Page 149 - Chronicle Vol 17

BRIGADIER G R DURRANT CBE FRCVS
Brigadier Geoffrey Robert Durrant died on Thursday 11th May 2023 aged 91 years. Brigadier Durrant was primarily known as a vet and yet served in several regi- ments. In retirement he lived with his wife Lesley in North Curry near Taunton where he was active in military charities and professional bodies.
In 1955, for his National Service, Geoffrey joined the Worcestershire Regiment and was subsequently commissioned from Eaton Hall. He initially served in Kenya as a platoon commander within 3rd Kings’ African Rifles. After completing National Service, he joined the TA serving for nine years in the Suffolk Regiment and then the Somerset Light Infantry. Concurrently he studied at Bristol University’s Veterinary School where he qualified in 1964. Thereafter he moved to a practice at Blandford in Dorset. An enquiry about the Army Veterinary Reserve of Officers led instead to him joining the RAVC as a regular officer. He reported to the Depot at Melton Mowbray in 1966 remaining there until posted to Singapore in January 1968; by then Geoffrey had married Lesley Wood. In Singapore he served with the Gurkha Dog Company and commanded a unit of Chinese and Indian troops, attached to the Singapore Guard Regiment.
In 1971 Geoffrey Durrant was posted to Oman, during the Dhofar Campaign, where he was attached to 22 SAS. He was awarded the MBE in 1973 and a posting to King’s Troop, RHA followed. In early 1975 he returned to the Far East where he commanded a Chinese unit attached to 48 Gurkha Brigade in Hong Kong making many visits to Nepal and advising on Gurkha agricultural resettlement. On return to UK, he served for three years within the MOD (Veterinary & Remount).
In 1980 he began a three-year tour as Commander Veterinary Services in NI after which he returned to Hong Kong for a brief tour as Chief of Veterinary Services before holding the most senior veterinary appointment in BAOR.
Returning to Melton Mowbray in 1985 he was then appointed Director Army Veterinary and Remount Services, at Aldershot, in 1987. Geoffrey retired in December 1990 and was awarded the CBE. He subsequently became Hon Col Comdt RAVC and Hon Col RAVC TA. His ongoing appointment as Hon Veterinary Surgeon to HM Queen Elizabeth II was also extended for a further four years. Within Somerset Geoffrey also became hugely involved with both the ABF and RBL. Professionally he remained most active in veterinary related matters and in 2001 assisted with the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Worcestershire.
Geoffrey and Lesley’s two sons were commissioned into the WFR and LI. Geoffrey is survived by Lesley and their sons.
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