Rupert Brookshaw

[Gilbert Bridger]

Going through my old photo's and came upon Rupert Brookshaw. Always remember that when he came to the Regiment he should have joined the Cav. A proper Rodney. One hell of a Rugby player and enjoyed the odd scrap or 2 :? He was top drawer, always wore his blazer with a red cravat and smoked like a chimney and could drink for Britain, a No1 tankie trait. This eventually killed him. Another great charactor. If there was a competition for the dirtiest neck on exercise, Rupert would have won every time. R.I.P Rupert

[Paul Ramsay]

Played rugby with old Rupert - once saw him stamping his feet and ranting outside C sqn block in Herford - so funny.

Got to know him quite well in later life and once you knew him he was a star!!!

RIP in the wuperts meth in the sky

[Tiny Hart]

Rupert was my troop leader in Herford and took over my vehicle on the one occasion he was broken down and i wasn't. He forgot to transfer his mega box of mars bars when he left and was somewhat upset when 2 days later he took over his own repaired vehicle and found 50 or so empty mars bar wrappers on the turret floor, can't really understand his anger, after all I drank my own beer and left his alone!!. Beer is sacred but mars bars are outside the rules!!! all's fair in love and scheme.

I liked him, a real rupert.

[Alan (Smudger) Smith]

Played a lot of rugby with Rupert - all round nice bloke and good player and the only officer ever to buy me a drink when I was on officers mess bar. beer

[Dave Harmon]

Roggers! I used to drive him in B sqn. Top bloke. I can't remember the name of the scheme now - might have been Royal Reynard? We were umpiring anyway. We were on top of a ridge and somewhere below in the distance was what looked like HQ coy D& D. All 3 of us were absolutely knackered but R.Brookshawe had a cunning plan! We had run out of drinkies but he felt that as it was obviously HQ coy they would be" just bound to have some bevvies!" We had spotted them upon our arrival and he felt that one of us ( me or the gunner and I can't remember which one that was) ought to go down and chat up their CQMS for a few packs of the amber nectar. I had said that it wouldn't work as we were troopers and he'd tell us to bu**er off. Time passed, all went quiet, then:

"Super old fellow, you're a Grammar School boy arent you?"

"Yes and....?" says I realising immediately that a plot was being hatched.

" You can be remarkably well spoken when you want to be and I've heared you impersonating all sorts of people, now what if......."

The plan was that I'd borrow his pips and capbadge and stomp off to the far horizon with bino's, clipboard etc - looking like Rommel with a thirst.

" It'll never work!"

" Oh come on, don't be such a defeatist!"

This went on for about 2 hours! I'd still be too embarrased to tell you if Op Distant Bottles was put into motion!

Marvellous bloke - always good crack and an excellent troop leader.