Christopher died at his home in Suffolk on 13th March 1991, some two years after being diagnosed as suffering from Motor Neuron disease.
Christopher Douglas Bryan Troughton was born in Kent in 1929, educated at Wellington and commissioned into the 8th Hussars from Sandhurst in 1949, when the Regiment was stationed at Leicester.
At the end of the following year, he sailed for Korea with them, aboard the ‘Empire Fowey’.
During his year in Korea, he was a troop leader with ‘B’ Squadron and it was in this capacity that he won his Military Cross in November 1951.
On the evening and night of 4th November, the Chinese launched a savage attack on the Commonwealth Divisions front and gained some ground. On the 5th, the Royal Leicesters, newly arrived in Korea, were ordered to counter-attack, supported by ‘B’ Squadron.
Christopher’s troop was with the leading company and in the event, he and one other tank got within a couple of hundred yards of the final objective, but without the infantry. Here they remained for some two hours engaging the enemy and waiting for the infantry to join them. This proved impossible due to the intense mortar and artillery fire.
The Chinese then launched a series of counter-attacks which were broken up by the fire of the two tanks, the attack was then called off and the tanks withdrew, carrying with them the Leicesters’ wounded.
Undoubtedly Christopher’s actions that day saved the Leicesters many causalities and his calm voice on the radio throughout the operation was an inspiration to his troop, and indeed to all who heard him.
After five years in Luneburg, partly at Regimental Duty and partly on the staff of 31 Infantry Brigade, he was posted to HQ DRAC at Tidworth and went with the “fire brigade” to Suez in 1956.
Afterwards, he returned to Luneburg and became adjutant of the 8th Hussars in 1957. In the same year, he met Amanda, and they were married the following year.
On amalgamation, he was second in command of ‘C’ Squadron. He then passed into the Staff College, Camberley and on graduating spent two years at the War Office. He returned to the Regiment in Malaysia and took over command of ‘C’ Squadron in Singapore. Then back to the Staff College as DS in 1966.
In 1970 he realised one of his great ambitions — command of the Regiment. He assumed command in Bovington where the Regiment had been employed in the somewhat soul-destroying role of RAC Centre Regiment.
On moving to Paderborn shortly afterwards he was faced with the daunting task of bringing the Regiment back to full operational efficiency. This he achieved with his usual enthusiasm and drive.
After a happy two years in command, he returned to the MOD for a short time before being posted to Iran as a full colonel in charge of the Chieftain Commissioning and Advisory Team.
For his work in Iran, he was appointed CBE.
In 1976 he left the army to start a new career as a farmer in Suffolk.
In this, he was highly successful despite his lack of previous experience or formal training, and his farm was always a fine example of how efficiency can be combined with care for the environment. He also found time to indulge in his favourite sports of golf, shooting and skiing, at all of which he excelled.
He continued to play an important part in Regimental affairs and became Chairman of the Association in 1987, a post which he held until ill health forced him to resign in late 1990.
He was also chairman of his local branch of the Royal British Legion for some ten years.
The above is a brief record of the life of a successful soldier and farmer, but Christopher will be best remembered by his many friends for his personal qualities — his humanity, his humour, his total lack of pomposity and above all for his courage, particularly in final cruel illness.
We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Amanda who nursed him so devotedly, to his daughter Phillipa and to his son Jeremy who had followed his father into the Irish Hussars.
