With regret we announce the death of Major (ret'd) George Frederick Blunden MBE who sadly passed away on Monday 18th June 2012.  He was 86 years old, and died suddenly of a heart attack at home. He is survived by his wife, Violet, daughters Ellen and Jane, and grandchildren Andrew and Wendy.

He was very proud of his service in the Rifle Brigade and Green Jackets, and continued to feel a great affection for and connection with the regiment after his retirement.

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A very big Thank You to everyone who has contacted us over the last two weeks to pay tribute to Dad (Maj (Retd) George Blunden). 

We were overwhelmed by the number of people who remember him, and especially touched by the number who made it to the funeral last Friday, the 29th June. 

More people wanted to come, but were unable to make it on the day, and we fully understand why.
 
Mum has been inundated with letters, emails, cards and messages - all of which we are going to keep in a scrap-book for her to read at her leisure.

We are sure Dad would have been (pleasantly) surprised by his popularity, and on his behalf, we say Farewell, and take care of yourselves.
 
Kind regards
Vi & daughters Ellen & Jane

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Obituary by Major Ron Cassidy (retd)

 Major George Frederick Blunden M.B.E., The Rifle Brigade and The Royal Green Jackets.

Born on 1 October 1925 George enlisted into The Rifle Brigade in 1943 then served with 8RB who were part of the 11th Armoured Division commanded by that most notable of leaders Maj-Gen G.P.B. Roberts.

8RB landed on the soil of France on 13/14 June 1944 and were involved throughout the push through North West Europe, sadly their casualties in that eleven months of conflict prior to VE Day was to see some 160 killed. It had been a ferocious campaign.

George married Violet Mary Baker in 1948 and they were to share their lives with two daughters Ellen and Jane.

In the year 1950 George was one of 60 members of the Sergeants Mess in Minden celebrating the 150th Regimental birthday of The Rifle Brigade, many present laid the foundations and standards of future Sergeants Mess members, of those 60 George Blunden was the last to die but their legacy lives on and was the basis of all future Sergeants Messes of the Regiment.

In 1954 1RB in which George was serving went on a three year tour at first as an unaccompanied tour of East Africa (Kenya) and Malaya doing 18 months in each. Then toward the end of Kenya families were allowed to join their husbands though as a battalion mainly of National Servicemen, there were few marrieds except for senior officers and senior non commissioned ranks.

It was in Kenya that Georges attributes were to come to the fore, his maturity, commonsense and dedication led to him as the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant being made a Member of the British Empire.

Part of his citation reads:

His patience and sense of duty have never faltered, indeed he has provided an example of devotion to duty which in an unobtrusive way has evoked the admiration and respect of all those who came into contact with him. The whole Battalion is in his debt and there is not and officer or man who has done more for the efficiency of the Battalion and whose services are more deserving of recognition.

Commissioned from WO2 as Lt (QM) in 1957 he served as QM of the Kenya Regiment 1958-61 before being QM with 3 Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade seeing service in Cyprus, UK and Borneo 1962-65, from there in 1966 to The Royal Green Jackets Depot at Winchester from where he retired  in 1969.

George was a brilliant MTO and QM, very unflappable and if he could help you or get something for you he would do just that - very much in the RB QM style seldom if ever mirrored by QMs in other Regiments! He also had an amazing sense of humour and was also always cheerful even when things were tricky and unpleasant - very much the sort of guy you want on your side in a crisis.

On leaving the army he moved to Brighton becoming the chief cashier of the local Barclays Bank in 1970-1990. Then shortly after retirement from the bank moved to Swindon where he died on 18 June 2012.

Heard at his funeral I have been his neighbour for years and until today never knew he was commissioned or was an MBE. That sums up how unpretentious George was.

He is survived by Violet his wife and daughters Ellen and Jane.

R.D.C.

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Funeral Arrangements

 Donations if desired rather than flowers:

The Brigade of Ghurkhas Welfare Trust  ( www.gwt.org.uk)

or

The Prospect Hospice , Wroughton, Swindon (www.prospect-hospice.net)

Letters of condolence if desired:

Mrs GF Blunden (Violet known as Viv)

3 Fanstones Road

Eldene

Swindon SN3 6DX

Blunden; Maj George Frederick MBE

Born 1 Oct 1925, Brighton Sussex

Enlisted RB 4 Nov 1943

In the Ranks 13 yrs 3 months

Trained with 2 MTB Nov 1943 Sep 1944

Joined 8 RB Oct 1944 NW Europe

Posted 1 RB Nov 45 Remained with Bn in Germany, UK, Kenya, Malaya in all ranks from Rfn to RQMS until Dec1956

Commissioned as Lt (QM) 7 Jan 1957 Posted to the Depot

Posted as QM to Kenya Regt Feb 1958 to Feb 1961

Rejoined 3^rd Green Jackets (RB) May 1961 as MTO in Wuppertal, Germany

Promoted to Capt 18 Aug 1962

Moved to Cyprus with Bn appointed QM Aug 1963; returned to UK with Bn

Moved with Bn to Hong Kong, Malaya, Borneo Returned UK Jan 1966

Sept 1966 Appointed QM The Rifles Depot

Promoted to Maj 19 Aug 1968

5 Oct 1969 Rifle Depot (HS) pending retirement

15 Dec 1969 Retired

MBE 1956 (when a WO2)

Married Violet Mary Baker 8 May 1948

2 Daughters; Ellen & Jane

Died 18 June 2012 aged 86 at home in Eldene, Swindon

Extracts taken from some of the articles written by members of the regiment from, The Last Campaign of The Rifle Brigade Borneo 1965-1966

Captain later Major G.F. Blunden MBE, Quartermaster wrote:

My first visit to Borneo was a Recce with the Commanding Officer from Hong Kong. En route to Balai Ringin we stayed overnight with our affiliated Regiment the 6th Gurkha Rifles, which was interesting. After being shown around the Company bases of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, who we were taking over from, we had a good idea of what we were in for. Life at Balai Ringin was comfortable, certainly compared with that at Nibong and Gunan Gajak our two forward bases.

We had beds, showers, an Officers and Sergeants Mess and even the occasional ENSA show in the shape of Acker Bilk and Frankie Howard. I was the Quartermaster at Balai Ringin where there was a primitive system of pumping water from the river into the camp. I was told that it would be replaced with a much improved purification plant. One snag was that there was a large tree on the proposed purification site and I was told it would be helpful if we could remove it ourselves so that work could begin. The Armourer, AQMS Curly Maunders REME, assured me that this was no problem and that he could do the job. Later I was working in my office listening to the dull thud of an axe when there was a despairing cry of OH NO followed by an almighty crash. On investigating I found that the tree had fallen the wrong way and demolished a fair bit of the Commando Batterys hut narrowly missing a Gunner trying to catch up on some kip. The Gunners were not too chuffed and I dont think that the much vaunted purification system was installed before we left.

-- Edited by administrator on Tuesday 3rd of July 2012 01:28:10 PM

-- Edited by administrator on Tuesday 17th of July 2012 02:40:01 PM