Major Dennis Williams MBE

The Rifle Brigade and The Royal Green Jackets - A Tribute

Dennis was born on 22 July 1933; starting his schooling at Northfields Primary School not far from his home in Lyndhurst Road Greenford, Middlesex. At the age of six he was evacuated on 3 September 1939; the day war broke out, he eventually arrived in the Forest of Dean, returning home for a visit to his parents in 1944 and thereafter school holidays, for he remained at his Foster Parents home to finish his education, gaining a scholarship to Monmouth School and finally returning home in 1950. He often claimed to be the countrys longest evacuee! This period of stable education was to prove its worth in all he undertook in later life.

In October of 1951 Dennis joined the RAPC to begin a life time of dedication and love not only to his Regiment which was to become The Rifle Brigade (RB) but also in many other walks of life. Not least to Margaret, Liz and Emma. Regimental gossip in Kenya relates that Dennis was head hunted by the RB, who paid for his discharge from the RAPC to join them, whatever the truth Dennis became an RB and subsequently a Royal Green Jacket (RGJ)

Interestingly one RB, a retired Major-General recalling Kenya said:

My grateful first memories of him are when as a young 2i/c of I Coy in Kenya 58 years ago, Dennis held my hand in preparing the company accounts including daily takings from the flourishing canteen. Without his guidance and hands on help I'd probably still be trying to sort out debtors and creditors! 

He saw service in the UK, Kenya, Malaya, BAOR, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Borneo, in all these places climbing the clerical tree from Sergeant to Superintendent Clerk of the Rifle Depot and Headquarters the Light Division. Throughout this career many, such as a retired Brigadier said:

He has been a key part of the regimental scene ever since I joined, and I do not know of anyone who ever had anything critical to say about him. He was one of those special people who everyone liked and everyone relied on.

On 10 July 1969 he married Margaret Elizabeth McKay sister of Angus McKay, Chief Clerk of the LI Depot at Shrewsbury, typically of Dennis and Margaret they kept this quiet until the deed was done. From that day they were the perfect team Margaret always in support of all that Dennis put his hand to. They were blessed with two daughters, Liz in 1970 and Emma in 1972.

Dennis was commissioned in the October of 1969 becoming the Intelligence Officer of 3RGJ in Celle, North Germany, before moving as Families Officer to 2RGJ in the August of 1971. His compassion, commonsense, diplomacy and understanding of regulations were brought to the fore. They were the resident Battalion in Londonderry, then to Catterick from where the Battalion went to Belize for six months before a four months operational tour in Belfast. Then to Gibraltar where there was a housing problem for the married members and their families.

The CO of the time, now a retired General recalls:

 120 quarters into 330 marrieds does not go.  So Dennis scoured Gibraltar and, amongst other places, took over a Mediterranean Hotel, which took 24 families.  One morning he said that the wives there wanted to see me, but he would come with me.  We went there, to find all 24 wives in the hall, Good morning, Colonel one said, Im pregnant.  Congratulations I said.  Now what are you going to do about my house? she asked, producing a copy of Fortress standing orders from behind her back.  It says here that expectant mothers are to be given quarters.  At that it dawned on me that this was an ambush.  I suppose youre all pregnant too? I asked the others.  Yes, Colonel they replied.  Well thats going to be difficult because you know that there are no more quarters on the Rock.  Leave it to me Colonel, said Dennis.  Within a month he had found places for most of them, God knows how.  What a man!

He was appointed a Member of The British Empire in the New Years Honours list of 1976, his citation reflects the brilliance of his work with 2RGJ.

On leaving 2RGJ in November of 1975 Dennis put his expertise for the next seven years into posts at the Rifle Depot; which included the command of Headquarter Company, he retired from the regular army on 5 October 1982 having completed 31 years of service.

That though was not the end of his commitment to his Regiment for he continued for the next five years as a Retired Officer (RO). His major commitments in this role were as advisor for the Military to a Borough Council at Aldershot and also working there with the Army Youth Teams, then as Project Liaison Officer at Sir John Moore Barracks, the new home for the Light Division Depot, he was superb in this role and perhaps best summed up by a retired Lieutenant-Colonel:

His experience as a soldier, his knowledge of what Rfn were like, wanted and needed, his unrivalled common sense, his eminently sensible and practical approach to things, his sense of tradition and occasion all combined to give us a superb new Depot

As I speak the Union Jack, as arranged by Brigadier Nicholas Prideaux is at half mast at Sir John Moore Barracks in honour of Dennis.

Then prior to embracing full retirement he set up and ran the Regiments Employment Office which so many had cause to be thankful for.                                     

Dennis finally retired in the October of 1995 some 44 years after joining at the Rifle Depot; but his commitment to others continued, for as an avid cigarette card collector he founded the Cartophilic Society in Winchester also becoming secretary of the branch. In that same period he became chairman and Margaret the membership secretary of the Winchester Antiques Society. Then having moved their home to Lancashire founded the North West Cartophilic Society.

Finally my own thoughts as a friend fortunate to serve alongside Dennis over many years; he was truthful, efficient, forthright, honest in his views, he tolerated fools and made excuses for them, admired by officer and rifleman alike.

Six of us had a memorable tour of France, which included John and Joan Hinds and of course Margaret and Shirley, the same six shared the Millennium evening on the patio of the Williamss We were all good friends and did much together, who it could be said tolerated each others idiosyncrasies

Dennis and Margaret need to be saluted for their kindness and helpfulness to others, frankly they were inspirational.

Margaret, Liz and Emma, your family and friends here today and so many others give you our deepest sympathy.

R.D.C.

Williams, Maj Dennis MBE

DoB: 22 Jul 1933 (Marylebone, London)

Died: 11 Aug 2012

Educated: Monmouth School

In the Ranks 18years and 2 days

Initially in the RAPC Oct 1951-Jul 1952, subsequently Pay Sgt at The Rifle Depot, With 1 RB (Kenya & Malaya); in 1958 became a Green Jacket and Clerk Sgt

Chief Clerk 1RB, 3GJ, 3RGJ (UK, BAOR, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malaysia & Borneo).

Supt Clerk Rifle Depot Mar 66-Dec 67

Chief Clerk HQ Light Div Jan 68- Aug 69

Commissioned Oct 1969

IO 3 RGJ (BAOR) Oct 69 Jul 71

Promoted to Captain Oct 71

2 RGJ (NI, Catterick, Gibraltar) Aug 71- Nov 75

Rifle Depot HQ Coy Nov 75 Mar 79

Promoted to Major 31 Dec 1976

Admin Offr AYSC HQ APSG Jun 79-Mar 81

OC HQ Coy Rifle Depot Mar 81-Oct 82

Retired 5 Oct 1982

MBE (New Year Hons 1976)

After leaving the Army he worked as an RO in SE District and was the Project Liaison Officer for the building of the new Light Division Depot at Sir John Moore Barracks (SJM Bks), Winchester.

What is not generally known is that Dennis Williams was very influential in the design, layout and creation of the facilities of SJM Bks.

His own experience as a soldier, his knowledge of what Riflemen were like and needed under training and what was practical and robust to withstand the rigors of the intense training programme, his unrivalled common sense, his eminently sensible and practical approach to things, his patience and ability to translate off the map and mad ideas into reality, his sense of fun, his sense of tradition and occasion all combined to give us a superb purpose built new depot albeit only for a only a very short time.

J-D v M