The old guard passes : July - September 2021

We mark the passing of those who have served this country. Contributions from colleagues and familes welcome. email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last wartime 617 Sqn (Dambusters) dies aged 100. See 'Benny' Goodman below

Last Force Benedict pilot defending Murmansk dies aged 101. See Eric Carter below

Last of Battle of the River Plate dies aged 101. See Basil Trott below

BARBER Frank Barber RAF pilot died 29 July 2012 aged 98

BARKER Col John Anthony (Tony) Baker died 28 August 2021 Royal Signals

BRIGGS Brig Bernard Reginald Biggs died 14 August 2021 aged 93 RAOC

BROWN Aire Cdre Ronald Frank Brown died 18 July 2921 aged 95 RAF medical branch

CAMPBELL Col Hon Alastair James Calthrop died 24th August 2012 aged 69. QOH

CARTER WO Eric John Carter 12 February 1920 - 26 July 2021 Arctic Star. Pilot 615 Sqn Huricanes, Defiants over Irish Sea, Liverpool Deployed in Force Benedict 81 Sqn 151 Wing to defend Murmansk in 1941 Stationed at Vaenga. Escorted Russian bombers, trained Russian pilots to fly Hurricanes LaterSpitfires, Burma

COLMAN (Sir) Tomothy Colman KG 19 September 1929 - 9 September 2021 Royal Navy officer Dartmouth 1942 - !953 inc off Palestine

COOPER Rear Adm John Spencer Cooper OBE died 5 September 2021 aged 88

COWDRY Brig Denzil Cowdry BA, RAOC died 9 August 2021

DINNIE Captain Ramsay Dinnie RNR, RD died 19 September 2021 aged 93

DREYER Captain Jeremy Dreyer RN LVO died 11 July 2021

EVANS Major Russell Wilmoit Evans MC 4 November 1922 - 21 July 2021 Durham Light Infantry Eguspt, Italy. Nuremberg War Trials

FENTON Cdr Paul Fenton died 11 August 2021 aged 101

FRAIN-BELL Lt Dr Lockhart Frain-Bell RAMC 1921 - 2021 aged 99 Treated D-Day casualties at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Assigned to 82nd West Afria Division Burma

GIBSON Bombadier Leonard Gibson BEM 3 January 1920 - 31 July 2021 125th Anti Tank Regt Royal Artillery. Captured at Singapore. Burma railway

GOODMAN Sqn Ldr Lawrence 'Benny' Goodman 1921-2021 RAFVR Battle of Britain as ground gunner Flying instructor in Canada then 617 Sqn pilot 30 missions despite no previous combat experience oil refineries, E Boat and U Boat pens, Tirpitz.. Rejoined RAF post war Middle East troop transport, Korean war evacuations. 80 Sqn RAF Germany until 1964 flew 3,500 hrs, 22 aircraft types Chevalier Legion d'Honneur

GROGAN Major Hume Meredyth Ellis Grogan MBE 28 October 1931 - 17 July 2021 Irish Guards BAOR, Aden

HARDING Marshal of the RAF Sir Peter Robin Harding 2 December 1933 - 19 August 2021 Pilot light bombers, air defence, recce, helicopters - over 100 aircraft types inc Mig-29. 18 Sqn. C/O RAF Bruggen AOC 11 Group RAF combat ops Gulf War VCAS VCDS CDS

HODGSON  Major Ian Frederick Beresford Hodgson died 14 September 2021 RTR

HYND Robert Stewart Hynd died 22 July 2021 aged 86 Army chaplain

MANTELL Col Vlove Mantell MBR Green Howards died 21 July 2021 aged 71

MASON Rev John Evans Mason RN died 1 July 2021 Fleet Air Arm pilot Boy seaman HMS Ganges 804 Sqn Suez also Navy diver later RN chaplain

MERCER Capt Andrew David Sinclair Mercer died 27 August 2021 aged 56

NORMAN-WALKER Capt Timothy John Norman-Walker RN died 9 July 2021 aged 80

PAXTON Wg Cdr John Lauderdale Paxton died 20 July 2021 aged 90

PHELP Lt CDr Michael Awbery Phelp died 26 July 2021 aged 91

STRUDWICK Maj Gen Mark Jeremy Strudwick CBE died 26 September 221 aged 76

TROTT Lt Basil Trott 22 December 1919 - 12 July 2021 Last survivor of Battle of River Plate (gunlayer HMS Exeter) HMS Kenya Atlantic and Arctic convoys. HMS Wallace UK west coast. HMS Comus Korean War. HMS Excellent, gunnery officer HMS Whitby

WARD Surgeon Lt Dr Martyn Ward died August 2021 aged 66. 45 Commando Falklands Ajax Bay Red and Green Life Machine