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IT'S A SMALL WORLD!
This story is very nice and shows just how small Planet
Coldstream is. It also shows that even if the
Battalion are extremely busy with their forthcoming Tour
- they still take time out to make someone else's day!
WOII (CSM) Steve Taylor of Number 1 Company came
knocking on my door a few months ago asking if I could
do him a 'favour'. Quickly scanning his hands,
before I agreed to commit to anything that could
interfere with my daily routine I said ...............
"maybe!".
Well, the favour was to scan a couple of pictures that
had been found and it turned out that after asking a
local reproduction centre, and realising just how much
they'd cost, they come across my lap. My initial
thought was to explain just how difficult each image
would be to scan. I would have to break the image
down into 12 parts, scanning each section - then have to
piece it all back together again on the 'puter.
After I learned the story about the history of these
photos, I readily agreed!
WOII (CSM) Steve Taylor explains more:
Just before we left Victoria Barracks (Windsor), Ingrid
Owen, the cleaner for Number 1 Company's Office was
looking at some of the Company photographs we have on
display whilst she continued on her daily routine. She
turned and looked towards me and mentioned there was a
picture of her father, in fact three pictures, of when
he served in Number 1 Company during the 50's.
Obviously 'choked' by what she had found she explained
that she had very little information on her Father's
career as he kept his time to himself until the very
end.
From the photos I gathered the information that her
Father is Sgt Kenneth Owen and he served in Number 1
Company from approx 1950 – 57 and then went to the SAS.
I told her that we had an archives section within
Regimental Headquarters
(RHQ) and I would telephone Gdsm
Goodwin in RHQ to gain more
information. He was extremely helpful (as always) and within a week
I received a pack detailing Sgt Owens time and service
in the Regiment.
There wasn't much information but it did state that in
approx 1957+ he volunteered for the SAS, and
subsequently served with them in Hereford!
As we (and the Battalion) were leaving Windsor in
January 2009 (moving down to Aldershot) she asked if she
could get a copy of the 3 pictures that her father was
in. Easier said then done I thought, but I promised her
that I would be able to do this, and to be patient.
Each day she looked forward to seeing her fathers
picture in the office when she came to clean.
Once in Aldershot I had my in-waiting bods visiting the
local photo-shops trying to get the three pictures done, and
all said the same "that it could be done, or it had to
be sent away and cost a lot of spondolees". We
obviously hit a brick wall regarding costs, but a
promise was a promise so I came knocking on Adam Brady's
door - to be honest I should have gone straight there.
Now September 09, and I had three fantastic framed pictures
to give to Ingrid and on telephoning her and passing on
this information, both she and her family were ecstatic.
Myself, LCpl Wilkinson. Gdsm Guscott J, Ali and Moore
travelled down to Windsor to present the pictures to her
family.
Seeing the pictures, her mother was very proud and
emotional and so was Ingrid. Also present in the
house was her brother and Husband. When we arrived at
the house the intention was to quickly deliver the
pictures and be on our way due to the Company falling
out later, but we were ferried in to meet all the family,
made massively welcome and forced beer, of which was
very, very welcome!
About an hour later we left from a very happy and proud
family.
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