Issue 97 Dec 2001
Norfolk Section
The Britannia and Castle		      
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Anthony Love on Perrin Boulton and Gillingham Hall   Capt Freddy Herring   Maj David Reed Nobbled   Maj David Clarke on Norfolk Graves in Chittagong   Maj David Clarke on Tony Ooi   Maj David Clarke on Far East War Cemeteries   Plied   'Sir, Sir, Sir!'   The Tunmore Family   Tony Ooi

TONY OOI
Tony Ooi served with 1 RANGLIAN 1962-66 and now lives in Canada. Contact the Norfolk Section Editor for his new e-mail address.

DAVID CLARKE
Maj David Clarke: I am now living and working in Thailand. My work takes me to Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh and many other parts of this region.
In B&C 96 Jun 01, Tony Ooi was mentioned. I first met Tony as he left Bury St Edmunds to join C Coy (commanded by myself) in Felixstowe in 1963/64. He served with the Singapore Police Force before hitch hiking to England and joined the army at the same time as Pte Chong from British Guiana. 1 Royal Anglian, commanded by Lt Col Jack Dye (later Maj Gen) had a busy year in 1964. We fielded the Presentation of Colours by Princess Margaret at Felixstowe before flying out to Aden to perform the duties of garrison battalion. Immediately on arrival our role changed as we were the first unit involved in the operations to suppress the uprising in the Radfan mountains. Maj Bill Deller commanded A Company 1 Royal Anglian in Aden and during the Radfan operations. I’m happy to report that C Company performed wonderfully in the Radfan and I was naturally very proud to command."

NORFOLK GRAVES IN CHITTAGONG
Maj David Clarke visited Chittagong, a port city in the south of Bangladesh.: ‘The War Cemetery is relatively small; about 350 graves kept in immaculate condition and lovingly attended by a team of 50 gardeners. They take enormous pride in their work and made me very welcome. It is green and peaceful with flowering plants beside every grave.
Among the graves are 2 of Norfolk men: Capt Gulogan, Royal Norfolk attached 6 Bn Gurkha Rifles, from Kingston, died 19 Feb 1945 and LAC William Golden, RAF, from Northrepps, died 15 Jun 1944. I know their relatives would be pleased to know their kinsmen lie in such a serene and beautiful place.

WAR CEMETERIES IN THE FAR EAST
Maj David Clarke added: As I get around this area I pay particular attention to visiting the War cemeteries. If anyone would like me to look out for any particular grave or memorial (particularly Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire Regts) in Burma, Thailand or indeed in any other country simply drop me a note via the Norfolk Section Editor and I shall be delighted to see what I can do No promises because the area is enormous but we can certainly give it a go.'

PERRIN BOULTON AND GILLINGHAM HALL
B&C 95 Dec 00 p N20 and 96 Jun 01 carried an appeal from Anthony N Love.
Anthony sought information about his uncle, Perrin Bolton, who was in India in 1945 with 2 King`s Own Royal Regt and may have served in Burma with The Royal Norfolks.
B&C 96 Jun 01 had some of Anthony‘s childhood reminiscences of Gillingham Hall.
He wrote: "Thank you very much for the continued up dates, they are very much appreciated. Some of the Norfolk village photos on a page at www.pipemajor.freeserve.co.uk brought back happy memories of Norfolk, especially the bell ringers. We used to ring bells at Aldeby Church, many years ago. My dad patiently tried to initiate me into the art of campanology but at least we only had to cross the road to the pub afterwards. The pub's claim to fame was that it was in the back room where the Home Guard used to meet that the only bullet ever fired by this enthusiastic band of men occurred. One of the volunteers evidently failed to clear the breech of his rifle and accidentally discharged the only live round they had!
Speaking of the church brings me to one of the two points I wished to raise with you; as you obviously have close links with the Cathedral.
I wonder if you have any video or photographic material of the Maundy Ceremony held in Norwich Cathedral in 1996. My reason for asking is that Dad was presented with Maundy money that year and I was unable to return to Norfolk for the ceremony and shortly after my Mother died and Dad followed the next year. (Click here for an answer.)
Second point is that I have finally received medals due to my uncle, Pte Perrin Bolton, and have uncovered one or two 1945 photos of him and others especially the 2nd Battalion Kings Own Royal Regt taken in India. If these are of any interest to you or your organisation copies can be made. Do you know where I could find out more about The Kings Own Royal Regt? (Click here for an answer.)
Finally, looking at the photographs of your 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 reminded me of the time I acted as local organiser for the Armed Forces Driving Championship several years ago. It consisted of navigational, speed trial and regularity tests around the infamous Epynt Mountain Ranges and again I have a few photos of Land Rovers in rather less than pristine shape. They were taken funnily enough by a young man who went on to become an air to air photographer in the RAF serving for a while I believe with the Red Arrows when they were at Scampton.
It would have been nice to have seen the Healey enter our Classic Rally that used to be run here for novices with handicap calculated by a formulae involving drivers age and the age of the car. It was a very much enjoyed event but unfortunately it has now been shanghaied by the Historic Endurance Rally Organisation as a training ground for Classic Monte Carlo Challenge novices to cut their teeth on.
Although I am still involved in part of the organisation of the event, HERO will not approve our using the Army Ranges over Epynt. They claim it is too dangerous!!"
One of Anthony’s questions is easy to answer, one not!
1. The Kings Own Royal Regt - Yes, try: http://regiments.org/milhist/uk/inf/004KORR.htm
2. 1996 Maundy Ceremony - Can a B&C reader help Anthony with this Maundy Ceremony query? The EDP site at www.ecn.co.uk may help.

CAPT FREDDY HERRING
Capt Freddy Herring delivered a masterful address at the funeral of the late Maj Mike Gunton. Click here for the text.
He wrote to say he has recently had a reunion with several members of his 6 Pl and some others from Korea 1951/52.
He has a few pictures of them and we look forward to seeing them on these pages and on the website.
FOGGY OKEHAMPTON 1973
Maj David Reed TD VRSM, former OC D Cambridgeshire Coy, 6 RANGLIAN (very much retired, he says), recalls:
Back in September 1973 when 6 Royal Anglian were sampling the delights of a misty September Camp at Okehampton, I remember an episode which happened on the evening of our Regimental Guest Night.
On this occasion, 2Lt Reed (me) had been shafted for Orderly Officer and D Coy were on guard. I was exceptionally hacked off as this was my first camp with the Bn and it did not take long to realise that the powers-that-be were trying to do everything in their power to ensure D Coy did not win the Gaza Cup (March and Shoot Competition). Even the most cynical were subsequently convinced when D Coy were found to be on guard the night before the competition for 5 years out of seven!
Anyway, The Late Adjt Capt Harry Woods, gleefully gave me the time that I was to call out the guard, namely 0100 hrs.
As the time approached, the party in the mess was in full swing and I was in no mood to journey down the hill to the guard room as it was very foggy and I doubted as to whether I could find it anyway judging by the state I was in. Some senior officer remarked (jokingly, I hoped), that I should change into my No 2 Dress to do the inspection.
At 0058 hrs I had an inspiration and lurched out into the foggy gloom. I eventually found my car and drove slowly down the hill towards the faint and hazy lights which I assumed to be coming from the Guard Room. I drew to a standstill and there silhouetted in the doorway was Cpl Christie of D Coy. I wound the window down and called him over, informing him that I had come to inspect the guard and would he be so kind as to march them slowly past the window so that I could inspect them. After a snappy salute, I was treated to real parade-ground slow march past and then having thanked Cpl Christie I slowly drove back to the mess.
In the morning, my report included the usual:
‘I called out the guard at 0100 hrs. There were no prisoners in the guard room …’
Funnily enough, there were no questions asked.
We won the Gaza Cup and my glass pint tankard has also stood the test of time and still sits on my cupboard.’
Click here for more reminiscences by David.
PLIED
How odd David. That same night in 1973, this Webmaster, then a mere Officer Cadet, was plied with copious drinks from OC D Coy, one Maj Dick Shervington (later Col Dick Shervington TD DL). I was leading one of the A Coy Teams and he, it seemed, was intent on scuttling A Coy’s chances in the Gaza Cup. This was to no avail as my team won the ‘Fastest Time’ prize.
The glass Royal Anglian ashtray prize sits near me as I type this!
Glad to hear that you, David, still have your mug from winning the Gaza Cup at Okehampton in 1973. Had you realised I wandered out that night into the gloom to escape any more of Dick's generous tots, with camera of course, and snapped you on the way through the Dartmoor gloom to the Guard Room?
The photograph, right, only shows the fog and your headlights!

Click photograph to enlarge

SIR, SIR, SIR!
At Okehampton, a few days after the Webmaster had been issued with new DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) uniform, he was smartly (for an Officer Cadet) marching up the hill from the A (Royal Norfolk) Coy Offices one afternoon for tea in the Mess.
A persistent voice behind kept calling: 'Sir, Sir, Sir!!'
Eventually I paused, turned and enquired the nature of this need to interrupt my drill.
'Your pocket is on fire, Sir!'
It was glowing and behind me was a pall of smoke, caused by my placing a lit pipe in my brand new DPM jacket.
Thereafter, I always knew my jacket from the khaki patch on the pocket!
And see Norfolk Editor - Fire!

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 B&C Norfolk Editor