Mervyn Butler

Sir Mervyn Butler
File:Mervyn Butler headstone.JPG Butler's headstone in Aldershot Military Cemetery
Born	(1913-07-01)1 July 1913
Died
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Commands held	16 Independent Parachute Brigade 2nd Division Staff College, Camberley 1 (British) Corps Army Strategic Command
Battles/wars	World War II EOKA Campaign
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross

General Sir Mervyn Andrew Haldane Butler KCB, CBE, DSO, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1 July 1913 – 3 January 1976) was a British Army officer and former Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Command of the British Army.

Army career

Mervyn Butler was educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Ireland and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the South Lancashire Regiment in 1933. He transferred to the Parachute Regiment and served with distinction during World War II being awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for his services. He transferred to the Suffolk Regiment in 1945. He commanded 16 Independent Parachute Brigade from 1955 to 1957 and 2nd Division from 1962 to 1964.

In 1964 he was appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Studies (Joint Warfare) and then in 1966 went on to be Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley. From 1968 to 1970 he was General Officer Commanding 1 (British) Corps. He was General Officer Commanding the Army Strategic Command from 1970 to 1971 before going on to serve as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies from 1972 to 1973. He was promoted to General in 1972.

He was also Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1967 to 1972.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1957, Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1964 New Year Honours, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1968.

On his death in 1976 he was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.

References

Military offices
Preceded by Edward Williams	General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division 1962–1964	Succeeded by Norman Wheeler
Preceded by John Worsley	Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley 1966–1967	Succeeded by John Sharp
Preceded by Sir John Mogg	GOC 1st (British) Corps 1968–1970	Succeeded by Sir John Sharp
Preceded by Sir John Mogg	General Officer Commanding, Army Strategic Command 1970–1971	Succeeded by Sir Frank King
Preceded by Alastair Buchan	Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies 1972–1973	Succeeded by Sir Anthony Read