Tributes have been paid to Allan Gullis, a veteran from Melksham, who died aged 99. He served during the Normandy Landings in World War II and was the last surviving member of the Wiltshire Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association.
His life was celebrated at his funeral which took place at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington on Thursday 20th June.
Allan was born and raised in Melksham and he joined the army when he was about 18 years old. During World War II, he served with the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) as a driver. He also served during the D-Day Normandy landings.
“All the tributes were wonderful at the funeral,” said Allan’s daughter, Gloria Crossley. “There were so many.”
Allan was also the last standard bearer in the county, which is a soldier responsible for carrying the regimental flag. Attending his funeral were Lieutenant King and troops from the 9th Reg Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (RLC), formerly the RASC.
“When Dad was in the army, he was mainly a driver,” explained Gloria. “He was actually in Germany when the Potsdam Treaty was signed in Berlin. I think he had other jobs as well; he had to clear all of the dead bodies, which he never spoke about.
“The tributes given were not just about the army, though. He was musically minded and was a drummer in dance bands. He had a dance band in the war days. He loved the big band sound and during his funeral, Glenn Miller and Count Basie were played. He was also in Bratton, Corsham and Melksham Town Silver Band which were marching bands in the carnival.”
Allan, who went on to drive a school bus in the town, married his wife Edna, who is now 102 years old, exactly one month before D-Day and the couple had three children. This year would have been their 80th wedding anniversary.
“Dad met Mum during the war,” says Gloria. “They met in the King’s Arms in Melksham when she was having her 21st birthday. She was a WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) stationed at Melksham and I believe she is the last remaining WAAF from Melksham RAF station. When they met in the King’s Arms, Dad had heard the WAFFs say they were going to the dance at the town hall, so he and his friend followed because he had his eye set on Mum.
“They married in the war years in ‘44 and couldn’t have the wedding bells because that was a sound for the air raid warning.
“Another memory was that all the grandchildren called him ‘Grampy Teeth’ because he could play his teeth like castanets. His false teeth would come out halfway and he would clatter them so quickly they would sound like castanets or a horse clopping along.
“Dad had a taste for a certain type of French brandy. At his funeral, my family carried the coffin and they all had a toast to him. It was a very humorous funeral because that’s how Dad was.”
This year marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and Melksham local Major General Darren Crook completed a 21-mile run in Normandy to honour the veterans, including Allan.
Darren spoke at Allan’s funeral and shared the following tribute with Melksham News, “It was a privilege to speak at his funeral, to have the chance to thank him for his service, his influence, his spark and his love. To simply say thank you for the memories and, of course, for the freedom that he and his friends secured for us. From this thankful Wiltshire man and old soldier to another: to say goodbye and Godspeed.”
