The Autobiography of an Ex-Grenadier Guardsman: Gerald Griffiths His Life and Military Background

By Gerald Griffiths

The record of military service of Gerald Glyn Griffiths, who served with the Grenadier Guards from August 1, 1961, until July 31, 1970 (discharged on July 31, 1973; service number, 23862933; rank, lance/corporal).
For Crown and Country

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477247228

Gerald Griffiths

The book of Moggy will be a lovely keepsake for their grandchildren. But Gerald has just importantly written his autobiography of his life so his grandchildren will have and be able to know of the wonderful qualities of his mother and father, brothers and sisters, and the love he has for them, plus those no longer with us. He misses them dreadfully. He wanted to be able to give his own son and grandchildren a keepsake they would be able to cherish for years to come and hopefully show their children and their children’s children the life of their great-great-grandparents. Please look out for this book as it is a lovely read about a wonderful family. Also, Gerald has published a book on his martial arts. See front covers of both books.

Book preview

© 2012 Gerald Griffiths. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any

means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/21/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4721-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4722-8 (ebk)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images

are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in thisbook may have changed

since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do

not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter (1)

Chapter 2

Chapter 3.

Chapter (4)

Chapter (5)

Chapter (6)

Chapter (7).

Chapter (8)

Chapter (9).

Chapter (10).

Chapter (11)

Chapter (12)

Chapter (13).

Chapter (14)

Chapter (15)

Chapter (16)

Chapter (17)

Chapter (18)

Chapter (19)

Chapter (20)

Chapter (21)

Chapter (22)

Chapter (23)

Chapter (24)

Acknowledgements and Thanks.

Mr. Colin Knight: I would to thank and acknowledge his outstanding work and the people he has helped. Everything he does is a tribute to him the Gloucestershire Branch, of the Grenadier Guards Association. I would also like to thank you Colin, for your kindness in helping June and I within the Grenadier Guards Association. Your dedication and hard work for the Association should be acknowledged far more than I can put here. ‘Thank you Colin’.

Mr. Gareth Hughes: I would like to thank and acknowledge Gareth Hughes for giving me the inspiration to place the writings from my journal into book form. I would also like to thank him for inviting June and myself to his office at Cardiff University, and the great photographs he took during a photo shoot for my book. I would also like to thank him for the wonderful framed photo of June and myself. Thank you Gareth.

Mr. Robert Huntley: I would like to thank and acknowledge, Robert Huntley’s outstanding achievements in grades and his ability in the Martial Arts, and for all the years of training and comradeship we have had together. Thank you Bob.

Mr. Richard Nettleton: I would like to thank and acknowledge Richard for his help and information on Photos and events which occurred, plus the considerable amount of proofreading he has helped me with, for without his help I do not know what I would have done. ‘Thank you Richard’.

Thanks to Mrs. Jill Shelly and Mrs. Natalie Amy Paternoster and Mr. David Higgs: For allowing their photos to be published in my work.

Mr. Steve Walker: I would like to thank and acknowledge Steve for his kindness Steve is a person who would go out of his way to help a friend in need at any time of the day, or night, a very true friend. I would also like to acknowledge his dedication to practice, and his contribution to the administration of Shoto’s-Traditional-Karate-Kai. Thank you Steve.

Mr. Phillip Knickenberg: Hi’ya Mate! It goes without saying to thank you for all your help with mechanics and motors. Without your help, ‘Moggy’ Morris Minor may not be on the road today, and would probably be in that great scrapheap in the sky. I would like to acknowledge all your dedication of our Martial Arts, and your work as Club Treasurer for Shoto’s-Traditional-Karate-Kai. Thank you Phil.

Mrs. June Montrose Griffiths: Well what can I say? She is my wife! Thanks for putting up with me all these years, it goes without saying we love each other very much and hopes to have another 45 years together. Love you June.

Mr. Graham John Griffiths: I love you Son, ‘you know that!’ I would like to acknowledge the hardships you have gone through, and to tell you from Mum and myself, we love you very much, and think of you each day. Things are beginning to look good for the future, and we pray that a new love will be of great help to you within your life. We would like to thank you for helping Terese, bring into the world two beautiful Grandchildren, Larrisa and Brandon.

Mrs. Terese Fay, our Grandchildren’s Mum: I would like to thank you for the beautiful Grandchildren, Larrisa and Brandon, and hope you have found happiness in your new family life. Good luck for the future.

Larrisa and Brandon: Mama and I love you both and miss you a lot. What can I say here? Well, I think Chapters 18 and 19 say it all, and it came from the bottom of our hearts to say these things. Thank you, we Love you so much, from Mama and Granddad.

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By

Richard Lee Nettleton.

I was delighted when asked to write a forward for Gerald’s forthcoming book.

I had known Gerald since our early days with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, from the mid 1960’s onwards, but had lost touch with him over the years until recently.

Gerald was different from most Guardsmen, as he served with members of the Corps of Drums, in both his reconnaissance days, as well as his time with the assault Pioneers in Germany, and became accepted by them as one of their own.

I was a member of that same Corps of Drums, but had returned to the Guards Depot Pirbright by the time he joined the Assault Pioneers, so missed that part of his life, but do remember his excitement in barracks on the birth of his son!

It is said books are the window into the soul. In this book, you are able to glimpse many nostalgic moments from his early life, up until the present day. But, the one overriding factor, which has to be said, is his love and respect for his parents, family and friends, and his pride at having served in one of the Country’s Elite Regiments, which shines through on each and every one of these pages. I found this a fascinating and exciting pictorial view into his life, and hope those reading this book will be able to do so as well.

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A brief record of Richard’s service: His army number is: 23862965 and joined the Junior Guardsman’s Company on 9th September 1961 aged 15, completed two Continental tours with them 1963-1964. Joined the 2nd Bn in Windsor in 1964, Germany 1966, back to the Guards Depot Corps of Drums in 1967, rejoined Battalion at Chelsea in 1969, Ireland 1969-1970, British Honduras 1972 and discharged in 1973. On noticing Richard’s Army number it is so close to mine, which is 23862933.

Grenadier Guards

Association,

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Gloucestershire Branch.

Some very kind words written for me by Mr. Colin Knight, whom I have the deepest respect for, and is the Gloucestershire Branch Secretary of the Grenadier Guards Association.

Mr. Colin Knight.

Well, what can one say about Gerald Griffiths? Usually autobiographies are written by the rich and famous, or those who have held high office of some sort.

However, along comes Gerald and writes a detailed account of his life from his earliest memories, right up to the present day.

Having joined the Grenadier Guards, where ‘Once a Grenadier always a Grenadier’ is their motto, he has also joined an extended family, which will remain with him for the rest of his life.

He is, like most men who served in the Grenadier Guards, proud of his time with the Regiment, and rightly so. In this book, Gerald has recounted many interesting occasions and events during his life, all of which are meticulously recorded.

With regards to his Martial Arts. How many of us would have the dedication to attain the heights he has achieved? And although he cannot by any stretch of the imagination now be considered a young man, still practices these skills on a regular basis. Tell us the secret of your eternal youth Gerald; we would all like to know how you’ve achieved this.

Gerald and June have taken a big step by immigrating to Australia, and wish them well in their new environment. Now many miles away from his former home, Gerald still takes an interest in branch affairs and communicates with me as his Branch Secretary on a regular basis. However, I refuse to accept his excuse he’s too far away to attend these meetings!

I understand he has already been on Australian Radio and Television, talking about the Grenadier Guards and his views on the Royal Wedding.

Watch this space I say, to see what else he gets involved in downunder.

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Chapter (1)

Gerald Griffiths

The Autobiography of his life,

Military back ground and Martial Arts history.

‘Mine honour is my life, both grew as one.

Take honour from me, and my life is done. ‘William Shakespeare.’

2009; Well, this is the year I decided to put all my scribbling and notes into print and start this book dedicated to my Son Graham, my grandchildren Brandon and Larrisa of which I am very proud, also to my Mother and Father and all my Brothers and Sisters. I hope you will not have found my writings to discursive, and that I have been able to hold your interest throughout.

I am starting this on a sad note as I want to get it out of the way. It is still early days as to what happened during this year, then I can concentrate on good memories.

This has been the saddest year of my life as I lost my dear Mum, as well as a sister during this year. Dearest Mum died on the 4th May 2009 at 1-30pm at a care home at the old Vicarage in Frampton on Seven, Gloucestershire. She had nearly all her children around her when she peacefully slipped away in her sleep. She had a good innings, and lived to be a nice old age.

She was a very grand lady and was loved and liked by many people. Her house was an ever open door to whoever wanted to chat. She was forever cooking, and everyone who called received a piece of her apple tart, or cakes with their tea.

Oh! And her Curries were out of this world! She was doing these things right up until a few years before she died.

This same year my dear sister Angela, who came home from Australia to be with Mum, spending three months here before Mum died. After Mums death she went back to Australia on the 5th May 2009. We took her to the Airport ourselves, back to her babies as she would call her two grown up children, Alison and Paul and of course her Grandchildren Morgan, Will, and Hollie.

That following month she died herself, which was even more tragic as she had a wonderful man in her life, Carlwyn Saunders (Taff) and she had died on her Birthday.

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Mum. Gran Griffiths, as everybody who knew her

would call her Gran. This is Mum how everybody will remember her, old at ninety

five, but sharp as a button.

She was so well liked: Her house was an ever open door.

I love you Mum, ‘God bless’.

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Before Mum died, she always said she wanted me to speak at her funeral, and often said to me ‘I was the showman’ and could do it. This was the hardest thing in my life to do, but I was so proud to have done it with pride and dignity, the same quality’s my mother had. Everyone, my brothers, sisters and families, said how well I had talked and were so proud of me. As she was so well liked, there was hundreds at the funeral.

See my talk here.

Our Mum

Every body’s Gran

95 years.

To us the best Mum in the World.

Are you ok, are you sure, she would say.

Our Mum would tell you, I’m a lucky old bird.

But all my Brothers and Sisters, twenty four grandchildren, thirty

Two great Grandchildren and one Great, Great Grandchild will tell

You we are the luckiest ones for having such a great and wonderful

Mum & Gran.

When I was a little boy growing up, I found a transparent balloon in

The fire place, now I know what it was!

It’s a good job Mum & dad used them, or goodness knows how many

more brothers and sisters we would have had?

This proves that we were all planed, wanted, and loved.

We love her so much, and she loved us all.

‘Butterfly in The church’

A poem our Mum liked to quote

Most of you may have heard it

‘Butterfly in the Church’

Butterfly, butterfly, why come you here,

This is no bar for you go suck the honey drops sweet and clear,

Or bathe in the morning dew

This is the place to think of Heaven.

This is the place to pray.

Butterfly, butterfly,

You have no sins to be forgiven.

Butterflies fly away.

‘In our Mum’s own words’.

I love you all more than you’ll ever know.

And I know, she knows, we love her so much too.

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Born 11th April 1914, Died 4th May 2009.

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A really nice kind letter from Jane Cook, a friend of my late brother Andrew.

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It’s been an emotional roller coaster these last few months, what with losing Mum as well as Angela. Angela and I hugged for our Mum, and just as Mum died Angela whispered in my ear, ‘it’s ok to cry’.

We talked about many things while she was over here this last time. Angela also told me what a great job Glenis and Graham had done looking after Mums needs and finances as power of attorney and executor. What with her counselling and things, she was very understanding, although she was the baby and youngest of us all. Graham, David, Christopher, Sheila, Gerald, Peter, Mary, Andrew and Angela, Angela being the youngest. She tried to help with what she could, sometimes taking charge too much.

I laid in the Hotel bed at Sydney on our way to Adelaide thinking what I could say for Angela, and just cried myself to sleep. At home Vicki rang me up crying and said ‘Angela is (was) my rock what will I do now if I can’t talk to her?’ I know she was a rock and an inspiration to many people, especially to her Son and Daughter, Alison and Paul. When I drove her to the Airport to go home to Australia she said, ‘I can’t wait to get back to my babies,’ meaning her Grandchildren.

She was very outspoken, especially when protecting her children, probably a little too outspoken for her own good. She would call a spade a spade and tell the truth, even of it hurt the one’s she loved. But love is the main thing we as a loving family can give. Forgiveness and truth, she would come and fight in your corner. Angela was good at giving hope for someone in despair, just by being with them. It is a very great thing to have been willing to take on someone else’s suffering and redeems them for us.

Mary, Andrew and Mum and Dad knew this. She was there for them, as we are here for her today.

Angela was an amazing woman. In 1991 she flew home to England from Australia and nursed my Sister Mary, who had cancer, and stayed two or three months until she died on the 11th April 1991. Years later in 2007, she went from Adelaide to Sydney in Australia to nurse my brother Andrew, who was also dying of Cancer, and stayed with him for quite a few months taking care nursing him until he died, then on the 2nd October 2007, she managed his entire funeral arrangements. She was such a strong steadfast Lady, and then when Mum had a stroke she again came straight home to see her for three months, and when our mother died before she went back to Australia, Angela spent considerable time with her, so when she went back home she was suffering from deep depression. Angela died herself a month later of a broken heart at losing Mum. If losing Mum wasn’t bad enough, to lose my sister so soon after was heart breaking. My wife June