Major Gilly Banthorpe, former PMC Officers' Mess, Norfolk ACF
died on Wed 19 October 2000 aged 82

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Maj William Gilbert Banthorpe, aged 82 on 19 Oct 2000. Gilly, as he was universally known, was a remarkable man, serving continuously in uniform for 57 years from his joining the TA in 1939 until his retirement as PMC Norfolk Army Cadets in 1996.
Born on 15 Jan 1918 he joined the 4th Bn TA in Mar 1939 and trained on Mortars. Gilly was called up in Sep 1939 and reported on his motor cycle. The motor cycle was requisitioned (for some small recompense) and he never saw it again. Gilly spent the war years mainly at Britannia Barracks as a Weapons Training Instructor with No 2 ITC.
He and the late 'Dot' Tunaley were instructors to the first intake and taught them to ride bicycles and to use a pickaxe by numbers. Some lads were not too hot on differentiating between left and right but Gilbert had the solution. A wisp of hay was tied to one boot and a piece of straw to the other. 'I will now teach you how to salute to the straw.'
In the evenings Major Hubert Holden MC would say: 'Let's go for a walk.' A shotgun would be produced and Major Holden always let Gilly have the first two shots.
B&C 86 Jun 96 quoted from the Aug 1946 Britannia No 28: No 2 Infantry Training Centre at Britannia Barracks reported that a few old sweats were soldiering on: WO2 Gilly Banthorpe was still in the CSM's chair at HQ Coy. On Sport 'We feel we must mention the severe casualties suffered by the rabbits at a certain place called Stanford Battle Area. For further details ask Major Hubert Holden, Lt EE `Mucky' Mayes (the WTO), any member of the Weapon Training Staff or certain unscrupulous persons in No 2 Coy, No 2 ITC.'

Gilly was extraordinarily accurate in re-telling his stories and they never varied but the report above omits the pheasants hidden under the rabbits!
He was on a pre-war Mortar course with 4 R Norfolk Officer Capt William Gaymer. Gilly ran short of cash and was loaned £1 by William, quite against the rules! For many months Gilly hid whenever William appeared, not having the liquidity to refund the loan. One day Gilly could not escape their meeting and William summoned: 'Banthorpe - a word!'
Gilly quickly said: 'If it's about that £1 Sir ...'
'No. Never mind about that. It was a gift.'
Thereafter, Gilly could not speak more highly of William!
Lt Col George Winter commanded No 9 PTC at The Barracks in 1947 and Gilly recalled: 'If his Routine Orders mentioned litter we knew he would be on the warpath. Lt Col George H Winter would go round the barracks and if he found a fag packet under a bush he would date and initial it then hide it again. Then in the morning you, as Company Sergeant Major, would accompany him, again checking for litter. Of course, he knew where he had hidden the empty packet of Woodbines and if it was still there you got a right roasting!' The late Maj Sam Hornor added to the tale: 'Anyone subsequently coming across litter just added their own initials and put it back.' History does not relate exactly how this little game ended!
Gilly was always fascinated by the fire pumps at Britannia Barracks and often managed to extend the Fire Practice to half an hour. With the crew, he was always amazed at how much fuel they used!
The stocks of rabbit, pheasant, woodcock and partridge on the Stanford Battle Area were so plentiful and petrol, despite rationing, so easily obtained for the Camp vehicle, Gilly avoided being demobilised until 1951, the first of his three extensions, Regular, TA and ACF.
In 1946 Gilly was promoted WO2 and posted to The Essex Regt in Colchester with the late Lt EE `Mucky' Mayes. In 1951 he returned to his pre-war employment with the Gas Board, re-joined the 4th Bn TA as a CSgt and had more success with shooting. Gilly was always a man quick of the mark. The Coy returned to Thorpe Station and Capt William Gaymer summoned Gilbert. 'Banthorpe - I am going to march with the Coy back to the drill hall. Take my car will you.' Gilbert not only had time to drop off his kit at home but have a haircut before the Captain arrived on foot.
When HM King George VI died at Sandringham in Feb 1952, 4 Royal Norfolk provided a Guard of Honour at Wolferton Station. The black draped King's Colour of the Bn was carried by Lt (later Col) Paul Raywood and SNCOs on parade included Fred Ayers (later Maj), Alex Barr and Gilly.
By 1955 Gilly was CSM Support Coy with CO Lt Col Mike Braithwaite, Adjt Maj Brian E Dillon MBE, RQMS Fred Ayers, OC B Maj ET Cary-Elwes TD, OC C Maj John H Howard, OC D Maj Cyril B Grant MC, OC HQ Maj Sam Hornor and CSM HQ Coy Alex Barr. (Postscript Oct 08: Only Alex Barr survives.)
At Bromeswell Range in 1957 at the Brigade Rifle Meeting the 4th Bn team won the LMG pairs cup; Gilly again a master at shooting with Percy Hewitt and Alex Barr.
In 1959 Lt Col Dick Flower commanded 4 R Norfolk, OC Sp Coy was Maj Paul Raywood and CSM Support Coy was Gilly. He was also the Weapon Training Warrant Officer and in 1960 Gilly had the pleasure of seeing son Gerry Banthorpe win the Individual Young Soldiers' Competition in the 161 Bde Rifle Meeting. Gilly did credit to himself by coming 3rd in the LMG shoot.
At the Presentation of New Colours in 1963 by HRH The Princess Margaret, Gilly, with CSgt J Watson, was Escort to the Old Colours, carried by Lt Pat Darley and 2Lt PJ Clarke.
After an extension of service (No 2) with the TA he transferred to the ACF after the cutback in 1968 and became a Coy Commander.
At the age of 65, ACF retirement age caught up with him in 1983. But the County Executive Officer, Maj Tim Chatting, indicated that ACF Regulations permitted the holding of a PMC, unpaid, provided he was of Field rank. And so Extension No 3 came to pass.
Gilly performed his last official duty as PMC at ACF Annual Camp at Cwrt-Y-Gollen, Crickhowell in Aug 1996 when he retired again after 57 years in uniform at the age of 78, handing over to Capt Roy Ames. There were no more extensions!
In retirement from the Gas Board, Gilly was instrumental in the setting up of the Gas Museum at Fakenham and this stands as a memorial and testament to his tenacity, enthusiasm and sheer hard work. He was also a familiar face in a white coat in his other capacity as a caterer at Norfolk Regimental Dinners and Reunions.
A founder member and for many years our Welfare and Entertainments Officer, Gilly was a regular attender at Norwich and District Branch Meetings of the Royal Norfolk and Royal Anglian Regimental Association and wrote the piece for the B&C. He missed, through illness, for the first time ever, the Regimental Association Dinner in Sep 2000.
There was standing room only at his funeral service at St Faith's Crematorium on Thu 26 Oct, conducted by Revd Jonathan Boston, Senior Padre to Norfolk ACF. A Guard of Honour was composed of Norwich Branch members. The Norwich and District Branch Standard of the Royal Norfolk and Royal Anglian Regimental Association, black draped and carried by Paul Boxall, attended the coffin, on which rested Gilly's No 1 hat bearing a Royal Norfolk cap badge. Gilly's son Gerry paid tribute to his father 'Jack The Lad' as a young man and 'Jack The Lad' in his later years when his grand-children took him out. The Last Post was sounded for Gilly by Edmund Bacon. Many of those listed above were in attendance, including, from Norfolk ACF, County Comdt Col Mike Mizen, Trg Offr Maj John Doughty, OC CNE Bty Maj Chris Wilkinson, Capt Sue Pratt MBE, Maj John L Raybould TD and Ben Turner.
Gilly touched and influenced for good the lives of countless people who are richer for knowing him.
He had a fund of stories, thankfully recorded. A true son of the Regiment. We will miss him.
His wife Dot pre-deceased him and he is survived by his son Gerald, 2 granddaughters, 2 great grandsons (one named William after him) and one great granddaughter.

In Nov 1996 Gilly was to be 'Dined Out' from Norfolk ACF. The Webmaster was not then officially 'on the books' of Norfolk ACF but it is often crucial to be able to say 'I was there' and the occasion of Gilly's dining out was not to be missed. So the Webmaster took the liberty of inviting himself to that splendid evening in November. Sadly, Gilly was taken ill during the dinner and admitted to hospital, missing a tribute in the form of a speech from Lt Col Mike Mizen and the presentation of gifts arising from a collection at Crickhowell Camp that summer. Later, as Issue 88 of the Britannia and Castle, Jun 97, recalls: 'In hospital the Norfolk Editor was on his fifth page of notes on Gilly's reminiscences when Gilly asked the nurse for a drink. 'You haven’t got time to drink Mr Banthorpe - you don’t stop talking!'
One of the tales was about Grass Cutting. 'It was 1947 and Col George H Winter commanded No 9 PTC. Gilly was in the Coy Office with clerk LCpl Watling, when Col Winter arrived. 'Stool!' he ordered. An ammunition box was produced for inspection of the lampshade. 'This is 1940 flys*** - the place is filthy.' LCpl Watling was ordered at noon to cut the small patch of grass outside the office with a knife by the evening. His family ran Wells taxis so the resourceful LCpl ordered a taxi, went home, collected a lawnmower and in 3 pushes had cut the grass!'

The Obituary above also appeared in the Dec 2000 'Britannia and Castle', the Jan 2001 'Army Cadet' and the 'Castle', the Journal of The Royal Anglian Regiment.