Royal Tigers Association

23/05/2026

Borneo 1963/64

Sorting out the garage and came across my hammock and perang from my time at Ba Kelalan. Made from panels of a parachute. When in the jungle it was hung between two trees and a ground sheet fixed above, a sort of tent two or three feet above the ground.

The ground sheets were Australian which were much lighter than the British issue. Anyone else still got theirs?

11/05/2026

BARTHOLOMEW ‘BART’ CONLON - ENQUIRY FROM SON

Dear Mel,

My name is Mark Conlon and I am the son of Private Bartholomew 'Bart' Conlon of Dublin, who served with the 1st Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment in Borneo 1963–64 and with the 4th (Leicestershire) Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment in Aden and the Radfan in 1964–65.

I was put in touch with you by Professor Matthew Hughes of Brunel University, who speaks very highly of you and suggested you might be able to help.

My father never spoke of his service to any of his family. We only discovered he had served in Borneo after his death in 2003. I have been piecing his story together and have confirmed his presence at Foxtrot picquet in the Radfan in April 1965 through a Leicester Chronicle article dated 16 April 1965, which names him alongside Private Douglas Purdy of 39 Barkby Road, Leicester, and Corporal Gary Brown of 24 Burns Street, Leicester.

I have attached an original press release from our family papers which may be of particular interest to any veterans you are able to contact. It is titled 'The Tigers Take to the Mountains', written by Tony Dobson and dated 13 March 1965, issued by Joint Public Relations Staff, HQ Middle East Command, Aden. It describes the 4th (Leicestershire) Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment's operations in the Radfan mountains in detail and is one of the few contemporary documents we have that places my father's unit in that theatre at that exact time.

I would be very grateful if you could share both documents with any surviving veterans who served with the battalion in Borneo or Aden, as they may bring back memories of that period and of the men who were there alongside my father — including my father himself, an Irishman in a Leicester regiment, which I imagine made him fairly memorable.

I have also submitted his details to the Tigers in the News database.

With deepest gratitude,

Mark Conlon

Dublin

11/05/2026

THE FUNERAL OF DEREK SEATON 95 YEARS TAKES PLACE TODAY 11 MAY 2026

Derek Seaton was an author on military history involving men of the Leicestershire Regiment. He also authored a number of books centering on Leicester.

He was commissioned to write the potted history of Leicester’s famous interred in Welford Road cemetery on fixed plaques centered prominently within the grounds. The cemetery is the resting place for figures like travel entrepreneur Thomas Cook and suffragette Alice Hawkins.

I came to know Derek through the Royal Tigers Association, the association of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. He having served in the Territorial Battalion. His occupation was as a civil servant.

He became a long standing friend and it is with regret that I will be unable to attend his funeral.

Author and historian:

'A Tiger and a Fusilier' - Pte William H Buckingham VC and Captain Robert Gee VC MC MP;
'Wigston in the First World War' - 1914-1918;
'From Tolgate to Tramshed' - a history of London Road, Leicester 1860-1920';
'From Strength to Strength' - the first 100 years of Leicester;
'Leicester's Town Hall - a Victorian Jewel';
'This Gallant Steelback - William Ewart Boulter VC'.

RIP Derek, will miss you and your most welcome Christmas cards.

Graham N A Eustace

———-

Derek’s web page for the Royal Leicestershire Regiment:

https://royalleicestershireregiment.org.uk/entity/133956-seaton-derek?q=

04/05/2026

From the collection in the care of the Loughborough Carillon Loughborough Carillon Tower & War Memorial Museum a Leicesters' car badge

29/04/2026

Gentle men,

The memorial to those who died at the Battle of Kampar with the badges of the East Surreys and the Leicesters who, after both suffered heavy losses, amalgamated to form the British Battalion.

(1) Instagram

Battle of Kampar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kampar

Editor
TITN

Visit the web page: Royal Leicestershire Regiment

———————

Gentlemen,

Following the post about the Kampar Memorial I received an update from Ken Hewitt:
Just to clarify the situation regarding Kampar and the British Battalion, the British Battalion was formed at Ipoh on 20th December 1941 after the 1st Leicester’s disastrous withdrawal from Jitra and after a similar chaotic withdrawal from Gurun by the 2nd East Surreys.

In both instances men were dispersed across the northern states of Malaya and were detached from the main core of their battalions which in consequence were seriously undermanned. The decision was taken to amalgamate the remnants of the two battalions to form the British Battalion and the Battle of Kampar (30th December 1941 – 2nd January 1942) was the first action the combined unit fought. They defended their position well, with relatively few losses compared to the Japanese, and certainly delayed the advance of Japanese troops before themselves having to withdraw once again.

Some of those who became detached after the Jitra and Gurun withdrawals did eventually rejoin the British Battalion, some were captured and became POWs in Malaya, and some sadly were killed in action in their efforts to rejoin their battalion.

It is most pleasing to know that a memorial is now in place in honour of those who fought at Kampar.

All the best

Ken Hewitt

Author of Tigers in Captivity - 1st Bn Leicestershire Regiment in the Malaya Campaign and as Far East Prisoners of War.

29/04/2026

Gentlemen,

A short video of the Leicesters' beating the RAOC in the football final. I think that is Robbie Allen and Mick Cudbill at 39 seconds

Take a look at this video, 'leicestershire regiment' https://share.google/H0ax9G8n5bqWAuqqx

Editor
TITN

Date: 1st January 1927 Location: England, United Kingdom Source: Reuters Historical News Collection: GAUMONT GRAPHIC NEWSREEL (REUTERS) SLATE INFORMATION: Army Football Final ENGLAND: Hampshire: Aldershot: EXT The King and Queen witness the 1st battalion, Leicestershire Regiment defeat the Royal Arm...

17/04/2026

DEATH OF A MEMBER: MR DEREK SEATON - DETAILS TO FOLLOW

We regret to advise of the death of Derek Seaton.

Seaton, Derek
Rank : Sergeant

Army Number : 22092608

Unit : 579 Regt RA, 438th Regt RA, 4/5th Bn

Biography :

Derek Seaton served in 579th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, 'Q' Battery 438th Light Anti-aircraft Regt TA, and 4/5th Leicesters, all at Ulverscroft Road, Leicester.

Author and historian:

'A Tiger and a Fusilier' - Pte William H Buckingham VC and Captain Robert Gee VC MC MP;
'Wigston in the First World War' - 1914-1918;
'From Tolgate to Tramshed' - a history of London Road, Leicester 1860-1920';
'From Strength to Strength' - the first 100 years of Leicester;
'Leicester's Town Hall - a Victorian Jewel';
'This Gallant Steelback - William Ewart Boulter VC'.

His father 4866092 Fred Seaton served in 2/5th Leicesters WWII

Date of Birth : 11.09.1930

Place of Birth : Leicester

Civil Occupation : Local Government Officer

Period of Service : 1949-1962

Places Served : UK

17/04/2026

DEATH OF A MEMBER MR ALAN WELLS

We regret to advise of the loss.

Gentlemen,

From his daughter, Tracy.

His funeral will be on Thursday 30/04/2026 at Gilrose cemetery crematorium at 12.30 and after on to a wake to celebrate his life by easing a few glasses.

We would like to invite anyone who served with dad or knew him the wake details will follow shortly , we asking for smart casual wear family flowers only and donations to the veterans association and LOROS more details will follow shortly , thank you

Editor
TITN

14/04/2026

LEICESTER, COUNTY & RUTLAND AT RISK WAR MEMORIALS PROJECT APPEAL

Message from Denis Kenyon MBE

Good morning.

Application to NLHF for a grant.

When we move to the Botanic Gardens, we must open with a completely new modern display. To fund this, we will be applying to NLHF for about £160,000.

For the best possible chance of success, we have been advised to employ a specialist, whose job it is to recommend the best wording, and even draft certain key parts of the application. We are using someone strongly recommended, who has a track record of success. The cost is £400/day for about 3 days, total £1,200.

Sadly, with rent still to pay to the CCT, as well as insurance, audit fees and other minor expenses, we must appeal to YOU, our supporters.

If all our many supporters would be so kind as to contribute even a small amount, we would easily raise this sum and more, thus giving us a bit of financial headroom.

The link is https://gofund.me/0f56208a2

For anyone who would prefer to donate via BACS, our HSBC account details are:-
Name - Leicester City, County & Rutland At Risk War Memorials Project

Sort code - 40-32-04

A/c no. - 31749153

Many thanks

Denis