Major General PR Leuchars

[Gerrycc943]

I agree Ianto.

If anyone spots his obituary in the Times or Telegraph can they please repost it on this thread.

Hi Al,

Maj Gen Leuchers was a member of the London Branch RWFCA, I have just taken over as Social Secretary.

Rest assured, any feedback received, such as editorials, will be placed on the forum accordingly by either Tony Corbett or myself.

Bye for now,

[Bob Bacon]

Telegraph notice: July 20th, 2009

LEUCHARS
Major General Peter CBE, in hospital on 17th July, aged 87. Private
Cremation. A Memorial Service will be held later.

He was the son of Raymond Leuchars, of White Lodge, Alfriston, Sussex.
He married 1953 the Hon Gillian Wightman Nivison dau of 2nd Baron
Glendyne and Ivy May dau of James Rose, of Bournemouth and had a son,
Christopher John Raymond (b 1956) who married 1999 Tessa Helen Graham
dau of John Graham Earlscote of Winterton, Scunthorpe and has a dau,
Rosie Elizabeth (b 2003).

Peter Leuchars
Major General Peter, CBE. In hospital on 17th July 2009, aged 87. Private cremation. Memorial Service to be announced later. Published in The Times on 21/7/2009

[A&SRHQ]

The Memorial Service for Maj Gen Peter Leuchars will be held in the Guards Chapel on Thursday 08 October at 12.00 midday.

[John Turner]

If anyone spots his obituary in the Times or Telegraph can they please repost it on this thread.

Full obituary in The Telegraph this week
Major-General Peter Leuchars

Major-General Peter Leuchars, who has died aged 87, calculated that he had lost the nine "lives" more usually allotted to fortunate felines by September 1944, after his battalion had fought its way across France and Belgium.



Published: 6:19PM BST 09 Sep 2009




His first brush with death came in October 1943, two years after he had left Sandhurst and been commissioned into the Welsh Guards. As liaison officer to HQ 4th Guards Brigade at Malton, Yorkshire, he was equipped with a motorbicycle. One night, using dimmed, "wartime" headlights, he ran into a stray horse on the road and was badly injured. The next day, after a three-hour operation, his surgeon arrived with a bottle of champagne and told him that he had not been expected to survive.

Leuchars's next scrape came when he took part in the Normandy landings as a platoon commander with the 1st Battalion (1 WG). After the battle for Cagny, he was digging a slit trench when a shell bounced in. It failed to explode.

Half way through the subsequent battle for Le Bas Perrier, the radio broke down. Leuchars found a small dip in the ground and lay down in it to write a message to his HQ. Suddenly the air erupted with explosions and shell and mortars started falling just where he had been standing a few moments before. Later the same day, fire from a German tank passed over his head as he threw himself on the ground. An artillery shell then exploded a few feet in front of his jeep.

In August, on the approaches to Douai, a caretaker of one of First World War cemeteries shouted encouragingly: "Plenty of room for you here!" The following month, near Hechtel, Belgium, Leuchars almost took up the offer when he was hit by friendly fire after ordering his platoon to clear a line of houses.

Misidentifying him, one of Leuchars's section commanders fired a bullet which hit him in the chest. Instead of killing him, however, it shattered the revolver that he carried over his heart and exited through the fleshy part of his arm.

Peter Raymond Leuchars was born in London on October 29 1921 and educated at Bradfield College where he was head of school and got his colours for cricket and football.

After recovering from his wounds, in January 1945 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion at Greve, south of Florence, and finished the war on the Austrian border. He was mentioned in despatches.

He accepted the offer of a regular commission and returned to 1 WG as adjutant in Palestine in 1946. He was, again, mentioned in despatches.
Staff College followed and he was then appointed DAA & QMG at HQ 4th Guards Brigade before taking over as brigade major. In 1954, he rejoined 1 WG in Egypt before returning to Staff College as an instructor. Promoted lieutenant-colonel, in 1960 he was appointed military assistant to the C-in-C BAOR.

Leuchars took command of 1 WG in 1963. The battalion was due to go to Aden in 1965 and his considerable operational experience ensured that the pre-deployment training was of a high order. He handed over a first rate unit.

After an appointment as chief of staff to the director of operations in Borneo during the "Confrontation" with Indonesia, he commanded 11th Armoured Brigade in BAOR. A spell as deputy commandant of the Staff College was followed by promotion to major-general upon his appointment as GOC Wales.

He retired from the Army in 1976 and from 1980 to 1989 was Chief Commander, St John Ambulance.

He was colonel of the Royal Welch Fusiliers from 1974 to 1984.

An excellent golfer – he was captain of Sunningdale Golf Club in 1975 – a keen shot and, in recent years, an accomplished photographer of birds, he also enjoyed travel. By the end of his life had visited more than 90 countries around the world. He was appointed CBE in 1966.

Peter Leuchars died on July 17. He married, in 1953, Gillian Nivison, daughter of Lord Glendyne, who survives him with their son.

[Paul Hinge]

General Leuchars was an outstanding soldier. His term as Colonel of the Regiment saw me encountering the wrath of the infamous BSM Jock Lawson, when the General, whilst inspecting the Band in Tidworth, asked me why there were so many dents in my BBb Bass. Being truthful, I said: "Sir, the instrument is over 20 years old and has been all over the world and it's taken its toll." To which he turned to the CO and said. "We need to have all these large instruments replaced immediately and they need to be golden in colour so we can show the Guards Division how this wonderful sounding band of the line can sound and look better than they do!"
As a meer Bandsman at the time, Jock was mortified that I'd spoken to a General in such a way. We had the instruments 2 months later.
What was wonderful for me was on leaving the Regiment and attending my first annual reunion, General Leuchars remebered me and that parade. The mark of a remarkable man, Leader and Royal Welchman.

Hingey

[BennytheBall]

Our Thoughts go out to General Leuchar's family, friends, fellow officers and comrades at this sad time.

RIP

All from the Shotton and Deeside Branch RWFCA