Lt Col Richard Van der Horst

[El Prez]

The commanding officer of the Special Boat Service has died in a Norwegian hospital after a diving accident during a major amphibious assault exercise off Narvik.

Lt-Col Richard van der Horst was exiting a swimmer delivery vehicle - a mini-submarine allowing SBS commandos to infiltrate enemy territory undetected - but details of what went wrong in the accident last week were unclear and were expected to be subject to an investigation, said defence sources.

His wife was at his bedside when he died on Monday. Lt-Col van der Horst, in his early forties, was awarded an MBE for his work in British Special Forces in Iraq.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... xhome.html

[Dogwatch]

Is he the son of Rupert Van Der Horst, Former RM Officer.
My condolences to his family.
RIP

[Rover]

Yes.

He is the son of Rupert Van Der Horst, a former SBS RM Officer.

Never forgotten.

Rover

[Mike]

Aye... A sad end to one gent who appears to have been a brave soul and a Bootie.... RIP
Aye
Mike

[Artist]

R.I.P.

Artist

[done-my-9]

R.I.P.

[Sticky Blue]

I've spoken to a few who served with the Lt Col and knew him... the man was highly respected officer by his peers and subordinates. Lt Col at 35... he was destined for the top.

Tot raising drill carried out in his memory

[sneaky beaky]

This post fills me with grief. I knew Richard as a five year old. Me and my wife used to baby sit for Rupert, his dad. Rupert and I were as close as you could get to the "Officer and NCO friendship" as was possible. Rover probably feels the same.
I really feel for Rupert the father. He was so proud of his son following him as OCSB. (The first in SBS history.) We were very happy for him.
Now - we can only share his sorrow.
A sad day.
Sneaky

[harry hackedoff]

Eternal Father strong to save
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave
Who bid the mighty ocean deep
It’s own appointed limits keep
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea

Sincere condolences to Lt Col van der Horst`s family, and to you, Sneaks.

Tot taken, aye,

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them,
We will remember them.

[sneaky beaky]

Thanks Harry,
Sneaky

[Wholley]

Raised one for Him Sneaks.
Paul.

[sneaky beaky]

I've just got back from the funeral.
What a fantastic send off! I have never been to a funeral like it.
This boy (and as I knew him first as a boy of three, he will always be a boy to me), was a very well loved and respected character. He will be very sadly missed.

We all turned up at RM Poole at 0855 hrs.

At 0915 hrs. a convoy of 7 * 55 seater coaches, left Poole for Milton Abbey, complete with police escort and motor cycle outriders. We were ushered - through red lights etc. all the way to Milton Abbey.
Obviously, someone had thought of the security implications because the police presence was huge.

It soon became obvious to us all, how much this man was loved. There was CGRM's; MGRM's and all the other RM's in between. Right down to the lowest Royal marine in the SBS.
There were also very high ranking officers from all the three services. I think half the SAS were there. There were at least four different nationalities. Officers and SNCO's.
In all, I reckon there were 800 people in Milton Abbey. Very impressive.
The service was beautiful, with Richards wife and eldest child taking part. His sisters son, said a special prayer. He was about eight. Richards eldest child is about six. They were absolutely brilliant.
Royal Marine musicians played specific pieces and a bugler played the Last Post followed by Reveille.

Outside after the service, there was a fly past by a Special Forces Flight Hercules, preceded by two helicopters. one a Lynx followed by a Chinook. All aircraft used extensively used by the SBS.

You don't get this sort of thing, for someone who is not thought highly of.
From talking to some of the big wigs at the funeral, Richard was destined for great things. He would at least have been, Director Special Forces.
One brigadier who I was talking to, was currently a Brigadier of, I think, the Para Assault Brigade and was a past OC SAS. He tried to get Richard as a Squadron Commander with the SAS. Luckily the RM's wouldn't let him go!!!

My heart goes out to his dad Rupert and his wife Angela, both of whom I know very well.

The wake afterwards was absolutely brilliant. High ranking officers mixing with the lower ranks.

How things have changed.

I'm sorry if this post has rambled on for a bit but I can't help feeling very sad at the loss of a very good officer and I can't help feeling very sorry for his parents.

This was a very sad day - but in his send off - it did the Corps proud.

Sneaky

[El Prez]

I'm sorry if this post has rambled on for a bit

I wish you would have continued. He was obviously one of those "Bosses". A brilliant leader and well respected by all ranks.
As much of a loss for you SB as his family; which you seem to have been a part of.

[harry hackedoff]

Well said Rob,
Excellant post, Sneaks. Vivid picture indeed, and the wake sounded like as fitting a tribute as was deserved.
A tragic loss.

[Artist]

Great post SB.

Why be sorry about telling it as it is? He was obviously bound for great things. A sad day for the Corp losing such a charasmatic bloke.

Artist