Tom died on 26 June 1999, aged 84.

Tpr TH Louch
Tpr TH Louch

He enlisted into the Cavalry of the Line in March 1932 and joined the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, then stationed at Aldershot. In October 1932 he took part in the move of the Regiment with over 400 horses to Hounslow. He sailed with the Regiment for Cairo on 19 December 1933.

He took part in the last mounted parade of the 8th Hussars at Coombe Hill on Armistice Day 1935.

At the end of June 1936, he moved with the Regiment to Palestine to help in suppressing the disturbances between the Arabs and the Jews. He took part in various duties, including guarding the railway line, and the aerodrome at Gaza and searching villages for arms. He took his discharge in April 1938.

He was recalled to the Colours on 2 September 1939 and was initially posted to the 3rd King’s Own Hussars, but before getting a chance to join them he was posted to No 2 Works Labour Company in France. In January 1940 he was posted to the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons which at that time was in Tom’s old stamping ground – Palestine. In addition, he served with the Yorkshire Dragoons in Syria.

In August 1942 he was posted to the Yorkshire Dragoons’ Infantry Regiment, joining the 8th Battalion which was part of the 8th Army, at that time in the area of Alam Halfa and Alamein. He was promoted to sergeant in April 1943 but reverted to private at his own request on posting to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

In August 1944 he returned to the UK and joined the 6th Infantry Demonstration Platoon. He took his discharge in February 1946 and took up employment with the RAF at Uxbridge as a bar steward in the Officers’ Mess, and later as a range warden at Uxbridge. In 1975 he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal.

He and Myrtle were loyal and supportive members of the Regimental Association, attending troop events from York to Eastbourne, as well as those over Cavalry Memorial weekend and weekends with the Regiment.

Related topics

  1. A short history of The 8th Hussars