Welcome to our Blog page for “A” Company, 1st Battalion DCLI – circa 1953-1957 or thereabouts. Our objectives, hopes, desires and wishes are that former soldiers – OR’s, NCO’s and Officers, will tender diary entries, stories, memoirs, names and photos for the period spent at Prospect Garrison, Devonshire Bermuda; also Kingston and Newcastle Jamaica; Belize, British Honduras and British Guiana – and indeed the times immediately before and after. More sub pages can be produced if the volume of comment for the separate Companies develops to a large degree.
We hope that we can develop this Blog Page into a special site to encourage an historical reference for 1DCLI Regimental History of this era. The old Prospect Barracks in Bermuda are demolished now and any photographic memorabilia that you the reader might have – will be greatly appreciated so that we can create full visual pages, including group and personal shots. The Editor has published several photographs of the old Barracks. So far John Tenniswood, John Griffin, Neil Swanson, Bill Edwards, Bill Eaton, Barry Cornish, Reg Pearce, Reg Mitchell, Alan Mitchell, Peter Trethake, Keith Mannings, Jim Kelly, Derek Lawrence, Fraser Pakes, Tom Strike and Mike Woolley have forwarded old photos of the period.
You can also view a Royal Honour Guard photograph of Princess Margaret in 1955 escorted by “A” Company Commanding Officer, Major AJ Marsh DSO, (SAS), accompanied by Brigadier JAM Rice-Evans that is published on the bermuda-online hotlink on the DCLI Home Page.
Preferably post a Blog comment here and Derek Lovemore Editor, will follow through from your (confidentially) captured email address to suggest the easiest method to send photos etc. Go to http://djkl157.googlepages.com/home to see many “A” Company photographs – more being added daily. Check out also the 1DCLI photos on http://djkl157.googlepages.com/1dclimemorabilia that is also being developed and added to regularly. Neil “Swanny” Swanson is a great contributor to the bank of current era photos of the DCLI West Cornwall Association now published. Come on you Cornishmen – put down your wonderful pasties and contribute. We want your photos and the personal service numbers and posting details of you and your Regimental mates or long lost relatives to get a mention. Tempus Fugit!
“The good old days are here and now”. (Denis Waitley)
Carpe Diem!
Postscript added 1st February 2007: The Cornish Guardian published the Editor’s article about 1DCLI Bermuda 1954, on Wednesday 31st January 2007, in the hope that many others – particularly the Cornish lads – will view and add their fond memories and stories to our Blog Page.
Postscript added 25th November 2007: A Google Search using “1DCLI Memorabilia” turns up ALL 23 results in the first 3 pages. That has to be some accomplishment – cheps – keep the photos and captions flowing.
We have also hotlinked several You Tube videos onto the “A” Company website for nostalgic live views of Bermuda’s finest beaches, including Horseshoe Beach and 10 minutes of driving scenes.
Tempus Fugit!
Above is a photograph of the plaque on our former CO’s grave at Devonshire Anglican Church, taken for the October 2008 edition of the regimental magazine of The Bermuda Regiment. You can read a comment relating to the grave site, from Major Chris Wheddon with whom the editor had been in contact in mid 2007.
