Walter Babington Thomas
Sandy Thomas | |
---|---|
Born | 29 June 1919 Motueka, New Zealand | (age 104)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Rank | Major-General |
Commands held | 5th Division Far East Land Forces |
Battles/wars | World War II Mau Mau Uprising |
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross and Bar |
Major-General Walter Babington 'Sandy' Thomas CB DSO MC (born 29 June 1919) is a former Commander of British Far East Land Forces.[1]
Military career
Brought up in New Zealand, Sandy Thomas was commissioned into the New Zealand Military Forces at the outbreak of World War II.[2] He was wounded, became a prisoner of war in Crete, escaped from a prison hospital and then fled to Syria.[3] After the War he obtained a commission in the Royal Hampshire Regiment[2] and, in 1955, he was mentioned in dispatches while dealing with the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.[4] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 5th Division in 1968[5] and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Far East Land Forces in April 1970[6] before being elevated to be General Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces in October 1970.[7]
He was awarded the CB in 1971[8] and retired in 1972.[9]
References
- ^ Guy Hardy Scholefield; Max Lambert (1991). Who's who in New Zealand. New Zealand: Reed. p. 629. ISBN 0790001306.
- ^ a b "No. 37669". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 26 July 1946. - ^ Copyright Publishing
- ^ "No. 40538". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 15 July 1955. - ^ "No. 44558". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 29 March 1968. - ^ "No. 45078". The London Gazette. 10 April 1970.
- ^ "No. 45219". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 23 October 1970. - ^ "No. 45384". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 4 June 1971. - ^ "No. 45586". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 31 January 1972.
Bibliography
- Dare to be Free by Sandy Thomas, Phoenix, 2005, ISBN 978-0-304-36639-2