Back to Archive Histories

Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0057

Image details

Transcription Ornabruck
drove through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to their desti-
nation. The Regiment was unfortunately out of barracks on
training when they arrived but all the officers took leave of
absence to come back and entertain the party
In October the death occurred of General Sir Richard
McCreery, the first Colonel of the Regiment. His life had been
one of immense achievement. He once admitted that he had
joined the 12th Lancers to play polo but his mastery of that
game and all other aspects of riding was merely a prelude to
his mastery of his profession As the year closed it gave great
pleasure to see the award of the MBE to the long-serving
Regimental Paymaster, Maior Dewar, and the MC for gallantry
in Aden to Padre Roe. It was a sad day when farewell had to
be said to Staff Sergeant Laughlin after six years in charge of
the Officers Mess, No one could forget the occasion when a
party of elderly German ladies was being shown round the
Officers Mess and one of them, dazzled by the display of silver,
asked — “And do the Officers eat from the silver plates?” “Yes
madam,” was the reply, “even for breakfast."
1968 was to be the last year of the Regiment‘s tour in BAOR
before moving to the training role at Catterick. Major Pye
returned to command A Squadron and Major Jackson arrived
from the Australian Armoured Corps to command C Squadron.
SSM Soulsby became RSM from Mr Peaper who was com—
missioned. The 1967/68 skiing season was in fact the last one
in which the Regiment was able to compete due to the timing
of the move. Having lost most of the experienced downhillers it
was very satisfactory to win both alpine events at the Divisional
meeting: the team consisted of 2/Lt Chappell, Lance Corporal
Allen, Trooper Headland and Trooper Carvell. Such a result
repaid all the money and administrative efiort every year in
Bavaria to provide skiing opportunities for all ranksr In the
Army events the Regiment was placed 5th in the Princess
Marina. Far away at Lake Placid, New York State, Major
Cochrane—Dyet kept the flag flying as a member of the British
number one four-man-bob-sleigh team.
The training season was an imaginative one with all squadr
55