AFTER distinguished military service – both in time of war and peace – Lieutenant- Colonel David Lochhead, OBE, MC, was a most imaginative and resourceful general secretary of the British Red Cross Society in Scotland. As during his time in the army,
he deployed initiative and drive to encourage everyone in the Red Cross to increase its services and revenue. Lochhead was a keen golfer all his life and, apart from being captain of Prestwick Golf Club, he arranged many friendly competitions on the course that have since become annual family and social events.
David Alexander Wallace Lochhead was the eldest of three children, whose father was an executive with the Imperial Bank of India. He first attended Larchfield School in Helensburgh before going to Ayr Academy. At first, Lochhead followed his father's footsteps into the bank in the City of London but in 1939 he enlisted with the London Scottish Territorial Division and a year later was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders. After training in Caithness, he joined the 7th Battalion and moved south to prepare for D-Day. The battalion, which formed part of the 15th (Scottish) Division, landed on Sword Beach and was heavily involved in close combat during the Normandy offensive. As Allied troops then advanced into the Netherlands, Lochhead's rifle company was involved in some ferocious fighting at the town of Best near Eindhoven. Lochhead displayed exemplary courage and leadership for which he was awarded the Military Cross.
Twice during the war, Lochhead had been severely wounded but he returned to his duties as soon as possible. As hostilities ceased – Lochhead had the distinction of accepting the surrender of the German naval base of Kiel – he was given a regular commission and remained in the army. He was first posted to Hamburg and acted as a military observer at the Nuremberg trials.
In peacetime, Lochhead held various staff posts but also saw active service again, notably during the Malayan emergency in 1948 with the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. His regimental posts included further service as a company commander. Posts at the War Office in London and in the USA then followed before Lochhead was appointed second-in-command with the Queen's Own Highlanders which had been created by the amalgamation of the Seaforths and the Camerons. In 1962, the battalion, while based in Singapore, took part in operations in Brunei and Borneo. In 1963, he retired from the army.
Lochhead then joined the British Red Cross Society and was later appointed general secretary (Scotland). He became a familiar figure with personnel and volunteers in Red Cross branches across the country and led the organisation from its headquarters in Bath Street, Glasgow. He also made annual radio broadcasts during appeals week.
In his youth, Lochhead had been an excellent sportsman, playing cricket, rugby and hockey. But it was golf for which he had a life-long passion. He had played in the British Boys Golf Championships while still at school and lost out to the Irishman Joe Carr who became a stalwart of the Walker Cup team in the post-war years. In 1964, the Lochhead family moved to a house in Troon – conveniently and temptingly –alongside the 16th fairway of the Lochgreen course.
But it was at Prestwick Golf Club where Lochhead made his mark. He joined the club in 1948 and served as its captain in 1982. He won the club's Victoria Vase in 1954 but was also remembered for starting two popular meetings. The Highland Brigade match against the club brought together two branches of Lochhead's oldest friends and was always a delightful occasion. At Easter time, he instigated a fathers and sons competition which has been much enjoyed by successive generations of the club's members.
Lochhead was a man who maintained standards. He remained diligent and firm of purpose but always charming, courteous and kindly, much enjoying good company and recalling past adventures. He was much respected throughout the army for his forthright honesty and, in retirement, fondly remembered at the Red Cross which presented him with its medal in 1983. He was awarded an OBE in 1985 and was a Member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Body Guard for ceremonial duties in Scotland.
In 1957, Lochhead married Cecilia Gaggero, whom he had met while on duty in Gibraltar. She and their three sons survive him.
