Mervyn Butler

Sir Mervyn Butler
Sir Mervyn Butler
	Mentioned in Despatches

Commander-in-Chief Strategic Command

.

Military career

Mervyn Butler was educated at

Second World War, being awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for his services.^[5] He transferred to the Suffolk Regiment on 20 July 1946.^[6]^[1]

Butler commanded the 16th Independent Parachute Brigade from 1955 to 1957.^[1] During the Suez Crisis elements of the 16th Independent Parachute Brigade led by Butler and a contingent of the Royal Tank Regiment set off south along the canal bank on 6 November 1956 to capture Ismailia. Just before midnight Butler was ordered to stop on the hour, when a ceasefire would come into effect. This raised a difficulty. There were Egyptian forces ahead; the British column was in open desert with no defensible feature to hand. Butler compromised, advancing until 0:15 am on 7 November 1956 to reach El Cap, where he sited the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, with supporting detachments.^[7] He was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Service Order on 13 June 1957.^[8]

Butler was General Officer Commanding 2nd Division from 1962 to 1964.^[9]

In 1964 Butler was appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Studies (Joint Warfare) and then in 1966 went on to be Commandant of the

Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1967 to 1972.^[11]

Butler was appointed a

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1968 New Year Honours.^[14]

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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Who Was Who Volume V11 1971–1980 (1981)
^ "No. 33908". The London Gazette. 3 February 1933. p. 743.
^ "No. 34253". The London Gazette. 7 February 1936. p. 820.
^ "No. 35063". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 January 1941. p. 676.
^ ^a ^b ^c Whitaker's Almanacks
^ "No. 37657". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 July 1946. p. 3726.
^ The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army (1994) General Editor David Chandler p. 349
^ "No. 41092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1957. p. 3419.
^ Army Commands Archived 5 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ "No. 45604". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 February 1972. p. 2198.
^ The Red Devils GG Norton (Leo Cooper Famous Regiment Series)
^ "No. 41131". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 1957. p. 4361.
^ "No. 43200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 3.
^ "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1967. p. 3.

Military offices
Preceded by Alexander Williams	GOC 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	GOC, 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 Antony Read

[who-1] Who Was Who Volume V11 1971–1980 (1981)

[2] "No. 33908". The London Gazette. 3 February 1933. p. 743.

[3] "No. 34253". The London Gazette. 7 February 1936. p. 820.

[4] "No. 35063". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 January 1941. p. 676.

[Whit-5] Whitaker's Almanacks

[6] "No. 37657". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 July 1946. p. 3726.

[7] The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army (1994) General Editor David Chandler p. 349

[8] "No. 41092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1957. p. 3419.

[commands-9] Army Commands Archived 5 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[10] "No. 45604". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 February 1972. p. 2198.

[11] The Red Devils GG Norton (Leo Cooper Famous Regiment Series)

[12] "No. 41131". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 1957. p. 4361.

[13] "No. 43200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 3.

[14] "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1967. p. 3.

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