Sir Michael Gray | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1932-05-03)3 May 1932 Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Died | 13 March 2011(2011-03-13) (aged 79) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1950–1988 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Service number | 424340 |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Commands | South East District (1985–1988) South West District (1981–1984) 16th Parachute Brigade (1977) 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1969–1971) |
| Battles / wars | Malayan Emergency The Troubles |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) |
Lieutenant GeneralSir Michael Stuart Gray,KCB, OBE, DL (3 May 1932 – 13 March 2011) was a seniorBritish Army officer. He served asGeneral Officer CommandingSouth East District from 1985 to 1988, Colonel Commandant of theParachute Regiment from 1990 to 1993, and Lieutenant of theTower of London from 1995 to 1998.
Gray's father, Lieutenant Frank Gray, waskilled in action while serving with theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1940.[1] He was educated at Beverley Grammar School,Christ's Hospital, Horsham and at theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst.[1]
In 1958 Gray married Juliette Noon, with whom he was to have two sons and one daughter.[1]
Gray enlisted inthe Royal Artillery in 1950. He was commissioned into theEast Yorkshire Regiment in 1952 and served inMalaya for two years during theMalayan Emergency.[1] He transferred to theParachute Regiment in 1955 and served inCyprus,Suez Canal Zone,Jordan,Greece,Bahrain,Aden andNorthern Ireland. Gray commanded the1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment from 1969 to 1971. He was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire in 1970.[1] He was Chief of Staff of 1st Armoured Division,British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) from 1973 to 1975 before attending theRoyal College of Defence Studies in 1976.[1] He was the last commander of the16th Parachute Brigade in 1977.[1]
Gray was Head of British Army Staff and Military Attache in Washington, D.C. and Military Advisor to theGovernor of Bermuda from 1979 to 1981.[1] He wasGeneral Officer Commanding (GOC)South West District, which included command of the United Kingdom Mobile Force, from 1981 to 1984.[1] He was Chief of Staff, BAOR at Rheindahlen from 1984 to 1985.[1] Gray was promoted tolieutenant general in 1985 and was GOCSouth East District and Commander of Joint Forces HQ at Aldershot. He was appointed aKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1986, and retired from the army in 1988.[1]
Gray was Honorary Colonel of 10th Parachute Battalion from 1984 to 1988 and Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1986 to 1990. He wasColonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1990 to 1993.[1]
In retirement Gray was Chief executive of Rainford Developments from 1990 to 1994. He was awarded the FrenchLegion of Honour in 1994.[1] He was Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1995 to 1998 and Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1997. He also became Chairman of the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust, which seeks to preserve the history of 6th Airborne Division in Normandy, in 1972.[1] He had a leading role in the founding of a museum atPegasus Bridge and in the restoration of the Merville Battery site.[1]
Gray lived inPocklington, Yorkshire. He died on 13 March 2011 atYork District Hospital.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | GOC South West District 1981–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | GOC South East District 1985–1988 | Succeeded by |