Gibbons Replaces Raynor As Honorary Colonel

Governor John Rankin announced that Lt Colonel David Gibbons has been appointed as Honorary Colonel of the Royal Bermuda Regiment in succession to Colonel Eugene Raynor, who is stepping down from the role having served since 1999.

The Governor said “I thank Colonel Raynor for his distinguished 20 years’ service as Honorary Colonel to the Regiment. His advice, drawing on his long and distinguished experience, has played an important role in developing the Regiment’s work in support of the security and defence of Bermuda. I, and my predecessors as Governor, have been grateful for all he has done for the Regiment throughout his career, not least during his service as Commanding Officer from 1980 – 1984.

“At the same time I am very pleased to appoint Colonel Gibbons as his successor and look forward to working with Colonel Gibbons as the Regiment continues to grow and develop in the post-conscription period.”

The Governor also announced the appointment of Major William Madeiros as the new Chair of the Defence Board and Promotions Board of the Royal Bermuda Regiment in succession to Colonel Gibbons.

The Governor said “Major Madeiros has served on the Defence and Promotions Boards since 2007. He is an individual who I know remains deeply committed to supporting the Royal Bermuda Regiment and I look forward to working with him in these new roles. I would also take this opportunity to thank Colonel Gibbons for his service as Chair of these two Boards since 2015.”

Royal Bermuda Regiment statement

The Honorary Colonel of the Royal Bermuda Regiment is to step down after more than 20 years in the role and almost 60 years in the military, the Regiment announced

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Raynor, appointed as the first black Commanding Officer of the then-Bermuda Regiment in 1980, will be replaced by another former CO, Lieutenant Colonel David Gibbons, who has served as chairman of the Defence and Promotions Boards.

Col Raynor, who joined the then-segregated military as a Private in the Bermuda Militia Artillery in 1961, said: “Being involved, in one way or another, has been pretty much a way of life.

“To be the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Bermuda Regiment is an honour very few people will have. It’s been a good time and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

A young Eugene Raynor as a Private soldier in the BMA

Col Raynor achieved the rank of Corporal in the BMA before he was commissioned in 1964. He was one of the founding officers of the integrated Bermuda Regiment, formed from the BMA and the Bermuda Rifle Corps in 1965.

Col Raynor stood down as CO in 1984, but later joined the Defence Board and was appointed Honorary Colonel in 1999. His role was to advise a series of Governors, who act as the Commander-in-Chief of the RBR, and the Regiment on military matters and to promote military service.

Col Raynor said: “Even though I’m not hands on, I have been aware, and made myself aware, of what was going on. I hope I have been useful, especially with the different Governors I have met. I believe I have been useful there, to some extent.”

Col Raynor’s military experience started as a toddler – his father Vernon was a soldier in the Bermuda Militia Infantry assigned to protection of the island’s military installations in World War II.

He said in an interview as an adult that he remembered being mesmerised by his father’s .303 Lee Enfield rifle when he came home on a break.

Colonel Raynor in the uniform of Honorary Colonel of the RBR

He added: “Another one of my earliest memories was watching parades – that was a major influence on me.”

Col Raynor later joined the BMA Cadet programme, even though he was three months short of the minimum age of 14. He later joined the BMA and rose rapidly through the ranks.

Col Raynor was also one of the soldiers picked for the Regiment’s first overseas camp in Jamaica in 1968. He was appointed as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor in the 1970s and rose to the highest rank in the service less than a decade later.

Col Raynor said: “It’s been a good time and I’ve enjoyed it.”

But the 77-year-old, awarded an OBE for his military service, said that he was aware of his advancing years and wanted to reduce his responsibilities, so decided to stand down from his honorary role and from the Defence Board.

Col Raynor added he would miss the camaraderie of the RBR most and the interaction with the ranks.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed that. With people over the years, I was hands on. What the soldiers were doing, I was doing and I found that the soldiers really appreciated having me around. I was just as dirty coming out of the field as them.

“Later on, as Honorary Colonel, it was always my intent to visit them in the field and spend as much time with them as possible. Being with the troops at all levels was the best experience I had as a soldier.”

He added that being appointed the first black Commanding Officer was a pivotal event.

Col Raynor said: “It was a proud moment for me and for the whole island, really. It was a great ceremony at Police Field and the whole Regiment turned out.”

He added that the RBR had changed in many ways – but that the commitment to service to the island in internal security and disaster relief was a constant.

Col Raynor said: “The Regiment in its present state has had, over the past few years, the opportunities to improve its standard of operations and training and the chance to take part in major international exercises. The opportunities surpass the Jamaica exercise I was on in 1968.”

He added: “The Regiment has been a major benefit to Bermuda. The RBR offers an opportunity for military training. Recruits will be doing things very different from their normal lives.

“People will find out there is a niche there that they can enjoy and that benefits individuals and the community.”

Col Raynor said: “It will be tough and starts being tough simply by being immersed in a disciplined activity. But when people come out after three years, they have things they can recall and use to guide them out of other problems life will throw at them.”

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