Alan Breitmeyer was born in 1891 and educated at Winchester and The Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He joined the 7th Hussars at Hounslow in 1911, shortly before the Regiment sailed for India, and was posted to “C” Squadron.
He became a Captain in 1914 and was in command of his squadron when the Regiment went to Mesopotamia in 1917.
He and “C” Squadron greatly distinguished themselves in the operations on the Tigris in October 1918, when they held off for over 24 hours a considerably superior force of Turks who were attempting to outflank the 11th Cavalry Brigade which was already heavily engaged.
For this action, he was awarded the Military Cross.
Essentially a Regimental Officer, and possessing a quick brain and considerable powers of leadership, he always had an efficient and happy squadron, and finally commanded the Regiment from 1932-35, when he retired and made his home in Leicestershire.
He was recalled in 1939, and, after commanding a Cavalry Training Regiment, he held various appointments in the Pioneer Corps both in England and North Africa.
Known to all as “Brit”, he was one of the most popular Cavalrymen of his generation. Always a first-class shot in any company, he was a bold rider to hounds and after pig, and on his day a very good polo player.
He captained the 7th Hussars team which won the intersegmental tournament at Hurlingham in 1934, a result largely due to his own inspired performance in the semi-final against The Queen’s Bays. After his retirement, he was Joint Master of the Westerby Basset Hounds from 1937-39.
