There is little known about Jock before he enlisted, but he always professed that he came from Scotland and his mother was Irish.

On enlistment in 1962, he commenced his training at the East Anglian Brigade Depot, Blenheim Camp Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk. Passing out in that same year he joined The 1st Battalion of the 3rd East Anglian Regiment, (Beds Herts, and Essex), who were based in Abercorn Barracks Ballykinlar County Down, N Ireland.

By March of 1963 Jock had joined the Anti-tank Platoon and for the remainder of the posting was involved in training, incorporating many local, always wet and dismal exercises. Exercises were also conducted across on the mainland, (Stanford PTA), and a big highlight was one to Cyprus in November 1963, returning by mid-December a day before the big trouble erupted between the Greek and Turkish populations.

Life in Ballykinlar was not all work and no play, and Jock, with friends, enjoyed off duty periods visiting DownPatrick, and other places of interest that held dances, such as Crossgar, calling first of course, at the local pubs. When the money for beer got low, there was nothing for it but to buy the local cheap wine, commonly known as Red Biddy. Red Biddy seemed to have a slightly mind changing effect, insomuch, as well as slight inebriation, great hunger set in. On one occasion on the way to the dance in Crossgar, Jock, and friends, stopped off at a little village shop, purchased tins of meat and literally ripped them apart to satisfy that terrible hunger. The shop keeper, a poor little old lady, was aghast. She must have wondered if she might be next on the menu. She was assured that she was in no danger, and after the consumption, friendly goodbyes were exchanged. It is not known if she ever opened the little shop again on dance nights.

In July 1964 the Battalion was posted to Wavell barracks, Spandau Berlin, a fascinating city, if not a little claustrophobic, being fenced in one hundred kilometres inside East Germany, and further divided into the four Allied Powers’ areas of responsibility. Life went on however, lots of duties, parades, battalion/brigade exercises, sports, cadres, adventure training within Berlin, and down through the ‘Corridor’ into West Germany. Jock, still a member of the Anti-Tank platoon, who were now part of B Company, took everything in his stride. Attending a Junior NCO’s cadre and doing very well, he gained his promotion to L/Cpl. There are many stories associated with Jock’s time in Berlin which saw him emerge as a bit of a legend in a social and non-malicious way. It is thought that Jock was the brains behind pigs in the OC’s office, from whence it is believed, he was appointed ‘Keeper’ of the Battalion’s live stock. Other escapades were; broken OC’s office windows, for which the whole company was charged one pound a head, and the camouflaging, again, of the OC’s office. This was together with wild nights down at the Cpl’s Mess Cellar bar, visits to the Shultheiss Brewery Factory, local pubs in Spandau, namely the Corner bar, and ABC bar, aptly named the Army Boxing Club, as followers of the, ‘Noble Art’, and drinking, often practiced there. The result was Jock, originally starting out smartly dressed, returning to barracks with major adjustments having been made to his clothing attire. His friends soon knew that it wasn’t in their best interest to loan him clothing. Jock was not a ‘shrinking violet’, but never went out with intentions of aggression. Nights just turned out boisterously. It was all part of a good military education and growing up, with the hectic life of being in Berlin.

In July 1966 the Battalion moved to Assaye barracks in Tidworth Hampshire, from where they were deployed to Aden on an emergency tour in October, through to May 1967. Jock remained in the Anti-Tanks who then made up a Support Company in an Infantry roll. After the tour he married Debbie who came from Forest Gate London.

In November 1968 the Battalion moved from Tidworth to Aldershot, Salamanca Barracks, relieving 3 Para and therefore joining 16 Para Brigade. In 1969 Jock and Debbie’s first child, Danny, was born. He gained his promotion to Sergeant in the Anti-Tank Platoon, participated in numerous exercises and completed a six month tour with the UN in Cyprus.

In very early January 1971 Jock, his family, and the Battalion moved to Paderborn, West Germany, close to Sennelager, where their second child Kerri was born in March 1972. Jock transferred to A Company as a platoon sergeant and was involved in the first four month emergency tour of N Ireland, April to August, based at Albert Street Mill, Belfast. In January 1973, having been promoted to CSgt he was posted to 5 R Anglian TA, Ipswich Company, as their QPSI until April 1974 when he returned to the 3rd Battalion in Paderborn who by this time were preparing to complete their third tour of N Ireland, and were to be based in Londonderry, October to March 1975.

July 1975 saw the Battalion posted to Catterick for a scheduled four year tour. Practically, as soon as all personnel had moved, the warning order came, “don’t unpack boxes you are moving”. January 1976 saw Jock, CQMS of A Company, and family, embark for a two year tour in Cyprus. They, as most other families, were quartered in Berengaria just outside Limassol, about thirteen miles from the camp at Salamanca Barracks, Episkopi, on the southwest coast. Cyprus was brilliant. Jock, and friends, in the earlier exploration days of Berengaria, and after consumption of the famous Keo Beer, which Jock tried to convince everyone had been named after him, resulted ending up in the monsoon ditches, a novel experience. However, on information that the ditches housed snakes, the novelty wore off regardless of how much beer was consumed. Jock and his family, as others soon entered into the spirit of life on the sun drenched island of Cyprus. Sensible working hours facilitated plenty of sporting opportunities and Jock participated, with no mean talent, in Squash and Rugby. Towards the end of the tour he was promoted to WO2 and CSM of A Company. All good things come to an end and in January 1978 the Battalion moved to Kiwi Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, for training in preparation of an accompanied tour to N Ireland.

In May 1978, Jock and family, with the remainder, arrived in Palace Barracks, Holywood. Not quite what people had just experienced, but life goes on. British soldiers and families are a very durable set of people. During the period in Holywood Jock moved post to TQMS and remained so with the Battalion’s move to Colchester in November 1979.

From 1980 to October 1983 Jock moved between Colchester, Bassingbourn Barracks Royston, and Peterborough where he took up the appointment of WO1 RSM of 5 (V) R Anglian. During this period he settled his family in Peterborough. On finishing at Peterborough he attained a commission and on 3rd October 1983 he was posted to 2 R Anglian as Families Officer based at Colchester. By 1986 he had been promoted to Captain and moved to 3 RRF in Catterick, taking up the post, firstly as QM (T), then on to QM. Between 1986 and 1988 he completed another six months UN Tour with 3 RRF at St David’s Camp on the UN Line in Cyprus. In September 1988 he retired from the Services, and put into operation his plan to emigrate, with his family, although at this time his son Danny had joined the RAF Regiment and joined them later, in Sydney Australia.

In his first couple of years during his settling down period, Jock took on a carpet cleaning franchise to bide his time until he entered into service with the New South Wales (NSW) Corrections on 3rd September 1990, a post he had obviously studied for, having attained a University Degree. After training he was posted to the Industrial Training Centre, (Long Bay Complex). On 9th October 1992 he was appointed as a Senior Correctional Officer at Parklea CC and Malabar Special Programs Centre, (MSPC). 1994 to 1997 saw his secondment to the role of AIDS training officer. He was again appointed, in November 1997, as a Senior Assistant Superintendent at the Corrective Services Academy in the Senior Training Role, which led him to be appointed as Manager in the Young Offenders’ Programme during 2001. From September 2005 to his retirement in 2011, he worked in the Inmate Classification and Case Management Branch as Assistant Director, Director, and Executive Director, in Newington House at the Silverwater Correctional Complex. An achievement, which indicates the calibre of the man.

His son Danny further relates that Jock, in his mid-life crises period, purchased a small motorbike to convey him to and from work. This was up scaled to the purchase of a Harley Davidson and the joining of a group of enthusiasts called the Sydney, HOGS, (Harley Owners Group). With Debbie as pillion he went on a number of rides around Australia. Leaving the HOGS, he joined another group named, Men of Mayhem. It appears He was in fact, treasurer for both Groups.

Having remained incognito for about thirteen years from the time of his emigration, Jock and Debbie made an appearance back in the UK in 2002 to catch up on family and friends. When asked why he had not made any contact earlier his reply was; “We would not have made it out there if we had ties back here”. Jock made a trip back, on his own in 2009, again to see family and friends, and attend an Eagle & Garter dinner at Bassingbourn. He made two more trips over in 2013, again to attend the E&G Dinner and in 2014 to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the forming of The Regiment, at Duxford. It was his full intentions to come across again, and also visit Duxford in September 2016.

About 2011 when he retired from NSW Corrections, he moved to a new residence, a flat on the site where the Sydney Olympics had been held. It must also have been around 2011, that poor Debbie was diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s, which eventually resulted in her confinement to a care home. Jock, throughout, tended her daily and at every opportunity.

On 21st June 2016 Debbie passed away, an event which had not been unexpected. Jock died two days later, 23rd June. It was a completely unexpected and unbelievable occurrence. A full conclusion on the cause of death has yet to be proclaimed, but it was related to a heart failure. Jock and Debbie had their funeral together on 30th June 2016 in Sydney.

Jock could be considered as a hard man and a strict disciplinarian. He was not prone to sentimentality, and did not suffer fools gladly. Nevertheless, he was caring and had a sense of responsibility. He was straight talking, good leader, and good man to have at your side. He was witty, intelligent, and astute, with a good sense of humour. Those that knew him will not forget what a loyal comrade he was.

Jock and Debbie are survived by their son Danny and his family, who live in New Zealand, and their daughter Kerri and her family, who live in Sydney Australia.

The Regiment extends its sincere condolences to them all.