Page 123 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
A A Gregory Esq
Died: 1 Apr 20 Served: 1951-53
We were informed late by the wife of Adrian of this sad news. He joined the Regiment whilst in Hong Kong for a short spell, here he was a member of B Squadron as a young Troop Leader in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. At the time the Regiment were on armoured cars carrying out many escort duties as part of their routine. In Sport Adrian took part in Inter Squadron sport whilst serving notably winning the shot competition in 1953. But he was also a keen cricketer playing regularly for Selangor Services in Kuala Lumpur and also was selected to play for the State dur- ing his time there.
Mr J H Hughes
Died: 12 May 20 Served: 1944-45
Joseph served with the Regiment during World War 2 and was a member of C Sqn. During this time, he was involved in active service where he was employed as a Sherman tank driver throughout the Normandy landings.
He was later captured at Beringen, Belgium on the 9th Sep 44 with his crew and spent the next 12 months in captivity until the end of the war.
Mr A H Divers
Died: 5 Jan 21 Served: 1942-46
Home Headquarters (HHQ) Light Dragoons were informed by HHQ Royal Lancers of this sad news. Alan Divers died on Thursday 5th January 2021 aged 97. He enlisted into the Army on 23rd April 1942 and was posted to the 24th Lancers in November 1942. He landed on D Day and was badly wounded shortly thereafter when his tank was blown up. He was case- vaced to the UK and after rehabilitating he transferred to the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in January 1945 and fought with them into Germany. He was demobilised in 1946.
Mr E R Oliver
Died: 7 Jan 21 Served: 1950-54
Eric joined the Regiment in 1950, he served his time as a member of B Sqn through- out his time in the Army, promoting to Sergeant by time he departed in 1954. During his service he found himself ini- tially in Kluang, Johore State in Malaysia, Hong Kong and then Kuala Lumpur again
Obituaries 13/18H
in Malaysia whilst the Regiment were on Daimler armoured cars.
Mr J Houston
Died: 25 Jan 21 Served: 1967-74
Joined the Regiment 1 June 1967 whilst they were in Munster, Germany. He was attached to A Sqn where he remained until June 1970 at this time, he was then posted to MVEE Kirkcudbright in Scotland in the rank of Lance Corporal. After two years away he returned to the Regiment who were now the RAC Training Regiment in Bovington/Lulworth where he joined Vehicle Squadron in July of 1972 now as a Corporal. serving in Range Troop in Lulworth. Jimmy eventually left the Army in February 1974,
D J Garratt Esq
Died: 27 Jan 21 Served: 1952-52
David was a short service officer in A Squadron of the Regiment and served in Malaya. A Squadron were located in Johore Bahru where they were responsi- ble for convoys, patrols and escorts in the area during their stay. The squadron were equipped with the Daimler Armoured Car to perform their duties.
Mr A Powell
Died: 1 Feb 21 Served: 1968-74
Allen joined C Sqn of the Regiment in February 1969 whilst in Munster, Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine (known as BAOR) during his service the Regiment were on the Chieftain Main Battle Tank at that time. He enlisted on a 6-year engagement leaving in April 1974. He like so many others on leaving the Army often reflected on his service days fondly to his family.
G B H Collinssplatt Esq
Died: 7 Feb 21 Served: 1955-57
Guy followed in his father’s footsteps as a National Serviceman and thoroughly enjoyed his two years in the Army. He joined C Squadron where he carried out his Troop Leader duties for the dura- tion of his service in both Wolfenbuttel and Neumunster, Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine. His Regiment was a most important and influential time of his life, which left a lasting impression upon him. He discharged in 1957.
Mr G Morris
Died: 23 Feb 21 Served: 1965-69
Perham Down where he remained in C Squadron, though now in 3rd Troop. In Jan 68 he was attached to 13 Flt Army Air Corps returning to Regimental Duty in Jan 69. He also had a period in Sharjah United Arab Emirates and Singapore before he departed the Army. Geoff was a good Association member and whilst in employ- ment as a publican of the pub The Hope Inn, the Barnsley Branch often used his premisses for veteran gatherings. The Morris family have a strong military back- ground with sons Geoff and his brother Michael also joining the Army, following in their father’s footsteps. Michael joined C Squadron of The Light Dragoons 1999- 2004, and Geoff serving 22 years in three Regiments: The Duke of Wellington, Ulster Defence Regiment and finishing in 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment.
Lt Col J O G Paton
Died: 15 Mar 21 Served: 1958-69
After schooling at St Aubyn’s and then Wellington College, Tim followed the well-trodden route of Sandhurst (from April 1948) and then a commission in his father’s regiment of the King’s Dragoon Guards initially. His
first posting was to Omagh in Northern Ireland, as a subaltern, but he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1951, he was posted to the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, where he became the first cav- alry officer to study for a degree in science, which in turn led to a signals course at Bovington as well as courses in tank tech- nology, at the time still a very new subject. In 1953, he was appointed regimental sig- nals officer and posted to Neumunster in Germany, which included a period guard- ing the Kiel Canal from possible Russian invasion. This was followed by the first posting (of two) to Malaya, in 1957, again as RSO. In 1958, Tim transferred out of the KDGs to the 13th/18th Hussars and, in December of the same year, married. This
During his service Geoff (also known as Seth) served with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (QMO) ini- tially in Paderborn Germany, as a mem- ber of 2nd Troop C Squadron, in 1966 the Regiment returned to UK and
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