- Roland Gibbs
Infobox Military Person
name= Sir Roland Gibbs
lived=22 June 1921 -31 October 2004
caption=Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs
Crown Copyright
nickname=
placeofbirth=Flax Bourton ,Somerset
placeofdeath=
allegiance=flagicon|United KingdomUnited Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1940 - 1979
rank=Field Marshal
unit=
commands=3rd Bn Parachute Regiment
16 Parachute Brigade
1st British Corps
UK Land Forces
battles=World War II
awards=Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Venerable Order of Saint John
relations=
laterwork=Field Marshal Sir Roland Christopher Gibbs GCB, CBE, DSO, MC, KStJ (22 June 1921 -31 October 2004 ) wasChief of the General Staff , the professional head of theBritish Army .Army career
Roland Gibbs was born at
Flax Bourton nearBristol . Educated atEton College , he was commissioned into theKings Royal Rifle Corps in 1939 [Heathcote, Anthony pg 144] . He was awarded the DSO and the MC inNorth Africa duringWorld War II .In 1960 he was appointed
Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion the Parachute RegimentHeathcote, Anthony pg 145] and in 1963 went on to command 16 Parachute Brigade which deployed in that year toCyprus .In 1969 he was appointed Commander of British Land Forces in the Persian Gulf where he re-organised the Trucial Oman Scouts and laid the foundations for what is now the
Sultan of Oman 's Land Forces.In 1972 he became Commander of 1st British Corps and in 1974 went on to be Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces. He served as
Chief of the General Staff from 1976 to 1979 when he retired from theBritish Army .Later career
He was Constable of the Tower of London from 1985 to 1990.
Honours
Roland Gibbs was appointed CBE in 1968, KCB in 1972 and GCB in 1976.
Family
Gibbs was the fourth and youngest child and the younger son of Major Guy Melvil Gibbs and Margaret Olivia St. John, descended from the third son of the 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke. In 1955, Gibbs married Davina Merry, the artist, herself with aristocratic connections. They had two sons, and a daughter.
References
Further reading
* [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ENGLISH-OBITS/2005-07/1121256723 Daily Telegraph Obituary]
* Heathcote, T.A. (1999). "The British Field Marshals 1736-1997". Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5###@@@KEY@@@###
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