KUALA TERENGGANU: He helped establish the army’s first air despatchers unit and handled many a covert operation against communist insurgents and even faced the confrontation with Indonesia.
He was also a sturdy rugby player for the Armed Forces and the Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (Cobra) in Selangor during his heydays.
Sadly, Lt Col (Rtd) Richard Ananda Stevenson, who had even won the sword-of-honour as best overall cadet, just could not fight off cancer.
Richard succumbed to throat cancer at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
He would have celebrated his 78th birthday on Oct 7.
Richard comes from an illustrious Stevenson family, 11 of whom have collectively served the Armed Forces and police.
Among them were the late Brig Gen (Rtd) Victor Nelson Stevenson, who was handpicked by the then Malayan British High Commissioner, General Sir Gerald Templer, to form the pioneer batch of officers for the army, thus, the formation of the ‘Templer’s 12 Superb Men’.
According to Richard’s long-time companion Margaret Nair, he had complained of chest discomfort on Tuesday and was admitted to UKMH.
“Doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and he was warded but the next day, he suffered complications and passed away,” said Margaret, who had nursed Richard during his illness.
She thanked Richard’s former military colleagues who had sent countless condolence messages and wreaths.
“I have been deluged with hundreds of calls since his death. He had so many close friends and was a darling of a companion to all,” said Margaret.
She added the wake service will be held today at the Xiao En bereavement centre in Jalan Kuari, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
It will be followed by the funeral service at the centre tomorrow.
Richard is survived by son Lt Col (Rtd) Micheal Stevenson, who had served the Royal Malaysian Air Force, and daughters Carol and Joanne.
Richard’s younger brother, Lt Gen (Rtd) William Rangit Stevenson, 61, said the latter studied at the Federation Military College before joining the Armed Forces regular cadet officer’s second intake.
“His contemporaries include former Armed Forces chief Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Borhan Ahmad and the late former World Veterans Federation president Lt Col (Rtd) Datuk Hamid Ibrahim,” said William, who is now the senior deputy director (national strategy unit) with the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya.
William added that Richard was his intake’s best overall cadet, winning the sword-of-honour, and was commissioned as a second-lieutenant with the General Services Corps on Dec 13, 1959.
“Richard was quickly promoted and became captain within four years on Dec 1, 1963, before becoming a lieutenant-colonel on June 1, 1977.
“He last served as the Army Corps Headquarters’ logistics staff officer I before opting for early retirement in 1990 and worked with Malaysia Borneo-Finance as administration manager,” said William.
He added Richard was instrumental in forming the army’s Eighth Air Despatch Unit at the Jalan Ampang camp in Kuala Lumpur before it moved to Labuan.
“Richard subsequently underwent an airborne course at the prestigious Fort Benning and Riggers course at Fort Eustis, Virginia, United States.
“He was involved in many operations against the enemy, especially in the deep jungles of east and west Malaysia in the sixties and seventies,” said William.