DEATH NOTICES AUGUST 2015
ALLSOPFormer 23247476 Warrant Officer Class 1 Peter Allsop who served with the RMP from 1955 until 1977, passed away aged 78 years. ‘Passing-out’ with Squad 519 he served variously with 160 Pro Coy (Shrewsbury), 5 Dog Coy RMP (Singapore), 173 Pro Coy (Lisburn, Northern Ireland:), 165 Pro Coy (Chester), on Active Service in support of 39th Infantry Brigade in the Radfan, the Royal Militray police Training Centre (RMPTC) at Chichester with the Recruiting Team, Army Careers and Information Office (ACIO) Glasgow, London District Pro Coy, 170 Pro Coy (Edinburgh), again at the RMPTC, but this timein Research and Development, HQ Rhine Area (Düsseldorf) and158 Pro Coy (Bulford). At the end of his Colour Service he joined Sussex Police serving at Bognor Regis Police Station for 15 years both in uniform and with the CID.
BALLFormer 22509103 Lance-Corporal John Ball,who served with1st (British) Corps Provost Company, died peacefully at his home in Cornwall on August3rd, 2014, aged 81. Called up for National Service in 1951, and commencing military training at Oswestry, Shropshire, after only 2-weeks he responded to a request for volunteers to transfer to the RMP and completed his ‘trade’training with 243 Squad at Inkerman Barracks. A keen sportsman, playing football for his Squad,he was unfortunate to break his wrist during a match played at the weekend immediately prior to his embarkation to Egypt and he was unable to sail with his mates as he was sent home on sick leave instead. Returning to Woking when fully fit, John was posted to 1st“Brush” Corps Company then headquartered at Bad Rothenfelde, 12 miles southeast of the major British Army Garrison at Osnabruck. Carrying out varied police duties over the following 21 months, he remembered particularly providing an escort to the then Chief of the Imperial General Staff General Sir John (later Field-Marshal and Lord) Harding. John continued to be involved in sporting activities and represented the Company at both football and cricket. In civilian life he wasan avid rugby fan and a keen golfer. He is sadly missed by his wife Marlene, sons Gary and Adrian and all of his friends in the Association.
BAKERFormer 23444534Lance-Corporal Eric Baker, a National Serviceman after training in Squad 667 served from 1957 - 1959 with 200 Provost Company in Singapore, died whilst in a Care Home in Worksop on June 8th2015, At the time of his death he was suffering from dementia. He was demobbed in 1960. His wife predeceased him a few weeks before his death and he is survived by a daughter, Jane who is also dependent on care. Eric was a member of South Yorkshire Branch. His funeral was on June 23rd.
CAFFREYFormer Lance-Corporal Harry Caffrey passed away on May 14th2015, having fought against cancer for some time. Harry trained with 538 Squad at Inkerman Barracks and subsequently served with the SHAPE Provost Company for the remainder of his two years’ service.
CHURCHFormer Warrant Officer Class 1‘Robbie’ Church BEM, Royal New Zealand Military Police (RNZMP) died in May 2015. Robbie was a much respected member of our allied Corps and will be greatly missed. Some of the past serving members of RMP may remember Robbie for his days in the Special investigation Branch (SIB)attached to 200 Provost CompanyAustralian/New Zealand/UK (ANZUK) Brigade responsible for overseeing all troop movement through the Singapore Docks and for the military policing of the Island of Singapore.
COOKEFormer 24742436 Sergeant Stephen (‘Steve’) Cooke passed away during the early hours of May 15th2015, after a brief battle with cancer, having just reached the age of 49. Steve served not only with RMP, but also with both Surrey and South Yorkshire Constabularies. Completing training at Chichester with Squad 8505, Steve served with the RMP until 1998 RMP, serving widely in Catterick, Germany, Belize, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, during the First Gulf War and with the United Nations. He then joined Surrey Police in 1998 serving with the force until 2006, when he transferred to South Yorkshire Police reaching the substantive rank of Police Sergeant,but acting as an Inspector on numerous occasions. He was given a magnificent send off at Elsecar Church, with Mounted Police posting a Guard-of-Honour at the Church Gate and an impressively full church with uniforms in abundance and with two serving police officers proudly wearing their red berets and former Red Caps including a veteran from the newly formed Republic of Ireland branch and South Yorkshire Branch. The eulogy was read by Steve’s father-in-law, who spoke of an honest, kind, caring husband, father and grandfather; of a committed and loyal police officer; and all round great person, who when he found out he had cancer admitted he had only ever wanted to die serving his Queen and Country and whose passing leaves a huge gap in his families’ lives that will never be filled.
DONNELLYCharles Donnelly died following the death of his wife Angela a few weeks previously. Chralie served with the RMP in the 1960s with the SIB particaulaly 70 Section in Celle. Charles' funeral took place on June 16that Harwood Park Crematorium in Stevenage. He leaves a son Mark.
DUNNFormer Lance-Corporal Dunn Women’s Royal Army Corps (Provost) died December 13th2014, in Perth, Australia aged 78 after a long illness. She first joined the Birmingham City Police in 1957, before joining WRAC Provost in 1960. She served in Aldershot and Catterick 1961-62. She met and married Corporal G. Brien RMP in 1962. She leaves a husband of 52 years, a daughter and 2 grandchildren. Her ashes were returned to Birmingham for internment. She was a longstanding member of RMPA Birmingham (Midland) Branch.
GOWARDFormer 14458191Sergeant Ken Goward passed away on April 25th2015. He was born 06 Mar 1927. Having enlisted with the Royal (Field) Artillery in January 1945, he transferred to the RMP in Egypt in 1946, initially serving with 203 Provost Company Corps of Military Police (CMP), but transferring to the SIB Roll in 1946, and then serving extensively throughoutEgypt and the Canal Zone and reportedly Palestine. He ended his service with RMP serving with the British Element Trieste Force (BETFOR) in Italy, then under Allied military administration, with 93 Special Investigation Section (SIS) CMP. He transferred back to the Royal Artillery on May 5th 1950. His funeral was held at Weeley Crematorium, near Clacton-on-Sea,on May 26th, with attendance from Colchester & East Anglia Branch and members of 156 Pro Coy 4 RMP. He leaves behind Ingebourg Luise Goward (They met when he was stationed in Celle,Germany) as well as three daughters and one remaining son (Kenneth passed away in 2009) as well as ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
HAMPSHIREFormer 25159266 Corporal Michael John (‘Mic’) Hampshire wasmurdered by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in Kabul when protecting members of the European Union Police (EUPOL) Training Missionto Afghanistan, as a Private Security Operative with Hart International. He was 29. Joining the Army in 2002, Mic trained at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, joining the newly named Yorkshire Regiment’s 1st Battalion (formerly the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire). He transferred to the RMP in the rank of Lance-Corporal in July 2006. He served subsequently with 150 Pro Coy in Catterick and the Close Protection Unit as an instructor. He saw service in Northern Ireland and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia with the Infantry andin Iraq and Afghanistan with the RMP. Having completed Close Protection training in 2008, he packed in numerous tours top Afghanistan,Sudan and Mali in a relatively short period before deciding to leave the Army voluntarily to join a Private Security Company where he could be guaranteed employment in Close Protection on a full-time basis. His funeral was held at St John’s Church,Golecar, near Huddersfield and afterwards at Huddersfield Crematorium on June 5th and was attended by no fewer than 600 family, friends and RMPA members, many of whom are serving members of the RMP, together with one of his former ‘principals’ Major-General Felton whom he had protected in Afghanistan when still serving. The Wake was held at Golecar Royal British Legion. As evidenced by the large numbers attending his funeral Mic was a universally popular individual who was loyal, good humoured and very professional in all that he did. Mic leaves behind his loving parents Angela and Martin and his Fiancée Claire.
KILPATRICKFormer 23506515 Corporal Joseph (‘Joe’) Kilpatrick, of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on the morning of May 30th 2015. Joe was a member of 631 Squad and served initially with London District Provost Company before seeing Active Service in 1958-60, with 51 Brigade Provost Company, which was headquartered in Famagusta, Cyprus during the Emergency. He was a very respected and generous member of the RMP Cyprus Veterans’ Group. His funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church, Enniskillen, on June 2nd.
McALLISTERFormer 23542384 Staff-Sergeant Edward Robert "Ted" McAllister passed away on May 12th 2015, after a long illness. He was 77 and became a Life Member (24488) of the RMPA, in September 1978. Joining the RMP as a National Serviceman in November 1955, he was posted to 16 (Independent) Parachute Brigade Provost Company and qualifying as a parachutist. Following completion of his National Service he joined 44 Parachute Brigade Provost Company (Territorial Army) at Shepherd's Bush and served with there until 1967. After a short spell with the Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC) Pool (TAVR) and Royal Army Ordnance Corps (Volunteers) (RAOC(V)), he joined 1 Port Task Force Provost Company (V) based at Central Volunteer Headquarters (CVHQ) and served there with the Company, later re-designated as 164 Pro Coy (V), until 1982, leaving as the CQMS andhaving completed 27 years 264 days, ‘he was very particular about the 264 days’, proudly sporting the Territorial Efficiency Medal and two bars. He subsequently joined the Parachute Regiment Home Service Force in 1985-1987. He also served simultaneously as a Special Constable with the City of London Police and was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. Extremely proud to have served in the Corps, Ted was devoted to its history and for many years he exhibited his extensive collection of Corps related uniforms and insignia at RMPA functions and Corps weekends and the RMP Museum has a number of the uniforms which were purchased through Lieutenant-Colonel ‘Dick’ Barton many years ago. He is survived by his wife Marion, sons Robert and Paul and four grandchildren.
NUNNFormer22425178 Corporal John Henry Nunn passed away aged 83 at home on April 30th 2015, following an illness. Records show that he served initially with the 8thRoyal Tank Regiment at Catterick before being transferred to the Life Guards and then again to the ‘Corps’ where he served with 160 Provost Companythen based at Bulford. Following his National Service, John became a member of Bristol City Police, retiring after 20 years’ service in 1972, in the rank of Inspector.
SHAWFormer 24135040Staff-Sergeant Brian (‘Geordie’) ShawBrian passed away this on June 1st after a brief illness. A Career-Soldierof 22 Years’ Service, Geordie, as he was known universally, enlisted in 1966 and saw service in Cyprus on a United Nations’ tour with the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and then in Northern Ireland and Malaysia with the newly named 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry that had absorbed the DLI in the great rash of regimental amalgamations in 1968-69. He transferred to the RMP in 1972 and saw service subsequently with 156 Pro Coy in Colchester, 175 Pro Coy in Belfast, 101 Pro Coy Düsseldorf, 111 Pro Coy in Hohne, 176 Pro Coy in Londonderry, 247 Pro Coy in Berlin and finally back with 101 Pro Coy in Düsseldorf. He leaves a widow Maureen, his children: Karen, Kay, Angela, Julie and John and seven grandchildren.
STEELEFormer 14403299 Staff-Sergeant (CQMS)The Reverend Charles Edward Ernest SteeleReverend Charles Edward Ernest Steele died on March 16thh 2015, aged 90. Charles enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in 1942, but he transferred to the Corps of Military Police (CMP) in March 1944, and was posted to 110 Provost Company supporting 8thCorps and saw service in Normandy, landing on D-Day and then fightingthroughout North-west Europe. In April 1945, he returned to the CMP Depot at Mytchett for re-kitting and was then posted in May of the same year to the reconstituted 28thIndian Division until May 1946, thence onto the 5thIndian Division until February 1947 from there he went to Secunderabad inTelangana Province, India, prior to his de-mobilisation in 1947. He then joined the Birmingham Fire Brigade, serving for 22-years, before taking Holy Orders and being ordained within the Church of England. He was parish priest in Minworth, Sutton Coldfield and Washwood Heath, Birmingham until his eventual retirement he was also the Birmingham (Central) Branch Chaplain. He leaves a widow Joan, a son and daughter and a number of grandchildren.
STRANGWARDFormer 21037094 Lance-Corporal Albert Thomas (‘Taffy’) Strangwardpassed away peacefully at The Royal Perth Hospital on March 1st2015 after a long illness. Taffy enlisted with the RMP in 1947 and after training at Woking and Aldershot was posted to 227 Provost Company in Trieste where he served until his discharge in 1950. Taffy then saw many years of service in his civilian police career firstly with the Birmingham City Police from 1950 to 1954, and on emigrating to Australia, in the Western Australia Police Force from 1954 to 1987. He was a founding member of Western Australia branch. Whilst health issues in past years had often prevented Taffy from attending meetings, he maintained his interest in branch activities and supported our fundraising efforts for UK ex-service and Australasia-based community charitable causes. He is survived by his son David and daughter Bronwyn.
THURSTONEdward 'Ted' James Thurston died aged 90, on March 27th 2015, and was buried at the Holy Redeemer Church, Highcliffe, Dorset on St George’s Day. Ted joined the Army in 1943, serving with the Middlesex Regiment, the Highland Light Infantry, the Royal Engineers and the Corps of Military Police. He landed on JUNOBeach shortly after D-Day and was part of the Unit that liberated the town of Cheux in the Basse-Normandie region. Ted was the holder of the Legion D'Honneur and a founding member of Dorset Branch. His funeral was attended by many members of the Normandy Veterans’ Association and of Dorset and Salisbury Branches RMPA, together with the Mayor of Cheuxand a small entourage from France, who brought a small wreath of wild flowers picked from the fields around their town.
WHITWORTHFormer 23752685 Lance-Corporal Roy Whitworth who was born on May 9th1938, joined the Army in Nairobi on June 30th1960, where his family had settled when Roy was a baby. So determined was he to join the Army that he walked by himself for many miles through the deserts and forests in order to sign-up and opted for the RMP and after training, he went on to serve for 6 years including Active Service in Borneo. He finally left the Army voluntarily in 1966,having met his wife and wanted to give all his time and attention to his family and settle down rather than have the nomadic life of a soldier, albeit he remained working for the Ministry of Defencein a civil capacity. Roy was a good honest, loving, caring and most devoted Husband, Father and Grandfather of whom a bad word was never spoken and he will be missed greatly by all his family and all that knew him as he touched so many people with his kindness, generosity and love.
OBITUARIES
Former Lance-Corporal John Knapp-Fisher
By Mr G A Woodall Secretary, Mounted Branch RMPA
L – R: LCpls Peter Morris, Les Bettinson & John Knapp-Fisher
at the RMP Mounted Section Stable Lines, Searchlight Military Tattoo,
White City, London, 1954.
John died in Withybush Hospital, Haverford West, Pembrokeshire, on February 21st 2015. Called up in 1953, John reported to the Royal Engineer’s Training Depot, at Norton Camp, Worcestershire, following in the footsteps of his father (a Major) who had served with the ‘Sappers’ during the Second World War. Becoming an Acting Lance-Corporal almost immediately, it was during an interview with his Career’s Officer, that he saw a poster displaying the RMP Mounted Section and as a result he requested transfer to the RMP. To his surprise his application was accepted and he was soon undertaking 6-weeks of Military Police training at Inkerman Barracks before reporting to 158 Provost Company’s Mounted Section at Aldershot. John enjoyed greatly his time with the Mounted Section, particularly when taking part in public duties at the Search Light Military Tattoo at White City, London in 1954, and the Military Mounted Police centennial celebrations and parade in 1955. Demobbed in June of that year, his replacement with the Mounted Section was one LCpl George Woodall and John and he were destined to become firm friends later in life. In 1950, before being called-up, John had followed a passion for art by attending Maidstone College of Art and later became a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art. His art is sought after by many who admire the touch he applied to his paintings of his beloved Wales, particularly Pembrokeshire with its bleak tones and shadows cast across the many houses, boats, ships, people and fields. John wrote a book entitled ‘John Knapp-Fisher’s Pembrokeshire’,which describes his love of that part of Wales and what it was like as an artist working and living thereand illustrates his 91 works of art. In a second book entitled“John Knapp-Fisher My life - all the little things.” John opens the door from his earliest childhood memories through to all the many things in life that he aspired to and attained, his love of the sea and, the great challenge in his single-handedly built seventeen foot half-decked fishing boat called “Viking”. Through his many exhibitions of art throughout the UK and South Africa, John led an active life befriending many andpoets, artists, family and friends bade their farewell at his funeral and readings of “A Pembrokeshire Artist” dedicated to John by Tony Curtis and “John Knapp-Fisher” by Bill Payne, which describe John’s full life and the sense of loss in those he leaves behindwere read asa tribute. He leaves his partner Gillian, a son Buzz and a daughter Lucy and very many friends.