David Tyacke
Encyclopedia
David Noel Hugh Tyacke, CB, OBE, (18 November 1915 – 10 February 2010), was a senior British Army
officer. His last post was as General Officer Commanding
the Singapore District and he had previously been the last commanding officer of 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(DCLI) prior to amalgamation into the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
.
in Cornwall
, where his family had been involved in tin mining
since the early years of the 18th century. His father, Captain Charles Noel Walker Tyacke served in the DCLI during the First World War, fighting at Ypres and Arras, before being killed near the Somme with the 5th Battalion in 1918. Tyacke's mother, Phoebe Mary Cicely Tyacke (née Coulthard), was then living at the vicarage in Breage.
Tyacke was educated at Malvern College
(1929–33) and Sandhurst. He joined 2nd Battalion the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1935, joining the 1st Battalion in India in 1936.
, where Tyacke married Diana in June 1940.
After a period defending Selsey Bill
during the Battle of Britain, and then at Southampton under Montgomery
, in 1943 Major Tyacke was posted to Burma to serve under Orde Wingate.
Tyacke was attached to the Chindit staff for Operation Thursday, and was the last staff officer at Chindit HQ to see Wingate alive on 24 March 1944. After this the Chindits were under the command of the US General Joseph Stilwell
and Tyacke remained on the staff at Shaduzup in Burma until relieved by the 36th British Division.
, and then was Second in Command of the DCLI in the West Indies.
In 1957 he was promoted to command the regiment (by now back home in Bodmin
), and took part in the celebrations of the centenary of the Defence of Lucknow
, in which the DCLI's predecessor regiment, the 32nd Foot had played a leading rôle.
Tyacke was promoted to Major General in 1966, and appointed General Officer Commanding the Singapore
District - covering an area stretching from Brunei
to Bangkok
.
. He was Colonel of the Light Infantry
from 1972 to 1977, and a member of the council of his old school, Malvern College, from 1978 to 1988.
He died on the 10 February 2010 at Winchester, where he had been living. His wife had predeceased him, and he was survived by their only son. Major General Tyacke was buried at Breage, the funeral was attended by about 120 people, including DCLI veterans and the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
, Lady Mary Holborow.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer. His last post was as General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
the Singapore District and he had previously been the last commanding officer of 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
(DCLI) prior to amalgamation into the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1959 by the merger of two regiments: The Somerset Light Infantry and The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry...
.
Early life
Tyacke was born and raised in BreageBreage, Cornwall
Breage is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated three miles west of Helston....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, where his family had been involved in tin mining
Mining in Cornwall
Mining in Cornwall and Devon began in the early Bronze Age approximately 2,150 BC and ended with the South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall closing in 1998...
since the early years of the 18th century. His father, Captain Charles Noel Walker Tyacke served in the DCLI during the First World War, fighting at Ypres and Arras, before being killed near the Somme with the 5th Battalion in 1918. Tyacke's mother, Phoebe Mary Cicely Tyacke (née Coulthard), was then living at the vicarage in Breage.
Tyacke was educated at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
(1929–33) and Sandhurst. He joined 2nd Battalion the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1935, joining the 1st Battalion in India in 1936.
Second World War
At the start of the Second World War he was on leave in Britain, and joined the 2nd Battalion in France. Following a fighting retreat to Dunkirk, Tyacke led a small group to escape via the Bray Dunes. The regiment reformed after Dunkirk at SherborneSherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
, where Tyacke married Diana in June 1940.
After a period defending Selsey Bill
Selsey Bill
Selsey Bill is a headland into the English Channel on the south coast of England in the county of West Sussex.The southern most town in Sussex is Selsey which is at the end of the Selsey Peninsula and Selsey Bill is situated on the towns southerncoastline...
during the Battle of Britain, and then at Southampton under Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
, in 1943 Major Tyacke was posted to Burma to serve under Orde Wingate.
Tyacke was attached to the Chindit staff for Operation Thursday, and was the last staff officer at Chindit HQ to see Wingate alive on 24 March 1944. After this the Chindits were under the command of the US General Joseph Stilwell
Joseph Stilwell
General Joseph Warren Stilwell was a United States Army four-star General known for service in the China Burma India Theater. His caustic personality was reflected in the nickname "Vinegar Joe"...
and Tyacke remained on the staff at Shaduzup in Burma until relieved by the 36th British Division.
Post war
Tyacke worked for a time at the War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, and then was Second in Command of the DCLI in the West Indies.
In 1957 he was promoted to command the regiment (by now back home in Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
), and took part in the celebrations of the centenary of the Defence of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
, in which the DCLI's predecessor regiment, the 32nd Foot had played a leading rôle.
Tyacke was promoted to Major General in 1966, and appointed General Officer Commanding the Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
District - covering an area stretching from Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
Retirement
Tyacke left the Army in 1970, but continued to work as the Controller of the Army Benevolent FundArmy Benevolent Fund
ABF The Soldiers' Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund is a British charity. It is the British Army's national charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their families in times of need....
. He was Colonel of the Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
from 1972 to 1977, and a member of the council of his old school, Malvern College, from 1978 to 1988.
He died on the 10 February 2010 at Winchester, where he had been living. His wife had predeceased him, and he was survived by their only son. Major General Tyacke was buried at Breage, the funeral was attended by about 120 people, including DCLI veterans and the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.*John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554*John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath 1556–?...
, Lady Mary Holborow.