery, he soon recognised that an officer could not otherwise be fully effective, and he was certainly determined to be fully effective.

While still on active service in Malaya Nigel disciplined himself to prepare for the rather dreary exam for entry into the Staff College. He passed at the first attempt and only eight from the top. We can, of course, now see that this remarkable achievement was to prove entirely in character.

Already the holder of the Military Cross with a Bar, for gallantry and exceptional leadership and skill with The Green Howards in the Malayan jungle, he was of course marked out for great things. Nevertheless, for the rest of his life in one way or another a student he remained. Even in retirement he published a notable study of the Punic Wars and he had just finished a commissioned book about the Pelopponesian Wars before he died.

He was always wistful over lacking a university education, entirely due to this determination to get into the war while it lasted and, thereafter, to serve in Palestine with the Parachute Regiment. In consequence, as I think, he was always eager for an intellectual adventure and the more broadening it was the better. In particular he developed a deep respect for what a sound understanding of history could contribute.

He applied his already analytic mind to acquiring this, especially in the military field, and the natural soldier added to his equipment the insights of a scholar - with fluency in the German language as well.

Later it was true to form that, with the additional letters GCB and CVO after his name, and Field Marshal before it, the recognition that he really savoured was his honorary Fellowship of Balliol College, Oxford. It had surprised as much as it had delighted him. Previously he had been attached to the College for a year with an MOD Defence Fellowship and largely left to fend for himself. This the ultra-modest Brigadier Bagnall MC quite accepted and did not resent. His studies had been supervised at All Souls College by Sir Michael Howard, who became a lasting friend.

The more deeply he developed his military thinking the stronger became Nigel's conviction that not enough importance was being attached by the planners to the great commanders of the past, to what they had achieved or the reverses they had suffered. He therefore stocked his mind with the lessons from those times, and thought deeply, and above all clearly, about their relevance to contemporary problems.

For Nigel, the command of his later regiment, the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, and thereafter of successive formations, brought welcome opportunities rather than prizes. They were opportunities to put his thinking to the test. They were opportunities to advocate changing doctrines that were no longer sound - if indeed they ever had been. Ultimately they were opportunities to bring such change about.

This attitude did not make for an easy ride, either for himself or his superiors. It was said of his mentor and friend, the late FM Lord Carver, when he was a colonel (having been in the war a brilliant brigadier) that 'this officer believes there is only dead wood between him and the Chief of the General Staff.' It was the Chief of the General Staff who said it.

I feel sure that Nigel did not think that, or not exactly that anyway; but what he did know was that his own self-confidence was soundly based on the study and analysis of the lessons of the past, and he applied the rigorously tested product of that process to the job in hand. If sometimes he felt driven to advise others, senior to him, on how to do their jobs well this was always intended for the greater good, never for the aggrandisement of Nigel. In truth, it was much more likely to get him into serious trouble, but his integrity and sense of duty impelled him to accept that risk.

Once it nearly did for him, but he was saved by his Commander-in-Chief. I think this propensity, and the clarity that he brought to their problems, gave great joy to his devoted subordinates and followers - and they quickly became devoted. In his superiors I expect a more complex reaction occurred.

As a full General, Nigel arrived as CinC Northern Army Group with what is called a 'reputation'. I think there were plenty there who were apprehensive and some, perhaps, even with good cause. They can hardly have been reassured by their new Chief's early study period for all one star commanders and above, for it was based on Hannibal's victory at Cannae - not, I suspect, an engagement hitherto widely studied.

The lesson they were intended to take away was that, by manoeuvre, a disparate and numerically inferior force can defeat a mightier military machine. This was a disturbing indication of the shape of things to come - namely a devastating assault on an established and comfortably unquestioned doctrine for NORTHAG's defensive response to a Soviet land attack. It was a doctrine now generally acknowledged to have been gravely flawed.

By the end of his tour at NORTHAG Nigel, inspiring and leading a revived Headquarters staff, had secured, at political and military levels in all the five countries contributing to the Group, including Germany, agreement to a revolutionary substitute for that plan. Henceforward, instead of sticking to their own tidy bailiwicks, all formations would have to be ready to operate across Army Group and Corps boundaries. Flexibility, mobility, concentration and surprise would be paramount, rather than the contesting of all German territory and the preservation of national amour proper.

It was an enormous help that he had taken care to make personal and genuine friends of the commanders of the other national Army Corps. First among equals when in their company, his indirect approach by way of their hearts enabled Nigel to carry their minds. He retained those friends.

It was a vast, personal achievement, of great significance, secured in two years by patient but determined advocacy and tact, in the face of much doubt and a good deal of outright opposition. It was completed just before he moved on to take up the position of Chief of the General Staff, from where he ensured that a Senior Command Course should train rising stars in the principles that underlay this concept.

The value of this has already conclusively been proved.

By comparison, Nigel's years as CGS were perhaps more in the nature of a holding operation, by a principled Chief who was a resolute opponent and expose of any perceived tendency to overstretch the Army or to fudge unattractive realities. With his total integrity he never trimmed his view that our nuclear weapons no longer made sufficient sense. I saw in one obituary, in a paper that is now a semi-tabloid, the assertion that he was cantankerous. People who know the truth find this a travesty of the principled and reasoned character of the dissent that Nigel always presented to concepts he considered flawed, which no doubt at times was unwelcome.

I think those who worked for him then will instead prefer this recollection written to Anna by a Major on his staff; 'He was a very, very special man in every possible way. The bravest of warriors, with a piercing intellect, he was also kind and compassionate, modest and unselfish, a unique combination. During 30 years in uniform, of all the great experiences which I enjoyed, none can compare with being [with him] when he was CGS. It was not just educational, it was rewarding and real fun. All the personal staff were devoted to him.'

I think there is this to add. Nigel knew his soldiers. He had lived and campaigned with them at close quarters and led them on his feet. That taught him just what they could and would deliver, provided they respected him and knew he cared about them. Nigel did care about them, and, like the Great Duke, without ever seeming soft he made it show.

There was, however, so much more that people admired and loved in Nigel personally than that great professional story tells.

For instance, however grimly the mouth could be set, laughter and the love of friends were never far away. Nigel believed that the old stories were the best stories, but that even they could generally be improved. He was himself an accomplished improver of most of them.

I don't know how many times I have heard his accounts, cumulatively embellished, of efforts of mine as a reserve officer in his squadron, fresh from the Temple and rashly entrusted on an Army exercise in Germany with a troop of Centurion tanks.

He would also prompt you in stories from your own alleged repertoire of thirty years ago that you couldn't remember at all.

As a friend, no one could be more steadfast. He once put in an unsolicited word for me with Mrs Thatcher, about a job. "He's too old", she said, which was better than it might have been. Knowing how he had fought with her I wasn't sure he could have done me much good anyway. But it was a typical Nigel try.

Later, when I had some troublesome responsibilities, which had hit an even worse patch than usual, he dropped everything and flew over to Northern Ireland in response to my cri de Coeur for someone I could beef to securely. Typically, of course, by the time he could arrive I had got through it, so we had a good party instead. He didn't mind.

When you had children of your own he became their friend too. They affectionately admired him, as one knows soldiers did too. Unlike the soldier, they took monstrous liberties with him, like twiddling his hair into knots. One of our own sons, who went into the Regiment and to whom Nigel gave his sword, wrote of him, 'His values have influenced all of us boys like those of a watchful uncle.'

Many of us might hope for such an epitaph.

During the war he had a pretty exiguous home life, with both parents away in India, and this made his wonderful marriage to Anna, and the homes and family they made together, an astonishing and delightful new dimension to life.

Small wonder that in retirement he allowed so little to divert him from it.

I know he could frighten people, but I should be surprised if he meant to. He once gave me a lecture on the importance of not doing this when your people have cocked something up, I ought quietly to point out where they have gone wrong, and so on. Well... Anyway, I have often wished that those who had terror stories to tell about Nigel as a commander, well-founded or not, could have seen him sometimes at home, with his two loving and irreverent daughters assaulting him and calling him frightful things, to his huge enjoyment; and with his infinitely supportive and devoted Anna, in whom he took such admiring delight and who was, as Gurth Hoyer Millar said this morning, Nigel's best friend.

He knew they were the best things that ever happened to him and for them especially, with all his family, we all feel profoundly.

But, with them we also celebrate a great soldier and a great man, a most human and humane one. And with them, too, we give heartfelt thanks for Nigel's life and for the part he had in ours.

The following obituary was published in the April 2002 issue of the "The Green Howards Gazette".

Colin Barker

Mr Ben Gunn writes:

It is with regret that I have to inform you of the loss of another old comrade and member of the Regiment 22178830 Pte Barker C. Colin was called up for National Service in December 1949. He then joined the 1st Bn in Malaya in March 1950 and was posted to 1 Platoon, A Company where he remained until demob.

He passed away on the 28th October at his home in Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds. His funeral was attended by several members of the regiment who live in the West Yorkshire area. To Joan his wife and all the family we send our sincere sympathy.

Mr Maurice Bell

Tom Heron writes:

Maurice Bell, from South Otterington, also served in the 1952-1956 2nd Battalion. He was in the Signals Platoon. A keen caravanner, he died suddenly of a heart attack at Reeth Caravan Site on 14th April 2007.

Len Bickerton

Mr D F Brown writes:
It is with regret that I have to inform you of the death of Mr Len Bickerton, at the age of 85 years who was Chairman of Thirsk Branch.

He was a founder member of both Thirsk Green Howards Association and the Royal British Legion on their reformation after the war. He was a regular member at Richmond Sunday and the Reunions, only missing the last two years. Len had the Gold Badge from both Associations and this year had been made a life member of the Royal British Legion for his years of work as a Poppy Collector and other work. The Royal British Legion Band at Thirsk made him their President after he gave up the Chairmanship a couple of years ago.

His war service was with the 5th Bn, initially on the south coast, then in North Africa where he was captured in 1942 when the 5th Bn was over-run. He was a POW in Italy then to Germany doing the long march to the US Lines, living off the fields before being liberated by the US Army.

Len ended his service as a Sgt helping to look after POW in South Wales. We shall miss him as a friend and loyal Green Howard and Legion member. Our deepest sympathy goes to Pat and her family.

Sergeant J Bishorek

James Athill writes from Kuala Lumpur:

I attended the funeral in Ipoh of 'Dato' John Bishorek who died on Christmas Eve. He served in the ranks of the Green Howards in the latter part of WW2 and again in the Malayan Emergency, before leaving in 1952 to be a planter.

John settled in Malaya and for the last 20 years or so was a leading light in the annual Remembrance Ceremony held at Batu Gajah for planters and servicemen killed in the Malayan Emergency. This work, and other good deeds for Malaysian charities, earned him his Malaysian accolade ‘Dato', and an honorary MBE from the British High Commission a few years ago.

The following obituary was published in the December 2001 issue of the "The Green Howards Gazette".

Alan Booth

Mr Ben Gunn writes:

Alan joined the Army and the Regiment in January 1950. He was posted that year to join 6 Platoon of B Company of the 1st Battalion in Malaya, with whom he stayed till coming home with the Battalion in 1952. He then went on to serve in Austria and West Germany.

He was demobbed in January 1955, but Alan was always a Green Howard at heart. He became a founder member of the Leeds Branch some twenty two years ago, he played a very active part in raising funds and organising social events.

Seven years ago he took over the duties of Secretary after the death of Cyril Poole, though dogged by heart and other health problems he still gave his best for the Regiment and the Association. He was also a member of the 2nd Battalion Branch. It was due to his efforts that only one week before his demise the branch had a stall at the Kirkstall Abbey Fair which was all about the Green Howards. His funeral was attended by his pals from Leeds, Newcastle, Blackpool and many members of the 1st Battalion who served in Malaya who meet monthly at Castleford. RHQ was represented by Major Bill Laws.

Alans wife Ivy passed away some ten years ago, so to Audrey his partner for the last few years, who gave him so much devotion and care without which we are all sure his demise would have been earlier. So to Audrey and his two daughters we send our deepest sympathy. A good soldier, a great pal to many and a great loss to the Regiment.

The following obituary was published in the April 2003 issue of the "The Green Howards Gazette".

Mrs Margaret (Peggy) Mary Bottomley, 1922-2002

Major James Pearson writes:

It is with deep sadness that I report the death of Peggy Bottomley. For those who do not know, Peggy was the wife of the late Lt Col John Bottomley MBE, The Green Howards, former Commanding Officer 1st Battalion & Regimental Secretary.

Her unexpected death on 22nd December 2002 shocked us all. I found it hard to believe as I had only been speaking to her three days previously. We talked about her plans for spending Christmas with her family in Itchenor and our intended meeting in January. She seemed in very good form.

We had been good friends for fifty years. It was always hard to think of Peggy without also thinking of John. They were such a wonderful team.

Peggy was a lovely lady, full of fun, always interesting, full of life and a joy to be with. Like John she had that wonderful knack of making everyone feel important no matter who they were. She was always supportive and interested in the well being of her many friends and their families.

Her health had not been good for a number of years and she must have found living on her own difficult. Peggy did however have the support of her many friends and in particular there was the tremendous support of Neil and Penny McIntosh who lived in the same village. I never heard her complain about her health. She was always positive in her outlook and a practical person who wished to remain in her home at Old Fox Cottage. Thank goodness, she was able to do so.

The measure of the respect and love for Peggy was shown at her funeral. Many had travelled long distances to be there in order that they could be with her family on their sad loss. It is hard to believe that this beautiful and vivacious lady is no longer with us. We shall all miss her, but take comfort that she is reunited with John.

Our thoughts go out to Nick, Mandy, Olivia and Tara.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Albert Bratt

Major Roger Chapman MBE writes :

Albert Bratt, a former prisoner of war who was captured and held in Italy during the Second World War, died in Bath's Royal United Hospital aged 86 years in June 2005. He had not enjoyed good health for a number of years and had been living in a nursing home since 1999.

Albert was born in Keynsham in 1919 and was educated at the town's Temple Street and Bath Hill schools. His first job was as a decorator but he then went into gardening.

At the outbreak of the war Albert was called up for army service and joined The Green Howards. He was captured in Italy in the early 1940s, but managed to escape and was on the run for two years. He suffered hard times, managing to survive on a diet mainly consisting of grapes. Despite the cessation of fighting he was still in the army when he married his wife, Doris, on Boxing Day 1945. The couple had two children, Geoffery and Marilyn. Albert joined the construction industry until his employment as an engineer with Bristol Commercial vehicles until he retired in 1981.

Gardening was one of the great loves of Albert's life, he was a founder member of Timsbury Horticultural Society and entered flowers, particularly delphiniums, into the local shows. He was also one of the group of workers who set up the Royal British Legion Club in Newman's Lane and the Legion drape covered his coffin. He was buried alongside his wife who died in 1999 and is survived by his son and daughter.

Freddy Brewster

James "Chalkie" White writes;-

it is with the deepest regret that I inform you of the death of another Green Howard, Freddy Brewster, who served from 1959 to 1972. He served in Iserlohn, Tripoli, Benghazi, Malaya, Colchester and Warminster.
He died after a long ilness on 5th April 2007 in Hospital in Darlington.
He will be creamated and his ashes will be scattered into the sea off Whitby Pier . Whitby was his home town.

Aisne Stanley Brooks

Major Dickie Bowen writes:

I'm sorry to report that one of our old Malaya Veterans has passed away. Very few would know ex Sgt Brooks by his real names. He was universally known as 'Sungi' Brooks and to add to the confusion, used the name Arthur'. He died in York hospital on Tuesday 16th July of pneumonia and a stroke after suffering for some time from failing health and loss of mobility. He would have been 85 years old on 10th August.

'Sungi' was an enlisted York & Lancaster regular soldier who, like many other members of the Yorkshire & Northumberland Brigade in the late 1940s and early 1950s found himself posted to 1st Battalion Green Howards to take part in the so called Malayan Emergency. Although small in stature he was a tough little jungle fighter who completed his share of 'Ulu bashing'. It was at this time he was nicknamed 'Sungi' - the Malay word for a river or brook.

His wife, Peg, lived in the married quarters of Selerang Barracks in Singapore with their son Bob. Her photograph appears in the book The History of The Green Howards - Three Hundred Years of Service together with some of the other wives in married quarters there. She pre-deceased 'Sungi' by about 15 years but will be remembered by some younger Green Howards as the Manageress of the Families NAAFI shop in Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall many years later. At that time 'Sungi' was employed as a civilian worker in Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

The funeral service and cremation was held at York on 22nd July, attended by his family, friends and three comrades from the York and Lancaster Regiment. Dick Bowen represented The Green Howards.

Notwithstanding that Sgt Brooks had enlisted into the York & Lancaster Regiment he returned to that regiment after his period of time with The Green Howards. He remained, very much, a good Green Howard veteran who proudly and regularly wore his Green Howard Association emblems. At his funeral service his son. Bob, wore his father's Green Howard tie in remembrance of those far off days, in Malaya, when his father served in our Regiment and he was a young, eleven year old boy in the married quarters in Singapore with the Green Howard families.

The following obituary was published in the August 2004 issue of the "The Green Howards Gazette".

Ex-Sergeant C N Brocklesby

Mr J Morris writes:

It is with regret that I record the death of Clive Ness Brocklesby in hospital at Bridlington on 2nd March 2004.

Educated at Bridlington School, Clive was one of 46 'old boys' of the school who joined the 7th Battalion in 1939. He quickly made his mark as a member of Headquarter Company Orderly Room Staff.

He was present during the retreat to Dunkirk, with the Eighth Army in North Africa and Sicily, at the D-Day assault on Normandy, and subsequently in Belgium and Holland. Following hostilities he returned to civilian life and made a career in the Civil Service. He was always active and a keen sportsman, especially on the cricket field as a first class batsman. He played for many years for Bridlington and was a past President of the Bridlington Cricket Club. Amongst his later appointments he became the Harbour Commissioner, past president of the Old Bridlingtonians and Bridlington Rugby Club.

Clive has undoubtedly been one of Bridlington Branch GHA's most staunch supporters. He helped with the raising of a considerable sum to purchase The Green Howards Memorial Table, designed and made by Robert Thompson of Kilburn. This was placed in Bridlington Priory Church in 1977, where Clive worshipped during the week and also attended the annual Green Howards Sunday. Clive was one of the last four Bridlington members who saw service with the 7th Battalion.

His funeral service was held at the Priory with the Regimental Standard draping the coffin and the Branch Standard carried by Mr Walter Wilson. It was attended by a number of former Green Howards. The family requested family flowers only but donations to go to The Green Howards Benevolent Fund.

We that are left shall miss him as a friend, comrade and a loyal Green Howard. We offer our sincere sympathy to his wife, Mary, and the family.

George Eric Brown

Tom Heron writes

George Eric Brown, a Middlesbrough man born in 1918 and dying on 17th November 2004 - just one week short of his 86th birthday - was an altruistic and unassuming man who served the public all his working life.

Eric, as he was known, enlisted into 4th Battalion, The Green Howards on 9th May 1939 and was posted to 'D' Company at Yarm. He was a Corporal when he accompanied that Battalion with the British Expeditionary Force to France on 26th January 1940. After escaping from Dunkirk he was posted to 11th Battalion, The Green Howards which was a 'training battalion' stationed in Northumberland. During that period of WW2 Corporal Eric Brown considered himself fortunate when an opportunity presented itself for him to visit London. His joy, however, turned sour when he was injured during a German bombing raid. After recovering from his injuries he was promoted to Sergeant and seconded to the 1st Battalion, The Gold Coast Regiment, at that time stationed in East Africa. He served in the Intelligence Section and, at the end of the East African (Abyssinian) Campaign, he was commissioned in the field.

Lieutenant Eric Brown then saw his war out with the Gold Coast Regiment in India and Burma.

In 1945, whilst awaiting demobilisation, he reverted to his beloved Green Howards and was posted as Finance Officer to a Prisoner of War Camp in Malton, North Yorkshire. This POW Camp is now, of course, the well-known WW2 Museum 'Eden Camp'. On 25 May 1946 Eric returned to 'civvy' street.

Joining Middlesbrough Police, Eric was to become that Forces Sergeant-in-Charge of Special Branch. He also served as its Scientific Aids Officer and as Purchasing Officer. On reaching compulsory retirement age he stayed on, in a civilian capadty, in the latter position. This, however, did not prevent him from serving, variously amongst other things, as Treasurer, Clerk and Vice President of Great Ayton Parish Council. Despite all these activities he found time to actively participate in membership of Guisborough Branch and latterly 2nd Battalion Branch of The Green Howard Association. Representatives of both these Branches attended his funeral on 27 November 2004.

Eric enjoyed listening to 'quality' music - even more so when that enjoyment was enhanced by a glass or two of the more 'classical' types of red wine! He also painted, participated in amateur dramatics and mended watches. His wife, Olwyn, who had been his childhood sweetheart, pre-deceased him by several years. He is survived by their two daughters (and sons-in-law) together with their seven grandsons, all the latter being talented musicians.

Jim Brown

Major James Pearson writes :

It is with sadness that I report the death of Jim Brown of Knaresborough. Jim, aged 85 years, died in Harrogate General Hospital on 18 August 2005. He had recently had his right leg amputated below the knee and those of you who knew him will remember that he had a previous stroke on the right side of his body.

Jim reported for duty at the Regimental Depot in December 1939. When he had completed his recruit training he was posted to 6th Battalion, The Green Howards and was to remain with them for most of the war. In April 1940 he sailed with the Battalion to France and was eventually evacuated from Dunkirk. Jim wrote a moving account of his experience during this eventful period of his life. In 1941 he sailed to the Middle East with 6th Green Howards and took part in all their major battles in the Northern African desert and Sicily. He returned home with the Battalion for the preparations for the landings in France. D-Day - 6th June 1944 - saw Jim once again in action. He was now the jeep driver for the Brigade Commander, 69 Infantry Brigade, and drove Brigadier F Y C Knox DSO throughout the Normandy campaign.

Jim was demobbed in 1945 and returned to his job in civilian life. He was a gardener to an estate in naresborough. He was a founder member of the Harrogate Branch of the Regimental Association and up until his death attended all our meetings and reunions. Together with our President, John Milton, he was a regular visitor to Normandy and a loyal and cheerful comrade.

Jim's wife. Ruby, died in 2000. Once again he soldiered on without complaint although her loss was a great blow to him. His family were a tower of strength, accompanying him on holidays and bringing him to all the Harrogate branch social events.

Jim Brown was a modest man, who rarely spoke about the war, but when he did it was always with a dry humour. Whenever I asked him how he was, he always replied "Only fair", and it became something of a joke between us. Most people will remember him with a permanent smile on his face.

His funeral service took place on 25th August and was attended by his family and many friends. The Regimental family were present in force, headed by Major Brian Metcaife, the Acting Regimental Secretary, Colonel Barry Smeeton, Chairman of The Green Howards Association and members of the Harrogate Branch. The Branch Chairman gave an address and Jack Haines carried the Branch standard. It was particularly nice to see Frank Bately present, who was Jim's great pal in the 6th Battalion.

Jim was a Green Howard through and through and much respected by all who knew him. He was much loved by all of us in the Harrogate Branch and will be sadly missed. He was one of the nicest men I have ever met. We send our sympathy to his family, Graham, Angela and Jill.

Captain John Milton writes:

Jim and I were founder members of the Harrogate Branch in the 1950s. He was one of the most unassuming people that I have ever known. Jim had an amazing war record that included the evacuation from Dunkirk, the battle at El Alamein, the invasion of Sicily and D-Day in Normandy when he was the Brigadier's driver.

Jim was a fine soldier, a dedicated Green Howard for 65 years and a true gentleman.