The death occurred in Clifton Hospital, York in May 1978, of Major Robert Alexander (Bob) Duncan, late 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, at the age of seventy-eight after a short illness.
Bob joined the Regiment in Shorncliffe in 1919 having previously served in the South Irish Horse.
He saw service with the Regiment in India, Mesopotamia and Egypt, prior to its return to York in 1923.
After attending a six months course at the School of Equitation Weedon, he played a prominent part in the formation and training of the Regimental Musical Jumping Display Team which made its first appearance at the British Empire Exhibition Wembley, in 1925 and was subsequently in great demand at Shows all over the Country.
During the Regiment’s stay in Wiesbaden BAOR, he was promoted to WO2 with the appointment of Riding Instructor in succession to SSM(RI) Mayhew.
He accompanied the Regiment to Egypt in December 1933 for a further six years overseas tour during which the Second World War broke out, and shortly afterwards Bob was commissioned on the General List.
Whilst Garrison Adjutant Beni-Yusef, Alexandria and Fayed, he was of incalculable value to the Regiment whenever we returned to the Delta for refits.
He returned to the UK in late 1943 and was posted to an Information and Security Unit with which he served in NW Europe.
He was demobilised in 1947, but two years later took a Short Service Commission in the Royal Pioneer Corps, again serving in Egypt and BAOR. On completion, he obtained a post in the Telephone Manager’s Office in York and finally retired in 1964.
He was a man of intense Regimental pride and a true patriot who continued to serve his Regiment by becoming a Committee Member of the Regimental Association until he retired from this appointment in November 1976.
