Mr Dennis Croome, who served as a national serviceman in 1st Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment from 1957 - 59, including on operations against EOKA terrorists in Cyprus, died on 3 June 2026 at the age of 89 years.

Born in 1936, he was originally from Warminster but he settled in Broadstone, near Poole, Dorset some 40 years ago.  Nevertheless, he remained a “Wiltshire boy through and through” and a staunch supporter of the Bournemouth Branch of the Regimental Association.

Mr Croome’s funeral was held at the Harbour View Crematorium, Lytchett Minster, Dorset on 25 June 2026.  The Association has extended its condolences to his widow, Mrs Margaret Croome; members who so wish may write to Mrs Margaret Croome, at 11 Deneve Avenue, Poole, Dorset, BH17 9LR.

The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury will re-open on Monday 16 February 2026. The final stages of the refurbishment are underway and in early January the museum staff will start filling the display cabinets with the artefacts. The work on bringing the collection up to date and displaying it in an interesting and imaginative way has been a long process, one that started over three years ago. 

What we have ended up with is a dynamic and modern approach to telling all the stories of the soldiers over the past two and a half centuries bringing the displays up to date, with today’s history still taking place.  You are all invited to come along and view your museum once we are open, and we look forward to seeing you.

We are still on the look out for volunteers to come and assist us with routine opening hours (Monday to Saturday) particularly for front desk duties, but also at each of the summer weekend events planned for 2026.  Please contact Ross Keel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you want to know more details. By volunteering for a couple of hours a week or once a month, your service will be very much appreciated.
The Wardrobe website will re-emerge in a new format in the early new year, so check this out for details of our events and dates, which will also be published on the Association website.

A formal opening ceremony will occur sometime at the end of April or early May and plenty of notice will be given once the date is finalised.  We hope that many of you will attend, and this event will take place on a Saturday.  This will also be a great opportunity to catch up with friends and comrades.  Registration for attendance will be by ticket – again registration will be on the Association website.

We wish all our readers a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

The Association has been informed of the death on 21 March 2025 in hospital in Bath of Montague John Thomas Dermott, known as Monty, aged 90 years.  Our records show Mr Dermott as being born in 1932 but his family's account places his birth date in 1935.  

He joined the Army at The Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion in Plumer Barracks, Plymouth and served with 4th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment before transferring to 1st Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment.  

In the 1950s he served with 1 R. Berks in both Cyprus and the Canal Zone during the 1956 Suez operation.  Mr Dermott leaves his widow, Brenda, grandchildren Stacey and Scott and 4 great grandchildren.  His daughter Sandra pre-deceased him.