Peter Leng
Sir Peter Leng | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 May 1925 |
| Died | 11 February 2009 (aged 83) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1981 |
| Rank | General |
| Service number | 307865 |
| Unit | Scots Guards Royal Anglian Regiment |
| Commands held | 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment 24th Airmobile Brigade 1st (British) Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II Operation Banner |
| Awards |
|
KCB MBE MC (9 May 1925 – 11 February 2009) was a British Army General and Master-General of the Ordnance (1981–1983) & Counter Terrorism Expert in Northern Ireland
.
Military service
Leng was born in 1925 in
Hamburg.[1]
After the war he was appointed Military Assistant to
Commanding Officer of the 3rd battalion of the Regiment in Berlin within the British Army of the Rhine.[1] His battalion later moved to Aden where the security situation was deteriorating. After promotion to the rank of brigadier, he commanded the 24th Airmobile Brigade. He moved to the Ministry of Defence in 1971 as deputy military secretary, and was appointed to command of the British Army forces in Northern Ireland in 1973. When he left, bombings and other violence had dropped to a fifth of the level of when he arrived.[1]
In 1975 he became Director of Military Operations at the Ministry of Defence and in 1978 he was asked to command the 1st (British) Corps in Germany.[1] He won praise from NATO command and successfully executed Exercise Spearpoint. He became Master-General of the Ordnance in 1981. He retired from the Army in 1983 and became chairman of the Racecourse Association, during which time he was instrumental in securing the live broadcasting of races in betting shops.[4]
Personal life
He first married Virginia Rosemary Pearson, dissolved in 1981. He then remarried to Flavia Tower, daughter of Lieutenant General
Daphne de Maurier. His second wife survives him along with several children from his first marriage.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Obituary: Sir Peter Leng The Times, 18 February 2009
- ^ "No. 36461". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 April 1944. p. 1659.
- ^ "No. 37235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 August 1945. p. 4264.
- ^ Former RCA chief Sir Peter Leng dies[dead link] Racing Post, 1 March 2009