Fergie Semple
Brigadier Roderick Ferguson Semple MBE MC (26 January 1922 – 31 July 2003) was a British Army officer who became Director SAS.
Fergie Semple | |
---|---|
Born | 26 January 1922 |
Died | 31 July 2003 81) | (aged
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1942–1972 |
Rank | Brigadier |
Commands held | Special Air Service |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Military career
Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen University,[1] Semple was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1942.[2] He served in World War II with the 6th Airborne Divisional Engineers creating Glider Landing Zones in the Airborne landings in Normandy in June 1944.[3] He received the MC for this.[1]
He went on to be Chief of Staff for 16 Parachute Brigade[1] before becoming Commanding Officer of 131 Parachute Engineer Regiment.[1] He was appointed Director SAS in 1969 before retiring in 1972.[4]
In retirement he became Director-General of Administration in the Omani Department of Defence and a member of the Sultan's National Defence Council.[1] The Airborne Engineers Association still holds an annual Fergie Semple Golf Competition in his honour.[5]
Family
He was married to Olivia; there were no children.[1]
References
- "Obituary: Brigadier R F Semple". The Times. 27 August 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- "No. 35627". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 July 1942. p. 3035.
- Lowman, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank. "The 6th Airborne Divisional Engineers on D Day 1944". Pegasus archive. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- "Army Commands" (PDF). 26 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
- Airborne Engineers Association