Bert will be greatly missed by all of those who knew him.Condolances to all the family.God bless you Bert. 

               Burt. we will be there for your last parade. r-i-p  old
             old friend   condolences to pat &family
                           chris & carol

 
            SORRY TO HEAR OF BERTS DEATH IT IS A SAD LOSS 
          OUR  THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY  HE WAS A GREAT MAN
                                HAYLEL & ALAN NORCOTT

Very sorry to hear of the untimely death of Bert.

My sincere condolences go out to the whole family.

Your pictoral history of our finest Regiment is legendary. Thank You

RIP

Bert was a great mate to know 11 PLT, C Coy 1 RGJ

Rest in peace Bert

My father Alan Stow or Stowie to his friends, and my mum went to Bert's send off, unfortunatley i was unable to go.... I shall never live that picture down he took of me sat on santa's knee in Hong Kong.

I just wanted to send my respects...

RIP Bert from the Stow family

Having just read about the very sad loss of Bert, a dear old friend and having seen the comments made by others, there is very little left to say.
The superlatives used describe Berts nerev ending loyalty, dedication and professionalism that he showed throughout his career (I include the time since his demob).
Above all I shall cherish the memories of the time spent with Bert in both work and social times (the social times were extremely enjoyable).
Pat may I offer you and the family my heartfelt sympathies, I just hope that you can take some small comfort from the knowledge that Bert was so obviously loved and respected by one and all that came to know and love him.

A note for Billy, many thanks for all your efforts in keeping people informed, sadly I was not able to get to see Bert before he left us but the updates were well received.

God Bless you all.

Dave Rimmer
Dubai

To The Family of Bert Henshaw my Sincere Condolonces. may he Rest in Peace.

When I got the call to come and see Bert back in June it was a quite ominous call and you know something is wrong.  Especially when the normal telephone calls from Bert are on a Saturday night between 11.00pm and 11.45pm after he returns from his local, when he is waiting for his takeaway to be delivered!  

It is over the last few months in situations like this do you see so much emotion and how this terrible illness affects the person and the family.  However, I think you will agree with me that the Henshaw family has been dealt a seriously tragic blow specifically this year. This is because in January of this year Berts sister Doris, was taken by this terrible disease, Cancer.  Therefore, I would ask you to remember Berts mum, Mrs Edie Henshaw, in your prayers today, having to bury her second child in less than 9 months.

So to Bert, there are lots of people present who will know Bert in many different situations and guises.  They will know what he was like in his younger days before the Army, in 1st Green Jackets in 1965, 1st Bn The Royal Green Jackets in 66,  during the 70s, the Depot in the 80s, the Reunions, Regimental Gatherings, Medal Parades and Passing Off Parades; throughout all of these 4 decades and up until the Reunion this year.  He is very well known and respected for his books, hes amassed over 4,500 photographs alone, some gifted, many taken by him and others purchased; his earliest photograph is of the Rifle Brigade in Dublin 1845.  

But who was Bert Henshaw, and why did he have, such a capacity in wanting to help others and give unstintingly and at times to the detriment of family life?  To find out we have to go to back to his birth.  Now you will find out why I have a day job.

SING (Extract of a verse of In my Liverpool Home)
Way back in the 40s the whole world went mad, Mr Hitler through at us everything that he had, and when the smoke and the dust had all cleared from the air thank God said the old man the Pier Heads still there;   but so was

Albert William Weaver born on the 14 September 1945.  Therefore, out of the mayhem and destruction of the 2nd World War came a person that would have a profound impact on many civilian and soldiers of the Light Division and now the Rifles.

When Bert was 3 years of age, he was placed in a Childrens home and offered up to the foster system.   However, Bert informed me that a kinder couple, Charlie and Edie Henshaw, could not have looked after him any better.  When he was 11 years of age, Charlie and Edie adopted him and it cost them the princely sum of 5 shillings.  As it was told to me this week, Bert was speaking with his Mum last year after he had come across his adoption certificate and Bert said, Mum, that is the best 5 shillings you ever spent, and his Mum replied, Yes thats right son.  One thing is for sure, Bert never forgot the kindness of Charlie and Edie and he worshiped the ground they walked on.

Prior to joining the Army Bert trained as a butcher then worked his way up to a master Butcher.  Saturdays after work he would come in to my Grandmothers Pub, the Albion to deliver meat, he eventually became a regular.  Bert was always treated well and brought home to the pub many Royal Green Jackets and even held his Wedding Reception there, he was a great friend of all my family since 1960.

In speaking about those days last week with Jimmy, Berts younger brother, I was corrected on a minor detail.  Jimmy said Bert didnt work Saturdays, I did, he only pedalled the bike.  I was about 5 years of age and he would tell me whose house to deliver the meat to and to bring back the money the customer gives you because its for payment for the meat.  However, it was only until Bert joined the Army that Jimmy found out he was handing over the tips and Jimmys treat was the pleasure of sitting on his older brothers bike.  Bert always knew how to earn a little extra money and I wont elaborate further.

Bert was also a good Mortar man & CPO as well as a good soldier, his platoon won the inter Platoon Competition in 1970 in America, normally this is won by the Rifle Companies, Berts section commander then was Jimmy Condon, who remained a good friend over they years to Bert.

Bert was as sharp as a razor with his quick wit which came to the fore during Op Motorman in 72.  His new Pl Comd had obviously been reading his field-craft pamphlet prior to the Patrol.  This is because they were opened up on by an M60 or a GPMG.  Pl Comd shouted anyone seen the gunmen?  No came the response.  Pl Comd shouted again, OK, Henshaw get up run across the open ground and get down by the next corner obviously a good way to draw the gunmans fire, sounds good in the pamphlet.  Berts response was oi, days of the Raj are over, you do it and see what happens.  Just then the gunmen open up and they located him and returned fire.  

Bert was forever organising and in HK Bert organised the pads in Chung Hom Kok for a Christmas celebration for the kids, Bing Crosby was the best dressed Father Christmas any had seen, compliments of his wife then Peggy, Bert said Bing wasnt known for his Saville Row Guardsman type turn out, Lille Flynn produced the sandwiches and Paul Ambrose turned up with all the meat.  Bert at the time had just taken over as the Bn Butcher and ration stores and it was not until he went back in to work that he found out his stores had been turned over with all the meat missing.  There was suspicion but Bert took the line that if his suspicions were correct then he himself was party to handling and eating stolen goods so kept quiet about it.  I think he looked at Paul on that occasion as being a bit like Robin Hood! Slightly misguided but his heart was in the right place as normal, a trait he was always showing.

1980 he was devastated he was posted to the Depot the Bn to Sth Armagh; it was to be the tour where the Royal Green Jackets had the highest fatalities and the most injuries any of the Bns suffered throughout the Operation banner years.  However, Bert being Bert didnt let that get in his way so he persuaded the Bn to allow him to visit on the proviso of taking pictures from Sangers.  So he went on his holidays to Sth Armagh, the only soldier in the British Army who thought it was great to spend his holidays there.
I was in Crossmaglen at the time and the OC tasked me with taking a journalist out for a few happy snaps, I wasnt impressed and I told the OC that but he laughed and said helicopter in a few minutes, as we know they didnt hang around there, no sooner was it down it was taking off again and when the down draught ceased, Yes youre right the was Bert smiling.  I asked him what he thought he was doing, typically Bert was laid back and said dont worry Yozzer, in the old days we were always getting shot at.  He then had to keep up hard targeting, however, as soon as he was in the square he was strolling around taking happy snaps of the IRAs Statue representing Freedom fighters.

Obviously some of the kids had heard about Bert because they walked up to him and asked if he was lost because they thought he was on his own.  They must have heard how notoriously bad he was at map reading we then appeared they moved off.  Bert said, youre not supposed to leave me on my own.  I then pointed out Baruki Sanger which had 3 GPMG sticking out the window, cameras covering the square and that he was always in eye contact with me.  He said he knew all the time he wasnt scared just wanted know he was keeping us all on our toes!

Now we all know about Berts early life, it is no wonder that he was always there to offer advice, help some one out or be there for the underdog.  I would like to share with you a small email and a comment that was made to me because they sum Bert up a treat.

The email came from RFN Martin Carr 2RGJ 92-2000.  It says, Please, pass on my best wishes to all the Henshaw clan.  Bert and his family gave me one of the best Christmases I have ever had.  In 1992 on Christmas day` he invited two riflemen from Sir John Moore barracks to come down and have dinner with him and his family, I was one of those lucky Rfn.  Ive never been close to my own family and was expecting a Christmas sitting in camp on rear party feeling sorry for myself.  So for this family to offer dinner and drinks to  complete strangers was a big thing for me and made a huge impression on a 17 year old, who was still wandering if he could make it in the forces.  Ill always be grateful to Bert and his family for taking us in and even buying us presents an electric razor, which I still have.

The comment was from Terry Clayton.  He said to me a month ago, Billy, you do realise that Bert is so well known that if you put him with his camera around his neck and a Green Jacket General at the side of him and placed them both in front of the Bns and even the new Rifles.  Then asked them to name the two people in front of them, most of the guys would say, Yes, that is Bert with his camera but dont know who the other one is apart from hes dressed as an officer.

I would discuss with Bert about my perception of what happens when we pass over and beliefs, those comments some of you will have read on the RGJ Association web site.  Therefore to finish I will leave you with 2 questions I put to Bert with his responses.  Youre facing your Maker, Bert, how do you feel about that and what is the best thing that has happened to you?  Berts swift response, Well Billy, I hope you are right about going to the final RV because it sounds good meeting up with all the lads again and I could really do with a Guinness.  The best thing has to be getting married to Pat, planning for the future and watching the kids grow up.   

My sympathy goes to all of Bert's family. Bert, god bless you as you now stand (HIGH ON THE HILL)
A legend to the (RGJ FAMILY) for all the happiness you gave for your pictorial history
                        SWIFT & BOLD