Back from the dead
Ex-colonel Ron spots his obituary in Army paper
A RETIRED colonel was reading an Army newsletter when he spotted his own obituary.
Ron Back saw the “news” of his passing announced in the Airborne Network. The 84-year-old then had to reassure friends and former colleagues he was very much alive and well.
But former para Ron laughed off the blunder, comparing it to US writer Mark Twain’s response to his obituary said to have been written when he was alive.
The dad-of-three said: “From what I’ve heard, the rumour came from a colleague I served with who lives in France. He said he heard it from another friend who claimed he had read about my death in a newspaper. I wasn’t angry, but instead thought it was rather amusing. It’s not something everybody gets to do, read their own obituary.
“The details about me were correct, apart from the obvious. It was a bit of a Mark Twain moment… news of my death is greatly exaggerated.” Ron was in the Army for 38 years after joining at 17 as a trainee officer. He later went on to work for the British embassy in the USA.
His obituary read: “Sad news: Col Ron Back died recently. He was born in
1936, commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1955.
“He served in 33rd Light Regiment
Royal Artillery, 7th Royal Horse Artillery and 44th Parachute Brigade 1970-72. He later commanded the Junior Leaders Regiment RA and retired a Colonel in 1991. I have no more details at present.”
Ron’s wife Patricia, 83, soon started receiving condolences cards.
Ron, of New Milton, Hants, is chairman of his local branch of the Royal British Legion. Secretary Phyllis Inglis said: “Someone contacted me and said, ‘You haven’t let anyone know that our chairman has died.’ I phoned Ron and said, ‘Did you know people think you’re dead?’ I’m just glad he’s OK and we’ve still got him as our chairman.” Ron added: “I’ve spoken to Airborne Network editor who apologised and said he would make sure he checks his facts more carefully.”
A spokesman for the newsletter thanked him for being “very gracious” about the error.
He added: “We take announcements of the deaths of veterans or serving members of Airborne Forces very seriously, and although Colonel Back’s death was reported to us from two separate sources in good faith it turned out to be an embarrassing mistake.”
Mark Twain wrote about reports of his death being exaggerated after they appeared in the US press in 1897.
It’s not something everybody gets to do.. read their obituary
RON RETIRED COLONEL ON SEEING HIS DEATH REPORT