Bertie’s ‘diamond service’ to RBL

On Friday at a special dinner at the Royal British Legion hall at Iona Terrace, he was presented with a medal to mark the fact that he had completed 60 years of working with the organisation - a milestone that few ever attain.

In latter years Bertie has served as President of Waterside RBL, but far from the ‘pomp and circumstance’ of his office, most of those who have received a helping hand from the RBL simply know him as one of a team of hard workers who have extended the hand of friendship.

Far from crowing about his service record, Bertie instead chose to praise the work of those he served alongside, reserving a particular word of praise for the welfare team, whom he described as “the best in Britain”.

“I can tell you exactly when I joined,” said Bertie with enthusiasm: “I joined in February 1952. The week that King George died. I was serving in the TA at that time as a Lance Bombadier in the Royal Artillery, 246 Regiment. I was based in Dungreggan Camp.”

He continued: “Most of the TA were all Second World War people, and we were the young brigade at that time, and I was asked by some of the older people to join.

“At that time I was living in the Cityside, but I was born and bread in the Waterside, at Roulston Avenue, on July 25, 1932. So I am almost 80,” he laughs.

Asked how he felt having chalked up such an impressive service record, Bertie said simply: “It does not feel like it”.

“It is a wonderful organisation doing wonderful work not just for ex-servicemen and women, but for their families as well, which a lot of people don’t know about,” he said.

Launching into a potted history of the British Legion, Bertie reveals that the prefix ‘Royal’ was not bestowed on the British Legion until 1971, when the organisation had been operating for 50 years.

“The Queen gave it the prefix ‘Royal’,” he said, adding: “I did welfare work when I joined, but I have not done it for a while. I am too old now, but the Waterside branch has the best welfare team of anywhere in Britain. They are a team of very hard workers.”

Reflecting on the years he has served with the branch, Bertie said he was as interested in the work of the RBL now as he was when he first joined.

“I love it. I am in the unusual position now that when the younger people are looking for advice I am in a position where I can help them,” he said.