Colonel John Crosland CBE, MC

JC started his career with 10 Para, whilst still a schoolboy completing both P Company & earnings his wings. He then joined Depot Para as a Tom & rose to the rank of L/Cpl before attending RMAS in 1965. He was commissioned into Para in 1967, served with 1 Para in NI in ’69 before successfully passing selection for 22 SAS in ’72.

Since then he has served in both Regiments all over the world, including multiple tours in NI, Dhofar, Falklands & the Balkans. His speciality has been operations & intelligence together with training & selection. During ’72 –’76 he served in the Dhofar/Oman conflict where much battlefield experience was gained. This stood him in good stead during the Falklands campaign when he was gazetted with the MC for the battles at Goose Green & Wireless Ridge.

’76 –’78 saw him in BRIXMIS, working in the former East Germany reporting on the Group of Soviet Forces – he later realised that this was not the normal staff job! In ’80 he helped remove some squatters from the Iranian Embassy, which was one way of celebrating his youngest daughter’s birthday. After a further two command tours he then became Chief J 2 to the AMF (L), followed by CO/Chief Instructor of the ILRRPS in S Germany. He was then appointed DA in Belgrade, FRY in August ’96, an interesting choice, for being a Diplomatic envoy was a completely new role. Almost 3 years later, after monitoring the situation in Kosovo almost on a daily basis, he left Belgrade the night before NATO bombed that city. He returned to MOD as an adviser before going back out to Macedonia to help lead KFOR into Kosovo. Awarded the CBE in the QBH in ’99.

His last appointment was as Chief Special Operations at SHAPE. He was responsible for SF operations in support of SFOR/ KFOR & Macedonia. He keeps an interest in “Matters Balkans” & helped re – establish our Embassy in Belgrade.

Since retirement in late 2001, he spent 5 years with UTM Ltd which provided an innovative training system.  After that he has been & is a Consultant. He is Honorary Colonel of 21 SAS (V), as well as serving both SAS & Parachute Regiments. He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Glovers & Freeman of the City of London. He is Governor of Seaford College, Petworth, Sussex & a Parish Councillor, next stop Westminster!