Bert Henshaw - The Regiment mourns a true legend........

At 1700hrs Tuesday 28th October 2008 the Royal Green Jackets lost a true legend, he was not a senior ranking officer nor was he a person who was renowned for his fighting prowess or his great leadership skills but a legend nevertheless for his true and absolute love of our great regiment which he maintained not only throughout his military service but afterwards.

Bert Henshaw joined the Green Jackets in 1965 and throughout his 22 year career would almost always be seen with a camera in his hand. The results of his obsession to record and collect all aspects of regimental life on film has resulted in the amassing of many thousands of pictures of Green Jackets in all situations covering a period of close to 150 years of regimental activities. Some parts of this collection of the periods prior to Bert's service were donated by ex members of the Regiment and their families. Other items were begged or purchased from various other sources.

Those who attend reunions will be only too aware of the contribution made by this collection to the annual Winchester and Oxford gatherings.

Bert Henshaw was taken from his family and friends after a long battle against cancer, a battle he fought bravely against never giving up, he will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

This entry from the "in Memoriam" notice board best sums Bert up, it was written by Pete Uden.

"I've just heard the news of Berts untimely death after his valiant fight.  I first met Bert when he was posted to the 1st Bn in Berlin in 1965 and I was his section commander. We've been friends ever since.  When I finally retired from uniform and settled in my village Bert was working at the local butchers.  He always saved huge knuckle bones for my dog, who loved them. When I was running RHQ (Oxford) it fell to me to organise the various events at the Slade. It always involved 2 phone calls from Bert: the first to confirm that I had laid on tables for his photograph albums(of course), the second, usually the day before the event, to ask for detailed directions on how to get to the Slade!  No matter how many times Bert went to the Slade, he could never remember the way!  What this says about his map reading prowess as an MFC I shudder to think!  Bert could be a bit of a barrack room lawyer but this stood him in good stead when he took Tesco's to an Industrial Tribunal and beat them hands down.  In his later life Bert devoted himself to a photographic archive of the Regiment which a lot of you will have seen at various Regimental functions, because he was always there. This is unique and an invaluable history of our past, and the Regiment, collectively, should be eternally grateful to him for his dedication to this task. Bert could be "a gobby scouse git" but I loved him for it and I wouldn't have him any other way.  I shall miss his cheerful banter greatly. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.  Ill be there when he doubles off parade and the horn sounds No more parades. Endex. Make Safe and I'll see you soon at the Final RV. R.I.P. mucker."

Rest In Peace Bert.

 

 

Kevin Stevens
Website Manager
The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association