Editing Denis Thatcher (section)

== Military career ==

During the Second World War, Thatcher was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[20th_Battalion,_London_Regiment_(Blackheath_and_Woolwich)#Home_Front|34th (The Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery]]. He transferred to the [[Royal Artillery]] on 1 August 1940.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34977 |supp=y|pages=6182–6184|date=22 October 1940}}</ref> During the war he was promoted to war substantive [[captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] and temporary [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]]. He served throughout the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] and the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and was twice [[mentioned in dispatches]], and in 1945 was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE). The first mention in dispatches came on 11 January 1945, for service in Italy,<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=36886 |supp=y|pages=315–317|date=9 January 1945}}</ref> and the second on 29 November 1945, again for Italian service.<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=37368 |supp=y|pages=5791–5795|date=27 November 1945}}</ref>

His MBE was [[gazetted]] on 20 September 1945,<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=37274 |supp=y|page=4673 |date=18 September 1945}}</ref> and was awarded for his efforts in initiating and supporting [[Operation Goldflake]], the transfer of [[I Canadian Corps]] from Italy to the north-west [[European theatre of World War II|European theatre]] of operations. Thatcher was based in [[Marseille]], attached to HQ 203 sub-area. In the recommendation for the MBE (dated 28 March 1945), his commanding officer wrote: "Maj. Thatcher set an outstanding example of energy, initiative and drive. He deserves most of the credit for [...] the excellence of the work done."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7382145 |title= WO 373/73/1003 |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |format=fee may be required to view full original recommendation |access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>

Thatcher also received the approximate French equivalent of a mention when he was cited in orders at ''[[Corps d'Armée]]'' level for his efforts in promoting smooth relations between the [[British Empire in World War II|Commonwealth military forces]] and the French civil and military authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7406782 |title=WO 373/185/1209 |publisher=The National Archives |format=fee may be required to view full original recommendation |access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref> He was promoted to substantive [[first lieutenant|lieutenant]] on 11 April 1945.<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=37279 |supp=y|page=4740|date=21 September 1945}}</ref> Demobilised in 1946, he returned to run the family business{{snd}} his father having died (aged 57) on 24 June 1943, when Thatcher was in Sicily. Because of army commitments, Thatcher was unable to attend the funeral.{{sfn|Thatcher|1996|p=39}}

He remained in the Territorial Army reserve of officers until reaching the age limit for service on 10 May 1965, when he retired, retaining the honorary rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=43646 |supp=y|page=4565|date=7 May 1965}}</ref>

On 21 September 1982 he was awarded the [[Efficiency Decoration|Territorial Decoration]] (TD) for his service.<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=49114 |supp=y|page=12237|date=20 September 1982}}</ref>