9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2004 - Page 0091
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 89 and daily he rode out in Lambourn for Fred Winter. He com- bined his studies with a number of successful rides, as well as a few disasters, and left Shrivenham in 1968 with a degree in Civil Engineering. A Cavalry officer with an engineering degree made him almost unique, and not surprisingly and much to his delight at the prospect of a further allowance funded two years, he was posted to the armoured vehicle research establishment at Chobham. He was put in charge of the trials of an extremely secret American tank. On a Friday afternoon en route back from Bovington to Chobham, the programme included a brief stop on Salisbury Plain for a demonstration in from of the entire Army Board. Unfortunately the time of the demonstration coincided with the time of the race at Plumpton in which Christopher was riding. The tank therefore did not stop at Salisbury Plain, and it was some hours later, during which time the South of England had been put on maximum alert, that it was located safe and secure at Chobham. This misunderstand- ing about priorities led to Christopher’s immediate return to the Regiment, which although stationed at Catterick, had a squadron in Berlin to which he found himselfposted and worst of all with no allowance! It was at this moment that Christopher decided the time to retire had come, and after negotiations with the Medical Officer, it was agreed that he should be invalided out of the Army. On entry into the civilian world, Christopher joined John German and Son, a firm of estate agents in Ramsbury, first as an employee and then as an associate. He remained with them for about ten years, during which time he built up a name for himself as a specialist in properties connect- ed with the horse racing world, especially training yards and stud farms. At the same time he acquired a second degree in urban planning, which enabled him to put ARICS after his name. Thus in the early eighties, he was in a position to set up on his own, trading as Christopher Stephenson International. For the rest ofthe decade he was instrumental in the sale or pur- chase of many high value properties, including Manton and Whatcombe. In order to widen his network, he went into asso- ciation with Knight Frank and Rutley. He then sold a share of his business to George Windsor-Clive, with whom he remained a partner until the early nineties, by which time Christopher was living in Monaco and concentrating on overseas business, mainly in the Far East. PGP Mr EE Sykes Ted joined the army at Glencorse in 1950 being recruited into the 14/20th Kings Hussars Band as a trumpeter. The 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers were at this time handing over duties at Glencorse to the 14/20th Hussars prior to their (9th) moving to Detmold B.O.A.R. Germany. Ted’s elder brother Frank, who was a ‘‘ Regimental cook in the 9th ._\ Lancers claimed him for the ~ Lancers 7 Ted was posted to ‘C’ Squadron and underwent training as a driver. I first met Ted as a young ‘Sprog’ having been posted to ‘C’ Squadron in December 1954. I had managed to get myself into a spot of bother and had been awarded 14 days CB (Confined to Barracks/Jankers). Ted at this stage was halfway through a sim- ilar punishment and was the one who put me wise on how to cope with the ‘pleasures’ of CE. I was most impressed with his sense of humour and general attitude towards getting a job well done. He knew the ropes and we soon became firm friends 7 he could be relied upon and trusted in any situation. He was post- ed to Recce Troop in 1956 and with the rank of Corporal was sent on a Driving Instructors Course to Bovington. On his return to the Regiment and Recce Troop, he soon became a Section Commander where he remained until amalgamation in 1960 when once again he was posted to ‘C’ Squadron 9th/12th Lancers with Regimental postings to Omah, Aden, Osnabrook, Catterick and finally back to Detmold. Within the time scale of these Ted had a spell with the Leicestershire/Derbyshire Yeomanry. He finally completed his army career in 1975, returning to his previous civilian occupation as a coal miner. Ted will remain in my mind as one who always saw the bright side of any situation 7 he didn’t suffer fools gladly 7 had a wicked sense of humour, which invariably had me in stitches of Laughter. A good friend, highly thought of and remembered with great affection. PM Rodney Wilkinson MC Rodney Wilkinson was educated at Stowe and Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the 27th Lancers and sent to Egypt in 1943. In July 1944 the regiment moved to Italy and took over from two squadrons of the 12th Lancers in the Upper Tiber valley. The terrain was such that most of the patrolling was carried out on foot or in jeeps. There were a number of close quarter actions; on one occasion Wilkinson dis- persed a german patrol singlehandedly, killing two and taking two prisoners, and on another when an enemy patrol surprised a troop bridge four without casualties . In April 1945 Wilkinson was commanding a troop of Fantails 7 tracked amphibians-carrying sappers and explosives at the Battle Commachio. After crossing the River Po the 27th were heading towards Treviso when he accepted the surrender of Colonel-General Graf Von Schwering, commanding 76 Panzer Corps. (Curiously Von Schwering had been captured by the 12th Lancers at Moy in 1914) On 1st May Wilkinson was in command of a troop of armoured cars close to Maniago which was held by 1000 enemy troops with seven SP guns. Although 12 miles ahead of the squadron he gave the german commander an ultimatum, exaggerating his own strength and threatening an air strike. The ruse worked and the troop disarmed the force before escorting them 15 miles to the rear. The citation for his MC stated that his leadership and disregard for personal danger over many months had been a magnificent example to his men. A similar ruse was tried near Gemona the next day by the squadron but this time the bluff was called but B squadron reinforced with part of C squadron held off7 Panther Tanks and 400 mechanised infantry until help arrived. At the end of the war Wilkinson transferred to the 7th Hussars and was demobilised two years later. As the son of an accomplished artist he studied at the Byam Shaw Art School before embarking on a successful career as a portrait painter. His commissions were to include Queen Mary. Later in life he moved to Dorset and concentrated on landscape painting. He drove a 1937 Lancia Aprilia for the rest of his life, and was a first-class fisherman and proficient golfer. He died on 13th August and leaves a son and two daughters. |
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