40s and 50s Memories
6
civil aviation and this took me across Europe,
the Middle East and the Far East, my final
job being with Air UK in Norwich, from which I
retired in 1991. Norfolk is now our home and we
are very happy to remain here.
C. M. J. BARNES
Woodard 1954
Charles Barnes left King's in 1954. He was
a member of Woodard House, and School
Prefect, when Hugh Large was Housemaster.
He records being strongly impressed and
influenced by Boris Wilson whose imagination,
enthusiasm and leadership qualities were
of great value to him throughout a military
life lasting some 34 years. He also warmly
remembers Walter Gooderham and Julian
Pytches. Active in all sports , he made the 1st
XI in hockey (colours),cricket and 2nd XV in
rugby.
Charles Barnes with King's School Prefects 1954
He writes:
Having entered RMA Sandhurst in 1955 I was
commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment in
1956, a move which brought me regimental
service in the Mediterranean (Cyprus), the
Red Sea (Aden,) West Africa (Sierra Leone),
Germany (BAOR) and Northern Ireland, where
in 1972 as a young major I was decorated with
an MBE for Gallantry. Then after various Staff
Appointments, including a tour on the Directing
Staff of the Staff College, I found myself on
the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander
Europe. Here I met Fiona Craster (neé
Reddish) the daughter of the School Chaplain
and affectionately known as "Poppa Hotstuff" for his punchy sermons. The Reverend Graham
Roblin (M55), an old friend, passed through on
pastoral duties. Graham became Archdeacon
of the Army before retiring to Dorset.
The period 1962 to 1964 in Sierra Leone was
particularly memorable because it brought me
into contact again with my former Woodard
friend, Desmond Luke. Desmond was at that time
practicing as a solicitor in Freetown, and later,
he became his country's Minister for External
Affairs. We kept in contact, and it was when
Desmond had been appointed Ambassador to
West Germany in 1970, he asked me to gather
a number of OAs for a London Dinner held in
honour of George Morgan. Ernest Boehm,
Brian Large, Nick Beavan and Alan Bendle
were able to attend.
Among the highlights of my military life I
would certainly rate very high promotion and
command of the Second Battalion The Royal
Anglian Regiment in BAOR and Northern
Ireland. (Mention in Despatches 1975 and OBE
in 1978) Then I must also include Command of
43 Infantry Brigade and Director Ten Tors based
in Exeter with responsibility for the Territorial
Army, for Cadets and for Training Areas in the
South West
Charles Barnes OBE
Reconnecting with the West Country enabled
me to renew contact with King's, and with the
CCF in particular. In 1987 I had the pleasure to
make an annual inspection of the Contingent,
then under command of Ken Kerslake, and
between 1987 and 1989 the pleasure of
presenting medals to the successful King's
teams competing in the annual gruelling Ten