Lt Col Rodney Archer died peacefully, aged 60, in King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, on 9 August 1974 after a long illness dominated by his courage and great sense of humour.
Porgy Archer, as he was always known in the 4th Hussars, joined the Regiment from Sandhurst in 1934.
He was a keen horseman and was Master of the Aldershot Drag Hunt from 1937 – 1939, winning the Regimental Steeplechase in 1937 and 1938.
He was teaching gunnery at Catterick at the outbreak of war and rejoined the Regiment as Adjutant in 1941.
With the exception of a brief period at the Staff College, he served with the Regiment for the rest of the war in North Africa and Italy, winning an immediate Military Cross whilst Commanding a Squadron at the Battle of Alam Halfa in 1942 for his “clear orders, skilful dispositions and entire disregard of danger.”
After the war he served on the staff in various appointments, returning to the Regiment in 1954 to command ‘B’ Squadron in Tidworth and at Hohne.
After retiring from the Army he became Secretary of the British Field Sports Society for the South of England.
An enthusiastic shot, he won the Loder Trophy at Bisley in 1965, and again in 1969.
