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
Stanley enlisted into the Infantry Junior Leaders on the 2nd January 1964. Following training at their Depot in Oswestry and further training at the Light Infantry Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury, he was posted to 1SCLI in Berlin where he initially served as a rifleman. Later he moved to Support Coy with whom most of his service took place. He returned with the Bn from Berlin to Gravesend and shortly afterwards to Aden on a six-month emergency tour, afterwards returning to Gravesend. Following the formation of !LI in 1968, there followed shortly afterwards a two-year tour of Northern Ireland with the Bn based at Ballykinler. From there it moved to Lemgo, West Germany, from where during the four years it was stationed there, the Bn had three deployments to Northern Ireland at the time of ‘The Troubles’. He served continually with 1LI until he left the Army in June 1988. During this time it was posted to Colchester, Belize, Hong Kong, Tidworth, Cyprus, Munster West Germany, Blackpool, It also had five further deployments to Northern Ireland, It was on the fifth deployment to Omagh in 1988 that he retired. For his Military Service he was awarded the GSM with clasps for South Arabia and Northern Ireland. After leaving the Army he became a Publican in the Hereford area. He died in Thailand and his funeral service and cremation took place shortly after his death. Our condolences go to his his daughter Karen.
Philip initially served in the Somerset Light Infantry (TA) from 12th May 1964 until he enlisted into the SCLI on the 8th December 1964. Following his training at the LI Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury, he was posted to 1SCLI in Berlin, West Germany, where he served as a rifleman in C Coy. He remained in C Coy for his entire service, with postings to Gravesend, Aden for a six-month emergency tour before retuning to Gravesend. Following the Bn becoming 1LI in 1968, it shortly afterwards moved on a two-year tour of Northern Ireland based at Ballykinler. It was from here that he left the Army in November 1969. For his Military Service he was awarded the GSM with clasp for South Arabia. He took up residence in the Wellington area of Somerset and changed his surname to Payne-Jones. In 2011 he moved to the Scottish Border town of Duns which is where his funeral service took place on the 6th January 2025. As per his wishes his partner was the only person present, accompanied by his dog.
John Oswald Morgan was commissioned into the Somerset Light Infantry on the 21st December 1958 serving as a 2nd Lt and Pltn Commander with a Rifle Coy. In 1959 following amalgamation he continued in his position in the 1SCLI. In late 1960 he moved to Bn HQ as the Intelligence Officer. In 1961 he was appointed ADC to the Col of the Regt, a post he held for several years before as a Lt moving back to 1SCLI. at Gravesend. In 1966 he went with the Bn to Aden for a six-month emergency tour after which the Bn returned to Gravesend. He was shortly afterwards promoted to Capt. and through 1968-69 served as a Capt. at the Staff College. In June 1969 he was promoted to Major and became a GSO2 Ops/Int on the South West District. In 1972 he returned to what was now 1LI, who where stationed in Lemgo, West Germany, as a Coy Commander. This was followed by tours in Northern Ireland before an 18-month posting as GSO2 SD BAOR at Rheindahlen, West Germany. In 1976 he returned to 1LI based in Hing Kong, as 2i/c of the Bn. In June 1977 he had his final posting, again as a GSO2 IE (A) 3 Insp.
He retired from the Army in October 1979 and returned to his home in London, where in civilian life he became a stockbroker. For his Military Service he was awarded the GSM with clasps for South Arabia and Northern Ireland. Pre-deceased by his wife, his funeral took place on the 3rd February 2025 at Putney Vale Crematorium. Present was his family, friends and former colleagues.
Graham enlisted in January 1961 into the Junior Leaders Battalion at their Depot in Oswestry and trained as an Infantry Soldier. On completion of his training he was posted in October 1962 to 1SCLI in Gibraltar were he served as a cook. In 1963 the Bn moved to Berlin where he initially continued as a cook before being transferred to the Orderly Room as a clerk. The Bn moved back to the UK in 1965 and was stationed in Gravesend, where he continued employment as a clerk and received his first promotion to L/Cpl. In 1966 the Bn was posted on a six-month emergency tour to Aden returning later in the year to Gravesend, from where he was posted to the Light Infantry Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury as the Training Coy clerk and promotion to Cpl. In August 1969 he was posted back to 1LI who where stationed in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland and resumed duties as an Orderly Room clerk. In 1970 the Bn moved to Lemgo, West Germany where he continued as a Orderly Room clerk with further promotion to Sjt. In August 1971 he was posted to the Royal Green Jackets Depot at Winchester as their Orderly Room Clerk. He remained with the RGJ’s until 1973 when he returned back to 1LI, serving with the Bn in Lemgo, Winchester and Hong Kong with further promotion to C/Sjt and title of Chief Clerk. In January 1978 he had a further posting to the Military Record Office in Exeter working with the documents team and promotion to WO2. In 1982 he had his final posting now in the rank of WO1 to the RGJ depot at Winchester as the Superintendent Clerk.
He retired from the Army in March 1984 and returned to his home in Exeter. During his service he received the General Service Medal with clasps for South Arabia and Northern Ireland and the LS&GC Medal. In civilian life he first took employment with the Post Office and several years later took on the role of a taxi driver. His funeral service took place on Monday 6th January 2025 at the Exeter & Devon Crematorium. It was well attended by his wife and family, friends and former military colleagues, there was also a bugler in attendance. Our condolences go to his wife Vickey and family.
Robert enlisted into the SCLI in 1965 and following training at the Light Infantry Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury he was posted to 1SCLI in Berlin where he served as a Rifleman in B Company. Later in the year the Battalion moved to Gravesend and in 1966 it was posted on a six-month emergency tour to Aden. As a result Robert was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp South Arabia. He served on into 1LI following the formation of the regiment and finally retired from the Army when the Bn was stationed in Lemgo, West Germany in 1972. During his entire service he served in B Coy. He returned to his home in Bath. He later suffered from Biles disease which resulted in him being bedridden for some time prior to his death. As was his wishes there was no funeral, just a cremation, which took place on Friday 27th December, with his ashes interred in Haycombe Cemetery, Bath. Our condolences go to his wife Patricia and family.
Eddie, as he was known, enlisted into the SCLI on the 18th January 1968. After training at the Light Infantry Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury, he was posted in March 1968 to 1SCLI in Gravesend where he served initially in a Rifle Company. In July 1968 the Bn became 1LI and in August it was posted for a two year tour to Ballykinler, Northern Ireland. He moved to the Anti-Tank Pltn where he served for the duration of the tour. In 1970 the Bn was posted to Lemgo, West Germany where he changed employment again moving to the M.T. Pltn with whom he remained for the entire time at Lemgo and at Colchester in 1974. During this period he had three further operational tours to Northern Ireland. In 1975 he was posted as a recruiter to the Light Infantry Office at Taunton. In 1978 he returned to the Bn at Tidworth as a L/Cpl, again serving with M.T. He had one further tour to Northern Ireland before retiring from the Army in January 1980. For his duties in Northern Ireland he was awarded the GSM. He took up residence with his wife in Northolt, Middlesex. His main employment was as a HGV Lorry driver. As was his wishes he was cremated without anyone being present, the date of his cremation is not known. Our condolences go to his wife and family..
Mel as he was known, enlisted into the SCLI on the 19 November 1962. Following his initial training at the KOYLI Regimental Depot at Pontefract he was posted in early January 1963 to 1SCLI in Gibraltar where he served in a Rifle Company. He was to later serve with the Bn in Tobruk, Berlin, Gravesend and Aden for which he was awarded the GSM South Arabia Medal. Returning to Gravesend where he remained until 1968 when the Bn became 1LI. Shortly afterwards the Bn deployed to Ballykinler Northern Ireland where he the served as a L/Cpl in the Mortar Pltn. The Bn was posted to Lemgo, West Germany in May 1970 and in March 1971 until July of that year was deployed to Belfast, Northern Ireland on an Emergency Tour, for which he was awarded the bar for Norther Ireland added to his GSM The Bn returned to Lemgo from where Mel retired from the Army in November 1971. He returned to his home in Hartlepool and took employment in the metal industry as a turner in vertical and horizontal boring. His funeral took place on Friday 20th September at Stranton Crematorium, Hartlepool, and was well attended by his family, friends and former Army colleagues. There was also a bugler and seven standard bearers in attendance. Our condolences go to his wife Agnes and family.
Donald enlisted into the SCLI Junior Leaders in September 1963. He was trained in the Infantry Junior Leader Bn. at Oswestry. On completion of his training in early 1965, he was posted to the Regimental Depot at Shrewsbury for further training in mans service. On completion of this training he was posted in December 1965 to 1SCLI in Gravesend where he was employed as a rifleman in B Company. In 1966 he went with the Bn to Aden on a six-month deployment returning to Gravesend in October of that year. In January 1967 B Coy went to Canada for winter warfare training and returned to Gravesend on completion. A further period of winter warfare training saw B Coy deploy to Voss in Norway for three weeks in 1968. Later that year SCLI became 1LI. Shortly afterwards the Bn was posted to Ballykinler Northern Ireland for what was a 22-month tour of duty. It then moved to Lemgo, West Germany in May 1970 from where, following an emergency tour to Belfast from March to July 1971, he retired from the Army. During his service he was awarded the GSM South Arabia Medal for Aden and Northern Ireland. In civilian life he ran a bar in Benidorm, Spain for a number of years before retiring and moving to Redhill in Surrey. No other details are known.
Brian was called up for National Service in 1953 into the REME and served as a Craftsman with 30 Field Ambulance in Paderborn, West Germany. Following his discharge in 1955, he served in the TA for a further three years. In 1958 he re-enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry serving at Jellalabad Barracks at Taunton. Following the formation of the SCLI in 1959 he was posted to the Depot in Bodmin, where, having been promoted to Corporal, he was engaged in training recruits. On the closure of the Depot in 1962 he was posted to Gibraltar and served as a section commander with B Coy. In 1963 he moved with the Bn to Berlin where he was promoted to Sjt. In 1965 the Bn returned to the UK and was stationed in Gravesend. As a Pltn Sjt with B Coy, he was deployed with the Bn to ADEN in 1966 where he was engaged with B Coy’s Mortar Section. Later that year the Bn returned to Gravesend where he remained as a Pltn Sjt with B Coy. Later he moved to the QM’s department as the Tech Sjt. From 1968 when the SCLI became 1LI, up until 1978 when he left the Army, he had tours of duty in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland, Lemgo, Colchester and Hong Kong and finally Tidworth. During this time he carried out various appointments as Families Sjt, Officers Mess Manager, and on promotion as CSM HQ Coy. During his service he was awarded the GSM South Arabia medal, with a Bar for Northern Ireland.
In civilian life he retired to Shropshire where he worked for the DHSS for two years and then the MOD until his retirement. He remained for many years an enthusiastic and popular member of the Regimental Association. He often attended the SCLI Reunion at Taunton and also the Taunton Branch annual dinner in company with his wife until ill health prevented them from doing so. His funeral, which took place on Friday 5th April at Telford Crematorium, was well attended by his family, friends, and former military colleagues. Our condolences go to his wife June, his six children and their respective families.
He enlisted as a Regular Soldier into the SCLI in 1961 and following initial training at the Regimental Depot at Bodmin, was posted to the 1st Bn in Gibraltar. He served at first in a Rifle Company before joining the MT. He served in all postings with the Bn including Aden by which time he had been promoted to L/Cpl. He later had further promotion to Cpl whilst the Bn was stationed in Gravesend. In 1968 following the formation of the Light Infantry, he was stationed in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland where the Bn had a two-year tour. In May 1970 the Bn moved to Lemgo, West Germany by which time he had been promoted to MT Sjt. He retired from the Army in 1983 in the rank of C/Sjt. During his time with 1LI he had three further operational tours of Northern Ireland at the time of “The Troubles”. A deployment to Belize and a six-month UN operational tour to Cyprus. He also had postings with the Bn to Colchester, Hong Kong, Tidworth and Munster, West Germany from where he retired. During his service he was awarded the GSM South Arabia Medal with a bar for Northern Ireland, the UNFICYP (Cyprus) Medal and the LS&GC Medal. His funeral took place on Thursday 1st February 2024 at Treswithian Down Crematorium, Camborne. It was well attended by his family, friends and former colleagues. Our condolences go to his wife Marcia and family.