Colonel Bill Fletcher died aged 75 on 7 October 2007 after a long illness, borne with tremendous courage, strength and fortitude.

Born at Hartford on 9 December 1931 into a family with a strong military and dental background, Bill followed his father into dentistry and qualified from King's College Hospital in 1953. He was immediately called up for National Service in Korea for which he was awarded the UN Korean medal.

On completion of his National Service Bill joined his father and brother in law in a much respected practice in Bexleyheath and had a part time clinical lecturer appointment in the Prosthetics Department at the Royal Dental Hospital, London.

In 1964 Bill decided to rejoin the RADC. After a brief posting to Dental Centre Arborfield he was posted to BMH Benghazi. His tour in Libya was cut short by the six day war and Colonel Gaddafi's decision to rid himself of the British and so Bill was left with other medical officers to hurriedly close down the military hospital. After a tour in Sennelager Bill was posted as Senior Dental Officer to BMH Berlin.

Bill's next posting was to Northern Ireland as the first CO of 9 Dental Group. Bill and his wife Dorothy were attending a social function in the Military Wing of Musgrave Park Hospital when the building came under attack from missiles and they and other guests had to seek refuge under the dining table in order to avoid injury!

The next first for Bill was his posting to Hong Kong, then a series of Dental Group commands culminating in two of the most senior appointments in the Army Dental Service. Had the old order prevailed Bill would certainly have been a candidate for the rank of Brigadier. Bill retired from the Army in 1991.

Throughout his prolonged illness Bill had the devotion and support of his wife Dorothy and their children Jane, Anne, Peter and Kate.

A requiem Mass was held for Bill on 19 October 2007 at St Peter and St John Catholic Church Camberley. The church was packed to capacity by friends, relations and colleagues, a fitting tribute to someone the Corps held in such high esteem.

(Produced from the eulogy given by Brigadier [Retd] Ron Smart 'A Tribute to Bill')