Sir Peter Terry | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1926-10-18)18 October 1926 Ramsgate, Kent, England |
| Died | 19 December 2017(2017-12-19) (aged 91) Aylesbury,[citation needed] United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1946–1984 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1981–84) RAF Germany (1979–81) Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (1977–79) RAF El Adem (1969–70) |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Governor of Gibraltar (1985–89) |
Air Chief MarshalSir Peter David George Terry,GCB, AFC (18 October 1926 – 19 December 2017)[1] was a seniorRoyal Air Force commander who held a number of high-level British and NATO posts. Terry wasGovernor of Gibraltar from 1985 to 1989.
Terry joined the Royal Air Force in the ranks as anRAF Regimentaircraftman 2nd class on 17 July 1946.[2] His potential for officer service was quickly recognised and Terry was commissioned as apilot officer in theRAF Regiment on 29 May 1947.[3] Spending the next nine years as a junior officer in the RAF Regiment, serving on Light Anti-Aircraft sqns in RAF Germany and as Personal Staff Officer to theCommandant-General of the RAF Regiment. He transferred to the General Duties Branch in April 1956.[4] During the later 1950s and 1960s, he worked his way up the officer ranks. As a group captain, Terry was station commander of RAFEl Adem,Libya, from 1969 to 1970. He was there in September 1969 whenColonel Gaddafi overthrew KingIdris of Libya in a coup. Terry oversaw withdrawal of British troops fromEl Adem andTobruk in March 1970.
Terry was appointed the Assistant Chief of Staff in the Plans and Policy Division of theSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 1975.[5] On returning to the United Kingdom, he took up the post ofVice-Chief of the Air Staff on 25 March 1977.[6] On 30 April 1979, Terry was appointed Commander-in-Chief ofRAF Germany. Following promotion toair chief marshal,[7] he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe atSHAPE on 9 April 1981. Terry remained as Deputy SACEUR until 16 July 1984 and he retired from the RAF several months later.[8]
Terry wasGovernor of Gibraltar from 19 November 1985 to December 1989.[9] During his tenure as governor, Terry authorised theSpecial Air Service (SAS) to pursue Provisional IRA members as part ofOperation Flavius, which theEuropean Court of Human Rights would find had been in violation of Article 2 of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights
On 18 September 1990 theProvisional Irish Republican Army attempted to kill Terry at his home in Main Road,Milford, Staffordshire. The attack took place at 9 pm, while Terry was sitting reading. The shooter(s) opened fire through a window, hitting him at least nine times. His wife, Betty, Lady Terry, was also shot and injured, near her eye.[10] The couple's daughter, Liz, was found suffering from shock. Terry's face had to be rebuilt as the shots shattered his face and two high-velocity bullets lodged a fraction of an inch from his brain.[11] The then prime minister,Margaret Thatcher, said that she "was utterly appalled and deeply grieved" by the shooting.[12]
In 1983 Terry was made as aKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[13] However, there was a long period before one of the 34 stalls set aside for the most senior knights fell vacant.[14] Finally, in 2006, Terry was installed as aKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[15]
In later life, Terry and his wife moved toStoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire.[16] He was a strong supporter of his local church and also a keen golfer until his old leg wound began to give him trouble and restrict his mobility.[14] Terry died on 19 December 2017, aged 91. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.[16]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans and Policy Division) Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe 1975–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vice-Chief of the Air Staff 1977–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-ChiefRAF Germany Also Commander of theSecond Tactical Air Force 1979–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Commander-in-ChiefAllied Forces Central Europe 1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe WithGünter Luther (to 1982),Günter Kießling (1982–84) andHans-Joachim Mack (1984) 1981–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Gibraltar 1985–1989 | Succeeded by |
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