Hugh Colley died in Lymington on 19 September 2024 having been in very poor health for some time. Despite these difficulties Hugh remained a stalwart supporter of SAF events and attended whenever he could.
In his early days Hugh served in Aden seeing action with The Parachute Regiment in the Radfan when he was moved there from Bahrain with his troop of 105mm Light Guns.
Later, after serving as Adjutant of 27 Medium Regiment RA in Germany in what was in those days The British Army of The Rhine (BAOR), Hugh was ‘asked to volunteer’ for Loan Service in Oman. After learning Urdu in London, and given various appropriate briefings, Hugh took over the Artillery Battery of The Sultan’s Armed Forces on I Jan 1971.
On arrival, Hugh discovered that the Battery comprised six 25 pounders and a couple of 5.5” guns - all being divided between Dhofar on operations and the training base at Bayt al Falaj! Virtually everything was in short supply, especially trained manpower. It was supposed that Hugh would command the Artillery from the North, but he found that this was incompatible with playing an active part in operations in Dhofar where his two Troops of guns were in action for real. Inevitably, and displaying from the outset the judgement and initiative that would hallmark his time with SAF, Hugh and his HQ moved South and there he stayed unless urgent business demanded his presence in the North.
After a busy, challenging and distinguished tour in command which saw the gradual ascendency of SAF over the insurgents in Dhofar, Hugh left Oman in Jan 1973 leaving his unit now titled 1st Regiment Oman Artillery. And a Regiment it certainly was - organised into two operational Batteries - with a third forming - and equipped according to task with 25 pounders, 5.5” guns, 75mm mountain guns and 4.2” mortars.
There was a separate Training Troop and a reasonable flow of suitable Loan Service RA officers. Hugh was also instrumental in arranging the deployment of detachments of RA non-Loan Service personnel to assist in the defence of RAF Salalah, known as Cracker Battery. Additionally, Hugh was keenly alert to talent spotting Omanis as suitable officer material, and after further training the process of Omanisation gathered momentum. His Regiment was trusted and experienced, operating in Dhofar in close support of the Infantry Regiments and in conjunction with the Sultan’s Air Force.
During his time in command Hugh showed all the traits of an experienced Para Gunner Officer - leadership, bravery, determination and an uncanny ability to think ahead and take the long view utilising all useful contacts to help things along. He visited Jordan and India on the quest for equipment and training assistance and once, while briefly visiting Bahrain, he bought for £100 a surplus jungle-spec 25 pounder which had been used in ceremonial roles for military funerals - chrome plated parts an’ all! The gun was flown to Oman and, after being checked for safety and test fired, came into action at Sarfait on the PDRY border. Not surprisingly it was known as “The Colley Gun”.
On leaving Oman, and being awarded the MBE in recognition of his achievements there, Hugh served in 7 RHA as a Battery Commander before completing a Staff Tour in HQRA 3 Division. Later, in 1977, he attended the NDC before being selected as CO of 4 Field Regiment RA in the parachute role in Aldershot - much to the chagrin of 7 RHA who were lingering in Germany! After two years in command he was appointed OBE in 1980 and posted as a DS at the Staff College – a considerable achievement as he had not attended there as a student. After nearly two years at Camberley, Hugh was promoted to Colonel and became Deputy Commander of 1 Infantry Brigade before retiring from the Army in December 1986.
Hugh’s wife, Kathryn, predeceased him and we offer our deepest sympathy to Rachel, Hugh’s daughter, and her family.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday 16th October at 12.00pm at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, SO 41 5PG, (click for map), just north of Lymington. The service is open to all, but Rachel has indicated that the burial immediately afterwards will be private.
Thereafter there will be refreshments at Boldre War Memorial Hall SO41 5QG in nearby Pilley village.
Notification of attendance: Would SAF Association members planning to attend please notify numbers in their group by email to saf.business@dudwell.co.uk by Thursday 10th October so that we may advise the family on numbers for catering.
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