Page 159 - Chronicle Vol 17

LIEUTENANT COLONEL R J D OVEY
Lieutenant Colonel Dick Ovey, who died on 27th October 2023, will be fondly remembered by all ranks as a highly professional, passionate Rifleman and a thoroughly decent, charming, and popular officer.
After Eton College, where he was an enthusiastic cadet, Dick studied at University College London and, in his final year, was promoted to Senior Under Officer in the University Officer Training Corps, taking part in a wide range of activities including an expe- dition to Nepal. From university, Dick went to Victory College at RMAS and in 1990 was commissioned and joined 1 RGJ as a Platoon Commander. He quickly became a popular member of the Officers’ Mess, and his Rifle Green Morgan sports car was the stuff of leg- end and the envy of his peers.
Dick was a keen sportsman and loved sailing and rugby, going on to become a qualified rugby referee and coach in Uxbridge. He had a wide variety of interests outside the army and, having been a member of the Eton College Choir, Dick con- tinued singing throughout his military career, whilst in Osnabruck and Paderborn with the Anglo-German choir. Much later he sang with the Holy Trinity Choir in 2023 in Brussels during his last job in the Army. He was also a keen bugler and gained his Private Pilot’s Licence whilst serving.
After Germany, Dick served as an adult recruit training Platoon Commander, before completing an exchange with the Princess Patricia’sCanadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), during which he deployed on with a company with UNPROFOR in the former Yugoslavia. On return, he served in several regimental appointments including Close Observation Platoon Commander in Belfast, before assuming command of A Company 2 RGJ.
On arrival in Bosnia in early 1998, Dick received a quick brief from Jamie Gordon, got his Riflemen off the buses and into their Warrior IFVs, and, having replen- ished the fuel and ammunition, drove through the night to quell the Serbs rioting in the town of Drvar. Subsequently, Dick took command of B Company 1 RGJ in Bulford and oversaw the battalion’s move to Belfast. His Commanding Officer, David Homer, remembers Dick as a very conscientious commander who cared deeply for his Riflemen. He also took a great interest in regimental affiliations,
158