The following are extracts of a letter from Ray Bedford who is trying to find out information on his father.

My father's name is Brian Douglas Bedford, enlisting on 6 December 1943 to the RAC and discharging on the 1 February 1967.  Shortly after his discharge he and his family emigrated to Australia, I was at this time 12 years old.  My father was for the most part a member of the 3 RTR, but he provided service to the RAC while stationed at the RAC Centre at Bovington Camp for five years before his discharge.  Shortly after enlisting, and I assume a brief basic training course, he embarked for Normandy and beyond on 2 July 1944.  I know now that he lied about his age, which as you would be aware was a common practice at that time.

I now have all the important documents relating to my father.  My father had various postings during his service and went on to serve a total of 23 years and 11 months in the colours.  There were 3 children to the union and we were all born in Germany, myself in Berlin, during Army postings with the BAOR.  At the end of the war my father was transferred to the Independent Squadron of the RTR and was stationed in Berlin up until February of 1949.  He was posted again to the BAOR in January 1952, I was born in 1954, his posting at this time concluded in 1956 and after a short stay in  a home posting he was posted to Middle East Land Forces, accompanied by his growing family.  We spent almost 2 years in Libya, then known as North Africa (in a place called Homs) and it was a  wonderful experience for the family.

My father never got service life out of his system and after settling into Australian life in 1967 he find civilian employment  mundane and opted to enlist in the Australian Army which he did and went on to serve Australia for a period of 10 years and 5 months, only taking his discharge due to ill health. So my father served two countries as a member of its Army for a total period of 34 years and 4 months.  He was awarded medals from both countries and has recently been awarded the Australian Defence Medal posthumously, which I now possess along with all his other medals, which includes the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

I am in the process of gathering, obtaining and purchasing any relevant memorabilia that was his military life including uniform items, patches, photographs, badges, formation signs and oral evidence of people who knew him or or of him and similar items of his personal history.

Is it possible to place on your site somewhere of your choosing, a request (a notice) of your readership to obtain any information concerning my father.  I am very conscious of the time factor involved in this and may not receive anything, but then again l just might, and I have no objection to a warts and all approach to this matter, the truth is what is important to to me.

I know that towards the end of his British Army service he was in Tech Stores at the RAC Centre, Bovington Camp, Dorset (perhaps for the last five years), that he was extremely well reported upon by his last CO and indeed I have no doubt that it was that report that enabled my father to be awarded the MSM.  His service number was 22774600, and he was discharged with the rank of Sergeant.  We lived in a cottage in Winfrith in Dorset and know of all the locations mentioned on your website.  We often visited his place of work and of course the Tank Museum.

As you are aware I am obtaining appropriate military memorabilia that pertains to my father is some way.  There are things like patches and flashes that he would have worn on his uniform for the various areas/units etc that he served in.  Unfortunately his Certificate of Service does not record unit names or even Regiment names, just locations, for example BAOR, MELF, HOME SERVICE.  So is there any way that I can obtain such information, and if supplied are you able to direct me to any reputable supplier of such memorabilia?  in this age I know that it is a big question to ask assistance for but any assistance would be gratefully received.

With kindest regards

Ray Bedford
(AKA Rayzor)

Bryan Mouse Parsons served in A Sqn 3 RTR between 1959-64 in 3 Troop and remembers his Troop Sgt Dennis Foster. Prior to retirement he was a commercial artist and still does the odd cartoon for the Tank Magazine.He would be delighted to hear from people that know him and can be contacted at the following email address belonging to his son kelvinparsons@yahoo.com or 01276 857880