Tony enlisted as a National Serviceman on the 15 April 1948 at Meeanee Barracks, Colchester. Within 6 weeks he was promoted LCpl and then proceeded to Detmold in Germany for a period of training with the Grenadier Guards.

On completion of 6 weeks Leadership training, he was posted to Berlin in August of 1948 where he served during the Berlin Blockade with ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. He then moved on to Dusseldorf (Hubbelrath) with 4th Guards Brigade, this was for a period of approximately 18 months. During this period with 4th Guards Brigade Tony signed on as a Regular Soldier and was promoted twice, Corporal and then Sergeant. Of note at the time, Tony was the youngest Sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. It was when he first went to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment that he met our Mother, Sylvia.
The Battalion moved back to the UK to Dover Castle before re- locating to Crowborough Camp to reform and to collect reinforcements prior to deployment to Korea. Tony formed part of the Advance Party going in by air, landing in the Philippines and then onto Korea. The Royal Norfolks went in with The Ulster Rifles – in the middle of the night Tony took over from a young subaltern who had stated that all was okay in their ‘Pup Tents’ and they had never been shelled. It was a salutary lesson for Tony and the rest of the Battalion, as that night the shelling did not stop and led him to conclude that at the very least going forward he would have to ensure that he had a ‘shell scrape’.

Tony completed a 12 month tour in Korea and then moved on to Hong Kong. Thereafter, Tony was selected to be Escort to The Regimental Colours for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. For this task he was sent home to Britannia Barracks (4 months) to prepare for the Coronation.

It was during this sojourn to Britannia Barracks that Tony managed to find the time to marry Sylvia before returning to Hong Kong. On completion of this tour, sending Sylvia and his first-born son home on the Troop Ship, he returned to Colchester immediately receiving a ‘Warning Order” at short notice to deploy to Cyprus where he remained until Makaris was eventually arrested. Tony was present in Limassol when the Invasion Fleet formed up and was ready to deploy to the Suez Canal, then again returned to Colchester.

Tony continued to serve and was Commissioned in his 20th year of service and posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Pompadours), serving as Assistant Adjutant & PRI/ Unit Families Officer. He was then posted to Northern Ireland for 2 years where he received his Regular Quartermaster’s Commission with Headquarters 8th Brigade, Londonderry. He returned to the 3rd Battalion as Quartermaster (Technical) at Catterick Garrison for a relatively short period of 8 months before the Battalion moved to Episkopi (Cyprus) for 2 years. He then completed a 6-month tour with the United Nations in Nicosia (Cyprus).

On returning to the United Kingdom to Colchester, Meeanee Barracks, whilst serving as the Senior Quartermaster Tony was awarded his well -deserved MBE. You would have thought that after a lifetime of service Tony would have been exhausted, but he went on to be Chairman of The Royal Anglian Regiment Association, Colchester, for 11 years, and the President of the Korean Old Comrades, Clacton & District, for fiveyears.

In 2014, he took office in Tendering District Council and was also Clerk to Little Bromley Parish Council for many years from 1991 and was the founding member of the Bromley Amenities Group. All of this time Tony continued to be a loving Father & Grandfather & Great Grandfather, advising, guiding & scalding when necessary. Tony was held in high esteem by all those whose lives he touched.

Here are a few of the comments received by the family:

“Your Father had a massive impact on my career, a true Gentleman who will be sorely missed”.
“Tony would not suffer fools but was always ready to offer help when it was needed and deserved. He was the epitome of a loving family man and a committed soldier”.
“I admired your father greatly, always cheerful and immaculately turned out”.
“He was a Soldier’s Soldier”.
“Tony was like a wonderful Oak Tree in the centre of the forest. We are all poorer for the sad fact that the Oak has been cut down”.

LA Downes