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RAOC Gazette - page 14

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
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BIRTHS
PARROTT.—On 22nd April 1980, to Linda (nee Gullick) and
Captain David Parrott, a daughter, Emma Jane.
ROYCROFT.— On 6th May 1980, at the Louise Margaret
Maternity Hospital, Aldershot, to Carole and Mike Roycroft, a
daughter, Rebecca Ann, a sister for Jennifer.
MAJOR GENERAL SIR LANCELOT CUTFORTH, KBE, CB.
MAJOR GENERAL SIR JOHN HILDRETH KBE, writes: —
Major General Sir Lancelot Cutforth, who was bom on the
14th August 1899, died this year on the 7th April, and the
Corps lost one of its most famous and outstanding officers.
' Cutters,' as he was known to everyone, was commissioned in-
to the Gunners in September 1918 and saw the last couple of
months of World War One. He remained with the RA until
he transferred to RAOC in 1931. During that period with the
Gunners he spent some four years with the RAF, where he
won his wings in the forerunner of what today is the Army
Air Corps.
I first met him at Hilsea, at that time the Corps Head-
quarters, while I was on my Ordnance Officers Course. Cutters
was, I think, the Adjutant. Anyway, he, George Crawford and
George Viner made us new boys very welcome and showed
much kindness to me and to the others on the fourteenth Ord-
nance Officers Course.
WALCROFT.—On the 3rd April 1980, at the Louise Margaret
Maternity Hospital, Aldershot, to Captain and Mrs E. G.
Walcroft, a daughter, Anna Louise, sister for Virginia and
Bruce.
ENGAGEMENTS
BROWNING—BLAKE.—The engagement is announced between
Katharine Joyce Browning, daughter of Major and Mrs G. R.
Browninc of 17 Humber Way, Donnington, and Lance Corporal
Simon Blake RAOC. son of Mr and Mrs A. Blake of 12
Thursby Road. Highcliffe-on-Sea. Bournemouth.
FINNERON—BURNS.—The engagement is announced betweei.
Penelope Rhoda Shaddock Finneron, daughter of Mrs R. G
Finneron of Toronto, Canada, and the late Lieutenant Colonel
K. T. Finneron and Kevin John Burns, son of Mr and Mr*
J. H. Burns of Etobicoke Canada.
MARRIAGES
HARVERSON—IDE.—The marriage took place at Tidworth,
Hants, on Saturday, 29th March 1980, of Fiona, daughter of
Colonel and Mrs John Harverson, and Jeremy, only son of Mrs
Isabel Ide of Great Cheverell, Wilts.
DEATHS
BROOKSBANK.—On 15th April 1980, suddenly at his home in
Southport, Ex-W02 (SQMS) C. K. (Lofty) Brooksbank.
DICKER.—On 23rd April 1980, at Colchester, Major C. M.
Dicker, aged forty four years.
MOY.—On 1st May 1980, at the Cambridge Military Hospital,
Aldershot, Private A. R. Moy, as a result of Cardiac Arrest.
READMAN— On 18th April 1980, at his home, Cedarcroft,
Henley in Arden, Major General Edgar Piatt Readman CBE, TD,
aged eighty six.
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE have informed us of the death
of the following Officers: —
BAILEY.—On 3rd February 1980, Lieutenant Colonel G. R.
Bailey.
BENNETT.—On 13th January 1980, Captain G. H. Bennett.
COLLINGS— On 2nd March 1980, Captain (OEO) J: H. Collings.
SEEL.—On 17th February 1980, Captain J. Seel.
A list of the appointments he held does not depict the
man, and so I will restrict myself to saying that he was the
DA AG in AG9 in 1939, the A AG in 1941, and it was in these
two appointments where I saw him so frequently. The skill
and patience which he showed in placing so many officers in
appointments for which they were not only well suited but
keen to get, was phenomenal. He then went off as DDOS 21
Army Group as second to Charles Denniston, and later himself
became DOS BAOR. Back to the War Office for a spell as
DDOS (Ops) and then DDOS to DOS. He went to the Middle
East as DOS and then.back to the War Office as Inspector and
finally as the DOS.
It is of the man I would speak and not of his many ap-
pointments, and I can do no better than quote what General
George Crawford said in the most excellent address which he
gave at Cutters' funeral, and I quote: —
" He was first and foremost a great family man;
tremendously proud of his wife and family and of the way in
which they supported him in his various activities. The fact
of knowing that he would always find a peaceful and happy
atmosphere in his own home was a vital feature in his life.
Many a time in the War Office, after a lengthy and in-
conclusive discussion of some problem, he would say: "Let's
go home to our families where we shall be able to think about
Book number R0404