9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1985 - Page 0102
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
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THE 9TH/ 12TH ROYAL LANCERS REGIMENTAL JOURNAL Obituaries ”eaten-tit Colonel the Rt. Hon. Earl of Buchan As the Hon Donald Erskine born in June 1899. he was educated at Charter- house and Royal Military College Sandhurst. He joined the 9th Lancers 111 February 1919. He soon made his mark as a polo player and was in the Regimental Team from 1921 to 1930. Helping them to win the Egyptian lntet Regimentals of 1922 to 1925 in Cairo. Donald was a beautiful horseman and. after getting an extended course at Weedon‘ became Equitation Officer of the Regiment in charge of the Riding School, responsible for the training of remounts and recruits. Assisted by Sergeant Major "Spur" Taylor he ran a wonderful show. He man-ied Christina Baxendale of Greenham. Newbury in 1927 and had three children. Sadly he retired from the 9th Lancers in May 1931. Rejoining in 1939 he went to France with the Regiment in 1940 as Second in Command of ‘C‘ Squadron under Errol Prior Palmer and, took part in the confused fighting South of the Somme. He next commanded 'C' Squadron going to the Middle East with the Regiment in 1941. so took part in the very unpleasant withdrawal of the lst Armoured Division from Agedabia to El Adam. when the two pounder gunned Crusaders proved useless against the German Mark 111 and 1V tanks. Almost surrounded in the Saunu Valley. he extracted his Squadron with great skill. In May 1942 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel to be sent to Australia to help train the Australian Armoured Corps. Later he returned to the Middle East to help train Jugoslavs who had escaped. to fight for the Allies. He retired again in [9‘5 and went to live at Bourton-on-the- Water. where he made a beautiful garden. His father died in 1957, so inherited the Baronetcy and then in 1960 he became the 16th Earl of Buchani He will be remembered as a man with great charm. a beautiful horse- man. and very skilled pianist. He died aged 85. Our sympathy goes to Christina his wife and to his children. RSGP Major J R Greenwood John died on 215t April this year. He joined the 9th Lancers from Sandhurst in January 1936 and so went to France as a Troop Leader in 1940. Promoted Captain and Technical Officer in 1941. On arrival in the Middle East he went to A Squadron and was Rear Link Officer to Jack Price On 23rd January. 1942 the 2nd Armoured Brigade moved West to eliminate an enemy raiding force being troublesome South of Agedabia. We crossed the Saunna Valley by the “Well with Windpump". where we met some armoured cars of the 12th Lancers who warned us the enemy had been re-inlorced and was very strong. With B Squadron leading we soon ran into the enemy: the 10th Hussars attacked and took a severe hammering. 50 2nd Armoured Brigade was ordered to return to Saunna. 0n crossing the Valley with A Squadron in the lead, a force of Germans cut between Brigade HQ and the Regiment. Major Price with A Squadron immediately attacked. Hugh Hodgson ran down a line of anti-tank guns but alas was killed. John Greenwood's tank was hit and destroyed, he got out badly burned and was made prisoner. He returned to the Regiment after the war in Italy and did service in Palestine until 1947. From 1948 to 1952 he was Squadron Leader of HQ Squadron in Scotland. When he retired. he became Joint Master of the North Cotswold Hounds and distinguished himself by having to hunt without a cap owing to the bums sustained when his tank brewed up. Mounted on a friend's horse. he won the Melton Hunt Cross-Country race: also with no hat. He retired to Devon to become a sheep farmer. He was a gallant officer. RSGP |
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