THE COVENANTER
Signals course Alan became our Regimental husband and proud Father; even Alan’s
Signals Officer. He held this appointment dogs noticed the change for the better. Very
with distinction for close on six years in sadly Sylvia predeceased Alan. Their
Malaya, Barnard Castle, BAOR and the married life was exceptionally happy and it
Persian Gulf. While using a radio in was clearly very special for them both.
Germany Alan saved two riflemen from At the end of 1966 Alan to his very great
being burnt to death in their truck an act of pleasure returned to the 1st Battalion and
quick thinking bravery which the took over as ‘B’ Company Commander. He
Commander in Chief ordered should be took his Company to Aden and as he had
recorded on his Record of Service. shown in Muscat remained overseas rather
While in the Gulf Alan was next made ‘A’ longer than expected. Just a few hours prior
Company commander in Sharjah and took to flying home to join the rest of the
part in our Muscat operations. Indeed due Battalion after a hard and tough tour on
to their Beverley aircraft crashing on take- Active Service his Company nominally the
off (fortunately no casualties but their plane Brigade reserve were called out to support
lost its undercarriage) they remained out in the 3rd Royal Anglians in Sheikh Othman.
the very desert for much longer than Needless to say ‘B’ Company undertook the
anyone else. task quickly and with great skill. They were
When at long last in 1958 the 1st the last men in the Regiment to be on
Battalion was able to concentrate in Nairobi Active Service.
(we had for some 18 months been spread Alan remained with ‘B’ Company in
out through the Persian Gulf and rural Edinburgh during the Battalions final year
Kenya) Alan handed over ‘A’ company and and of course commanded his Company at
was appointed adjutant. His immediate task our Disbandment Parade. Yes, like all of us
was to reunite the Battalion but this had desperately sad but also proud that he was
scarcely started when we were under orders able to stand with the Battalion right up to
to move. Firstly to fly to Aden with the the very end.
vehicles to go by sea via Mombassa next all He left Edinburgh to join the Queen’s
by sea and this time by HMS Bulwark to the Own highlanders, his Fathers old Regiment.
Gulf of Aqaba and finally by anything that On leaving the Army he was for many
moved to Amman in Jordan and to make it years the Bursar cum Manager of a major
more interesting we didn’t know why. A Medical Training Centre at Cambridge
tough baptism for Alan but he made it. His University.
appointment continued until 1960 when Alan most enjoyed the time he spent
we were in BAOR. with the 1st Battalion for he was a real
After some eleven years with the 1st Regimental soldier who enjoyed serving
Battalion Alan next found himself and service no matter where or what the
undertaking a whole series of Extra task. To serve and be with soldiers gave him
Regimental posts which included the great pleasure for he loved training them;
following: looking after them and knowing them. He
a. A Staff Officer with 2 Division in BAOR. always found out much more about his
b. Training Officer with the 6/7 Battalion in soldiers that their Mothers would ever have
Lanarkshire. learnt. He quickly gained their trust,
c. The Army Trials Officer researching the confidence and respect. He had a delightful
‘Jump Jet’ concept. sense of humour; a man who never raised
d. Second in Command of the Boys his voice except to laugh. A reliable and
Training Battalion in Troon. good friend who one always looked forward
e. Air Support Co-Ordinator during the to seeing and whose company was always
Borneo confrontation. enjoyable.
Alan’s stories about the four or five years I expect that many who knew him will
he was away were always funny, he be sad but we can rejoice that we served
undoubtedly gained huge experience but with him. We send to his family our sincere
more important he became ‘staff qualified’ condolences but ask that they should
and gained recommendation for rejoice in his memory with us.
promotion. Hugh Mackay
There was an even more dramatic success
during this period for Alan met and married
Captain J O Robertson
the delightful Sylvia. She with great charm
A son of Colonel Alec Ogilvie Robertson,
and skill turned this wild bachelor into a
a pre-war territorial officer in 5/8
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