An extremely successful and enjoyable 2 days of golf took place on 5 – 6 June 2025 at Upavon Golf Club, where the DERR Golf Society (The Farmers Boys) held their annual 2 day summer meeting. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural match against the Rifles we played them again on Thursday 4 June, for a newly commissioned trophy – “The Turner VC Bowl”. We wanted to identify a suitable “Golden Thread” and with the help of Martin McIntyre we identified the Turner brothers, one of only 2 pairs of brothers to be awarded the Victoria Cross
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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.
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Mr Michael Welham has informed the Association of the death of Mr Ludvik Schafer who served with 1 DERR from 1961 - 1964, serving in Tidworth, Malta and Cyprus. His funeral is to be held at the West Wiltshire Crematorium at Semington, near Trowbridge, BA14 6HL at 16:30 hours on Monday 29 June 2025. The Association extends its condolences to his widow, Mrs Rita Schafer.
Capt Len Keeling has informed the Association of the death of ex Cpl Graham Fish, whose funeral was held at Gloucester Crematorium on 11 June 2026. The Association extends its condolences to Mr Fish’s family.
The Association has been informed by his widow, Margaret, that Capt Timothy Lapage-Norris died at his care home on Saturday 13th June 2026 at the age of 91 years, funeral details to follow.
Maurice Bradshaw, who fought with 1 Glosters at the Battle of Imjin River, has died aged 96 years. The youngest of two sons, he was born in 1929 at The Crescent in Lifton, South Devon. He left school to learn his trade as a plumbing and heating engineer and in August 1950 was called up for national service. In 1951, he set sail with 1 Glosters for Korea.
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Mr Fraser Monger, the son of Mr Anthony (Tony) Monger, has informed the Association of the recent death of his father at the age of 63 years.
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Major Clive Rendle, who died on 29 April 2026 at his care home at Cadogan Court in Exeter, will be remembered by many of our older DERR members as a larger than life character, a consummate regimental officer and a devoted family man.
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David Eric Scovell was born on 27 January 1942 and joined the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment in May 1961. He completed his 22 years of Regular service and left the Army on 16 July 1983. However, the Army never left his heart and the for 17 years he was a Royal British Legion Standard Bearer.
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Members can now upload photos that they might feel might be of interest to other members.
So how is this done? 1st log into the website, then navigate to the "Members Portal" in the top menu there you will find an item entitled "Upload photos" select that and create a category in your name then you'll be able to upload images/photos. I would suggest that create albums as you go.
This will be my final report on this but of course, please let me know if you have any questions. I have added a bit of detail which will hopefully be of interest to some of the readers of the newsletter who served in Gorazde, and whom may even wish to return themselves. I have copied in a number - who have been close to this over recent years.
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Final Farewell to Ezra
To all those who knew Ezra:
If you would like to pay your final respects and celebrate his life, please see the details for his funeral and gathering below.
Let us come together to honour him, to celebrate the man he was, and to give him the safe passage to the final RV as we would all hope to receive.
09:30–10:30
Huddersfield Crematorium
64 Fixby Road, Huddersfield
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