Michael Carver, Baron Carver

The Lord Carver
Field Marshal The Lord Carver
Born	24 April 1915 Bletchingley, Surrey
Died	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 Command
Battles/wars	Second World War Western Desert Campaign Italian Campaign Invasion of Normandy North West Europe Campaign
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 Despatches

Field 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.

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

1. ^ Heathcote, Anthony pg 75
2. ^ ^{a b} Heathcote, Anthony pg 76
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Heathcote, Anthony pg 77
4. ^ Heathcote, Anthony pg 78
5. ^ Heathcote, Anthony pg 79

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

• Guardian obituary
• BBC obituary
• Independent obituary

Military offices
Preceded by Vivian Street	General Officer Commanding the 3rd Division 1962–1964	Succeeded by Cecil Blacker
Preceded by Sir Alan Jolly	GOC Far East Land Forces 1966–1967	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Pearson
Preceded by Sir John Grandy	Commander-in Chief Far East Command 1967–1969	Succeeded by Sir Peter Hill-Norton
Preceded by Sir David Yates	GOC-in-C Southern Command 1969–1971	Succeeded by Sir Basil Eugster
Preceded by Sir Geoffrey Baker	Chief of the General Staff 1971–1973	Succeeded by Sir Peter Hunt
Preceded by Lord Hill-Norton	Chief of the Defence Staff 1973–1976	Succeeded by Sir Andrew Humphrey

Persondata
Name	Carver, Richard Michael Power
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 April 1915
Place of birth	Bletchingley, Surrey
Date of death	9 December 2001
Place of death