Colonel Michael Goldschmidt was a son of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment (The Tigers). His father, Colonel Kenneth Goldschmidt had a long and distinguished career in the Regiment, notably with the 2nd Battalion in the North African and Far Eastern campaigns of World War Two and with the 1st Battalion in Korea, as well as commanding the Depot at Glen Parva. Adding further to his deep seated Regimental connections, Michael’s great-grandfather, uncle and godfather all had eminent service with the Regiment.

It was whilst his father was away serving in Scotland during the closing stages of World War II that Michael was born in London. He followed the Regiment and his father’s career with postings in India, Hong Kong, Cyprus and the UK. His Catholic faith remained a constant and important part of his entire life, so it was perhaps inevitable that he should attend Ampleforth College, before leaving in 1963 and entering RMA Sandhurst. Michael had developed an interest in rifle shooting and it was whilst with both these institutions that he successfully honed his skill. He was Captain of the Shooting VIII at Ampleforth and a member of the British Cadet Rifle Shooting Team that competed in Canada in 1963. In 1969 he was a member of the Old Amplefordian shooting team that won the Public Schools Veterans Match at Bisley. In addition, he was Captain of the Sandhurst Shooting Team in 1965 when they won the Regular Army Major Units Small-Bore Championship. Alongside this he competed in athletics on a regular basis, captaining the Ampleforth team.

When Michael enlisted The Royal Leicestershire Regiment still formed part of the regular Army order of battle and he might reasonably have expected to wear the same cap badge as his father. However, whilst he was training the Regiment rebadged and so it was that he graduated from Sandhurst commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment.

What was assured was that he be posted to the 4th (Leicestershire) Battalion. The next five years were spent in happy Regimental duty, with stints in Malta, Libya, Bahrain and the UK, as well as a tour of duty in Aden. His sporting prowess continued and he represented the Battalion in cross-country, athletics, cricket, rugby, tennis, squash and shooting, with stints representing Army teams in cricket and athletics in Malta.

In 1970 Michael was chosen to be ADC to Major General Sir Douglas Kendrew (sometime Colonel The Royal Leicestershire Regiment), who was the Governor of Western Australia, stationed in Perth. This was an interesting and enjoyable time for him, with many visits from royalty, politicians and statesmen. By the time Michael returned to Regimental duty in 1972, defence cuts had taken their toll and 4th Royal Anglian had been reduced to company strength, with attendant abridged officer career prospects.

After stints in Gibraltar and Kent, Michael was posted to Cyprus to join the 1st Battalion, just in time for their return to the UK in the NATO AMF(L) role, guarding that organisation’s flanks, which entailed winter warfare in Norway and summer exercises in Turkey or Sardinia. Thrown in for good measure was a tour of duty in Armagh, Michael being forced to adopt long hair as the Battalion Intelligence Officer.

Michael demonstrated excellent leadership skills, being popular with his men and fellow officers, alongside his legendary particular staff duties and attention to detail. After a tour as adjutant he was picked up for Staff College at Shrivenham and Camberley, on the successful completion of which he was selected as Military Assistant to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces. Michael always kept his cricket kit in the boot of his car, ready for any opportunity to play the game. He was elected a member of the MCC in 1977 and he was ready to discuss England’s test prospects with anyone at any time.

In 1983 Michael returned to Regimental duty with the 1st Battalion to command a mechanised company in BAOR, another Northern Ireland tour, this time in Fermanagh, followed by a return to the UK as Battalion Second in Command and a tour in Belize. There then followed a more settled period in Michael’s life, as he attended the Joint Service Defence College before being posted to the MoD. This happily allowed him time to marry Margaret Wilkinson in 1984. They had two daughters by her previous marriage and a son, Henry, who is a London based sports lawyer. They established a happy family home in Somerset.

In the mid-1980s regular army command posts were hard fought for. Michael followed similar footsteps to his father’s by being appointed commanding officer of Depot The Queen’s Division, training recruits for not only the Royal Anglian Regiment, but also the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Queen’s Regiment. This settled period allowed another of Michael’s passions to flourish. Since 1968 he had been on the Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage, managing to fit in twenty seven pilgrimages around his military and later career. In another demonstration of his charitable humanity, he also attended many Remembrance Day parades at the Cenotaph in London, usually guiding one of the St Dunstan’s (now Blind Veterans UK) veteran pupils.

Michael’s final eight years in the army were a series of the inevitable staff appointments in the UK and Europe, the most enjoyable of which was at HQ Allied Forces Central Europe in Brunssum, The Netherlands as Chief of Personal Staff to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, at the time Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Skingsley. A particular highlight was a career best innings of 98 not out for Afcent Knights club against a Luxembourg team.

During two of these years he was Chairman Infantry Cricket, setting the pace for his continuing and abiding love of the game. In addition to spectating at many Lords Tests, he remained an active player of the game to the last, achieving another career high of four wickets in four balls for Port Rejects club against the Stours club in Dorset. Michael was eagerly waiting the start of the 2020 season and he ran his own team, The Colonel Goldschmidt’s XI, which had been established by his late father.

Having retired from the army Michael was not one to lose his military connections and in 1996 he joined SSAFA Forces Help in London as Director Housing, later adding Welfare to his portfolio, before retiring in 2004. He also found time during this period to be an effective board member and chairman of the London building in which he lodged, as well as a Trustee of St David’s Nursing Home for veterans in Ealing.

As an historian with a keen eye for accuracy, he was a natural choice to be invited to write the final volume of the Royal Leicestershire Regimental history. This task he attacked with gusto and enthusiasm, the result of which, ‘Marching with The Tigers’ was very well received, the diligent research and lively read reflecting admirably upon the author. His depth of knowledge was impressive and the Trustees of the Regiment were delighted and grateful that, a year after publication in 2009, Michael agreed to become a Trustee himself.

He immersed himself in the role and gave of his time and company freely, making huge contributions to the Regimental family of which he was so proud to belong. He subsequently researched and wrote about the wider history of the Regiment, as well as the decorated military Old Boys of Ampleforth College.

With his tall, lanky frame, upright bearing and gentlemanly demeanour, Michael was a distinctive presence. His friendliness and ready humour quickly relaxed and set at ease all who met him. His military knowledge, historical ability and authorship meant that his conversation was interesting, often witty and sharply observed. His contributions in diverse areas as trustee, committee member or chairman were thoughtful, considered and insightful, delivered delightfully and received respectfully. His faith was unshakeable, his Christian commitment absolute and his morals firm. Above all, he enjoyed abiding love for and from his family which, allied to his deep interest in others and his great kindness, gave him a warmth of personality, the loss of which remains with us all.

TRW