Corps Notices

Major General (Retd) Pat Lee CB MBE

Scribe: Colonel Peter Gibson (Retd)

Brigadier Lee at his desk in Headquarters REME Training Centre, Arborfield

Major General Pat Lee died peacefully in a Taunton care home on 13th March 2022, two days before his birthday. Pat was born in 1929 in Torquay. At the start of WWII, the 10 year old Pat was filling sandbags on the beach at Paignton, which were used to protect key buildings in the town. At age 14 he won a scholarship to board at Kings School, Canterbury which, very soon afterwards, was evacuated to Cornwall. Here he joined the school’s Officer Training Corps. The school eventually returned to Kent. The key event for Pat was to be the right-hand marker of the Schools Guard of Honour for King George VI, when he, Queen Elizabeth and the two Princesses came to present The Royal Charter in July 1946.

In 1947, the Army insisted that officer candidates should serve in the ranks before attending Sandhurst. So, having passed No.2 War Office Selection Board in Horsham; been checked medically and physically at the British Military Hospital in Greenwich; and satisfied some officers of his suitability for a place at the newly opened Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst; Pat was “called up”. Having completed basic training, Pat was sent to the Depot REME in Arborfield where he was taught platoon tactics and visited various REME units.

Pat finally joined Intake 2 at Sandhurst. One of the more memorable events of the 18 months at Sandhurst was going to London, spending the night in a disused tube station and the next day lining Whitehall for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in November 1947.

Pat was commissioned on 22 December 1948 and posted as a Platoon Commander to 2 Training Battalion REME in Honiton. Eight months later, he moved to Shrivenham to join No 4 Young Officers Degree Course. While at Shrivenham he not only learned to parachute but also married 2/Lt Peggy Chapman, a WRAC who was serving in the Shrivenham WRAC Company. 1953 and 1954 were taken up by Practical Engineering Training in London. Pat and Peggy rented a flat in Hampstead but, being under the approved

Major Lee commanding 16 Parachute Workshop as part of UN contingent in Cyprus

marrying age of 25, Pat received no marriage allowance with the result that Peggy had to work to feed them.

Postings to 2 Station Workshop in Malaya and to 7 (Queen’s Own) Hussars in Hong Kong and UK, followed. In 1959 came a posting to 16 Para Workshop as Second in Command. After a quick refresher parachute course at Abingdon, Pat flew out to Cyprus to join the unit on Nicosia airfield. Shortly after arriving, the Workshop Commander returned to England on compassionate grounds and Pat found himself in command. The complete Brigade then moved by air to Jordan, although the workshop Stores Section was sent by Tank Landing Craft through the Suez Canal. Finally, the Brigade returned to UK via Beirut, and after arriving back in Aldershot, Pat handed over to the new Commander.

Throughout 1960, Pat attended Staff College, while he and Peggy lived in a married quarter in Kings Ride, Camberley. After Staff College, came a posting to the Directorate of Staff Duties in the MOD. The Directorate was located in the old War Office building opposite Horse Guards. Pat’s branch, SD4, was responsible for manpower planning for an army of 182,000. However, as an initial task he was given the job of totting up the number of B vehicles the Army needed. He said later that he had no idea if anyone ever bothered to look at it, let alone use it for any purpose. The real purposeful job was to update the manpower figures, study every option of Army size, and organization changes, and so on. The Army Air Corps was in the process of being formed which was a challenge and needed straight forward skulduggery to get other Corps and Regiments to agree to transfer men to the new light blue beret Corps. Pat remembered that after the first six months, he could write out the Army’s Order of Battle from memory with the manpower figures to go with each unit. He was awarded an MBE for all his achievements and Peggy and the children went up to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen award it.

From sitting at a desk in Whitehall, Pat returned to the Airborne world as Officer Commanding 16 Parachute Workshop – after another parachute refresher course, of course. 16 Parachute Brigade had, once again, been ordered back to Cyprus to keep the peace after Turkey’s invasion of the northern part of the island and Pat had to fly straight out to Cyprus to catch-up with the Workshop advance party. When the United Nations Security Council decided to take over responsibility for keeping the Greeks and Turks apart, the Workshop became the first REME unit to wear the blue berets.

After commanding 16 Parachute Workshop, Pat attended the Joint Services Staff College at Latimer. From Latimer he was posted as the Military Assistant to the Master General of the Ordnance (MGO), General Sir Charles Jones. Most of Pat’s time with him was spent arranging and accompanying him on a large round of farewell visits to the vast “empire” he controlled.

After 15 months with the MGO, Pat was posted to the Army Staff College as a member of the Directing Staff. After Camberley, a posting to Germany had become inevitable and Pat was sent to be the Commander REME of 2nd Division in North Rhine

Brigadier Lee taking command of 23 Base Workshop with vice Brigadier Bill Bailey

Westphalia. The HQ was in a farming town named Lubbecke. That town’s only claim to fame for most of our troops stationed there was that, once a year, the local brewery would connect its output of beer directly to the Town Square’s fountain.

Promotion to Colonel followed with a move to HQ 1st British Corps in Bielefeld as Colonel AQ. He soon found out that his job was to provide everything that the Corps and its married families needed in peacetime. In other words, he said, “I became the ‘Town Clerk’ responsible for discipline, schools, quarters, fire services, churches and so on for some 60,000 men, women and children”. He and Peggy remained in Bielefeld for 3.5 years - the longest posting of their time in the Army, so far.

Leaving Bielefeld, the Lee’s returned to UK for 2 years at Bordon where Pat was to be Deputy Commandant of SEME. He was then promoted to Brigadier and sent to Arborfield as Commandant REME Training Centre. During this period, he noticed that despite the number of students passing through the garrison, many on long courses and often married, there was virtually no support or social life at all. At Peggy’s instigation Pat obtained permission to return several huts in what had been the Depot REME in Poperinghe Barracks and used them to provide a Community Centre that would be open Monday to Friday, a crèche and a library. These were adjacent to an existing paper shop and Post Office and the Garrison administrative office. Peggy was later rewarded for all her work on the project by having a plaque dedicated to her; recording the whole initiative.

Arborfield was followed by a return to Germany, for a little under a year, to command 23 Base Workshop in Wetter. Pat claims that he left his deputy to run the workshop while he did fun things like climbing the workshop chimney, learning to ride and improving his German.

In June 1980 Pat returned to UK to be promoted to Major General and become Director General Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

He retired in 1983, and immediately joined Wincanton Transport as a Director, where he remained until 1998. Always busy, Pat’s retirement activities would have exhausted most of us. He was a Colonel Commandant REME for 6 years; Chairman of the Road Haulage Association from 1994 to 1996; Chairman of the CBI South West Regional Council; A member of the Wessex Water Authority; A Governor of Wellington School and a Parish Councillor – amongst other things!

Pat’s health had been deteriorating for some years. He remained at home until his wife Peggy died in the autumn of 2021 after which he spent some time in hospital before entering a Care Home in October 2021. Pat died 3 days before his 93rd birthday. He leaves a Son and Daughter, together with 5 Grandchildren (three of whom are serving or have served in the Army) and 8 Great Grandchildren.

The REME Charity

The Trustees of The REME Charity acknowledge with sincere thanks the donations received during the month of MARCH 2022. They also wish to acknowledge the regular subscriptions received from the Officers and Soldiers of the Corps and retired members of the REME Institution:

Donations

01/03/2022 In Memory of Douglas Cannon . . . . . . . . . . . .£50.00 15/03/2022 In Memory of Maurice Hutchins . . . . . . . . . .£165.00 16/03/2022 Simon and Barbara Walden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£500.00 15/03/2022 Much Loved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£675.91 17/03/2022 LCpl Shrestha 24hr Continuous Walk . . . . . . .£67.28 17/03/2022 LCpl Shrestha 24hr Continuous Walk . . . . . .£702.65 28/03/2022 In Memory of Mr William Helm . . . . . . . . . . . .£89.25 Date sent to Craftsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31/03/2022 Total Donations (Feb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£2,250.09 Total £’s paid in Grants (Feb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£20,760.06 No. Grants (in Feb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Average Grant (Feb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£593.14

If you would like to see how your money is spent, we welcome one or two observers at The REME Charity meetings. The meetings are held midweek, approximately every three weeks. If you would like to observe a meeting, please contact The REME Charity Secretary on ( Mil: 95481 4527 or Civ: 07936902415 in the first instance.

The REME Charity is here for both veterans and serving personnel in times of hardship or need. Contact via SSAFA ( 0800 731 4880 www.ssafa.org.uk or The Royal British Legion ( 0808 802 8080  www.britishlegion.org.uk or your Unit Welfare if serving. All enquiries and information is dealt with in the strictest confidence. If you wish to discuss any benevolence need you can contact us on ( 07936902415,  welfare@reme.charity.org.

Anyone wishing to leave a legacy to The REME Charity, which is exempt from inheritance tax, can add a codicil to their will. Our registered charity number is 1165868

GODLIMAN – Maj (Retd) Roy Patrick Godliman passed away on 11 March 2022 aged 85. Dates of service 1952-1976. HOOPER – Maj (Retd) Ivor R Hooper passed away on 27 March 2022 aged 87. Dates of service 1957-1992. SLATER – Former SSgt John Slater passed away on 26 February aged 71. Dates of service 1972-1993.

Death Notice Requirements

In order to publish a death notice we require the following information: Surname, first name, rank, full date of death, ages and dates of service. An obituary with additional career and life information is welcome. To inform us of the death, please contact Ms Bev Bate, Corps Welfare Manager on ( 07936 902415 or  welfare@reme.charity.org.

Extracts from the London Gazette

MAY EDITION

2nd March 2022 No entries 9th March 2022 No entries 16th March 2022 No entries 23rd March 2022

REGULAR ARMY Regular Commissions Lieutenant Colonel J. M. MAITLAND 550354 retires 25 December 2021

29th March 2022

REGULAR ARMY Regular Commissions Major Y. ANGBO 30077366 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2021 Major R. G. CIESIELCZUK 30088938 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2021 Major S. J. CLENCH 25230352 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2021 Major R. CONSTANTINOU W1059430 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2020 Major B. J. WOODWARD 30028251 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2020 Major P. R. WOOSTER 30086472 from Intermediate Regular Commission 4 November 2021 to be Major with seniority 31 July 2021 Regular Commissions (Late Entry) Captain J. M. JOHNSTONE 25041575 from Intermediate Regular Commission (Late Entry) 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 3 May 2016 Intermediate Regular Commissions Captain M. ASHCROFT 30277717 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain P. J. BIRKETT 30158515 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 14 April 2021 Captain R. F. BLACKSTOCK 30266573 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 15 December 2020 Captain J. CAPEL-SHYU 30189551 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 12 August 2020 Captain B. J. CARTER 30204713 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 16 December 2020 Captain M. J. EDWARDS 30137368 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 12 August 2020 Captain E. D. GRANT 30180041 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 17 December 2019 Captain K. M. HAWKINS 30222201 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain D. W. HORSBURGH 30201448 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 12 August 2020 Captain C. B. LEE 30252854 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 14 April 2020 Captain H. MACFADDEN-MARSH 30222477 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain L. D. MARSHALL 30222214 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain S. D. MEAD 30188815 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 16 December 2020 Captain J. A. ROBERTS 30222225 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain L. SANDOE 30256263 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 16 December 2020 Captain L. S. WILSON 30201489 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Captain S. M. WOODWARD 30201490 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Captain with seniority 11 August 2021 Lieutenant M. G. A. CHAPMAN 30292678 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Lieutenant with seniority 15 December 2019 Lieutenant P. A. WELSH 30269349 from Short Service Commission 4 November 2021 to be Lieutenant with seniority 15 December 2019 Short Service Commissions Second Lieutenant J. C. GOLDING 30201449 to be Lieutenant 11 August 2019 (Belated Entry) Second Lieutenant B. A. E. TAYLOR 25228081 to be Lieutenant 15 December 2019 (Belated Entry)

5th April 2022

No entries

Officer Assignments

NAME ASSIGNED TO DATE

Major

DOUTHWAITE PG 7 AVN SP BN REME – OC 70 FD COY FOSTER MP DIRECTOR CAPABILITY – SO2 ES TRG GADSBY V DSEME – DEPUTY CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

03 May 22 06 May 22 23 May 22 GREENSMITH MT HQ 3 UK DIV – SO2 F PLANS INFO OPS 16 May 22 HEPWORTH RS DG SEC POL – DE STRST DALS CP DS PERS 17 May 22 HUMPHREY TH 16 REGT RA WKSP REME – OC 03 May 22 JOHNSON AC 12 REGT RA WKSP REME – OC 09 May 22 MCHUGH JA DSEME LYNEHAM – SO2 OFFR TRG SENIOR 03 May 22 SCHENK JR HQ 1 Avn Bde – SO2 SPT RM 08 May 22 SHRIMPTON EJ ATDU – OC 03 May 22

Captain

APPLEBY CJ 1CS BN REME – OPS ENG 02 May 22 BARNES GR AWC WAD–56(R)SQN–C2ISTAR TES–UAS TES LAND ENG 02 May 22 CHAPMAN MD 5 RIFLES LAD REME – OC 02 May 22 DAVIDSON RP HQ 102 LOG BDE OUTSTATION YORK – SO3 ES SUSTAIN 30 May 22 FARRELL JL SRR CAP DEV – CTO ES 30 May 22 HEPBURN CM 4 SCOTS LAD REME – OC 02 May 22 JUTSUM KJ 1 REGT RLC LAD REME - OC 30 May 22 MEAD SD 4 REGT RA WKSP REME – OC 30 May 22 MORLEY CF 4 ARMD CS BN REME – UWO 09 May 22

Lieutenant

LANGLEY LIR 3 ARMD CS BN REME – 2IC 20 COY 30 May 22 WRAY SJC 5 FS BN REME – RSO 30 May 22