It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of Jim Fury HLI. Jim was a stalwart of the HLI Association, and was a familiar face to many at various veterans parades over many years. Jim was 1st Bn HLI serving in Cyprus in the 1950s, and in The RASC in Malaya in the 1960s.
Jim passed away at home in the care of his loving wife Jan on Thursday 5th October 2023.
It is my sad duty to report the passing of our old HLI comrade John Lamont on Tuesday 18th October 2022.
John on a return to Normandy in 2019
John served with the 6th Battalion HLI during WW2, and saw enemy action from his arrival at Arromanches in France, through Belgium and Holland, taking part in Operation Market Garden as part of XXX Corps, and into Germany, where he spent his 19th birthday on the west bank of the Rhine, before crossing the Rhine the next day. The 6th Battalion carried on into the heartland of Germany, finishing their advance with the capture of Bremen.
John being welcomed by Mayor Claude Allingri in Montblanc, France
John was a well known and much loved member of the HLI Association for many years, and many members will have shared some memorable experiences with John on numerous occasions on battlefield tours and commemoration events in France, Holland, Germany, and of course in the UK. John will be sorely missed by us all, but also remembered with great fondness.
Jim Devine
Secretary HLI Association
It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing on 7th of June 2022, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea of our old comrade James (Jim) Bradford.
Jim Bradford revisiting Walcheren in 2016
Jim served with the 5th Bn HLI in WW2 in Belgium, Holland (Walcheren) and Germany, taking part in the Crossing of the Rhine. Shortly after the end of the war in Europe, Jim was posted to Palestine with the 1st Bn HLI.
Jim was a well known friend to many of our members who travelled with him on Willie Shaw’s “veterans return” tours to Holland and Germany. Although Jim had been for many years resident in the south of England, he visited his old HLI pals in Glasgow, and participated in the veterans parade at Knightswood.
In the last few years Jim was a resident in the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where he enjoyed spending his days with his fellow pensioners.
Jim in his RHC uniform
The HLI Association sends their condolences to Jim’s son Alan, who informed us of Jim’s passing, and who sends greetings to his father’s old HLI comrades. Jim’s funeral will be at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 5th of July 2022.
Gerry McAuley HLI/RHF
It is with great sadness that we heard the news of the passing of Joseph “Gerry” McAuley. Gerry served in the 1st Battalion HLI in the late 1950s, and was in the Highland Light Infantry during the amalgamation with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, which saw the formation of the Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959.
Gerry was a stalwart member of both the HLI and RHF Associations for many years, and was a familiar face at Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Services in Glasgow.
Gerry had been ill for some time, and passed away at home, surrounded by his loving family, on the morning of Wednesday the 16th of February 2022. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Catherine and the family at this sad time.
Jim Devine
Secretary
Highland Light Infantry Association
We are greatly saddened to have been informed of the passing of John Deuchars, a WW2 HLI veteran, and a long standing member of the HLI Association. John served in the 5th Battalion HLI in World War 2, taking part in the liberation of Holland, and the defeat of nazi Germany. John’s daughter Marion, contacted the Association to let us know that he had passed away on the morning of Tuesday the 21st of December 2021. He was 95 years old. He will be sorely missed by his family and his old HLI comrades.
John’s funeral will be on Saturday the 8th of January in South Lanarkshire. Details from the Association Secretary.
John Lamont, Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur, 6th Bn HLI, returns to the Normandy beaches for the 75th Anniversary.
Return to Gold Beach
A quiet moment of reflection
John being interviewed on Gold Beach for the British Army News Service
John Lamont with HLI Association Secretary Jim Devine at Bayeux Cemetery
John salutes fallen HLI comrades at Bayeux Military Cemetery
John and Jim with Sir Tim Laurence, Vice Chairman of the CWGC at Bayeux Commonwealth War Cemetery
John met another HLI Normandy veteran John McIntosh at Bayeux Cemetery. They both subsequently enjoyed a dram and a few stories aboard the British Legion D DAY 75 cruise ship Boudicca.
Bless them all – bless them all – the long and the short and the tall!
A salute from the crew of HMS Queen Elizabeth
Aboard the good ship Boudicca
SV Boudicca. Our home for the week
Our escorts to France
With grateful thanks to the Royal British Legion and the many service and civilian personnel who made the D Day 75th Anniversary such an amazing and memorable experience for so many Normandy Veterans!My father, Hugh Dow, served in the 17th Battalion HLI, A Company, No. 2996, joining on 7th June 1915. He was injured at The Somme on 1st July 1916 and shipped home. He died in 1970.
We were fortunate as a family to get tickets for the centenary at Thiepval on 1st July 2016. The next day as we walked in the area where I think my father was injured (near the Leipzig Redoubt) we met a chap from Glasgow whose uncle or great-uncle had been in the same battalion. We chatted for quite a while but unfortunately didn’t exchange details.
I’m sure he might have more info than I have about life in the 17th in those months of 1916. It’s a long shot but it’s just possible that he might read thus or someone might know who he is. If so it would be hugely appreciated if he would get in touch with me at gordon.dow@ntlworld.com
My Father John Pews, originally from Springburn Glasgow sadly now long deceased was a member of 1st Bn HLI from 15-1-42 to 1-1-47.
I have a few photos of his wartime service period from 1942 in UK to Germany and afterwards in Egypt/Palestine 1945/6 ish. In 1946 he was a sergeant in the anti-tank platoon. I have a few pics of his time in the Bn including many of the parade at the Citadel in Cairo in 1946.
I know it is a long shot now but I would love to know if anyone remembers my dad or others in the photos.
Robert Pews.
It is with great sadness that we report the passing away on the 24th January 2018 of Major Willie Shaw MBE RSF/RHF after a short illness. Willie was a long serving regular soldier, serving in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, then after the amalgamation of the RSF with the HLI in 1959, in the Royal Highland Fusiliers. Latterly he was at RHQ in Glasgow, where many of our members looked forward to his hilarious anecdotes at the regular members lunches. Many of our members also have very fond memories of numerous coach trips run by Willie to old stomping grounds in Germany. He was a true character, and universally admired and respected, and he will be sorely missed.
