Colonel David Benest OBE was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment in 1973 and retired in 2009 as a full colonel.

Born on 29 April 1954, he attended the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, where he played rugby for the first XV and was a keen member of Combined Cadet Force.  His first tour was with the 2nd Battalion in Northern Ireland, to which he was to return many times, finally in 1996 as Commanding Officer in South Armagh for which he gained his OBE. He also had several tours in the MOD from 1986 onwards where he played a key part in the provision of equipment and communication systems for use in Northern Ireland and enjoyed the stimulus of working with scientists on the application of technology in counter-terrorist operations. 

David won the respect of fellow officers and soldiers for his fairness, generosity and intelligent approach to military life. He took an in-service degree at Keele University in international relations, graduating with a first in 1981. The following year he was Regimental Signals Officer with 2 Para during the Falklands conflict, after which he was tasked by his Commanding Officer David Chaundler with writing an account of the battalion’s campaign. This formed the basis of 2 Para Falklands: The Battalion at War by Major General John Frost published in 1983.  David’s determination to pin down the truth led him to rework the original manuscript in recent years, with the support of his sister, Jacquetta, and to entrust it to the National Army Museum for safe-keeping.

A soldier-scholar, David was able to combine his military and academic interests in later Army roles, notably as Colonel Defence Studies (Army). He was never afraid to challenge conventional wisdom but recurring strain led to a diagnosis of PTSD which troubled him in later years. In retirement he reviewed numerous books for the British Army Review and pursued his arguments for a better ethical education for all ranks.

David raised more than £10,000 for The Ulysses Trust, a national charity founded by Lt Col (rtd) Philip Neame MBE that funds expeditions for young cadets, through a local newspaper round.  He died on 10 August 2020 of heart disease at the age of 66.

Decorations

MBE 1989

GOC’s Commendation 1991

OBE 1997

David Benest - the thoughts of his many friends in Airborne Forces and beyond received after his death on
10 August 2020  [All are PARA Regt except where shown.] Kindly supplied by Genevieve Clarke

Chris Keeble

How very sad. May David Rest in Peace. God bless, C+

Wayne Evans

I am saddened by this news. An officer and a gentleman in the true sense of that much abused second word. Controversial? Only to the 'new' breed. Thank you for the news, sad though it is.

Christopher Mike

Thank you for notifying the readership of this sad news. I knew David well and although we met relatively infrequently, he was always good company and very generous of spirit. He could also be reduced to childish giggles by the poorest of jokes.   know that he had a number of personal problems, I suppose we all do from time to time, but David seemed to have more black dogs than a Devon shooting party.

Whenever I see the film A Bridge Too Far, the depiction of the highly questioning and hyper intelligent IO has always reminded me of David. He was exceptionally principled and, as contrary as they might be, never afraid to state his points of view. Even if that made him extremely unpopular in some quarters. We may not have always agreed with his stance, I often didn’t, but his facts were almost always entirely correct. 

Stephen Cooper (Support our PARAs CEO)

Sad news indeed. A troubled but highly principled soul.

Tina Pittock (ex ABF Museum Curator)

I am sorry to hear the death of Col David.  He was on the board of the Airborne Forces Museum Trustees when I worked there. I know he continued after I moved on.  A very clever and intelligent person.

Hew Pike

What a terrible shock, Hamish. Thank you for letting us all know so quickly.

Tommy Aitken (16 Para Bde 1973-78)

Hamish this is sad news. I did the All Arms P Company alongside David, as a very young Soldier. David of course was a young Newly Minted Parachute Regiment Officer. I next met him when he was SO1 ACDSOR and I was an old and wizened LE Major. A good man, and obviously a very capable officer. 

 Roger Patton

One of my subalterns, sad news indeed

Charlie Shea-Simmonds

Very sad news about David – he was a near neighbour, and we’d had lunch together just before lock down (with Herbie Knott who took the photo on the cover of my book) and where he was as wonderfully controversial as ever. I’d be grateful for any funeral details if numbers permit a reasonable attendance.

David Reynolds

Very sad news. Makes us all realise how vulnerable we are. A robust, but compassionate and as you say very clever man. 

Bill Brooks

Sad indeed. Remember him well as we both attended the same RSO course. Being the only Paras attending we were always teamed for exercises. We also met rather unexpectedly crossing the Seine at Notre Dame while we both were having a long weekend with our respective wives. What a sad loss.

Andy Mason

Sad news indeed. I liked David - someone that the younger generation might have referred to as Awkes. Bright, flinty and different, but with a big heart. Not bad credentials for a Paratrooper.

In 2024 a book entitled "Ground Truth" - The Moral Component in Contemporary British Warfare, edited by Frank Ledwidge, Helen Parr and Aaron Edwards, was published in David’s honour by Bloomsbury. This publication was shortlisted for the Templer Medal Book Prize.