- Michael Carver, Baron Carver
-
The Lord Carver
Field Marshal The Lord CarverBorn 24 April 1915
Bletchingley, SurreyDied 9 December 2001 (aged 86) Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch British Army Years of service 1935—1976 Rank Field Marshal Commands held 1st Royal Tank Regiment
4th Armoured Brigade
6th Infantry Brigade
3rd Division
Far East Command
Southern CommandBattles/wars Second World War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross
Mention in DespatchesField Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC (24 April 1915 - 9 December 2001) was a British soldier. 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
Army career
Educated at Winchester College, Michael Carver was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1935.[1] During the Second World War he was involved in the battle for Tobruk where he won his Military Cross. In 1943 he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, leading them in Italy and then Normandy in 1944. Later in 1944, he was promoted to command the 4th Armoured Brigade.[2]
He became a Technical Staff officer to the Ministry of Supply in 1947.[2] He was later promoted to Chief of Staff East Africa Command in 1955 and was the War Office Director of Plans from 1958 to 1959.[3]
In 1960 he was given command of the 6th Brigade,[3] and subsequently the 3rd Division in 1962.[3]
Between 1964 and 1966 he was Director of Army Staff Duties where he famously substantially reduced the size of the Territorial Army.[3]
In 1966 he was made General Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces, in 1967 he became the tri-service Commander in Chief of Far East Command and in 1969 he became General Officer Commanding Southern Command.[4]
He was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1971 and 1973, and Chief of the Defence Staff between 1973 and 1976.[5] He was knighted in 1966 and in 1977 became a life peer as Baron Carver, of Shackleford.
Later career
Following his retirement from the Army he wrote a number of books on military history and was a vocal critic of Britain's Trident missile programme, believing that as the American nuclear strike capability was sufficiently powerful it was inefficient for Britain to have an independent program.
Extra Information
He was also a descendant of Richard Wellesley, brother to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
There is also a section on Lord Carver's life and works in "The Tank Museum". Lord Carver was also married with two daughters and two sons and had seven grandchildren.
References
Partial list of publications
- Carver, Michael: Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Italy: A Vital Contribution to Victory in Europe 1943-1945
- Carver, Michael & Robertson, Ian G.; The National Army Museum Book of the Turkish Front 1914-18: The Campaigns at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia and in Palestine
- Carver, Michael; Twentieth-Century Warriors: The Development of the Armed Forces of the Major Military Nations in the Twentieth Century
- Carver, Michael: War Since 1945
- Carver, Michael: The Seven Ages of the British Army
- Carver, Michael: Dilemmas of the Desert War: The Libyan Campaign 1940-1942
- Carver, Field Marshal Lord: El Alamein
- Carver, Field Marshal Lord: Britain's Army In The 20th Century
Further reading
- Heathcote, T.A. (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736-1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5
External links
Military offices Preceded by
Vivian StreetGeneral Officer Commanding the 3rd Division
1962–1964Succeeded by
Cecil BlackerPreceded by
Sir Alan JollyGOC Far East Land Forces
1966–1967Succeeded by
Sir Thomas PearsonPreceded by
Sir John GrandyCommander-in Chief Far East Command
1967–1969Succeeded by
Sir Peter Hill-NortonPreceded by
Sir David YatesGOC-in-C Southern Command
1969–1971Succeeded by
Sir Basil EugsterPreceded by
Sir Geoffrey BakerChief of the General Staff
1971–1973Succeeded by
Sir Peter HuntPreceded by
Lord Hill-NortonChief of the Defence Staff
1973–1976Succeeded by
Sir Andrew HumphreyChiefs of the Defence Staff of the United KingdomSir William Dickson • Earl Mountbatten • Sir Richard Hull • Sir Charles Elworthy • Sir Peter Hill-Norton • Sir Michael Carver • Sir Andrew Humphrey • Sir Edward Ashmore • Sir Neil Cameron • Sir Terence Lewin • Sir Edwin Bramall • Sir John Fieldhouse • Sir David Craig • Sir Richard Vincent • Sir Peter Harding • Sir Peter Inge • Sir Charles Guthrie • Sir Michael Boyce • Sir Michael Walker • Sir Jock Stirrup • Sir David Richards
Categories:- 1915 births
- 2001 deaths
- Old Wykehamists
- British Field Marshals
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Crossbench life peers
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- British military writers
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- World War II historians
- Royal Tank Regiment officers
- British military historians
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar
- Chiefs of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
- Chiefs of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
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