| Nick Bateson remembered |
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| Written by Peter Fuller | |||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 10 May 2007 | |||||||||||||||
Maj Nicholas (Nick) John Bateson R SIGNALS (511687) Maj Nick Bateson was born on 9 Nov 1957 at Chislehurst, Kent. He graduated from Southampton University before being commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1981 into the Royal Corps of Signals. He then had a typically varied career serving initially with the British Army of the Rhine as a troop commander in 7 Signal Regiment and then training Junior Soldiers in Ouston. Subsequently he completed parachute training and carried out a tour with the Parachute Squadron of the Royal Signals. This was followed by a tour as an instructor at the School of Signals and then a Grade 3 appointment in a Royal Artillery Branch in Germany. He commanded a Squadron in 7 Signal Regiment before carrying out subsequent UK tours in Aldershot and Bulford. After completion of a demanding technical course, he served in the HQ of the Signal Officer in Chief (Army). When he died, Nick was serving as an SO2 within the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) Integrated Project Team (IPT) part of the Information System and Services (ISS) Directorate of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation. He was on detached duty from ISS filling the post of SO2 ISS (Middle East) acting as the forward SO2 of the Global Operations Security Control Centre (GOSCC) working within the deployed Div HQ. Nick deployed to Iraq on 21 Jan 07 and his tour was due to end on 21 May 07. Like many who join the Army, Nick was never wholly comfortable sat behind a desk. Indeed his life, as all of those who knew him will testify, was dominated by sport. For many years he concentrated on running, typically cross country and orienteering, but as the need to preserve his well worn knees grew more important, he turned to cycling and triathlon whilst still competing at civilian and military orienteering events. He competed at the highest level in the Army and before deploying on Op TELIC he took leave to help train a top Adventure Racing team. During his time in ISS he would combine training with work travel; for example to get to a meeting in Catterick, he would cycle to the railway station at Chippenham, and then get on his bike again to travel the hill miles from Darlington railway station to Catterick Garrison. All in the IPT were very much looking forward to Nick's return from Iraq in a few weeks, not just for the jam smothered hot toast he was sure to give out, but for his humility in sporting triumphs, ever present smile, wicked sense of humour and refreshingly eccentric version of uniform. Nick will be missed by all of those who have worked with him or who knew him through sport. He was a great sportsman and a thoroughly professional officer. Nick met his wife, Angie whilst serving in the UK at Blandford, where he eventually put down roots with her in their house in the Dorset village of Pimperne. Our deepest sympathies go to Angie and all of Nick's family. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 11 May 2007 ) | |||||||||||||||
![Major Nick Bateson [Picture: MOD]](http://defenceintranet.diiweb.r.mil.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2A066113-B81B-47F7-B989-C6C53B9B3EAB/0/20070502MajNickBateson2.jpg)
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