LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAY HALL MBE

Ray was born on 22^nd September 1934.  He enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry(SOM LI) on 13^th May 1952 in Taunton.  After basic training, he was posted to theLight Infantry Brigade Training Centre in Strensall, Yorkshire. By the end ofthat year, he was promoted to L/Cpl and remained at Strensall training newrecruits.  His platoon commander was LtJohn Overton.  A few months later, he waspromoted to Cpl and posted back to the Depot SOM LI in Jellalabad Barracks,Taunton as a Training Instructor.

In December 1954 he was posted to 1^st Battalion and sailed in the Troopship Empire Clyde for Malaya. After the lengthy voyage, he joined the Battalion which was on operations in Malayaduring the Confrontation. He underwent a Jungle Training Course and joined 7 Platoon as the platoon sergeant, which was commanded by Lt David Weild. After about 18 months, he returned to the UK with the Battalion in the Troopship Devonshire, disembarking in Plymouth in October 1955.

Ray then began a period of service (1956-58) with the Infantry Boys Battalion (later renamed the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion)which was, at that time, based in Plymouth. In April 1959, he returned to 1 SOMLI which was then the Demonstration Battalion at the School of Infantry,Warminster. He was posted to Training Wing under Capt Barry Lane. The Battalionthen moved by sea and rail to Osnabruck, West Germany where, on 5^thOctober 1959, it amalgamated with 1 DCLI to form 1^st Battalion TheSomerset and Cornwall Light Infantry (1 SCLI). He served as Platoon Sergeant of3 Platoon under Lt Alastair Fyfe. In early 1961, he was posted to the MortarPlatoon which was commanded by Lt Ivan Loosemore.

In the summer of 1961, the Battalion started its movefrom Osnabruck to Gibraltar. This involved a sea journey from Hook of Holland ollandHollandto Devonport and then toSeaton barracks, where the Battalion was to stage for 6 weeks before sailing for Gibraltar. Whilst in Plymouth, the Regiment exercised its Freedom of thetowns and cities in both Somerset and Cornwall and Ray was an escort to theColour on all occasions. In August, he embarked with the Battalion on thetroopship Oxfordshire for the Rock. He then returned to the Mortar Platoonunder Lt Simon Firbank. In January 1962, he moved to Tobruk, Libya, with BCompany where he spent 3 months, before returning in time for the PresentationParade of New Colours, by Field Marshal Lord Harding of Petherton, at EuropaPoint, Gibraltar in May. Later, he was appointed Officers’ Mess Sergeant, arole he fulfilled for the next 2 years. It was very different from anything hehad done before, but he fulfilled his task admirably.

In July 1963, he returned to the UK and then formed upas a member of the Advance Party for the Battalion’s move to Berlin. After ayear in Berlin, Ray was promoted to C/Sgt and posted to the SOM LI (TA)detachment in Glastonbury as the PSI. Two years later, he returned to 1 SCLI inGravesend as CQMS of D Company, as well as taking on the role of Air TransportLiaison Officer for the Battalion move to Aden in May 1966. After 6 months ofserving on anti-terrorist operations in Aden, the Battalion returned toGravesend and he was promoted to WO2 and given the role of CSM A Company. Therole of the Battalion in Gravesend was as part of the Allied Mobile Force(Land), responsible for protecting the NATO flanks. Inevitably this meantlearning to fight in Arctic conditions, so Ray and his colleagues spent much ofthe following year training in Norway, north of the Arctic Circle. In 1968, hisCompany moved to Canada before returning to the UK to play its part in twomajor NATO exercises, HARDFALL and ARCTIC EXPRESS. He took part in the VestingDay Parade in Gravesend when the SCLI became 1^st Battalion, TheLight Infantry. A month later, the Battalion moved to Ballykinler in NorthernIreland when the Troubles, which would last for 30 years or so, were showingsigns of becoming serious. After returning from an overseas exercise in Kenya,he took up the role of Acting RSM as the Battalion deployed, for the firsttime, in the streets of Belfast.

Ray was promoted to substantive RSM in January 1970and posted to the Rifle Depot in Winchester. He was awarded the Long Serviceand Good Conduct Medal whilst he was in Winchester. In February 1971, he wasposted as RSM to 3LI in Belfast and a month later the Battalion returned to itsbase in Plymouth. This was the start of a close association with thatBattalion. He was the Parade RSM when HM The Queen Mother presented theRegiment with New Colours in Colchester in May 1972 and also at the parade whenthe Army commemorated its ‘Farewell to Plymouth’ on Plymouth Hoe. In November,3LI moved to join 11 Infantry Brigade in Minden, West Germany. Whilst inMinden, the Battalion was visited by HRH Princess Alexandra (Deputy Colonel) inMay 1972 and was, 6 months later, flown once again to Northern Ireland to be deployedin the Old Ardoyne area of Belfast.

On arrival in Northern Ireland, Ray was granted a QMcommission and given command of the Bugle Platoon in C Company. He was destinedto be the Battalion MTO in May 1973, on his return to Minden, and attendedvarious courses in preparation for that appointment. In March 1974, theBattalion deployed yet again to Belfast for a 6 month tour. He served as MTOand 2ic Support Company, based in North Howard Street Mill. At the end of thatyear he was promoted to Captain. In August 1975, he left 3LI and became the 2icof the Junior Soldiers Company at the LI Depot in Shrewsbury.

Two years later, in Silver Jubilee Year (1977), Raywas posted to 3 RGJ, as Tech QM, in Caterham which proved to be yet anotherhectic year in his career. It included a short emergency deployment to Belfast,a major overseas exercise at Fort Wainwright in Canada, numerous parades in theLondon area commemorating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and providing emergencyfire services (during the Fireman’s Strike). The following year, 3RGJ movedfrom Caterham to Londonderry, where he was appointed QM. In September 1979, 3RGJ moved from Londonderry back to Oakington, in East Anglia. Whilst there, theBattalion was deployed on a 6 month tour to Cyprus to take over an operationalrole in support of the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Battaliontook over from 1LI, commanded at that time, by Lt Col Alastair Fyfe. On returnfrom Cyprus, he was promoted to Major and posted to Suffield in Canada to be QMof the Brish Army Training Team in Suffield. He spent over 3 years in Canadaand was awarded the MBE for his services during that time.

Ray Hall’s extraordinary career continued when he wasposted to the Light Division Depot in Winchester. He started as TrainingOfficer and then became the QM at the Depot with the task of closing down andhanding over Peninsula Barracks and then taking over the new purpose-builtbuildings, known as Sir John Moore Barracks on the outskirts of the city. In1987, he was promoted to the rank of Lt Col (QM) – a rank which was only very rarelyachieved by those who had ‘come through the ranks’. In the following year, hespent 6 months at the MOD, being the Project Officer of the Tri-Service Tattooon Horse Guards which made a profit of £84,000 for SSAFA. Having achieved that,he was posted to Netheravon as OC Troops and Administration at the SupportWeapons Wing. Unusually, his career had been extended up to his 58^thbirthday and he remained at Netheravon until September 1992, having been thesenior Quartermaster on the Presentation of Colours Parade by HM The QueenMother at Tidworth in May.

Throughout his younger years, Ray had always been anaccomplished and keen sportsman, especially at rugby. He was in the 1 SCLI teamin Berlin in 1964 which reached the Army Finals, only to be beaten by a verystrong Welsh Guards team. Later, he was a keen supporter of the Taunton TitansRugby Club. His membership of the Club enabled our Regimental Association tohold the annual Jellalabad Lunch at the Club at reduced prices!

For many years, he was Chairman of the Taunton Branchof the Regimental Association and attended the Branch Battlefield Tour inNormandy last summer. He was also Chairman of the Taunton Branch of the RoyalBritish Legion and was regarded, for many years, as ‘the man to speak to andget advice’ by the local Councillors in County Hall and Taunton Deane.

Ray was married to Marion for over 60 years before shedied on 6^th February 2023. They had two children, Jo and Jonathan.

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