Lt Col William Wray Gordon REDMAN [497]

  General Notes:

A career soldier Wray saw service in Africa, and the Middle East. Lt Col Sherwood Forestors. Retired to teach at Twyford School, then farmed a small holding, Nutley Farm, Broughton, Hampshire.

  Other Records

1. William Wray Gordon Redman.
Wray produced a booklet in 1998 titled "Random Jottings", a selection of poems, details on family and their property at Broughton Hampshire, it is dedicated to his wife and family.
He concluded with this:
"ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Wray Redman had an idealistic early childhood on a farm in Wiltshire (1912-1920). With very loving parents, a wonderful home and wonderful farmyard.
Always athletic and good looking, he had easy years at a Preparatory school. Then at Lancing College he was 'thrown' on realising that athletic prowess was of less importance than intellectual ability. In the Army for 25 years, he was reasonably good when in command (i. An Independent Machine Gun Company, ii. At an OCTU in East Africa, iii. At his Depot in Derby). He showed much initiative as a Company Commander in Somaliland and in Abyssinia (1942). However he was mediocre as a subordinate, and very poor as a Staff Officer. For six years he was just an average Master at Twyford Preparatory School. Then proved quite good as a Teacher in a State School for young handicapped children. He and his wife bought a small farm in 1970; and he proved himself by hard work, much use of binder twine and wheelbarrows. In 1994 his wife virtually took control of the 72 acres, and converted all arable land to Downland grass and Wild Flowers. He became a very enthusiastic assistant, and quickly began to find so much of Wonder and Beauty in Nature. Beauty was found in Butterflies, Flowers, Grasses, and Seed Collecting.
All with ever increasing awareness of the Countryside and the Environment."

William married Joan Alison FENN [496] [MRIN: 143], daughter of Lt Col Arthur Alston FENN D S O [492] and Dorothy Rose CONSTABLE CURTIS [493], on 14 Sep 1946 in St James Nayland SFK. (Joan Alison FENN [496] was born on 6 Mar 1924 in Zomba Nyasaland Protectorate Africa, died on 5 Dec 1998 and was buried on 11 Dec 1998 in Broughton HAM.)