Canon Gervase W Markham MBE MA

Sadly we record the death of Canon Gervase W Markham MBE MA, a great friend of The Regiment. He was ordained in Durham Cathedral by Bishop Hensley Henson on 23^rd May 1937, served as a  curate in Sunderland and by the time war broke out in 1939 he was Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Durham at Auckland Castle. In 1940 he joined the RACD as a Padre with 50^thNorthumbrian Division, serving with 124 Field Regiment RA in North Africa and Sicily.

He went as ‘reinforcement’ padre with 50 Div in the Normandy landings, before the ‘Gunners’ could go ashore and was posted to the 8^th DLI who “had had two padres killed in the last two days”- his first duty was to bury his predecessor. He remained with 8DLI and has been a great friend and part of The Regiment ever since.

After the War he eventually became vicar of Morland in Westmorland where he served until his retirement. He regularly attended DLI occasions including the annual regimental dinners.

In 2001 he gave a stirring address to the annual reunion service in Durham Cathedral which in turn led to it being possible to trace details of the burial of Jack Banks in the Jerusalem Cemetery in Normandy (Jack Banks at 16 years of age was probably the youngest casualty of the DLI in WW2)

He was an expert Croquet player and in his ninetieth year wrote “I can say that I am playing more skilfully than ever: on my own court I have beaten all my local opponents, though there is one man at Kendal who is far, far better than I am.” – He was still playing very well in 2007.

He celebrated the 70^th anniversary of his ordination by energetically conducting the commemoration service, including a lengthy sermon on his life and beliefs and communion for a large congregation who later adjourned to the garden of Morland House for a reception party in fine weather and magnificent surroundings.

He was faithful unto death and must surely have been given the crown of life. It was a privilege to know him.

         D.McD 3.1.08