A FORMER Army officer, author and historian has died.

Major Tony Hill, who charted the history of Shoebury as a garrison town in his book “Guns and Gunners in Shoeburyness” in 1999, died earlier this month at the age of 90.

Major Hill, from Burnham, was born in Coventry in 1929 and commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1949.

He served in Carlisle and Troon, Hong Kong, West Germany and the UK.

He served at Shoeburyness as Battery Commander of 10 Battery, 36 Regiment, Royal Artillery and was the Officer Commanding the Military Wing at the new ranges.

Whilst serving at the ranges, at a time when the military presence was being scaled down, he set up the Shoebury Archives.

The purpose of the archives is to capture, document and archive the history of the military occupation of Shoeburyness from their arrival in 1848, the establishment of the first School of Gunnery, Coastal Artillery School and British War Dog School.

The archives also document the old and new ranges, the latter still in use today, the first Branch of the Royal Artillery Association and the part played by the town in the development of artillery.

It was Major Hill’s wish for a heritage centre be established on Shoebury Garrison to display the archives. Sadly, he passed away just as Southend Council announced plans to develop the garrison’s cart and wagon shed into a heritage and community facility.

The archives have been placed in the safe keeping of the Shoeburyness and South Essex Branch, Royal Artillery Association.

Branch chairman David Hadjicostas said: “Major Hill was a wonderful and inspirational man whose knowledge of Shoebury military history is unsurpassed.

"Our thoughts at this time are with his wife Kay, a retired GP and his four children. We will all miss him very much.

"We are very much looking forward to working with Southend Council, the Shoebury Residents’ Association and the Shoebury Society to bring Major Hills wish for a Heritage Centre on the Garrison for all to enjoy the fruits of his splendid lifetimes work.”