October, 2005
Hi John,
My name is Len Baker I got your website from John Bosher. I was a Sgt Vehicle Mech and looked after the ground handling vehicles in 3 Bty.
Lou Ramsbottom and I met at Arborfield, we did the course together,went to Crookham and then to Dortmund. I suppose you could say we were among the Founder members of 47 GW Regt REME workshops. Brian Harris was the Sparky.
I have spoken to Lou and John recently.
I left Dortmund in 1960, you may remember me.
As I type this a few names come back to me,after all it is 45 years ago.
I am now living in Somerset. I retired in 1995 after doing 24 years in the Army and having a garage for 20 years.
When we first got to Dortmund, what was it 1958 or 1959? the workshops was set up in the building near the NAAFI, but I was in a seperate workshops not far away looking after the Erectors and sundry other Ground Handling Equipment, most of my Veh Mechs were N.S. men.
The original A.S.M. was Bill Oates,he had been to White Sands in the States. I first met him at Arborfield when I did the course. I also knew Uncle Norman Moss, I got on quite well with him, I considered he always called 'a spade a spade' (thats a Somerset expression, do you know it?)
When I eventually got a Married Quarter I lived in Kaldehof Weg and near me was WO 1 Woolford , he was an E.C.E. I could not see him on the photo.
Further clues. When we first got to Dortmund Lou Ramsbottom and I bought motor cycles he had a N.S.U. I had a Horex, Lou and I did a lot of Army Trials in the U.K. Then Lou bought a Mini when they first came out in 1959,I bought a V.W. Beetle , a blue one it was the only one on the camp.
I see there is a Sgt Fairbrother on the photo , we always knew him as Fiddler, I first met him when he was with an R.A. Regiment on Salisbury Plain when I was with 27 Command Wksps. Capt Middleton was my O.C when we first set up the Workshops.
Also, John, every one always called me Doughy in thosedays , but not since I left the army.
Best wishes Len Baker.
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The pics are from the first course I did at Aborfield.
If you can pick out the man with the flat cap that was WO 1 Bill Oates who went on to become A.S.M when the workshops was first set up in Crookham Hants and then on to Napier Barracks in Dortmund. |
Photo: Len Baker 
Photo: Len Baker 
Photo: Len Baker 
Photo: Len Baker 
Photo: Len Baker |
May 14, 2009
Received the following e-mail from John Bosher:
I am sorry to inform you that one of our colleagues, Len 'Doughy' Baker, sadly passed away on Tuesday 5th May, suddenly at home.
The cause was a blood clot which found its way to the heart and burst.
I have spoken to his partner, Dolly, and she has asked me to pass the news on as I am the only contact she knows.
The cremation is on Tuesday, 26th May and I shall be attending.
John Bosher
Our deepest sympathies are extended to Len's family, relatives and friends.
John Walker
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