He also served a tour at Shorncliffe, Kent, England with the Junior Infantry Battalion as Weapon Training Advisor. His final appointment was back at Warminster as SMI (Sergeant Major Instructor) to Officers Wing courses.

He retired from the Army in 1974, at his own request, as Warrant Officer Class 1, in order to pursue a career in Industry.

During his military career Harry was awarded the General Service Medals and Clasps for Cyprus and Northern Ireland and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

After leaving the Army in 1974, Harry joined British Aerospace at Stevenage as an instructor where he progressed to Project and Operations Manager, supporting Company Products. One of his tasks was interfacing with the Ministry of Defence to provide technical, repair and operational advice and assistance to user units of both the British Army and the Royal Airforce. During the period 1975-1981, Harry planned, organised and provided support to Overseas Customers on behalf of the Company. He spent time in Egypt (2 years based in Cairo) and Kenya (3 years based in Nairobi and Nakuru).

Harry took early retirement from British Aerospace in May 1992 and moved his home from Stevenage to Sandgate, Kent, England in 1997.

He met Sheila in 1951 and they married in 1952. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren.

Harry's hobbies were golf, bowls, gardening and reading.

Until his death on 25 July 2010, Harry served the Branch as Vice Chairman, a position he assumed on Sunday 15 March 2009.

CATERHAM (where it all began)
by Harry Balderstone

After completing my National Service I enlisted as a Regular Soldier in the Regiment in 1953. There were then 3 Battalions.

Training of recruits commenced at Caterham in Surrey at the Guards Depot and normally lasted 13 weeks. Z week, a period of kit and uniform preparation, learning the basic essentials of cleaning and maintaining equipment, introduction to Regimental History and Traditions and learning the Battle Honours won since the formation of our Regiment.

There followed 12 weeks of Drill instruction with inspections of both turnout and drill at 4 week intervals that had to be "passed" in order to proceed into the next 4 weeks. The dreaded shame was to be "Back Squadded". This would have entailed an extra week of drill and a further inspection before proceeding to the next 4 weeks. Punishment for failing to reach the standard.

The Squad of recruits were trained by a L/Sgt Instructor, supported by a Trained Soldier. The Squad Instructor was our (temporary) God and the Trained Soldier set standards that we all aspired to achieve. He would even press your Battledress for a Shilling!

There were normally two squads, each of approximately 20 recruits, in training at the same time. They were to combine at a later stage in the training cycle to form a Platoon. More of that later.

In the first initial weeks at Caterham the seeds of friendship were sown. Comradeship was born in adversity as youngsters, some who had never been away from their homes, villages, towns or cities, were shouted at and driven to rage (or in some cases - tears) at the constant barrage of apparent abuse it seemed that they were being subjected to. There was safety in numbers and only by pulling together and helping each other, pooling their individual skills, could they survive. Teamwork was discovered. Of the two Grenadier Squads in training, we became and remained the best.

Nightly during our 1 hour shining parade (lasting from 6 to 9:30 p.m.!), sat astride our beds, "bulling" boots, reciting the Regimental Battle Honours, two recruits were detailed to go to the NAAFI and, at the whim of the Trained Soldier, Sundays as well.

After passing the first 4 week inspection we were allowed to "walk out", provided you could pass the gate inspection of the Sgt at the Guardroom! Not many passed through the gates.

AT LAST! Passing Out Parade. We were now Guardsmen, a 48 hour pass then we were off to the Guards Training Battalion, Pirbright.

PIRBRIGHT

Horror of Horrors! that other lot of the other squad now joined us to form a Platoon.

Now the realities of becoming a real trained soldier were upon us. Weapon Training, PT, Assault Course, Route Marches, Tactics, Field Training, Marksmanship, Section and Platoon Attacks, Battle Camp Training on the Yorkshire Moors, Pickering Camp (hutted).

We were now in direct competition with all those other Platoons of Guardsmen with the different cap bands and clusters of buttons. Not bad blokes, but not as bad as us! We were always on the Right on parade and in Front on the march pass (except we had to concede, when it was their honour to Troop their Colour on the Queen's Birthday Parade).

Pirbright was more arduous than Caterham. We were up to our necks in muck and bullets (mostly Blanks until we went to Battle Camp). Rain, snow, blisters, forget them, we were now learning the trade of Infantry Soldiers. Nine weeks plus a final Drill week then postings to Battalions. The true family of a Grenadier, with mates in the other Battalions (not as good as ours of course).

Why am I writing this drivel? Every Guardsman knows all about this! It must be nostalgia.

There is a point however. Maybe it will remind someone of instances where friendships were born. It may have been during training or service in Battalions, in times of danger or celebration, something, who knows what, triggers a friendship that outlives a passing association. Posting, secondments etc. necessitate separations from the Regimental family for periods of time, as indeed it does with the natural family. However separated, we are and will remain part of the family. It is as true today as it ever was. If you are entitled to wear the Tie, you are part of that honourable family.

PERSONAL

I am a Life Member of the Comrades Association but until 1997 I had never joined a Branch of our Association. I have to say that after leaving the Regiment I did move around, both abroad and at home, and was not really aware of the role of the Association.

On joining the East Kent Branch, I knew none of the members but felt at home. I remembered but was not in contact with any of my contemporaries. Trooping the Colour is a religion in my home, wherever I am. I am there whenever possible or I watch it on TV or someone tapes it for me. My wife, Sheila, knows it is a non shopping day!

When Bob Goodson generated our Branch Website he was looking for and requesting personal information about our members and I duly contributed. One month later he gave me a copy of an e-mail he had received asking for details about me. It was from Ken Wardle, Secretary of the Australian Branch. I last saw Ken, who was a great friend of mine, in 1957 but we had lost touch after the Suez Crisis.

We are now corresponding and gathering information on our comrades from our Training days. We may have to expand our search into their careers in their Battalions. My loft has been overturned, looking for old photographs.

The initial approach to Ken has uncovered details so far: