Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(March 2004)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Readers letters:
John writes from Canada.
Comment: I normally keep the identity of readers of the
newsletter who correspond with me private and confidential
but as this is a special case I asked John if he would
give me permission to publish his name and his story.
As the story unfolds you will see the reason why.
Apparently John had read an article that I written, which
was published in the February edition of the, "View
from America", entitled "Above
and beyond the call of duty", and it had taken
his mind back many years ago to a very sad day for him
and his wife Rachael whilst on duty in Kenya with the
British Armed forces during the time of the Mau-Mau uprising.
Please let me introduce a former comrade in arms: Regimental
Sergeant Major John Butler, (and his wife Rachael).
John and I served with the 7th Battalion of The British
Parachute Regiment in the 1940s, and although we have
never met we both parachuted into Normandy on the night
of the 5th/6th of June 1944. John saw more action at,
and on, the now famous Pegasus Bridge over the river Orne,
(which was our intended target), during the fierce fighting
that occurred there than I saw during the whole of my
seven years of service with the British Armed Forces.
But that’s another story.
Back to the story in John’s words: Your article,
"Above and beyond" struck home and reminded
me of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, (CWGC).
Whilst serving with British Forces in Kenya at an altitude
of some seven thousand feet located in billets on the
equator, our 23 month-old daughter Lesley Anne, (9 July
1956/21 June 1958), contracted a virus to which she succumbed
and died. Lesley is buried in the town cemetery at Nanyuki,
Kenya. The CWGC representative informed me that our daughter’s
grave would be recognized as that of a dependent of a
British Military Family and would be taken care of.
For several years the grave was looked after by Sergeant’s
Mess personnel and by members of the local lodge of the
Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes. (RAOB).
Half a century later when European rule had been superseded
by African rule, the grave had become somewhat dilapidated
and vandalized and I wrote a letter to the CWGC saying
how upset my wife and I were to see the deteriorated condition
of the grave. In a short space of time I received an apologetic
letter from the Graves Commission saying that they would
rectify the situation. As a courtesy the Commission completely
renovated and restored the gravesite for which we are
extremely grateful.
We consider that this also comes under the description
of "Above and beyond the call of duty".
My Comments: I notified John and his wife Rachael, who
as ex-Brits reside in the City of Vancouver, Canada, that
I would give the Commonwealth War Grave Commission the
recognition that it deserves for the magnificent service
that they have given to British Armed Forces personnel
for these many years in providing grave sites, and the
constant care of the graves of the many British servicemen
who died whilst in the service of their country.
At the same time, I would also like to give full recognition
to the Salvation Army who were always there at the right
place and the right time to boost the morale of the troops
of all services world wide, by providing a kind word and
a hot cup of tea at times when it was most needed.
I would suggest that all members of the British Armed
Forces, regardless of their religious, or non-religious
beliefs, who have come into contact with the members of
the Salvation Army during their tours of duty would support
John and I in our unqualified praise of the people of
the well respected Salvation Army who were affectionately
known to one and all as the
"Sally Army".
Well done the people of the Salvation Army---you also
come under the banner of, "Above and beyond the call
of duty".
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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