THIS 1938 photograph shows the Victoria College Officers Training Corps (the forerunner of today’s Combined Cadet Force) at Les Landes, St Ouen.

The young man on the left in the front rank (the one nearest to the camera) is the young Terry Troy, son of the JEP’s then news editor (and a future Deputy), Billy Troy.

A natural soldier, in 1940 his family agreed it would be better if he left Jersey before it was occupied for fear that if he stayed, he would get into trouble. He left the Island on the last boat to leave before the Occupation, and when it docked at Guernsey on the way to Weymouth, he witnessed the German air raid on St Peter Port.

When he died last December at the age of 85, Brigadier Terence Troy CBE had enjoyed not only a distinguished army career but also showed that he had the capacity to inspire great loyalty from those whom he met or served under him.

In 1940, having made it safely to England, he enlisted in the army and was commissioned in the 15th Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army. He fought in the Arakan Campaign, the Battle of Kohima, and later took part in the advance through Burma to Rangoon, including the battles of the crossing of the Irrawaddy and Pegu Yoma.

He was selected by the commander of the XIV Army, the then General William Slim, to be an aide-de-camp, and in 1946 at the age of 24 became the youngest Brigade Major in either the British or Indian armies.

In 1947 he transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and became Commanding Officer of the First Battalion. Staff appointments followed, and he was promoted to Brigadier in 1973. Upon retirement in 1977 he returned to Jersey, where he became President of the Jersey branch of the Royal British Legion.

In his retirement years, he regularly recited the Kohima Epitaph at Remembrance Services at Jersey’s Cenotaph: ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today’.

His nephew, Peter Troy, who lives in the north-east of England, presented a new trophy at the Victoria College prize-giving evening recently – the Brigadier Troy Trophy, to be awarded annually to the ‘best senior cadet’ in the CCF.

The first recipient was CCF Chief Warrant Officer Calum Forrest. Mr Troy said later: ‘The family of my late uncle were very keen for there to be a living memorial to him – and his own character meant that a park bench would have been a very inappropriate choice.

‘This award is in keeping with his own eminent military career. I am sure he would have approved of this trophy. As a family, we hope that competing for it will provide inspiration for young people to train to serve Queen and Country in the armed services.’

Mr Troy commissioned the shield, which is of silver mounted on Brazilian wood. It was designed by his partner, Diane Ellis and bears the crests of Jersey, Victoria College, and the Combined Cadet Force.

The memoirs of Brigadier Troy are due to be published in due course, with a preface by the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway.

• Picture above: Members of the Victoria College Officers Training Corp in 1938, with Terry Troy nearest the camera

 Brigadier Troy reciting the Kohima Epitaph in 2005