| Sadly our comrades have passed away.
REGIMENTAL COLLECT O God, whose righteousness is exceeding glorious, may it please thee to send out thy light and thy truth so lead us Thy servant of the Corps of Royal Engineers and those involved in the clearance of explosive ordnance that everywhere we may be enabled to do our duty, and so glorify thee, our father in heaven, for the sake of thy son, Jesus Christ, our lord, Amen. We will remember them. 14226332 Sapper John Menzies Forrester.  Born on the 23/12/1923 Passed away on the 26/12/09 Joined the REA in 1995 and was a life member of the BD Branch. 1930747 Sapper Albert George Woolhouse. Passed away on the 21/12/2009. Joined the REA in 1987 and was a Life Member of the BD Branch. Captain Dan Read.
Captain Daniel Read from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, part of the Counter-IED Task Force, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 11 January 2010. Captain Daniel Read was killed as a result of an explosion which happened in the Musa Qaleh area of northern Helmand province. When he returned from the tour, Captain Read applied for a commission in the Royal Logistic Corps; he was successful and he completed his course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December 2004 Captain Read joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1996 as a Sapper. He was posted to 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) and got his first taste of EOD operations on Op FINGAL in 2002 when he deployed as a Search Team Second-in-Command. From this point on, Captain Read was 'hooked' on EOD and knew the only job for him was that of an Ammunition Technical Officer or 'ATO'. Captain Read was an experienced operator. He attended 21 tasks in Afghanistan, and had already dealt with 32 IEDs. Captain Read was passionate about his role as a High Threat Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Operator, always displaying a boundless enthusiasm and energy for the tasks he undertook. Captain Read leaves his wife Lorraine, parents and sisters behind
Sapper David "Legs" Watson.
Sapper David Watson, died on the 31st December 2009. Born on 28 October 1986 and known to his friends as 'The Leg', deployed on Op HERRICK 11 as a Number 3 Operator in a Conventional Munitions Disposal Team as part of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group within the UK Counter IED Task Force. Sapper Watson died of wounds sustained in an explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device in the vicinity of Patrol Base Blenheim in the Sangin region of Helmand Province.
Legs was Repatriated on the 5th January 2010, despite the bitterly cold day, Wooton Bassett's High Street was lined with friends, family, colleagues and the public to show their respects.
His funeral is to be held on the 19th January at Saint Mary the Virgin Church, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne at 12.00hrs.
Corporal Loren "Loz" Marlton-Thomas.
Corporal Marlton-Thomas was mortally wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) on Sunday 15 November 2009 whilst conducting a route search to clear devices in the vicinity of Patrol Base Sandford, in the Gereshk area of Helmand province. He died of his wounds on Monday 16 November 2009. Details from MOD News
Loz was Repatriated on Friday 20th November and family, friends, colleagues and the people of Wooton Bassett paid their respects to him.
Loz was buried on the 8th December at Saint Josephs RC Church, Lytham Saint Annes.
He was buried with full military honours.
His wife, Nicola, said: "Loren was Army barmy right back to being a Cadet. He did the job he loved and paid the ultimate price for his friends, comrades and country. We are proud to say we knew and loved him. A true hero in our eyes - you may be gone but you will never ever be forgotten".
Albert James "Jimmy" Hearn. 6 March 2009. 2154029 Corporal. Albert was from Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. Albert had a fall at the family home, this was at first not seen as serious as he said that he was okay. Sadly after a few days of feeling unwell he was taken to hospital, where he passed away fro blood poisoning, resulting from a ruptured bowel. Albert served with 7 Bomb Disposal Company during World War II. He was a regular attendee at the Branch annual dinner with his daughter Ross and her husband Roy. Jimmy leaves behind his widow Yvonne. Phillip Allen Parkin. 11 January 2009. Aged 85. 2160083 Sapper/Driver. Phillip was from Barnstaple, Devon. He joined the Corp in 1939 and served with 23 Bomb Disposal Company, he was demobilised in 1946. Aged 50 Phillip joined the TA in Devon. He leaves behind his widow Patricia and seven children.
James William McBeth. 27 December 2008. Aged 45. 24504131 Sapper. Jim was from Glenrothes, Fife. Jim was diagnosed six years ago as being diabetic and was insulin dependent for the last 4 years. He was taken ill on Christmas Day and passed away 2 days later. Jim joined the army at 16 as a Junior Leader, Old Park Barracks, Dover. On joining the Corp as a regular he was posted to Bomb Disposal at Lodge Hill Camp, where he served with 49 (EOD) Sqn and later with 58 (EOD) Sqn., as a plant operator/mechanic. Jim served a tour in the Falkand Islands before being posted to Berlin. In Berlin he spent some f his time as part of the duty team on the cross border railway. Jim was unmarried and is sadly missed by his Mother and Father. I served with Jim in the Falklands and remember him as being one of the quiet ones but a great member of the team. Jim also volunteered and took some of the photos for the Roll of Honour. Rest easy old friend. Pete Markham.
Tom Tweedy. 25 December 2008. 24160557 Sapper. Tom passed away at home in Amersham. Tom served with the newly named 49 (EOD) Sqn at Lodge Hill Camp from 1970 to 1972. During this period he served on a number of operations and qualified as a Army Diver. It was whist undertaking beach clearance operation in Brighton that he met his wife Janet. Tom was posted from 49 to Northern Ireland where he was shot in the neck and severely paralysed. After medical treatment he was discharged from the Army and settled in Buckinghamshire to be close o Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Although wheelchair bound Tom was full of life and enthusiasim, showing his Sapper spirit, never complaining of his situation and a continual inspiration to those who had the honour and privilege to know him. Over 100 people attended Toms funeral. The coffin was draped by the Corp Colours and a Standard Bearer from the British Legion lowered the flag as the Last Post was played. Representatives from the local REA where in attendance a fitting tribute to a Sapper. Tom leaves behind his loving and caring wife Janet, son Stuart and many friends, he will be greatly missed. He was my best friend from thise EOD days and I could not have wished for a better one. Dick Green.
Graham "Jessie" James. He was S/SGT SQMS / RQMS staff 1980-85.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there i do not sleep
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumanal rain
When you wake in the morning hush
I am the soft uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there I did not die.
By Mary Elizabeth Fry.
Do Not Stand At MyDo Not Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there I do not sleep I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumnal rain I am the soft uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight I am the stars that shine at night Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there I did not die By Mary Elizabeth Frye Stand At My Grave And Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there I do not sleep I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumnal rain I am the soft uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight I am the stars that shine at night Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there I did not die By Mary Elizabeth Frye Grave And Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there I do not sleep I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumnal rain I am the soft uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight I am the stars that shine at night Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there I did not die By Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there I do not sleep I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumnal rain I am the soft uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight I am the stars that shine at night Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there I did not die By Mary Elizabeth Frye |
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