Colonel T A Buchanan DSO OBE MC ERD TD
Commanding Officer - The East Surrey Regiment
Commanded the 2nd Bn. The East Surrey Regiment from June 1945 to March 1947 and the 6th Battalion from May 1950 to April 1954.
Thomas Alfred Buchanan, known as 'Buck' was commissioned in the Supplementary Reserve of The East Surrey Regiment in August 1931. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he was called to the 1st Battalion with whom he served until February 1943 in France, UK and North Africa. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in Tunisia and was wounded. In February 1943 he was posted as 2 i/c of 5th Bn The Northamptonshire Regiment took over command in May 1943 and led the Battalion in the Sicilian campaign and was again wounded. In May 1944. After a long spell in hospital he was given command of 1st Bn The Royal Fusiliers and led the Battalion in the crossing of the River Rapido near Cassino and was again wounded.
He was awarded the DSO for his fine leadership of The Royal Fusiliers., In June 1945 he was appointed to command 2nd Bn The East Surrey Regiment with whom he served in UK and in Palestine until March 1947 In 1948 he joined 6th Bn The East Surrey Regiment (TA) which he commanded from May 1950 to April 1954.
He was Honorary Colonel of 6th (Territorial) Bn The Queen's Regiment (Queen's Surreys) from April 1967 to March 1969.
He died on September 5th 1997
For further details of his service see the Journal of The East Surrey Regiment Vol. VI May 1954 No.2 page 80.
For obituary see QRSNL November 1997 page 49
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