Major-General Donald James Wilson-Haffenden CBE, was appointed Brigade Secretary in succession to G. Stanley Smith, son of the Founder, in 1954. He retired in 1965 and at the time of his death (1986) at the age of 85 he was a Brigade Honorary Vice-President.

Affectionately known throughout the Brigade as ‘Haffy’, he was the son of a Baptist minister and served for 30 years in the 8th Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army. During the war, he served under General Alexander and as Quartermaster-General he had the responsibility of provisioning the retreating troops at Dunkirk. He left on the last ship to get away. He also saw service in Palestine, Persia and as part of the 14th Army in Burma. He was made a CBE in 1945.

After the war, he was appointed Financial and Administrative Secretary of the Church Missionary Society and when the first Billy Graham Crusade was held in London he accepted the post of Chairman of the Crusade Committee. In 1950 he was appointed President of London District.

As Brigade Secretary he proved a great ‘leader’ of the BB and was respected and loved by all who knew him. He had the ability to deal sympathetically with people and many owe a great deal to his wise counsel and Christian leadership. He was much in demand as a speaker at Church Parades and BB Conferences up and down the land and those who attended training courses at Felden Lodge during the summer months will have watched in awe his prowess at croquet — a game in which he represented England at Hurlingham.