Thomas Twite 1922-2020

With great sadness, we announce the loss of Dereham Veteran Tom Twite at the age of 97 at 1430 today (18th April 2020).

Tom’s family and friends would like to thank all of those who have wished him well over the past few weeks. The nhs.uk and staff at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice, Norwich have been extremely attentive to his needs and are particularly thanked.

Here is a summary of Tom Twite’s military service:

Thomas Twite 2665087

Tom was born in 1922 Tiitleshall and at 2 years old moved to the Oaklands farm in Litcham. 

In 1939 when the war broke out he had left home and had become an assistant gamekeeper at Sir Samuel Roberts estate Cockley Cley. As the demands of war meant the “Gentry” were called to service and the “Shoots” were no longer being organized, Tom was made redundant. 

It was after battle of Britain Tom thought about volunteering for the armed forces. He applied for service and favoured the RAF. When he arrived at the recruitment centre in Norwich they told him that the RAF didn’t require any further recruits. They informed him that he was INVITED to join the Coldstream Guards and his mother would be sent a request. 

He Joined the @1st Battalion (Armoured) Coldstream Guards in 1942 and he was sent Catterick Bovington and other training camps in preparation for the assault on Europe.

Tom joined the Battle for Normandy on 29th June 1944 as tank crew in No 1 Sq Ist Bn Coldstream Guards. They first were at Bayeux before breaking out and join the battle for Caen in Op Goodwood in late July 1944. His theatre of war then turned toward the Bocage in Op Bluecoat. This was a fierce and bloody battle as the Germans were well intrenched and held the high ground. 

On 11th August 1944 his Battlalion fought along side the 3rd Bn Irish Guards in a hamlet of Pavee (Sourdeville) as part of an operation to cut the road between Vire and Vassey; it was called Op Gouse. He was one the First tanks in to Brussels liberating them in the fastest advance in history (until the Iraq war). He fought alongside Sir Robert Boscawen (MP for Bath and author of the Armoured Guardsmen) throughout the war.

He was involved in Operation Market Garden and later the Battle of the Bulge. His finally support the fateful attack on the Lonneker Bridge at Enschede in Holland 1st April 1945. At this point Tom was sent back to England after promotion for further training. His tank was lost in a battle 3 days later. After war Tom was deployed to Palestine to police the movement of peoples from all over Europe wishing to live in the newly formed Israel.

He is a founder member of the Coldstream Guards association in Norwich and went on to form a subbranch in Kings Lynn. He has represented the Coldstream Guards association in France and Holland for the 50th, 70th  and 75th anniversaries.

He was Guest of Honour in 2014 in Charles De Percy in France and again in Valkenward in Holland for the celebrations in 2014 and 2019. 

He was presented to HRH the Queen Mother and planted a tree in Sandringham (first tree on left through gates on way to church) to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Coldstream Guards. 

He was awarded the Legion d’honneur along with all other D Day veterans in 2015 and it presented by Lord Dannatt at ceremony at The Assembly House in Norwich February 2017.

He has been active member of St. Nicholas Church, Dereham and life long member of the The Royal British Legion Norfolk and was one of the many who stood outside shops selling poppies for many years. He is also an active member of Probus.

Thomas Twite We salute you Sir Thank you for your service.

Tom's Family are raising money for The Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich and SSAFA (an important organisation that Tom always supported) - funds will be divided 50/50 between the 2 beneficiaries.