Captain Reginald R Temple

Reginald Robert Temple was born in Kensington, London on the 12th February 1922. The son of Lieutenant-General. R.C. Temple, CB, OBE, RM, and Z.E. Temple (née Hunt). He was educated at Wellington College and Peterhouse, Cambridge.

He was granted an emergency commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on the 12th October 1941. He was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on the 1st October 1942 and Temporary Captain on the 24th December 1943.

By September 1944 he was serving in the 4th Parachute Brigade Headquarters as the General Staff Officer Grade 3 (GSO III, Air) and as such took part in the Battle of Arnhem.

Capt Temple was put forward for the Military Cross, but instead was awarded the U.S. Silver Star on the 14th November 1947.

On the morning of 20 Sep 44, at ARNHEM, this officer was severely wounded in the right arm, the bone being smashed. After treatment, he refused to be evacuated, and  remained at duty, not only carrying out his duties of GS Q III, but attacking the enemy wherever he could. At one time, when at Brigade Headquarters he stood up in full view of the enemy, firing his revolver with his left hand, and it was largely due to his personal efforts and to the effect which his behaviour had on the men around him, that the whole of Brigade HQ was not wiped out.

Until the evacuation he remained a source of inspiration to the men, taking no notice of mortar or M.M.G. fire, continually encouraging others and remaining cheerful and calm in spite of pain and fatigue.

He managed to withdraw back across the Rhine on the night of 25th/26th September and then back to Nijmegen.

Later in life he became a member of the Arnhem 1944 Veterans Club.

Capt Temple had a short career as a stock broker before entering H M Foreign Service, a role that took him around the globe. From 1979-1985 he worked as Sultanate of Oman Government Service, for which he was awarded the Order of Oman, 3rd Class in 1985.

Twice married, he had three children and two step children.

Captain Temple died in 2009.