Marne 36
Marne 36
14 Platoon of the Sovereign’s Company
František Geisler (Franta) attended and passed the RCB in mid 1963 however his admission to RMA Sandhurst was denied as he held Czechoslovak nationality. After some months of wrangling and missing Intake 35 the MOD accepted the argument that as his father had held a wartime British Army Commission in addition to his Free Czech Army Commission they therefore allowed him to join Intake 36 in January 1964 with the proviso to relinquish Czechoslovak nationality within 6 years.
Commissioned in December 1965 into The Royal Tank Regiment and after YOs course posted to 2RTR in Hohne where he commanded a tank troop, Centurions followed by Chieftains. Thence in 1968 as a lieutenant he commanded the Reconnaissance Troop consisting of 14 ferret scout cars. Both in Hohne and Libya.
With the Prague Spring of 1968 he was able to relinquish his Czechoslovak nationality and maintain his Commission.
In late 1969 he married, immediately followed by a short tour Northern Ireland right at the beginning of the troubles working with RUC. Thence Recruiting Liaison Officer based at RHQ RTR in Victoria and HQ London District in Horse Guards in 1970. Including an Int course at Ashford and several trips to NI. 1971 posted to NI. Returned to England for a command course at Warminster promoted captain. Thence 2IC and Squadron Leader of Ajax Squadron 2RTR in Chieftain in Munster on exercises in Germany and on a four month tour in NI in 1974.
Staff Captain 'Q' 4th Guards Armoured Brigade in Munster in 1975 and was the only 'non wooden top' on the staff. Mounted on the Brigade Disbandment Parade. Promoted major in 1977 with command of the Headquarters Squadron 3rd Royal Tank Regiment in Tidworth. In 1978 resigned his commission but the Army required him to work the full eight months notice -
Joined Regular Army Reserve RTR Pool of Officers in rank of major, called up in 1980 for Exercise Spearpoint. Automatically retired at 50 years old.
With the completion of notice in 1978 having been headhunted he was sent on several management and accounting courses and thence became General Manager of the Heavy Crane Division of an International company in the construction industry. Responsible for the organisation and logistics of huge cranes and their supporting vehicles. Travelled a great deal all over the UK, Scandinavia and Europe.
With this civilian experience he formed his own company in 1981. Initially the company was involved in sub contract shot blasting based on military contacts with Alvis in Coventry, soon broadening into sales of surface preparation and finishing equipment. The contract arm of the company was sold in 1984 with the business turning to the sale and marketing of surface finishing equipment. In 1991 vacuum lifting equipment was added to the portfolio by buying an existing enterprise.
The marriage was dissolved in 1988 with no children.
Another company was formed in 1988 specialising in crack detection in Alvis military vehicles, mainly Scorpion and Scimitar utilising a specialist paint stripping technique, and Jaguar for cars. Later sold in 1991 deciding to concentrate on the emerging economy of Central Europe where he formed a business consultancy agency in 1990 in Czechoslovakia in conjunction with the British Embassy in Prague. Consulting for various UK manufacturing and service companies for their penetration into Central Europe.
By 1991 another company was formed making three specialist consultancy businesses with different partners for each in the industries of iron and copper foundries; jewellery and plastic forming; and plastic recycling.
The UK companies were sold in 1993 to allow full concentration on the Czechoslovak market. From 1991 -
His various partners had known for several years that he would be retiring at 55 years old and all companies were sold to the various partners in 2000 with him retiring from active business but remaining as a consultant to the businesses for a further five years.
Married Barbara in 2003 having first met her in 1993 whilst searching for the grave of his father in Poland. It was her father who at the age of 13 watched the battle unfold in Pastwiska in which his father was killed and witnessed his body lying for nine days on the battlefield until his friends were able to return and bury him.
Until 2007 they lived in Bournemouth thence to live in the family home of Barbara in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains in the very south-
On one piece of land in 2018 he had built a wooden building to house an exhibition commemorating the life of his father František Josef Geisler which was opened in 2019 adjacent to the Memorial which had been erected in 1994.
In addition he worked voluntarily in the local High School holding timetabled English conversation classes since 2011.
With the Czech Republic deciding to allow dual nationals he regained his Czech Nationality in 2017.
So two full circles Franta lives where his father was killed in 1944 and starting life as a Czech comes back to being Czech again.
May 2021
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