9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1986 - Page 0079
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1986 |
| Transcription |
lift to weary troop leaders Ind his great intelligence kept IdminlntrItors on their . it was always I pleasure to serve Ilonnlde TatI and he was I brave man. After all it is brave indeed to face war litthivldandintalaeiyacfiveimou'n- Itlon. He commanded ‘A' Squadron 1a In lotion whlch. in retrospect. was I triumph for dismounted reccon- aolterert. The Squadron took over a portion of the line in the Po Valley in ltaly captured the night before by the Canadians and certain to be counter- lttackcd. It. and the neighbouring Rifle Irlude CompIny, toolt a full scale OermIn Brigade attack almost immed- htely which passed right through them to the road behind. But without, unac- mntably, capturing a single British position. The Germans have I great military rwutItion but on this m0“ they made every mistake and Tat and hismen seized on them and a few hours after dawn the Germans were flying white flags and Islting for I tntce to collect tha‘r deod and wounded. At that moment 'A’ Squadron had had no casualties except David Middleditch's foot — removed by a mine. — and prisoners greatly outnumbered defen- ders. TIt deserved recognition for this action but never got it. In the desert war there had been a time when we coupled a featureless waste of rock and and. designated on the map “Foum Tatahovlne”. and this became a salu- tation to TIt. "Foum"l people said, meaning "Bravo". Bravo then. to Tat Irlnton, Ind farewell to an old friend ytdthful follower of regimental fortunu Ind misfortunes. and soul of kindness and wit. SMO’HA THE 9TH/lZTH ROVAL LANCERS REGIMENTAL JOURNAL Mr Peter Lalng, QC. The news of the death of Peter Laing in Montreal recently. aged 70. will cause sorrow to his many friends on this side ofthe Atlantic and at the same time will revive many happy memories of time spent with this remarkable and disting- uished Canadian. Much of his youth was spent in England for which he had the greatest affection. He was educated at Marlborough College and an: grad- uating at McGill University. he returned to University College, Oxford, where we met as freshmen. He immediately made his mark, as he did in any society. with an abundance of energy. both physical and intellectual, coupled with great wit and good humour. On coming down from Oxford in I938. he started a career full of promise at the Bar in the chambers of Holroyd Pearce, later Lord of Appeal. With other friends, myself included. he joined at the time of Munich the inns of Court Territorial Regiment as a trooper. Soon after the beginning of the War he was commissioned in the 9th Lancers, then a tank regiment. He saw action in France in May/June 1940 and thereafter served with the Regiment and the 2nd Arm- oured Brigade in Egypt and the Libyan Desert. until at the final outbreak from Alamein he was blown up on a mine, cruelly losing both legs. 0n repatriation to Canada he met and married Kathleen McConnell the daughter of J.WlMcConnell. owner of Montreal newspapers and a great war- time benefactor to Britain. He cour- ageously overcame his disability learn- ing to walk and even dance, ski and play tennis on artificial limbs. Extremely articulate in English and French he practised as a most successful advoate at the Montreal Bar. becoming a QC. He was a Governor of McGill University and for over twenty years acted as its solicitor. He was a regular and welcome visitor to England, especially for gatherings as a loyal and convivial member of his old Regiment and of University College where his son Ilso graduated. Despite his disability he lived life to the full but sadly for the last year the effort became too much. He is survived by his wife Kit and his two sons Murdoch and David. D.E,C.S. r ‘Ar Capt-ll G a Henderso- lt was sad to hear that, that great friend of the 9th Lancers, “Jock“ Henderson had died. He Was posted to command the REME Light Aid Detach- ment attached to the 9th Lancers in [941. He remained with the Regiment for the rest of the War. throughout the Desert, North African and Italian Campaigns. The LAD was an ever present help in trouble and was christened the Bedford Drivers Club. “lock". as he was now had run a garage in Edinburgh before the WIr. He led a highly efficient team of mechanical experts. His Sergeant Major and Sat McKinley i remember best. The latter was an expert on guns. it was Sgt McKinley who helped Serg- eant Major Huxford to get the Grant Tank 75mm Gun sights which were periscopes, to remain in adjustment. Their accuracy led to B Sqn’s wonder» ful AP shooting destroying many German tanks from Knightsbridge |
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