This week: a pioneering black veteran, a minister in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet and an All Black

WAR veteran and activist Millie Dunn Veasey, who has died aged 100, was part of the Central Postal Directory Battalion of the US Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Her unit was the only all-black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during the Second World War.

The unit was sent to the UK to deal with a massive backlog of mail intended for American serviceman that had accumulated in warehouses in Birmingham. It was considered a vital job because letters for home helped keep servicemen's spirits up; many also believe the unit helped change negative perceptions of black women.

Born in North Carolina one of six children, Veasey enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps after graduating from high school in 1942 and later served in France.

After leaving the military, she worked in administration and also became the

the first female president of the Raleigh branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She held the post from 1965 to 1968.

During her presidency, she hosted Martin Luther King Jr at her sister's home and was hugely impressed with the civil rights campaigner. "I found him to be the most remarkable young man," she said. "Always with dignity, and was always interested in what you were doing."

Speaking about her contribution to the war effort when she was 99 years old, Veasey said signing up was something she just had to do. "I thought to myself that if those white women can do it, so can I," she said. "And besides that, my country needs me."

POLITICIAN Lord Crickhowell, who has died aged 84, was a former minister in Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet, serving as Welsh secretary from 1979 to 1987.

As Nicholas Edwards he was elected as MP for Pembrokeshire in 1970 and after standing down as an MP, took a seat in the House of Lords.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said Lord Crickhowell had been an inspiration to him from an early age.

"I only chatted to him by telephone just a few weeks ago where we recalled his time in office and the many challenges he faced," said Mr Cairns. "We laughed at one of my early memories of him facing protests at the Eisteddfod with me watching from a distance as a schoolboy competing - it is one of my earliest and most vivid political memories.

"Lord Crickhowell was an inspiration to me from a very young age, looking on with admiration at the leadership he showed as Welsh secretary."

SPORTSMAN Dylan Mika, who has died aged 45, was a former New Zealand international who played seven Tests for the All Blacks and was a member of their 1999 World Cup squad.

Mika initially played international rugby for Samoa, before switching his allegiance to New Zealand.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said: "Dylan is one of the rare talents, that represented both Samoa and New Zealand at a time when rugby had not long turned professional.

"He continued to have an active involvement in rugby both in Auckland and Samoa, and in particular, in his loyalty to the New Zealand Barbarians."

He is survived by his wife and daughter.