Alexander John McMurrough ‘Sandy’ Cavenagh studied medicine at Oxford and worked at St Thomas' Hospital, London, prior to volunteering for a short service commission of three years with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).
Sandy Cavenagh was granted his commission on 20 March 1956. He volunteered for 23 Parachute Field Ambulance while undergoing military training at the RAMC's Depot at Crookham and subsequently qualified as a military parachutist at RAF Abingdon.
After sailing out with 16 Para Brigade on HMS Theseus, shortly afterwards, Sandy Cavenagh was posted as 3 PARA Regimental Medical Officer on arrival in Cyprus. Only four days after arriving in Cyprus, he flew back to the UK with 3 PARA for more parachute training!
Sandy Cavenagh jumped at Suez during Operation Musketeer and although wounded in the eye during the jump continued to treat the casualties throughout.
He was the author of 'Airborne to Suez' (ISBN 0952878607), a useful account of 3 PARA's deployment.
Sandy Cavenagh was promoted to Captain in March 1957.
On retirement from military service in 1959, after completion of his short service commission, he became a popular and much respected GP in Brecon. He continued to serve Airborne Forces as the local medical officer to the Regiment's Battle School on the outskirts of the town.
Dr Sandy Cavenagh died in January 2014.
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