(1919-1995) and (1924-1975)
Hugh and Jean’s lives were shaped by the army. Hugh joined the British Territorial Army at the outset of the Second World War and saw a great deal of action in Europe, East Africa, North Africa and the Middle East. After the war he became a serving officer in the regular army. This involved frequent moves from country to country with his wife, Jean, and children in tow. He was a gifted all-round sportsman and an outstanding golfer, winning many tournaments and trophies.
Second World War
Hugh left Marlborough College in 1937 aged 17. He joined Cadburys as a management trainee, but abandoned that when war broke out. After signing up with the Territorial Army, he was posted to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was then sent to East Africa, arriving in Kenya in 1941. He fought against the Italians in Ethiopia and in the vicious campaign in Madagascar. Spells in Kenya, Somaliland, Rhodesia, Egypt, Libya, Palestine and Transjordan followed, until the end of the war in 1945.
A peripatetic life
Hugh decided to stay in the army after the war as a regular officer. About the same time he met Jean in Lymington, where their mothers, Hilda Cotterill-Davies and Frances Nairne, both lived. They became engaged and were married in 1947. Their first overseas posting was to Hamburg in north west Germany, where my sister and I were born. Multiple moves followed – to Glasgow, Camberley, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany again, Yeovil, Malta, Westbury, Bordon and Liss. A trained primary school teacher, Jean found teaching posts in most of these places. Hugh was able to devote time at the weekends to his sporting passions, especially golf, while Jean enjoyed socialising and playing tennis.
Golf
Hugh played golf off a scratch handicap. He was a member of the British Army golf team, the Singapore national team, the Hong Kong team and many others. One of his greatest golfing triumphs came in 1949 when he won the Dutch Open golf championship. He went on to become Army golf champion, British Army of the Rhine champion, British Zone of Germany champion, Malta champion, and many others.
For more information on this story see: Angela Coulter, A Stream of Lives, Matador Press 2021, available from Troubador Bookshop