Fergie Semple

Fergie Semple
Born	(1922-01-26)26 January 1922
Died	31 July 2003(2003-07-31) (aged 81)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1942–1972
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	Special Air Service 131 Parachute Engineer Regiment 9 Independent Parachute Squadron (RE)
Battles / wars	Second World War
Awards	Member of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross

Brigadier Roderick Ferguson Semple, MBE, MC (26 January 1922 – 31 July 2003) was a British Army officer who served as Director SAS from 1969 to 1972.

Military career

Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen,[1] Semple was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1942.[2] He served in the Second World War with the 6th Airborne Divisional Engineers creating Glider Landing Zones in the Airborne landings in Normandy in June 1944.[3] He received the MC for this.[1]

Semple commanded 9 Independent Parachute Squadron (RE) from 1957 to 1959. He went on to be chief of staff for 16 Parachute Brigade,[1] before becoming commanding officer of 131 Parachute Engineer Regiment.[1] He was appointed Director of the SAS in 1969 before retiring in 1972.[4]

In retirement, Semple became Director-General of Administration in the Omani Department of Defence and a member of the Sultan's National Defence Council.[1] The Airborne Engineers Association still holds an annual Fergie Semple Golf Competition in his honour.[5]

Family

Semple was married to Olivia; they had no children.[1]

References

1. "Obituary: Brigadier R F Semple". The Times. 27 August 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
2. "No. 35627". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 July 1942. p. 3035.
3. Lowman, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank. "The 6th Airborne Divisional Engineers on D Day 1944". Pegasus archive. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
4. "Army Commands" (PDF). 26 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
5. Airborne Engineers Association

Military offices
Preceded by Mike Wingate Gray	Director SAS 1969–1972	Succeeded by John Simpson