Desmond Brayley, Baron Brayley
John Desmond Brayley, Baron Brayley MC , DL (born January 29, 1917 in Pontypridd , Glamorgan , † March 16, 1977 in Cardiff ) was a British army officer and businessman who briefly held the office of cabinet minister.
Army career
Brayley was a native of Welsh and was born in Pontypridd , Glamorgan . After completing elementary school, he applied to the Royal Artillery at the age of 17, where he later became a physical training instructor.
He was an avid boxing competitor and won the army boxing championship. During the war he served in the parachute regiment. In 1942 he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his service in the North African desert. The MC is awarded to military personnel for exemplary bravery during active missions against the enemy in the countryside. Brayley served in a unit that is the model for today's special forces, and trained soldiers to jump behind enemy lines with the parachute and perform as many disruptive maneuvers as possible against the enemy. He also served in Sicily and Crete and was mentioned by his superior on September 23, 1943 for his merits and bravery against the enemy ( Mentioned in Despatches ).
Political and business career
In 1946 he started working for Phoenix Glass Co Ltd in Bristol , which was successful in discovering markets for its glass bottles. He then switched to glass production at Canning Town Glassworks Group , which he became chairman in 1961. He always stressed that he had no idea about glass making, but how to run a team. He built the society that has made substantial profits for years.
Brayley has with George Wigg , the Paymaster General of the Labor Party shared an enthusiasm for horse racing and had even more horses. He was introduced to Harold Wilson and the two soon became friends. After the Prime Minister's failure in 1970, Sir Desmond provided his personal chauffeur, Rolls-Royce and London house to Harold Wilson, who later proposed Brayley for the knighthood . In 1973 Desmond was called to the nobility as Baron Brayley of the City of Cardiff.
In March 1974 he was entrusted with the task of taking over a government office, in which he worked as undersecretary of state for the army. At this point he resigned as chairman of his company and sold his company shares for over £ 1 million. After investigations into a company in which he was involved, he signed his resignation so as not to harm the prime minister. Despite a preliminary investigation into his business, no wrongdoing could be proven until his death in 1977.
He became Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 1970 , was Justice of the Peace (JP) for Middlesex , and chairman and trustee of the Saints and Sinners Club in London.
lifestyle
Brayley was a wealthy man who lived in style and owned a rooftop apartment in Arlington House, Piccadilly and Hailey House, a country house in Oxfordshire . Known as a generous donor, he took pleasure in returning to Cardiff for social events and watching the Wales team play rugby from the balcony of his apartment. He was an avid sports sailor and owned 'Natalie', a classic 527 ton, 177 foot motor yacht. He was also an equally avid angler and recreational pilot.
Despite his considerable wealth, he has never forgotten his roots. He was deeply affected by the poverty that surrounded him when he grew up as a young boy in Rhondda .
philanthropist
Brayley was a Freemason as well as a board member of the Royal Artillery Association and a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a show business charity. He was an honorary citizen of the City of London, a member of the Royal Society of Arts , president of the Society for Mentally Handicapped Children , patron of the Masonic Hospital , and president of the Amateur Boys Boxing Club .
Demise
Desmond Brayley died in Cardiff in March 1977 at the age of 60 after a brief illness. His marriage was dissolved in 1960. He left two daughters and two grandchildren.
Web links
- John Brayley at Hansard (English)
- World War II unit Histories - British Army Officers, (AW Boulton to HD Brotheridge)
- Photos by John Brayley at Gettyimages
Individual evidence
- ^ John Desmond Brayley, Baron Brayley on thepeerage.com , accessed September 11, 2016.
- ^ Brayley dies before trial, The Glasgow Herald, March 16, 1977
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Brayley, Desmond, Baron Brayley |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Brayley, John Desmond, Baron Brayley (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British Labor Party politician, soldier and businessman |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 29, 1917 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pontypridd , Glamorgan |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 16, 1977 |
| Place of death | Cardiff |