Page 75 - QDG Year of 2020

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 73
Colonel Rodney Windsor who has died on 21st October 2020 aged 95 years was a distinguished soldier and hard-working farmer.
Rodney was born in 1925 and went to Tonbridge. He joined the Army in 1943, and was commissioned into The Queen’s Bays in 1944. He was won in a game of poker at Sandhurst by the then Captain Jackie Harman, who was an instructor there, from the Welsh Guards represent- ative. So perhaps he could have been a Guardsman, but for a Full House, Aces on Kings!
He joined The Bays in Italy in 1945 and
was the last officer to join before the war in Italy ended. He enjoyed life to the full, playing polo in Rome and at Aiello, at a time when little soldiering took place. He went on to serve in the Canal Zone and Chester, where he was Technical Adjutant. He then spent two years 1949-50 as ADC to the GOC-in-C British Troops Austria.
He re-joined the Regiment in Fallingbostel, serving in HQ Squadron and then A Squadron, where he was Second-in-Command. He was Honorary Secretary of the Wessex Hounds, the regimental pack whose Master was Charles Armitage, and he played polo
in the Regimental side.
In 1952 Rodney decided to resign his commission and he and Deidre went to Ireland where he started a pig farm. This was extremely hard work but he perse- vered and made a success of it. He joined the North Irish Horse in 1959 and rose to command it from 1964-1967. He then became Colonel Territorial Army Northern Ireland, a post which he held until 1971 when he earned a thoroughly deserved CBE (Military). The citation extols his virtues as TAVR Colonel in that he “has had a particularly heavy responsibility since the Army became involved in internal security”, which he carried out “with exceptional
energy, drive and skill”. His citation continues: “he applied his great experience, his enthusiasm and a strong personality to every facet of the TA and VR’s work; with equal sureness of touch he would repre- sent a case with cogent argument to higher authority; he was known personally to every man in the force; he was quick to scent trouble and nip it in the bud. These things he achieved with the humour and charm which endeared him to everyone”. Despite earning his living by running a large farm almost single-handed he had set
He was in charge of a draft of hounds and before being brought over to Germany he assembled them in London, “borrowing” the Roughriders Headquarters in Handel Street for the purpose. The story goes that he converted the cellars under the Drill Hall into kennels put his charges safely “to bed”. In unfamiliar surroundings the hounds wailed all night disturbing the sleep of the local inhabitants. Rodney collected the hounds the following morning leaving RSM Folwell (also a Bay) to face the complaints. Via Carter Paterson, a special train carriage, ferry and a further train journey the hounds arrived in Fallingbostel.
He played number two for the Regiment at polo and was in the winning side in the Inter Regimental in Germany in 1950 when he scored two goals in the final against the 7th Hussars. Sadly in the final in 1951 the Regiment lost to the 3rd Hussars, who fielded a strong side under Dick Hobson and had better ponies.
In 1951 he married Deidre Chichester.
Not being eligible for a married quarter,
being too young, he joined three other
families, similarly placed, in a house in
Walsrode, which was known as “The Main
lived as well as the Windsors, the newly married Powells, Wilsons and Smarts. They all shared the same kitchen and the Powells’ bedroom was approached through the Windsors’ bedroom. It was well named!
about his TA and VR businesses at the end of his working day. He was further rewarded by being made ADC (TA) to Her Majesty The Queen in 1970. He was also Deputy Lieu- tenant of County Antrim from 1967-97.
He left Ireland and bought a farm in Buchan, near Inverness, where he had cattle and crops. He farmed there until 1994 when he handed over to his eldest son. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire from 1989 - 2020.
Rodney always cared deeply for his men and was a great supporter of the underdog. His disarming directness enabled him to get on with the highest and the lowest. His practical approach to problems made him a man in demand for special tasks both in and outside the Regiment. He was a natural leader and a firm friend with a great sense of humour. He was full of fun and got the most out of life. Seldom in the limelight he was always there to be relied upon when needed. He was a regular attender at the Regimental Dinners and a loyal supporter of the Regiment.
He was a keen and able horseman and enjoyed a game of golf in later years.
He married first Deidre Chichester, who died in 1991. They had a daughter and two sons. He married secondly Angela Stainton in 1994 who
Colonel RFM Windsor CBE DL
he was known personally to every man in the force; he was quick to scent trouble and nip it
in the bud. These things he achieved with the humour and charm which endeared him to everyone
Earth”. In it
pre-deceased him.
RWW