| Surname: | Thomas |
| Initials: | B |
| Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Army Number: | 413892 |
| Notes: | Provost Officer. General List. Later PM (Army). London Gazette 40384, 376, 18/1/1955. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Short Serv Commn. Lt B Thomas (413892) from Gen List to be Lt, 19/1/1955, retaining his present seniority. London Gazette 40828, 4072, 13/7/1956. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Short Serv Commn. Lt B Thomas (413892) from Active List, to be Lt, 14/7/1956, retaining his present seniority. London Gazette 41624, 876, 6/2/1959. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Short Serv. Commn. Lt B Thomas (413892) to be Capt, 8/12/1958. London Gazette 41657, 1812, 17/3/1959. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Capt Brian Thomas (413892) from Short Serv. Commn, to be 2/Lt, 18/3/1959, with seniority 19/10/1952. Lt B Thomas (413892) to be Capt, 18/3/1959, with seniority 19/10/1958. 2/Lt B Thomas (413892) to be Lt., 18/3/1959, with seniority 19/10/1954. London Gazette 43791, 9760, 19/10/1965. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Capt. B Thomas (413892) to be Maj., 19/10/1965. London Gazette 46046, 9390, 7/8/1973. Corps of Royal Military Police. The undermentioned Maj. to be Lt/Col., 30/6/1973: B Thomas (413892). London Gazette 47911, 9350, 24/7/1979. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. The undermentioned Lt/Col. to be Col., 30/6/1979: B Thomas, OBE. (413892). London Gazette 50583, 8718, 30/6/1986. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Brig. B Thomas, CBE (413892) retires on retired pay, 1/7/1986. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Order of the British Empire (London Gazette: 47869 Page: B5 June 16, 1979) |
| Citation: | Queens Birthday Honours. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Thomas (413892) RMP. APM 1 (British) Corps. 14 June 1976 to date.Citation: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas assumed the appointment of Commander Royal Military Police, Headquarters 1st British Corps on 14th June 1976 and held the post for some 2 1/2 years. During that time he was heavily involved in the Royal Military Police aspects of the Spearpoint series of Exercises, the Jubilee Review and the complete reorganisation of Provost throughout the Corps area. Each of these was daunting enough in itself but when combined amounted to an unusual and startling burden. None the less they were all accomplished in the most splendid fashion and with an efficiency which not only proved to be of great benefit to 1st British Corps but also reflected tremendous credit on the Royal Military Police. On arrival in post, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas was confronted with enormous problems concerned with traffic control and movement of a large number of Armoured and Mechanised Units over widely dispersed areas so as to meet the needs of the extensive and far reaching Spearpoint Exercises. This involved not only a very high degree of planning and co-ordination but also the ability to work for long, sustained periods - often in liaison with the German Police. there is no doubt that Lieutenant Colonel Thomas' superb efforts over this long period of time were a significant factor making for the success of these important manoeuvres on which so much depended for the future organisation of the Corps. The start of 1977, however, brought additional demands on this officer when he was appointed to the Jubilee Planning Committee. For the first 6 months of that year he was involved in the movement planning for this unique event and, then, in early July he was entirely responsible for the execution of the traffic control plans and the high degree of protection for a wide variety of visitors. The fact that they worked so magnificently was a tribute to his splendid, untiring efforts and to his careful organisation which involved his entire Provost resources over some hundreds of square miles. Simultaneously, the Army restructuring plan necessitated the reorganisation of the entire Provost support, involving many small and scattered units in 1st British Corps. Despite the extremely heavy commitments described above, despite manpower shortages which caused constant management crises and despite the pressures of routine police work he undertook this new and heavy commitment with characteristic zeal. After many months of hard unremitting toil and protracted negotiations this reorganisation was successfully completed so that the reduced resources of the Royal Military Police are now used to optimum effect. Throughout this period when he was working under punishing pressure Lieutenant Colonel Thomas proved to be imaginative in planning and infallible in organisation whilst pursuing his single minded course of upholding his Corps' great reputation with unflinching steadiness and consistent success. By any measure the load placed on him has been immense and has called for very long hours of dedicated work; yet he has been indefatigable in his efforts on behalf of 1st British Corps and has been unswerving in his maintenance of the highest possible standards. his efforts have been wholly admirable; and he has shown by example and personality how sheer service itself can be the greatest of military virtues and how devotion to duty can in being untarnished by selfish motives, bring its own fines reward in being a great benefit to others.Recommended by: Brig. AQ HQ 1 Corps. Lt. Gen. Comd. 1 Corps. Gen. C in C BAOR |
| Decoration: | Commander of the British Empire (London Gazette: 50361 Page: 5 Dec. 31, 1985) |
| Citation: | New Year Honours. Brigadier Brian Thomas, OBE. (413892) RMP. |
Provost Officer Appointments: | |
| No appointments recorded | |