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Major David Powell
Late Coldstream Guards
by Major Sir Edward Crofton Bt
formerly Coldstream Guards
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David Powell was born in York on 29th October 1931, and died on 15th March, aged 93, at The Red Cottage in Finchampstead, which he and his wife Susanna had bought prior to their going to Kenya on his posting to the 2nd Battalion in 1960.
He was at Eton from 1945-50, finishing as Captain of his House. This was followed by his being commissioned into the Regiment in February 1952, to which he gave loyal and devoted Service for the next 31 years. Throughout this time, he was affectionally known as Bushy, and, sometimes on exercises, as Major Gumboots, due to his habit of wearing a Guardsman’s greatcoat and wellingtons! However, he was meticulous over the pronunciation of his surname, with the long ‘O’, and woe betide anyone who got that wrong!
Bushy was initially posted to the 2nd Battalion on commissioning, before moving to the 1st Battalion, which was based at El Ballah in the Canal Zone. Although the Battalion was unable to return for the Coronation in 1953, he was one of five Officers and 100 men who returned to march in the Procession, and ‘Ground Keep’ in that year’s Queen’s Birthday Parade. His career subsequently included postings in both Battalions, along with his other Regimental and Staff appointments.
In February 1961, while in Kenya, the 2nd Battalion was ordered to take over the commitment of monitoring the conduct of Iraq against its oil rich neighbour, Kuwait. A Bahrain Detachment was formed, of which Bushy was a member, and included 23 married families. At one time it looked as if trouble was looming, and a huge transit camp was established, which was initially run by an elderly semi-retired major, who used to meet the transient troops, and issue them with a camp bed and pillow, which had to be signed for. Not all were returned on their departure the following morning. The major soon succumbed and was evacuated back to the UK. Captain Powell took his place, and warned the incoming troops that he would issue the stores if they were required, but he would require the individual to hand in his rifle as a quid pro quo. No further losses occurred, and the Court of Inquiry lasted for months!
From 1963-65, he and the family were posted to Iserlohn in BAOR in West Germany, before returning to the UK, as a Staff Officer, on a 3 year appointment at HQ West Riding and North Midland District in Nottingham. He rejoined the 2nd Battalion in 1968, as Commander of HQ Company in Chelsea Barracks, where he was PMC of the Officers Mess. He could be guaranteed to provide a good rum baba on exercises! He continued in this appointment when the Battalion moved to West Germany and Munster early in 1969, taking over as the Battalion Second in Command, for its first Op BANNER tour in West Belfast in July 1970. On return from Northern Ireland in November, he took up the appointment of Regimental Adjutant in Wellington Barracks in February 1971, a position he held until August 1973. He was DAA and QMG HQ London District until 1976, when he moved to the Army Inspectorate in the MOD, from where he retired in 1983.
Bushy took a great interest in all aspects of life in the Regiment, and was always willing to give advice when it was asked for, and, occasionally, perhaps even when it wasn’t! I myself well remember one instance when he and my mother travelled down to a Regimental wedding (I as an usher had left earlier). At that time I was undecided as to whether or not to leave the Army for Politics. In their conversation en route, he made it clear that I should give the matter very careful thought as to my future. I remained in the Army!
His own interests were numerous. Military history was his great passion, with the Napoleonic Wars of particular interest. In his retirement, overseas trips were few, but occasionally he would consider visits to classical monuments, or guiding Susanna around the battlefields of Wellington’s Peninsular Campaign. With his acute eye for detail, he would sometimes be asked to proof read books which were soon to be published. He was a close follower of cricket, and was a member of the MCC for nearly 50 years. He rarely missed a Lord’s Test or a Lord’s Cup Final, unless it clashed with Royal Ascot. He and Susanna were annual members at Ascot for many years after retirement, and attended meetings there throughout the year. He enjoyed Bridge when in the Officers Mess and was tolerant if his partner made a significant mistake!
His affection for his Regiment never dimmed. He was a regular attender at the Regimental Annual Dinner of the Nulli Secundus Club. He served as President of the Reading, later and Oxford, Branch of the Coldstream Guards Association for 26 years.
Bushy was very much a family man. In June 1957 he married Susanna Stewart Prescot, and they had three children. It was a wonderfully happy marriage of over 63 years, until she died in October 2020. He felt her loss greatly, and from then on he focussed his family interests on his 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. In the years after his retirement, all too little was seen of them both, but they will always be remembered as stalwarts of the Coldstream Family, and as good friends. Our sympathy and thoughts go out to Clare, David and William, and their children. |
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