Page 148 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

146 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
At this time Peter joined the Northumberland Hussars (Noo- dles), commanding them for a spell. He also hunted regularly, whipping in to the Braes of Derwent, and the Tynedale Hunt, of which he was chairman for five years or so. A fair amount of time was spent stalking, sailing and walking, (he walked from Coldstream to London on the anti-hunting-ban march and also ran a marathon) and working for two national charities for many years.
After retiring from the catering business, Peter spent a large amount of time in London, he had an aspiring intellect, loved music, books and art. One of the letters received after he died, said ‘he was always reading the book I had meant to, visited the exhibition I hadn’t got to, sailed to a rocky cove in Brittany I wanted to get to, broken more limbs and wounded fewer stags than I’. Other descriptions referred to his honesty among other things. This could also be called lack of diplomacy; his opinion was never sugar-coated resulting in some enemies but his friends loved him and as a by-product he didn’t have just acquaintances.
Although his health hadn’t been good for 18 months, he had just had his horse re-shod in order to hunt and was planning a 50th wedding anniversary trip to Majorca. However, he would be delighted to have avoided any more needles, scans, operations and hospitals and died on 24th October 2018. For something of a pessimist, he latterly came to realise and appreciate what an excellent life he’d had.
Charm should never be undervalued as an important military skill, and he had it in “dollops”.
By 1983, Jamie was back with the 9th/12th in the vital role of Adjutant, though his sights were still set on the Middle East. The Regiment had a wonderful record of secondment service to the Sultan of Oman’s Land Forces and late night pull up a sand- bag discussions in the Officers’ mess with the likes of Searby, Lindsay and Marman obviously whetted his appetite. In 1985 he embarked on a two-year tour with the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces. It was the first of three seminal postings for Mackaness in the region. His natural affinity with that environment and its peoples, matched with his calm temperament and excellent language skills, ensured that he was destined for later Defence Diplomacy roles in the same part of the world.
On return to the Regiment in 1987 Mackaness was promoted to Squadron Leader and he took over command of the recently created D Squadron, in its role of Armoured Reconnaissance. He took the squadron to Cyprus as part of the UN, where he was able to visit many old haunts.
Following his marriage to Mary Anne Herbert in 1992, his Squadron was deployed to North Belfast in 1993–1994. Belfast was an intensely hostile environment, and not without its own political traps. Major Mackaness was made an MBE following an outstanding emergency tour in the province.
A short stint away at The Royal College of Defence Studies was subsequently followed by promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and command of the Regiment, a fine achievement for the son of Colonel Richard Mackaness, who’d also served in the 9th/12th. It is perhaps fitting (and something he was immensely proud of), that his own son, Charlie is now serving in the Regiment. Dur- ing his time in command he was able to host a visit by the then Colonel in Chief, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in what was a very happy and enjoyable day.
A variety of staff appointments ensued, crowned with his posting to the Middle East in 2007 when he was appointed Commander of the Military Mission Kuwait, with the rank of Brigadier. This important posting placed him in the spotlight in both the MoD and the region. And yet he capped that in 2010-2011, when he was made Director British Support Team in Ramallah on the West Bank. As a Brigadier, he was the most senior Army officer of any nation present – not even the Americans matched his rank in Ramallah. It was a job fraught with political and security risks that Mackaness took in his stride. Many important people spoke highly of his abilities and achievements in this demand- ing role where he was deemed to have made a real difference.
Jamie Mackaness will be sorely missed by his family and all those who knew him and served with him. Without doubt, he was a supremely capable officer, and the testaments voiced and written by the men of all ranks who served with him in the Regi- ment are unanimous in their praise and profound respect. He always put them and their needs first and it showed.
After the Army Jamie worked in the security world, travelling far and wide, and he was greatly respected for what he achieved. He spent as much time with Mary Anne, Charlie, Annie and Katty as he could and he was, without doubt, a family man of great sensitivity and thoughtfulness. He had a real knack of re- lating to people from all walks of life and he was never happier than being surrounded by his family and close friends discuss- ing “the meaning of life”.
At the time of his untimely death, he was in line to be appointed Colonel of the Regiment, an appointment that would so perfect- ly have capped his lengthy and loyal service to the Regiment he adored so deeply.
Brigadier J Mackaness MBE
OMJD
Jamie Mackaness’s star started to shine even before he arrived in the Regiment in 1976. At Sandhurst, he’d already been promoted to cadet Sergeant.
On joining, the Regiment was de- ployed on an operational tour in Omagh, Northern Ireland, and Jamie took over command of a troop that was based in Lisnaskea and Rosslea.
He was a natural leader, easily fitting in to the semi infantry role of patrolling large swathes of the Northern Irish countryside where British troops were not always welcome.
It was a culture shock to deploy to his next posting based in the Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus. There he was able to indulge in a great deal of sport and recreation – water skiing, polo and wind- surfing were all performed at the highest level, with a natural flair and graceful ease. His troop motto was First In, Last Out and the sun suited his temperament.
James Richard St Duthus Mackaness was born in Malaya on 22nd July 1957, the son of Colonel Richard and Heather Macka- ness, and brother to Alexandra. Surrounded by the Army from a young age marked him out for his military future, and he at- tended RMAS after leaving Cheltenham in 1976, where he ex- celled as Captain of the rowing eight and playing for the rugger XV. He was an accomplished rider and skier – two skills much appreciated by his Regiment.
In 1980, Jamie was sent on his first posting to Africa where he was given the delicate task of tuning war weary ex guerrillas into serving soldiers of the Zimbabwe National Army. His ability to head off conflict between different tribes and factions was put to enormously effective use, and his brief six-month tour pro- duced results well in excess of expectations. He successfully turned 1200 ex Zipra and Zanla guerrillas into a fully function- ing Infantry Battalion, with just the help of one British Sergeant.