9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2000 - Page 0086
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2000 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9th/12th ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 85 Obituaries John Macken ohn died on October 22nd aged 79. A Londoner by birth, he Jwas an art student before being called up and joined B quadron 9th Lancers in 1941.He spent some time driving ammunition and petrol lorries in the desert campaign before becoming a wireless operator. I first met him in Egypt in the summer of 1942 and soon found his cheerful outlook made him hugelypopularwith everyone he came in contact with. From El Alamein he served throughout North Africa including Medenine and the ‘Left Hook’ to El Hamma, and then to link up with the First Army for the advance on Tunis. During quiet spells, John would be seen squatting on the ground with pencil or paper recording local scenes, many of which he passed on to the Regimental Museum. During the time spent at Bou Farik near Algiers, he helped to compile the Squadron newsletter ‘Brew Up’, and illustrate it; he also decorated the Sgts Mess with murals, the Mess being made with packing cases gleaned from the docks in Algiers. Moving to Italy in 1944, he took part in the Gothic Line battles. When his tank was bazookered his quick thinking summoned the M0 to his Commander who hadbecome a casualty. In April 1945, during the night-time advance to the river Po his tank was hit by a Mk IV at close range brewing, his tank up, and severely wounding Tommy Lloyd the driver. John helped to evacuate Tommy to the safety of a ditch but sadly he died later, only days before the end of the war in Italy. John was then fortunate to have his name put forward for a month’s UK leave L.I.A.I’. While on leave he had a telegram to say he needn’t return to Italy, and spent the remainder of his service on ‘schemes’ in Southern England. Later moving to Southport he became a teacher there at the College of Art and was Chairman of the Friends of Southport Art Gallery for many years, finally moving to nearby Scarisbrick. John was liked by all and had a kind word for everyone. It was my privilege to have been at one time in the same crew and to have known him as a friend. He is survived by his widow Joan, and their two sons and a daughter. R7 Major DS Allhusen CVO DL y first meeting with Derek Allhusen was in October 1943 when as a troop leader in B Squadron he arrived back with the Regiment to Command the Squadron after helping « Colonel Mike Aird to set up the XXIV Lancers. .- , ._'_ r. ‘5‘ He brought with him a com- pletely fresh set of ideas and as he had not been involved in the desert campaigns looked forward to the next involve- ment of the Regiment in Italy. I was soon very impressed by his whole approach to the new sit- uation, with his vigorous leadership and the high standards he expected from his officers and soldiers. By his example he suc- cessfully motivated the whole Squadron into becoming first class in the new doctrines of close battlefield tactics of Infantry/Tank co-operation and accurate shooting involving indirect fire by tanks in close country By the time we set sail from Algeria to Italy the Squadron was in first class order and after subsequent training in Southern Italy was 100% fit for war. At this stage just before the first of the Gothic Line battles I was summoned to be an instructor at the RAC Gunnery School and sadly had to hand over my troop. On my return 6 months later I was posted to another Squadron and so never served under Derek in action. The next time I served with Derek was in 1948 when I joined the permanent staff of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry as his Adjutant, and the Allhusens kindly asked me to ‘PG’ with them on their farm outside Lanark where he started breeding from his German remount mare Laura that he had brought over from Italy in 1945. This gave me the opportunity to get to know and appreciate him, both as a solider and as a family man and to meet his fam- ily who were so very kind to me. After their move to Norfolk when he retired from the Regiment we lost touch until 1995 when many wartime 9th Lancers and their wives took part in a very happy and successful Battlefield Tour following the Regiment’s activities in Italy. To sum up, I always felt privileged to have served under his Command and to remember the high standard and example he always set: for his kindness and encouragement he gave to those under his influence which helped me in my life with the Regiment, and for all he did for the 9th Lancers and his officers and soldiers. Mfi‘W Captain WRA Birch Reynardson writes He applied the highest standard to anything he did. This some- times caused minor difficulties with those whose outlook on life was somewhat more relaxed. But it was this adamant refusal to accept the mediocre which earned him fame not only on the bat- tlefield and in the field of equitation but also in a wide scope of activities which he decided to tackle. His kindness and consideration to us young officers was prover- bial; he always made sure that any problems which we may have had were solved quickly and efficiently. He taught us, by his example, never to complain but to accept a decision promptly and without argument. His search for truth, his desire to succeed, his determination to uphold the traditions of his Regiment all combined to make him a most outstanding and loveable man. WBR |
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