Lieutenant-Colonel E.L. Luce
4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

Times change and those of us in Wiltshire who have long roots may well not care for the changes. But for the future generations, the task and the challenge is to carry on, whatever changes may occur, those traditions and things of good report for the future.

(Quoted in Evening Advertiser, 12 Sep 1960, 5)

Born on 25 August 1907 in Alverstoke, Hampshire, Edward Lancelot Luce was the son of a Royal Navy vice admiral and a Territorial Army officer since 1929. He joined the 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment in 1932 and rose to major by 1942. In February, he was appointed commandant of the divisional battle school but returned in April to take command of the 4th Wiltshires.

The battalion deployed to France with the 43rd Wessex Division in late June 1944. For skillful and courageous leadership over the next six months, he was awarded the D.S.O. At the end of January 1945, he was promoted to brigadier of the 115th Independent Infantry Brigade. Major J.E.L. Corbyn took over the 4th Wilts. The regimental history described the departure:

All Ranks knew well that they were losing an outstanding leader and a great personal friend, to whom everybody owed more than most of us knew for the success which had come our way and for the fine spirit which had kept us going in the difficult times. He himself felt great regret at leaving the Division in which he had served continuously for over eighteen years.

(The Maroon Square, 145)

In 1947, Luce reorganized the battalion in the Territorial Army and served as commanding officer until 1956, thereafter becoming honorary colonel. In civilian life he was managing director for a manufacturing firm. In the 1960s, he was chairman for the Warminster juvenile court and was high sheriff for Wiltshire shortly before his death on 3 June 1970.