IRELAND-OBITS-L Archives

Archiver > IRELAND-OBITS > 2005-07 > 1121083322


From: "Peter_McCrae" <>
Subject: LYTLE; Simon William St.John-17/10/2004-UK
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 13:02:02 +0100


Maj-Gen Simon Lytle
(Filed: 11/11/2004)
The Daily Telegraph & the telegraph.co.uk

Major-General Simon Lytle, who died on October 17 aged 64, was a Royal Irish
Fusilier and became the first "home-grown" Director of the Army Air Corps;
he had been attracted to helicopter-flying following his command of the
Faughs' Air Platoon on operations in Borneo.



In 1969, when his original regiment was subsumed into the Royal Irish
Rangers, Lytle transferred to the Army Air Corps. Twenty-five years later,
as its head, he commanded a parade to mark the Corps' Guidon Presentation
(presentation of colours) by the Prince of Wales, their Colonel-in-Chief.
For this occasion, Lytle masterminded a spectacular event which included the
first public appearance of the Army Air Corps Band, which landed by Chinook,
playing as they marched down the helicopter's ramp to head the parade. He
also persuaded Pol Roger to provide the Champagne.

Simon William St John Lytle was born at Weybridge on October 1 1940. His
father had been Regimental Medical Officer of the Royal Irish Fusiliers; his
grandfather was Admiral Sir Dennis Boyd, who instilled in him a love of
sailing. At Sherborne his housemaster was Hughie Holmes, who inspired in
Simon the enthusiasm and self-reliance which became features of his future
career.

After attending RMA Sandhurst, Lytle was commissioned in the Royal Irish
Fusiliers in 1960, transferring nine years later to the Army Air Corps. From
1980 to 1983 he commanded 1 Regiment AAC. In 1986 he was promoted to
brigadier and appointed Commander Aviation BAOR. He then attended the Royal
College of Defence Studies in 1989, and the following year became Director
of Army Recruiting. He assumed his final post, Director of Army Aviation in
1992, in the rank of major-general, and retired in 1995.

As a talented and competitive sportsman, Lytle was a natural choice to
become Director of the Army Sports Control Board when his regular service
came to an end. He revitalised the management of Army sport, and no one
could be in any doubt as to Lytle's stand on an issue. He could be tough and
uncompromising (one of his subordinates recalls him as "the master of the
imperial rocket"); but none doubted his commitment and loyalty. He was
devoted to his family, a warm friend, and he was particularly good with
young people. He derived great satisfaction from chairing the governing body
of his local preparatory school, Farleigh, in Hampshire.

Simon Lytle was appointed CB in 1995, and was a Deputy Lieutenant for
Hampshire.

In 1966 he married Pamela O'Ferrall, who survives him with their three sons.














© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005.


This thread: