Wally Grimshaw died suddenly on 13 May 1996 in his 75th year.
He enlisted into the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1938, just in time to complete riding school before the outbreak of World War Two.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, he proceeded overseas with his Regiment. However, his stay there was short-lived when it was realised that he was underage and was sent back to the UK to serve with the Border Regiment, a great disappointment to him at the time.
He eventually volunteered for service with Special Forces carrying out training with them in Scotland. From there he joined the 6th Airborne Division Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, seeing service with them in northwest Europe, where he was eventually wounded and evacuated back to the UK. He rejoined them when fit again and went on to serve with them until they were disbanded in Palestine in 1946.
It was from there that he came to the 3rd Hussars.
In his early years with the 3rd he was a tank troop sergeant followed by a spell as Regimental MT sergeant. In 1952 he moved into the Technical Department where he remained until 1958. On amalgamation, in 1958 he went, on promotion to WO2, to 2 Armoured Del Squadron, BAOR. He returned to Regimental duty in 1961 taking up the appointment of ROMS(T).
In 1963 he left the Regiment for his last six months in the UK, serving with the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry in Manchester, From there he left the Army, settling in his home town of Manchester where he had first enlisted.
After leaving, he set up a very successful business from which he retired in 1993. In 1972 he joined the St John’s Ambulance Brigade in which he served for ten years. As well as teaching first aid he also took on training the brigade in foot drill and parading once it was discovered that he had served many years in the Army.
He was a staunch supporter of the Regimental Association and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our sympathies go to his wife Betty and all her family.
