Major Jack Riordan

He was one of five brothers, their father and grandfather both holders of the MBE, and served in the Green Howards which had seen a succession of Riordan family members beginning in the early 19th century.

He was born in Aldershot and three of his brothers – George, Tommy and Brian – also joined the Army, serving in the Royal Tank Regiment, RE and REME respectively. A fourth, Mick, went into the RAF.

Jack Riordan grew up in Northallerton where his father was serving at the TA Drill Hall. When he was 15, he joined as a boy Bandsman – his first musical adventure being in a victory parade in Paris.

Army musicians were often stretcher bearers, and it was as such that he saw Belsen, his experience of that Nazi concentration camp leaving him shocked to silence on the subject until near the end of his life.

Of an age to enter adult service, Jack was sent to the Signals Platoon.

His early postings ranged from India, where his slim, bespectacled figure earned him the nickname "Gandhi", to Sudan, Egypt, Cyprus, Malaya and Aden.

On a desert exercise in Benghazi when he was Company Sergeant Major of 'C' Company, his attempts to "capture" a Ferret armoured car ended when he was pushed off the turret and broke his ankle. The incident bequeathed him the second of his three nicknames, "Ferret Foot".

As a senior signals instructor at the Signals Wing in Hythe, Jack was mostly responsible for the Army's adoption of the '58 pattern webbing system for use by mechanised infantry, and it was at Hythe that he met his future wife, Judy.

Jack's progress continued as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant of the 1st Battalion, then to Regimental Sergeant Major of the Depot at Strensall. Commissioned as Motor Transport Officer of the 1st Battalion, the Green Howards, in Minden, Lieutenant Riordan became so passionate about the track-laying armoured vehicles that he earned his third nickname, "Jack the Track".

Not confined to administration, Jack commanded a rifle platoon, and the Assault Pioneers in Canada during which his outfit won the inter platoon competition.

He was awarded the MBE for his outstanding welfare work as Families Officer during successive operational tours in Northern Ireland .

Appointed the Army Careers Officer in Middlesbrough, Jack played a major part in maintaining both the Army's and the Green Howard's strength to a level that kept them free from the attentions of the MoD's "re-structurers".

Whilst there he enlisted the future Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes.

Eventually retiring to the village of Brompton, near Northallerton, he and Judy immersed themselves in charity work, especially Victim Support, the War Pensions Panel and Sion Mill Hall.

Among the many things Jack Riordan will remembered for is his generous spirit; it is confidently said that he never had an ignoble thought about anyone.