Page 132 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
a commission with the Army Cadet Force and he enjoyed training weekends and summer camps. He was the chauffeur to the managing director of Ray Rolls. He was a regular attender of Association functions travelling to Kirkcaldy to attend Scottish Branch reunions and a number of years ago booked a table at the Newcastle Dinner for the family. Dougie was pre deceased by his wife Joyce and he leaves behind their 4 children and their families.
Mr W A L Fordyce
Served: 1957-59 Died: 30 Apr 23.
Archie as he was known died aged 89. Archie was called up to complete his National Service in 1959 and after completing his basic training he joined the Regiment in Omagh in Northern Ireland. In the Regiment he was employed as a clerk and was part of the shooting team. Completing his National Service he returned to Scotland and served with Territorial Army units including QOL Yeomanry and the Scottish Transport Regiment. A regular attender at Association reunions and after a visit to Detmold in 1992 the Scottish Branch of the Regimental Association was formed. Archie had the honour of carrying the branch banner. He was later to become Secretary of the branch. Before his death he would make an annual pilgrimage to NW Europe with his old friend Ian Forsyth to visit where Ian served in WW2 producing an annual article for the Journal called the “Tramps Report” from their exploits. Travelling down from Hamilton he was a regular attendee at dinners and attending Sahagun celebrations. He was always immaculately turned out and had the neatest of handwriting. He was involved with the veteran community in Scotland and was a fundraiser for Poppy Scotland and will be sorely missed by all who came into contact with him.
G Ridding Esq
Served: 1944-47 Died: 15 May 23.
Born into Christian family in 1924, he was educated at Winchester College and Oriel College, Oxford. He served King and Country
in the Second World War and Palestine (15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars); he worked in education (Oundle School, St Luke’s College, Exeter, the Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai, and West Buckland School) striving for innovative developments to enhance the choices and realise the potential of all staff and students. He enjoyed sporting activities (athletics at Oxford, squash and cricket) and encouraged participation by all. He served the Church overseas and in the UK (with USPG in Kampar to
Slim River and Teluk Anson to Cameron Highlanders, Malaysia, and the parishes of Broadhembury, Payhembury & Plymtree in the Diocese of Exeter). In all this, he was supported by his wife, Elsie, married for 62 years. They have three children, William, Caroline and George. His profes- sional expertise and visionary initiatives in these various fields were accompanied by a personal humility and strong Christian faith. George and Elsie enjoyed their later years at the College of St Barnabas, Lingfield.
Maj J F Walls
Served: 1955-87 Died: 18 Jul 23.
Jim was born in the Scottish Highlands in December 1933, in a somewhat spartan army barracks at Fort George, where his father’s
regiment, the KOSB, were stationed. Soon afterwards the family moved south to Dumfries. Dumfries is forever associated with the great Scottish poet Robert Burns, or Rabbie Burns, and one of his earliest memories was charging tourists 1p to show them around Burns’ mausoleum located in St Michaels Church. On leaving school he had various jobs until he was called up to complete his national service in 1955, aged 22. It was in the Army he found something he not only loved doing but where he was very successful in both work and sport.
On his return from Malaya he met the then Miss Berwick Gloria Matthews and they were soon married, honeymooning in Newcastle. Jim and Gloria created a loving and highly entertaining home for the four children that were to follow during the 1960’s, starting with Geraldine, then Teresa, Caroline and John. The family enjoyed many holidays in Italy.
Jim was promoted rapidly and by the end of the 1950s he was a Tp Sgt training national service recruits with the Regiment at Barnard Castle and later went on a posting to South Shields with the Northumberland Hussars. By the end of the 1960s he had been promoted to WO2 and was SSM of A Sqn under Major Gouriet. He was promoted WO1 in 1973 and appointed RSM. This was a frustrating time for him as although the Regiment was based in Omagh with two squadrons permanently on operations, they were effectively independent and beyond the reach of RHQ. But Jim was commissioned in 1976 and after a tour as Admin Officer for B Sqn on UN operations in Cyprus, he was appointed Quartermaster. This lasted over 6 years, during which he was QM for three Commanding Officers in succession, retiring as a Major in 1987. During these years he was also the manager of the Regimental football team, and he always considered his crowning glory to be the team’s victory in the Cavalry Cup Football final in 1984.
In 1987 Jim took up the appointment as Regimental Secretary, becoming the last of three outstanding Secretaries of the 15th/19th Hussars Regimental Association between the end of World War 2 and amalgamation in 1991. But unlike his predecessors it fell to Jim to steer the Association through all the tensions and potential problems of the amalga- mation. Working closely with Capt Gary Locker, who was his opposite number
Mr M Sprintall
Served: 1968-91 Died: 27 Jun 23.
We were informed by his old friend IP David Lines that Malcolm had sadly died after a long illness aged 72. “Maggot” as he was affectionately known was employed at Cameron’s Brewery in the Tunn Room in Hartlepool prior to joining the Army in 1968. After completing his basic training at Catterick he joined the Regiment in Tidworth joining A Squadron. He then moved to C and S Squadron and for most of his career was employed in the QM’s dept and on exercise he would drive the QM. He was posted away from the Regiment on two occasions, the first to ATDU at Bovington and for his last two years in the Army on a posting in Cyprus. Maggot completed a full career and left the Army in 1991 attaining the rank of Cpl and settled in Hartlepool. A regular attender at the Durham Smoker he will be sadly missed by his wife Margaret and his children Jason and Tracy.
Mr R Davison
Served: 1970-92 Died: 17 Jul 23.
We were informed by Richie’s wife Margaret that he has sadly died aged 69 after suffering a long illness. Richie joined the Regiment
at Tidworth after completing his basic training at Catterick. He completed a full career attaining the rank of SSgt seeing service in Hong Kong, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Germany, Canada and Denmark. He served both as a Troop Sergeant and SQMS in A Sqn. He served on postings with QOY in Fenham Barracks and for his last posting was the SQMS with Badger Squadron of 2 RTR in Bovington. After leaving the Army returned to Sunderland where he was employed at Sunderland University. He was a regular attendee at reunions until ill health precluded his attendance. Richie leaves behind his wife and their two children Richard and Sarah.
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