W.B. "Sandy" Thomas

Twice wounded in action, four times decorated for bravery, W.B. "Sandy" Thomas became, aged 24, the youngest commander of a New Zealand infantry battalion at war.
He experienced the Battle of Britain, the fighting withdrawal from Greece and defiant stand in Crete, the successful battles for North Africa and hard campaigning in Italy; he then led a New Zealand battalion in the Occupation Forces in Japan.
Transferring to the British Regular Army, he fought the Mau Mau in Kenya, the communists in Malaya and terrorists in Yemen, interspersed with postings to the European zone of Cold War confrontation. Rising steadily though the ranks, he commanded a British division before closing his military career as the last Commander of Far East Land Forces in Singapore.

The Mask of Evil & The Black Trees