Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Major

Army Number : 490953

Unit : 4th R Anglian, Tiger Coy

Biography :

Tony James entered the Army in 1953 at the Junior Infantry Battalion at Tuxford and joined The Buffs in 1955. In 1 Buffs he served in Wuppertal, Dover, Aden and Dortmund, becoming Mortar Platoon Sergeant 3 years after leaving boys' service. He was Recce Platoon Sergeant in 1 Queen's Own Buffs before being posted as a CSgt Instructor at RMA Sandhurst in 1963. Rejoined 2 Queens in Hong Kong in 1966 as CSM B Coy and served in that Bn in Lingfield and Belfast. He joined 4th R Anglian in 1969 as RQMS in Gillingham and Bahrain. Commissioned on a SSC in 1970 he was Admin Officer of Tiger Company at Aldershot and Gibraltar 1972-3 and Assistant Adjutant at Junior Infantrymen's Wing at Canterbury in 1972-73. Promoted Captain in 1973, he served as 2IC C Coy in 1st R Anglian at Tidworth and Lurgan 1973-77, and led a KAPE tour in 1976. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1975.
In 1978 he served in a Bde HQ & Sig Sqn in Germany before being QM 3rd R Anglian in Belfast as a Major. Postings at HQ Northern Ireland and with 5 UDR followed, before 3 years as Local Lt Col with Exercise Trumpet Dance in Canada and the USA. He was next a member of the BMATT in Zimbabwe, and finally 1987-91 he was Garrison QM at Sennelager, retiring on 19.10.1991. Then he was RO2 in Paderborn and an RO at Warcop Training Centre in Cumbria, until leaving the military in 1997, after 44 years in the service of the Crown. Settling in Appleby he did much charitable work in the community and was Mayor for a year.

Date of Birth : 1937

Date of Death : 20.5.2004

Place of Death : Appleby, Cumbria

Period of Service : 1953-97

Conflicts : Northern Ireland

Places Served : England, Germany, Aden, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Bahrain, Gibraltar, Canada, USA, Zimbabwe