By Rupert Hague-Holmes
Wednesday 22nd Oct 2025
St John’s Place, Lower Road, Bemerton, SP2 9NP
7.30-9.30pm
This talk is about one of the British Army’s leading post WW2 counter insurgency specialists. It charts his career as a young officer in pre WW2 China, serving with The Lancashire Fusiliers and his time as one of the first officers of 151/156 Parachute Battalion in India, in the early days of British Airborne Forces. In 1944 Lea commanded the 11th Parachute Battalion (part of Brigadier Shan Hackett’s 4th Brigade) at the Battle of Arnhem.
Arnhem was a professional disaster for Lea – his battalion effectively destroyed and he captured, all within 36 hours of dropping. But, to quote his good friend Colonel John Waddy, ‘the Army saw his true worth as a leader’, post WW2. In 1955, he was given command of 22 SAS in the Malayan jungle, when the Malayan Emergency was at its height. Lea led the team that created the operational infrastructure and professional high standards that the SAS became renowned for, guaranteeing its survival as part of the British Army Order of Battle. He also welcomed the newly formed NZ SAS squadron into his command and formed a very close lifelong bond with many of the NZ SAS soldiers.
Lea’s crowning professional success was as Director of Operations in Borneo, appointed just before a pivotal battle with the Indonesians at Plaman Mapu in early 1965. Lea skilfully navigated his way through many political issues, ending a conflict that often threatened to spill over into full scale war. He was instrumental in using the highly secretive “Claret” operations to force the Indonesians to the negotiating table and keep them there.
The talk not only covers Lea’s life and his achievements, but also the essential ingredients for successful leadership of Special Forces soldiers: a relentless demand of high operating standards of both himself and others around him, integrity, humour and humility. It portrays Lea’s outstanding leadership qualities, together with anecdotes of some of Lea’s more amusing experiences.
Signed copies of Rupert’s book of the same title, containing a foreword written by General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith (Colonel Commandant of the SAS), in hardback version, with over 30 photographs, will be available for purchase on the night, at £19.99.
Entrance for members is included in your annual subscription. For non-members, entrance is £10 (cash, card or cheque) at the door.
There is a small car park and lay-by opposite St John’s Place on Lower Road (for approx. 20 cars). Parking is also allowed on single yellow lines on Lower Road after 6pm. Alternative car parking is available at The Clubhouse, Salisbury and South Wilts Sports Club (SP2 9NY) and a pathway connects to St John’s Place.