Mervyn Butler
| Sir Mervyn Butler | |
|---|---|
 Butler's headstone in Aldershot Military Cemetery | |
| Born | 1 July 1913 |
| Died | 3 January 1976 (aged 62) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Commands held |
16 Independent Parachute Brigade 2nd Division Staff College, Camberley 1 (British) Corps Army Strategic Command |
| Battles/wars |
World War II EOKA Campaign |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross |
General Sir Mervyn Andrew Haldane Butler KCB, CBE, DSO, MC (1 July 1913 – 3 January 1976) was a British Army officer and former Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Command of the British Army.
Army career
Mervyn Butler was educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Ireland and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1] He was commissioned into the South Lancashire Regiment in 1933.[1] He transferred to the Parachute Regiment and served with distinction during World War II being awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for his services.[2] He transferred to the Suffolk Regiment in 1945.[1] He commanded 16 Independent Parachute Brigade from 1955 to 1957[1] and 2nd Division from 1962 to 1964.[3]
In 1964 he was appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Studies (Joint Warfare) and then in 1966 went on to be Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley.[2] From 1968 to 1970 he was General Officer Commanding 1 (British) Corps. He was General Officer Commanding the Army Strategic Command from 1970 to 1971 before going on to serve as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies from 1972 to 1973.[2] He was promoted to General in 1972.[1]
He was also Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1967 to 1972.[4]
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1957, Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1964 New Year Honours, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1968.
On his death in 1976 he was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Williams |
General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division 1962–1964 |
Succeeded by Norman Wheeler |
| Preceded by John Worsley |
Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley 1966–1967 |
Succeeded by John Sharp |
| Preceded by Sir John Mogg |
GOC 1st (British) Corps 1968–1970 |
Succeeded by Sir John Sharp |
| Preceded by Sir John Mogg |
General Officer Commanding, Army Strategic Command 1970–1971 |
Succeeded by Sir Frank King |
| Preceded by Alastair Buchan |
Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies 1972–1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Anthony Read |