Maj Hugh K Merriam MC, died on 11 October 2009 aged 90. He was born in 1919, one of five children brought up in London. He went to Rugby School in 1933 and completed his education with a year in Switzerland.

He joined the Royal Corps of Signals at Catterick in 1940. Hugh soon requested a transfer to the infantry and after OCTU he was commissioned into The Suffolk Regiment and in December 1940 was posted to the Depot at Bury St Edmunds. In March 1941, he joined the 1st Battalion in Weymouth and was to remain with the Battalion until the end of his service.

In the autumn of 1943 the Battalion moved to Nairn on the Moray Forth to carry out final combined operations training with the naval force which would eventually carry the Division to France. In January and February 1944 several exercises in near Arctic conditions were held with new US landing ships which carried the small landing craft suspended on davits. As Adjutant, Hugh had a huge task in calculating the logistics of men and vehicles for the various craft. After three years of planning, the final preparations for operation Overlord (the D-Day landings) were made. It was to be the biggest sea landing ever mounted.

Hugh landed from an LCP (Landing Craft Personnel) and was part of the Rear Battalion HQ due to beach two hours after the first craft hit the beach. Afterwards, he spoke of the sea being covered by hundreds of ships; of the terrific noise of the naval bombardment off the coast. Ahead he could see the small landing craft being lowered from the Assault ships three miles out from the shore. On reaching the beach the scene appeared to be absolute chaos with fires everywhere, burning tanks and craft and many bodies and wounded men. However, he succeeded in reaching his collecting point about a mile inland. Hugh also recalled how RAF bombers flew over that evening towing gliders which were to be released to reinforce the paratroops who had landed in the early hours of the morning. The bombers continued on and then circled back and this time releasing thousands of coloured parachutes each denoting which sort of supplies it carried. At this time Hugh had about a dozen prisoners who looked up in sheer amazement – there was not a single enemy aircraft to be seen. From that moment he never doubted that we would win the war. The successful capture of the fortification codenamed Morris was followed by the seizure of the more difficult fortress of Hillman on D-Day.

Hugh’s service took him through France and Holland and into Germany – the battles at the Chateau de la Londe, the crossroads at Tinchebray near Flers, to Weert in Holland. After the capture of Overloon and Venray with heavy casualties, Hugh took command of A Company and was promoted to Major. The Battalion moved up to the River Maas and Hugh’s company was in Blitterswyk being heavily shelled in wet and freezing conditions and he had to take out a patrol to repel an enemy landing on our side of the river. They moved the enemy back but, on approaching a wood held in strength, came under intense fire and nearing daylight had to extricate his men in twos and threes, some wounded, and not leaving himself until the last man was clear. On return he found his Company HQ had received a direct hit, burying many men and wounding his 2IC. He immediately set about restoring the situation while mortar bombs were still falling. Hugh was awarded the MC for his disregard for his own safety and his calmness and courage were an inspiration to those under him.

After the Rhine crossing the Battalion was again involved in an attack on 13 April 1945, at Brinkum, near Bremen. It was during this operation that Hugh was wounded by a bullet through his thigh. He was eventually evacuated and was in hospital for three months with the damage in his right leg limiting his movement for the rest of his life. The war ended in Germany on 8 May 1945.

Hugh returned to civilian life and returned to farming. He married Joan, who came from a farming family, in July. It was a very successful partnership extending their farming enterprise and raising three sons. Hugh acquired his own farm at Wickham Skeith in October 1947. He involved himself in local community work and sport. He became a JP and Chairman of the local Bench, Chairman of the Parish Council, church warden, a steward at the Suffolk Show and on taking up golf he became Captain and then President of Stowmarket Golf Club. When he could no longer play golf he played bowls and enjoyed bridge, all with a very wide circle of friends.

He retained a keen interest in The Suffolk Regiment and attended the annual reunions at Bury St Edmunds as well as the Normandy reunions initiated by the Hillman Committee, of which he became Chairman.

This committee arranged the annual pilgrimage after the initial ceremony of the 40th Anniversary of D-Day. Much of the planning was done by Hugh and Gen Sir Richard Goodwin, his CO in 1944. They were supported by Les Amis du Suffolk Regiment who restored the Hillman site which is now open for visitors.

In what was to be his last year he received an invitation from the Royal Almoners Office at Buckingham Palace to attend the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds to accept the Maundy money from the Queen: a great honour and a memorable day for him. He also completed a book, My life, for the benefit of his family. It is a modest account by a very special man. Although failing in health he was able to celebrate his 90th birthday in August 2009 with family and friends.

KM