Brigadier David Stileman OBE, who died on June 24, aged 87, was commissioned during World War II and enjoyed an exotic military career before working in the House of Lords.
David Madryll Stileman was born on April 9 1924 in Wimbledon, the son of Arthur Stileman, a naval commander. He was educated at Wellington College in Berkshire, where his speed and size was used to good effect on the rugby field. On leaving Wellington in 1942, he joined the army and was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade the following year.
Normandy
He saw action in Normandy in 1944 and, as part of the 11th Armoured Division, was in the vanguard of Operation Goodwood, the breakout by the British and Canadian forces from the bridgehead established by the D-Day landings. In the heat of the battle, his colonel, wanting to find out whether the village of Hubert-Folie was occupied by enemy forces, ordered Lt. Stileman to lead a patrol through the main street of the village in a half-track. If he failed to appear, it would be assumed the village was occupied; if he emerged unscathed, the chances were it wasn’t. It transpired later that the village was groaning with Germans, yet, for some reason, his carrier patrol was not attacked. He was even more fortunate two weeks later when he survived being shot between the eyes by a German sniper. The bullet somehow managed to miss his jugular vein and exited via his neck, taking a chunk of jaw with it. Eight operations later he rejoined his unit. For his gallantry during the Normandy campaign, Stileman was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit for Poland. In subsequent years Stileman returned frequently to Normandy as an instructor, becoming known to generations of officers who went on battlefield tours while attending the Staff College, as well as becoming firm friends with his war-time enemy, Colonel Hans von Luck.
After the war, he taught at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and was attached to the Parachute Regiment. It was during this time that he played rugby for Harlequins and Berkshire, and was invited to attend an England trial.
Throughout his military career, Stileman never worked in the Ministry of Defence; instead he enjoyed a wide variety of postings, many of them overseas. He fought against the Mao-mao in Kenya, carried out anti-insurgent work in the jungles of Malaya and in British Guiana, and commanded a company of the Somali Scouts, preparing them for independence in 1960. Jobs in the Somali army were greatly sought after, so Stileman’s method of recruiting was to kick a rugby ball, the men who brought the ball from the throng of humanity, were enlisted. He recalled the beaming smiles of the successful candidates covered in blood and bites and bruises.
After further peace-keeping work in British Guiana, Stileman was promoted colonel and appointed the first commandant of the Royal Green Jacket depot in Winchester. It was his work as commandant that was recognised with an OBE.
Stileman’s last overseas posting was as defence advisor in Nigeria. The two previous attachés had been expelled by the Nigerian government following a political crisis precipitated by the Scott Report, published in The Sunday Telegraph on January 11 1969. Always the diplomat, Stileman was commanded by the British government to make sure he remained in post. This he managed with great success.
Rugby and church
Stileman’s interest in rugby remained throughout his military career and he played his last game aged 51, while chief instructor of the small arms wing of the School of Infantry.
On leaving the army in 1979, Stileman was appointed Yeoman Usher to the Black Rod in the House of Lords, beginning his term as Margaret Thatcher was beginning hers as Prime Minister. A committed Christian throughout his life, and president of the Officers Christian Union from 1987-1992, Stileman used to host the Bible study for their Lordships in his flat in the Palace of Westminster. He attended the church at Emmanuel Wimbledon.
In retirement he lived in Wimbledon, returning to the house in which he was born. He remained busy as a sought-after lay preacher; however, he always managed to maintain his various military and sporting associations. He died peacefully in hospital and is survived by his wife Barbie, and their three sons. His daughter predeceased him in 2009.
