Jump to content

Michael Gambier-Parry: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m date format audit, link maintenance, minor formatting
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British Army general (1891–1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name =Michael Gambier-Parry
|name= Michael Gambier-Parry
| image =O'Connor Captured.jpg
|image= O'Connor Captured.jpg
|image_size=
⚫
| caption =Major-General Michael Gambier-Parry (right), Lieutenant-General [[Philip Neame]] (centre) and Brigadier [[John Frederick Boyce Combe|John Combe]] (left), following their capture in North Africa.
|alt=
| birth_date =21 August 1891
⚫
|caption= Major-General Michael Gambier-Parry (right), Lieutenant-General [[Philip Neame]] (centre) and Brigadier [[John Frederick Boyce Combe|John Combe]] (left), following their capture in North Africa.
| death_date =30 April 1976 (aged 84)
⚫
|nickname=
| placeofburial_label =
|birth_date= {{birth date|1891|08|21|df=yes}}
⚫
| placeofburial =
| birth_place =
|birth_place=
|death_date= {{death date and age|1967|04|30|1891|08|21|df=yes}}
| death_place =[[Sussex]], [[England]]
|death_place= [[Sussex]], England
⚫
| nickname =
⚫
|placeofburial=
| allegiance ={{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch ={{army|United Kingdom}}
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[British Army]]
| serviceyears =1911–1944
|serviceyears= 1911–1944
| rank =[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
|rank= [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]]
⚫
| unit =[[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]<br />[[Royal Tank Regiment]]
|servicenumber= 18187
⚫
| commands =[[1st Malaya Infantry Brigade]]<br />[[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]]
⚫
|unit= [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]<br/>[[Royal Tank Regiment]]
| battles =
⚫
|commands= [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]]<br/>[[1st Malaya Infantry Brigade]]
| awards =[[Military Cross]]
|battles= [[First World War]]<br/>[[Second World War]]
⚫
| relations =
|awards= [[Military Cross]]<br/>[[Mentioned in Despatches]] (6)
⚫
| laterwork =
⚫
|relations=
⚫
|laterwork=
}}
}}
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''Michael Denman Gambier-Parry''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MC|DL}} (21 August 1891 – 30 April 1976) was a senior [[British Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who briefly commanded the [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]] during the [[Western Desert campaign]] of the [[Second World War]].
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''Michael Denman Gambier-Parry''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|MC|DL}} (21 August 1891 – 30 April 1976) was a senior [[British Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who briefly commanded the [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]] during the [[Western Desert campaign]] of the [[Second World War]].


==Early life and family==
==Early life and family==
The Gambier-Parrys of [[Highnam Court]], Gloucestershire were an artistic and military family (see [[Thomas Gambier Parry]] and the latter's son, eminent composer Sir [[Hubert Parry]]). His uncle [[Ernest Gambier-Parry]] was a major in the army sent to Egypt to avenge the death of General Gordon and wrote a book (''Suakin'', 1885) about his experiences.<ref>The Times, OBIT. 17 April 1936</ref> Michael's father was architect [[Sidney Gambier-Parry]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ranieval |first=The Marquis of Ruvigny and |title=[[The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal]]: The Mortimer-Percy Volume |date=1 May 2013 |publisher=Heritage Books |isbn=978-0-7884-1872-3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=uOHHuwI8tD4C&pg=PA166 166]}}</ref>
The Gambier-Parrys of [[Highnam Court]], Gloucestershire, were an artistic and military family (see [[Thomas Gambier Parry]] and the latter's son, eminent composer Sir [[Hubert Parry]]). His uncle [[Ernest Gambier-Parry]] was a major in the army sent to Egypt to avenge the death of General Gordon and wrote a book (''Suakin'', 1885) about his experiences.<ref>The Times, OBIT. 17 April 1936</ref> Michael's father was architect [[Sidney Gambier-Parry]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ranieval |first=The Marquis of Ruvigny and |title=[[The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal]]: The Mortimer-Percy Volume |date=1 May 2013 |publisher=Heritage Books |isbn=978-0-7884-1872-3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=uOHHuwI8tD4C&pg=PA166 166]}}</ref>


==Military career==
==Military career==
[[File:GambierParryMetaxasJorgeIIDalbiacYPapagosEnero1941--128421.jpeg|thumb|Meeting of the Anglo-Greek War Council ca. January 1941. Left to right: Major General Gambier-Parry, Dictator [[Ioannis Metaxas]], King [[George II of Greece]], Air Vice Marshal [[John D'Albiac]] (RAF) and General [[Alexandros Papagos]].]]
[[File:GambierParryMetaxasJorgeIIDalbiacYPapagosEnero1941--128421.jpeg|thumb|Meeting of the Anglo-Greek War Council in January 1941. Left to right: Major General M. D. Gambier-Parry, Dictator [[Ioannis Metaxas]], King [[George II of Greece]], Air Vice Marshal [[John D'Albiac]] and General [[Alexandros Papagos]].]]
Educated at [[Eton College]], Gambier-Parry entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] and was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]], a Captain into the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] in 1911.<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/PARRY1.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> He served in the [[First World War]] in France (awarded the Military Cross) and in the [[Gallipoli Campaign]] and then in [[Mesopotamia]].<ref name=lh/> He attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1923 to 1924 and transferred to the [[Royal Tank Regiment|Royal Tank Corps]] in 1924 and then served as a General Staff Officer at the [[War Office]] before becoming Commander of the [[1st Malaya Infantry Brigade|Malaya Infantry Brigade]] in 1938.<ref name=lh/>


Educated at [[Eton College]], Gambier-Parry entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] and was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] in March 1911.<ref name=lh>{{Cite web|url=https://kingscollections.org/catalogues/lhcma|title=King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : Military Archives|website=kingscollections.org}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28475|page=2149|date=14 March 1911}}</ref> He served in the [[First World War]] in France, being awarded the [[Military Cross]] in 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29608|page=5573|date=2 June 1916|supp=y}}</ref> and in the [[Gallipoli campaign]] and the [[Mesopotamian campaign]].<ref name=lh/>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=113}}
⚫
He served in the [[Second World War]] as Head of the [[Military history of Greece during World War II|British Military Mission]] to [[Greece]] in 1940, during the [[Greco-Italian War]] and then as [[General Officer Commanding]] [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]]<ref>[http://www.generals.dk/general/Gambier-Parry/Michael_Denman/Great_Britain.html Generals.dk]</ref> in [[North Africa]] before becoming a [[Prisoner of war]] in 1941.<ref name=lh/>


After returning to Sandhurst and being placed in command of a Company of Gentleman Cadets,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3JEAQAAIAAJ&dq=j+h+t+priestman+staff+college+1922&pg=RA79-PA22|title=The Monthly Army List|date=1 January 1922|last1=Army|first1=Great Britain}}</ref> Gambier-Parry attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1923 to 1924 and transferred to the [[Royal Tank Regiment|Royal Tank Corps]] in 1924. He then served as a General Staff Officer at the [[War Office]] before becoming commander of the [[1st Malaya Infantry Brigade|Malaya Infantry Brigade]] in 1938.<ref name=lh/>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=113}}
⚫
He was captured by the Italians along with Brigadier E. W. D. Vaughan at [[Mechili]] in April 1941. Arriving in Villa Orsini near [[Sulmona]] with [[Philip Neame]], [[Richard O'Connor]], [[John Frederick Boyce Combe|John Combe]] and George Younghusband, he was sent to Castello de [[Vincigliata]] PG12 near Florence the same year. As [[Adrian Carton de Wiart|Carton de Wiart]] wrote of him "…he was also a most gifted man, made delightful sketches, was a first class 'forger' – which could no doubt earn him a steady income in the underworld".<ref>Carton de Wiart p. 194</ref><ref>Hargest pp. 113, 114</ref> Known as 'GP', he was a knowledgeable musician "and led the choir in our church services on Sunday".<ref>Neame p. 304</ref><ref>Fleming, pp.109–112</ref> In September 1943 he escaped with the other officers and after various adventures arrived in Rome where he had obtained sanctuary in a convent, until the Allies arrived; he retired in 1944.<ref>MRD Foot, p. 167</ref><ref name=lh/>

⚫
Gambier-Parry served in the [[Second World War]] as Head of the [[Military history of Greece during World War II|British Military Mission]] to Greece in 1940, during the [[Greco-Italian War]], and then as [[General Officer Commanding]] [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]] in [[North Africa]] before being taken as a [[prisoner of war]] in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://generals.dk/general/Gambier-Parry/Michael_Denman/Great_Britain.html|title=Biography of Major-General Michael Denman Gambier-Parry (1891–1976), Great Britain|website=generals.dk}}</ref><ref name=lh/>

⚫
Gambier-Parry was captured by the Italians along with Brigadier E. W. D. Vaughan at [[Mechili]] in April 1941. Arriving in Villa Orsini near [[Sulmona]] with [[Philip Neame]], [[Richard O'Connor]], [[John Frederick Boyce Combe|John Combe]] and George Younghusband, he was sent to Castello de [[Vincigliata]] PG12 near Florence the same year. As [[Adrian Carton de Wiart|Carton de Wiart]] wrote of him, "he was also a most gifted man, made delightful sketches, was a first class 'forger' – which could no doubt earn him a steady income in the underworld".<ref>Carton de Wiart p. 194</ref><ref>Hargest pp. 113, 114</ref> Known as 'GP', he was a knowledgeable musician "and led the choir in our church services on Sunday".<ref>Neame p. 304</ref><ref>Fleming, pp.109–112</ref> In September 1943 he escaped with the other officers and after various adventures arrived in Rome, where he had obtained sanctuary in a convent, until the Allies arrived; he retired in 1944.<ref>MRD Foot, p. 167</ref><ref name=lh/>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=144}}


==Postwar==
==Postwar==
In retirement he lived at the Weavers House in [[Castle Combe]] near [[Chippenham]] and House Forest Gate in Poundgate near [[Crowborough]] and became [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Wiltshire]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Weavers House|num=1022890|accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="WWW">''Who Was Who (1971–1980)''. London: A & C Black, 1981. {{ISBN|978-0-7136-2176-1}}, p. 286.</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39661|page=5214|date=3 October 1952}}</ref>
In retirement Gambier-Parry lived at the Weavers House in [[Castle Combe]] near [[Chippenham]] and House Forest Gate in Poundgate near [[Crowborough]] and became [[Deputy Lieutenant]] of [[Wiltshire]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Weavers House|num=1022890|accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="WWW">''Who Was Who (1971–1980)''. London: A & C Black, 1981. {{ISBN|978-0-7136-2176-1}}, p. 286.</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39661|page=5214|date=3 October 1952}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 51: Line 57:
* {{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart|title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War|year=2005|location=Barnsley|publisher=Pen & Sword|isbn=978-1-84415-049-6}}
* {{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart|title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War|year=2005|location=Barnsley|publisher=Pen & Sword|isbn=978-1-84415-049-6}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://generals.dk/general/Gambier-Parry/Michael_Denman/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
Line 56: Line 65:
{{s-bef|before=[[Justice Tilly]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Justice Tilly]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|GOC 2nd Armoured Division]]|years=February – April 1941}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|GOC 2nd Armoured Division]]|years=February – April 1941}}
{{s-aft|after=Division disbanded}}
{{s-non|reason=Post disbanded}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


Line 62: Line 71:
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:People of the Gallipoli campaign]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]
[[Category:British Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:British Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers officers]]
[[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers officers]]
Line 67: Line 78:
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Deputy Lieutenants of Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Deputy lieutenants of Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Italy]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Italy]]
[[Category:British World War II prisoners of war]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Military personnel from London]]
[[Category:People from Chelsea, London]]

Latest revision as of 23:31, 26 September 2024

Michael Gambier-Parry
Major-General Michael Gambier-Parry (right), Lieutenant-General Philip Neame (centre) and Brigadier John Combe (left), following their capture in North Africa.
Born(1891-08-21)21 August 1891
Died30 April 1967(1967-04-30) (aged 75)
Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1911–1944
RankMajor General
Service number18187
UnitRoyal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Tank Regiment
Commands2nd Armoured Division
1st Malaya Infantry Brigade
Battles / warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsMilitary Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (6)

Major-General Michael Denman Gambier-Parry, MC, DL (21 August 1891 – 30 April 1976) was a senior British Army officer who briefly commanded the 2nd Armoured Division during the Western Desert campaign of the Second World War.

Early life and family

[edit]

The Gambier-Parrys of Highnam Court, Gloucestershire, were an artistic and military family (see Thomas Gambier Parry and the latter's son, eminent composer Sir Hubert Parry). His uncle Ernest Gambier-Parry was a major in the army sent to Egypt to avenge the death of General Gordon and wrote a book (Suakin, 1885) about his experiences.[1] Michael's father was architect Sidney Gambier-Parry.[2]

Military career

[edit]
Meeting of the Anglo-Greek War Council in January 1941. Left to right: Major General M. D. Gambier-Parry, Dictator Ioannis Metaxas, King George II of Greece, Air Vice Marshal John D'Albiac and General Alexandros Papagos.

Educated at Eton College, Gambier-Parry entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers in March 1911.[3][4] He served in the First World War in France, being awarded the Military Cross in 1916,[5] and in the Gallipoli campaign and the Mesopotamian campaign.[3][6]

After returning to Sandhurst and being placed in command of a Company of Gentleman Cadets,[7] Gambier-Parry attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1923 to 1924 and transferred to the Royal Tank Corps in 1924. He then served as a General Staff Officer at the War Office before becoming commander of the Malaya Infantry Brigade in 1938.[3][6]

Gambier-Parry served in the Second World War as Head of the British Military Mission to Greece in 1940, during the Greco-Italian War, and then as General Officer Commanding 2nd Armoured Division in North Africa before being taken as a prisoner of war in 1941.[8][3]

Gambier-Parry was captured by the Italians along with Brigadier E. W. D. Vaughan at Mechili in April 1941. Arriving in Villa Orsini near Sulmona with Philip Neame, Richard O'Connor, John Combe and George Younghusband, he was sent to Castello de Vincigliata PG12 near Florence the same year. As Carton de Wiart wrote of him, "he was also a most gifted man, made delightful sketches, was a first class 'forger' – which could no doubt earn him a steady income in the underworld".[9][10] Known as 'GP', he was a knowledgeable musician "and led the choir in our church services on Sunday".[11][12] In September 1943 he escaped with the other officers and after various adventures arrived in Rome, where he had obtained sanctuary in a convent, until the Allies arrived; he retired in 1944.[13][3][14]

Postwar

[edit]

In retirement Gambier-Parry lived at the Weavers House in Castle Combe near Chippenham and House Forest Gate in Poundgate near Crowborough and became Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire.[15][16][17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Times, OBIT. 17 April 1936
  2. ^ Ranieval, The Marquis of Ruvigny and (1 May 2013). The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal: The Mortimer-Percy Volume. Heritage Books. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-7884-1872-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e "King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : Military Archives". kingscollections.org.
  4. ^ "No. 28475". The London Gazette. 14 March 1911. p. 2149.
  5. ^ "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5573.
  6. ^ a b Smart 2005, p. 113.
  7. ^ Army, Great Britain (1 January 1922). The Monthly Army List.
  8. ^ "Biography of Major-General Michael Denman Gambier-Parry (1891–1976), Great Britain". generals.dk.
  9. ^ Carton de Wiart p. 194
  10. ^ Hargest pp. 113, 114
  11. ^ Neame p. 304
  12. ^ Fleming, pp.109–112
  13. ^ MRD Foot, p. 167
  14. ^ Smart 2005, p. 144.
  15. ^ Historic England. "Weavers House (1022890)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  16. ^ Who Was Who (1971–1980). London: A & C Black, 1981. ISBN 978-0-7136-2176-1, p. 286.
  17. ^ "No. 39661". The London Gazette. 3 October 1952. p. 5214.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Military offices
Preceded by GOC 2nd Armoured Division
February – April 1941 		Post disbanded
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Gambier-Parry&oldid=1247966275"