Lest we forget: RAE, Peter – Royal Scots

Surname: Rae
First Name: Peter
Nickname: Stingray
Awards:
Number:
Junior Service Location: Oswestry
Junior Service Date:
Junior Company: A
Junior Rank: J/RSM
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Permenant Staff Coy:
Permanent Staff Rank:
Regiment: Royal Scots
Regular Service Date:
Retirement Rank:
Age: 61
Date of Death: 2008 March 7
Gravesite:
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From Bill McHugh – Most wonderful word of command I ever heard

From Pete Short – Bill I agree and even at 17 as J/RSM he had a magnificent sense of right and wrong and was always ready to help the younger guys who were struggling.

From Bill McGrath – He was an excellent J/RSM and reached the rank of WO2 in the regiment. I for one have fond memories.

From Graham Fowler – I am shocked and saddened by Pete’s death he was an inspiration as J/RSM. We then met up again at RMAS where he was my neighbour as well as sharing a Cadet Platoon. He was an outstanding instructor and mentor to the cadets. When I joined the BAAT in Nigeria, Pete went out of his way to help me and my family settle with much kindness and thought they say only the good die young I only hope he wasn’t in any pain. I met his son last year when I visited 1 Scots Guards in Munster he is the officers mess C/Sgt and we chatted well into the small hours one night with a dram or two.

From Ray Ironmonger – Young Rae was an “A” Coy graduate I arrived In Oswestry at the time he was J/RSM and preparing for the Drill & Turnout prior to Passing-Out Parade. I was highly impressed at the bearing and turnout of this young fellow thinking to myself how glad that I have been posted to this Bn there’s a visual end product to this training.

From Jim Murdoch – I mourn the passing of a good friend a good Junior Leader, a good soldier, a good Royal and a good man. Pete (he didn’t receive the sobriquet ‘Sting’ until he left Oswestry) never knowingly did anyone a bad turn though a slightly ‘rough diamond’ (where would we be without such soldiers? Short of more than a few heroes I warrant) he was a kind and considerate man always ready with a smile and the offer of help. As others have written he was a superb soldier and instructor I had the distinct pleasure of serving with him at the Lowland Brigade Depot and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he enhanced his already outstanding reputation. Sting liked his dram and poured scorn on danger as those who climbed with him at Oswestry will attest. Those who witnessed his bout at the IJLB Inter Company Boxing will never forget his courage grit aggression and determination as he bloodily prevailed over a much more accomplished boxer. In essence he was an outstanding professional Scottish soldier and leader – the type the ‘powers that be’ hoped to produce when they instituted what became the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion – in Pete they found their ideal.