Bob West’s story

 

My Father, Bob West served in the KSLI and joined them in 1948. The photo shows him then with another soldier, in battledress. He then went to Hong Kong and there are some pictures taken at San Wai over Christmas 1950. He must have known Bill as some of Bills photos are very similar. Dad went to Korea attached to the Middlesex Regiment and transferred back to the KSLI when they relieved the Middlesex. After Korea he went to Germany with the KSLI and left the Army in about 1954 /55. There is a photo taken in a mess in Germany with some friends who were in his recruit platoon in 1948.

He re-joined the Somerset Light Infantry in 1956 and transferred to the RAPC not long after. In about 1959/60 he transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers and left the Army in 1967. He then joined HM. Prison service in 1971, serving at Parkhurst and Wakefield until he retired in 1985. He died in 2000.  One of the photos I have uploaded is one of Bills and is of my dads brother John - that's the photo taken on the bus and John is front and left centre! There is also a photo of a soldier kneeling but there is no name so if any one can ID him it would be great.

I hope that some of the members remember him and John and any further information would be appreciated.

It is obvious that Bill and my dad served together as there is one identical photo from dads collection - he is in the centre of the 'Hayseeds' photo , bare-chested !


 


Look forward to seeing the site updated


 


 


Signed Bob West jnr. 30/11/2008


 





Bob West Pictures