Page 136 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

144 EAGLE AND CARBINE
and later bought up his cake supplier, which he then grew to become one of the largest cake suppliers in the country. Outside of business, he took ownership and active management of The Rugby Football Club, the ‘Rugby Lions’, this becoming an important passion. He was also a keen shot, and being great company was never short of invitations. He latterly ran two shoots in Warwickshire, greatly fulfilled by organising them for others to enjoy.
All the while he cherished the memory of his military Service and maintained strong links, giving continued service through benevolence to veterans among other charitable causes, and as a formidable fundraiser. He became a Trustee and then Chairman of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum, a Trustee and Chairman of the Warwickshire Private Hospital Trust, Chairman and then President of the Warwickshire and Coventry branch of SSAFA, Chairman and National Committee member of Sargent Cancer Care for Children (aka Young Lives vs Cancer), and President of the Veterans Contact Point in Nuneaton, having raised the funds to establish it. For his charitable work David was awarded an MBE in 2008 and made a DL for Warwickshire in 2011.
Michael Veillard-Thomas
Michael was born in Aberdeen and grew up in Shropshire. He joined the 3rd Carabiniers in 1969. In 1971, after an Arabic language course at Beaconsfield, he was seconded to the Abu Dhabi Defence Force Armoured Car Regiment. His earlier tour in Sharjah must have triggered his interest in serving in the Middle East.
In 1974 he was posted to Aldergrove and then to Edinburgh. In 1975 he married Shân whom he had met in Aldergrove. After 2 years at the RAC Tactics School in Lulworth, Mike and Shân moved to Brunei where Mike set up the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment’s first armoured reconnaissance squadron. Their first child, Seymour, was born while they were there.
Mike was awarded the very prestigious SLJ, the Distinguished Order of Merit for his work with the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. This was rarely awarded to the British and was a personal award from the Sultan.
The family then moved to Lübbecke to HQ 2 Armoured Division where Camilla was born.
A few years ago, after we had discovered the connection with Peter Gray, a surprise reunion was organised during what was ostensibly a family lunch out in Wiltshire. When Peter and his wife Meriel arrived at the restaurant, Peter complaining to David that he had jumped his turn at the bar, David instantly recognised him and was thrilled beyond words with their reacquaintance after so many years. Stories were regaled of their time at Mons and of their separate journeys thereafter, up to a certain limit – as was declared during the eulogy at David’s memorial service, “What happened in Hong Kong stays in Hong Kong!”
David was a passionate family man and a strong patriarch. He died on 7th May 2022, survived by his widow, Patricia, their sons Julian and Jonathon, and their daughter and my wife, Camilla, each in turn having raised their own families. All had the closest of relationships with him and are profoundly touched by the esteem he is held in by his former comrades in arms, sport, trusteeship and benevolence.
GGCraig
In 1983 a Military Attaché posting to Beirut was cancelled due to the grave situation there and instead Mike spent six months searching for accommo- dation for 4 and 5 star generals at SHAPE. This was a splendid and enjoyable opportunity to visit chateaux and choose the finest accommodation.
Mike and Shân returned to Bovington to the Signals School for 2 years and then he was posted to Oman on an unaccompanied posting to the Armoured Brigade to set up the armoured school.
A move to France followed as British Liaison Officer at the French Cavalry School in Saumur, which gave him the chance to improve his French and his riding.
Mike returned to the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces in 1991 as SO1.
After 30 years in the Army he applied for redundancy in 1995 and continued working in the Middle East, this time for Alvis and subsequently for other defence companies.
In 1998 he moved to Abu Dhabi, where he worked for several companies, including HESCO, for whom he was very successful, little thinking he would stay there for over twenty years, with monthly trips back to