Page 150 - Chronicle Vol 17

BRIGADIER B M LEES LVO OBE
Brian was commissioned into The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) in 1954 as a Short Service Commissioned Officer on completion of his degree, BA Modern History at Leeds University. His seniority was backdated to August 1953. He joined D Company of the Battalion in Berlin.
By 1955 1 KOYLI were in Kenya and involved in the operations against the Mau Mau. From Kenya, the Battalion were deployed to Aden for about 6 months before moving to Cyprus, 1 KOYLI then went to Cyprus for another operational tour.
In 1958 he was seconded to the Aden Protectorate Levies. He became a bimbashi and was based in the Western Aden Protectorate; The APLs were involved in repulsing border intrusions by Yemeni forces in the Jebel Jihaf region. It was this appointment that developed and strengthened his regard for and understanding of the Arab World.
In the early 60s he held an appointment in 48 (West Midland) Division based in Shrewsbury followed immediately by a move to Pontefract as Adjutant of the Light Infantry Depot. During this tour he was involved in the move of the Depot from Yorkshire to Shrewsbury.
He was then selected for Technical Staff College (which horrified him being a historian) at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham. This was an experiment - they had only chosen officers with degrees to join the course - none
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