Colonel Bob Begbie RIP

Kyt · Aug 19, 2008

Colonel Bob Begbie - Telegraph

Colonel Bob Begbie, who has died aged 88, was a founder member of the Army Air Corps (AAC).

Following the outbreak of the Korean war in 1950, Begbie went to the theatre in command of a troop of self-propelled Bofors guns. In the absence of worthwhile airborne targets these were deployed in forward areas in a heavy machine-gun role.

During the massive Chinese attack over the Imjin river in April 1951, both field and light anti-aircraft gunners were firing over open sights as the enemy advanced over the hills on three sides of them. The mountainous terrain with deep, tree-covered valleys was a ground observation post officer's nightmare, and in the early stages of the war, there were no air op or reconnaissance planes.

The failure to detect the huge enemy build-up worried Begbie and, after some persuasive advocacy, he managed to get himself attached to the US 3rd Light Aviation Section, with the primary task of providing air op support to the British forces.

There followed a year of clandestine, deep-penetration sorties behind enemy lines, seeking and marking targets, often wrestling with difficult aircraft on short muddy airstrips with deep monsoon ditches on either side. Begbie's efforts were recognised by the award of the US Air Medal.

On his return to England, Begbie was posted to Middle Wallop, Hampshire, and appointed OC 1906 Helicopter Flight. He became the first Central Flying School qualified helicopter instructor in the Army and introduced helicopters to the Service.

In 1957 the AAC, an amalgamation of the remaining elements of the Air Observation Squadrons and the Glider Pilot Regiment, was formed and Begbie played a leading role in the organisation and operation of the new unit.

Robert Martin Begbie was born in Edinburgh on May 11 1920 and educated at local schools.

In 1936 he enlisted in the TA in the Edinburgh Field Artillery Regiment (EFRA) and accompanied it to France as part of the BEF. After the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940, EFRA joined the Eighth Army in the Western Desert, and Begbie fought at the battle of El Alamein. The succession of artillery barrages left many of his comrades permanently deaf with "Gunner-ear".

One day, near Tunis, an Auster flew over and landed close to the gun position. Out stepped the pilot, an Artillery officer from an air op squadron, wearing a rather natty sheepskin flying jacket and looking quite untouched by the heat, dust and discomfort of life in the desert. Begbie had no idea that such an organisation existed, but from that moment he was determined to be part of it.

Transferred to the Leicestershire Yeomanry, an ex-cavalry regiment, Begbie had to fight his way up the length of Italy before he was sent on an air op course in England and could realise his ambition. Now a regular officer, he was posted to 654 Air Op Squadron in Italy before joining 651 Squadron on counter-insurgency operations in Palestine.

It was in Venice that Begbie met Ann Marsh, a sister in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Corps who was to become his wife in 1947.

He was sitting in the dentist's chair with a mouthful of primitive drilling equipment when the dental officer, a friend of hers, asked him if he flew aeroplanes. "Uh-huh," was the muffled reply. "Good," said the officer with an extra twist of the drill. "I have a sister who would like a trip. You will fly her, won't you?" Begbie, recognising that he was somewhat at a disadvantage, replied: "Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh." So began a happy relationship that lasted more than 60 years.

Shortly after the two met, Ann discovered Begbie's Jeep upside-down in a canal outside the nurses' mess – one of his less accomplished landings. Unconscious and almost drowned, he was pumped out by a local man who was passing by. She kept him alive for an hour in a small boat until they could rendezvous with an ambulance.

Service with a Spitfire squadron in Cyprus and the Canal Zone preceded his tour in Korea.

He was subsequently posted to BAOR, where he raised 654 Squadron and introduced the use of helicopters. After attending RAF Staff College, he was appointed Commander AAC Far East Land Forces and CO of 656 Squadron, with the task of introducing Scout and Sioux helicopters to the theatre. The Azahari-led rebellion in Brunei and the Confrontation with Indonesia found the squadron deployed across Borneo, Sarawak and Malaya.

In 1965 Begbie returned to England on his appointment as GSO1 (Army Aviation). Promotion to colonel followed his appointment as Commandant of the School of Army Aviation, Middle Wallop. After a posting as defence attaché to the British embassy in Jedda, he moved to the British high commission in Kenya as defence adviser.

Begbie retired from active duty in 1975 but took up a position in Defence Intelligence at the MoD. After successfully applying for the post of RO2 Intelligence at HQ DAAC, he finally retired in 1985. Having settled at Andover, he remained an indefatigable champion of Army flying and the AAC.

Bob Begbie died on June 16. His wife survives him with their son and daughter.
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Antipodean Andy · Aug 19, 2008

Ann discovered Begbie's Jeep upside-down in a canal outside the nurses' mess – one of his less accomplished landings.
Click to expand...

Surely that must be one of the colonel's comments?! Given his obvious character, it sounds like something he would say...never mind he almost killed himself.

An amazing career. RIP.

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Colonel Bob Begbie RIP

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