Obituary for Major D Ingle MBE

David Ingle came from yeoman farming stock and was born on 10 May 1918 in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire. His father Sydney was a farmer among other things and his mother, Mable, was a trained Teacher and Governess. He also had a sister, Mary, who was exactly five years older than him. He always recalled a happy childhood living on the farm surrounded by animals including six Old English Sheepdogs and a Fox Terrier puppy. He always described an idyllic school life, representing the rugby and cricket teams and playing lots of pranks on unwitting teachers.

At 16 he joined the Officer Training Corps rising to Company Sergeant Major by the age of 18. David went on to Cambridge University to read Geography where he joined the Senior Training Corps and obtained a Supplementary Reserve Commission in the Suffolk Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant. By this time, considering world events, war seemed inevitable.

David was embodied on 2 September 1939 to begin an army career, which would span 34 years, which can be summarized by the following:

He lived in the following countries: England, India, Burma, Jamaica, Nigeria, Germany, Cyprus, Ghana, Belgian Congo and Northern Ireland.

He lived in 25 different houses, moved 22 times as a family, had 11 dogs and 1 cat and 11 years on active service, spent 24 years abroad, separated from his family for a total of 10 years, changed cap badge six times, served with six different regiments of infantry, served under 16 Commanding Officers (commanded one battalion himself), travelled many thousands of miles by sea, air and land, prior to 1956 by troopship, then by air, rail or car. Marched for many thousands of miles AND commanded and knew literally thousands of soldiers and cared for their families.

Back in 1939, having gone £6 overdrawn with the bank due to his first mess bill and having been bailed out by his Mother, he was drafted to the North West Frontier, India. During a period of leave in Delhi he met his first wife Margaret Halfhide at the Governor’s Ball. Her father worked for the Indian Government. They married in Poona on 25 May 1942.

Six days into their honeymoon he was drafted to Burma – we knew very little of his days here because like a lot of old soldiers he never discussed it. However, I do know that he was immensely proud to have served alongside those who gave their today for our tomorrow and considered such to be his greatest achievement.

Shortly after his return to England the war in Europe ended. David celebrated it by swapping hats with a police officer and climbing a lamppost in the centre of Luton! Two days later on his 27th birthday, his first daughter Daveen was born.

Postings to Jamaica and Nigeria (where he was involved in a plane crash – suffering a broken ankle) followed and whilst back again in England his second daughter Wendy was born on 20 January 1955.

This was followed by an eventful period in his army career. In one of the many skirmishes with the EOKA terrorists in Cyprus, his vehicle was blown up whilst being driven across a bridge. His immediate reaction and subsequent capture of the people responsible led to a Mention in Dispatches for Distinguished Service in 1958.

In 1960, during secondment to the Ghanain Army, anti-Belgian riots broke out in the Belgian Congo. David and 50 men were sent by Kwame Nkumah to try to restore law and order until UN Troops arrived. The Congolese Army soldiers were running riot, drunken and dope crazy, looting and terrorising. On one occasion David was forced out of his car and a bayonet thrust up against his neck; only his ability to speak French saved him. For his services in the Congo, he was awarded the MBE by the Queen and £4,000 by Nkumah, part of which he spent on his journey home on a Norwegian banana boat!

He continued his army career, serving at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, playing lots of golf, hockey and tennis in his spare time. Then on to Germany and Northern Ireland, followed by his final posting, a return to Cyprus. He relinquished his commission in 1973 having served 34 years in the regular army. He described every day with the Regiment as a joy and a bonus and also his time of service as eventful and with great fortune on occasions.

David applied for and was accepted as a Retired Officer Grade 2 in the Civil Service and was employed at BAOR Rheindahlen, West Germany. Sadly, his wife Margaret died in 1975. After living a quiet life for four months, his life took a swift turn when a colleague persuaded him to attend his farewell party where he met Dorothy. It was love at first sight for both of them and they were married on Dorothy’s birthday 5 December 1975. His first son Simon was born on 3 April 1978. This prompted David’s decision to retire from the Civil Service and return to England.

David moved to Northam with Dorothy and Simon in 1978 to begin a long and fulfilling retirement. His second son Andrew was born on 19 February 1980. After Andrew’s birth he began to take part in local activity by joining the Royal British Legion in Bideford and becoming Chairman. He was also asked, at very short notice, if he would take on the welfare of Retired Army Officers and Widows on behalf of the North Devon Officers’ Association. He was proud of his achievements in this responsible and worthwhile role. He often referred to the widows as ‘his old ladies’ – most of who were younger than him!

He had a long and successful time with the local and regional branches of the Burma Star Association. He was the treasurer of the South West Area and Chairman of the North Devon Branch in the busy 1980s and 1990s and President for many more years. He was a highly respected and generous member and a tireless fundraiser and organiser of many parades. He was also a keen and active member of the Bideford Twinning Association. In 1983, along with some dedicated fellow members he revitalised the link with its French twin town Landvisiau.

Of course the primary focus of his retirement was raising his young family in the beautiful surroundings of North Devon. These 30 years were filled with wonderful family holidays to France, Germany, London and Cambridge. He always enjoyed family occasions and had a different curry recipe for each and every one of them. During this time his family grew to include two Grandchildren Sascha and Tristan, and four Great-Grandchildren: Mollie, Nick, Annabelle and Barnaby.

David died peacefully at the Warren Nursing Home on 3 April this year after a long illness

NIB