Name Walter Thomas | Allegiance United Kingdom Rank Major-general | |
Commands held 5th DivisionFar East Land Forces Battles/wars World War IIMau Mau Uprising Books Dare to be free, Pathways to Adventure: An Extraordinary Life Battles and wars World War II, Mau Mau Uprising | ||
Major-General Walter Babington 'Sandy' Thomas (born 29 June 1919) is a former Commander of British Far East Land Forces.
Military career
Brought up in New Zealand, Sandy Thomas was commissioned into the New Zealand Military Forces at the outbreak of World War II. He was wounded, became a prisoner of war in Crete, escaped from a prison hospital and then fled to Syria, eventually becoming commander of 23 Battalion in Italy. After the War he obtained a commission in the Royal Hampshire Regiment and, in 1955, he was mentioned in dispatches while dealing with the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. He was appointed General Officer Commanding 5th Division in 1968 and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Far East Land Forces in April 1970 before being elevated to be General Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces in October 1970.
He was awarded the CB in 1971 and retired in 1972.