Lieutenant Colonel RA Payne OBE KStJ Essex Regiment

Obituary for Lieutenant Colonel RA Payne OBE KStJ

Robert Payne was born on 21 September 1919. During his school days at Finchley County Grammar School, where he was to become Head Boy, he developed a great interest in the work of the St John’s Ambulance Service; which eventually culminated in 64 years of distinguished service and being made a KStJ. His medical knowledge later influenced his work with the Army Cadet Corps, and resulted in first aid being part of the official ACC training syllabus.

He enlisted in the Army in 1939 and did his recruit training with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, where he was soon selected as a potential Officer, but, when commissioned in 1940, he was posted to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment at Kempston Barracks and appointed the Depot Signals Training Officer. In 1942, there was yet another move, and he joined the 7th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment for a short time, until selected as Captain Instructor and Signals Wireless Advisor at 160 (Support Group) OCTU.

In 1944, when the War in Europe was at a high pitch, and the Allied Forces were taking heavy casualties, Captain Payne was posted to the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment (the Pompadours), and found himself involved in bitter fighting in Holland in atrocious weather conditions. Soon after he joined the battalion, his Company Commander was wounded and he had to take over for the eventual capture of Arnhem and the final phase of the War in Germany. Robert was very proud of his short service with the Pompadours who had landed in Normandy on D-Day and fought continuously through France, Belgium and Holland, at a great cost to human life.

After the War, Robert returned to his civilian career, qualified as a Company Secretary and served 25 years with International Aeradio Limited. He also continued to play an important part in St John’s Ambulance, the Royal British Legion and the Army Cadet Corps – where he became Deputy County Cadet Commandant. He was invited to serve as a member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award ACF panel.

Besides being a JP from 1963 to 1989, Robert was actively involved in many voluntary activities including the Old Fincunians, the Middlesex County Association, the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Association, the Essex Regiment Association; which included arranging the Annual Dinner of the Pompadours Office Dining Club for 26 years. The Worshipful Company of Scriveners, the Royal Society of St. George, the Royal British Legion and the Chiltern Open Air Museum.

For his distinguished service in so many areas of public life, he was awarded an OBE, and his wife Audrey and daughters Jean and Patricia accompanied him to his investiture by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Robert was predeceased by his wife Audrey. We extend our sympathies to his daughters Jean, Patricia and other members of the family.

Courtesy of “For the Record” 21 September 2004
and Major RG Filby MC