Page 129 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

Col P V Hervey
Served: 1960-91 Died: 1 May 21
Centre Regiment at Bovington. This entirely removed Peter from the visibility of those senior officers who determine career moves, and although he was indeed pro- moted to full Colonel, he spent the next 6 years in the MOD before retiring from the Army at the age of 50. But he and Barbara, and their three sons, probably regard his decision to retire early as an inspired one. It allowed him to buy a small farm near Malmesbury, and to develop it as an eques- trian establishment where he and Barbara would spend the next thirty happy years pursuing the passion which they both shared with such energy and enthusiasm.
Commander. 1976 saw the Regiment was posted back to Tidworth, with C Squadron in Cyprus. 1978 the Regiment reformed and was posted to Paderborn where Wilf was promoted to WO2 HQ Squadron SSM. Wilf spent all of his army career at Regimental duty, during this he and Hilda were very popular, always gave sound advice and had time for everyone. Wilf retired in 1981 and went to work at Newcastle Airport as Security. Sadly he lost his dear wife Hilda who died on October 2001. After retire- ment Wilf became involved with the fellow- ship of the Services and the Royal British Legion.
He is survived by his daughter Martina
were recognised, admired and emulated by all ranks who were lucky enough to serve with him. One of his subalterns in Paderborn (later to become a Major General) described him as “...a natural born soldier, a natural born leader, a natural born cavalryman” who stuck unshakeably to the advice he always gave to those under his command: “The trick is, know when to be serious, but never to take life too seriously!”. This approach served him well throughout his career, and of course made him such wonderful company both socially and mili- tarily. In both scenarios his accurate sense of priorities and his impatience with trivial, fussy detail set the tone for all those around him. It benefited the Regiment enormously. Peter arrived in the Regiment having won the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst: an achievement remarkable in itself but even more so then, when the course lasted two years and the population of cadets was one third larger than today. This award in fact cut little ice in the Regiment, which in those days had a healthy mistrust of any obvious displays of military expertise, but doubts were swiftly squashed by Peter’s skills and passion as a horseman: in his first year with the Regiment he performed bril- liantly in the eventing world, winning the Army Three Day Event at Tidworth before leaving for Germany, and competing at the highest level at Badminton and Burleigh. After a tour as Adjutant, and the start of a tremendously happy marriage to Barbara, he commanded an independent squadron twice in Northern Ireland, winning a Mention in Dispatches, and again in Cyprus. He was quickly promoted to Lt Colonel and in 1982 he returned to the MOD for a second time. Here he was caught up in the Falklands war because he was in a branch responsible for contingency plan- ning. The Prime Minister’s big fear, if the task force failed to recapture the islands, was that Spain might undertake a similar coup over Gibraltar. This was squarely on Peter’s desk in the MOD and he found him- self in No 10 personally briefing Margaret Thatcher. According to her Private Secretary, and not surprisingly, they got on extremely well, sharing the same ability to get to the nub of a problem without any fuss, and also sharing a very similar sense of humour. In 1984 Peter returned to com- mand the Regiment, initially in Paderborn. But sadly it was then the turn of the 15th/19th to take on the chore of RAC
Mr J Keylock
Served: 1960-77 Died: 8 Jul 21
and son Andrew.
Mr D R J Wade
Served: 1958-60 Died: 12 Aug 21
AC
We were informed by Tom Lyall that sadly Derek had died aged 84 years of age. He was called up to com- plete his National Service in 1958 and completed his basic training in Carlisle. On completion of his basic training he
Peter Hervey was one of the most distin- guished post-war commanding officers of the 15th/19th Hussars – not because he attained high rank, but because throughout his time with the Regiment he set standards which
CAGW
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
We were informed by his daughter that Jim had died aged 77 years of aged. Jim joined the Regiment in Munster after com- pleting his basic training. He was mostly with Headquarters Squadron and served in Germany, Northern Ireland and Cyprus and also served with the Army Air Corps. During his service he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, UN Cyprus Medal and the General Service Medal with Norther Ireland Clasp. He attained the rank of Corporal and decided to leave the army in 1977 and at the time of his death he was living in Gloucester.
Mr W S Enright
Served: 1959-61 Died: 31 Jul 21
After a spell under- ground at Herrington Colliery, he decided this life was not for him. He joined the Army in June 1956. After completing basic training, he was posted to the 15/19 Hussars stationed in Barnard Castle. In
1961 Wilf moved with the Regiment to Munster in West Germany, during this period in Munster he met and married his lady wife Hilda who supported him throughout his Army Career. Other high- lights during this period, Wilf was chosen as a tank Commander in the Canadian Army Trophy Team (CAT) in 1966. He was also part of an elite tank troop who went out to Fort Carson Colorado to train with the US Army. In 1967 the Regiment moved to Tidworth with B Squadron. Detached to the school of Infantry in Warminster as the Demonstration Squadron. Wilf was pro- moted to Sergeant and served as a troop ser- geant until late 1969 in B Squadron. The Regiment reformed and was posted to Fallingbostel, Wilf became the Provo Sergeant. After several emergency Tours in Northern Ireland the Regiment was posted to Omagh, County Tyrone where Wilf excelled as the immediate reaction force
joined the Regiment in Omagh in Northern Ireland and was a member of the Regimental Band where he played the cor- net. After completing his National Service Derek lived in Cheltenham and still played in local bands including the Police band. Derek is survived by his wife Thelma and will be sadly missed.
Mr E A Gorski
Served: 1947-69 Died: 28 Aug 21
Army at the battle of Monte Casino aged 17 years in 1944, being awarded the Monte Casino medal. He joined the 15/19th The King’s Royal Hussars in 1946 to serve in the Sudan. He was lucky to be found alive in a disabled vehicle in the desert, with the REME rescuer becoming a lifelong friend in North Wales. Married to Barbara Porath whilst stationed in Lubeck in 1950 Mr Gorski then served in Neumunster, 1955 Malaya, 1958 Northern Ireland, 1960 Barnard Castle, 1962 Munster, 1965 Bovington and finally Tidworth 1968 as WO2 to the Officers’ Mess, receiving The
Ted Gorski must have known what he was letting himself in for, when arriving at Tidworth in early 1968 as Mess Sgt Major having served there in Neumunster in the 1950s. A far cry from his days with “Anders” Polish Free
127