Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie

Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie
The Lord Cameron of Balhousie
Ncameron.jpg
Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Cameron of Balhousie
Crown Copyright
Born 8 July 1920(1920-07-08)
Perth, Scotland
Died 29 January 1985(1985-01-29) (aged 64)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1939–1979
Rank Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Commands held Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Air Staff
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight of the Order of the Thistle
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie, KT, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC (8 July 1920 – 29 January 1985) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.

Contents

Early life

Neil Cameron was born in the Scottish city of Perth on 8 July 1920, the only son and younger child of Neil Cameron (an inspector of the poor and a retired company sergeant major) and his wife, Isabella Stewart.[1] At only three weeks old, Cameron's father died and he and his sister were brought up by his mother and grandfather in Perth. Cameron attended the Northern District School and Perth Academy. In 1937 he took up employment with the Commercial Bank of Scotland[2] in the Fife town of Newburgh.

RAF career

Cameron joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in May 1939[3] and started his flying training as a sergeant pilot. Following the British declaration of war on Germany, Cameron was called up and posted to Hastings for initial training.[3] From March to September 1940 he completed his elementary pilot training, advanced training and operational training before being posted to No. 1 Squadron at RAF Wittering as a sergeant pilot flying Hurricanes.[3] Cameron was posted to No. 17 Squadron in October 1940[3] in time to take part in the final stages of the Battle of Britain.[2]

Following his commissioning in 1941,[3] Cameron flew in northern Russia.[3] Later in the War, he served with the Desert Air Force and by 1944 he was an acting squadron leader and he commanded No. 258 Squadron.[3] During his command, No. 258 Squadron operated in Burma and Cameron was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Distinguished Service Order for outstanding leadership.[4]

After the war he held various RAF appointments. Notably he was appointed Officer Commanding RAF Abingdon in 1960.[3] He became Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in 1968,[3] Deputy Commander RAF Germany in 1972[3] and Air Officer Commanding No. 46 Group in 1973.[3] He went on to serve as Air Member for Personnel in 1974.[3]

Cameron was Chief of the Air Staff from 7 August 1976 to 9 August 1977 and then Chief of the Defence Staff from 31 August 1977 to 31 August 1979.[3]

Later life

In retirement he became Principal of King's College London. In 1983 he was made a life peer as Baron Cameron of Balhousie, in the District of Perth and Kinross.[1]

Honours and decorations

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Denis Crowley-Milling
Air Officer Commanding No. 46 Group
1973–1974
Succeeded by
N E Hoad
Preceded by
Sir Harold Martin
Air Member for Personnel
1974–1976
Succeeded by
Sir John Aiken
Preceded by
Sir Andrew Humphrey
Chief of the Air Staff
1976–1977
Succeeded by
Sir Michael Beetham
Preceded by
Sir Edward Ashmore
Chief of the Defence Staff
1977–1979
Succeeded by
The Lord Lewin
Academic offices
Preceded by
Richard Way
Principal of King's College London
1980–1985
Succeeded by
Lord Sutherland of Houndwood

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