Colley OBE, Hugh

OT149 - West

Date of Death: 20/09/2024

A tribute to Hugh’s as a soldier. St John the Baptist Church, Boldre. 
from Colonel Patrick Daniell CBE, WKhM.
Boldre Church, Lymington.
16th October 2024.

Rachel has invited me to talk about her father’s life as a soldier. I speak on behalf of us all, and friends who are unable to join us. That so many of us have gathered here today is, in itself, a specal tribute to Hugh.

Most of us will remember Hugh, as a person, from visits we made to nearby Haywards Farmhouse where we enjoyed his and Cathy’s true friendship and generous hospitality. It was always a pleasure to hear their news and follow their interests. When I last visited Hugh at Lymington in August I was struck by two enduring features of his strong personality: the kindly way he responded to the loving care the nurses were giving him; and his determination to master the struggle of getting into his wheelchair. During rather confused conversations about his regimental life he repeatedly said “…it was all about the soldiers wasn’t it?” “That’s true, Hugh” I replied “…and it was also about the way in which you led them”. Hugh’s face lit up with that characterstic smile which throughout his long life has brightened the faces of many soldiers.

Hugh’s military life started at Ottershaw School. He and some contempories decided they wanted to become professional soldiers. Sandhurst followed and then his posting to the Royal Artillery 6th Field Regiment in Germany. Hugh must have received excellent training in that Regiment because he became a highly professional artillery officer. Throughout his career, when training others. he made full use of this grounding. He flourished in the Royal Artillery Parachute Regiment 7RHA, when his enthusiasm and leadership inspired us. Brother officers in the Regiment made lasting friendships similar to those Hugh made throughout his service.

There is a classic photograph taken when Hugh supported 3 Para’s operations during the Radfan campaign in South Arabia in 1964. The background is of those unforgiving Radfan mountains. Hugh, with his signaller beside him, is trying to coax a radio set into transmitting a message. The steely and determined look in Hugh’s eyes would seem to be transmitting far more effectively than that reluctant radio. After those ardous operations Hugh returned to his Battery - Bulls Troop - in Bahrein. There, with his zest for life, he enjoyed everything wholeheartedly - most importantly the training and well being of his soldiers, and the encouragement he gave others participating in any sport. He was the life and soul of the Battery.

While adjutant of 27th Regiment in Germany Hugh vounteered for secondment to the fledgling Oman Artillery. His service in Oman, during the campaign in Dhofar Province in Southern Oman, is ledgendary. As a result he was made a Member of the Order of the Brtish Empire - the MBE - and also given the The Sultan of Oman’s award WKhM - Wasam Khidma Mumtaz - which translates - Medal for Excellent Service - Hugh’s award was extra special, it was for gallantry. With his characteristic modesty he never mentioned these awards. More about Hugh’s service in Oman in a moment.

Hugh held subsequent regimental and staff appointments before he was selected to command 4th Regiment Royal Artillery at Aldershot. In the circumstances this was an extremely challenging command. The heavy workload included a wide range of British and International responsibilities - far beyond the normal duties of a commander of an artillery regiment. Hugh flourished and was, as always, like a small power station capable of delivering a huge amount of beneficial energy.

Hugh’s energy was just what was needed to make 4th Regiment fit smoothly into the airborne role and his emphasis on training laid the foundations for most of the regiment to deploy successfully to the Falklands. All ranks, and their  amillies, respected their commanding officer; they knew that he was truly interested in their well being. He put them first and that loyalty was often at his expense. Hugh’s style of leadership is sometimes used, during the training of cadets at Sandhurst, as a shining example of good leadership.

Hugh’s command of 4th Regiment was another of his impressive achievements. For this he was honoured with the OBE. I read the final paragraph of the citation for Hugh’s honour which was “supported fully” by an extremely experienced and very senior officer: “ There is no doubt that Colonel Colley’s exceptional personal performance has had a direct and personal influence on the solidarity of the NATO alliance and upon the standing of the British Army”.

Hugh’s subsequent appointment to become a member of the Directing Staff at the Arrmy Staff College was prestigous and unique. His was one of the first, if not the first, of such appointments for an officer who had not been a student at the College. Hugh became highly respected by his contemporaries and students once they had overcome their curiosity into the background of this Gunner officer of such short stature, Gunners were often the butt of “back hand” jokes but these were never at Hugh’s expense.

If we had asked Hugh which period of his military service he enjoyed the most he might have said his command of 4th Regiment but surely it would have been his earlier service in Oman.

There, in Oman, at the beginning of the 1970’s, his outstanding achievement was in developing the fledgling battery of the Oman Artillery, from being a sideline in Oman’s armed forces, to being a highly effective artillery unit. A unit which contributed significantly, in the Southern Province of Dhofar, to the defence of the Country during the war against insurgent Yemeni rebels. Virtually everything was in short supply, especially trained soldiers. Immediately Hugh began to correct this. He trained young Omanis to be competent gunners who, at his initiative, were rewarded with the privilege of wearing a treasured white lanyard. This inspired them to take pride in belonging to their Sultan’s artillery - the
Midfaaeya - the artillery which Hugh was crafting. He visited Jordan seeking assistance with equipment and training; and while visiting Bahrein he bought for £100 a surplus 25 pounder gun - chrome plated parts an’all - which had been used for funerals and ceremonial occasions.

The gun was flown to Oman, tested, and brought into action in Dhofar where it became known as “The Colley Gun”. From the outset Hugh displayed tremendous enthusiasm and initiative - the hallmarks his time in Oman. He led the battery on operations, and deployed the guns and the artillery observers with foresight and very effectively. The Oman artillery became experienced and trusted while it supported infantry regiments on operations - operations which led to the gradual ascendency of the Omanis over the insurgents in Dhofar.

Hugh’s development of the Oman artillery was astonishing. A brother officer at the time has told me “I don’t know how he did it”. Hugh was skillful at pulling together the nationalities that made up his command and he developed expertly relationships with his seniors, his comrades, his soldiers and the Sultan’s Air Force, - all of whom respected him. Hugh, also, was astute in identifying Omanis as potential officers and thus the vital process of Omanisation gathered momentum within the artillery.

After two years Hugh returned home leaving the Oman artillery to become 1st Regiment The Sultan of Oman’s Artillery - a Regiment well worthy this distinguished title. Those who followed Hugh’s command each recognised the sure foundations on which he built the Regiment. As you have heard he was rewarded for his indefatigable Omani service with both the British honour the MBE and the Omani medal WKhM (G). Most importantly Hugh would come to know that Omanis, to this day, appreciate greatly his service in the interests of their Country; an appreciation evidenced by the presence here of the Oman Assistant Defence Attache from London, and that the Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces has himself written to Rachel.

Since his retirement in1986 Hugh led and supported Sultan’s Armed Forces events especially reunions of those who served with him in Oman. He also supported wholeheartedly activities of the Royal British Legion particularly the Poppy Appeal and the annual Remembrance Day Service here at Boldre. There are many strong adjectives which describe Hugh’s invincible personality but one word describes it best of all - courage. Hugh was a courageous soldier. In closing let’s recall the words of that famous American soldier General Paton who said of his many soldiers “… as time moves on let us remember him not so much for the fact that he died but rather that he lived and gave so much to each of us”.