100
T
H
E
QUEEN'S OWN GAZETTE.
6th B A T T A L I O N
The 6 t h B n . p a s s e d i n t o " s u s p e n d e d a n i m a t i o n " a t t h e
end o f M a r c h ; b y t h a t t i m e , n u m b e r s h a d s e r i o u s l y d w i n d l e d
and o n l y j u s t o v e r 2 0 0 a l l r a n k s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d t o b e
of a n a g e g r o u p j u s t i f y i n g t r a n s f e r t o t h e 1 s t B n . T h e
remainder, d u e f o r release i n J u l y, w e r e p o s t e d t o a n u m b e r
of a d d i t i o n a l u n i t s a n d f o r m a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e D i v i s i o n a n d
to P r i s o n e r o f W a r C a m p s i n A u s t r i a . T h e r e w e r e s o m e
m i n o r t r a g e d i e s a m o n g t h e s e c a s u a l p o s t i n g s t o P. W . C a m p s
and m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e n a t u r a l l y d i s a p p o i n t e d t h a t t h e i r
technical q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w e r e n o l o n g e r c o n s i d e r e d b y t h a t
a r b i t r a r y b o d y, 2 n d E c h e l o n . T h e i r i m m i n e n t d e p a r t u r e t o
c i v i l i a n l i f e s h o u l d b e s o m e c o n s o l a t i o n , a n d i f m e a n t i m e ,
they a d o p t a n u n c o m p r o m i s i n g a t t i t u d e t o t h e S.S. p r i s o n e r s
u n d e r t h e i r care, i t c a n d o l i t t l e h a r m .
Everyone i n A u s t r i a w a s m o s t concerned a n d s y m p a t h e t i c
about o u r d i s b a n d m e n t a n d w e b e c a m e h e a r t i l y s i c k o f t h e
wearying r e p e t i t i o n o f s u c h a d j e c t i v e s a s " i n e v i t a b l e " a n d
"sad." I t w a s b y n o m e a n s p l e a s a n t t o w a t c h m e n d e p a r t
f o r g o o d o r t o r e a l i s e t h a t a f i g h t i n g i n s t r u m e n t , f o r g e d
so a d m i r a b l y i n w a r , n e e d e d l u i t o n e s t r o k e o f t h e p e n t o
make i t n o n - e x i s t e n t . F a r e w e l l s b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e
difficult; e v e r y o n e g r e w a g g r e s s i v e l y h e a r t y ; r e m i n i s c e n c e s
more a n d m o r e coloured, u n t i l one d a y, w h e n t h e l a s t f a i t h f u l
few h a d t o r e a l i s e t h a t t h e 6 t h w a s b u t a m e m o r y. T h e
Queen's O w n f l a g w a s l o w e r e d f o r t h e l a s t t i m e o n A p r i l
4 t h — w a t c h e d b y t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e u n i t , a G u a r d o f
H o n o u r m o u n t e d b y 8 A . S . H . a n d a s m a l l g a t h e r i n g o f
enthusiastic a n d u n c r i t i c a l A u s t r i a n s .
A w e e k b e f o r e , t h e D i v i s i o n a l C o m m a n d e r , M a j . - G e n .
R. K . A r b u t h n o t t , a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e B r i g a d e C o m m a n d e r,
had p a i d a f a r e w e l l v i s i t a n d d u r i n g a 4 5 m i n u t e s p e e c h ,
Gen. A r b u t h n o t t c o v e r e d c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y t h e s p l e n d i d
achievementS o f t h e B n . s i n c e N o v. , 1942. M a n y l e t t e r s a n d
messages a r r i v e d , n o t a b l y f r o m L t . - G e n . S i r R . C . IVIcCreery
and L t . - G e n . M o r g a n a n d t h e s e a r e p r i n t e d b e l o w.
Of t h e officers t h e C . O . a n d m a n y o t h e r s l e f t o n release
in e a r l y A p r i l ; M a j . P e t e r S u c k l e h a s b e e n a t t a c h e d t o t h e
staff o f 7 8 D i v i s i o n ; M a j . J . A . E a s o n h a s j o i n e d t h e 1 s t
Bri.; M a j . S . S t e w a r t , M C . a n d M a j . C o u r t a r e t e m p o r a r i l y
attached t o 78 D i v i s i o n p e n d i n g p o s t i n g . R . S . M . P. B y r n e - D e a l
and h i s f a m i l y a r e a t Wo l f s b e r g , a t 373 P. W . C a m p .
•
Lt.-Gen. ,Sir W i l l i a m D . M o r g a n , K.C.B., D.S.O.,
Allied Force Headquarters,
Office o f t h e Supreme A l l i e d Commander, O.M.F.
16th M a r c h , 1946.
Dear Defrates,
I a m w r i t i n g t o a s k y o u t o convey t o a l l r a n k s u n d e r y o u r
command m y b e s t w i s h e s f o r t h e f u t u r e . •
I n t h e I t a l i a n C a m p a i g n a n d i n N o r t h A f r i c a , t h e R e g t .
saw m u c h a c t i v e f i g h t i n g , a n d i t s s u c c e s s f u l r e c o r d w i l l n o t
be f o r g o t t e n b y t h o s e w i t h w h o m y o u f o u g h t .
Yo u r s sincerely,
W. D . M o r g a n .
Lt.-Col. G . K . Defrates, D.S.O., M.O.,
6 t h Queen's O w n R . W. K . ,
C.M.F.
Headquarters,
B r i t i s h Tr o o p s i n A u s t r i a .
3rd A p r i l , 1946.
Lt.-Col. G . K . Defrates, D.S.O., AEC.,
8 t h B n . , T h e Q u e e n ' s O w n R o y a l W e s t K e n t R e g t .
Now t h a t t h e t i m e h a s c o m e t o d i s b a n d t h e 6 t h B n . ,
The Q u e e n ' s O w n R o y a l W e s t K e n t R e g t . , I w o u l d l i k e t o
express t o a l l r a n k s m y w a r m e s t a p p r e c i a t i o n ' a n d t h a n k s
f o r t h e i r s p l e n d i d s e r v i c e s i n c e t h e B n . w a s f o r m e d .
Since N o v e m b e r, 1941, u n t i l t h e f i n a l v i c t o r y l a s t y e a r,
your B n . s e r v e d c o n t i n u o u s l y u n d e r 7 8 D i v. a n d t o o k p a r t
w i t h g r e a t d i s t i n c t i o n i n t h e f i g h t i n g i n T u n i s i a a n d I t a l y ;
all r a n k s h a v e s h o w n s p l e n d i d d e v o t i o n t o d u t y a n d q u a l i t i e s
of cheerfulness, e n d u r a n c e a n d t e a m s p i r i t w h i c h w e r e d e -
cisive f a c t o r s o f t h e v i c t o r y o f t h e E i g h t h A r m y .
Decorations w h i c h y o u h a v e w o n i n c l u d e 3 D . S . 0 s . , 2 5
M.Cs., 5 2 M . M s . , 8 D.C.Ms., 2 M.B.Es., 2 13.E.Ms. 6 2 M e n t i o n s
i n Despatches, 3 A m e r i c a n S i l v e r S t a r s a n d 1 A m e r i c a n D.S.C.
This i s a s p l e n d i d r e c o r d a n d a g r e a t t r i b u t e t o t h e p a r t
played b y t h e w h o l e B n . i n b a t t l e . T h e t a s k i s n o w c o m -
pleted a n d y o u c a n be p r o u d o f y o u r share i n t h e f i n a l v i c t o r y.
M y b e s t c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o a l l r a n k s o n y o u r W a r Service
and b e s t w i s h e s t o t h e f u t u r e .
R. L . M . Creery,
Lt.-Gen. C o m m a n d e r - I n - C h i e f .
No. 1 3
H O L D I N G B A T T A L I O N
No. 1 C o m p a n y
Since t h e l a s t issue o f t h e G a z e t t e , l i f e i n t h i s C o y. h a s
assumed S i ' o m i n o u s t r a n q u i l i t y. T h e l a s t o f t n e l a r g e r
A. a n d S . G r o u p s h a s B e e n released, a n d t h e C o y. i s b u t a
shadow o f i t s f o r m e r s e l f .
People c o m e a n d g o w i t h a m a z i n g r a p i d i t y a n d w e a r e
n o t a b l e t o g e t t o k n o w t h e m r e a l l y w e l l . G r e a t keenness
is s h o w n h y t h e y o u n g e r e l e m e n t passing t h r o u g h o u r h a n d s ,
and I f e e l s u r e t h a t t h e y m a i n t a i n t h e good r e c o r d o f t h o s e
who h a v e n o w l e f t t h e R e g t . C . S . M . D i x o n , ACC., i s s t i l l here,
as c h e e r f u l a s ever, i n s p i t e o f h i s m a n y t r i a l s o w i n g t o t h e
difficulty i n f i n d i n g t h e m e n f o r h i s n e v e r e n d i n g d u t i e s .
L t . Q u a i f e h a s r e c e n t l y r e t u r n e d t o t h e " f o o t l i g h t " a n d
we w i s h h i m t h e b e s t o f l u c k f o r t h e f u t u r e . W e h a v e b e e n
joined b y L t . W . B a r k e r o f t h e A . A . C . , a n d e x t e n d t o h i m
a c o r d i a l w e l c o m e t o t h e R e g t .
The p i c t u r e s i n t h e G a z e t t e o f l a s t m o n t h o f M a j o r
Rich a n d M a j o r P a l m e r w e r e n o t e d w i t h g r e a t i n t e r e s t .
B o t h t h e s e Officers h a v e b e e n i n t h i s C o y . a n d t h e s t a f f
send t h e m t h e i r v e r y g o o d • wishes.
No. 2 Company
A v e r y q u i e t m o n t h h a s p a s s e d , p u n c t u a t e d b y i n f r e -
q u e n t p e r i o d s o f b u s i n e s s ; o u r C o y. i s n o w o n l y a s h a d o w
of i t s f o r m e r s e l f , t h e l i n e s l o o k i n g u n n a t u r a l l y d e s e r t e d
a f t e r s o m a n y m o n t h s o f t e e m i n g a c t i v i t y. M a n y o f t h e
h u t s a r e e m p t y, a n d e v e n C o y. H . Q . p r e s e n t s a n u n t r o u b l e d
f r o n t .
W i t h t h e d e p a r t u r e o f 2 7 G r o u p , w e s a i d g o o d b y e t o
more o f o u r s t a l w a r t s , w i t h t h e w e l c o m e e x c e p t i o n , h o w e v e r,
of Sgt. M o r f i l l , w h o h a s d e f e r r e d h i s release f o r 1 2 m o n t h s .
The c o m i n g m o n t h w i l l s e e t h e release o f m o s t o f o u r
officers, i n c l u d i n g t h e C o y. C o m m a n d e r, M a j o r J . W i n s t a n l e y,
M.C.; w e w i s h t h e m g o o d f o r t u n e o n t h e i r r e t u r n t o " T h e
Bowler H a t a n d T h e U m b r e l l a " o f c i v i l i a n l i f e , a n d a s s u r e
all successors o f a h e a r t y welcome.
SPORTS N O T E S F O R S E A S O N 1945/1946.
F o o t b a l l — T h e progress o f t h e B n . F o o t b a l l t e a m t h r o u g h
the e l i m i n a t i n g r o u n d s o f t h e B A . D i s t r i c t I n t e r - U n i t Soccer
Championship w a s f o l l o w e d w i t h g r e a t i n t e r e s t , a n d a l a r g e
n u m b e r o f supporters j o u r n e y e d t o C a n t e r b u r y t o w a t c h t h e
f i n a l m a t c h a g a i n s t t h e 9 t h S o u t h L a n c s ( P. T. C . ) . T h e r e -
gaining d e Te a t b y 3 g o a l s t o n i l w a s f e l t t o b e t h e r e s u l t
o f a g o o d g a m e a g a i n s t a b e t t e r t e a m , a n d d e t r a c t e d n o t h -
ing f r o m t h e f i n e e f f o r t s p u t i n b y a l l t h o s e w h o h a d t u r n e d
o u t d u r i n g t h e proceeding weeks t o represent t h e B n . t e a m .
Details o f t h e games a r e a s f o l l o w s : —
H a l f t i m e scores i n parenthesis.
1st r o u n d . - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g B n . ( 2 ) 4 , B t h Sherwood F o r e s -
ters ( 0 ) O.
2nd r o u n d . - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g B n . ( 2 ) 4 , 12tla I . T. C . ( 2 ) 2 .
S e m i - f i n a l . - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g B n . ( 0 ) 2 , 1 / 5 Leicesters ( 2 ) 2 .
R e - p l a y. - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g H u . ( 0 ) 1 , 1 / 5 Leicesters ( 0 ) O.
K e n t S u b D i s t r i c t F i n a l . - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g B n . ( 1 ) 6 , 4 t h
Coastal T r a i n i n g R e g t . ( 0 ) 2 .
S o u t h E a s t e r n D i s t r i c t F i n a l . - 1 3 t h H o l d i n g B n . ( 0 ) 0 ,
9 t h S o u t h L a n e s ( P. T. C . ) ( 1 ) 3 .
T h e f o l l o w i n g N.C.Os. a n d m e n represented 1 3 t h H o l d i n g
Bn. d u r i n g t h e S e a s o n : —
Pte. C a s e y, P t e . L i n a k e r , C p l . D r a k e , C p l . C l a r k , P t e .
Dormer, P t e . F i l l e r y, L / C p l . M a r s h a l l , S g t . S a u n d e r s , P t e .
Dobson, P t e . T r e m a i n , C p l . F r e e m a n , S g t . V i c c a r s , M . M . ,
Pte. K i r b y , P t e . Stones, S g t . Spyers, C p l . P u l l e n .
R u n n i n g — C r o s s - c o u n t r y. — A l t h o u g h , t h r o u g h l a c k o f p e r -
sonnel, i t w a s n o t possible t o p r o v i d e a t e a m , t h e i n d i v i d u a l
-
results p r o d u c e d b y C p l . G . I d e a w e r e e x c e l l e n t , a n d h e i s
to b e c o n g r a t u l a t e d o n a c h i e v i n g c o n s i s t e n t l y h i g h p l a c e s ' I n
the several c o m p e t i t i o n s .
Places a r e a s f o l l o w s : —
Cross-Country F i x t u r e s , 4 5 / 4 6 . —
Posn. N o . of Starters
K e n t D i s t r i c t , 2 3 r d J a n u a r y
4
t
h
7
7
Eastern C o m m a n d , 6 t h F e b r u a r y
1
s
t
9
0
I n t e r C o m d . A r m y C h a m p . , 2 7 t h F e b . 3 r d 1 2 0
A r m y i n U . K . v . B . A . O H . , 2211d M a r c h 7 t h
3
0
I n t e r S e r v i c e s C r o s s - C o u n t r y, 3 r d A p r i l 2 n d
2
4
(1st o f A r r a y p e r s o n n e l ) .