Provost Marshal who fought the cause of the Royal Military Police
BRIGADIER IAIN CAMERON, who has died aged 79, served as Provost Marshal (Army), head of the Royal Military Police (RMP), from 1992 to 1995.
Provost Marshal is the oldest extant appointment in the British Army. It dates back to early Tudor times but the office was probably in existence in the 12th century. During Cameron’s tenure, he came under pressure to surrender the scarlet beret (the “red cap”) and RMP badge and require all ranks to wear the insignia of the Adjutant-general’s Corps. Noted for his straight talking, he fought for retention of the RMP as an independent entity and prevailed.
The implementation of the “peace dividend” at the end of the Cold War led to large-scale reductions in Army strength. A raft of reviews saw the disbandment of the RMP Mounted Troop and economies in policing and guarding systems. Cameron also oversaw the deployment of RMP on Operation Grapple, the UK’S defence operations in the former Yugoslavia, from 1992 until 1995.
Iain Cameron was born at Stubbington, Hampshire, on February 11 1943. His father, Donald Cameron, was awarded a VC for commanding a midget submarine which successfully attacked the German battleship Tirpitz.
Educated in England and the US, Iain dropped out of medical school while studying anatomy; taking a cadaver’s leg home to work on after a night out, he fell asleep and left it on the bus.
In 1960, in Southampton, cold, hungry and homeless, he walked into the Army recruiting office and enlisted in order to get a hot meal and a bed for the night. After three years in the Royal Pioneer Corps, he attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
He was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Military Police in 1963. After attending the first provost officers’ course at Roussillon Barracks, Chichester, he was posted to 247 (Berlin) Provost Company. He enjoyed the challenge of serving in a divided city. It was a time of international tensions when small incidents could quickly turn into major problems.
A year on attachment to 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was followed by command of 11 Infantry Brigade Provost Unit at Minden, West Germany. He commanded 176 Provost Company in Londonderry and was Mentioned in Despatches.
A staff appointment as Deputy-assistant Quartermaster General was followed by a tour as Deputy-assistant-provost Marshal at HQ 4 Armoured Division. On promotion to lieutenant-colonel, he was appointed to Allied Forces Central Europe, the Nato command at Brunssum in the Netherlands.
After serving as Commander Provost at HQ 1st (British) Corps, in West Germany, he moved to Rheindahlen as the commander of the garrison.
Problems ranged from the mundane to the bizarre. Starlings had a habit of assembling in a tree outside the HQ building and defecating on the staff car belonging to the C-in-c BAOR. Cameron had the task of coming up with a solution.
He reported that the tree could be chopped down at some expense, but his preferred option was that the driver of the staff car be instructed to park the car somewhere else. After further deliberation the latter course was adopted.
In 1995 Cameron took early retirement and worked as deputy chief assessor for Charter Mark, forerunner of the government’s Excellence in Customer Service scheme. He worked overseas for the Government, spreading the scheme’s philosophy.
He was a keen member of amateur dramatic societies and supported his wife’s thespian talents at garrison and village theatres.
A natural leader, he was popular and respected. His dry humour and rather taciturn manner masked great kindness.
Iain Cameron married, in 1966, Tessa Leadbitter, who survives him with their son and daughter.
Iain Cameron, born February 11 1943, died April 10 2022