There can be few 3rd Hussars left who knew Dudley Gilroy as he was in his 93rd year when he died at his home in Ventor, New Jersey where he had spent the last 30 years of his life. But the few who knew him remember him as a gay companion and a kind and friendly person to those who were young and newly joined.
He was born in San Luis Obispo, where his father had gone for his health. The family soon returned to its home, Castleray, near Dundee, which later, as many others, was pulled down as being too big.
He went to Sandhurst and joined the 3rd Hussars in India where he enjoyed the life and the sport so readily available there at that time. He became a good polo player and judge of a horse. From India, he went with the Regiment to the Boer War and during the First World War he served with the Regiment for a short time which included service at Ypres and the battle of Gheluvelt. He was subsequently on the Staff of the 4th Cavalry Brigade and at General Headquarters.
He was mentioned twice in despatches and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Merite Agricole.
After the war he lived in France and became racing manager to Mr A. Macomber, an American oil magnate who had a stable based in Chantilly where for many years it enjoyed considerable success, culminating in the stable bringing off the Autumn Double with Forseti and Masked Marvel in 1925 and putting up £50,000 on the double alone.
Just before the war, he was living in France. His wife was a childhood friend of William C Bullitt, the American Ambassador. Dudley and the Ambassador became good friends and when it was time to go he and his wife got out in the last car of the Cavalcade.
