COLLECTION ITEM
Captain Ray Hazan OBE – interview
Description: Captain Ray Hazan OBE – Royal Anglian Regiment Veteran. Talks to us about his time in the regiment in Cyprus, Libya and Northern Ireland.
On October 3 1973, Hazan was serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (2 RAR), in Londonderry. It was the battalion’s second tour of duty in Northern Ireland.
A parcel bomb, believed to have been intended for the Commander Land Forces, was handed in to the Operations Room. The bomb exploded almost immediately. Hazan lost the sight of both eyes and his right arm below the elbow and had severe hearing loss. A brother officer was killed in the blast.
Hazan’s courage and complete lack of self-pity speeded his recovery, and after treatment at several hospitals he moved to St Dunstan’s Training Establishment in Brighton.
Raymond Lazare Hazan was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, on February 8 1945. He grew up in France, where his father, Victor, was serving at SHAPE, but was educated at Charterhouse, where he was head of his house and the Combined Cadet Force.
After Sandhurst, in 1965 he was commissioned into the RAR and served with the 2nd Battalion in Cyprus, Felixstowe, Colchester, Münster in West Germany, and Northern Ireland.
Despite his injuries, he was determined to live as full a life as possible and, after intense training at St Dunstan’s, he gained a place at the International School of Interpreting at Mons, Belgium. In 1977, he started working for the charity as the assistant public relations officer, and went on to set up computer, walking and skiing clubs for members.
In 2004, he was appointed president. He said later: “I would say to myself ‘You’re president of St Dunstan’s.’ It was such a thrill and an honour. I was immensely proud because I owed everything to, and I still owe everything, to Blind Veterans UK. They gave me my life back again when we thought that life had come to an end.”
In 2012 he was appointed OBE for his services to the charity and the blind community. Then in 2016 he received the prestigious Trustees Award at the Soldiering On Awards. These awards recognise the outstanding achievements of those who have overcome challenges in the service of their country.
Hazan stood down as president of BVUK in 2017. Having lived in London for many years he retired to Seaford, Sussex, before moving to BVUK Brighton Centre as a resident. In retirement, he enjoyed amateur radio, hill-walking and membership of his Rotary Club.