As regular visitors to these pages will know, we take time out to remember friends and or former colleagues with whom we served in Tidworth Military Hospital. One such person was Jim, or Jimmy Harris-he answered to both.
I can't tell you just when he was in Tidworth, but I know he was there after November 1969 as that is when I left for Rinteln. To those who knew him, you will possibly remember him for his perpetual smile and sense of humour.
I can't tell you just when he was in Tidworth, but I know he was there after November 1969 as that is when I left for Rinteln. To those who knew him, you will possibly remember him for his perpetual smile and sense of humour.
I believe Jim was born in 1934-or at least I am sure thats what he told me not long before his death. I know he was born in Kennington, South London. He was an evacuee, his parents were killed during a bombing raid, but I don't know in which year. To be honest, not a great deal is known about Jims background until he joined the railways, following his tour of duty as a National Serviceman.
His stories about his times as a young signalman have been told so many times over a pint or two in the NAAFI, in The Sgts Mess or in a pub somewhere. They never failed to sound as fresh as the first time they were told.
Shortly before his death during the early hours of July 27th 2011, he had discussed with me the possibility of putting into words an account of his life, from birth through to the position he found himself having been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer. I provided him with a dictaphone and tapes and shot off to Cyprus for a month. At the time I left, he appeared to be gaining strength. None of us knew his condition was terminal at the time as he told us that his treatment had been successful. When I returned on June 29th, it was clear that time was not on Jims side.
As well as being an exceptionally well liked and popular man, he was a man who created history during his time as a Chelsea Pensioner. He became the first Corps man to become a WO2 (CSM) in charge of a company. Jims company was "A" Company. He was fiercely proud of his achievement and took his role very seriously. I have spoken to a number of In Pensioners at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. They are all of one opinion-he was an excellent leader and left no stone unturned in working for tyhe men he represented.
You might wonder why I didn't mention Jims death before and advise of funeral dates etc. Well, Jim kept us all guessing as to what his wishes were. Jims final wishes were that his body be donated to medical science and that no religious ceremony be arranged for him.
The organisation OTT's Reunited (http://www.ottsreunited.com/) has overcome this setback and has found a way to celebrtae Jims life. There was already a weekend set aside in October 2011 for an informal get together. That weekend will now be used to celebrate.
The dates are the 28th-30th October 2011. The hotel is the Britania Hotel, Stckport in Cheshire. Saturday afternoon October 29th is the time set aside as a Memorial to Jim. It will not be a morbid event I can assure everyone. The buffet lunch is being sponsored by the Royal Army Medical Corps Regimental HQ.
The weekend is open to all former OTT's. The Memorial celebration is open to all and anyone who knew Jim, would like to meet up with former RAMC colleagues and celebrate. If you would like details of the hotel, accomodation costs etc, or to let me know you will be attending, please contact me via itsforpeter@gmail.com as quickly as possible, not later than August 24th please. RHQ need to know numbers urgently as will the hotel for bookings. I will arrange for you to receive all details required.
The pictures below show Jim at the Founders Day Parade, Royal Hospital Chelsea in 2009, along side him is my wife. The other picture is of Jim when he was an In Pensioner Sgt. He is accompanied by Les Viner MBE, Chairman of OTT's Reunited and Maj. Gen.(Rtd) Norman Kirby.
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