Lesley Allen, Ist Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment, 1930 – 2023
Lesley Allen, ex-C Company 1 Glosters, died peacefully at home on the 19th of July aged 93. Born in Hampshire, in 1930, he signed up in 1947, and served with the Royal Hampshires, the Dorsets and the Wiltshires, before volunteering for the Glosters to fight in Korea. In later life, he recounted his experiences for Operation Portrait, which is a record of the last survivors of the battle. Lesley will feature in a book - ‘The Final Roll Call’ - to be published this autumn.
Recalling the battle of the Imjin River, he described the shock of becoming aware of thousands of Chinese advancing from the valley below - like an army of ants. In wave after wave, they attacked - mostly in the dark - with bugles sounding all night long. When it got tough, someone said, “We are British Bulldogs, and we don’t give up”.
When the order came, he tried to break out but didn’t stand a chance. Initially, he believed that he was about to be summarily shot, but some of his chums joined him and the moment passed. He then became a POW for over two years and was kept in terrible conditions. Once more, the Glosters stuck together and helped each other through their harsh ordeal.
On his release in 1953, he returned to the UK and tried to sign on for a full career. Despite everything that he had been through he still loved army life – “we were all in it together” was the way he described it. However, he was persuaded not to apply and, instead, settled back in Hampshire in Southampton. There he lived for the rest of his life, married, and fathered 7 children. He is survived by over 80 direct descendants. There now remain just 8 survivors from the battle.
Plans for the funeral are currently yet to be agreed. Condolences to the family should be sent to Lesley’s daughter, Sabrina, at:
Picture of Leslie taken earlier in the year at the Scattering of Sam Mercer's Ashes @ Imjin Barracks
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No commentsNo More Parades. It is my sad duty to inform the passing of Ex Regimental Padre the Reverend Brian Sherrington on Sunday, 5 June 2023, we were notified by The Reverend Dr David Hart, Secretary, Royal Army Chaplains Department Association. Brian was born on 6 June 1937 and joined the Chaplin's Department in September 1972. He served initially in BAOR with 4 Fd Rent RA at Munsterlarger. In March 1973, Brian was posted to 1 GLOSTERS whom he joined on an emergency tour in Northern Ireland, accompanying them to the UK and then on a six-month unaccompanied tour in Belize in August 75.
In June 1976, Brian was posted to the REME training centre at Aborfield. He was promoted to CF3 in September 1978, and in August 1979, was posted to 26 Fd Regt RA at Dortmund. This was followed by a posting to the Army Apprentices College at Chepstow in September 1981 before being appointed the Deputy Warden at Bagshot Park in January 1986. He was promoted to CF2 in April 1987 and retired from the Department in November 1988. Details of Brian's funeral will be circulated when they are available.
George Eric Musgrave.
Obituary
Ray Chivers
Michael Davey
Michael Davey aged 86. He served with the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment during his national service from September 1955 until October 1957. He was posted to the Middle East in Aden and Cyprus. When he left the regiment he joined TWW in Bristol, which later became HTV, as a film and television sound engineer and retired after 40 years. He held very fond memories of his time as a Gloster and quite naturally when I decided on a short service commission there was no question that I would not wear the same Back Badge with as much pride as he.
