The Manxman of Normandy

Tributes have been paid to a Manxman who lived an extraordinary life, including a retirement to Normandy where he became fluent in French and a respected member of the community.

Michael David Mylchreest, named after his uncle who died at the Somme in 1916, died in March aged 99.

In an obituary featured on the Independent’s website, it is explained that Mr Mylchreest, born on the Isle of Man in 1924, was the son of a protestant pastor who had served in the First World War and lived on the island.

When his father moved to England to become a vicar in Buckfastleigh, near Exeter, David boarded at a school in the city, he later lied about his age to join the army aged just 17.

When his father was told by the school master of his son’s deceit, he congratulated him and allowed him to join up.

Even after being injured in action during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, Mr Mylchreest was sent back to England to recover from what were sad to be severe injuries. Upon recovering in England, he insisted on going back to the front and, after a promotion to Captain, was sent on from Dover in April 1945 to rejoin his troops when word came through that Nazi Germany had surrendered.

The Independent reported: ‘Like all ships in the harbour, the war-bound MTB turned into a floating party boat, although many years later Mylchreest told the French media: “I was quite furious at not being with my men.”

It added: ‘A horseman and trail hunter since his childhood on his native Isle of Man and in Devon, his first post-war job in England had been as a groom at thoroughbred breeding and stud farms, as well as grooming some of the Queen’s racehorses for leading trainers including Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Newmarket; in the 1970s, he returned to settle in Normandy to work on France’s oldest thoroughbred breeding and stud farm, the Haras du Pin, where he rose to become director until his retirement.’

After his retirement, Mr Mylchreest settled into live in Normandy and was the sole British veteran at the inauguration of the British Normandy Memorial in June 2021 when Covid travel restrictions prevented others from attending.

The Independent also noted Mr Mylchreest’s status as a proud Manxman when, in later life, he refused to renew his British passport, saying: ‘I’m Manx, I’m not British or English.’

Speaking of his passing, the French media report that Geneviève Sas, the Mayor of Neaufles-Auvergny, said: ‘He was a charming neighbour, pleasant and always smiling.’

Ex 14/20 King's Hussars Capt (Retd) David Mylchreest's funeral took place on 17 March at Neaufles-Auvergny ??, not far from where he fought during #WW2. His nephews & friends were joined by many, including @Prefet27 & a guard of honour from the 105th Air Force base.#LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/J3YSVBDf7b

— UK Defence in France (@UKDefenceFrance) March 22, 2023