Ron (Gus) Blake

I recieved the following email today from David the son of Ron Blake who passed away in 1999. If anyone would like to get in touch with David about Ron please email me.

Dear John

I was interested to see your 410 blog because my father, Ron Blake - or Gus as he was known - was a member and appears in your list. Unfortunately he pased away in 1999 and my mum, Jean passed away in 2007.

We lived in Penang from 1959 to 1962, came back to the UK and than went to Hameln in Germany for a couple of years before Dad left the Army after 25 years service. Dad then worked for Hampshire County Council, Somerset County Council and Suffolk County Council before he retired.

I've been doing some research on our family history and would love to hear anything you can remember about Dad's time in 410, if your paths crossed. I've recently started sorting boxes of family photographs and there are a good number of army photographs from Malaya - it would be great if you could identify some of the events or people if I can send you copies. Or if you have any which include Dad, I'd love to get copies, I've looked through your video on the website but can't see any pictures of Dad.

Do you know if the records of 410 are held somewhere, possibly in the Royal Engineers Museum?

Regards

David Blake

OBITUARIES

I have been informed that the following ex troop members have passed away.

Not Forgotten.

Michael Higgins (Plant Op)
Ken Orrel (OC)
Ron Jarvis (Trp Sgt)
Vincent Monaghan (Armourer)
Steve Hall (Plant Op)
Don Davidson (Plant Op)
Ron (Gus) Blake (MPF)
Major Pike (OC)
Mick Malloy (Fitter/Plant Op)
Jim Woods MBE (Quartermaster)
Jim Howels (Plant Fitter)
Ian Hoskins (Plant OP)
Ben Davidson(Plant Op)
Norman Ford(Plant Fitter)

Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM)

Dave Cowel has sent me the link for the application form for all those who have not yet applied for their medal click the above title for the link

About the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) is a special medal of service to
eligible United Kingdom Service personnel who served from Independence
until the end of Confrontation in the security of Malaysia, during the
period 31 August 1957 and 12 August 1966 inclusive.

Ian Hoskins Reunion Photos

Dave Cowel, Jim Brown, Bob Stott

Dave Cowel, Jim (Jock) Brown, Bob Stott

My daughters Birthday Present

Got to show them how it's done

Dinger Flying High

The Final Inspection

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well..
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’

Terry Davis's Photo Album

Click on Above Title to see Album

Dingers 10k Help for Heroes

I am running in the next Blackpool 10k fun run on the 9 May 2011, to raise money for our lads who have been injured in recent conflicts. I did this last year and raised £274 in total with all your help. We all know how cash conscious the MOD is when it comes to paying for equipment but if you look at the H4H site you will see what they are doing with sponsors money for our comrades, its mind boggling. If you click on the above title it should take you to my  Giving page where you can safely donate if you please to.

Finish of the Ennis Rotary Polkafest run. Ennis City Texas USA

Cheers Dinger

The Average british soldier

Forces Reunited

Email contact

If anyone requires a members email address or telephone number please contact me.

Dinger

Message

Email received from Jim Loach

Hi, Dinger,

what a first class bit of work you've done there. I am so pleased you've done it because there was something special about 410. After having served 22 yrs. 410 is always the unit that stands out in my mind as being the best unit I served in, where I learned such a lot and I think grew up too.

I spoke to Walt Dixon the other day and he said he would ring back as he was just going out but I have had nothing yet. Trev Trev rang me ther day and told me he found Ian Hoskins. The name is familiar but I can't place him. Trev is coming down to Gloucester to meet him and hopefully I'll go up to see them both as well.

I've had no luck in contacting Joe Nelson although a guy called Joe Worsnip, who knows him, said he had passed my details on to him. I think probably the email address is incorrect. I'll persevere anyway. Any Info I get now I'll pass on to you now and again well done for setting up the site.

Best regards to Margret and yourself,

Jim

Dinger,
How nice to hear from you after so many years. I recently contacted Hank Lawrence
concerning an article I intend writing for a professional journal, Plant and Equipment
Professional, PEP, which can be accessed on www.operc.com

When we were both serving in Thailand I heard a wonderful 410 story from the late, Harry Dyer.
he told me about the incident where, he? got himself stuck under a grader moulboard
and had to be extricated by local tribesmen. I wondered if any other 410 members could throw any light on the topic.

Sadly Harry died at Xmas 1999 after suffering respiratory problems for many years. I called in
to his home on spec early in 2000 only to hear he had died some weeks prior. He was a great
guy.

I have been on the website and you have done a cracking job. I look foward maybe to seeing
Ron Tobin or Olly Olyatt popping up ! Wally Boldock did a historical on either 410 or 411 plant tro ops.
I´ll drop him a line.

I am now in regular contact with ex 54 Jack Firth who lives and works in Thailand. I will copy
you in on the next round robin I email and you can trawl through the names. Sadly many ex
54 have passed on, Steve Oakley, and Mick Dunne, though many are on email. Wonder what
happened to, Charlie Hankinson, Spooky Martin, Mick Belair, Ron Dreager, Scouse Bates,
Albert Finney, etc etc.

Regards to your good lady and family,
Mick
PS I am in Gran Canaria until 6 October. Live in Wakefield.

From: Taff Stephens New South Wales

I have been trying to find members of the 410 for years ever since we have had a computer.
I was in Malaya with 410 from 1959 to 1962.
I remember you 'Dinger". I got this address from Jim Howells who is in Canad.
I emigrated to NSW Australia in 1981 with wife

Di & Bri Stephens
to me

show details 7:14 AM (15 hours ago)

Jim Howells sent me your Blog Address and this email address.
Hope it gets to you.

I am Brian (Taffy) Stephens from Newbridge South Wales when I was in th Engineers from 1958 - 1964
I was in 410 Ind Plant Troop in Malaya from 1959 - 1962 when I went back to Ripon Yorks.
Got married in 1963 and left the army in July 1964.
Emigrated to NSW Australia in 1981.
Good to see some familiar names on your site.
Keep up the good work.
I have been looking for Ray Carter for years on this computer.

Ray, Joe Nelson and Tony Evans. I knew a Jim Roach whose wife Mary and son Andrew came to visit me in Newvridge S.Wales after I left the army. His son was a baby in 1964.
There was a "Smudger" Smithers, Paddy Arnold and Paddy Hutchinson.
Has anyone heard from any of them to your Knowledge.
I will keep in touch on the blog.
Had the shock of my life todau when I got email from Jim Howells saying he had found your Blog.

Keep in touch.
Regards
Brian (Taffy) Stephens

Always a Sapper.

Email received 25/01/2010 reference Ron(Gus)Blake

David Blake
to me

show details 9:53 PM (13 hours ago)

Dear John

I was interested to see your 410 blog because my father, Ron Blake - or Gus as he was known - was a member and appears in your list. Unfortunately he pased away in 1999 and my mum, Jean passed away in 2007.

We lived in Penang from 1959 to 1962, came back to the UK and than went to Hameln in Germany for a couple of years before Dad left the Army after 22 years service. Dad then worked for Hampshire County Council, Somerset County Council and Suffolk County Council before he retired.

I've been doing some research on our family history and would love to hear anything you can remember about Dad's time in 410, if your paths crossed. I've recently started sorting boxes of family photographs and there are a good number of army photographs from Malaya - it would be great if you could identify some of the events or people if I can send you copies. Or if you have any which include Dad, I'd love to get copies, I've looked through your video on the website but can't see any pictures of Dad.

Do you know if the records of 410 are held somewhere, possibly in the Royal Engineers Museum?

If you'd like to give me a ring, my number is (Contact Dinger) I'm there most of the time at the moment.

Regards

David Blake

Contact Dinger

54 Corps Fld Prk Sqn RE Singapore

I have been looking for any website for 54 as they amalgamated with 410 in 1962. I would be grateful if anyone can point me to such a site then I can link it to this site, as we continued working under the 410 troop banner in Borneo for quite a while after amalgamation.

John (Dinger) Web Album

Click above

Looking for 410 ex members

Can anyone pass on any information or contacts for the following:

Vince Monaghan - Armourer
Olly Olliat - Plant
Brummie Millward - Plant Op Found
Bob Stott - Plant Op
Percy Warnick - Fitter(Found)
Chippey Carpenter -Chief Clerk
Flash Reynolds - Plant Op
Jim (Jock) Brown - Fitter
Bill Skelt - Driver
Denis Orielly - (Bulker) Plant Op
Mick Molt - Plant Op
Norman Ford - Fitter
Jim Watson - (Ting) Fitter
Paddy Plunket - Plant Op
Mick Norseworthy - MT
Brian(Taffy)Stephens - MT (Found)
Jim Howells - Plant (Found)
Dick Elson - MT
Ron (Gus) Blake - MPF
Spud Taylor - Plant Op
John Frazer - Plant Op
Taff Lawrence - MT
Taff Evans - Plant
Taff Roberts - Plant
Jim Powell - Plant Cpl
Ray Jacks - Plant Op
Bill Stevenson - Plant Cpl
Dickie Bird - Fitt/Turner
Wally Ferguson - Pay Clerk
Capt Leutchford 2i/c
Rodger Timlin - Plant Op
Clive Wooding - Plant
Ron Jarvis - Troop Sgt
Paddy Arnold -Plant Op
Paddy Hutchinson - MT
Bill Brown - Plant OP
Joe Nelson - MT
Ray Carter - MT
Smudge Smithers - MT
Tony Evans - MT

Trev Green and Wife Pat + his Photos 2009

From the Top
Trev Green And Pat
John Toase and Lyn
Mick Ramsay and Jim Loach
John Bell and Margaret

Looking for comrades

Hello

I am sending this email on behalf of my dad George Champos who served in the royal engineers 410 from 1957 to 1959 in MALAYA he is looking for any comrades especially one called John Green born in Hull can you help do you remember my dad ??he was cypriot.

look forward to hearing from you

Rebecca