Brigadier Roderick Ferguson Semple, MBE, MC (26 January 1922 – 31 July 2003) was a British Army officer who served as Director SAS from 1969 to 1972.
Fergie Semple | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 January 1922 |
| Died | 31 July 2003 (aged 81) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1972 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | Special Air Service 131 Parachute Engineer Regiment 9 Independent Parachute Squadron (RE) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Military career
editEducated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen,[1] Semple was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1942.[2] He served in the Second World War 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]
Semple commanded 9 Independent Parachute Squadron (RE) from 1957 to 1959. 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 of the SAS in 1969 before retiring in 1972.[4]
In retirement, Semple 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
editSemple was married to Olivia; they had no children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "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