9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1984 - Page 0086
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1984 |
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rHEsrn/iztn ROYAL [ANCERS REGiMENtAL JouRNAt Mr W Francis 9L Bill Francis iotned the Band of the Ninth in 1933 whilst the Regiment was in Redtord Barracks Edinburgh He played the piano and the comet. serVing in the Band until 1939 when, many members, including the writer, were transferred to duty Sqns Bill was posted to H0 Son for work in the OMs stores, a lot) which suited him for he very soon got a couple ol stripes ln the early desert days, by which time Bill had his third stripe, he was sent to ’8‘ Son as SOMS As those of us who were there Will recall, a very demanding job, in charge of the Sort ’B’ Ech keeping the Son supplied with all that was needed in the way of rations, petrol, ammunition, clothing, mail and the little extra’s any good SOMS could scrounge Here he gained the name 'Hall Akker' which stuck with him for the rest of his service, This came about when dealing With the men’s pay and various purchases from the back of the SOMS’ lorry, sometimes at the dead of night, he always demanded accuracy down to the last half plastre lakkerl — the smallest Egyptian coin, Bill FranCIs’ qualities were recognised when, Just before the end at the war, he was promoted W02 and appointed ROMS, a position he held until Just before the amalgamation. FromDetmold, he took an ERE posting as W01 until he finally retired in 1962; a few short months of thirty years service Bill Francis gained an a reputation for efficiency and accurate accounting When we got back to peace time accounting and annual admin inspections, the very many gloWing reports on the OMs dept were due to the HOMS’s hard work. conscientious attention to detail and ability to get all the stores staff to work enthUSiastically with him For most of his seiviue, Bill Francis was accompanied by his wife, Mary who he had married in Edinburgh She was With hrm in Quarters in Tidworth when the war started. Separated by the war years, she was among the first of the Wives to tout the Regiment in Italy. It Wives had been eligible for the LS and GC Medal, Marv would certainly have got one for she was as devoted to the Ninth as was Bill To prove it they provtded an outstanding record ol continuity, for their son William served in the 9th/12th While their two grandsons Richard and William are servrng in the Regiment to this day. Following his discharge from the Army, Bill Francis look up a job With the Lancashlre Education Authority in Accrington until he reached the retirement age of 65 years l called on Mary Fiancis a few weeks ago, she is in good spirits, has a comfortable little house in Accrington, her son and daughter live tn the area so she is not entirely alone lam sure all those who remember Mary Will jOllT me in Wishing tier well ERD Mr John Pilka John Pilka, the widely known and much liked Secretary of the Old Comrades Assomatinn lmni 1976 to 1983, died suddenly at the early age of 58 on Saturday, 19 May. 1984 Asa young boy, John was in a Polish Naval School when War Was declared in 7939 The school evacuated to Sweden and by devious moans John ended tip ll'i England a lew months later He spam the latter part of the War in itte Polish Navy. serving as a Wireless Operator on an MTB, Demobilised, he remained ii- England working lle the Marconi Corporation However, the (all of seivrce life was too strong and shortly he let: to rein the British Army, mining the ‘thl'i Lancers, then tn the Tlfllllllig Reniineni role at Barnard Castle. When the l2tl’i were retormed as an Airnourad Cat Regiment to go to Malaya, John toured 4 Troop B Squadroi‘ (”the lrish Troop', oi llllpt ised of 50% Poles and 50% lrishl Alter a spell as the Troop Leader's Driver, he became Troop Corporal and was involved With the Troop in various lllCIdelllS, including being shot at on the Cameron Highlands Road. John married in l955, alter the Regiment returned lroni Malaya and, a year or so later, left the Regular Army, However, he soon loltled the Territorials, becoming Signal Sergeant lli ’A' Squadron Kent and County oi London Yenmanry and later Squadron Sergeant Maior. He always took a keen interest tn the affairs of the 9th/12th Lancers and |
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