A HERO DEPARTED

How does one say a befitting farewell to a human being who achieved true legendary status? How does a fellow human find the right words without falling back on cliché and fable? Well, I’ll tell you, it’s tough and in most circumstances it’s nigh impossible but this is my version of a gentleman, a decorated military veteran, a friend, a farmer, a husband and my Father.

- Richard Browne

Dad recently slipped from us, a tight family from humble beginnings on farms in Rhodesia. We shared him with the military for some twenty odd years where he acceded to the rank of Lt Colonel and was renowned for his leadership and battle-hardened grit and aggression. He was the last Officer Commanding of 4RR and finished with various awards all before his 40th birthday – making him a unique type indeed.

He was also very well known for his sense of humour which caused some consternation at times because he was of the generation that truly said what they felt, more often than not they were correct. He had a tremendous love and passion for his troops from whom the myriad tales regaled, would happily have entered the gates of hell with him to get a job done.