Kevin William Latchford AO (1927 - 2013)

Born 21 Jan 1927 in New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Marlene (Kelly) Latchford — married 1954 in Victoria, Australia

Died 24 Feb 2013 at age 86 in New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Kevin Latchford AO is Notable.

Major General Kevin William Latchford AO was born on 21st January 1927 in New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Ernest Latchford MC, a career army officer, and his wife, Linda Dehnert.

Military career

Kevin Latchford AO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1945-1984, attaining the rank of Major General.
He served in Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

Kevin Latchford belonged to a generation of military officers who enlisted in the intensity of Second World War and went on to serve their country primarily in peacetime. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1945, graduating with distinction in 1947 as a Lieutenant, allocated to the Armoured Corps. He was soon posted to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, first to Kure and later to Shikoku. Next, he was seconded to the British Army on the Rhine. He loved the discipline and experience of the British Army and also the relevance of facing the might of the Soviet Union only kilometres away, although he never actually saw the potential enemy.

Returning to Australia in late 1950, Captain Latchford was posted to Puckapunyal and the Armoured School. It was here that Kevin became friends with an armoured colleague, Mark Bradbury, and his wife, Norma. He also met Norma's sister Marlene Kelly, and romance followed. Marlene and Kevin were married in 1954 ^[1] and set off for a honeymoon in Western Australia, where he had been posted, first to remote Northam and then to Perth.

Then it was back to Victoria. When the Defence Department moved to Canberra in 1959, the family followed. At the beginning of 1962, as Major Latchford he took the opportunity to rejoin the British Army on the Rhine, on exchange with the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own), a tank regiment, in northern West Germany. He returned to army headquarters in Canberra in 1964 and in 1966 was posted to Sydney then, in 1968, Vietnam. ^[2] Leadership of the 1st Civil Affairs Unit resulted in being Mentioned in Despatches. ^[3] Lieutenant Colonel Latchford also received an unusual 'honour'; the North Vietnamese forces offered a price for his head, a rare threat to an Australian officer at the time. But, he returned to Australia in 1969 with his head still squarely on his shoulders and took up the role of commanding officer of the 1st Armoured Regiment, at Puckapunyal.

In late 1973 Brigadier Latchford took command of 6th Task Force based at Enoggera, Brisbane, and soon led the army response to the Brisbane floods of January 1974. In early 1975, a final return to Canberra was triggered by his appointment as director general of defence recruiting. In 1978, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division). In 1981, now a Major General, he took on the role of director general of the National Disaster Organisation.

Retired, and still serving his country

After Kevin retired in 1984, he and Marlene travelled extensively. He was appointed to the Remembrance Driveway Committee that revitalised the road between Sydney and Canberra, creating more than 25 roadside rest stops commemorating Australian Victoria Cross recipients.

He became patron of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Association and led the Corps during the Anzac Day marches until less than a year before his death.

Final parade

Kevin Latchford passed away on 24th February 2013 and his ashes were interred at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, North Ryde, New South Wales. ^[4] He was survived by his four children, their partners and ten grandchildren:

"Loving husband of Marlene (deceased).
Adored Dad of Tim, Andrew, Mark and Chris. Much loved by Kate, Lesley, Elizabeth and Heather. And wonderful Pa to Sophie, Will, Grace, Jack, Daniel, Simon, Hamish, Tom, Saxon and Ginger."

Marlene had passed in 2008.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #5105/1954
2. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs: Kevin William Latchford; accessed 19 Jun 2018
3. ↑ Australian War memorial Honours and Awards: Lieutenant Colonel Kevin William Latchford MiD; accessed 19 Jun 2018
4. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald obituary

See also

• Mark Latchford and Alan Stewart, 'Latchford, Kevin William (1927–2013)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 19 June 2018.