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In 1957 he was
granted a regular commission and, after promotion to captain in
1960, he was posted to the Household Cavalry Regiment as adjutant.
After a spell at the War Office, in 1966 Eyre commanded a Blues
squadron attached to the Life Guards in Malaya. He enjoyed a game
of croquet, and was not the sort of man to refuse a sporting wager.
On one occasion, playing a game in Singapore in which the stakes
started at half a crown (12'/zp) a hoop and doubled with every successive
hoop, James lost £64 on the final hoop to his opponent.
This opponent, dismayed at taking such a large sum off a friend,
but confident that there was not a restaurant on the island whose
prices would make a big dent in his winnings, said to Eyre, "Dinner
is on me, Jim. You order the best one that money can buy."
Eyre planned the dinner like a military exercise. Caviar was flown
in from one country; the best claret from another; and, when the
reckoning was made, Eyre's friend discovered to his chagrin that
he was out of pocket.
After attending the Joint Services Staff College in 1968, Eyre rejoined
the Royal Horse Guards as second-in-command. The following year,
the Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Dragoons were amalgamated to
form the Blues and Royals, and Eyre assumed command of the regiment
in 1970. After a posting as GSOl to HO London District, in 1975
he took command of the Household Cavalry Regiment and was appointed
Silver Stick. |
Gold Stick and Silver Stick are court appointments dating from Tudor
times when two officers were placed close to the Sovereign's person toguard
him or her from danger. The office of Silver Stick in Waiting is held
automatically by the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the Household Cavalry.
James was far from being a natural horseman, but he was a courageous one,
and would entrust himself to the friskiest of animals despite jolting
reminders that his considerable frame might only marginally alter the
odds in his favour.
In 1977, during the strike of the Fire Brigade Union, Eyre organised
the deployment of Army firemen and Green Goddess fire engines from a temporary
HQ in a tunnel under Kingsway. One night, when the Thames rose to within
a few inches of the top of the Embankment, he had to make rapid contingency
plans for
dealing with widespread flooding. In 1982, after two years as Secretary
to the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Eyre remained at the Ministry of Defence
as Director of Defence Programmes Staff (Concepts). He took up his final
appointment in 1983 as GOC London District and Major General Commanding
Household Division.
After retiring from the Army in 1986, Eyre was a director of Westminster
Associates International, a firm of headhunters, for several years. A
devout Roman Catholic, he was chairman of the Brampton Trust, and gave
unsparingly of his time to this Catholic charity, which is closely connected
to St John and St Elizabeth Hospital, St John's Wood, north London.
James finally retired to a village in Berkshire. He was a good bridge
player, a keen shot and a passionate devotee of horseracing - he owned
some useful horses as a younger man, and for many years was a much respected
and hard-working Steward at Ascot, Windsor and Newbury. He was appointed
KCVO in 1986,
and CBE in 1980.
He married Monica Smyth, in 1967,who survives him together with a son
and a daughter.
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