Drum Major Ronnie Hughes 1RHF
The Standards paraded at Craigton Crematorium on Saturday 19th March 2016 for the farewell to Drum Major Ronnie Hughes 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Pte. Ernest (Ern) William Brown 2nd Bn HLI India 1920s–30s
Provided by Owen Masters
I am hoping to trace the Army Career of my Father -in-Law Ernest William Brown. Ern died in 1975, but often spoke of his time in the Army. He was born and lived in Consett County Durham, and said that as a teenager he joined the HLI in Durham in the late 1920s. He often said, he thought he was joining the Durham Light Infantry! He served in India, and left the army in 1935/36 when he married.
The only personal possessions of his time in the Army are the photo’s shown here. One of Ern in uniform, and the other of his Regiment in India.
Major Alastair Mack HLI 1952-1958
Hi Folks,
I am sorry to have to report that I was informed today by Willie Shaw that he had received a call from Alastair Mack’s daughter to say that he had passed away on Sunday 6th March. Alastair was Chairman, and a long standing supporter of the HLI Association. I hope that we can arrange a suitable commemoration but we will have to await details from Alastair’s family. Most of you will know that Alastair moved recently to Wiltshire and it may be that the funeral will take place there. I will keep you informed as I receive further information.
In the meantime let us remember an old comrade in typical HLI fashion, with fondness, respect, and a dram in his memory!
Yours aye,
Jim Devine
Secretary HLI Association
David Farquhar HLI
It is with great sadness that we have been informed by Sionah Lannen (nee Farquhar) of the death of her Father, old HLI comrade David Farquhar. David served in France with the HLI in WW2. He passed away very peacefully on Sunday 7th February 2016 aged 92. The funeral service will be on the 23rd February at 2pm at Park Cemetery, Lytham St Anne’s, Lancs. A piper will be in attendance.
Glasgow Highlanders Association Standard Dedication
The Glasgow Highlanders Association held a service of dedication of their new standard in St Columba Church of Scotland Highland Cathedral on Sunday 18th November 2012.
The new Glasgow Highlanders Association Standard flanked by the RHF Association Standard and our own proudly borne by 1 HLI veteran Jim Urquhart.
Members of the HLI Association and other ex-service associations supported and participated in this splendid event. HLI Association members also assisted in raising funds towards the cost of the new GH Association standard. It is intended that both the HLI and GH Associations will continue to march together at parades with both standards flying!
John (Jack) Brooks 1st Bn HLI 1944-46
Provided by Lee Ruffell
My Grandfather John “Jack” Brooks served with 1HLI 1944-1946.
Initially he was in training for aerial gunnery in the RAF. He was transferred to Infantry (it was that or the coal mines) and somehow a boy from Kent ended up with the Scots.
He was among the first of the 53rd Welsh troops to land at Arromanche at the end of June 1944. He got a weeks leave after getting some shrapnel in the leg and went home to get married.
At sometime during the fracas he and and some other guys were sheltering in an old farmhouse which got mortared. Afterwards there were dead cows everywhere, so being a butcher by trade he went out and cut some steaks. While cooking them up with some onions from the fields the Officers appeared to see what was going on. Eventually some ended up with the CO and he made my Grandfather his cook!
After Hamburg he went to Palestine with the Battalion.
Grandad cooked for about 200 officers on the 27th August 1946 at Suez the occasion was Presentation of Colours held by General Sir Miles Dempsey. Have got a booklet with officers names in and the Ceremony (would be nice to find out a bit more if possible).
Unfortunately he came down with TB while out on patrol and was repatriated back to Preston Hall. After treatment he was finally demobbed in 1949.
This is a brief history, he has lots of stories, some getting a little hazy at the ripe age of 84.