The death of Brigadier Sherston at the age of 86 brings to an end an era spanning over 50 years of service and one of the few remaining links with the Indian Empire.
John Reginald Vivien Sherston was educated at Wellington and commissioned from the RMC into The Rifle Brigade. After a short period, he transferred into Probyn’s Horse (Indian Army) from where he was later seconded to the Viceroy’s Bodyguard.
He saw active service in France in the First World War with the 4th Hussars being awarded the DSO, MC, Croix de Guerre (with Palm) and the Order of Leopold II.
He was proud of the fact that he had been on duty at two Coronations, being one of the Indian Army contingents at George V’s when he was mounted outside Buckingham Palace dressed in the gorgeous uniform of Probyn’s Horse which he later gave to the Indian Army Museum. In India, he had been a keen polo player and a great horseman and in fact, he twice won the Kadir Cup.
At the outbreak of World War II, as a Reservist, he was immediately re-employed as a GSOI at Army HQ in New Zealand but found the job too stifling for his active nature. He applied for a transfer back to the Indian Army and although the NZ Army were prepared to let him go neither would pay his fare. It was typical of him that having decided what to do he let nothing stand in his way and worked his passage at the age of 52 from NZ to India.
After a short time in Delhi, he was transferred to the Middle East where he became Senior Liaison Officer, Allied Armies in the rank of Brigadier.
He was made OBE for this work and eventually returned to Gloucestershire. He is survived by his daughter.
