Keith Burch

March 31, 1931 (age 81)

His obituary in The Times described him as ‘a soldier who commanded with a firm, determined hand in Hong Kong, Aden, Cyprus and Germany’. In 1951, Burch was commissioned into the Essex Regiment. He was sent to of Korea in 1953 with the 1st Battalion as his patrol’s platoon commander, building defences along the Korean ceasefire line for over a year. The 1st Essex later moved to Hong Kong where ‘he exercised his authority as senior subaltern without fear or favour’. In 1954, the Essex Regiment merged into what became the Royal Anglian Regiment following which Burch held a junior staff appointment in Kenya before attending the Staff College, Camberley. Having qualified at Camberley, he was appointed to the Staff Duties branch of the Army Department of the Ministry of Defence and was appointed Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire on leaving in 1965. Burch saw active service with the 4th (Leicestershire) Battalion in Aden. In 1969, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel to command the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. In 1976 Burch was promoted to Colonel and appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Division in Germany, then commanded by Major-General Sir Frank Kitson. Kitson ‘appreciated a man who planned thoroughly and got things done without fuss’. He was subsequently made Commander of the Order of the British Empire and promoted to Brigadier as Director of Administrative Planning in the Army Department of the Ministry of Defence. Burch’s final military post was in the rank of Major-General as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) in the Ministry of Defence from 1983 to 1985.

Keith Burch

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lieutenant officer Central Bank

Background

Keith Burch was born 31 May 1931, the son of Christopher Burch and Gwendoline Ada (née James).

Education

He was educated at Bedford Modern School and Sandhurst.

Career

His obituary in The Times described him as ‘a soldier who commanded with a firm, determined hand in Hong Kong, Aden, Cyprus and Germany’. In 1951, Burch was commissioned into the Essex Regiment. He was sent to of Korea in 1953 with the 1st Battalion as his patrol’s platoon commander, building defences along the Korean ceasefire line for over a year.

The 1st Essex later moved to Hong Kong where ‘he exercised his authority as senior subaltern without fear or favour’.

In 1954, the Essex Regiment merged into what became the Royal Anglian Regiment following which Burch held a junior staff appointment in Kenya before attending the Staff College, Camberley. Having qualified at Camberley, he was appointed to the Staff Duties branch of the Army Department of the Ministry of Defence and was appointed Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire on leaving in 1965.

Burch saw active service with the 4th (Leicestershire) Battalion in Aden. In 1969, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel to command the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

In 1976 Burch was promoted to Colonel and appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Division in Germany, then commanded by Major-General Sir Frank Kitson.

Kitson ‘appreciated a man who planned thoroughly and got things done without fuss’. He was subsequently made Commander of the Order of the British Empire and promoted to Brigadier as Director of Administrative Planning in the Army Department of the Ministry of Defence. Burch’s final military post was in the rank of Major-General as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) in the Ministry of Defence from 1983 to 1985.

Achievements

Burch was made Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965, Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977 and Companion Order of the Bath in 1985.

Membership

He was subsequently recalled to Camberley as a member of the Directing Staff.

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Keith Burch

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

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Awards

Commander of the Order of the British Empire