Page 168 - RSDG Year of 2023

166 EAGLE AND CARBINE
He stopped the van and asked her if she would like a lift. There was no reply. Thinking she might be ill, he got out to investigate and, as he rounded the bonnet, the moon broke through the clouds and all was revealed. He had been talking to a red post box!
He was selected to command the Regiment and took over in 1968, and for all regimental officers this was seen as the “top job”. The Greys were then based in Fallingbostel close to the East German Border between Hamburg and Hanover. In those days of Cold War tension, the Regiment was at the cutting edge. It was highly trained, professional and consisted of 57 Centurion tanks and 600 Scottish soldiers and, not to be forgotten, about 30 private horses in the stables; indeed, there was plenty fun to be had – polo, eventing, hunting (the Regiment even had its own pack of hounds) as well as skiing and sailing which was certainly Micky’s preference.
He was, however, a stickler for high standards and on meeting him in barracks his introductory phrase would be “how’s yerself ” which normally heralded a list of action points – indeed orders - to be completed by yesterday!
The Greys were one of the few regiments that had not been amalgamated or disbanded, due to its position as Scotland’s senior and only cavalry regiment, so it was quite apparent that due to MOD cuts it would eventually be found a partner. Shortly after assuming command, he and the Colonel of the Regiment were summoned to Buckingham Palace by the Colonel in Chief, Her Majesty The Queen. Her Majesty asked, “Any news about our regimental future?” At that time there was none and she then said, “Well whatever happens I am sure that you will make a great success of it.
So they left, knowing what they had to do and achieve! On return to Germany, Micky received a confidential signal from the War Office. The time had come and the Greys were to amalgamate with the 3rd Carabiniers, a tough call for both regiments. It was one of Micky’s great challenges to prepare the Regiment for its marriage which was no easy task. This was further complicated as the Regiment was to convert from tanks to armoured cars but the good news was that the Regiment was to return to Edinburgh and Redford Cavalry Barracks, built for the Greys in 1914.
As Micky wrote in his memoirs, Redford Cavalry Barracks was the perfect posting for the Regiment with a more relaxed role. And the Regiment received a very warm welcome home. There was hunting from Charterhall with Alexander Trotter and shooting at his estate, Mortonhall, near Edinburgh, fishing at Ravesnswood thanks to General Ralph Younger, grouse shooting on the Lammermuirs with Lord Robert Biddulph and much more. But as he wrote, it was not all play. There were
operational commitments. Micky had to send a Squadron to the United Nations Force in Cyprus under command of Simon Cox, followed by HRH The Duke of Kent’s C Squadron while A Squadron was sent to Sharjah under George Stephen.
With the amalgamation in mind at this time Micky decided to write the Regimental History of the Greys which was a lot of hard work and time consuming, but later proved to be invaluable. At this time, the Pipes and Drums and Regimental band went on a tour around the United States of America for two and a half months. They returned to Edinburgh in December 1969 but the promoter in the States, having promised a really good fee, provided a miserably small cheque for £1000. On his return, the Pipe President, Mel Jameson, reported to Micky who was seriously disappointed and hugely unimpressed with the amount of the cheque but then Mel Jameson said “better news Colonel, the pipers, bandsmen and I were selling regimental tea towels every night at each show and the surplus we made was £3500. Micky looked happier as that was a lot of money in those days.
The Record Company RCA now wanted another long player, the recording of which took place at the study centre at Redford where the excellent bands of the Greys and Carabiniers and the Pipes and Drums had already come together. Micky took a great deal of interest in this and directed it was to consist of all the military music for the new regiment but at the last minute a tune for the Joint Bands called Amazing Grace was slipped in. The rest is history as it later reached No 1 in the pop charts where it stayed for 6 weeks which was unheard of for a military band and then the Royalties started to role in. It was ‘heaven sent’ and great timing because it did so much to unite the new regiment post amalgamation. Although it was a Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tune created by the Joint bands, it was inspired during Micky’s time in command.
In those days the Commanding Officer had his own Air Squadron of six Sioux helicopters and the chief pilot was Captain Peter Loyd who recalled when in the helicopter he (Micky) behaved like any other young irresponsible officer! Passionate about nature they found all sorts of excitement together. On one occasion they found Golden Eagles on Skye to photograph only to discover on return there had been no film in the camera. When Micky went round the country he would often take an overnight bag to stay with friends and his trout rod was often strapped to the skids of the helicopter just in case an opportunity came to use it while the helicopter was useful for shooting invitations way up north and stalking at Black Mount!
The highlight of his command, after much hard work, had to be the huge success of the amalgamation and the