Lt Col Atherton Hayhurst-France died very suddenly from a heart attack on 11th January 1968, his 74th birthday.
He joined the 4th Hussars from Oxford University at the start of the 1914/18 War and served throughout with the Regiment, being one of those present with it at 11 am on the 11th November 1918.
He was awarded the MC and Mentioned in Despatches.
Adjutant under Colonel Neilson, he subsequently went with the Regiment to India, commanding ‘C’ Squadron and played in the Polo team. He retired in 1924 with the rank of Captain.
He then settled down in Essex and was prominent in organising the Boy Scouts there and became County Commissioner and a Deputy-Lieutenant. He joined the Territorial Army in 1930, becoming Battery Commander of the 85th Field Brigade in Essex.
At the outbreak of the 1939 War, he was given command of the 2nd Line 134th Field Regiment R.A. and promoted Lt Col.
In 1941 /43 Col Hayhurst-France was in the Security Service in Malta during the siege of the island and later held a command in the A.A. Defence of London during the flying bomb attacks.
He was Mentioned in Despatches for services in the 1939-45 War.
Thereafter he retired and spent his leisure in the country and particularly in cruising during the summer months.
