Gary Canham who has died aged 86 rose to be RSM of The Queen’s Own Hussars, joining the Regiment in 1959.
He started his military service in the Junior Leaders Regiment, joining in 1957, where he excelled at sport – mainly football, basketball and water polo.
He joined ‘C’ Squadron at Tidworth as a radio operator deploying with them to Aden in Spring 1960.
The Squadron, equipped with Centurion tanks, undertook extensive desert trials as well as participating in combined-service amphibious exercises in the Arabian Gulf.
Then following a spell as at The Junior Leaders Regiment he returned to regimental duty including service again in Aden, Maresfield and Singapore.
In 1970 he became a Gunnery Instructor at Lulworth. His Gunnery Instructor’s course was made more challenging dealing with practical jokes including coping with last minute changes to his well prepared aids by fellow would be regimental instructors and on one occasion his son burying his immaculate beret in the garden just before he was due to go to work!
On completion of his time at Lulworth he re-joined the Regiment as a troop leader in ‘C’ Squadron prior to become their SQMS.
On the return of the Regiment to Dorset he became the SSM of the Lulworth Squadron prior to his promotion to be RSM.
As RSM, from 1977 to 1979, he was much respected in how he maintained the highest standards of both discipline and “bonhomie” in the WO & Sgts Mess.
His time as RSM included a highly successful tour in Armagh, Northern Ireland. He was instrumental in ensuring the success of the regimental football team having played for many years and helped coach the team to ultimate success in the Cavalry Cup. He was also pivotal in organising visits to and from the West Midlands police – many a soldier when on home leave in Birmingham, will have been grateful for such a successful relationship!
He felt deeply honoured to be presented his LS&GC Medal by our Colonel in Chief, HM The Queen Mother. He was also presented personally with the 1977 Jubilee Medal by HM The Queen.
Having decided that the peak of his Army career was being Regimental Sergeant Major, he left the Army and joined the staff of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Throughout his career he was ably supported by his wife, Jeanne.
