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was followed by a second stint in Malaya in 1960, a period he recalled with frustration because “operations against communist ter- rorists were virtually non-existent by then and our role was vague and ill-determined”. On returning to the UK, he was nominated to go to Camberley Staff College, which was followed by a period in Stanmore and then Paderborn in Germany. Here, among other roles, he ran the regimental stables and learnt how to play polo. As he remembered: “I rode at 6.30am most mornings. I did my usual trick of running several parties and dances, which went well, and my organisa- tional skills served me in good stead.” Tim left the army at the end of 1968, turning down the offer of a desk job with the Ministry of Defence in favour of returning to ‘civvy street’ and taking up a sales and development role with an electronics com- pany called Solartron, after he had got to know one of the directors at a demonstra- tion event. As he wrote in his memoirs, after two decades of military service, “it was a wrench, but I have never regretted that I made that decision.” Tim’s career at Solartron saw him travel the world selling the ‘Simfire’ weapons effects simulator. In 1977, he went freelance and then set up his own military training business, Miltrain, which he continued until successfully sell- ing the business in the late 1990s.
Mr M Chatwin
Died: 16 Mar 21 Served: 1957-59
Michael joined the Regiment after uni- versity whilst they were in Malaya to carry out his National Service, here he served with HQ Squadron. During this time the Squadron were located at Ipoh and Piddlehinton, supporting the Sabre Squadrons of the Regiment. He was pro- moted to Lance Corporal during his time and then departed the Regiment in 1959. He became an Association member after his service, having enjoyed his short time in the Army. Michael would regularly rem- inisce his army days with his family, which he remembered fondly.
Mr P A Harrison
Died: 8 May 21 Served: 1950-52
After being trans- ferred from the 12th Royal Lancers, “Pat” Harrison served only a short time – December 1950 to February 1952 with the 13/18 Royal Hussars at Kluang and Jemaluang in Malaya and then at
Tai Lam in The New Territories before being invalided back to the UK. After leav- ing the Army he spent the remainder of his career on aid projects in places like the Sudan, Ethiopia, the Congo and Somalia, including a 7-year assignment as resident
director of a Dutch Government Development Aid project in the Blue Nile Province where conditions were, to say the least, somewhat primitive. His last assign- ment unfortunately ended when he was injured in an accident resulting in head and spine injuries which were not improved by the surgery he received in a local hospital and which left him partially disabled. He died on 8 May 2021 aged 92 leaving a much loved daughter.
him in such good stead for the next 39 years of military service. In 1965 he joined the 13/18 Hussars in Paderborn in 1st Troop, B Sqn as a gunner and the driver of a Centurion. Poor chap, his first tank com- mander was 2Lt R A Cordy-Simpson. His next posting was with C Sqn in Aden where the Squadron supported the resi- dent infantry battalion patrolling within the urban environment and also in the mountains north of the main airport. The Regiment was then ordered to move to the Far East. This posting was then cancelled, and Stephen found himself in the jungle of Tidworth Garrison instead. In 1968 the Regiment returned to Munster in Germany and was re-equipped with Chieftain. Promoted to Sergeant in 1969, at the age of 22, he attended his Gunnery Instructors’ Course at Lulworth and then returned to the Regiment as a Troop Sergeant, a post that to this day he claims is the best job in the Army. Stephen always demanded the highest standards from his subordinates and tried to make all training as meaning- ful and realistic as possible. On one occa- sion, when his Troop was guarding the nuclear warhead site, he decided to ensure that the guard in the watchtower was awake in the middle of the night. Approaching from outside the perimeter, he was met with a hail of live rounds, which fortunately all missed. Typically, Stephen’s reaction was only to take the young soldier concerned to the ranges the next day and teach him to shoot straight. The Adjutant (RAC-S) was left to calm some very worried US soldiers who were convinced that there had been a spatnaz attack. Promoted to SSM in 1979, he re- joined B Sqn in Northern Ireland with Major R Cordy-Simpson as Squadron Leader. The Squadron was posted to Cyprus for a 6-month UN Tour the follow- ing year. Here his enthusiasm and enlight- ened approach to discipline made sure that 120 young soldiers had a fantastic tour. He returned to the Regiment, now com- manded by Lt Col Cordy-Simpson, as RSM. The highlight of his tour as RSM came in 1987 when the late Princess of Wales presented the new Guidon to the Regiment. He was commissioned in 1987 as QM; a post he held for 6 years. His expe- rience and common sense were one of the major factors in the success of the amalga- mation and helped set the standards, which are now so obvious in The Light Dragoons. He was rightly awarded the MBE for his efforts. After commanding HQ Sqn, he was posted to Hong Kong where he served with The Queen’s Gurkha Signals. This posting, as some have sug- gested, was nothing to do with size but the colour of his eyes! On return to the UK, he commanded 12 Cadet Training Team for 3 years. Stephen always put his Regiment and his soldiers before himself. Throughout his service he lived life to the full and was universally liked and respected. An enthusiastic sportsman, he played football for the Regiment and then coached them to two Cavalry Cup wins. As
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Mr S Wood
Died: 26 May 21 Served: 1968-84
returned as a re-joiner a few years later this time in 1980. The regiment returned to the UK from Germany in 1980 and during this time Stephen found himself in HQ Squadron spending time in Command Troop. He finished his service in 1st Troop B squadron before his medical discharge in June 1984.
Mr J Richardson
Died: 30 May 21 Served: 1951-53
John Richardson known as Jack car- ried out his National Service with the 13/18H in Malaya, he started with 10 weeks training in Catterick Camp training as a wireless operator before his journey took him to Malaya
on the troop ship MV Empire Pride with travel via Port Said and Singapore where he served in C Squadron of the Regiment in Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and he remained with them until his discharge in Aug 53.
Maj S P Davies MBE
Died: 3 Jun 21 Served: 1965-2001
Stephen joined the Regiment in Munster, Germany. Initially with C Squadron where he remained until October 1971, he was then transferred to B Squadron. before he discharged from the army in 1974. He
On leaving school at the age of 15, Stephen joined the Junior Leaders’ Regiment (RAC) and was posted to Bovington Camp. For the next 3 years he enjoyed the train- ing and comradeship that would stand
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