Dick Bertram, who died on 23 January 1995, was the last surviving pre-war regular officer of the 3rd Hussars.
After Sherborne and Sandhurst, he was commissioned in 1929 and spent some months attached to the 7th Hussars before joining the Regiment in India at the beginning of 1930. He remained at Regimental duty for ten years until going onto the staff shortly after the outbreak of war.
He held a number of staff appointments in the Middle East before rejoining the 3rd Hussars in January 1943.
During this period of reorganisation and training after Alamein, he commanded ‘C’ and HQ Squadrons before rejoining the staff at the beginning of 1944 and did not return until becoming second in command in November 1947.
In 1950 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel with the British Liaison Unit to the Belgian forces in Germany and retired in 1954.
Dick was a charming man with a great sense of humour and many people will have happy memories of the fun and hospitality which he and Betts so freely provided.
He was a keen horseman and polo player and his loyalty and devotion to his Regiment were outstanding. He was also very brave; during the disastrous fire at Pardess Hanna in 1943, he showed great coolness and disregard for his own safety. A great raconteur and wit, he also possessed a shrewd mind and his comments provoked thought as well as laughter.
After leaving the Army he had a successful business career and enjoyed a very happy family life in Oxfordshire. His wife, Betts, to whom he was married for over 50 years, predeceased him, but he is survived by two sons and a daughter to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
