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9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2002 - Page 0086

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Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 2002
Transcription 84 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S)
Major Paddy Lindsay
Major Paddy Lindsay joined the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers in
North Africa during World War II. After a brief spell in civilian
life after the war he rejoined the Regiment to Palestine and then
to Edinburgh. He was Regimental Gunnery Sergeant when the
9th were in Detmold. And eventually he was posted to the
Leicester Yeomanry as RSM. He was always remembered as a
kindly and fair NCO. Although small of stature he was a tough
man with a quick mind and a great sense of humour. You could
not help but like him the moment when you met him.
When he was commissioned he served at the Castlemartin
Gunnery Ranges before the Regiment went to Catterick Camp
in 1968. He returned as a Captain to take on the appointment of
MTO 7 not an easy task in view of the many commitments the
regiment was called upon as the only Armoured regiment in the
North of England at the time.
When the Regiment returned to Detmold he was promoted to
the rank of Major and became Headquarters Squadron Leader.
His last appointment before retirement was Headquarters
Squadron Leader with lst Armoured Division HQ & Signal
Regiment. He and his wife moved to Cheshire. Sadly his wife
Mary predeceased him and he lived with his daughter
Paddy will always be remembered with great affection by all
who knew him as a loyal supporter of the Regiment and who
couldbe relied upon when help was needed. Our sympathy goes
out to his daughter Valerie.
Major Harry Robertson
Major Harry Robertson entered The
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from
school in 1946 and joined the first intake
after the war. After two years he was com-
missioned into the 9th Queens Royal
Lancers in 1948. The Regiment had just
returned from Palestine and was stationed
in Edinburgh. Much of the soldiers’ and
officers’ time was taken up by public
duties guarding the Castle and of course
training the steady stream of National
Servicemen who were joining the Regiment in those days.
Harry accompanied the regiment to Detmold in Germany in
1952 and married his wife Susan shortly after his arrival there.
He served as Adjutant to the Yorkshire Yeomanry in the late 50s
and returned to Detmold as Squadron Second in Command.
On amalgamation he served for two years as Squadron Leader in
the Junior Leaders Regiment and then decided to return to
civilian life in Wales.
He worked briefly for Canadian Life in Cardiff before taking
over his father’s estate in Denbighshire. As a much loved and
respected landowner he immersed himself in the local commu-
nity and served on various committees and boards such as the
Fishing Board.
Sadly, his wife Susan predeceased him some two years earlier
but it had given him great pleasure to see his son following him
into his old Regiment.
Our sympathy goes out to his family at this sad loss.
Patrick Colvin
Patrick Colvin was a very much liked and generous friend not
only to those with whom he has served in the 9th lancers but
also the very many friends he made in the City and later in
Sussex and in Scotland. This was very much evident at his
funeral which so many of his friends and admirers attended.
After Eton Pat joined the 9th and served in Trieste which was
then disputed between Tito’s Communists and the Italians. He
then movedwith the Regiment to Egypt and to Palestine during
the troublesome years of our Mandate in Palestine preceding the
formation of the new state of Israel.
The 9th Lancers eventually returned home and were posted to
edinburgh where they had to take their turn in guarding the
Castle. Here Pat married Elizabeth who remained at his side for
over fifty years.
Pat left the Army and worked at Lloyds for a time.
Unfortunately his health started to deteriorate and soon he
decided to live in Sussex. Here he devoted himself to local
affairs. He became Fieldmaster of the C&H, he was High
Sheriff, Steward at Plumpton and Lingfield & Fontwell and
Churchwarden to name but a few responsibilities.
His garden was always open to the public in aid of local chari-
ties and he took a great interest in his plants and shrubs.
He came into the Balnagowan Estate in Scotland which posed
new duties and responsibilities to him. He served on the Deer
Board and the Kyle of Sutherland Board as well as taking on
many responsibilities in the local community.
Pat Colvin was a gentleman of the old school. He may have
come from a privileged background but he took his responsibil-
ities seriously and his contribution to his country and his com-
munity was given freely and of infinite value.
M S-D
Sir William Peek Bl added the following:
Pat Colvin died a short time ago, after a long and tiresome ill-
ness, which necessitated carrying an oxygen cylinder every-
where with him to enable him to breathe.
Pat, like me, was the son of a 9th Lancer and we both served in
our fathers’ regiment.
On retirement, Pat organised the family agricultural estate in
Sussex and took part in most local and country activities as a
councillor and in other ways.
In addition, he inherited a large property in the North of
Scotland with grouse moors, salmon fishing on the river Oikel
and deer stalking on the surrounding hills.
When staying with him and Elizabeth, I shot the only stag in my
life!
It seems to have been the custom, certainly after World War I,
for the families of9th Lancer officers to keep in touch with each
other, a fact which was particularly appreciated by my Mother
after my Father was killed while serving with the regiment in
the South ofIreland in 1921.
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