Friends

Old fashioned weigela in our Friends Garden.

Scroll down for Reg Tayler, Lewis Collins, Harry Hudson, John Jack, Leonard Cater, Geoffrey Allman, Henry Bennett, Stimmy’s Point, William Scroggie, Jack Marshall, Carman Reddick & Alex Smith/Pete Scholey.

Welcome to our Friends Garden

This is a non specific garden with a varied range of memorials.

Regimental Sergeant Major Reginald Tayler SRN MBE

Refurbished Plaque March 2024
  • Memorial Text
  • WO1 Regimental Sergeant-Major Reginald Tayler – 1938-2004
  • Royal Army Medical Corps and Medical Support & Training Cell of 22 Special Air Service Regiment 1956 to 1976.
  • “Sister Reg”, as he was affectionally known, was responsible for training the SAS’s Patrol Medics to a very high standard in Bradbury Lines, Hereford and on many operational tours from the Radfan Mountains of Aden to the secret war in Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman 1970-1976.
  • He devised ways of making vital things simple to remember. When faced with a real casualty he taught the SAS Medics to think of: –
  • ‘ABC’ – Airway, Breathing & Circulation.
  • This simple aide-memoire has been universally adopted and is now used all over the world to help save lives in First Aid Emergencies.
  • His humour was legendary and Reg is well remembered in the Barrels Public House, Hereford, where the Landlord, Staff and Customers gave this tree and plaque in memory of their absent friend.
  • A kind person “Who Cared and Won”.
  • Faithful in Adversity
  • Further Information
  • https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/tayler-reginald-reg.31177/
  • https://www.ramcassociation.org.uk/all-tagger/ramc

Lewis Collins (Bodie) – 10 Para & 21 SAS Regiment

Harry Hudson – Force 136 Special Operations Executive.

www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/279234
  • Memorial Text
  • Harry Hudson – Force 136 Special Operations Executive
  • 9th (Sunderland) Battalion Durham Home Guard
  • 31st December1924 – 24th May 2012
  • This tree is dedicated to the memory of Harry Hudson by his loving family and friends to celebrate his life and mark the secret work that he carried out with Force 136.
  • The details of his work cannot be revealed from the National Archives until 2025.
  • However, Force 136 was the cover name for clandestine operations in Japanese held territory in the Far East during World War 2.
  • The SOE agents led and trained indigenous local tribesmen to attack and gain vital intelligence.
  • … — . 14th September 2013.
  • Further Information
  • https://www.staybehinds.com/soe-force-136
  • https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9268
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_136

GALLERY 28th November 2025

Major John JackRoyal Army Ordnance Corps.

THE FORGOTTEN FLEET MEMORIAL

Leonard Cater – Royal Army Service Corps

  • Memorial Text
  • “The Forgotten Fleet Memorial”
  • Sergeant Leonard Cater (Waterman) – No 247 Motor Boat Company – Royal Army Service Corps
  • 1911-1980
  • “In Arduis Fidelis” – Faithful in Adversity
  • During World War 2 many small ships and motor launches were requisitioned for service with the Royal Navy and many with their civilian crews.
  • The most notable use made of small ships was during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940.
  • However a little known group of intrepid Watermen was formed by the RASC to help ferry soldiers and supplies, but they were also used to deliver agents to Resistance Forces in occupied countries including Yugoslavia on clandestine missions.
  • Leonard Cater originally wanted to join the Navy but was sent to the RASC instead where he qualified as a Waterman in No 247 Motor Boat Company.
  • During the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 his boat was sunk by enemy fire and he was the only survivor of the 12 men on board. He survived in oil polluted waters of the Channel for a number of hours before being rescued.
  • Leonard then went onto take part in “Operation Torch”, the landings in North Africa, as well as numerous operations in the Mediterranean to Sicily, Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia.
  • These Watermen have often been referred to as the Forgotten Fleet.
  • Not Forgotten in these gardens by Elizabeth, John & Patricia.
  • Liquidambar (styraciflua) Tree planted in January 2020.
  • Garden 2, Memorial No 20. Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove, National Memorial Arboretum.
  • Further Information
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Army_Service_Corps
  • https://51hd.co.uk/battalions/royal_army_service_corps
  • https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2004-10-165-84-1
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/33/a3281933.shtml
  • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/279237/

Geoffrey Allman – Force 136 – Special Operations Executive

Henry Bennett MMRoyal Marines.

Stimmy’s Point

  • Memorial Text
  • Stimmy’s Point
  • In honour of the Stimpson family and friends who gave their service to the Monarch and country for liberty and freedom in the great wars and other conflicts with courage and devotion to duty so that we may live in a world of peace.
  • “We will remember them”

Richards family memories at his Point.

William Scroggie

Jack Marshall – Royal Engineers

Carman Reddick

Alex Smith – A Brave little Soldier

Young Alex aged just 7 wanted to meet up with SAS Soldiers so Pete Scholey and Mike went down to say hello at Bristol Childrens Hospital. Sadly he passed away aged 9.

Remembering Peter Scholey ~ Parachute Regiment, Special Air Service and “The Joker”

The last resting place of “The Joker”

GALLERY

Friends Garden from the Lewis Collins memorial.
The Friends Garden from the Boundless Bank of Pine Trees

PAGE UPDATED 16TH OCTOBER 2025