Robert Bray (British Army officer)

General Sir Robert Napier Hubert Campbell (Bobbie) Bray GBE KCB DSO and bar (1908–1983) was a British soldier, deputy Supreme Commander Europe of NATO's Allied Command Europe from 1967 to 1970.

Education

Bray was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and the Royal Military Academy.

Career

First commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment on the 2 Feb 1928, he served throughout World War II. He was promoted temporary lieutenant colonel 19 October 1942 then a War Substitute Lt-Col on 7 December 1945 in the Gloucestershire Regiment, a full colonel on 31 December 1950 and brigadier on 16 June 1955. He was then quickly promoted to major-general on 29 October 1955 and became a lieutenant-general on 27 February 1961 and a full general on 25 February 1965. He retired on 9 March 1971.

As a lieutenant-general he became the GOC-in-C at Southern Command. He went on to serve as Deputy Supreme Commander Europe at NATO's Allied Command between May 1967 and December 1970, succeeding Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Thomas Pike.

Honours

*1944 - Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished services in Normandy [LondonGazette|issue=36679|startpage=4044|date=31 August 1944|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]
*1945 - Bar to Distinguished Service Order for gallant and distinguished services in north west Europe [LondonGazette|issue=37061|startpage=1|date=1 May 1945|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]
*1952 - Commander of the Order of the British Empire [LondonGazette|issue=39555|startpage=3013|date=5 June 1952|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]
*1956 - Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) [LondonGazette|issue=40960|startpage=6|date=28 December 1956|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]
*1962 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) [LondonGazette|issue=42552|startpage=2|date=1 January 1962|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]
*1966 - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) [LondonGazette|issue=43854|startpage=3|date=1 January 1966|supp=x |accessdate=2008-09-19]

*Colonel of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, October 1965 to July 1975
*Mentioned in Despatches North West Frontier 1935
*Mentioned in Despatches 20 December 1940

References

*"I Will Plant Me a Tree" by Steve Benson and Martin Crossley Evans (James & James, London, 2002) ISBN 0-907383-92-0
* [http://www.ordersofbattle.com/PersonData.aspx?PerX=521 Military Career of RNHC Bray at ordersofbattle.com]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~Glosters/LC2.htm Glorious Gloucesters]
* [http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/033DWR.htm The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~Glosters/HA2.htm Honours and Awards of the Glosters]
* [http://www.rafweb.org/NATO1.htm Multinational Commands RAF]