Vale Lt Col Adrian Griffith 1959-2012

Lt Col Griffith was commissioned into 6th QEO Gurkha Rifles in 1979 and filled a variety of Regimental postings, as well as serving as ADC to MGBG and spending time with 14/20 Hussars, the Regiment's affiliated cavalry regiment. After attending Staff College Camberley he served on the staff of HQ 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade in Hong Kong before commanding a Rifle Company in 2GR and then 1RGR on amalgamation. After a staff tour in Bosnia he returned to 1RGR as Second-in-Command in time for the intervention in Kosovo. His operational tours encompassed Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, but it was his service in Nepal that was to make his reputation and for which he will be most remembered by the Brigade.

On his first tour, as Second-in-Command in Pokhara, he began to establish his reputation as one of the Brigade's experts on Nepal, its culture, language and people. He was to return regularly, spending over 10 years in senior posts and serving there during the Maoist insurgency: this included one notable occasion when he was kidnapped by Maoists for three days while escorting a BBC film crew. As Field Director of the Gurkha Welfare Scheme, his final and longest tour in Nepal, he invigorated and reorganised the Brigade's welfare work and created a lasting legacy to the country and people he loved: a caring and efficient organisation which, quite simply, changes peoples' lives.

Lt Col Griffith was a devoted family man and our thoughts are with his wife, Anne, and daughters Hattie and Phoebe. He was warm, witty, clever and kind, and one of the finest officers of his generation: we are the poorer for his loss, but the richer for having known him.

The Funeral of Lt Col Adrian Griffith will take place at 1300hrs on Thursday 31 May 2012 at St George's Church, Shrewsbury, SY3 8QA, and afterwards at the family home Any questions regarding the Funeral should be referred to Maj Bruce McKay, HQBG, on 01980 615763.