The Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry
6 October 1959 - 10 July 1968
Osnabruck 1959/61
Plymouth Sept/61
Gibraltar/Tobruk 1961/63
Berlin 1963/65
Gravesend 1965/68
Alan enlisted into the SCLI in 1962. (No known details of his service) There was no funeral service as per his wishes. He was cremated by Pure Cremations. Again, as per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at Roucan Loch, Dumfries, Scotland.
Ray enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry in May 1952. Following training at the LI Training Centre at Bordon, Hampshire, he was posted to the LI Brigade Training Centre at Strensall, Yorkshire. At the end of the year he was promoted to L/Cpl and employed in recruit training. In 1953 he was promoted to Cpl and posted to the SOM LI Depot at Taunton as a Training Instructor. In December 1954 he was posted to the 1st Bn SOM LI in Malaya and promoted to Sjt and joined 7 Platoon. In October 1955 the Bn returned to the UK and were based in Plymouth. Shortly afterwards, he was posted as an instructor to the Infantry Boys Bn based at Plymouth. In April 1959 he returned to 1 SOM LI based at the School of Infantry, Warminster, Wiltshire. Later that year the Bn moved to Osnabruck, West Germany where it amalgamated with 1 DCLI to form 1 SCLI. He served in A Coy as a Pltn Sgt. until early in 1961 when he was posted to the Mortar Pltn. In the summer of that year the Bn returned to the UK and after a period of 6 weeks based at Plymouth the Bn moved to Gibraltar. Following a 3-month tour in Libya and returning to Gibraltar, he was appointed Officers Mess Sjt. In July 1963 the Bn returned to the UK and he then became a member of the Advance Party on the Bn’s move to Berlin. In 1964 he was promoted to C/Sjt and posted to the SOM LI (TA) detachment in Glastonbury as the PSI. In 1966 he returned to 1 SCLI in Gravesend as CQMS D Coy. also taking on the role of Air Transport Liaison Officer for the Bn’s move to Aden in May of that year. Following a 6-month deployment, the Bn returned to Gravesend, and he was promoted to WO2 as CSM A Coy. In 1967 the Bn spent a great of time training in Norway north of the Artic Circle. In 1968 his Coy moved to Canada before returning to the UK. That same year the SCLI became 1LI and shortly afterwards the Bn moved to Ballykinler, Northern Ireland. Later there was a move to Kenya for a training exercise and on return to Ireland he took up the role of Acting RSM as the Bn deployed for the first time, in the streets of Belfast. He was promoted to substantive RSM in January 1970 and posted to the Rifle Depot in Winchester. In February 1971 He was posted as RSM 3LI in Belfast and a month later the Bn returned to Plymouth. He remained with 3LI until August 1975. During that time he was the Parade RSM when HM The Queen presented New Colours in Colchester in 1972, also at the parade when the Army commemorated it ‘Farewell to Plymouth. With the move of the Bn to Minden, West Germany, in November and the visit to the Bn by HRH Princess Alexandra (Deputy Colonel) in May 1972. The end of the year saw the Bn deployed again to Northern Ireland, in the Old Ardoyne area of Belfast. On arrival he was granted a QM commission and given command of the Bugle Pltn in C Coy. In May 1973 he became the Bn MTO when the Bn returned to Minden. In March 1974 the Bn was deployed yet again to Belfast for a 6-month tour. He served as MTO and 2ic Support Coy. At the end of the year he was promoted to Captain. On leaving 3LI he became 2ic of the Junior Soldiers Coy at the LI Depot in Shrewsbury. In 1977 he was posted to 3 RGJ as Tech QM. Whilst with the Bn it had a short deployment to Belfast, an exercise at Fort Wainwright in Canada, and numerous parades in the London area commemorating the Quenns Silver Jubilee. In 1978 the Bn was deployed to Londonderry where he was appointed QM. In September 1979 the Bn moved to Oakington, East Anglia and shortly afterwards was deployed on a 6-month tour to Cyprus in support of the UN Force in Cyprus. On return to the UK he was promoted to Major and posted to Suffield in Canada as QM of the British Army Training Team. He spent over 3 years in Canada and was awarded the MBE during that time.
He then returned to the UK and was posted to the Light Division Depot in Winchester, first as Training Officer and then as QM, with the task of closing down and handing over Peninsula Barracks, and then taking over the new Sir John Moore Barracks in Winchester. In 1987 he was promoted to Lt Col. QM and the following year he spent 6 months at the MOD, being the Project Officer of the Tri-Service Tattoo on Horse Guards. He was then posted to Netheravon, Wiltshire, as OC Troops and Administration at the Support Weapons Wing. He remained at Netheravon until 1992 when he retired from the Army. During his time there he had been the senior QM on the Presentation of Colours by HM The Queen Mother at Tidworth in May.
During his service he was awarded the MBE, The GSM with clasps for Malaya, South Arabia, Northern Ireland. The LS&GC Medal. Pre-deceased by his wife Marion, his funeral service took place on Monday 23 February, at The Minster Church, Taunton, with a very large congregation in attendance. Also present was two Taunton Branch Standards, numerous other ones. and a Regimental Bugler. The service was followed by a private cremation. Our condolences go to his son, daughter, and their respective families.
Desmond enlisted into the SCLI on 12 September 1963. Following his training at the Light Infantry Brigade Depot Shrewsbury, he was posted to 1SCLI in Berlin where he initially served in a Rifle Coy. He was later transferred to the Signal Pltn serving as a radio operator. He continued as a radio operator for the remainder of his service at postings with the Battalion to Gravesend, Aden, Kenya, and following the SCLI becoming 1LI in 1968, in Ballykinler. It was from there that he left the Army after almost six and a half years service in January 1970. He returned to his home in Weston-super-Mare. During his Army service, he was awarded the GSM with clasp South Arabia. His funeral service took place on Tuesday the 10th February at Weston-super-Mare crematorium. In attendance were his family and friends, a Bugler and two Standard Bearers from the Taunton Branch of the Regimental Association. Our condolences go to his wife Shirley and family.
Gus, as he was known to all, enlisted in to the SCLI in June 1962. Following his training at the KOYLI Depot in Pontefract he was posted to I SCLI in Gibraltar.
He served for most of his service in a rifle company apart from a spell as a Regt. Policeman. During his service he served in Tobruk, Berlin, Gravesend, Canada, Norway, Aden, Kenya, Lemgo, Northern Ireland and Colchester. He retired from the Army after 15 years in August 1977. During his service he was awarded the GSM with clasps for Aden, South Arabia and Northern Ireland.
Predeceased by his wife, his funeral service took place on Tuesday 4th November at Telford Crematorium. It was well attended by his family, friends and former colleagues from the Regiment, and two Buglers from the Buglers Association.
He was commissioned in to the SOM LI in August 1958, serving initially as a platoon commander with 1 SOM LI at Warminster, Wiltshire.
Following the formation of the SCLI, he was posted to the Regt Depot at Bodmin as a training subaltern. In 1961 he commenced an attachment with the 2nd Bn the Parachute Regt.
He served with the Bn in Cyprus, Kuwait, and Aldershot during which time he was promoted to Capt. He returned to 1 SCLI in 1963 who were stationed in Berlin. Later postings were to Gravesend and Aden. Following the formation of the Light Infantry in 1968 he served in Northern Ireland, Lemgo and Belize with further promotion to Maj and becoming a company commander. In 1977 he was posted to 2 LI in Lemgo as a coy comd and later a further posting to Northern Ireland. His final posting was to the LI Depot as Shrewsbury where he served as the 2ic. His funeral service to place at All Saints Church, Swallowfield, Reading on Tuesday 11th November. It was attended by his family, friends and former fellow officers. Our condolences go to his wife Julia and family.
Gary enlisted in to the SCLI in June 1965 and following his training at the Light Infantry Depot at Shrewsbury he was posted to 1SCLI in Gravesend.
He initially served in a rifle company becoming a platoon signaller, before moving to the signal platoon where he spent most of his service as the CO’s signaller and driver. During the course of his service he served in Aden, Kenya, Lemgo, Northern Ireland, and a period of a fortnight in Belgium.
He retired from the Army in 1974. During his service he was awarded the GSM with clasp’s for South Arabia and Northern Ireland.
His funeral service took place on Wednesday 27th August at Gwent Crematorium, South Wales, and was attended by his family, friends and former colleagues from the Regiment.
Our condolences go to his wife Joy and family.
Barry’s service number shows that he enlisted in the Army in the late 1950s. He served in both the SCLI and 1LI.
By the time the SCLI deployed to Aden he had obtained the rank of Cpl. and was on the advanced party. He would therefore have been awarded the GSM with the clasp for South Arabia, and possibly other awards for his later service.
He served as a bandsman in both the SCLI and 1LI.