Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham

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The Lord Walker of Aldringham
7 July 1944 -
General The Lord Walker of Aldringham Photo: Crown copyright
Place of birth	Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1966 to 2006
Rank	General
Commands held	The Royal Anglian Regiment 20 Armoured Brigade Eastern District Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Land Command Chief of the General Staff
Battles/wars	Bosnian War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Commander of the Order of the British Empire

General Michael John Dawson Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham GCB, CMG, CBE, DL (born 7 July 1944) was the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) in the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces from May 2003 until April 2006.

1 Army career
2 Later career
3 Styles & Honours
4 References

[edit] Army career

Walker attended Woodhouse Grove School near Leeds where he was head boy. He spent 18 months teaching in a Preparatory School before joining the British Army.^[1]

From 1966 to 1982, he served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, becoming its Commanding Officer in 1985.^[2] Between 1987 and 1989, he commanded 20 Armoured Brigade, between 1989 to 1991 he was Chief of Staff 1st (British) Corps and in 1991 and 1992 he commanded 2nd Infantry Division.^[2]

In the following year he was General Officer Commanding of the Eastern District, and from 1992 to 1994 Assistant Chief of the General Staff.^[2] In 1994, Walker was made Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in which capacity in 1995 and 1996 he was Commander of the Implementation Force in Bosnia. In 1997 he became Commander-in-Chief, Land Command^[2] and Aide de Camp General to The Queen.^[2]

He was Chief of the General Staff from 2000 to 2003 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 2003 to 2006.^[2] As Chief of the Defence Staff he was quite critical of some of the media coverage of the Iraq War^[3].

New Colours are presented to RMAS, June 2005. Lord Walker (CDS) stepped in as Her Majesty was indisposed. Prince Henry of Wales can be seen on parade.

[edit] Later career

On 24 November 2006, it was announced that he would receive a life peerage, and on 19 December he was created Baron Walker of Aldringham, of Aldringham in the County of Suffolk.^[2]

[edit] Styles & Honours

Mr Michael Walker (1944-1966)
Officer Cadet Michael Walker (1966-through other ranks-2003)
General Sir Michael Walker GCB CMG CBE DL (2003-2006)
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Walker of Aldringham GCB CMG CBE DL (2006-)

[edit] References

^ A lifetime of service. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Biography at number10.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
^ Media blamed for Iraq attacks. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Roger Wheeler	Commander-in-Chief, Land Command 1997–2000	Succeeded by Sir Michael Jackson
Preceded by Sir Roger Wheeler	Chief of the General Staff 2000–2003	Succeeded by Sir Michael Jackson
Preceded by Sir Michael Boyce	Chief of the Defence Staff 2003–2006	Succeeded by Sir Jock Stirrup

v • d • e Chiefs of the General Staff of the British Army

Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff	Sir William Nicholson • Sir John French • Sir Charles Douglas • Sir James Murray • Sir Archibald Murray • Sir William Robertson • Sir Henry Wilson • Lord Cavan • Sir George Milne • Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd • Sir Cyril Deverell • Viscount Gort • Sir Edmund Ironside • Sir John Dill • Sir Alan Brooke • Viscount Montgomery • Sir William Slim • Sir John Harding • Sir Gerald Templer • Sir Francis Festing • Sir Richard Hull

Chiefs of the General Staff	Sir Richard Hull • Sir James Cassels • Sir Geoffrey Baker • Sir Michael Carver • Sir Peter Hunt • Sir Roland Gibbs • Sir Edwin Bramall • Sir John Stanier • Sir Nigel Bagnall • Sir John Chapple • Sir Peter Inge • Sir Charles Guthrie • Sir Roger Wheeler • Sir Michael Walker • Sir Mike Jackson • Sir Richard Dannatt