Miles Hunt-Davis
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Sir Miles Garth Hunt-Davis, GCVO
, CBE
(born 1938) was the Private Secretary
to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh until 2010.
He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and educated at St Andrew's College
, South Africa
.
After attending the Mons Officer Cadet School
, he joined the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles
in 1962. He served in Borneo
and Malaysia 1964-1966. In 1969-1970 he attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College (psc(CAN)), and was promoted to Major
in 1971.
From 1974-1976 he was Brigade Major
of the 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1976, he was Commandant
of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles. In 1979-1980 he was the Chief Instructor, Tactics Wing, of the School of Infantry
, and 1980-1982 General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) Tactics at the School.
From 1982-1983 he was instructor at the Staff College, Camberley
(psc). In 1985-1987 he was Commander British Gurkhas, Nepal
, and from 1987–1990, based in Hong Kong, he commanded the Brigade of Gurkhas
. He retired in 1991.
Since leaving the British Army
Brigadier Hunt-Davis has been Colonel
of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles (1991-1994), and Chairman of the Gurkha Brigade Association (1991–2003).
Hunt-Davis joined the Household of the Duke of Edinburgh as Assistant Private Secretary in 1991. He was promoted to Private Secretary in 1993. He retired in 2010.
Hunt-Davis was made a MBE
in 1977, and advanced to CBE
in 1990. He was made a CVO
in 1998 and promoted to KCVO
in 2003 and GCVO
in 2010.
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Sir Miles Garth Hunt-Davis, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1938) was the Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh until 2010.
He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and educated at St Andrew's College
St. Andrew's College (Grahamstown, South Africa)
St Andrew's College is a private senior school for boys located in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, influential and prestigious Milner Schools. It offers boarding and day options for its pupils. The premium Anglican boarding school caters for 450 pupils from across the...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
After attending the Mons Officer Cadet School
Mons Officer Cadet School
The Mons Officer Cadet School was a British military training establishment in Aldershot.1942 saw the RMC move to Mons Barracks where it became 161 OCTU. Cadets underwent a three month training programme prior to the Commisioning Passing Out Parade. Those passing out slow marched up the steps from...
, he joined the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles
6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles
The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles was a regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following India's independence. Originally raised in 1817 as part of the army of the British East India Company, the regiment has been known by a number of names...
in 1962. He served in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and Malaysia 1964-1966. In 1969-1970 he attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College (psc(CAN)), and was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1971.
From 1974-1976 he was Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1976, he was Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles. In 1979-1980 he was the Chief Instructor, Tactics Wing, of the School of Infantry
School of Infantry
A School of Infantry provides training in weapons and infantry tactics to infantrymen of a nation's military forces.Schools of infantry include: Australia*Australian Army - School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton, NSW. France...
, and 1980-1982 General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) Tactics at the School.
From 1982-1983 he was instructor at the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
(psc). In 1985-1987 he was Commander British Gurkhas, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and from 1987–1990, based in Hong Kong, he commanded the Brigade of Gurkhas
Brigade of Gurkhas
The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of...
. He retired in 1991.
Since leaving the British Army
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...
Brigadier Hunt-Davis has been Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles (1991-1994), and Chairman of the Gurkha Brigade Association (1991–2003).
Hunt-Davis joined the Household of the Duke of Edinburgh as Assistant Private Secretary in 1991. He was promoted to Private Secretary in 1993. He retired in 2010.
Hunt-Davis was made a MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1977, and advanced to CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1990. He was made a CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1998 and promoted to KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 2003 and GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 2010.