Captain Matthew R Selfridge

Matthew Rodgers Selfridge from Edinburgh, was educated at Welbeck College and commissioned into The Parachute Regiment in November 1978.

He was posted to Osnabruck, Germany as Officer in Command of 6 Platoon (Pln), B Company (Coy), 3 PARA.

Returning to England in 1980, he was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1980.

He saw active service in Northern Ireland on Operations Banner.

When the battalion returned to Tidworth, Captain Selfridge took over command of Patrols Pln, Support Coy, 3 PARA in May 1981.

Capt Selfridge gained his Canadian Wings in August 1981 while on Exercise Jump Bivouac with 3 PARA in Canada.

Capt Selfridge went on Operation Corporate with 3 PARA and was recommended for a Military Cross by Lt Col Hugh Pike for his actions between 21 Mat- 15 June 1982. He received a Mentioned in Despatches (the citation for which can be viewed opposite).

10 days after returning from the Falkland’s Campaign, 23 year old Capt Selfridge was killed during a parachuting accident at RAF Weston on the Green on 17 July 1982.

After cremation he ashes were interred at Morton Hall Crematorium, at Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.

Pegasus Journal October 1982.

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN M. R. SELFRIDGE - 3 PARA

It was with great sadness that the Battalion learned of the death of Captain Matt Selfridge in a parachuting accident at Weston-on-the-Green on the 17 July, just 10 days after his return from the Falklands.

Matt came from an Army family, was educated at Welbeck College and commissioned into the Regiment in March 1978 [joined Sandhurst in March 1978, joined the Regt in November]. He joined B Company 3 PARA in Germany and commanded 6 Platoon in Osnabruck, Tidworth and Northern Ireland until March 1981. He was then given command of the Patrol Platoon, attended the Military Free Fall Course at Brize Norton and had a very successful year which saw the platoon in Canada and The Oman.

With the reforming of the Patrol Company, Matt became its Operations Officer, a post in which he proved outstanding during the Falklands operations in the wide variety of tasks given to him. He was always to the fore, either in command of his own patrol or commanding a number of patrols well forward of the Battalion's leading Companies.

Matt was a person who enjoyed life to the full - he was enthusiastic, energetic, sensitive, warm-hearted and brave. He was full of guts, whether on the rugby field, in the boxing ring or as a sport parachutist. Intelligent, engaging and a very popular figure, he loved his soldiering and will be greatly missed by his, many friends. To his family, we extend our deepest sympathy.

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