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1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 115
In pursuing the Squadron Mission Statement, Simon found that he was at logger-heads with Commander BRITFORLEB over how to achieve the mission. Rather than rule by force as directed, Simon’s concern was for the safety of his men and advocated that patrols should be conducted as peacefully as possible. An operational modus that gained huge respect from all sides in the conflict.
For this brilliant act of leadership, he was appointed MBE.
With his leadership, man-management and instructing credentials now fully recognized, he was appointed SO1 (DS) at JWS (Poole) for a year after which, he commanded successively, two separate TA Regiments for two years each, which must be a record. In October 1990, he first commanded the DLOY in Lancashire for a very successful command tour, but having established
his competence as a commanding officer there, he was selected to raise The Scottish Yeomanry (SY) Regiment in Edinburgh, from August 1992 until his retirement in April 1994. Raising the SY (now the SNIY) required masterful diplomacy, sensitivity and skill. It is indicative of his ability to encourage and lead his officers and men and to cut through the obstacles set by local TA loyal- ties and the chain of command that this task was so cleverly engineered and successful.
For his efforts he was advanced to OBE.
Simon was a devoutly religious person whose belief underpinned his daily life and enhanced his respected dealings with his fellow officers and men, especially.
Our deep sympathies go out to Katie, and their
children Philippa and Marcus.
EJK O’B
Anthony Benda, who died on 7th April 2023 aged 89, was forced to retire being medically discharged with a slipped disc. He had a long spell with De La Rue and, after two years as a schoolmaster, founded and played bass in his ad hoc dance band performing at the Berkeley, Lanesborough, Savoy hotels, the Mansion House, Cavalry and Guards Club and London Zoo!
On leaving Winchester Tony was commissioned as a National Serviceman in The King’s Dragoon Guards in 1952 and converted to a Regular a year later. He served at Regimental Duty in Hamburg, Neuminster, Malaya and Wolfenbuttel. At ERE he was successively ADC to GOC 6th Armoured Division (1954), G SO 3 (Ops) HQ 11 Infantry Brigade (1960-62), Training Major Pembrokeshire Yeomanry (1963),
Staff College (1964) and finally Instructor RAC Tactical School, Lulworth (1965 – 66).
Tony was an extremely talented all-round sportsman. He was a free-scoring batsman, captained the KDG team winning the Army challenge Cup, Malaya in 1958 and, along with Robin Carnegie, was awarded his State Cap (Malaya). He ran the 100 and 200 yards at Army level and repre- sented the Regiment at all major, non-equestrian sports. He was a competent small arms shot.
He had a flair for the stage and music. He organised panto- mimes and made non-serious films.
Tony married Camilla Skipwith and they had three sons, one of whom, Jonathan, served in the Regiment for four years. Sadly, Camilla died in 2017.
RWW
Major ACA Benda