John Louis Damant died peacefully in France aged 74 on 14 October 2004.
John was educated at Cheltenham and Sandhurst before joining the 7th Hussars in Luneburg in 1950.
In 1952 he was posted to Korea with several other 7th Hussars to reinforce the 5th Dragoon Guards and 1st Royal Tanks. During his time in Korea John was ADC to the GOC the Commonwealth Division and later commanded a troop in action with 1 RTR.
He rejoined the Regiment in 1954 and served with them in Hong Kong as a Troop Leader and Assistant Adjutant.
After amalgamation, John studied on the STT course then to FVRDE and back to regimental duties as Squadron Leader ‘B’ Squadron QOH. A posting followed this to the Junior Leaders Regiment at Bovington before rejoining the Regiment as Squadron Leader on operations in Aden.
John left the Army in 1968 to manage a hotel in Guernsey followed by a spell of renovating several houses in France and then running a restaurant in Covent Garden, London.
John was a Regimental character embodying many charming attributes.
In his company, there was never a dull moment. He was a gallant soldier, a gifted artist, loved the theatre and was always fun to be with, be it on active service, in the mess, at the card table and on the racecourse.
His part ownership of a racehorse gave him immense pleasure.
