After Beaumont and Sandhurst, Bill was commissioned in 1934 into the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, who was a mounted regiment.

Soon after he joined, the Regiment was mechanized and at once part of the Regiment was sent to the Western Desert at the time of Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia.

It was this desert in which, a few years later, he was to show himself to be a skilful and brave commander of tanks.

In 1936 the Regiment was sent to Palestine, where the Arabs and Jews were in conflict. Not a very terrible war, but vehicles were blown up and there were a number of small engagements.

Bill deservedly was Mentioned in Despatches.

Back in Cairo, at that time an artificial, cosmopolitan, glitzy city, Bill entered with gusto into the varied social scene and was popular with all and sundry.

He also played a prominent part in the highly competitive polo.

When war broke out in 1939, he proved himself a fine commander, particularly so at Bug Bug.

He met disaster at Bir Hacheim when his tank received a direct hit and caught fire. He was wounded in several places, most badly in one of his legs, and was taken prisoner by Rommel’s army.

In prison in Germany, though often in considerable pain, he was admired by those with him for his fortitude and cheerfulness.

After the war, he was soon back with the Regiment and went with them to Korea.

In the very fierce engagements there he bore himself with great distinction and was awarded the O.B.E. (Military).

After leaving the army, he worked hard and was connected with forestry and farming.

On the surface, Bill may have appeared ‘laid back’, to use a modern term. This was natural to him and not a pose; but when he took anything on, he did it conscientiously and competently.

Kind, courageous, he was highly respected by those who fought and later worked with him.

Related topics

  1. A short history of The 8th Hussars
  2. Middle East (Egypt and Libya) timeline
  3. Korea 1950-51