Obituaries

Lt (Hon Capt) Gordon Smith Grossart

Gordon Smith Grossart was born in 1923 in a Glasgow tenement. He won a scholarship to Allan Glen’s Private School where he won the engineering prize which inspired him, aged 16, to go to Glasgow University. In just two and a half years he gained a BSc in Electrical Engineering, graduating in 1943 aged 18. At University he joined the Senior Training Corps and he became part of the Royal Engineer Company; at the end of his service in the STC Gordon qualified for two certificates, A & B, which meant when he was called up, he was classed as a Potential Officer. He also undertook fire-watching duties (in case of enemy invasion) as a member of The Home Guard.

Upon graduating, Gordon presented himself for Primary Training at Brancepeth in County Durham, with the Durham Light Infantry. In July he was dispatched to Wrotham in Kent where he was taught to drive in Bedford 15cwt trucks. He did not have to take a civil driving test after this and was still driving up until the beginning of 2020 having never had any reportable accidents in all of that time.

Gordon’s training continued with a general engineering course at Loughborough and then at Foremark Hall near Repton in Derbyshire to start training to be an officer on the 47th Course at the Officer Cadet Training Unit for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. REME had only been formed the previous year from elements of the Ordnance Corps, the Service Corps and the Royal Engineers to bring together all the mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines. The course included a lot of ‘square bashing’, but Gordon also learned about Army organisation, map reading, field exercises, and instructing.

Gordon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 12 November 1943; his training continued at Loughborough College and in April 1944, at 8 Central Workshop REME at Chilwell, near Nottingham to learn about motor transport and tracked vehicles. Towards the end of May 1944 everything was gearing up for D-Day and Gordon found himself in Cambridgeshire where he ran a small workshop, a Light Aid Detachment, which was situated on the Letchworth bypass. There they had scores of Bren Carriers lined up on the verges on both sides of the road waiting to be driven to Tilbury Docks for shipping across the Channel after the engines had been waterproofed to protect them when they landed on the beaches.

In July, Gordon went to the Military College of Science to learn about Anti-Aircraft Guns and Equipment on the 39th AA EME’s course, which included lectures on the theory behind various pieces of fire control equipment, from searchlights and sound locators to the new predictors - these were really the forerunner of computers, which in conjunction with rangefinders, or later with Radar, enabled the guns to track enemy aircraft.

After that he went to a vehicle training unit based in Mitcham, South London and the final part of Gordon’s training took place at the REME Depot at Arborfield in Berkshire. Here he spent six weeks learning how to organise and administer a workshop, coordination of the various trades, planning and provision of stores etc. He was now fully trained to take over the maintenance of anti-aircraft equipment operated by the Royal Artillery in the field.

Gordon’s first posting was to 10 Anti-Aircraft Regt Workshop based in Doncaster which he joined immediately after Christmas 1944. After a couple of days he went to join a Light Aid Detachment at Louth in Lincolnshire, a top priority job to assist the Royal Artillery of AA Command to install 12 new gun sites, one every mile along the coast in order to defend Manchester from attack by buzz bombs. Each site had to have four 3.7in AA guns installed together with their associated Fire Control Equipment. Fortunately for Gordon there were no buzz bombs during the three months it took to complete the full installation.

After two weeks home leave, Gordon travelled to Nottingham where his embarkation draft was being assembled. He was issued with khaki drill uniforms there ready for service in a warmer climate. He had no official word about where he was going but inspired guessing led him to buy an Italian dictionary, which he studied on the ship on the way. On Monday 26 March 1945 he left for Nottingham Waterloo Road Station in full service marching order, ie. carrying nearly everything in backpacks, plus respirators, water bottles, and small arms. As an Officer he was allowed, in addition, a trunk with his dress uniforms and other clothes, as well as a camp kit consisting of a bed roll, a safari bed, blankets, washstand and canvas basin and bucket. He still had most of this equipment in his attic until he donated all his camp kit, alongside all his technical literature, to the REME Museum before he died.

On 10 April 1945, Gordon’s ship sailed into Naples Bay and he undertook censoring mail from the troops, practicing firing his revolver and visiting Pompeii! He was promoted to Captain in November 1945 and for the next four years he was moved around Italy and Austria, repairing trucks and tanks from a variety of mobile workshops.

Gordon’s last posting in Italy came in March 1947 when he went to the Headquarters of CMF at Padova as a Staff Captain in the REME Directorate. He was to be responsible for workshop organisation, allotment of work and labour, provision of stores and equipment throughout the CMF. At this time, REME, which had had only a temporary cap badge since its formation in 1942, was given a new one, so the Colonel decided that it was the right time to hold a celebratory dinner (which Gordon had a hand in organising) to commemorate the ‘coming of age’ so to speak. It was held in the Danielli Hotel banqueting hall in Venice by St Mark’s Square; the hotel was one of two where Officers could stay when on leave - for the princely sum of one shilling (5p) per night!

Finally Gordon’s demob number came up and he was posted back to the UK in June 1947 for discharge from the Army. He travelled by train to Calais and then on to Woking where he was processed and had to hand in his kit and be fitted out with civilian clothes. He was allowed to keep some kit, like his camp kit and some battledress and boots, and, of course, some of his uniform was his anyway as Officers had to buy their own. The ‘civvies’ consisted of a suit, shirt and tie, an overcoat, shoes and a hat which did him quite well for several years. Technically he was then on 83 days leave on full pay and with a gratuity, which was about £80.

Having left the Army, Gordon successfully applied to join the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO) and was finally released from this obligation in 1965.

Gordon married Betty, a fellow member of a vocal group at his local church in Glasgow in 1952 and eventually settled in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, after securing a job with the Vacuum Group and then The Rutherford Laboratory at Harwell. He remained there until retiring in 1988.

Gordon was always thoroughly involved with the local church, where he undertook a large number of duties. He visited the REME Museum at Arborfield and also twice visited Lyneham where he was excited to see the displays and exhibits, especially when he and his grandson, Andrew, were given a personal guided tour by the REME Association Hub Manager, Stuart Cowen.

Gordon had lived alone since losing his wife in 1996, and coped admirably with everything, including cooking which he had rarely done before. He towed his caravan to Scotland on a number of occasions and was very at home with computers; the internet allowed him to keep in touch with his family and friends, do his shopping and research his family tree.

Gordon died five weeks short of his 97th birthday and leaves three daughters, six grandchildren and a great-grandson he was lucky enough to hold, despite the restrictions brought about by COVID19.

Brig (Retd) Tom Paine

Scribe: Major General Malcolm Wood CBE (late RLC)

Brigadier Tom Paine died on 15 December 2020, aged 66, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Always known as Tom, he was actually born Andrew Philip Paine in May 1954. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and it was suggested by fellow pupil Mike Oldnall’s (Colonel late REME) father, then a serving REME Major, that if Tom was interested in the Army and engineering he should join REME! Tom completed his Engineering Degree at Pembroke College, Cambridge and this was where I first met him. He was commissioned into REME in 1973 prior to

university, as a University Cadet – demonstrable proof that Tom was clever. Everyone who ever met Tom would agree that he was bright, but he was also blessed with bags of common sense and loads of practical skills, as evidenced in later years by various house restoration projects. Tom married Anne, who he had known since primary school days, in 1977 and their enduringly happy relationship had reached its forty-third wedding anniversary by 2020.

Tom spent much of his early career in Germany, serving with the Gunners and at Headquarters 1(BR) Corps. He arms plotted to Northern Ireland from there with 2 RTR and served his LAD tour in NI at the height of the troubles. After Staff College in 1986/87 and an appointment in the MOD, he was OC of 20 Electronic Workshop REME. Major Mike Reynolds REME was the MTO/Trg Offr at the unit, but employed his old ASM skills to help solve some reliability issues with the unit’s many 40 KVA generators. Within a couple of months though, Mike was poached by REME Branch 1(BR) Corps to help with planning for the first Gulf War in 1990/91. Realising there was a need for plenty of generators that could be relied upon in the desert, he in his own words, “nicked the lot”, from 20 Electronics, something which Tom never really forgave him for!

Mike went on to be Tom’s Adjutant when, following a short tour working on REME Officer planning, Tom was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and posted to command 101 Bn REME(V) with Companies in the North West, the Midlands and North Wales! Tom relished the role and thrived in it. This was at a time when REME was moving towards embracing a full ORBAT based on a Battalion structure, which today is taken for granted as being its key building block.

After Command, Tom worked at HQ Quartermaster General and continued to be based there following promotion to full Colonel in 1997. He was lead change manager in DGES (Land)’s area, working directly for Major General Peter Besgrove CBE, who knew Tom previously and says of him:

“Our paths crossed a few times in our careers. Whenever I heard Tom and I would be working together I could breathe a sigh of relief; that would be one flank very safely secured.”

At this time, Tom was heavily involved working with then Brigadier (later Lieutenant General) David Judd CB on the re-design of the Land Equipment Support area as it migrated to an Integrated Project Team (IPT) structure and adopted the principles of Smart Acquisition, whilst taking its place in the newly formed Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), forerunner of today’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation. There followed a period of adjustment, particularly for the Army, in how best to engage with DLO. Consequently, Tom found himself on the `customer` side of this relationship in his next job as the Colonel of the Army Sustainability Cell in Whitehall, which, notwithstanding the title, meant being the Assistant Chief of the General Staff’s Key Logistic Advisor and as such a major part of the Army’s `loggy conscience`. Not for the first time, Tom’s intellect and integrity allowed him to make a major contribution in this multi-faceted role.

In 2003 he became an Integrated Project Team Leader (IPTL) for the Field Artillery Systems Support (FASS) IPT, leading a team of over 100 with a significant annual budget and responsibility for a wide range of equipment. Around this time there was plenty of talk about through life partnering contractual relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Tom, though, was very much the driving force behind his IPT delivering it for real and, with a major piece of kit, namely the AS90 SP Artillery Weapon System, one of the Army’s key battle fighting capabilities. The AS90 Equipment Support Agreement (ESA), as it became known, was one of the first and certainly one of the most successful such contracts. At the launch, the then Minister for Defence Procurement said, “The partnering contract demonstrates the innovative way MOD and industry are working together to produce new cost-effective support solutions… ensuring our Armed Forces continue to have the best support available.”

Tom’s final appointment, the finale to a full and successful career, as a Brigadier, was as our Defence Attaché (DA) to Germany. As ever, Tom gave learning the language his `best shot`, but he always recognised that one of his best assets during this tour was his wife Anne, who was a German linguist and qualified German teacher in her own right and so ideally placed to help with many aspects of a role in a diplomatic environment. Tom served in Berlin from the end of 2005 until early 2009; when he returned to the UK to make the transition to being a retired Army Officer. He was quite clear that he did not wish to seek fresh employment, preferring to install two kilns in an outhouse at his home in Andover so as to perfect his skills, which were considerable, as a potter; to take on various home improvement initiatives and be a supporting husband, father and grandfather. When the cancer was detected it always seemed to stay one tactical bound ahead of any treatment and Tom finally succumbed, at peace, in a hospice near Andover. Apart from Anne, his widow, he leaves a son Douglas, a daughter Jenny and grandchildren Tabitha, Ralph and Felix.

Former WO1(ASM) Ray Stevens 64C

Penned by All His Military Pals...

It is with deepest sadness that we must inform the Corps of the death of WO1(ASM) Ray Stevens, who lost his fight against COVID-19 on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2021, aged 72 years.

Ray grew up in Croydon, educated at Croydon Secondary Technical School, South Croydon. In September 1964 he joined the Army as a Vehicle Mechanic Apprentice in Intake 64C at the Army Apprentice School in Arborfield. Following ‘basic training’ in B Squad Junior Company, he moved to B Company.

Ray took to Army life easily, enjoying his time at Arborfield as an Apprentice. During his time there, in addition to his prowess in the gymnasium, he was an active member of the Football Team, representing the School each season. He excelled in Military Training, raising to the Junior Soldier rank of A/T CSM (Apprentice Tradesman Company Sergeant Major). In his trade studies he was top of his Division and even at that stage he was identified as future Artificer material.

At the Passing Out Parade of Intake 64C in August 1967, Ray was presented with ‘The Commandants Cup’ - awarded each term to the ‘Best Soldier and Leader’. Following his ‘graduation’, Ray was posted within the UK and settled into Army life, being quickly promoted. He was one of the first of 64C Intake to attend the Artificer Selection Board and then his Artificer Course at SEME Bordon in 1972. After qualifying as an Artificer Vehicles, Ray was posted to Germany.

Ray continued his Military Service, reaching the rank of WO1(ASM) before retiring from the Army in 1991. Whereupon he was engaged as Workshop Manager for a major truck dealer in Southampton. Sadly, Ray was made redundant after three years, but soon found another position as Manager of an MOT Centre in Southampton.

Around 1999, Ray suffered a major health scare, being diagnosed with a benign tumour inside the top of his backbone. Unfortunately, the tumour was pressing too close to his central nervous system to enable an operation so Ray was forced to live with the condition for the rest of his life. Ray, being Ray, was stoic about the whole thing. However, it did mean he was no longer physically fit enough to work as such, which was a major blow to an active man like Ray.

In 2004 he stumbled across the AOBA website and quickly joined the Association - there followed many years of wonderful reunions as he hooked up with plenty of his old pals. Ray always took the time to welcome any new members, ensuring they were introduced to any members of their own intake. During the 50th Anniversary of his intake year he was instrumental in locating many of his peers, to the point that the 2014 reunion enjoyed 47 Apprentices from 1964.

In 2012, he joined the AOBA Committee, with responsibility for producing the OBAN News Magazine. This he carried out with his usual professional commitment, bringing the organisation of OBAN back under the control of the AOBA, as a consequence saving the AOBA many thousands of pounds annually. The magazine took on a new, fresh design, which is still in existence today - all thanks to the hard work Ray initially put in. Ray stood down from the Committee in 2017 but continued to enjoy reunions up until 2019.

Ray was one of those very rare people - he never had a bad word to say about anyone, always had a cheerful face. He made many friends both within and outside of the military circles he loved so much.

Raymond Stevens was one of the goodn’s and will remain sadly missed by us all...

Former Sergeant Kelvin ‘Bob’ Roberts

By Andre Roberts

It is with great regret that I have to report the sad loss of my father Kelvin ‘Bob’ Roberts aged 86, on 11 January at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Bob signed on in 1952 at the age of 16 and joined the Army Apprentice School at Arborfield on the advice of his father, a retired RSM of the North Staffs who suggested he “get himself a trade”.

He excelled at Arborfield, attaining the rank of (A)CSM, also collecting prizes for Athletics, Regimental Efficiency and the Commandant’s Cup for Military Ability. This led him to taking the salute at the Passing-out Parade in February 1955. REME beckoned, and later Bob was posted to 7 Infantry Workshop REME in Gillingham during the build up to the Suez crisis, before moving to Goojerat Barracks in Colchester in the newly designated 8 Infantry Workshop REME. The next few years saw Bob bouncing around the Mediterranean, as was the case in the late 50s and early 60s, with stints in Cyprus and Kenya, taking in Malta, Gibraltar and Kuwait along the way. During this time, he met and married Jan in 1957 back in his home town of

Burton-upon-Trent, followed in 1961 by the birth of a son, Andre.

His final posting was a big exercise in Cyprus - Famagusta and Panhandle, returning to UK. Soon for discharge, Bob was offered a three-year accompanied posting to Hong Kong for which he would have to sign on for 22 years and attend No.2 Artificer Course. Although tempted, he decided “goodbye Sergeants Mess!” and accepted a position as a Computer Engineer with the Austin Motor Company in Longbridge, Birmingham, at the time the largest car factory in Europe.

Bob spent the next 30 years at the Austin, through the British Leyland years, rising to the position of Site Technical Training Manager at Austin Rover, before taking early retirement in 1992.

The next project was ‘Pennypot’, a former nailer’s cottage on the outskirts of Bromsgrove. Bob virtually rebuilt the place, adding garages, outhouses, gardens, bathrooms and kitchen. Eventually, he built a new workshop, where he could be found most days creating on a lathe, bandsaw or any of a myriad of tools gathered over the years.

Bob’s other great interests were sport (any sport on TV and radio), chewing the fat with mates down the pub and his grandchildren and great grandchildren who knew him affectionally as “GG”.

He is survived by his wife Jan, son Andre, his family and will be greatly missed by all.

Bob with his great grandson, Travis

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Scribe: Bryan Jarvis

Richard Charles Tomlin, who was a Founder member and highly valued member of REME, died on 14 January 2021 at his home in Farnham, Surrey at the age of 98.

He had been in poor health for over a year and been in and out of hospital for several weeks before he passed away.

Dick Tomlin, as he was better known, grew up in Surrey and attended Grammar Schools in Farnham and Guildford. Then, aged 15, he enlisted into the RAOC at Guildford on 5 July 1938.

He completed a Motor Mechanic apprenticeship at the Army Apprentice School in Arborfield.

In 1942, when the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed, it needed qualified tradesmen – hence Dick’s transfer into REME that October.

He then spent the next three years working at a medium (up to 5.0 ton) vehicle repair workshop in the UK under AA Command.

Next came a posting to 7 Base Workshops REME in Alexandria, Egypt, where he worked and trained others on engine rebuilds and complete vehicle overhauls.

By February 1948 he was back in the UK and, having completed an Artificer Vehicles course at Bordon, he was granted leave to marry Monica. This was just prior to a home posting to a mediumsized REME workshop.

His next move in early 1949 was to the Station Workshop REME in Tripoli, Libya where he and his family spent three years.

From there he returned to a medium repair workshop back in the UK, where he spent two years in charge of the vehicle overhaul line. At the same time, he became responsible for the adjacent Ancillary Trades section, which included Carpenters, Machine Fitters, Turners and Metalsmiths as well as Blacksmiths.

In 1954 Dick was deservedly promoted to AQMS WO2 and posted to 19 Air Formation Signals LAD at Changi, Singapore, where he and his family lived in married quarters. This proved a most enjoyable posting for the whole family.

After another short spell in the UK, he and his family then spent nine years at Verden and Fallingbostel in Germany with 7 Armoured Workshop. It was largely here that he built up considerable knowledge and skills for the repair of both tracked and wheeled vehicles. He also attained the acting rank of ASM (WO1).

The last year of his service was spent at SEME Bordon where he worked as an Instructor.

Finally, in May 1966, after a total of 28 years and a day military service, he finally handed in his uniform. But in what seemed a natural progression, he continued at SEME as a civilian instructor until 1987 when he reached retirement age at 65.

Dick and Monica Tomlin had long since settled in at Farnham, Surrey, but in 2002 his wife suddenly predeceased him. They had two children – Nick, who died in 2015 aged 60 years of age, and a daughter, Jenny.

He will be sorely missed by both family, which includes three grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and friends.

Due to the pandemic, Dick’s funeral comprised of a small private ceremony at Guildford Crematorium.

A life well lived. Rest in Peace Dick.

Former Craftsman Oswald Redvers Snell

Scribe: Graham A Matthews, Secretary Lincolnshire Branch

It is my sad duty to inform the Corps of the passing of Oswald (Ossy) Redvers Snell who died on 7 December 2020 in the Pilgrim Hospital Boston aged 86 years.

Ossy was born on 20 August 1934 at Well Park Farm, Willoughby, Lincolnshire and was the ninth child of 15 to John and Elsie Snell. Born into a farming family, his early years were hard, working on the land from the age of 15. At the age of 18 he received his National Service papers; when the Farm Manager said he was able to submit Exemption papers for farm workers his response was to enlist in Lincoln for 21 years with a three-year option in REME on 5 August 1952.

Arriving at the Trg Bn REME in Blandford, Ossy excelled during basic training and was reported as being well behaved and steady in

habits with a frank and open manner. However, with a posting and a full career in front of him, he became unwell and was admitted to Chester Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with double pneumonia. After intensive treatment, he was reported as ceasing to fulfil army medical requirements and was discharged with one year and 13 days reckonable service.

Ossy returned to Lincolnshire and farm work in 1954, where he met his wife to be, Beryl. After a five-year engagement, they planned to marry in March 1959. Unfortunately, Ossy was again hospitalised with double pneumonia but, after recovering, they eventually married on 16 May. They went on to have two children Bridget in 1961 and Mark in 1963 and spent many years with Beryl supporting Ossy in his sporting activities, fundraising for charities and his political achievements.

Ossy made a huge contribution to Fishtoft and Boston, playing football at several levels as well as managing and running teams before going on to referee, again at several levels. He ran many marathons and half marathons, including two London marathons. Together he and Beryl were involved in the running of local playing fields and in 1980 he was elected to Fishtoft Parish Council. Then, in 1991, he was elected to the Borough council and accepted a directorship of Boston Mayflower Housing Association as well as chairing the direct services board. In 2002, Ossy was nominated for the high office of Mayor of Boston - he and Beryl served as Mayor and Mayoress of Boston for 2003/04 and Deputy Mayor/Mayoress for 2004/05. During his term of office as Mayor, he was the presiding official for the dedication of the newly formed Lincolnshire Branch Standard.

Ossy was a founder Member of the Lincolnshire Branch and for many years was the Branch Standard Bearer. He and Beryl were keen supporters of the Branch, attending and enjoying all functions and events. After a period of poor health, Beryl passed away in 2010. Ossy continued as a Councillor until 2015 when poor health forced him to retire from local politics and place his efforts with the Association Branch.

A dedicated family man who will be remembered as an ambassador for the local community, his and Beryl’s achievements have a lasting legacy in Boston. Ossy was a husband, dad, grandad, great grandad, brother, uncle, friend and dedicated community champion who will be missed by all that knew or met him.

A service of Remembrance and Committal was held at Boston Crematorium on Friday 15 January 2021 where, under COVID-19 restrictions, close family said their farewells. The Corps, Branch President and the Lincolnshire Branch were represented by the

Branch members at the 2016 AGM Ossy and Beryl as Mayor and Mayoress

Former LCpl Tom Tatham

By Carole Tatham

Tom (Tommy) Tatham suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at home on Thursday 24 December 2020, aged 72 years. The dearly loved husband of Carole, a much loved father of Joanne and Stephen, a devoted grandad of Holly and adoptive grandchildren Jimmi and Eydie. Tommy will be sadly missed by his loving family and many friends.

Tommy was so proud of REME; he often talked about his memories of Bordon, Arborfield and the 10 years he spent in Germany and his two tours in Ireland (I wish I could find his medals).

He played football for REME and he loved his sports. I wish we had mementos of these times and he still wore his beret and tie with pride. He always laid the wreath on Armistice Day at the Cenotaph at our local church.

A private service was held at St James Church, Lower Darwen and Cremation at Pleasington on Friday 15 January 2021.

Donations may be made in memory of Tom (Tommy) to CANW, c/o The Alty Funeral Service: The Alty Funeral Service (Family Owned), Broomfield Place, Blackburn, BB2 1XF 01254 503240 (24hrs). admin@altysfunerals.co.uk